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Ambassadors learn about fire’s role in nature
It’s a drill: Chillie and Tully, of Moorooduc Primary School, and Janaya, Lachlan, Hannah and Codi, of Tyabb Railway Station Primary School, show off their firefighting skills. Picture: Gary Sissons
PARKS Victoria’s Sam Pollard gave a talk to Devilbend Foundation ambassadors from Tyabb Railway Station Primary School and new arrivals from Moorooduc Primary school last week about fire, its connection with the bush, and how Parks Victoria uses fire in its parks management plan. They are all supporters of the Devilbend Foundation, which works to develop and protect the natural features reserve. Volunteers meet to plant and weed, monitor birds, aquatic life and frogs, and take part in Biolinks programs on the peninsula. “The schools have appointed four ambassadors who will be working together in a cross-school partnership. The schools will visit the reserve twice a term – or sometimes even for a third time for something extra special,” Moorooduc principal Peter Quigley said. He said Mr Pollard “did a great job” talking to the students and explaining how fire was used by Australian indigenous cultures for food gathering and to rejuvenate the bush. The ambassador’s other activities this term included helping Victorian Fisheries release 15,000 fish, as well as assisting with Water Watch and learning the importance of regular monitoring. Term 3 activities include a bird count and a talk on the importance of regular monitoring, particularly and a planting morning on National Tree Day, Friday 27 July.
‘Market test’ for CEO’s job Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au ADVERTISEMENTS will soon be running for Mornington Peninsula Shire’s top job – chief executive officer. Held by Carl Cowie for the past four years, the CEO’s job comes with a package of nearly $400,000. The shire – with the help of consult-
ant Topsy Petchey, a former Kingston councillor and mayor – will now select a recruitment firm to identify suitable candidates. Mr Cowie was appointed in 2014 and councillors last week decided to advertise the job, giving him the required six months’ notice of their intentions to not automatically reappoint him. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne issued a statement saying the decision “is
not a reflection on the performance of the chief executive officer, but rather council exercising due diligence to ensure that the most appropriate person is in place to lead the organisation into the future”. Cr Payne – a former CEO at several municipalities – later told The News that he “hopes Carl reapplies – he’s indicated to me that he will”. “It will take a very good person to
match what he’s done … the risk is that there are plenty of jobs out there and someone else might grab him,” Cr Payne said. Mr Cowie told The News he had “been strongly encouraged to re-apply and I have advised that I will be doing that”. “In the meantime, we have a lot of important business to get on with and that is what I am focused on.“
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Mr Cowie has also received a ringing endorsement from the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ Association, which attributes his “private industry background and cost driven approach” to saving millions of dollars for the shire. Association secretary Dr Alan Nelsen said Mr Cowie’s leadership had resulted in “significant improvement in the shire’s transparency and openness”. Continued page 14