AS people live longer, memories can get shorter but that does not mean families’ shared time together is any less precious. That’s the message in the pages of a new children’s book dealing with the potentially upsetting issue of dementia. Grandma Forgets, written by Paul Russell and illustrated by Langwarrin resident Nicky Johnston, tells the story of a young girl coping with her grandma’s dementia amid memories of earlier times. It’s the latest in a series of children’s books dealing with weighty topics illustrated by Johnston. The Grandma Forgets tale is loosely based on Russell’s own observations coping with “the…
Author: Neil Walker
RATEPAYERS will not foot any legal bill for a councillor accused of condoning alleged defamatory comments on Facebook. The deputy mayor Cr Steve Toms asked his fellow councillors to approve payment of legal fees he may incur as the result of a threatened defamation suit from Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke. Councillors unanimously decided “that it is not appropriate for public funds to be used to settle or defend the foreshadowed defamation proceedings in relation to councillor Steve Toms”. The decision, made behind closed doors after last Monday evening’s council meeting on 4 September, was made public while a council…
AUSTRALIA Day will continue to be a day of celebration in Frankston after councillors voted to reaffirm 26 January as the date council hosts citizenship ceremonies and Citizen of the Year awards. Frankston Council will restate its commitment to 26 January being “the official National Day” in a submission to the Municipal Association of Victoria. Council has rejoined the MAV, the body representing councils across the state, after a self-imposed two-year membership absence (“Council to get back in MAV fold”, The Times 28/8/17). Cr Kris Bolam at the latest public council meeting last Monday (4 September) suggested council reaffirm its…
THE state government has stepped in to scrutinise Frankston Council with the appointment of a monitor to oversee council’s operations. The government intervention comes after the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate highlighted concerns about governance at council. The state councils watchdog noted council public meetings have dragged on over several evenings this year, a meeting was cancelled due to a boycott by some councillors and there are also concerns about council spending not listed in council’s official budget. Labor Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins announced on Sunday (10 September) she had decided to appoint a monitor to oversee council…
ANY doubts over the eligibility of federal MP Mark Dreyfus to sit in Parliament have been quickly dispelled by the member for Isaacs. Mr Dreyfus has confirmed he faces no threat of being stood down under section 44 of the Constitution that has seen several federal MPs, including Nationals MP and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, face the prospect of being declared ineligible to sit as an MP due to dual citizenship concerns. Online news site Crikey on Monday (4 September) suggested Mr Dreyfus and other Jewish MPs could become embroiled in the citizenship fiasco that has rocked Australian politics…