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20 OCTOBER, 2021
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Big school milestone After a rollercoaster year spent in and out of lockdown, prep pupils marked an important milestone when they returned to face-to-face learning on Monday. Preps at Laverton P-12 College celebrated 100 days at school at school with a series of fun events and dress-ups. Leading teacher Haylee Fithall said the pupils dressed up as old people for the day, wearing costumes they had made at home during lockdown. “Part of the day this year and every year is about discussing things that the students are proud of, and what they’ve leaned from the beginning of the year,” she said. “They discuss the things they didn’t know before and things they want to achieve ahead, it’s a motivating time for our kids to reflect upon that learning.” Activities on the day ranged from creating collections of 100 things and thinking about what they might buy for $100 to seeing how much of a lollipop remained after 100 licks. Prep Eric was “excited because we are doing lots of 100 activities” and Fatat was “excited to be at school because I get to see my friends and my teachers”.
Preps at Laverton P-12 College celebrated 100 days at school with a series of fun events and dress-ups.
COVID-19 relief package Hobsons Bay council will deliver more than $1 million in extra support for local businesses and sporting clubs hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillors voted last week to release the council’s fifth community support package since the pandemic began last year, taking to almost $11 million the council’s total investment in COVID support. The latest package is targeted at businesses struggling under the lengthy lockdowns that have crippled their trade, including an
extension to the waiver of fees for registrations of food ($530,000) and health ($40,000) and the waiver of footpath trading permit fees ($120,000) for the 2021-22 year. Eligible tenants of council buildings will also receive an estimated $100,000 in rent relief. The council has proposed a further $100,000 for an ‘innovation and collaboration’ event to help local businesses take advantage of new opportunities. Sporting clubs will benefit from assistance with electricity bills worth $85,000 and extension of the current waiver of ground
allocation fees, while $50,000 will go to the arts via a program of live outdoor music. A report to last week’s council meeting noted that the annual budget 2021-22, adopted in June, was premised on expectations that the period of severe lockdowns during the pandemic was drawing to an end. “It is anticipated that further support packages may be required as the roadmap to reopening unfolds.” Mayor Jonathon Marsden said the situation across Hobsons Bay and the whole of Victoria has failed to improve since the council adopted the budget.
“Extended lockdowns and high case numbers could not have been foreseen and it has meant we have had to look deeper for ways to further support our community as we prepare to exit lockdown once vaccination targets are met,” he said. “These additional programs build on some great initiatives already achieved, or in train, to support our community – it will hopefully help lighten the load for some and give us a sense of hope and something to look forward to.” The council will now directly contact eligible businesses, tenants and sporting clubs.
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By Benjamin Millar