VICTORIA’S mosquito plague has raised fears that the increased risk of mosquito-born diseases such as the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer – already prevalent on the Mornington Peninsula – could soar. But concerns are falling on deaf ears according to Rye resident Pete Connell, 64, who was infected by the Mycobacterium ulcerans bacteria last year. Mr Connell accuses health authorities and government officials of “passing the buck”. Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are “hot spots” for the Buruli ulcer, a notifiable illness that worldwide is the third most common bacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy (“Flesh-eating ulcers on rise”, The Times 17/10/16).…
Month: October 2016
ANOTHER piece of the Mornington Peninsula wetland and wildlife habitat in Boneo will be permanently protected after the state government reached a voluntary agreement with the owners to ensure the protection of threatened species. The land, comprising 5.74 hectares of coastal wetland scrub abutting Tootgarook Swamp, is now protected under a Trust for Nature covenant. Land owner Rob McNaught, who also owns the neighbouring 320-hectare Boneo Park Equestrian Centre, donated more than 180 hectares of that property in 2013 for similar protection to offset vegetation cleared during the building of Peninsula Link, making it the biggest conservation covenant in greater…
NAVY crews from HMAS Cerberus literally dropped in to Eastbourne Primary School last week to talk to years 5 and 6 pupils about a career in the armed forces. It was pretty exciting stuff for the youngsters when the Seahawk helicopter arrived at the school in Allambi Av, Rosebud West, for the afternoon session. Assistant principal Brett Pascoe said the aim of the careers day was “to inspire our pupils to start looking towards their futures”. “Getting them thinking about their pathways in life by late primary school may help them remain focused and avoid the possibility of difficulties and…
A ROSEBUD mother of two primary-school aged children with autism spectrum disorder has turned her writing skills into an educational book series designed to inform both adults and children about the challenges of living with ASD. Monique Cain was so keen to help the teachers and peers of her children understand the way her daughter and son thought and reacted to others, she started to write a cartoon-style book to “show” others what was going on. “I kept hearing things from the other kids at my daughter’s school such as ‘Madi isn’t very smart’, or ‘Why does Madi do such…
PARKS Victoria has warned residents abutting the Mornington Peninsula National Park that it is about to begin poisoning foxes and feral cats in the park. The baiting program follows the total ban of dogs in the park from today (Tuesday 1 November). The 2686-hectare national park, includes 42 kilometres of coastline fronting Bass Strait from Flinders to London Bridge, near Portsea. Parks Victoria’s area chief ranger, Southern Peninsula, Kris Rowe, said the bait being used at the Point Nepean and Mornington Peninsula national parks was the “more humane” PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone). He said animals poisoned with PAPP usually fell asleep and…
POLICE are investigating links between armed robberies on service stations in Mornington and Chelsea Heights and a McDonald’s restaurant in Carrum Downs this week. In the three raids, two men of African appearance wearing balaclavas, dark-coloured hoodies and one carrying a tyre lever, smashed their way into the businesses in the early hours while terrified staff members looked on. In one robbery a man was bashed. The men, aged in their 20s, ransacked cigarette cupboards and stole cash from tills while making violent threats. Their getaway car – a silver Holden Commodore sedan – was stolen from Aspendale earlier in…
THE axing of one of the Mornington Peninsula’s oldest indigenous trees has been labelled “an absolute disgrace” by heritage and flora and fauna experts. Ecologist Malcolm Legg said he was appalled that a 15-metre gum from a 31-unit development site in Bayview Av, Rosebud, had been cut down, even after it was suggested by the National Trust that it be protected as a “tree of significance”. Mr Legg said the peninsula, once renowned for its strict controls on vegetation removal, was losing much of its significant greenery as developers ripped out trees and native bush for multi-unit developments. “It’s an…
DISTRICT Rye’s pain continued in round three of MPCA District cricket after losing 14 wickets in 45 overs against Mt Martha on Saturday. After a disastrous 2015-16 season which saw the Demons relegated, they have started the new season picking-up where they left off – in trouble! In just two and a half games of cricket so far this season, the Demons have lost a staggering 42 wickets for just 312 runs. On Saturday against the Reds, the Demons batted first and were rolled for just 79 in 35 overs. Rhys Whitling snagged five wickets for Mt Martha while Matt…
SUB-DISTRICT YOUNG Frankston YCW top order batsman Jack Greenwood scored his maiden First XI century against Dromana in Sub District cricket on Saturday. Greenwood has always looked like being a run machine and he found his groove in a dominant performance batting at four on the weekend, scoring 102 of his side’s total of 232. With support coming from Jason Bedford (23) and Brett Hudgson (25), Greenwood was able to notch up his first ton. Jye Voelkl picked up 3/36 off 14 overs for the Hoppers while Jeff Bluhm helped himself to 3/34 off 12 overs. Having to face the…
PROVINCIAL PENINSULA Old Boys’ and Baxter stars Dylan O’Malley and Daniel Warwick continued their dominant starts to the season with a massive 154 and 141 respectively in Round 3 of Provincial cricket on Saturday. O’Malley has already chalked up over 200 runs in three hits this season with scores of 24, 46 and now 154 against Pines on the weekend. Fellow opening bat Wade Pelzer has also blasted his way into the new season with 130 run in three innings after scoring 94 against Pines. Peninsula Old Boys finished their 80 overs in excellent condition at 5/345. Matty Hyden scored…
CENTENARY Park Public Golf Course manager D&S Golf was recently awarded the inaugural On Course Golf National Franchise of the Year. It was presented to D&S Golf at the On Course National Conference on the Gold Coast last week. All On Course franchise golf businesses across Australia were evaluated against a stringent criterion of business excellence including branding, store presentation, marketing and training. In a highly competitive field, D&S Golf came out a clear winner. D&S Golf Director and PGA Professional Steve Montgomerie, and business partner and PGA Professional Warren Young, were delighted to win the award. “Being adjudged as…
IT is our painful duty to record still another death in the person of Mrs Bray, wife of Mr H Bray, Frankston. Mrs Bray who was in her usual health on Sunday, took suddenly ill and died the same evening from apoplexy. Mrs Bray who was only 54 years of age, was an old identity of Frankston, and her sudden death was a great shock to her many friends. Although not enjoying the best of health for some time past, the deceased was able to attend to her duties till the last. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr Bray and…
FRANKSTON Dolphins Football Club will fight on and hope to be readmitted into the VFL in 2018 after creditors voted to accept partial payment for outstanding debts. Worrells, the administrators of the club, met with creditors on Friday (28 October) at the club’s premises and a deal to save the 129-year-old footy club from extinction was accepted by those owed money after the club went into voluntary administration in August. Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants managing partner Paul Burness said unsecured creditors voted to accept partial payment of monies owed over four years with the first payment due to be…
IT’S not that unusual to develop a cough after spending weeks either in air conditioned rooms and cars or outside on 40 degree days. On his first back in England after three weeks in the Middle East Alan Cane woke up wrapped in clammy sheets. He coughed and there was blood in his handkerchief. A visit to the doctor led to blood tests and an x-ray. Two days later he was admitted to a sanatorium with tuberculosis, TB. This all happened in the mid-1970s and such a diagnosis, even then, was commonly regarded as a death sentence. Antibiotics meant this…
WHO would leave a child alone in a car on a hot day? No-one would be silly enough do that, would they? Sadly, quite a few people do – and this time of year the warmer weather makes incidents even more dangerous. “This practice is completely unacceptable,” Mornington fire station officer Simon Mildren said. “Many people are unaware of the high temperatures that can occur in a brief moment of sun exposure on a locked vehicle. It can take only minutes for the temperature in a car to become dangerous and life threatening. “The message needs to be clear: Do…
FRANKSTON nurse Jenny Macindoe has one of the most difficult jobs in healthcare – that of working exclusively with people with an incurable illness. Ms Macindoe, a specialist metastatic McGrath Foundation breast care nurse, has just been appointed to fill the much-needed role of supporting patients by providing an outlet beyond the family unit with whom they can talk to openly. Metastatic breast cancer refers to the stage of cancer that is incurable – it has spread beyond the primary tumour site of the breast to other parts of the body. A nurse for more than 30 years with significant…
AFTER three years of negotiations, the environment group BERG Mt Martha has persuaded Mornington Peninsula Shire to spend $100,000 to reduce sediment entering Balcombe Estuary. BERG Mt Martha president Graham told last week’s annual meeting that “the problem of sediment clogging the creek and estuary needs to be addressed now”. “We are grateful to council realising the severity of the problem and coming to the party to solve it.” BERG Mt Martha says the level of sedimentation is changing the estuarine environment resulting in loss of habitat and food sources for aquatic animals and birdlife. “The food source for black…
CRAIGIE beach at Mt Martha remains closed during the day while extra rocks are brought in to protect the 50-year-old seawall. A similar rock revetment is already in place at the northern end of the seawall and the works now underway are designed to protect another 97 metre section. “This approach has proven to be highly effective, so we are extending the rock revetment, to prolong the life of the seawall and provide continued protection of the cliffs,” Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning coastal project officer Jacky Priestley said. “The works will help protect the Craigie Beach seawall…
IN her short but inspirational life, 23-year-old Jess Van Zeil has not asked very much of others. The high-achieving Frankston South resident, who grew up in Mt Eliza and worked in Mornington, is now asking for help from others to give her a chance at life. At 22, Jess had the world at her feet – just weeks away from completing a degree in nutrition, on the brink of a part-time career in motivational speaking, and working up to 30 hours a week at a job she loved. “My life was completely different, I was busy being busy, and focusing…
IMAGES of muscular, well-toned men might be easy on the eye, but they are also raising money for the Monash Children’s Hospital thanks to Mornington mum Caroline Donovan. Ms Donovan is the organiser of the Victorian Firefighters calendar, which was first released five years ago and last year raised $3200 for medical equipment. “A calendar showing off some of our firefighters is a light-hearted alternative to the seriousness of what they do every day,” she said. “They are regularly exposed to traumatic experiences, often including children, so it’s good to get the firefighters involved in something positive that helps families.”…
EIGHT new councillors have been elected to the 11-member Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Three of four councillors seeking re-election regained their seats: Bev Colomb in Briars ward, Antonella Celi in Seawinds and Hugh Fraser, Nepean. Former councillor David Garnock (Cerberus) was defeated in the 22 October poll which saw 50 candidates contesting 11 seats over six wards. Joining Crs Colomb, Celi and Fraser on the council will be David Gill (Red Hill); Kate Roper (Cerberus); Julie Edge (Watson); Rosie Clark and Sam Hearn (Briars); Bryan Payne (Nepean); and Simon Brooks and Frank Martin (Seawinds). Frank Martin is a former shire…
Mornington members have impounded a man’s Harley after he was caught speeding in Moorooduc last night. Police were patrolling Mornington-Tyabb Road when they saw the motorcycle about 12.05am. They followed the rider and clocked him at 145km/h in a 80kn/h zone. The bike was intercepted and the rider, a 21-year-old from Cranbourne East, was spoken to by police. Police search the rider and his bike and found a quantity of drugs and a conducted energy device. The man was arrested and interviewed for drugs and weapons offences as well as speeding, use unroadworthy motorcycle and use unregistered motorcycle. His bike…
CRIB Point Cricket Club has been hit by intruders for the third time in the past few months. No cash was stolen in the early morning Friday 21 October break-in but Senior Sergeant Allan Paxton, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said $2000 damage was caused when thieves forced the front sliding glass door and then smashed an internal roller door and shelving. CCTV footage is being examined. It is believed to show two men wearing hoodies inside the building at 4.30am. Club president Ricky Thompson said the club had learned from the string of break-ins in March, August and, now, October,…
LONGSTANDING Hastings Primary School teacher Julie Bryant, right, has been selected in the top three primary teachers in Victoria for this year’s Victorian Education Excellence awards, to be announced on Friday (28 October). She is also in the running for the Lindsay Thompson Award as overall state winner in all nine categories. Hastings Primary School principal Sue Lyons said staff at the school worked hard to ensure the community “knows about us and takes pride in the education local schools have to offer”. “In the recent nominations for the Victorian Education Excellence awards I nominated long standing early childhood teacher…
SOME of the rarest plants on the Mornington Peninsula and French Island will be better protected under a $85,000 project between Trust for Nature and Parks Victoria. The state government money will go towards fauna population surveys, weed control, establishing herbivore exclusion zones, improved fencing, seed collection and conservation management plans. Trust for Nature regional manager Ben Cullen said one of the rarest orchids in Australia – the leafy greenhood – occurred in some areas of the Nepean Peninsula and was considered a threatened species because of trampling, pest herbivores, urban development and “unfavourable” land management practices. Other species and…
The high legal cost of protest is the latest stumbling block to face residents angry at plans for concrete paths at Somers. Faced with unforeseen fee increases at VCAT (Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal), the owners of about 25 per cent of properties in the town were yesterday (Monday) facing the prospect of only being represented at half of the scheduled four-day hearing. This week’s hearing was the latest instalment of a long running campaign against the footpaths by three groups associated with the Somers Village Community Association (SVCA). The fight has already highlighted deficiencies in the shire’s use of special…
AN open day at HMAS Cerberus on Sunday gave thousands of visitors a rare glimpse of Navy life, as well as a great day out. Known as the Cradle of the Navy, the base has up to 800 staff and each year trains about 4000 members in all three defence forces. Commanding Officer Captain Stephen Bowater said the 30 military activities on show included interactive displays by Navy clearances divers and even cooking demonstrations by Navy and Army cooks. Training faculties were open for inspection, and there were displays by the Indigenous Dance Group and commando skydivers. The Navy’s 816…
WORK is being done along the Frankston line to prepare for the removal of eight level crossings between Cheltenham and Frankston. Geotechnical investigations will be conducted until the end of the year so work crews will remain a familiar sight even before the larger scale separation of road from rail at Balcombe Rd (Mentone), Charman Rd (Cheltenham), Edithvale Rd (Edithvale), Eel Race Rd (Carrum), Seaford Rd (Seaford), Skye/Overton Rd (Frankston), Station St (Bonbeach), Station St (Carrum) starting next year. The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) says more than 130 boreholes, about 100 millimetres in diameter, are being drilled to a…
DROMANA Community Garden attributes part of its growth and health to financial support of service groups and Mornington Peninsula Shire. Lions Red Hill donated $1000 to buy water tanks, and Mornington Peninsula shire gave $5000 to build communal raised garden beds, compost bays and provide for two community days, a spring launch and autumn harvest. The shire also allocated $16,500 for a small dwelling at the garden, helped along by a budget submission from the Association for Building Community Dromana. Hardware chain Bunnings donated trees, tools and blood and bone and may be able to provide an expert to help…
A GROUP of friends from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are discovering the beauty and serenity of some of the Mornington Peninsula’s best-kept secrets while they train for the upcoming Wild Women on Top ‘Melbourne Coastrek’ walk. Frankston South woman Sarah Watson is one of 12 friends who have been enjoying parts of the peninsula they never knew existed while training for the 60km charity walk, in between dodging Tiger snakes, brushing past kangaroos and echidnas, and marvelling at the beauty of the coastline. “We’ve been doing walks around Cape Schanck and Point Nepean and without doubt one of the…