THE YOUNGEST councillor elected to Kingston Council is now mayor. Councillors unanimously voted at a swearing in ceremony for councillors on Monday evening (7 November) for Cr David Eden to be the municipality’s civic leader for the next 12 months. “It is a great privilege and responsibility to represent our community as Mayor and I will focus on listening to our community, building productive partnerships and seeking out innovative solutions to help make Kingston an even better place to live, work and enjoy,” Cr Eden said in a statement. Cr Eden was elected last month to service a second four-term…
Author: Neil Walker
GRADUATION rates at Evocca College campuses have plunged to new lows amid a belated federal government crackdown on taxpayer funding to the private owned vocational education and training providers. Updated figures released by the federal government late last month show course completion rates at Evocca College campuses nationally fell from a low 23.6 per cent between 2012-14 to 12.2 per cent in 2013-15. The Queensland-based company trades as the Australian College of Training and Employment abbreviated to ACTE Pty Ltd and offers “study now, pay later” deals, known as VET FEE-HELP loans, to students who do not have to pay…
A COMMENT on Facebook by a first-time Frankston councillor threatened to cause strife between Frankston Council councillors before newly elected councillors even met for the first time. Steve Toms, elected in South ward, posted a message on the Saturday evening of council elections day (22 October), before all votes were counted, saying “good riddance” to Crs Rebekah Spelman and Michael O’Reilly. “Good to see Sandra [Mayer] back on Council. Good to also have Brad Hill and Kris Bolam returning to represent us on Council,” Mr Toms’ Facebook comment stated. “Good riddance to Spellman [sic] and O’Reilly.” Michael O’Reilly was subsequently…
LAST weekend’s Kingston Council elections on 22 October marked the end of the local government line for longtime councillor John Ronke who decided not to contest the election after 17 years as an elected representative at council. Mr Ronke was council’s longest-serving councillor having been in office for 17 years since Kennett era council amalgamations in 1997. He said he is going to miss being a councillor but felt the time was right to step aside having become increasingly disillusioned with a younger generation of local government representatives who he believes are more focused on personal political gain than helping…
FRANKSTON Dolphins Football Club will fight on and hope to be readmitted into the VFL in 2018 after creditors voted to accept partial payment for outstanding debts. Worrells, the administrators of the club, met with creditors on Friday (28 October) at the club’s premises and a deal to save the 129-year-old footy club from extinction was accepted by those owed money after the club went into voluntary administration in August. Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants managing partner Paul Burness said unsecured creditors voted to accept partial payment of monies owed over four years with the first payment due to be…