By Marg Stork
HAVE your animals desexed! That’s the advice and plea from the president of the Australian Animal Protection Society, Andrew Fielder.
Mr Fielder, who presented the annual report of the Keysborough-based animal shelter to the public, says the list of surrendered animals this past year included 1209 dogs and 3253 cats, showing “our efforts to educate the public on desexing are still failing”.
The AAPS has been functioning for 29 years. It covers a wide area and has an equally wide age group in its staunch supporters, from school children to retirees.
Besides his concern about the de-sexing of cats and dogs, Mr Fielder also scotched rumours of AAPS’s imminent demise. “They are just that — rumours.”
He acknowledged the donations of money, time and equipment by individuals, school groups and the corporate sector.
Christmas bazaar
The AAPS is planning a very special event in coming months, just in time for Christmas.
Following a fire in the animal outpatients clinic on March 29, the shelter has been forced to downsize its annual fund-raising November fete and will instead host a pre-Christmas bazaar.
The bazaar, from 10am-2pm on November 25, will have stalls with miscellaneous gifts, homemade cakes, Christmas items and cards, plants, preserves, books and craft.
The opportunity shop will be open and there will be a sausage sizzle and Devonshire teas. And the good news is that Santa will be on hand to pose with visitors or with their pets.
The AAPS is at 10 Homleigh Road, Keysborough. For details call 9798 8415 or 9798 8044, or visit aaps.org.au.
United Nations assembly
One of the Rotary Club of Noble Park’s latest projects was sponsoring students from Noble Park Secondary College and Keysborough College for the annual Rotary District 9810 Model United Nations Assembly at Parliament House.
More than 100 students debated UN resolutions during one weekend last month in official debating settings.
Actual resolutions were debated and the students were encouraged to wear the official dress of the country they were representing. Full parliamentary debating rules are used, with a Speaker presiding.
“It gave us an insight into the procedures of government, plus debating in the house. A wonderful experience for all,” Keith Maxwell of the Rotary Club of Noble Park said.
Representatives of Noble Park Secondary representing Sweden were Melissa Nguyen and Lauren Wood, coached and supported by teacher Barbara Smith.
The Keysborough College Banksia campus students representing Canada were Hanh Dinh and Jennifer Sam, coached and supported by their teacher Kitsa Tsantilas.
Do you have a milestone, memory or question for Marg? Email marg@yourweekly.com.au or post submissions to A Moment with Marg, c/o Greater Dandenong Weekly, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175.
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