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A goofy’s winning style
UP and coming surfer Ava Holland shows her style with a backhand re-entry. Pictures: Yanni (main) and supplied.
AVA Holland is making waves in the world of competitive surfing and left some of Australia’s best surfers in her wake at the recent Skullcandy Oz Grom Open Event at Lennox Head. The goofy-footer (a surfer who stands with their right foot facing the front of the board) from Dromana – who turns 14 this month showed her style during the six-day event to win the under-16 division with a 13.80 two-wave heat total. Holland, who took up surfing three years ago, said the Skullcandy was one of the most prestigious surfing events in the world. It includes a World Surf Leaguesanctioned pro junior qualifying series event as well as a competition for promising grommets in the under-14, 16 and 18 divisions. Holland, a member of the Peninsula Surfriders Club committee, took up surfing while in primary school. She credits learning her skills from her surfing father Graham and from studying the styles of surfing idols. “I plan to keep competing and I’ll take it as far as I can,” Holland said. “I just love being out there on the board, no wave is ever the same, it’s always exciting to challenge yourself and see what you can do.”
Call for action on housing crisis Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au THE state government is being called on to spend $100 million on social housing on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh says 3000 homes are needed “just to meet the demand of 2934 in desperate need of a home”. The shire’s call for the state to build more homes, make it mandatory for “social or affordable” housing to be included in new housing projects, support crisis accommodation and improve public transport comes during national
Homelessness Week 1-7 August). “Homelessness isn't just happening to someone else in another place. It's experienced by many in our community. Together, we can make a difference,” Marsh said. Rising rents and property values meant a growing number of residents were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless on the peninsula, including many elderly residents. Marsh said women and children were “disproportionally affected, often due to family violence”. The first of three public forums to increase awareness of homelessness and the lack of affordable housing on
the peninsula will be held later this month in Mornington. Increasing living costs, decreasing housing affordability and social disconnections have been identified as contributing to increased homelessness on the peninsula. Organised by community advocacy group Peninsula Voice and hosted by the chief executive of the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre, Ben Smith, the first forum will discuss the “hidden problem” of homelessness. Smith said the forum would shine a light on the opportunities “in front of us if we choose to work together as a
community”. “How well we understand the key drivers of homelessness and the impact it has on individuals and our community is a critical first step to finding workable solutions,” he said. “Those of us at the frontline have seen significant increases in demand from people in need with increasingly complex issues requiring additional assistance. Already stretched services are being pushed to the limit, so engaging the community on this issue now is critical.” Smith, who has worked in the sector for more than 15 years, said a “perfect storm” of increasing living costs,
decreasing housing affordability and social disconnections was contributing to a drastic increase in homelessness on the peninsula. He has called for a review of the council regulations around short stay accommodation – including the possibility of creating short term precincts to free up hundreds of holiday properties and make them available for medium and long term rental. “It would cause a few ruffles, but what’s more important,” Smith said. He praised the shire council’s proactive approach and said it was “listening”. Continued Page 9
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