RSPCA Peninsula has opened a cat and small animal centre at Pearcedale to increase its capacity to care for cats and small animals and reduce the time they take to adopt. The new centre, which opened on Sunday 2 April, was financed by donors, including gifts from the estates of the late RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth AM – who led the organisation for almost 50 years, and long-time supporter Margaret Johnson. The centre has “cat cabins” with concealed spaces, an isolation wing, long-stay facilities, and an adoption wing with “meet and greet” rooms. RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz…
Author: Liz Bell
ALEXANDRA Hunt decided to change careers at 30, and says a paid traineeship allowed her to follow her dreams as a mature age student. Hunt, of Rosebud, who recently completed her Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015) traineeship at the Village Aged Care Residence in Capel Sound, secured a permanent part-time position at the village, which allowed her to be paid while being trained. After working as a cleaner for private houses, Hunt says she was ready for a change when she landed the opportunity to return to study. “I had been cleaning private homes on the Mornington Peninsula for…
EASTER services on the popular Mornington tourist train were unexpectedly cancelled on Saturday (8 April) after the old “red rattler” heritage train came off its tracks close to the Watt Road station. The train was on a training run from Moorooduc to Mornington with a driver and supervisor on board. Nobody was injured and the train was not carrying passengers. Mornington Railway Preservation Society president Andrew Swaine said the cause of the derailing was unknown and the train would not be back in service until investigations were completed. The train runs on part of the former Victorian Railways’ Baxter to…
A SERIOUSLY injured koala found close to death in Tyabb last month is on the road to recovery thanks to the efforts of wildlife rescuers, rehabilitators and local police. The injured marsupial was seen clinging to a tree overhanging busy Tyabb-Tooradin Road on 10 February, one ear missing and open wounds all over its body. Canons Creek wildlife rescuer Nigel Williamson was called and used his well-honed tree climbing skills to retrieve the ill animal, helped by police officers who were able to redirect traffic while he undertook the risky rescue. Once safely down the koala’s injuries became obvious, including…
WALLARA – which supports more than 500 people with an intellectual disability across 20 sites – has relaunched its Sages Cottage Farm and Cafe at Baxter with extra experiences that include a nature playground, extended hours and a liquor licence, a “biofilta” field, and an “ops shed”. Wallara CEO Phil Hayes-Brown said the farm and cafe was one of Wallara’s most important social enterprises and was run by 100 adult clients (mostly 18-27 years old) and around 20 support and job coaches. The farm employs 10 of its young clients in hospitality, farm management and land management services. The property…