Tuesday, 29 October, 2024
Isla still missing, mother makes heartbreaking public appeal
Scouts’ reunion 100 years in the making
Olinda’s assemblage sculptor heads to US
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Kyeema recalled Eighty-six years on from the Kyeema plane crash at Mount Dandenong, the details and events leading up to it remain foggy. Author Joel Martin has spent years researching and documenting the stories of those who perished in the horrific blaze and has come to the awful truth that the crash was preventable. His book titled The Weeping Mountain explores the politics and policies that only exacerbated the possibility of a deadly crash. It also leaves a question mark on whether a key government official may have led Australia through World War II had the crash not happened. To read the full story, turn to page 6
Joel Martin’s The Weeping Mountain details what went wrong in the lead up to the Kyeema crash and the lives that were lost. (Stewart Chambers: 439190)
Belgrave Lake Park signs ignored and dog owners’ behaviour sparks...
Off-leash anger By Shamsiya Hussainpoor A Belgrave resident has raised concerns over growing off-leash dog incidents at Belgrave Lake Park, where many dog owners ignore the designated areas for dogs. The 71-year-old who has lived in the area for over 25 years, said despite clear signage indicating on-lead rules, dogs roam freely – posing risks to both park users and local wildlife.
“Belgrave Lake Park has had a lot of developments, with the new playground, there’s a designated off-lead area for dogs in the central part of the park, but many dog owners ignore the rules,” he said. “They often let their dogs roam freely in areas where leashes are required, despite clear signs indicating which areas are off-lead and which are not, most dog owners don’t follow them, this leads to larger dogs, like German Shepherds, running off
into the bush, putting local wildlife at risk.” The Belgrave resident said it’s frustrating to see a strong sense of entitlement among some dog owners, who often say things like, “My dog wouldn’t hurt a fly.” “This attitude of, “love me, love my dog” mentality is becoming more common.” According to NALZO The Label’s Dog Bite Statistics Australia more than 2000 Australians are hospitalised annually due to dog bites.
Yearly, an average of 2061 hospital admissions in Australia are attributed to dog attacks, with children frequently bitten on the head and older adults experiencing severe injuries, including hip fractures from dog-related falls. “The biggest concern is the threat to other park users who simply want to enjoy the space without worrying about off-lead dogs approaching them aggressively or jumping on them,” he said. Continued page 5
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