A MORNINGTON market stallholder says the town is missing out on the full potential from visiting cruise ships and possibly helping to turn the boats back. Pam Burrows, of Mt Eliza, who sells Australiana-theme souvenirs and gifts, says she was dismayed to learn the Mornington Chamber of Commerce committee had decided not to hold a street market because of traders’ objections. “I really feel that this is short sighted and detrimental to future visits by cruise liners,” she said. “From experience I know I have always enjoyed browsing the local artisans in a street or wharf market. “Normally, about half…
Day: February 1, 2016
A COUNCIL decision to retain Rye tip has been overturned after a searching and sometimes spiteful debate at the year’s first public meeting of Mornington Peninsula councillors. At the height of the disturbance shire governance manager Joe Spiteri advised councillors they should stop their unruly behaviour and return to order – the first such intervention by a governance officer veteran council attendees could recall. The power struggle over shire waste was sparked last September when councillors voted to close the tip and move shire household waste off the peninsula. Then in December they reversed that vote, with opponents of the…
AN all-female patrol on Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14 February will – for the first time – protect swimmers at Gunnamatta surf beach. The “Pink Patrol” – part of the celebrations for the lifesaving club’s 50th year – recognises women and their contribution to lifesaving. Patrol captain Jill Douglas will lead the team on the day. She’s proud to be part of a “first” in the club’s history. “I’m really looking forward to Valentine’s Day,” the chief instructor said. “We have some very experienced and dedicated girls who can’t wait to team up and show a bit of ‘girl power’. “It…
A RYE man was assaulted as he walked home along Government Rd, Rye, 11.35pm, Tuesday. The 65-year-old had been celebrating Australia Day at his daughter’s house and at Rye RSL. He told police a white coloured sedan, possibly a Camry, slowed as it passed him and an occupant threw an egg at him. Words were exchanged and the car slowed, did a U-turn, and pulled up beside him. The occupants got out and knocked the man unconscious. A passer-by found the man on the nature strip and called an ambulance. He was treated at Frankston hospital for cuts to the…
POLICE are investigating the possibility that two men who allegedly dumped a caravan at Arthur’s Seat did not set it alight. Sergeant John Coburn, of Somerville police complex, said “another party” may have torched the single-axle van after it was left in Arthur’s Seat Rd, 10.40pm, Tuesday 19 January. This was the day after disastrous fires at Crib Point destroyed a house and outbuildings, burnt out 83 hectares of bushland and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. A 46-year-old, of Seaford, and 25-year-old, of Frankston, were expected to be charged on summons with dumping the van and arson after…
SUB-DISTRICT THERE are three tremendous battles going on in MPCA Sub-District cricket in round nine and all eyes will be on their results at 6pm this Saturday. Sixth-placed Frankston YCW is playing host to fifth-placed Tootgarook, third-placed Rosebud is hosting fourth-placed Carrum Downs and Balnarring and Ballam Park are hoping to keep their slim finals hopes alive as they do battle. The Knights and the Saints are currently a game and a half outside of the top four and a loss in round nine would end their season. As it stands, Balnarring needs a miracle on day two to have…
DISTRICT THE match we have all been waiting to see in District cricket, top of the ladder Red Hill versus second placed Baden Powell, is shaping-up to be a nail biter. In what many believe is the preview to the District grand final, both teams head into the final day of the match with genuine claims that they are in the box seat. For mine, Red Hill is the side with the runs on the board, albeit 200, and must be fancied from here. On Saturday at Overport Rd, the Hillmen won the toss and batted first. Simon Dart top…
PROVINCIAL WITH just three rounds remaining in MPCA Provincial cricket before finals, the intensity of round nine has seen some serious game changers after the first day’s play. There is still a mad scramble for a place in the top four with at least seven teams vying for third and fourth. At this stage, despite two more rounds to follow round nine, it seems top of the table Peninsula Old Boys and second-placed Crib Point have done enough to play finals. With seven teams staking claims for third and fourth place, every run and every wicket is critical. It also…
By TERRI LEE FATOUROS THINK your rock might be lacking gutsy grunge blues, or your passion for it withering? Then atone, my friends, and get yourself down to soul repenting, mystical “shakin & rockin” blues rock with The Electric Church. With eccentric mastermind Baron Franco on lead vocals/guitar as the charismatic front man of the band, flavoured by bassist, Jesse Ingram and interchanging with their tight new rhythmic drummer, Paul Fiddes, and playing in the style of “New Blues-based Alternative Rock,” you’ll be impressed with the funky, raw, and gritty rocking blues the Electric Church is churning out. The Electric…
THE Chinese Association intend holding their annual picnic in the Frankston Park, today. *** MESSRS Alex Scott and Co will hold their monthly sale at Tanti, on Monday next, when a good yarding of stock is advertised. *** HOLDERS of tobacco licenses are reminded that their licenses have now expired, and anyone selling tobacco without a license is likely to prosecution. *** IN the 138th casualty list, published in Melbourne on Thursday morning, appears the name of Private W. H. B. Daw, of Mornington. He is at present in the 1st A.G.H. Heliopolis. *** THE Rev J. H. Dawe, Presbyterian…
CAN it be the coming council election? A series of malignant New Year resolutions? Whatever it was, hopes were dashed early at last Wednesday’s first Mornington Peninsula Shire meeting of the year, a hope that good behaviour, forbearance or courtesy would be prominent in 2016. The chamber was brought to order by the calm, firm and admirable governance manager Joe Spiteri, who should never need to perform such a role for a meeting of presumed grown-ups. Perhaps it is not within his remit, but it needs doing. So normal has discourtesy to the chair and contempt for the public become,…
CATHERINE Brace has joined her sister and father in what seems to have become tradition for the Mornington family by embarking on a military career. Her younger sister Michelle is a private in the Australian Army Ordnance Corps and their father, Ian Brace, now retired, served as an officer in the signals corps. Catherine, 22, was one of 60 recruits taking the official oath last week at an appointment ceremony at the defence force recruiting centre before leaving for 18 months of training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, near Canberra. A former pupil at Mornington Primary School and student…
ON hot days, police and Mornington Peninsula Shire rangers are busy booking motorists parked in No Standing areas or banked up opposite double lines near Mt Martha’s now famous swim spot, The Pillars. Their owners don’t seem to care: they are too busy jumping from the rocky outcrops or taking selfies with their friends on the cliffs or in the water. Hundreds are flocking flock to the go to summer bathing spot on the Esplanade between Marguerita Av and Deakin Drive every hot summer’s day. The spot even has its own Facebook page. Despite warnings from medical experts, the cliffs…
THE News 44th Mornington Art Show has broken records, with 350 at the opening night and sales bringing total profits to more than $1 million. The show opened last Thursday night with Miss Australia International Jessica Martini cutting a ribbon before guests viewed the artworks to the jazz of the Balnarring Bakery Trio. During the week the show broke all previous daily attendance records, with more than 250 visitors each day. More than 90 paintings were sold and judge Lyn Mellady awarded the Best Exhibit to “The Thinker” by Rosemary (Todman) Parrant. The peoples choice was “German Shepherd Puppy” by Jos Coufrier…
THE Frankston to Mornington Bloody Big Swim – all 11.2 kilometres of it – was a real endurance test for Cape Schanck’s Jackson Coote, but one that he passed with flying colours. The 26-year-old electrician swam the choppy course from Frankston Life Saving Club to Mornington Life Savings Club at Mills beach in two hours, 50 minutes and 49 seconds on Saturday last week. He was in the 18-29 age category. That’s a pace of 15:15 minutes a kilometre for the swimmer who trains at the indoor Peninsula Swimming and Aquatic Centre, Rosebud. “I have swum a few of the…
NEW owners of the Pig & Whistle, in Purves Rd, Main Ridge, have big plans for the former “traditional British pub” which has been running since 1975. The 26-acre property had been on the market for several months at a reported asking price of more than $3 million. The sale has been confirmed, and it was expected to change hands yesterday (Monday 1 February). The buying syndicate plans to upgrade the venue “to a resort-style destination for visitors from across Australia and overseas”. Chief operations manager John Groenendijk would not reveal the purchase price but signalled major upgrades over the…
HASTINGS resident Aline Burgess has been named Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 2016 Citizen of the Year. The awards were announced at Rosebud Memorial Hall on Australia Day. The shire’s Young Citizen of the Year, Tia McLean, is a year 12 student at Mt Eliza Secondary College, and Event of the Year is Balnarring Community Sustainability Fair, with the award presented to coordinator Pea Saunders. Ms Burgess’s role as foundation secretary of the Peninsula Carer Council in 2004 was said to be a continuation of her tireless advocacy for people with mental illness over 30 years, having moved to Hastings to be…
DESPITE the recognised high risk of catastrophic bushfire at Arthurs Seat, there are no plans to build a public bushfire shelter. Residents and other people caught in the area during a major fire would have to make their own plans because numbers would be limited in the summit station of the Skyift gondola. Emergency plan documents make clear that when built the Skylift’s top station will cater only for its customers and staff. The Skylift group is not required to provide shelter for the public. The building’s capability to defend against a bushfire meets all standards, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors…