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Wednesday 5 February 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au Free range: Chookie and owner Angel Laghou enjoy their outings – especially to the beach. Picture: Supplied
This fowl likes to play BITTERN resident Angel Laghou is used to turning heads when it comes to walking her pet. Chookie is a “rescue chicken” and is never happier than when strutting out about one the other end of a leash to Angel. “She’s become a star on the Mornington Peninsula,” Angel said. “She is my pet, and she comes with me on adventures all over. She has been to local car shows, the beach, local stores and more. People are starting to recognise her everywhere.” The four-year-old ISA Brown hen doesn’t know it, but she’s fulfilling a need Ms Laghou, 19, had when she was a child. “I’ve had chooks since I was two,” she said. “I’ve grown up with them. “I always wanted to take our family chooks on outings but, of course, I wasn’t allowed to. “When I got Chookie three years ago I noticed she liked to sit on my lap and was friendly with strangers and I began thinking she would probably like to come out with us. “She took a while to get used to the leash, which is understandable because not a lot of chooks would like it. Now she’s used to it she loves it.” Ms Laghou, who runs a small business and does some modelling, said Chookie has proven adept at coping with the demands of life in public places. “She definitely loves the beach – Balnarring beach is her favourite,” she said. “She can get upset when dogs come up but she’s learned to just chill. She knows people like to see her – and kids are always wanting to pat her.” Stephen Taylor
Shire honours for leading citizens VERONICA Whittaker is Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 2020 Citizen of the Year. Ms Whittaker was recognised for her work with not-for-profit boutique Clothes4U which provides clothing and support to those in need. The service began in 2013 when a group of peninsula women got together to discuss how they could help disadvantaged women and girls. Their idea was to “pamper women who were fragile and raise their confidence”.
Ms Whittaker was elected president and Clothes4U now offers clothing, shoes, under garments and toiletries to men and women. Education programs assist with interview preparation and clients can have a free hairdressing service weekly. Clothes4U is a registered charity with deductible-gift status. The shire’s 2020 Young Citizen of the Year is Ellie-May Maguire, 22. She is being recognised for her advocacy in juvenile diabetes research, her
contribution to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), her involvement with the local Type 1 Diabetes community, and her own career as a paramedic. Ms Maguire is the public face of JDRF at Kids in the House in Canberra. She was also involved in securing bipartisan support from the government for $54.5 million in funding for clinical research to prevent, treat and cure Type 1 Diabetes. The Mornington Peninsula 2020
Community Event of the Year is the 91st Red Hill Show. The show on Saturday 9 March 2019 was run by the Red Hill Horticultural Society formed in 1896. The showgrounds were transformed into a colourful and entertaining spectacle attracting about 11,000 people. They included 96 trade sites, 450 exhibitors, 1500 exhibits supported by 150 volunteers. Peninsula producers were the focus of the event and the newly created Mornington Peninsula Paddock was
full, with gourmet food and 5-star producers. The show focuses on social sustainability and community building and provides an opportunity for community groups to fundraise and/or promote their organisations. The selection panel when considering nominations for the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award agreed some candidates warranted consideration beyond the scope of the award categories. Continued Page 7
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