Day: May 16, 2016

WE regret to learn that two of the Peninsula lads who were reported missing since the memorable 8th of August last year at Gallipoli, have now been officially reported killed.   We refer to Private Harry R. Twyford second son of Mr John Twyford, of Somerville, and Private Noel Travers E. Somers, the eldest son of Dr Somers of Mornington. Both lads were just 23 years of age. LIEUT. W. C. Pentland and Private Tox Anderson, late of Arthur street, Frankston, are now on their way to the front. We wish them every success. *** CORPORAL B. McMichael, Privates J.…

Two small garage-sized tin sheds in Langwarrin South may hold the key to cutting the cost of domestic power needs while providing a reliable source for off-the-grid sites. A relatively small bank of lithium batteries developed in the sheds can be used to store enough power from solar panels to run a household for up to three days. In trials already under way they are powering electric fences, golf buggies, caravans, small waste treatment works and now houses.  These long lasting batteries can effectively store power from solar panels to be used at night or in cloudy conditions rather than…

A LIQUID lunch was not on the breakfast menu when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the Mornington Peninsula Brewery in Mornington while on the election campaign trail late last week. Mr Turnbull seems to be running a ‘hit and run’ election campaign – featuring short and sharp visits to electorates – while Labor leader Bill Shorten focuses on spending more time in specific marginal seats each day. The News was not notified of the Prime Minister’s trip to Mornington but managed to scramble an agile photographer at no notice to cover the visit. Mr Shorten visited Seaford on Saturday 30…

SOME of the Mornington Peninsula’s most outstanding food businesses were presented with the shire’s Best Bites Food Awards by the mayor Cr Graham Pittock on May 9. Joint winners of Restaurant of the Year, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron and Hummingbird Eco Retreat, Red Hill, received recognition for their excellence in nutrition and healthy eating, tobacco control, waste and recycling, energy and water efficiency and access for all. Merchant and Maker, McCrae, and Merricks General Wine Store were joint winners of the Cafe of the Year. Innovation joint winners were Merchant and Maker in McCrae and Mock Orchards in Red Hill, and…

BRUCE Billson is preparing for a life after politics and has already hit the ground running. The irrepressible Liberal MP for Dunkley decided to retire from the political scene after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull decided to drop him from cabinet late last year but has already landed his first post-politics gig. The former small business minister was appointed executive chair of the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) in March. “When I decided not to continue I wanted to do things that helped me energise enterprise and support the creation of opportunities and livelihoods for people and this seemed a good…

ALL libraries across the peninsula will remain open after a restructure that will see some library staff lose their jobs. Mornington Peninsula Shire communities director Robin Adams says council has no plans to close down any of the shire’s four libraries at Hastings, Somerville, Mornington and Rosebud. The temporary two-week closure of Hastings library until 18 May is coincidentally timed during the staff restructure. The High St library has closed its doors so a new radio frequency identification (RFID) system to make it easier to borrow and return library items can be installed and refurbishment works including a new carpet…

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull triggered a double dissolution of the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) and announced the federal election will take place on Saturday 2 July. Candidates and voters across the country face the prospect of a gruelling eight-week election campaign ahead of polling day as the main contenders for the seat of Dunkley – covering an area from Seaford to Mornington – square up to succeed outgoing Liberal MP Bruce Billson who is retiring from politics after a 20-years plus political career. The main suburbs in the Dunkley electorate include part of Baxter,…

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull triggered a double dissolution of the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) and announced the federal election will take place on Saturday 2 July. Candidates and voters across the country face the prospect of a gruelling eight-week election campaign ahead of polling day as the main contenders for the seat of Dunkley – covering an area from Seaford to Mornington – square up to succeed outgoing Liberal MP Bruce Billson who is retiring from politics after a 20-years plus political career. The main suburbs in the Dunkley electorate include part of Baxter,…

JODIE Hinton is a mentor for young people. But it wasn’t always this way. Growing up, she struggled with her mother’s behaviour. “I had no idea my mum had a mental illness,” she said. “I used to be embarrassed of my mum and the way she acted, and I always knew she was a bit different but I never understood why.” Things are clearer now, thanks to the Satellite Champs program, designed for those aged 8-12 years with parents affected by mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, personality disorders and bipolar affective disorder. The program provides information about mental…

By LIZ BELL ALTHOUGH statistics show motorists have just recorded the lowest number of collisions for five years, the trauma for those involved in an accident can seem endless. Court cases get settled and insurance claims paid out, but the memories and pain linger. The ongoing impacts of road trauma is something Rye resident Geoff Greene is only too aware of. Mr Greene didn’t even see the driver coming up behind him on Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud in September, 2013, so wasn’t able to anticipate the impact. By the time his shunted car came to a halt and he was…

AUSTRALIA’S world record for losing the greatest number of its mammals was the subject of the keynote address at Western Port Biosphere’s second annual biodiversity forum. “We have lost the ability to connect with the environment; with expanding development changing the landscape, the face of the environment as we knew it has changed, and the streetscape of urban development is seen as the norm,” Professor John Woinarski told 80 delegates to the Friday 6 May forum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. The deputy director of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub in the National Environmental Science program at Charles Darwin…

FORMER police officer Donna Bradley-Robinson was forced to quit the force when her multiple sclerosis symptoms increasingly made her job impossible. Ms Bradley-Robinson, a Frankston resident, was diagnosed with MS in 1994 at the age of 29 after experiencing symptoms since she was 16. Since retiring as a police officer in 2010 she has dedicated herself to raising the profile of the often invisible disease. With an average age of diagnosis of 30, MS is largely a young woman’s disease – that randomly attacks nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord – for which there is currently no cure.…

THE International Cool Climate Wine Show is again proud to share a rare opportunity to assess the styles, characteristics and latest trends of inspirational cool climate wines entered in the 2016 show, with everyone. You will be able to taste wines from many classes including sparkling wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Shiraz from vintages from 2012 to 2015 and older. The depth and breadth of the wine on show is vast.   Many wines come from boutique vineyards producing small commercial quantities, so this is your chance to seek out some outstanding but lesser…

IT’S Food Allergy Week, and parents, families, teachers and food businesses on the Mornington Peninsula are asked to help raise awareness of allergies and best practice allergy management. Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia president Maria Said says Australia has one of the highest reported incidences of food allergies in the world. “One-in-10 babies born in Australia today will develop a food allergy. With so many children and adults at risk, the key was to ensure members of the community can help prevent allergic reactions from occurring, can recognise the signs and symptoms of a reaction, and know what to do in…

A SKIMMING device in an ATM outside a Blairgowrie newsagent may have helped defraud dozens of Bendigo Bank customers last week. Major Fraud Squad police are investigating claims up to 54 customers lost thousands of dollars before the device was discovered in the keypad, Monday 2 May. It is believed the ATM was compromised in the last week in April and the fraudulent transactions discovered later. Detective Senior Constable Peter Jessup said the scam had taken place but would not elaborate on the scammers’ techniques or the number of customers affected. However, it seems things have moved on from the…

NEPEAN LEAGUE RYE are in real trouble after being thrashed by arch rival Sorrento in MPNFL Nepean Division football on Saturday. On a day of celebration for the Demons as they embraced their 2006 premiership heroes on the 10th anniversary, the team on the field let down their past champions with a poor display. The reality is Rye relies too heavily on their top end talent and don’t have the quality at the bottom end to compete with the best in the competition. If you can stop the influence of Adam Kirkwood, Ryan Mullett, Kris Bardon, Nathan Henley and Matt…

INTERLEAGUE THE MPNFL Sharks will tackle the Northern Football League at Rye’s RJ Rowley Reserve this Saturday, starting at 1.45pm. Coach John Hynes and his brainstrust, including Edithvale premiership captain Pat Poore, two-time premiership coach Gavin Artico and former Melbourne player Paul Hopgood, have narrowed the final squad to 31 after round six matches on Saturday. The latest player to withdraw from the squad was inform Somerville defender Scott Simpson for ‘personal reasons’. The MPNFL Sharks will train at Frankston VFL Park this Monday and Wednesday. The final team of 22 will be named on Wednesday night. The leadership squad…

PENINSULA LEAGUE LANGWARRIN proved once again just how tight the MPNFL Peninsula Division competition is when it recorded one of its best victories in recent times. Playing Mornington at Mornington is never a happy hunting ground for most sides, however, the young Kangas came to play, led all afternoon and won 13.16 (94) to 10.11 (71). The Doggies seemed to get their mojo back last week against Chelsea with the return of Michael Gay and Jimmy Cameron, however neither had much influence on Saturday. Langwarrin beast Matty Naughton is considered one of the best big men in the game and…