Two new drug detection dogs have joined the ACT Corrective Services K9 Unit at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
Two-year-old New Zealand Huntaway Doug and 18-month-old Australian Kelpie Luka have been brought in to strengthen the K9 Unit’s ability to detect and intercept illicit substances before they enter the prison.
The Passive Alert Detector Dogs are trained to sit when they detect the odour of contraband substances, alerting the handler that there may be narcotic substances nearby. The K9 Unit conducts searches in the visitor’s area, accommodation blocks, mail and vehicles throughout AMC.
The dogs and handlers completed a 14-week course provided by NSW Corrective Services, and were selected for their ability for the role. Doug and Luka are being home-kennelled by their handlers.
Floriade in the ‘burbs
This year, Floriade will spill out of the Commonwealth Park grounds and into Canberra’s town centres for a floral-filled Saturday afternoon.
“Local residents are encouraged to bring along their picnic blankets and enjoy an afternoon of food and drinks with live music and family entertainment as they experience a little taste of Floriade in their local area,” said ACT Minister for Arts and Culture, Gordon Ramsay.
“We are extremely lucky in Canberra to have a jam-packed yearly event schedule and we want to continue to ensure that our local events promote positive community and social outcomes for the whole of the ACT.”
Floriade in the Suburbs will visit Gungahlin Town Square, Emu Inlet, Tuggeranong Town Park, Molonglo Valley Markets and Woden Town Square, each on a Saturday starting from 14 September.
Floriade’s organisers have also commissioned a large gnome by Graffik Paint and local artists Geoff, Peter and Jenny Filmer to celebrate the arrival of Floriade in the Suburbs, and are asking for Canberrans to help them name it.
For more information or to give the gnome a name, visit floriadeaustralia.com/inthesuburbs
Young Workers Advice Service
Canberra workers aged 25 years and under will be provided with more support and advice following the launch of the Young Workers Advice Service.
The ACT Government invested $470,000 through the 2018-19 Budget to establish the service, which will be delivered by UnionsACT.
Through the new service, young workers will be able to obtain information on their workplace rights and entitlements from one centralised place.
Visit youngworkerscbr.org.au for more information.
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