Day: June 6, 2016

A MAN with a passion for history is keeping the memories of our ancestors alive. Ray Gibb, of Rosebud, has a special focus on Victorians generally, and Mornington Peninsula pioneering families up to 1940, in particular. Many are buried at Dromana cemetery – but the fact that a number were interred without headstones makes researching their backgrounds difficult. Sources of much of his material are the web-based research site Trove, the former newspaper The Australasian 1864-1946, and real estate directories of the day showing who bought what, where and when. A more modern source of information is social media, in…

RYE Historical Society has completed repairs at the Old Schoolhouse, and up-graded its displays inside its small museum. As well as using its own funds, support has come from Rye Primary School, Southern Peninsula Community Fund, Bendigo Bank, Mornington Peninsula Shire (through grants), Lions Club of Rye, and Rotary Club of Rosebud/Rye. The society paid for the exterior painting of the Old Schoolhouse – the second oldest public building in Rye.    “We are very proud of the fact that we have, over three years, preserved this schoolhouse, for many years to come,” secretary Pauline Powell said. “Built in 1923…

A BLAIRGOWRIE resident upset the coming ban on dogs in Mornington Peninsula National Parks claims that Parks Victoria is ignoring the “major problems” of foxes, cats and weeds. Dogs will be banned from the national park from November in a bid to protect the nesting areas of the threatened hooded plover. Peter Hill, a Blairgowrie resident of more than 30 years, says Blairgowrie’s rocky beach is not a nesting ground for the sand-dwelling birds and accuses Parks Victoria of focusing on dogs because they are an “easy target”. “Blairgowrie is a rocky beach and we don’t have any hooded plovers,…

ROSEBUD Country Club’s Anthony Marchesani has made his final US collegiate tournament a memorable one. Playing in a tournament players’ championship event at Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois, he led his team Oklahoma City Stars into the national championship for the fourth time in the past six years. In the individual championships, Marchesani played solidly all week shooting rounds of 72, 72, 73 and 72 to be tied for fourth. He was also again selected in the All American first team. Marchesani has also been named one of five finalists in the prestigious Jack Nicklaus award, which is presented to the…

HAVING received and distributed 281 blankets and many knitted items from its 2015 appeal, Food for All  is conducting its 20th winter appeal with the aim to equal or better last year’s total. Blankets, rugs and quilts which are clean and in good condition are needed to help Mornington Peninsula families cope with a cold winter. Also needed are knitted garments, including jumpers, long scarves, beanies and gloves. “We will ensure these are given to deserving families who urgently need help in keeping warm this winter,” president Ken Northwood said. Food for All is a non-profit community organisation devoted to…

THIS year’s Arthurs Seat Challenge fun run launch at Arthurs Hotel on 19 May was an opportunity to highlight the fragility of young lives on the roads – among both drivers and passengers. Those aged 18-24 are the most at-risk group, with P-platers 30 times more likely to crash than more experienced drivers. The challenge raises the importance of road safety education for young people and supports the Fit2Drive road safety program. Funds raised go to local schools to supplement the cost of providing road safety education to Year 11 students. Guest Dr Nicola Martin spoke about the lasting impact…

PENINSULA LEAGUE KARINGAL came from 30 points down at three quarter time to overrun Mornington in a six point nail biter on Saturday. The Bulls, who had four Under 19s and two Under 17s playing in their team, more than doubled their score in the final quarter, booting six goals to one to run out 12.8 (80) to 11.8 (74) winners. Despite having their fair share of the footy in the second and third quarters, the Bulls could not penetrate the scoreboard with both key forwards Leigh Poholke and Chris Hay struggling with leg injuries. However, coach Michael Triep made…

NEPEAN LEAGUE RYE responded to back-to-back lame performances and public criticism on Saturday by bouncing back and knocking over top of the ladder Hastings. The Demons past two performances against Sorrento and Frankston Bombers were 10-plus goal hidings, however, they bounced back in the best way possible on Saturday against the Blues to win comfortably 14.11 (95) to 8.13 (61). And the hierarchy hit back too in response to claims that it was neglecting its junior development program. Although the club did not want to go on the record officially, a number of senior representatives made it very clear that…

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie MORNINGTON’S march towards a second successive State 1 South-East title continued at the expense of Frankston Pines at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday. Wayne Gordon opened the scoring in the 25th minute and three minutes later Shane Tagliaferro’s deflected shot fell for Northern Irish import Sam Stewart who tucked it away from eight metres. Another deflected Tagliaferro strike in the 68th minute lobbed up for Paul McEvoy to head home and a fine free-kick by Chris Reid in the 71st minute stood despite Pines’ protestations that it was indirect. Kane Bentley grabbed a late consolation for…

A TREMENDOUS sensation, has been caused throughout the world by the news of the death by drowning of Lord Kitchener and his staff, by the founding of H.M.S. Hampshire, which occurred on Monday west of the Orkneys, while on its way to Russia, as the result of being mined or torpedoed” It is estimated that there was a total loss of 655 lives. *** THE month of May, 1916, has distinguished itself by putting up a record low temperature in Melbourne —11 degrees below zero. *** WORKING expenses on the railways have increased by £326,260 for the past quarter. The train mileage decreased by 154 575. ***…

“Mick Thomas has some secret magic to his writing… he surely can write great songs that make you say “Why didn’t I think of that?” but of course we never do. He writes about mates, ratbags, races, places, weddings, parties, funny stuff – anything – but they are really good stories and great songs. Mick is truly a legend around the best of fair-dinkum roots venues and festivals around the country. He is a character! He is funny! He will talk the leg off an old chair and play the arse off a guitar, sweat the shirt of his back…

IT was on for young an old on Saturday 28 May when Beleura Hill Preschool celebrated their 50th anniversary. It was a flurry of craft and cake, coffee for the grown-ups, and a cacophony of kids having a great time. Current families, as well as families whose children attended the pre-school in the past, mixed with past and present educators, reminisced about their time spent at the preschool. Beleura Hill Preschool, which is located in Amelia Avenue in Mornington, was born of a desire by a number of parents to have a local pre-school in what was, at the time,…

A YOUNG, injured dolphin in Port Phillip has highlighted concern that boat users are flouting the law and getting too close to wildlife in the bay. The dolphin, less than one year old, was spotted about two weeks after it had lost part of its tail, probably from a boat strike. Department of Environment, Land and Water and Planning compliance officer Katie Knight said the dolphin was lucky not to have been fatally wounded. “These type of strikes are often fatal or severely debilitating and while it is great to see a marine mammal in its natural environment, a big…

A MT MARTHA woman was lucky not to be scammed last week when she received an email from what looked to be her power provider. Sandra-Lyal Dennis, 72, said the email, purporting to be from AGL and with her correct name and account number, asked if she preferred to pay her quarterly power bills by the month. If she did, the email requested that she move her cursor to an area on the screen where she could download pictures – but it was a trap. The download would have exposed her PC to a ransomware attack. “Fortunately, I didn’t download…

MT ELIZA Secondary College’s subject Real Time Learning focuses on enhancing student engagement through authentic activities. It’s built on the principles of expansive education, where students feel a connection to others and a level of control over their learning. The program aims to encourage community involvement by offering students opportunities to participate in real-world ventures. In February a group of students, many who identify as being of Aboriginal descent, such as Wurundjeri, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Toogee, pitched an idea to school leaders for an outdoor classroom that includes a bush tucker garden and murals. Given the green light, the…

THE beaching of yachts at Mornington Yacht Club after storms is becoming so common that insurers are loath to cover boats on swing moorings. “We are getting such a reputation that when we have a storm I get emails, even from interstate, asking how many boats were washed up,” yacht club CEO Rod Austin said. He said large insurer Nautilus Marine Boat Insurance wouldn’t insure boats – especially between May and October when the strong west and north winds blow. A Nautilus executive confirmed the company was wary of insuring boats “in certain locations along the Mornington Peninsula, including Mornington”.…

THE seven protesters who were arrested and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave the Hastings office of Flinders MP Greg Hunt all say they were frustrated by the refusal of governments to be more compassionate in their treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. The sequel to their protest played out in Frankston Magistrates Court last week, more than a year later. Despite prosecutors offering six of them the chance to avoid a court appearance, they elected to appear as charged and read out statements to explain their decision to deliberately flout the law. Here are some edited extracts: Cameron…

LIBERAL candidate for Dunkley Chris Crewther has distanced himself from previously held views on limiting penalty rates. A ReachTel phone poll released last week found more than 83 per cent of undecided voters questioned in the marginal seat of Dunkley said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who backs any cuts to weekend loading rates. Now, five weeks out from the 2 July election, Mr Crewther has deleted a self-penned article from his campaign Facebook page in which he put forward a plan to only pay penalty rates on the sixth or seventh day straight that…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council’s reversal of a decision not to pursue Cr Antonella Celi for thousands of dollars she allegedly spent over her allowances has sparked an intense backlash through social media. Since the decision was published by The News social media came alive with descriptions of the backflip being “disgusting” and “double standards” to questions of whether residents should be pursued for not paying rates (“Council drops costs recovery bid” The News 31/5/16). At their 23 May meeting, a majority of councillors voted to reverse an earlier decision for the shire to seek repayment from Cr Celi of what appeared to…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is considering revoking its lease with Mt Martha Tennis Club because of the club’s objection to a skatepark being built near its courts. In an embarrassing gaffe, the shire has earmarked the site for the $800,000 skatepark within the boundaries of land it leases to the tennis club. After first being held up by Heritage Victoria because of the site’s historic use as a military parade ground, the shire now appears to have been aced by the tennis club. Cr Andrew Dixon says the club is “effectively holding the rest of the community to ransom”. “The club,…

COUNTRY Fire Authority volunteers across the Mornington Peninsula are “completely gutted” by what they see as a sell-out by the state government in enterprise bargaining negotiations between the United Firefighters’ Union and the CFA. Fair Work Australia has backed a log of claims governing future UFU wages and work conditions “which could effectively give them control over the CFA”, the volunteer body says. Volunteers are concerned the union seems to have the backing of Premier Daniel Andrews – although nothing is signed off as yet – but are buoyed by the support of Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett. The ramifications…

TRIPLETS born in England 80 years ago reunited last week for a special occasion in Mt Eliza. The Aburrows, two boys and a girl born at Kingston-Upon-Thames in May 1936, celebrated their birthday at the home of younger brother Barry, in Nepean Highway. The eldest, now Joyce Carlin, was followed hours later by Peter and then Barry, and the rarity of a set of healthy triplets in England as war approached was “a fair sensation”, Mr Aburrow said. “There was a little story in the local paper at the time, and a cute picture of the three of us as…