IMAGINE a chilly May day such as the peninsula has been enduring, a decade or two into the future. The rain is, as now, hammering on roof and windows: the wind is keening through the trees. But you are snug, heater on day and night, with no great concern about the cost. Your home has been retrofitted to deliver never-ending geothermal heating, with power bills far below what you would incur for gas and electricity. In summer a cooling liquid is fed to your house via the same pipes. How will this be achieved? Peninsula dwellers live above a giant…
Month: May 2015
DROMANA Secondary College student Kobi Watson had “the most amazing time” at the Gallipoli centenary commemorations in Turkey last month. The Year 9 student was the only Mornington Peninsula student among 80 from Victoria chosen to attend the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove. This followed his keynote speech at the Hastings sub-branch’s memorial service at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day in November. Flying to Turkey on the nine-day tour, Kobi and the group visited the Topkapi Palace museum, Blue Mosque, cruised the Bosphorus river and toured the underground Yerebatan Cistern. “We saw all the sites as planned,” he said. “We…
A BREAKDOWN in radio communications has been blamed for a near head-on collision in January by two planes taking off from Tyabb airfield. Each plane had to veer away just after taking off from opposite ends of the same runway. Investigators have found that neither pilot heard that the other was about to use the runway and the club says it remains a mystery why their respective radio broadcasts were not received. However, a bystander hearing both broadcasts on a hand-held radio quickly sounded the alarm, but that too was not heard by either pilot. A student pilot in one…
VOLUNTEERS at Peninsula Health’s Assistance and Care in Emergency program (ACE) are celebrating a decade of providing support to patients and families during what is always a difficult time – a trip to the emergency department. A volunteers’ appreciation lunch was held last week as a part of National Volunteers Week. About 750 volunteers assist at Peninsula Health – with 100 in the ACE program. “Volunteers come from different walks of life but they all share the common goal of wanting to help others,” Peninsula Health volunteer program manager Helen Wilson said. “It can be really amazing because you get…
NEPEAN LEAGUE SOMERVILLE announced itself as a genuine premiership threat on Saturday when it held on to beat Sorrento in Nepean Division. The win saw the Eagles replace Sorrento in the top five, while relegating the opposition to seventh place on the ladder. It’s the second loss in a row for the Sharks after they went down to ladder leaders Red Hill by 16 points two weeks ago. Whilst the Eagles walked away with the four points on Saturday, it wasn’t all one way traffic. Somerville booted four goals to zip in the opening quarter and looked to be cruising…
PENINSULA LEAGUE LANGWARRIN dislodged Frankston YCW from the Peninsula Division top five with a come from behind five-point win on Saturday. The Kangaroos trailed by 20 points at three quarter and went further down when YCW kicked the opening goal of the final quarter. However, the tenacious Kangas kicked the final five goals of the game to record a 12.8 (80) to 10.15 (75) victory. Frankston YCW went into the game without Scott McLeod, Ricky Morris, Ben Tellis, Luke Collins, Ash Eames and Anthony Barry. Despite the missing key players Gavin Artico said the four points was all that counted.…
The friends of Cr T. Ritchie will be pleased to learn that he is able to be about again after his recent illness. *** THE Secretary of The Frankston Football Club begs to acknowledge 10s 6d from Mr Gregory, as a donation towards the Club. *** MR R. T. Picking and family, who have resided in Frankston for some years, have removed to Glen Huntly during the winter months. The absence of the young ladies will be much felt, particularly in social and church work. *** MR W. S Price, dentist, of Bourke street, notifies that he will visit…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Mornington teen Jarryd Ludlow. Jarryd was attending a class in Mitchell Street, Mornington about 3.30pm on Friday when he called his father to say he was going to catch a bus home. Jarryd did not catch the bus home, nor has his father heard from him since. Police are concerned for the 15-year-old’s welfare due to his age and the fact that this is out of character for Jarryd. Witnesses have reported seeing Jarryd on a bus from Dromana to Frankston Railway Station, then a train from Frankston to the…
View photos of the arrests here POLICE have evicted the leaders of a Christian group who staged a sit-in protest today (Wednesday 6 May) at the electorate office of Flinders Liberal MP Greg Hunt. Shortly before seven Christian leaders who had refused to leave the Hastings premises were arrested at 5.40pm, Mr Hunt released a statement criticising the Love Makes A Way group who were protesting against the federal government’s asylum seeker policies. A Christian coalition of Uniting Church, Baptist Church, Church of Christ and Peninsula City Church members grouped under the Love Makes A Way umbrella arrived at Mr Hunt’s…
CHRISTIAN leaders have occupied the Hastings office of Flinders Liberal MP Greg Hunt and are refusing to leave until the Federal Environment Minister gives a commitment “to release all children” from the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres. A Christian coalition of Uniting Church, Baptist Church, Church of Christ and Peninsula City Church members grouped under the Love Makes A Way banner turned up unannounced at Mr Hunt’s electorate office at 11am this morning to protest against the federal government’s asylum seekers policies. Love Makes A Way describes itself as “a movement of Christians seeking an end to Australia’s inhumane asylum seeker…
CRIB POINT FC – by Jared Newton CRIB POINT opened their winning account for the season with victory over Tyabb on Saturday in a solid 91 point win. The game won’t exactly go down as one of the greats and wasn’t spectacular viewing, but because of Crib’s slow start to 2015 it was a crucial clash. The Magpies had a lot of the football throughout the day but didn’t bring the kicking shoes as they posted a wayward 9.17 in the first three terms before clicking into gear for an 8-goal final quarter to finish with 17.21. Coach Annable missed…
HASTINGS FNC, by Phil Stone, club president SENIORS REPORT WE got another win and it has been great to see us start the season off the way we have. Our first quarter was almost flawless we didn’t miss many targets and played some really good footy. It’s always good to get off to some really quick starts. Unfortunately we played our worst quarter for the year in the second and let them back into it and went in at half-time just ahead. We responded well to the pressure and played a good second half and the only thing that was…
A VARIETY of groups have been working to restore fire-damaged Warringine Park, Hastings. Some areas of the park are being kept closed for safety reasons and to allow regrowth of bushland lost in the January fire. At work within the park are a Green Army team, Franklin Scholar students and the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s natural systems team members. The shire’s Simon Thorning said groups have been working on making the area safer, collecting rubbish and debris and clearing vegetation. “We’ll soon start restoring the bushland and continue to manage the fire risk in the park as the vegetation grows back,” he…
OPERATION Trinity – in which Fisheries Victoria officers patrolled peninsula and bayside beaches over summer targeting shellfish offences in the intertidal zone – has netted a number of offenders. One hundred and seventy two inspections detected 41 offences. These resulted in 25 verbal warnings, 11 official warnings and 28 infringement notices. Four court orders were issued. Fisheries Victoria executive director Travis Dowling said the pending court cases related to the illegal taking of abalone. “Several instances involved alleged offenders taking more than 40 abalone – when the bag limit is five per person. “Three cases involved individuals taking more than…
Waterside at Martha Cove has done all the hard work in finding some of the best builders and matching their floorplans to the lots available at Waterside, just 50m from the water! Find out more at hidden-harbour.com.au or call Jules Alexander on 1300 885 682
RED Hill have now knocked over the two grand final sides of last season after beating Sorrento on Saturday in Nepean Division. The Hillmen now sit in fourth position on the ladder as one of four teams who have won three matches this season. Rosebud, who has played five games, sits on top of the ladder while Rye, who has played four games, sits in second spot. Hastings is the only undefeated team in the competition. It has won all three of its games. On Saturday at David MacFarlane Reserve, Red Hill was wearing its white neutral colours. At half…
PINES remains undefeated at the top of the Peninsula Division ladder after beating Edithvale-Aspendale in a tight contest on Saturday. The Pythons have now won four of four matches, however, are yet to play the big three in Mt Eliza, Frankston YCW and Mornington. The true test of this football team will come when it tackles the powerhouse sides of the competition. The Pythons tackle Mornington this weekend and follow up with the Stonecats the week after. Only then will we know how much this side has improved. On Saturday, the Pythons trailed at half time by three points before…
A STATE government plan to bring more sand to Rosebud Beach near the pier is a waste of time and resources as it will disappear like it did five years ago, says Port Phillip Conservation Council. The so-called “beach renourishment” has been proposed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formerly DPI and before that DSE) and it is inviting residents to an information session later this month. Kelly Crosthwaite, DELWP’s regional director Port Phillip, says the beach has “depleted over time and will be widened between the pier and cluster of stormwater drains about 170 metres west…
WHEN a small flock of grey plovers takes off from Flinders next year little would the birds know that their progress is being monitored 24 hours a day. The movements of each of up to five birds carrying a transmitter will be tracked for two years, probably over a distance of 48,000 kilometres. Each year, after spending summer in Australia, the plovers take flight for their breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska. This pattern of following the sun is not unusual, but little is known about the grey plovers’ journey and the Australasian Wader Studies Group (AWSG) has launched a…
WITNESSES are being sought by police after holiday houses were burgled around the Seaview Av, Safety Beach area last month. Offenders gained entry to the houses 6-23 April by either forcing windows or doors at the rear. They stole TVs, DVD players and stereos. Crime Prevention Officer Julie Simpson, of Rosebud police, urges residents to be vigilant and report any information about suspicious activity and descriptions of people and vehicles – including registration numbers. “Any information and assistance would be greatly appreciated,” she said. “We only need information to solve a crime, not anyone’s name.” Call Rosebud police on 5986…
Monday 27 April. Venue: Main Ridge Community Hall. A good crowd. The usual healthy pre-meeting buffet was provided. Council Watch fell to the temptation of raspberry cakes served with, or as an alternative to, fruit salad dessert. No whipped cream, fortunately. AS befits a stoush in the week we marked the centenary of Gallipoli, councillors came out of their trenches with metaphorical bayonets fixed. The action was brisk on a number of fronts. There were casualties, mainly flesh wounds, in a couple of skirmishes. It started even before question time, with a punchy petition from 253 residents living near the…
POLICE are asking Mornington Peninsula traders and shoppers to watch out for counterfeit $50 and $100 notes. They say a woman tried to pass a fake $50 note at the Australia Post shop in Rosebud Plaza on Thursday at 3.35pm to buy a pen costing $1.50. The attendant told the woman she thought the note was counterfeit. The woman said she would take it to the bank. Five minutes later, the woman used the fake note to buy goods from the Discount Chemist outlet in Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud, and received $38 change. The woman police want to question about…
SHIRE rates will rise 5.9 per cent for 2015-16, councillors have decided in the budget document now available at shire offices, libraries and online. Further budget submissions can be made on 11 June at a special meeting in the Rosebud shire office. The rate rise is the same as last year’s and, for the third successive year the municipal charge has been held at $180 a property. CEO Carl Cowie told a recent council meeting the charge would be reviewed for the next budget. Some took this to mean it might be reduced or even abolished entirely. The mayor Cr…
THE startling and growing problem of seniors’ abuse is the focus of a forum in Hastings next week. Discussion will centre on protection of seniors’ rights and their money, will and powers of attorney. Seniors’ Rights Victoria manager Jenny Blakey said the Mornington Peninsula’s increasing number of elderlies were often victims of abuse by family members, neighbours and former friends. Their age, infirmity, reliance on others and over-riding desire to “do the right thing” makes them vulnerable. “It’s unfortunate that people on the peninsula are experiencing this sort of abuse,” Ms Blakey said. “We know about child abuse but the…
IN our report of the Langwarrin concert we omitted to state that Mr Reid contributed two songs in well balanced style. *** A PALTRY robbery was perpetrated some time on Saturday night last, at the Bay View Hotel, when the gas slot in the billiard room was broken open, and the contents, amounting to about 22/ were abstracted. *** THE secretary of the Frankston Football Club acknowledges with thanks the following donations —-Mr Hunt £2 2s, Dr Maxwell £1 1s, Mrs Jacobs 10s 6d, Mr S. Lawrey 10 6d. Collected by Mr J. Lambert—£1 15s 9d. *** TENDERS will be…
THE beat of African drums may soon be a regular sound at Tootgarook. Amadou Kalissa, who followed in his musician father’s footsteps when growing up in Guinea, West Africa, gave a demonstration of his drumming at the beach last week with wife Renee. Now living in Seaford, the couple have close ties to the Mornington Peninsula and regard it as a natural place for African drumming. Kalissa, who was taught the traditional rhythms of his culture, the Malinke people, by his father, is now passing on that knowledge to their 23-month-old daughter Aicha. He says his father was for more…
MOVIE buffs can enjoy a premiere screening of the English National Opera’s La Traviata on 16-17 May at Mornington Cinemas. The film was first shown in London in March. After Mornington it will be shown in capital and regional cities. It is performed in English by the stars of the opera at the London Coliseum theatre in multi-camera HD. Filming was directed by double MTV award-winning director and Grammy award nominee Andy Morahan. Organisers say Peter Konwitschny’s production cuts to the heart of the opera’s themes of passionate love and tragic death with a modern and uncluttered staging. La Traviata…
IT was just an early morning bike ride to start the day on Friday 6 March. But when Luke Matthews’ was hit by a concrete truck as he was riding along Beleura Hill Rd, Mornington, a frantic battle for life began. Mr Matthews was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to The Alfred. The 34-year-old Mt Eliza man was operated on for head and facial injuries, including the removal of part of his skull to relieve swelling on his brain. Family friend Rowena Beach told The News at the time that doctors were only giving Mr Matthews a 50…
THE race is on to save the Frankston City Motorcycle Park as an affordable venue for motocross riders after Frankston Council decided not to renew its lease with the Frankston Motorcycle Club in the wake of a fatality at the Seaford track last month. A 20-year-old man died after a collision with a fellow motocross rider and council asked the club to close the Seaford facilities in the short term (‘Fatality closes motorcycle track’, The Times 13/4/15). Last Friday council issued a statement headed “Safety first priority at Frankston Motorcycle Park” and advised the Frankston Motorcycle Club’s tenancy would end on…
A GROUP of peninsula artists is promoting art as the ‘third leg’ of peninsula tourism to join the region’s well-established food and wine industries. They have set up Red Artists Gallery, a showcase for the work of artists, sculptors, printmakers and jewellery makers at Red Hill South in part of the former post office building. (The PO moved next door to the Cellar & Pantry store last July.) One of the group, sculptor Jean Sheridan, said Red Hill was the hub of one of Victoria’s most creative communities. “We have more artists, sculptors, printmakers and jewellery makers per head of…