Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man with murder over the 2013 death of Barry Gray in Rye. 72-year-old Barry Gray was found deceased by police at his property in Parson Street on Friday 17 May about 9.40am. Detectives investigating the case successfully applied to both the Victorian and New South Wales Attorney General’s Department’s for the 23-year-old man’s movement into Victorian jurisdiction, from a NSW correctional facility, to face the charge. John Woodruff appeared before the NSW Local Court in August where it was determined he would serve his current sentence, in relation to other matters, in Victoria. He…
Month: September 2014
MORE than 500 people including senior police, politicians and community leaders, packed Mornington’s Peninsula Community Theatre last week in an overwhelming show of support for the campaign to turn the tide against family violence. Emotions ran high and many a tear was shed as the audience heard shocking details of the effects family violence was exacting on the community. The forum, organised by recently formed community group Peninsula Voice, featured speeches by Rosie Batty, Police Commissioner Ken Lay, Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack, and Rodney Vlais from Men’s Referral Service and No To Violence. Peninsula Voice president Peter…
THE Graham Pittock conflict of interest case, now concluded, has pulled the focus squarely on to the deep dysfunction afflicting Mornington Peninsula Shire Council over the Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre. The case began with a 2012 allegation of conflict of interest – anonymous, as is allowed, to the secretive Local Government Investigation and Compliance Inspectorate – and ended last Friday with a fine and costs order. Almost a modern-day “Jarndyce and Jarndyce”, for those who read Dickens. For more than two years Cr Pittock was prevented from voting on the financially huge and physically expanding SPA, such is the cracking…
A MAN reportedly “died twice” on the Sorrento-Queenscliff ferry last Friday afternoon before being revived by crew members using a defibrillator. He was breathing when taken by air ambulance to the Austin Hospital and admitted in a critical condition, according to an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson. The ferry had moved only metres from the Sorrento wharf when the man, 50, collapsed with an unknown medical condition, prompting the crew to swing into action. The ferry was backed into position as two ambulances and the air ambulance arrived within 14 minutes to treat the man, who is said to be from Melbourne.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has apologised for labelling a business planning to build a sports and trampoline centre on the southern peninsula “a scam”. The company, Peninsula Jump, announced via Facebook in July last year that it planned to open a fitness and sports centre on the peninsula which would also include a large trampolines zone. A lack of visible progress by the business has led critics on Facebook to criticise Peninsula Jump for a perceived lack of transparency. Peninsula Jump also launched “a non-profit arm” last November called Miracle Fund to raise funds for charitable causes. Council’s economic development manager…
THE state government is under fire over secrecy surrounding an agreement for a major commercial development with Point Nepean National Park. The Nepean Conservation Group and Nepean Historical Society has accused the government of keeping the community “in the dark” on critical details of the plan which includes a 99-year lease over the Point Nepean Quarantine Station to a Portsea property developer. And the National Parks Association of Victoria is “deeply concerned” about the creation of a “private enclave” within the national park. It says the public will have to pay to use most of the “facilities and activities” in…
THE 10.37 train to Hastings last Wednesday carried more than passengers – it brought with it the welcome legacy of 125 years of rail travel to the town. And what a celebration it heralded. On the platform to greet it were 100 guests waving flags, some wearing period costume, as well as memorabilia from the period, marquees, primary school choir, Western Port Secondary College’s salza band, dignitaries and a town crier. Oh, and even a birthday cake. Admittedly, the function was not as grand as that which launched the opening of the service in 1889, when it was regarded as…
FOR member for Mornington David Morris to lose his seat at the upcoming poll, the state Coalition government would need to suffer its most catastrophic defeat in history. Safely ensconced in the fifth safest Coalition seat in Victoria and requiring a swing of more than 20 per cent to unseat him, Mr Morris is all but certain of remaining the member for Mornington beyond the November election. But recently appointed Labor representative for Mornington Rebecca Wright, pictured right, isn’t fazed by such obstacles. The 38-year-old mother of three, who works as a speech pathologist at Peninsula Specialist College in Dromana,…
EMERGENCY services authorities are warning Frankston and Mornington Peninsula residents to brace themselves for a prolonged bushfire season of extreme risk due to unusually dry conditions and predictions of higher than average temperatures over the spring and summer months. Country Fire Authority, Department of Primary Industries and council officers are stepping up efforts to reduce fuel loads across a number of high-risk locations on the peninsula in response to warnings of “significant” risks during an “above normal bushfire season”. Residents are also being urged to reduce fuel loads and ensure their properties are clear of potential hazards. Mornington Peninsula shire…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire CEO Michael Kennedy believes he is “the very best person” to continue in the role he has held for the past 15 years. A newspaper advertisement campaign for the job launched on Saturday said the successful applicant would need to “deliver inspirational and visionary leadership”. Whoever gets the $350,000 a year job will also be expected to “drive strategic change” and have the “ability to see things from a fresh perspective”. One day after councillors surprisingly decided to test the market rather than reappoint him, Dr Kennedy emailed staff – “team-mates” – with the results of his…
THIS year’s Face of the Mornington Racing Club, Caitrin O’Rourke, is no stranger to racecourses. The 29-year-old nurse from Ireland relocated to Australia two years ago and has always had a keen interest in horse racing. “My dad and brothers had shares in horses in Ireland and I have been doing show jumping and racing since I was a lass. While I was putting myself through uni I rode track work for trainers to earn extra money,” said Ms O’Rourke, who lives next to the Mornington Racecourse with her partner, racecourse vet Eoin Kelly. Ms O’Rourke arrived in Melbourne two…
RYE Community Centre’s Betty Jennings shows off her painting of Oosterschelde, one of the tall ships to enter Port Phillip. The paintings is one of many at the centre’s annual art and craft fair this Saturday 13 September 10am-3pm. Everyone is invited. Entry is by gold coin donation. The fair showcases and celebrates the creative achievements of participants. Social art is on Mondays 12.30-3.30pm, patchwork on Tuesdays 9.30am-11.30am, social drawing group Tuedays 1-3pm, craft group on Wednesdays 9-11am and watercolours Thursdays 9.15am-noon or 12.30-3pm.
A NINE-year-old Rosebud girl has told police a man driving a white Toyota utility tried to grab her by the arm as she was walking to school on Friday morning. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Rosebud CIU, said the incident occurred on the northern side of Besgrove St, next to the soccer fields, at 8.50am. The vehicle, being driven on the wrong side of the road travelling west, stopped next to girl. The driver – the only occupant – said “come here kid” but the girl refused. The man then allegedly attempted to grab her from the driver’s seat. The girl says she…
Council meeting Monday 25 August, Rye Civic Hall. Presentation on Point Nepean development proposal, a fine dinner, council meeting highlighted by the swearing-in of new Red Hill ward councillor Tim Wood. THIS was The Moment, especially for residents of Red Hill ward. Effectively disenfranchised since former councillor Frank Martin fell ill in December 2013, we hinterland wardies were keen to see new man Tim Wood, declared byelection winner on Saturday, sworn in and taking his seat at the council table. Word was that the induction was not to occur until 8 September, but councillor-elect Wood is a man in a…
WHILE every author draws on life experiences to form a narrative, not every author has such a rich and at times dark background as Klaas Kalma. His upbringing within a dysfunctional family in war torn Holland, journeying to Australia and learning how to speak English among strangers provides a rich lode to be mined and woven into the fabric of his first novel, Creeping Shadows. Written at the urging of a close friend, the self-published book has sold more than 10,000 copies online and, according to a librarian, has no time to gather dust on the shelves at the lending…
CRIME across the Mornington Peninsula jumped 10.9 per cent over the past 12 months – much higher than the 3.7 per cent increase for Victoria as a whole – with drug offences, robbery and thefts from vehicles leading the way. Victoria Police statistics released last week for the year 2013-14 to 30 June reveal drug offences were up 8.3 per cent compared to the previous year, from 377 to 412 incidents. Percentage changes are calculated as a rate per 100,000 people to give a uniform snapshot of crime across all regions. Thefts from vehicles surged 20.2 per cent, to 1188…