Whitaker commemoration

About 150 people gathered to to learn about the life and times of Alan Whitaker.
Whitaker was an ANZAC and a waterside worker shot by police on 2 November 1928 during a bitter industrial dispute. He died on Australia Day 1929.
In Port Melbourne in 1928, unemployment was running at over 70%, and the shipping on which employment depended had dried up dramatically. The bitterly unpopular Beeby award meant that unionists had to wait for two pick ups a day on the exposed Hogan's Flat (the area between Station and Princes Pier) with absolutely no guarantee that they would get work.
Attempts to bring in 'volunteer' labour were resisted by unionists and their women.
We heard stories of descendants of those workers and what conditions had been like in their families with not enough to eat, not enough to pay the rent, and not enough to pay for gas.
Here Kevin Bracken, Victorian branch secretary of the MUA, life member of the Sandridge Life Saving Club, huge contributor to the Colts Football Club, introduces the day.

Dog off leash review

Residents who enjoy Garden City Reserve with their dogs were amongst 20 submitters to council on Monday on the dog off leash review.

The main issues raised by submitters were

• about the proposal for dogs being leashed 5 m on either side of shared paths


• the number of dogs capable of being under the effective control of one person


• the process that will be used to determine whether an area should be made temporarily unavailable for dogs, and whether alternative areas would be made available


• whether more hours could be made available in the morning for dogs to be off leash

These issues will alll be investigated further before Council makes final recommendations arising from the consultation process at the meeting on 23 November.

Cruise Ship season about to begin

The first cruise ship of this year's season, the Pacific Dawn, arrives at Station Pier on Monday 2 November +/- 8 am.

I highly recommend that you keep the cruise ship schedule handy to know ship arrivals and departures, and plan for tram and traffic impacts.

Princes Pier in October (2)

The barge on the western side of Princes Pier.

photo: Ron Cassano

Princes Pier in October (1)

After two years of work, today the barge shifted to the west side of Princes Pier.

photo: Ron Cassano

Decision on Kyme Place

The Kyme Place appeal was heard by VCAT on 28th and 29th September.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Tribunal member gave a verbal decision on the spot which supported the Council's decision with no change.
The full written decision will be received in due course.

Mysterious fence

Is it part of the Melbourne Main Sewer project? Is it fenced for sheep or badly behaved dogs? Is it an outdoor playpen?

There has been considerable speculation about the fenced area of Turner Reserve.

The fences will be used to allow for the progressive rehabilitation of the degraded areas of Turner Reserve.