A MORNINGTON Peninsula artist has an ambitious plan to sell his three metre by two metre canvas for $1.6 million. Philippe de Kraan says his online “offer” is receiving attention around the globe. The Gathering, an eye-catching expressionist work in bold, bright colours, took de Kraan almost four years to complete using a miniature paintbrush. While most people who have viewed the work would have difficulty scraping together that kind of money, de Kraan said interest from overseas was encouraging. “The news is getting around and I’ve had feedback from people in London and Dubai,” he said. “I’m very confident…
Month: June 2016
THE state government may be facing anti-sky rail protests but it is happy to welcome a SkyBus to Frankston. SkyBus has taken over the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne Airport shuttle route. It offers free travel to children, online ticketing and smartphone ticket access. The cost is $38 one way. The service takes in Frankston, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Dromana, and Rosebud. SkyBus director Adam Begg, who says he was “born and raised in Frankston”, said the operator was delighted to be expanding on its existing routes. “I understand the importance of easy, convenient and value-for-money services from the outer…
MORNINGTON Peninsula councillors are divided over a revised code of conduct that discourages them from making personal attacks on each other and sets out the process for dealing with bad behaviour. However, shire CEO Carl Cowie told The News he expects that the version of the code of conduct adopted at last week’s special council meeting will be signed by all councillors before the end of June. On Friday, the mayor Cr Graham Pittock said that while he did not agree with some of the amendments, councillors had no choice but to sign the code and “just agree to abide…
MT MARTHA Tennis Club is under increasing pressure to withdraw its objections to a skatepark, with a second Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor reminding it of how it has benefitted from “ratepayer funds”. Cr Andrew Dixon last week accused the tennis club of “effectively holding the rest of the community to ransom” by objecting to the skatepark being built alongside its courts. The club is able to hold-up the shire’s plans because the site for the skatepark is within land leased to the club by the shire. For the third week in a row shire officers have failed to acknowledge problems…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is about to appoint an in-house lawyer to provide “risk-based” solutions for its legal dilemmas. The “corporate counsel” will report to the chief financial officer – currently Matthew Hubbard – and be responsible for legal advice and representation on a such issues as planning, commercial contracts, property transactions, governance, employment law, freedom of information and privacy. While no salary range had been provided, The News believes an in-house lawyer is considered to be more cost-effective than the bills being clocked up by the shire from private lawyers. Shire CEO Carl Cowie sees hiring a lawyer as being…
MYSTERY surrounds the deaths of two scuba divers near Mornington pier, Friday, but rough seas and strong winds almost certainly contributed to the tragedy. Diving instructor Leonie Hanson, 40, who worked for Harbour Dive Australia, Mornington, and her pupil, a 39-year-old man, of Langwarrin, drowned when they got into difficulties around noon. Witnesses said they heard screams as a desperate Ms Hanson tried to keep her unconscious pupil afloat and lift him onto a ladder on the seaward side of the concrete wall, while being buffeted by large waves. Nearby restaurateur Robert De Santis, who ran to help, told Channel…
VOTERS bored with a seemingly interminable eight-week federal election campaign can now begin to focus attention on polling day on 2 July after the political runners were confirmed on Friday. The Australian Electoral Commission released the official list of candidates on Friday (10 June). A field of six will contest the seat of Flinders and 11 candidates will battle to win the hotly-contested marginal seat of neighbouring Dunkley. Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt holds Flinders by a whopping 11.8 per cent margin so there seems little chance of an upset victory as he faces challengers Carolyn Gleixner (Labor), Willisa Hogarth…
PENINSULA LEAGUE BONBEACH is just half a game outside of the top five after a convincing win against neighbour Edithvale-Aspendale in Peninsula League on Saturday. The Sharks came from 12 points down at quarter time and three points down at the last change to win 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63). Luke Damon was at his vintage best for the Sharks with three goals while Chris Bryan and Shane McDonald played important roles with two goals each to help seal the victory. While the win brought the Sharks to within half a game of fifth spot, the loss came at a…
NEPEAN LEAGUE HOW quickly the wheel can turn in our great game. A fortnight ago, Rye Football Club was on its knees after being thrashed by Frankston Bombers. That loss came on the back of a drubbing against Sorrento and a last quarter capitulation against Red Hill the week before. Rye was on struggle street. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the Demons have beaten top of the table Hastings and turned the tables on premiership fancies Sorrento in consecutive weeks. It was Rye’s first win against Sorrento at Sorrento for more than 10 years. Wins against Hastings and…
WHILE walking along the road at Carrum at 7.45 on Sunday night last, John Leslie Atkins, 22, a jockey, who lived at Cherry street, Northcote, was run over by a motor car, which passed across his face, fracturing his skull, nose and jaw. He died at Homeopathic Hospital at 11 p.m. the same evening. *** MESSRS Adamson, Strettle and Co., will hold their next sale at Tanti Yards on Monday next, when they will have a good yarding of stock including milkers, springers and fat cattle, also sheep and pigs. *** THE “Wattles” Club social and dance takes place this evening…
TWO scuba divers drowned at Mornington pier this afternoon. Emergency services were called about 12.15pm after the two divers were seen by a local walking on the pier. Mornington police rushed to the scene as the drama unfolded, but both divers, a male and a female, drowned. Search and rescue and water police soon arrived and have been involved in the recovery of the pair from the water. The ages of the man and woman are not known. An investigation is being held into the cause of the deaths, although they are not being treated as suspicious. The pier is a…
CRIB POINT FNC By Jared Newton CRIB Point’s season continued in pretty familiar circumstances in an 84 point loss to Rosebud at Crib Point. The Pies were pretty competitive early but fell away badly as Rosebud piled on 12 goals to 2 in the second half. Positives were pretty thin for the Pies on Saturday as it was a really flat performance. Zack Condick gave a lot up forward and Tyler Wilton was a real positive in the ruck after Zak Dekleuver went off injured but aside from that it was a dirty, dirty day for the Pies and one…
HASTINGS FNC ON Saturday the Hastings Football/Netball club travelled to Rye in what was going to be a very testing encounter against a fired up Rye FNC. They had been ridiculed by the one and only Toe Punt, so our club knew we had to be on our game. Unfortunately after quarter time the senior boys were unable to play the type of football required. We ended up going down by five goals on a wet miserable day. The shining light for the day was our Under 19s who are going from strength to strength recording their second win on…
THE Victorian Farmers’ Federation is backing the CFA in its row with the United Firefighters Union. It has called on CFA members and all Victorians “to put their names to a petition calling on the state government and CFA to stand their ground and not sign the draft 2015 enterprise agreement with the firefighters’ union in its current form”. The VFF described the union’s demands as “absurd”. “They risk seeing 60,000 volunteers walk away from the CFA and would lead to a massive blowout in the fire services property levy that all farmers, country households and businesses pay on their…
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”.…