MARCH 31, 2015 \ MELTON.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Hello pumpkin
(Shawn Smits)
Pumpkins are popping up all over town and Jeff Jones Plants and Produce has its fair share on display. With the harvest season in full swing, various varieties of the golden vegetable are now available, and not just to eat. Produce store owners Jeff and Glenda Jones are welcoming visitors to take photos with their pumpkin displays to help raise money for a good cause. The newest additions to the crop are two Atlantic Giant pumpkins, the largest weighing in at 184 kilograms. For a gold coin donation, visitors to the store can take their photo with the vegetable giants. Mrs Jones says they want to use the opportunity to raise money for the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital. “We just thought it would be a nice thing, to have a gold coin donation for a local charity,” Mrs Jones said. The Atlantic Giant pumpkins are not edible and are purely for display. The Joneses purchased these particular ones from a Melton grower. Mrs Jones says they usually sell for about $40 to $50 and many people, such as restaurant and cafe owners, buy pumpkins for decoration purposes year-round. The Joneses are yet to finish harvesting their own pumpkins but already have a lot of varieties for sale, including a range of heritage pumpkins. CAITLIN MORRIS
Yasemin Talat
Fireys fight for Fiskville The local community is pushing for the controversial Fiskville CFA training facility to reopen, despite the state government’s announcement last week the centre would be closed forever. The level of community support for Fiskville is rapidly growing amid reports that the facility is being permanently closed due to chemical contamination. Last week, after 550 tests at the site, the
Country Fire Authority board unanimously recommended the site close forever. Results from the tests showed the drinking water and showers were clear of contamination, but high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS were found around the fire training area and in a new zone where the chemicals had previously not been detected. Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett said despite previous clean-ups, Fiskville could “no longer operate safely as a training ground”. “Our immediate concern is for the people
at Fiskville and we are working closely with the CFA and the affected staff to assist them through this difficult change,” she said. A Facebook group, Proud to Support Fiskville, created by the Ballan fire brigade, has already gained more than 2000 “likes” in about a week. The support has also grown beyond Facebook, with an active Save Fiskville campaign now in motion. Lieutenant Ian Ireland, of the Ballan brigade, said he was “devastated” at the news of Fiskville’s closure, describing the facility as
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a major asset to the community and economy, and said CFA firefighters would be at a loss without it. He said the community would continue to push for the facility to reopen. At a meeting on Friday, Ms Garrett, CFA chief executive officer Michael Wooten, CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson and Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley addressed the community. Mr Ireland said the meeting cleared up none of the concerns and it remained unclear what would happen to the 60 employees at Fiskville.
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By Yasemin Talat
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