THE timing of Cr Lynn Bowden’s resignation – Monday 2 May – means there is “no need” for a by-election for her Watson ward seat. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock says he will represent her constituents until a new Watson Ward councillor is elected in October. “There is no need for a by-election given the time frame,” communications manager Mark Kestigian said. Under the Local Government Act no by-election is required if a councillor resigns within less than six months of the next scheduled municipal elections. Cr Bowden’s resignation came less than two week’s inside the limit. “It would cost…
Month: May 2016
STAFF at Mornington, Rosebud, Hastings, Somerville and mobile libraries are shocked by a restructure which will see many lose their jobs. In the firing line are four children and youth services librarians, one full-time and one part-time mobile library position and six full-time and one part-time collections management positions. All of the shire’s 20 library officers, who are mostly employed part-time, are believed to be going, but exact numbers are yet to be announced. Two staff on leave overseas were said to be unaware their jobs have gone. Australian Services Union organiser Prescilla Schwalger said seven librarians on Band 5…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie FOUR local clubs are in the hunt for title honours after six rounds of the 2016 soccer season. Mornington is equal on points with league leader Malvern City, Skye and Baxter head their respective leagues while Rosebud Heart is breathing down the neck of its Baxter Park arch rival. Mornington found Mooroolbark a tough nut to crack but fashioned a 2-1 win in their State 1 South-East clash at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday. Andy McCabe’s visitors deservedly went in 1-0 up at the interval thanks to a 43rd-minute strike from Adam Doughty. During the break…
NEPEAN LEAGUE OFF the field, it was built up as Rosebud Football Club versus former premiership coach Nick Jewell. On the field, it was nothing more than getting the four points for Jewell’s new club Sorrento and the Buds. It went to the wire. One point separated the sides at the final siren after Sorrento controlled the match for the larger part of the contest. However, with Luke Tapscott in hospital after copping a head knock, Nick Muller off the ground with an AC joint injury and Trev Mattison tearing a hamstring, the Sorras could do nothing but hang on…
INTERLEAGUE THE MPNFL Sharks have culled the interleague squad to less than 60 players as preparation continues for the May 21 clash against Northern Football League. Coach John Hynes said despite the fact that the list was starting to be fine-tuned, there were some players who were continuing to be added to the squad. Young Frankston YCW star defender Brenton Credlin has been added to the squad while Dan Gormley from Mt Eliza and Beau McMurray from Dromana has also been added. One player that is not in the squad but demands selection in the first five rounds is Hastings’…
PENINSULA LEAGUE BONBEACH went from being belted by Frankston YCW by 114 points in round four to causing the upset of the season a week later in MPNFL Peninsula Division. Sitting on the bottom of the ladder without a win in 2016, the Sharks headed to Wooralla Drive to tackle an undefeated Mt Eliza. By quarter time it was evident that the Bonbeach side that was hammered by the Stonecats was very different to the one that turned up at the home of the Redlegs. The Sharks had nine scoring shots to one in the opening quarter and by half…
By ANDREA LOUISE THOMAS Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery presents two interesting new exhibitions. Country and Western examines the national landscape from the perspective of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. Eventide is a print exhibition centred on the time between day and night. When the Papunya Tula dot and circle paintings came to prominence in the early 1970s, it was hailed as the greatest art movement of the 20th century. So radically different was their representation of the Australian landscape that it sent shockwaves through the art world. It influenced non-Indigenous Australian artists. Country and Western looks at the impact of…
With a career spanning almost twenty years, half a million album sales, gold and platinum albums and eight Golden Guitar Awards, Adam Harvey is back in black, telling the story of Johnny Cash with country music belle Catherine Britt. The Man In Black has been reloaded after two sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and an 18-month Australia-wide tour. The acclaimed show, originally starring Tex Perkins narrating the life of Johnny Cash, won a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert. Starring in this year’s tour of The Man In Black, Adam Harvey is one of Australia’s most popular…
WE are pleased to note that Mrs Barclay, of “Osborne House”, is slowly recovering from the accident which occurred about two weeks ago, when she was knocked down by a motor car as she alighted from a tram in Swanston street, Melbourne. *** PRIVATE W. White will be tendered a farewell social and presentation on Saturday (this evening) in the Recreation Hall, Langwarrin, previous to his departure for the front. *** MESSRS Adamson, Strettle and Co will hold their second sale at Tanti,on Monday next, when they will have a good yarding of cattle, sheep and pigs. The sale will…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing 14-year-old Mornington girl Lillian Davies. Lillian was last seen at a Terrigal Street address on Monday 24 April at about 1pm. Police and Lillian’s family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age. The below photo of Lillian has been released in the hope that someone may have information on her current whereabouts. Lillian is Caucasian in appearance with long straight-brown hair, medium build and has a tattoo of a peace sign on one hand and a tattoo of a cross on the other hand. She was last seen…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing 13-year-old Dylan Burke. Dylan was last seen at a residential address on Bungower Road, Mornington yesterday about 4.00pm. He is described as about 150cm -160cm tall with dark hair and brown eyes. Dylan was last seen wearing black jeans, black zip-up jacket, dark cap and light blue or grey runners. Police have concerns for Dylan due to his young age. He is known to frequent the Mornington area. Investigators have released an image of Dylan in the hope that someone knows his current whereabouts. Anyone who sees Dylan is urged…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Councillor Lynn Bowden has resigned as Watson Ward councillor. She cited ongoing health issues as the reason for her decision. “We are all very saddened by Cr Bowden’s decision as she has been a strong supporter and advocate for so many across the peninsula in her time as councillor,” the mayor Cr Graham Pittock said. “We will miss her keen intellect, passion and willingness to get behind so many vital projects that have taken shape as a result of Lynn’s involvement.” Council advised Cr Pittock will take over her ward in the lead up to the next…
Mornington Peninsula News photographers Yanni and Gary Sissons have captured these amazing photos as wild winds lash the peninsula. Photos: Yanni [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”21″ gal_title=”Storm Pics – Yanni”] Photos: Gary Sissons [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”22″ gal_title=”Storm – Gary”] Photos: Cameron McCullough [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”23″ gal_title=”Storm Pics – Cam”]
MORNINGTON Peninsula police last week paid tribute to fallen comrade Senior Constable Kevin Laube with a memorial service at the Somerville police complex. The former motorcycle policeman died when his bike collided with a car on Coolart Rd, Somerville, in 1976 – just a stone’s throw from the site of his memorial stone. The award has been a long time coming, but reflects the force’s ethos of looking after its own, however long it takes. Peninsula branch president of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Darryl Nation said it was fitting present-day police could see the memorial stone daily and reflect on…
FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt has pushed the case for Melbourne’s south east suburbs to remain key to climate research to complement a new Climate Science Centre in Hobart announced by the CSIRO last month. The new Hobart hub has put the future of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s Aspendale laboratories in doubt amid accusations the decision to favour Tasmania over Victoria is “a political fix to protect marginal seats”. The majority of the CSIRO’s climate change research is conducted in Aspendale and Tasmania and the science body is restructuring its nationwide operations, mostly focusing on cuts to climate…
THE joys of a sea change to Balnarring have been undermined for new residents Phil and Janet Eyles as they struggle to get over the theft of their Quintrex 370 Traveller, trailer, lifejackets and other safety gear. The boat was stolen from their backyard in the early hours of Tuesday last week, despite it being chained to a caravan and a padlocked towing ball. Mrs Eyles, who said they moved from Ringwood East last October, awoke at 4am but heard nothing out of the ordinary, while her dogs slept on undisturbed in the workshop. “We moved to the area late…
The crunch time is fast approaching for the future of the Otama submarine anchored off Crib Point with deteriorating moorings. Earlier this year the submarine’s owners – the Western Port Oberon Association – sent out an SOS saying $50,000 was needed to fix the mooring by this month, May. Association president Max Bryant said yesterday (Monday) that the alternative was to sell the submarine for scrap. The desperate efforts to find a solution to the mooring dilemma is the latest of many hurdles faced during the 14 years since the submarine arrived in Western Port. Saturday marked the 14th anniversary…
NOT one to let the boys have all the fun, Genevieve Beacom, of Somerville, revelled in her role as the only girl to represent the under-12 Little League Southern Mariners Charter at the Victorian Little League Baseball championships, Jells Park, over the Easter holidays. Her strong pitching helped her team win its way into the grand final and be crowned state champions. The Southern Mariners will now go to Lismore in June to compete in the Australian Little League Championships. But that’s only the beginning: the winner will then go on to the United States to compete in the World…
CRIB POINT FNC By Jared Newton THE seniors lost their fourth on the trot in a 98 point belting at the hands of Sorrento, as they also faced their fourth loss on the trot. The upside to the performance was it could’ve been much worse as they were 120 points down into the last quarter and managed to peg a few back late in the game to take some form of momentum into Tyabb for this weeks game. It was a dirty day for the Pies in Brad Davidson’s 150th game in the Black and White as a senior footballer.…
HASTINGS FNC ON Saturday the club travelled to Devon Meadows after a five day break after our wonderful win in the Anzac Day game over the Frankston Bombers FNC. The club knew that the trip to Glover Oval was not going to be an easy affair. On a windy and awkward day for football the senior boys had a terrific win to keep their momentum going. We now await another massive challenge with a table topping game against last year’s runners up at Hastings. Senior Report ANOTHER win for the boys cementing a 4-0 start to the season. The boys…
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…
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.…