Month: May 2016

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…

MT ELIZA’S Bel Canto Choir conducted by Margaret Brown will present the world premiere of Maiden Voyage, an Australian song cycle by award-winning Australian composer Lorraine Milne. It will be held 2.30pm, Sunday 15 May at the Mary Herring Hall, Toorak College, Mt Eliza. The work is a homage to Australia’s women pioneers: from winemaker Mary Penfold of Grange fame to simple immigrant grape pickers to activist Louisa Lawson (mother of a certain Henry!). Lorraine Milne will compere the show. She has a long history of composing for theatre and the ABC and got her inspiration forMaiden Voyage from a…

EXPERTS from the health industry will speak at a free community seminar organised by the Rotary Club of Hastings, Wednesday 11 May. The meeting will run 7-9.30pm at the Hastings Community Hub, 1973 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Hastings. Speakers include associate professor Harriet Hiscock, co-leader of community health at Royal Children’s Hospital, youth mental health first aid worker Jarrod Flanigan, family counsellor Sally Halligan and psychologist Sandra Martin. Tea and coffee provided. Details: secretary@rotaryhastings.org.au

Police are investigating an aggravated burglary at a house in Mornington early this morning. The female occupant of the Adelaide Street home has entered the garage just before 6am and noticed a man crouching near their car. The woman approached the man, thinking it was her husband, the man got up and grabbed her by the shoulder and demanded her car keys. The woman threw her cup of tea at him, causing the man to run off. A neighbour heard the womans scream and called Triple Zero. The woman was taken to hospital a short time later where she remains…

IN a first for Hastings – indeed the whole of Australia – a local boy has nabbed the Holy Grail of sports by becoming the first punter to be drafted by a top American NFL team. Lachlan Edwards, of Hastings, went to Balnarring Primary School and Mornington Secondary College. He played junior footy for Red Hill and Crib Point, notched a premiership with Somerville under-18s, played under-16s and seniors with the Dandenong Stingrays, had a stint at Frankston Dolphins and then played in the seconds for North Ballarat Roosters while at university. That background – with forays into rugby, cricket…

THE state convenor the Australian Greens Willisa Hogarth is standing for the seat Flinders in the 2 July federal election. Held by Liberal Greg Hunt since 2001, Hogarth nomination for Flinders follows that of Labor’s Carolyn Gleixner. Mr Hunt is the current environment minister and both the Labor and the Greens candidates have signalled they will be attacking what they see as the government’s failure in that policy area. “This is going to be a campaign where the Greens remind the Coalition that they can’t get away with leaving the environment out of the conversation.” Ms Hogarth said. Ms Hogarth…

DESPITE the best efforts of environmentalists and some government departments the survival of the southern brown bandicoot remains uncertain. With few viable colonies of the small marsupial remaining around Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula its “endangered species” status was last week reaffirmed. Foxes, feral cats and land clearing are among the bandicoot’s biggest threats. Environment Minister Greg Hunt told a biodiversity forum organised by the Western Port Biosphere that he agreed with the southern brown bandicoot staying on the endangered list. His announcement on Friday 6 May came one day after 49 extra species of flora and fauna were…

THE Setter family, of Red Hill, has had a long and fulfilling association with the local fire brigade. “Dad was one of the founding volunteers, and is still in the brigade and it seemed to follow on. It’s just something we do as a family, and now my son’s in it, and his son’s in it and most of our wives as well,” Darrel Setter said. “The brigade organised a unit citation for our family four years ago. It was just our normal annual dinner, and – being the captain – I had no idea about it. The night was…

SOUVENIRS of Dromana including old and new photos, history books, and seeds of local plants and trees have been buried in a time capsule on the foreshore to be opened in 50 years. Dromana foreshore management committee buried the time capsule beside the Bay Trail on the foreshore opposite St Mark’s Anglican Church on a windswept Saturday 30 April in front of about 30 people. Guests included Flinders MP and Environment Minister Greg Hunt (with his young son James in soccer gear) and shire mayor Cr Graham Pittock. The 100-litre, high-density plastic capsule was buried 40 centimetres deep and is…

RISING motocross star Ty Sharp is leading the charge in the 65cc C grade class in Victoria’s premier motocross competition for juniors – the M2R Helmets Victorian Junior Motocross Championships. The third round was held at Ararat over the weekend. The nine-year-old, of Red Hill South, has won all his races – against 39 other riders. The season started in March at Outtrim. He also loved the track at Warrnambool during round 2 in April. “I really liked the jumps and the corners at Warrnambool. I got stuck in the starting gate in race one so was a fair way…

THE manager of the Ace-Hi horse ranch in Boneo has denied allegations that horses at the property are mistreated. This follows an RSPCA inspection of the Boneo Rd property on Wednesday to investigate claims by a former manager of under-feeding and overworking of horses. Kellie Puddy, who says she resigned in distress in March last year, said she “couldn’t believe” the poor standard of care and the malnourished state of the horses ridden during the week by schoolchildren and at weekends by adults. “The RSPCA has a file on Ace-Hi but they need hard evidence to prosecute,” she said. “It’s…

WHILE experts are investigating ways to prevent sand being eroded from Portsea beach, members of Nepean Ratepayers Association say only two of six options will work. Association president Colin Watson says the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning is “fully aware of this position” but has been told by the Environment Minister Lisa Neville to have all options examined “in a robust manner before any final decisions are made”. The company hired to investigate ways of protecting the beach, Advisian of Worley Parsons, handed in a report in January on wave processes impacting on the front beach at Portsea.…

WESTERN Port Basketball Association players are still coming to terms with the tragic loss of their stadium at Somerville after it was destroyed by fire, Sunday morning last week. Operations manager Tyler Molloy said the “devastating impact on our basketball family and greater community is enormous as we continue to face the fact that it is now reality”. Teenagers lit a small fire underneath the grandstand to keep warm but it spread quickly and took hold before they could put it out. The building was “fully involved” when CFA crews arrived at 7.30am. A 14-year-old Somerville girl was charged the…

A NATIONAL skate competition at Mt Eliza, Saturday 21 May, will have categories for skateboarders as well as scooter and BMX riders. The free event will be held at the Mt Eliza Skate Park, Emil Madsen Reserve, Wooralla Drive, which has the peninsula’s largest skate bowl. The competition is sponsored by Mornington Peninsula Shire and organised in partnership with the Impakt Freeza youth events committee and the YMCA. The competition is part of the YMCA’s National Skate Park League and provides a development pathway for amateur skate and BMX riders. The winners from the skateboard section will join finalists from…

VICTORIA’S longest-running camp, YMCA Camp Manyung, is celebrating the restoration of its historic outside chapel, the Crosby Memorial Chapel, after receiving $74,000 from Victorian Heritage Restoration. The body is dedicated to the preservation of heritage values. After six months of research and construction, the 77-year-old chapel has been brought back to life with original pews, landscaping, and paintwork using the original colours and former pathways. The chapel was designed by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Eric Milton Nicholls, with Griffin best known for designing the townships of Mt Eliza and Canberra. The chapel was dedicated to Charles Fenwick Crosby, one…