Schools came first
Tyabb Primary was established over 130 years ago (1895) and still cherishes an oak tree planted at that time; Tyabb Railway Primary School was established in 1907 and continues to utilise an original building as a classroom (“Airport came first” Letters 14/3/23). Being a local newspaper journalist one would assume Fran Henke has checked her facts and it would therefore follow that the airfield operators had great foresight in establishing the airfield long before Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted their first flight.
Furthermore, living some two kilometres from the southern end of the runway is hardly at ”the other end of the strip”.
Ms Henke’s letter was factually incorrect and, given her history as a local journalist, one must questions her motives.
Peter Davis, Tyabb
Filed …
I recently found this among throw-outs at the Mount Eliza Secondary College. On closer examination, you will see that someone has a good sense of humour. Something we all need in this day and age.
Clare Harwood, Mount Eliza
New-found respect
Last week’s letter from Ms. Henke claims the airport was in existence in Tyabb before any of the four schools (“Airport came first” Letters 14/3/23)
With Tyabb Primary School first opened in 1891 with an enrollment of 17 students, that would require the establishment of the airport at least 12 years before the first aeroplane flew in 1903.
What incredible foresight by Tyabb Airport’s founders!
It really is amazing, and deserves everybody’s respect and fealty.
Seriously, was that an honest error, or part of the post-truth world we live in today?
That one would have made Trump blush.
Sarah Howe, Somerville
Airport overview
The arguments about aerodromes being too close to town’s houses continue unabated and is an ongoing problem Australia-wide (“Airport came first” Letters 14/3/23).
In Toowoomba, as far back as the 1920s, flights have come and gone, including Amy Johnson, who landed at this airfield in 1930. However, for such structures and noise consideration, it’s always been that these vast areas are miles away from suburbia. These days, this aerodrome is used mainly by fly-in and fly-out workers and is home to several flying schools.
The detractors of that airfield continued, and yet they knew before they built their houses to the boundary that it was an airport.
In the case of Tyabb airport, the rumbles of discontent also continue. The authorities have deemed the area safe for aircraft at certain times of day and night. And yet some people continue to object even though the airport was there long before they bought houses in Tyabb (“Close airfield” Letters 7/3/23).
There are two reasons I can give about why it stays. One: the airport has been in use for over 50 years while the letter writer has been in Tyabb for 36 years. Secondly, this argument went to VCAT. After much angst, discussions, and research, it has been declared safe, and the Tyabb airport’s obligations are “to use the east-west runway for small aircraft (under 4500 pounds)” and “Permission for small aircraft to fly at night”. “Use of the airport for planes and helicopters and limitations around large aircraft movements (over 4500 pounds)” (Peninsula Aero Club website).
No doubt these changes will remain a problem for particular residents.
Anne Kruger, Rye
Too many jobs
I understand that many Australians feel we need submarines to stand up to “future enemies”. I also understand that many do not agree with this.
However, what I do not understand is the “joy and excitement” at the prospect of creating thousands of jobs, and skilled ones at that, in Australia.
What is painfully obvious at the moment is that we have far too many jobs with no one to do them. Think of teachers, doctors, nurses aged care workers, restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets (one person serving and about 15 self-service in my Coles this month}.
Then there is also “joy” at the prospect of training all these new technicians and engineers. I heard a couple of days ago that over half of our engineers are from overseas already. Why don’t we concentrate on training our own engineers, and doctors to keep Australia running efficiently before we rejoice at the prospect of even more jobs with not enough people to do them?
Mary Lane, Mornimgton
Open up pound
In 2018, after much lobbying by residents, the Mornington Peninsula Shire pound opened to the public for pet adoptions and reunifications without appointments. During COVID, they did not allow walk-ins. However, after lockdowns stopped, the council service centres and libraries reopened, but not our pound.
The council’s excuse for this was “aggressive members of the public”.
Many businesses have difficult clients, but they don’t close their doors to the public.
Other animal shelters are open to the public, such as the RSPCA and Animal Aid. Having an open door policy will increase pet reunifications and adoptions.
Many people have lodged complaints about this pound, to make it more user friendly, with very little change occurring.
My lobbying has caused council to ban me from its Facebook pages and to not read out my questions at council meetings. This is despite me, as a volunteer, creating a cheap pet desexing program, and posting the pets for adoption on Facebook.
Surely these are tasks paid council staff should be undertaking, with the several millions of dollars in revenue they receive from pet registrations, pet fines, daily impound and release fees?
This pound also does not allow volunteers or foster carers, and refuses to implement a subsidised pet desexing program for people who are financially disadvantaged.
The council promised a pet desexing program in 2019, but it never happened. Many other councils, including Frankston, Dandenong, Banyule and Moreland provide subsidised pet desexing programs as they understand the many health benefits of pet ownership.
Mornington Peninsula Shire should listen to the ratepayers who fund this pound and set up a cheap pet desexing program, as well as becoming more user friendly by opening your doors to the public.
Rosy Fischer, Mornington
Greater minds
Unfortunately for Joe Lenzo (“Set In Constitution” Letters 15/3/23), he could not have written a more compelling argument why “the Voice” should be legislated rather than written into the Constitution. Issues such as this are so significant that they should always remain open to review by greater minds than Joe’s (or indeed mine), both today and in the future. Joe may believe he possesses the wisdom of Solomon (pardon the Christian reference Joe) but he comes across more in the style of the zealot that he is keen to ascribe to others.
John Matthews, Heathmont
‘No Voice’ explained
I cannot allow the letter from Joe Lenzo to go unchallenged (“Set In Constitution” Letters 15/3/23)
Firstly let me say that I have no objection to there being an acknowledgment within the Preamble or as an addendum to the Constitution that there existed indigenous people in Australia prior to European settlement.
That however cannot be allowed to change the Constitutional system of government and laws that now form the basis of the multiracial, multicultural nation that is modern Australia.
The Voice as outlined by Mr Renzo is naively simplistic and tells us nothing of how it would function, how it would impact on government decisions or relate to national and sovereign issues.
The Voice referendum as proposed is nothing more than feel good virtue signalling and if successful would be the thin edge of the wedge that would result in a third chamber of government based purely on race and with undue influence on government decisions.
The indigenous communities cannot even agree between themselves on the merits of The Voice.
The proponents of The Voice are already pushing for Sovereign recognition. That means ownership!
There already are eleven members of Federal Parliament claiming Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island heritage. If they are unable to speak for their indigenous communities then they surely should not be there.
One cannot deny that there have been past injustices and countless billions of dollars have been spent by various governments in attempts to remedy the situation. Much of those monies have been either misused, misguided or misappropriated by various boards, committees or government authorities.
A successful Voice will be a Trojan Horse for democracy in Australia.
Graeme Burt, Frankston South
The Great Outdoors
My family recently enjoyed a night tenting at the Lightwood Camping Area in Greens Bush. It was wonderful to see other families spending time out in nature, hiking and exploring, away from screens. Some children played in the sandy soil while others discovered the creek without parents hovering over them. Kids thrive in the outdoors where they can roam and create and challenge themselves. As a parent, the saying “prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child” resonates. As part of this, outdoor play offers kids an opportunity to learn about appropriate risks and gain self-confidence. I encourage all families to spend time in the great outdoors. It’s a joy for all.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Containing the problem
Escapees from La La Land are everywhere nowadays, notably as councillors on the Mornington Peninsula shire council.
Addressing the housing crisis, which is none of council’s business council failed to get many, or any, owners of family holiday houses to renovate these and rent out on a permanent basis to the great unwashed.
Now, council is looking at people like me with a backyard, to put some sort of dwelling structure there and rent it out.
Councillors Susan Bissinger and Lisa Dixon waffle on about converting shipping containers into dwellings and other councillors are full of enthusiasm for this thought bubble idea. (“Containing the housing crisis” The News, 14/3/23).
Imagine the shocking discomfort on a cold day, or a hot day, or any day – have they never heard of an old caravan, or even a newish one, or a prefab cabin like in caravan parks?
It’s a sad state of affairs we’ve come to when our third tier of government is enthusiastic about consigning the unfortunate, the elderly, the poor, mum or dad, women over 55, to shipping containers for the night.
Brian Mitchelson, Mornington
AUKUS deal
How satisfying to see the “new” Government has completely endorsed the AUKUS pact and the associated acquisition of nuclear powered submarines.
Seems the “right-wing neoliberal evangelical Pentecostal pseudo-Christian racist Government” that preceded them were on the right track after all. Maybe as the current “left-wing socialist woke Government” is doing some good things, so did their predecessors. But saving us all the promised $275 on our power bills clearly is beyond the incumbents..
Jack Wheeler, Mornington
High rise benefits
I ran for council in the past in Frankston and had a platform to have high-rise redevelopment unit development and gave the reasons that the population of Frankston will increase and council will receive more rate revenue, which will mean fewer rate increases and property values will increase and so will employment opportunities.
Frankston has large blocks of land which is much cheaper than inner Melbourne and, as one resident told me, “There had been three auction boards in neighbouring blocks and if given a good price there could have been built something significant built “.
For prices to increase there needs to be demand.
Frankston can grow into a major city with rail connection to the Melbourne CBD and the metro tunnel.
Those who argue that development along the foreshore is bad and cannot be integrated in the planning of Frankston all they have to do is travel to Port Melbourne and it will surprise them what they will find.
Those who oppose development are those, in the main, who have self-interest and are stopping Frankston from moving ahead and modernising of the Frankston business sector and growing business.
Russell Morse, Karingal
No end in sight
Just what is going on with the continuous roadworks in the Carrum Downs area?
Currently we have four hot spots: Hall Road between Western Port Highway and McCormacks Road; Hall Road between McCormacks Road and Rowellyn Avenue; the intersection of Hall Road and Frankston/Dandenong Road; and the intersection of Ballarto Road and Lyrebird Drive.
There has been no activity at two of these sites for at least a month. The activity at another ceases at 7pm, which causes chaos on traffic travelling east from 4pm onwards, with traffic backed up to Seaford Road.
Why can’t they completely finish one roadwork site before they commence another?
Phil McDonald, Carrum Downs
Letters – 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number – can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
First published in the Mornington News – 21 March 2023
