A 14-YEAR-OLD Somerville girl has been charged with lighting the fire which destroyed the Somerville Community & Recreation Centre, 7.30am, Sunday. She will face Frankston Children’s Court on charges of criminal damage by fire, Tuesday 7 June. The damage bill to the Edward St stadium, mostly used for basketball, is expected to be $1.5-$2 million. Basketball games scheduled for the stadium have been called a draw until other venues can be found. The girl was reportedly with four friends in a teen hangout under the stadium called “The Shack” when they reportedly lit a small fire to keep warm. They…
Day: May 2, 2016
A 30 YEAR OLD Dandenong man has been arrested in Wagga Wagga, NSW, in connection with the theft of a Ford Ranger from Koonya Av, Blairgowrie, and a wallet from a car in Robin Pd, Rye. CCTV images in The News last week showed a man using a credit card from the wallet to buy fuel and in-store items at a Rye service station, 6.30am, Thursday 14 April. Later, the same man was seen at a Frankston service station making more purchases with the stolen credit card. The card was declined when the man attempted to make more purchases at…
CAPE Schanck lighthouse keepers Tony and Prue Sheers have said goodbye to their former workplace and B&B accommodation business after 20 years, with the 1859 light coming under the control of Parks Victoria this week. Parks has assumed the day-to-day running of the site until, it says, a commercial lease is signed with a new tenant. It will offer free visitor access into the light station reserve from Wednesday 4 May. Visitors will be able to explore the reserve grounds during normal park opening hours. The car park, picnic areas and toilets are open, while access to the surrounding scenic…
MORNINGTON Peninsula mayor Cr Graham Pittock abandoned a trade mission to China last month after it became too hard to arrange a visa. Cr Pittock said the shire “lost” $1500 on flight bookings in the exercise after he was invited to speak at an event being organised by the China-based Australian International Trade Association. “It [the trip] was cancelled because I became too busy,” Cr Pittock said. He said the eight to 10-day visit to China would have given the shire “experience of doing business with internationally”. Cr Pittock said he had been approached by the AITA and was now…
AN independent panel will be asked to assess plans for the contentious Carrington Park redevelopment at Rosebud. The 13 June panel, to be appointed by Planning Minister Richard Wynne, will specifically consider a request to change the development plan overlay relating to the number of housing lots allowed on the 3.27 hectare site. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last week considered that modifications to owner Storemaker Pty Ltd’s proposal, including reducing its proposed site density, were required “to ensure an appropriate outcome for this site”. The company wants to subdivide the former golf course into 14 residential lots and also revamp…
A KEEN surfer, Kent Stannard has a fascination with sharks. He never misses a news report on the latest shark attack and is always trying to discover the circumstances surrounding the incident. When a series of attacks near Ballina in northern NSW caused widespread concern last year he was on the spot. Stannard predicts a similar situation this year with one surfer at Newcastle already being badly mauled. Stannard is the head of Tag for Life, a non-for-profit organisation investigating shark behaviour, particularly that of great whites. Alongside Tag for Life is Whitetag, a clothing supply company that donates profits…
Mornington Peninsula Shire officers have been instructed to seek repayment of thousands of dollars alleged to have been overspent by Cr Antonella Celi. In an at times fiery debate, councillors last week agreed that Cr Celi should repay the money allocated to her under her entitlements for conferences and seminars. The motion to pursue Cr Celi for the money was carried on the casting vote of the mayor Cr Graham Pittock after councillors were deadlocked five-five. Cr Celi left the chamber during the debate and vote. Although the original motion put Cr Celi’s overspending at $12,520 the final wording called…
NEPEAN LEAGUE HASTINGS remains unbeaten and on top of the Nepean Division ladder after a fighting victory against Devon Meadows on Saturday. The Blues let a large lead slip in the third quarter and the opposition drew level at one stage, before the Blues settled with a couple of goals and went on to win 17.12 (114) to 14.11 (95). The enigmatic Colin McVeigh had a quiet start to the afternoon but a masterstroke from runner Peter Mereszko saw the Blues star shifted to full forward in the third. The result was two third and two final quarter goals to…
PENINSULA LEAGUE KARINGAL almost doubled its score in the final 16 minutes of the match to draw against Seaford in Peninsula Division football on Saturday. At the 12-and-a-half minute mark of the final quarter at Ballam Park, Tigers’ star Aaron Walton kicked his second goal of the afternoon and put his side 30 points in front. At that stage, it was the biggest margin of the day and a Karingal revival looked remote. However, led by a dominating Grant Goodall in the ruck, Cal Dixon through the middle, Michael Burke in attack and Aaron Paxton and best on ground Duncan…
INTERLEAGUE TWO MPNFL squads have been selected for Victorian Football Championships later this month. The main squad will tackle Northern Football League on Saturday, May 21 at Rye’s RJ Rowley Reserve, while a Young Guns squad will play Yarra Ranges, previously named the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League. Peninsula region AFL South East League Manager Shaun Connell said this will be a fantastic opportunity for many people in our region to represent the MPFNL. “Whilst in regular season games there are two different leagues it now feels that the Mornington Peninsula community is represented as one,” Connell said.…
LOVE THEIR CHROME By Terri Lee Fatouros Australia’s iconic classic rock band The Screaming Jets are back after an eight-year hiatus between albums, with their latest and greatest new release entitled Chrome. This seventh studio album has been a labour of love, with a mix of new songs that has a slightly new bent to their sound, to say the least, leaving the boys wildly excited with the finished product. The Screaming Jets will be touring and showcasing their new material, but keeping authentic to their rockin’ history by pulling out all their biggest hits along the way. I chatted…
Historical, seaside Sorrento is again hosting its mouth-watering food, wine and beer festival during the first weekend in June, and it’s set to be the best yet. The program includes a variety of gastronomical delights including masterclasses, cooking demonstrations, tutored tastings, degustations, gourmet menus, foodies’ market and more, all in the heart of Sorrento village. Starting Thursday evening and continuing throughout the weekend, a variety of gourmet lunches, dinners and classes will take place in restaurants, cafes and even the demonstration kitchen in the “Taste” marquee hosted at the Claret & Co (previously Three Palms) courtyard at 154 Ocean Beach…
Mornington Street corners, bars and restaurants will come alive over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend, June 10 – 12, as some of the biggest names in the business hit town for the fourth annual Mornington Winter Jazz Festival. The 2016 festival is set to take things to a whole new level with the introduction of a new Blues program which will be jam packed with some of Mornington Peninsula’s favourite artists! The 2015 festival was a huge success, with more than 116 performances in and around Mornington, and this year festival organisers the Mornington Chamber of Commerce are aiming to raise…
MESSRS Adamson Strettle and Co will hold their second sale at Tanti on Monday, 15th May, when a good yarding is expected. *** THE annual meeting of the Somerville Fruitgrowers’ Ladies’ Guild will be held in the Somerville Hall on Tuesday afternoon, at 3 o’clock. *** MR V. Porter, who has been residing on the Mornington Road, Frankston, for some time is leaving the district, and intends taking up his residence at Beaconsfield, where he has purchased a property. *** MR. W. Membrey, having leased his property in Frankston, left for his new home at Caulfield last week, and the…
“It may be called the finest thing in Australasian history. It was a revolution – small in size but great politically; it was a strike for liberty, a struggle for principle, a stand against injustice and oppression. … It is another instance of a victory won by a lost battle” Mark Twain, Following the Equator (1897) WHEN Fran Henke wanted someone to launch her latest historical novel she had to look no further than at the words she had written. Kerry McNarn, district nurse, wedding celebrant whose name and personality form the basis for a “character” used in two of…
PARAMEDIC, personal trainer and a figure competitor Kimberley Parrott is a living advertisement for a healthy lifestyle. The undefeated Australasian Natural Bodybuilding Fitness Mania Overall Women’s Figure Champion recently won her second title in two years. The win has qualified her to compete in the Ultimate Fitness Events World Championship elite division in Toronto, Canada, in November. Parrott said bodybuilding was growing in popularity, throughout the world and on the peninsula. “My journey as a bodybuilder and figure competitor began two years ago after attending a workshop. While listening to other competitors and feeling the passion from those around me,…
A QUIET morning’s walk at Moorooduc quarry for two friends last week was ruined when a stolen car smashed through wire gates and was driven into the deep water. It is believed two young men had been in the car – one possibly jumping out before it hit the water and the other breaking free and swimming to shore before it sank. Events are unclear as no one actually saw the pair leave the car. Frankston South resident Sharon (surname withheld) and a friend heard a “car come flying through the [locked] gate where the ranger has access”. “We didn’t…