EVERY story has an ending but another tale is always about to begin. That’s certainly the case for writer Mairi Neil who closed the book on 20 years as founder of the Mordialloc Writers’ Group when she headed back to birth country Scotland for a break last year. On her return teaching the write stuff to others has seen a new chapter open up at Longbeach Place neighbourhood house in Chelsea. It’s all about broadening horizons and spreading the word about people’s lives and experiences, according to Ms Neil. She says the world is changing rapidly and everyone, no matter…
Author: Neil Walker
RATEPAYERS will come to the aid of firefighters amid a slight funding shortfall to fit out its new Edithvale fire station. A new Country Fire Authority station was built on Station Street after the state government contributed “almost $4 million” of taxpayers’ money, according to Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson in May, but the CFA asked Kingston Council for $30,000 to fit out office space on the top floor of the station. Councillors voted at the 25 June public council meeting to approve the $30,000 funding from council’s 2017-18 community grants budget. South Ward councillor Tamsin Bearsley said the office…
THE squeeze on available carpark spaces around Kingston amid the rise of multi-unit apartment blocks will be investigated by Kingston Council. North Ward councillor George Hua introduced a notice of motion at council’s latest public meeting on 25 June asking council officers to review planning rules. “There are new units being built and a lot of new cars being introduced into the area,” Cr Hua said at the meeting. Building four or five units on land where one property previously stood means vehicle parking overflows onto streets, Cr Hua said. He said council possibly needs to revise its planning scheme…
THOUSANDS of dollars that could have been splashed out on a search and rescue operation off Frankston beach was saved thanks to CCTV surveillance cameras near the foreshore. When a 4-metre tinny containing fishing rods and a bait bag was washed ashore at Frankston beach last Saturday morning (23 June) it was initially feared that fishermen may have fallen overboard. Frankston police Senior Sergeant Phil Hulley said “quick thinking” had avoided the launch of a major search by air across Port Phillip Bay. CCTV footage from cameras installed at the building partly leased by the Frankston Yacht Club showed two…
FRANKSTON councillors have agreed to a revised code of conduct as part of an annual review of behavioural guidelines. Changes to the code include a voluntary lowering of the dollar value at which councillors must declare a gift and clarification about how councillors should conduct themselves online while making comments on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Councillors met to discuss and vote on the conduct code changes alongside separate amendments to council meeting procedures at a public council special meeting held on Wednesday 13 June. As part of the conduct code changes, councillors must now declare any…