5 June 2019

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Wednesday 5 June 2019

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Students’ flag of reconciliation DROMANA Primary School students last Friday used different-coloured clothing to transform the school’s oval into the black, red and yellow of the Aboriginal flag, as part of a day of activities to mark Reconciliation Week. Students were inspired by Aboriginal studies/science teacher Shanai Kellett, the great-granddaughter of pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls.

“I am so proud to be able to educate Dromana students about my culture and in turn students always show interest and great enthusiasm when learning about significant events such as reconciliation week,” she said. “I am humble in knowing that I am trying to help pave the way for young children’s curious minds. Understanding is knowledge.” Picture: Yanni

Spring takeover for boat ramps Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au THE state government says spring will be the time it takes over running boat launching ramps on the Mornington Peninsula. The Better Boating Fund was given $47.2 million in the recent state budget to “work with local councils and land managers to abolish boat ramp parking

and launching fees, upgrade boating infrastructure and boost safety across the state”. The Premier Daniel Andrews announced the launching ramp takeover plan on Channel 31’s “Talking Fishing” in the lead-up to last November’s state election. Since then, Future Fish Foundation director David Kramer has slammed the shire as “incompetent at managing the boat ramps”, arguing that the

state’s new Boating Minister Jaala Pulford “needs to abolish boat ramp fees and take over management of the boat ramps as soon as possible”. But the mayor Cr David Gill said the real reason behind Mr Kramer’s impatience “seems to be all about the government hoping that Mornington Peninsula Shire ratepayers will continue to pay $1 million annually for boat ramps”. “At the same time, the government

is demanding removal of all the normal parking and boat launching fee income that provides for maintenance and safety work that only the council presently undertakes,” Cr Gill said. Cr Gill said Mr Kramer – who he dubbed the “deputy premier” – had “helped create the mess by influencing Mr Andrews’ decision to take over the boat ramps without notice”. “Mr Kramer is now stuck with his rhetoric of ‘useless local government’

and a state government that has no idea how to run boat ramps,” he said. “The government is struggling to put into place an expensive new authority that has no idea of the complexity of keeping boat ramps safe.” Cr Gill challenged Mr Kramer “to invite me onto his program to advise on dredging and maintenance programs and the ramp rage that will happen due to lack of supervision – especially if a squall develops”. Continued Page 7

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5 June 2019 by Mornington Peninsula News Group - Issuu