IT is still too early to determine when the razed Somerville Community and Recreation Centre will be re-opened, but rebuilding works are a hot topic in the town. “We are working hard with the insurers and builders to determine options and timeframes for the reopening of the centre, and will work closely with key user groups throughout this process,” Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Graham Pittock said Friday. Cr Pittock, who has taken over the “representative” duties for Watson ward following the sudden resignation of Lynn Bowden earlier this month, said community, user groups and local residents were waiting patiently while…
Month: May 2016
THE first major publication by Infrastructure Victoria all but confirms that a new container port at Hastings is most likely decades away. An options paper released last week sees the state’s need for a new port as “a concept requiring further development”. “Currently the location and timing of a new port has not been assessed in detail and it will take time to do this evaluation,” the All things considered paper states. “The 30-year infrastructure strategy, which must be developed by the end of 2016, is being developed taking into account the uncertainty regarding the timing of when we will…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a father and son missing from Rosebud. Craig Rochus and his 15-year-old son, William, were last seen at their Cass Street home in Rosebud on Tuesday 17 May just before 1.30am. Police and family members are concerned for the welfare of the pair as Craig has not picked up his medication and it is believed they have no personal belongings with them. The 49-year-old’s car is also missing; a champagne coloured Mitsubishi Verada sedan with registration number OFO156. Police have released a picture of Craig and William in the hope it…
AN impressive donation of knitted goods from Knit One Give One has thrilled members of Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre. The assorted knitted goods for adults, children and babies includes beanies, scarves, blankets, toys, and even socks. The centre gives the items to those attending programs who are in need of some winter woollies. “The quality of these knitted items is amazing,” program coordinator Robyn Coughlin said. “The skill required to make them is remarkable, and people receiving them feel very cared for.” A group of local knitters – the Dromana Knitting Angels – help out, too. “The…
A COMMEMORATIVE flypast of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance next month will honour 10,000 Australians who served with RAF Bomber Command in World War II. The ceremony will bring back special memories for McCrae resident Jean Smith, who served with the Women’s Airforce and Bomber Command in England during those dark days. She will watch on as two formations of light aircraft make the pass, Sunday 5 June, including trainers from the Royal Australian Air Force Museum, Point Cook, and Royal Victorian Aero Club planes flying from Moorabbin. So keen is the 94-year-old to attend that she will splurge on a…
A MORNINGTON school struggling to raise money for a gym is on track with building plans thanks to some entrepreneurial thinking and a generous benefactor. Mornington Park Primary School, the only school on the peninsula without its own gym, opened an opportunity shop 12 months ago to kick-start a gym fund, which was boosted recently by an anonymous donation of $250,000. Principal Bev Dadds said enrolment numbers were increasing and the school desperately needed somewhere to cater for sports and functions such as all-school assemblies. She said the school decided to take matters into its own hands by opening an…
A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition of puppetry that interprets how disabled artists see their bodies will be on at Mornington Library until 23 June. Organised by Arts Access Victoria, the Avenue of Puppets: Volatile Bodies exhibition features puppets created by artists from Art About, an inclusive art studio. An Arts Access Victoria spokesperson said the work ‘’interrogated how artists with a disability see their bodies interacting with the physical and metaphysical environment’’ after artists got together and shared their stories. The artists formed individual marionette puppets with mixed mediums including papier-mache, paint and fabric. Art About member Elyssa Gunn said each marionette…
BY all accounts the cobblestones behind the seawall and leading on to Mornington pier have been there for more than a century. Passengers arriving by paddle steamer from Melbourne would traverse them on their way up the hill to promenade along Main St. The stones represented a centuries old construction method that is preserved and promoted as part of the attraction of villages throughout Europe. Some of the stones are now being removed for a new path to meet “current disability discrimination legislation requirements”, according to Parks Victoria’s district manager Port Phillip and Western Port, Graeme Davis. “In order to…
MT ELIZA Junior Football Club has developed a smoke-free policy and signed the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula Smoke Free Charter. It is the first of 14 clubs in the Frankston and District Junior Football league to draw the line against smoking by signing up. It follows the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League, which signed up in February, and the Mt Martha Junior Football Club, which signed up last year. Mt Eliza has 28 teams and is reportedly the largest junior sporting club across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. Its decision to extend the policy past the 10-metre legislation demonstrates a strong message…
BUSINESSES in Red Hill are reeling after having been raided by possibly the same thief twice in the past month. The man, described as wearing dark clothing, balaclava and gloves, and driving a stolen dark coloured Toyota and a stolen Ford Festiva, has hit at least eight businesses, stealing mainly cash, since the early hours of Monday 2 May. The cars have since been found burnt-out in Teurong and Tyabb. In the latest raids early Monday morning last week, the service station in Arthur’s Seat Rd was ram-raided and the safe containing $5000 stolen, with other raids at a pharmacy,…
MORNINGTON Little Athletics Centre is “potentially homeless” next season unless a new base can be found soon. “We and the Mornington Peninsula Athletics Club are currently actively lobbying the Mornington Peninsula Shire for the athletics track they have been saying they will build since 1999,” little athletics secretary Lisa Henry said last week. “It’s now 16 years later, and the track has still not eventuated. “They have earmarked $50,000 in the next budget for planning the track – possibly at the Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd – but given us no time frame as to when this will occur.” The 44-year-old…
PLANS for proposed path improvements on the section of Port Phillip Bay Trail dubbed the “missing link” – at Anthony’s Nose, Dromana – will be discussed on Saturday (28 May). External funding is required to complete the works. The shire says it will continue to advocate for government funding to complete what it says is an important regional asset. Officers say they are pressing ahead with community consultation, design concepts and necessary coastal approvals to bring the project to a “shovel-ready state to make the proposal more attractive for external funding support”. A community drop-in session will be held 10am-noon,…
Woodlock is comprised of three members; Kiwi brothers Zech and Eze Walters on guitar and vocals and their mate Bowen Purcell, who provides the percussion. Zech, Eze and Bowen formed a strong friendship after meeting whilst travelling overseas. From there, Woodlock was born. They’ve worked hard to perfect the sounds they craft in the studio for a live setting. Their efforts focus on strong, energetic and creative live shows to take their performance to the next level. Now based in Melbourne, the boys have gained some great recognition and created a strong following after tirelessly busking on every corner of…
ACCIDENT in Epsom Steeple. Death of J. P. Edwards. A regrettable accident which resulted in the death of the well known cross-country horseman James P. Edwards, occurred on Saturday in the Bush Steeplechase, run at. Epsom. Edwards had the mount on the top weight, Mr. Justin Curr’s gelding Expeditioner, who started second favorite for the event, which attracted a field of sixteen runners. Passing the stand Expeditioner was going well in third position, a few lengths behind Londonderry and the favorite, Dominican, when at the last of the treble, almost opposite the judge’s box, he appeared to cannon with another…
INTERLEAGUE THE MPNFL Sharks will play Geelong FL next year in a bid to claim the title of the best league in Victoria after beating Northern Football League on Saturday. Northern Football League beat the Amateurs last season and the year prior was too good for who many consider to be the best competition, Eastern Football League. Eastern Football league and Geelong Football league were considered the best two sides in the state and went head to head at Geelong on Saturday. The home side was convincing in its victory in that match. The MPNFL Young Guns side travelled to…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie BAXTER’S bubble burst in a spiteful State 5 top-of-the-table away clash against Rosebud Heart on Saturday. A melee erupted just before half-time and threatened to spill into the crowd until the warring parties were kept at bay and order restored. When the dust settled Baxter striker Mark Pagliarulo and midfielder Liam Kilner were red carded and during the half-time break referee Neil Byrne confirmed that they had been dismissed for violent conduct. This was a much anticipated clash between the only teams in the league with perfect records in 2016 and it took a controversial goal…
A hot air balloon has landed safely on a Mt Martha beach after jettisoning passengers offshore in waiting craft. The drama began in Brighton when an attempt to land failed. The alarm was soon raised as the balloon blew across to the bayside suburb of Beaumaris and was then blown out to sea. It soon headed southwards, and at least one helicopter, numerous vessels, and police and ambulance raced along its trajectory down the coast. The pilot of the balloon, who onlookers at the crash site were hailing a hero, offloaded passengers into the relative safety of waiting watercraft so as…
A man has died following a motorcycle crash in Crib Point yesterday afternoon. Police believe the rider was travelling along The Esplanade into Woolleys Road when he appears to have lost control, falling to the road before coming to rest in a ditch about 2.15pm. The 54-year-old Hastings man died later that day in hospital. Investigators are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
CRIB POINT FNC By Jared Newton CRIB Point remains winless at home but certainly lost no respect in their clash against Hastings on the weekend. In a game that was tight for three and a half quarters, a flurry of late goals from Hastings put a gap between the two sides as Crib went down by 49 points. Defensive pressure isn’t the problem, it’s the avenues to goal which were again hard to come by for the Pies who could only manage five goals for the game in blustery conditions. Luke Herrington wound back the clock with a great game…
HASTINGS FNC THIS week the club travelled down to the Crib Point FNC for our annual local derby. The boys were playing for the Ron Moncrief Shield, and the game certainly didn’t disappoint supporters from either club. The game was close right up until the start of the last quarter, when our boys steadied to kick away to a very impressive margin 50-odd points. This week sees all clubs have a bye week which, for our club, couldn’t have come at a better time. It will give all players a chance to recharge their batteries and get ready for our…
By Lance Hodgins IN round seven last year Hastings Football Club defeated Tyabb by the massive margin of 224 points (38.23 to 4.3). This reminded me of the scene in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” when our hero was approached by a gang of toughs in New York. When one pulled out a knife to reinforce his position, Dundee produced a much superior one of his own and proclaimed “Now that’s a knife!”. As would be expected, it was game over. Now let’s turn back the clock. The final home and away game for 1929 was held on August 3. Hastings…
A SERVICE station and four businesses in Red Hill, and a Balnarring garage, were reeling yesterday, Monday 16 May, after overnight burglaries. It is not known what was stolen in the six break-ins, all occurring soon after 3.45am, but the same offender, wearing a balaclava, is believed to be responsible. Detective Senior Constable Alex Montgomery, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said it appeared the man, driving a dark coloured Toyota Corolla, pulled the front doors off the United service station, Arthur’s Seat Rd, with the car, and then attempted to open the safe. It is unknown what was stolen at this…
A RESPECTFUL send-off is fundamental to our society, yet, for many who die alone – far from the solace of family or friends – the final journey begins and ends with minimal fanfare. Hundreds of people with no known relatives die each day and are buried in what were previously known as paupers’ graves. But, thanks to caring individuals at Crib Point Cemetery, the new Essential Services burials share much in common with more emotionally charged and expensive funerals. A funeral director for 20 years, Brian McMannis, of Mannings Funerals, Cranbourne, handles about 30 services annually at the “more economical…
A HASTINGS father says his son and his girlfriend are lucky to be alive after their Ford panel van hit two cows on the Frankston-Flinders Rd, Hastings, early Monday 9 May. The couple was driving home, 12.20am, between Western Port Highway and Graydens Rd, when their car hit the black cows, which they said were standing side on and virtually invisible in the dark. “Ben, 21, and his girlfriend, Courtenay, were doing 85 kilometres an hour and just didn’t see the cows and I don’t know how they survived,” Glenn Jansz said. “The weather was bad with low visibility and…
A BITTERN woman who spends her spare time raising community awareness of women’s cancers, the plight of deaf dogs, and singing in her primary school’s choir, has won the E R Noble award for Deaf Victorian of the Year. Teacher Joanne Heyman became involved in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2012 and has helped her team raise $42,000 through the 200km event. She has helped raise a further $22,000 through the Peter Mac 60km Walk to End Women’s Cancers over the past three years. She will also participate in a 30km walk in October. Ms Heyman has also raised…
AN “important postal vote information” letter mailed out to Flinders electorate residents last week by the Liberal Party attempts to obtain personal information about voters for the party’s database ahead of the 2 July federal election. The mass mailout addressed to “enrolled voter/s in the ‘Division of Flinders” features a letter from Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia urging the electorate to “back my team’s Plan for a Strong New Economy” and includes a Postal Vote Application Form sent by federal Flinders Liberal MP Greg Hunt. Voters who “can’t get to a polling booth on election day” are encouraged to…
ANY prospect of a container port being developed at Hastings is likely to be decades away, according to Mornington MP David Morris. This prediction by Mr Morris follows revelations that the state government has not asked Infrastructure Victoria to investigate the best site for Victoria’s next major port. Soon after its election in November 2014 the incoming Labor government announced Infrastructure Victoria would assess site for the next port, including one at Bay West, north of Geelong in Port Phillip. The government withdrew funding for the Port of Hastings Development Authority, causing the loss of many jobs and a cessation…
ROADWORKS are set to begin near the Ingham’s Enterprises factory, Somerville. Treasurer Tim Pallas visited the large-scale chicken meat producer in Grants Rd last week to discuss the economic benefits of improving nearby Golf Links Rd. The works would better cater for heavy vehicles and clear the way for a major Ingham’s expansion, resulting in significant economic benefits for the Frankston area and the Mornington Peninsula as a whole, the treasurer said. He said this year’s budget included a $10 million package to develop business cases for upgrades to key outer suburban arterial roads around Melbourne, including Golf Links Rd.…
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…