Day: November 2, 2015

FOLLOWING on from the outrageously successful season of Jason Coleman’s Spiegelicious and Animalastic in Sorrento, The Ministry of Entertainment proudly presents “Jason Coleman’s Razzle Dazzle” and “The Humanimals” performed exclusively in the Cabaret Cathedral in Rye. The Peninsula’s own Jason Coleman has returned to where he grew up, after purchasing a property in Rye a year ago. With so many accolades to his name, having choreographed Christine Anu, Tina Arena, Sheena Easton, and the opening ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games to name a few, Coleman is delighted to be bringing world class theatre to the peninsula, once again.…

NETBALL games down the beach? That’s the plan for Dromana Junior Netball Club president Paul Faillia, who says he has had “a huge response” from local clubs showing interest in playing the game at Dromana beach. “I have always wanted to see the sport played on our beautiful beaches as part of a summer comp,” he said. “I am in the early-mid stages of completing a portable court system that would see the game played on the beach in any location from Frankston through to Portsea, whether it be on a foreshore or back beach. “We have so many netball…

By Craig MacKenzie SOUTHERN United Soccer Club has named Theresa Deas as president and Stuart Munro as head coach. It is one of eight clubs contesting next year’s inaugural Victorian Women’s National Premier League competition. Deas is a former Matilda’s goalkeeper who made her Victorian state debut aged 14 and her international debut at 17. She was inducted into Football Federation Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Football Federation Victoria equivalent in 2011. Married with two daughters she has managed the national women’s team, Victorian state teams, is a former director of Women’s Soccer Victoria, worked as a…

Those anticipating a community meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council at Somerville on Monday 26 October were gutted to learn of the change of venue to the Rosebud bunker. Reason: the Mechanics Hall is still under repair. No briefing, no meal – the gallery made do with a cuppa, a cream biscuit and a full agenda. LET us skip past the majority of the meeting and get to the point of interest – councillors’ consideration of yet another request for a design change to the Arthurs Seat Skylift proposal. On Council Watch’s calculation, this will be possibly the fourth or…

COMMUNITY lobby group Save Tootgarook Swamp has filed an application in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to carry out native revegetation works in a part of the swamp that VCAT ordered developer Watermark Villages to carry out in April 2011. Watermark owns 92 Elizabeth Ave, 6.2 hectares on the edge of the wetlands, which it wants to develop as a retirement village with 99 dwellings. The site was cleared of native grasses in 2008. VCAT ordered that it be restored and a revegetation plan was supposed to be submitted to the shire within 120 days but this did not…

THE owner of Tully’s Corner Produce Store on the Moorooduc Highway, Moorooduc, was not a happy man when he left the council chamber in Rosebud on Monday last week. Frank Brancatisano wanted the council to approve his application to sell in his store bottled wine produced by three nearby wineries – Barmah Park Vineyard and Stumpy Gully Vineyard in Moorooduc, and Massoni Vineyard in Mt Eliza. He’d spent a motza on reports from town planner Ratio Consultants and was confident that green wedge zone changes made by Coalition planning minister Matthew Guy, before the Napthine government was rolled by Labor,…

JACK Russell-cross Barney is still right at home with his master, Alex Downs, even though they are living in aged care. And that companionship is doing both of them the world of good. They live at Peninsula Grange Aged Care, Mornington, with Barney’s upkeep paid for by a Pets in Aged Care grant from Animal Welfare League Australia. The money goes towards behaviour training for one-eyed Barney – the only resident-owned pet – who needs to be taught to eat on his own, rather than accompanying Mr Downs to the dining area. “He’s a quirky little fellow loved by all…

MONEY left over when Rye Senior Citizens Club disbanded 10 years ago will likely go to Rye Beach Community Centre. The existence of a big pot of money, about $60,000, was revealed in late 2012 when Nepean Ward councillor Tim Rodgers was showing his newly elected colleague Hugh Fraser around their patch. The pair inspected the former senior citizens hall in Napier St, Rye, and heard that money left in the bank when the seniors’ club disbanded in 2005 was never redistributed. The seniors’ club was formed in the 1960s and disbanded a decade ago, possibly because Rye RSL expanded…

SOUTH East Water has finished its southern peninsula sewage system 12 months ahead of schedule and $100 million under budget. The state government authority says it is a win for the environment and its customers, who will pay one-third less to connect than originally estimated. The Peninsula ECO sewerage project was announced by the state government in July 2013 (ECO stands for early connection option). Then water minister Peter Walsh said the $357 million project would replace “outdated and often unhygienic septic tank systems” and connect one of the last unsewered areas in Melbourne’s southeast 16 years earlier than had…

A VILLAGE Glen resident farewelled at Rosebud Funerals recently was the 13th Victorian police woman and one of the first five to be permitted to take part in police mobile patrols. Joyce McCallum, 97, who died at Rosebud West last month, was born on 12 February 1918. She left a lasting legacy – one that’s influencing police women today. Mrs McCallum – nee Johnson – joined the force in 1946 at a time when policing was a man’s job and women were allocated administrative and driver duties, keeping them out of harm’s way. “She was proud of her time there…

DISTRICT SEAFORD Tigers has put itself in a strong position to pick up the 12 points after taming the Pearcedale Panthers in District cricket on Saturday. The newly promoted Panthers have started the 2015-16 season in sensational fashion, winning their first two matches, however they did stumble against the Tigers on Saturday. It was only a few seasons ago that these sides were playing against each other in Sub District. The Panthers batted first and were rolled for just 128. Shane Maggs (34) and Shayne Gillings (40) were the only batsmen to offer any resistance, while Brad Trotter did open…

PROVINCIAL IT was a tough day for batsmen in ordinary conditions on Saturday in MPCA Provincial cricket. The result was 16 wickets falling in the match between top teams Mt Eliza and Baxter. Mt Eliza won the toss and elected to bat in the round three match at Emil Madsden Reserve but things went pear–shaped after the openers in Tim Clarke (30) and Chris Whisbey (16) went out. Other than Brendan Jovic at 11, the Mt Eliza batsmen failed to get into double figures. The likes of Justin Grant (4), Tim Stickland (5) and Keith Briggs (4) all failed with…

Everybody has heard of “That Sugar Film” right? …. it is the highest grossing Australian Documentary of all time and has played in Cinemas all over the world. Well this year, as a special guest of PSFF,  we are delighted to announce  that Damon Gameau, the film`s Writer, Director and Star will be joining us on our judging panel. Damon has also appeared in Underbelly, Balibo, Charlies Country and Love my way. Festival Director Steve Bastoni said 2016 is going to be a bumper year.  “We have an awesome judging panel lined up.  We’re thrilled to have Damon Gameau join…

THE annual meeting of the Tyabb Annual Picnic will be held on Monday evening next at 8 o’clock. *** THE “Wattles” Club are holding one of their popular dances tonight (Saturday) when a good time is expected. One shilling will be charged for admission, and a good supper will be provided. *** WORD has been received at the Frankston Post Office, that on and after the 1st November mails will be due at Frankston at 2.39 p.m. daily, in lieu of 6.11 p.m. as formerly. *** WE have received some schedules and entry forms, relating to the Moorabin Show which…

EVOCCA College is refusing to reveal graduation rates at its Frankston campus in the wake of a damning Senate inquiry into the funding and management of vocational education and training (VET) providers. The Queensland based college, which has more than 40 campuses nationwide, was one of several registered training organisations offering short diploma courses criticised in the report over its marketing to students (‘College’s marketing to students slammed’, The News 27/10/15).  The Senate committee heard allegations vulnerable students with little or no chance of completing courses are enrolled by some private sector operators to boost enrolment numbers and rake in…

SONGS and music cut across all boundaries and a concert being held in Mornington this month is being held to help young people take up education rather than crime. Run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the RESET program helps students fit back into mainstream classes at Monterey Secondary College, Frankston. Concert organisers say lyrics of the song Street Angel sung by Colleen Hewitt about the plight of street kids best expresses their thoughts: “The soul of our nation shines through the eyes of her children.” The RESET – (Re-engaging Early Secondary Education and Training) – project is designed for…

THE News Mornington Art Show has established itself as the biggest and best quality art show on the Mornington Peninsula and one of the best in Victoria, according to the comments of various show judges. Next year’s 44th annual Mornington Art show will run for six days, Thursday 21 January-Tuesday 26 January. In a change from recent years, opening night will be on the Thursday before the Australia Day weekend and will have a party atmosphere. Gourmet finger food will be served by waitresses and waiters and refreshments will be available from the bar. There will be music and the…

THE state government is warning Victorians about a coming spike in the number of dodgy door-to-door tradespeople trying to rip off people. Consumer affairs minister Jane Garrett said summer was the peak time for con men offering cheap “today only” cash deals on jobs such as painting, roof and driveway repairs. In 2014-15, Consumer Affairs Victoria received 486 reports of travelling con men, with reported losses totalling $1.35 million. Reports spike between January and March. Ms Garrett said con men often ask for cash payments up front, then take the money and run. They leave behind unfinished or poor quality…

CONSTRUCTION of the long-promised skate park at Mt Martha is on hold while Heritage Victoria assesses a master plan for the historic parade grounds near Mt Martha House. The plan drawn up by Mornington Peninsula Shire includes the skate park, “additional pathways, a barbecue shelter, nature-based play space, bins, bike racks and other minor landscaping”, according to chief operating officer, Alison Leighton. Ms Leighton said more than 20 comments had been received about the skate park’s “preferred concept design”. At least one of those submitted comments criticises the skate park plan as being out of date. “We have been looking…

MELBOURNE needs two new ports – one at Hastings and one on the western side of Port Phillip – Captain Richard Cox told the Port of Melbourne Select Committee hearing in Hastings last week. The committee is gathering information about the Labor government’s proposed long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne to commercial interests, and came to the peninsula for the first time to hear submissions from individuals, councils including Mornington Peninsula Shire and Frankston, and conservation groups. Captain Cox, a Tyabb resident and former Port of Hastings harbourmaster, told the committee that bulk trade required waterfront space for silos…

A CARAVAN parked on the Rosebud foreshore and later found to be stolen was a holding pen for property stolen from residential and holiday homes from Carrum Downs to Rosebud. Inside the caravan and in a stolen Ford Econovan police found an Aladdin’s Cave of missing items valued at thousands of dollars. The light-fingered “owner” of the vehicles, of Frankston North, was last week charged with 13 counts of burglary, theft, car and caravan stealing, and obtaining property by deception. He was remanded at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday 23 October to reappear at a date to be fixed. Detective…

SOUTH East Water says sewage that leaked from its pumping station in Pentecost Rd, Mornington, in August did not enter Tanti Creek. The government authority’s general manager of network services, Mark McCormack, refuted a report in The News (“Delays to sewage station repairs”, 27/1015) and said the leak was contained before it entered the waterway. “The leak at the Pentecost Rd pumping station … was due to infiltration of stormwater and groundwater into the old abandoned sewer rising main [pipe] at the lowest point adjacent to the pumping station,” he said. He said fixing this problem cost about $30,000, not…

CUTS to funding by the federal government have encouraged Mornington Community Information and Support Centre to “get creative”. “We were challenged to find another source of income to support our most vulnerable residents,” manager Lisa Elliott said. “The funding cuts have come at a time when many people are suffering even more financially due to the high costs of living.” So, the centre, based in Main St at the corner of Elizabeth St, is opening its own op-shop at 1/10 Main St on Friday 13 November. Beach End Op-shop is a women’s boutique style second hand shop which will stock…