Day: October 24, 2016

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…

A RYE woman has won the Dame Phyllis Frost Award for her project The One Tonne Challenge, which focuses on “giving back to the ocean by encouraging people to pick up rubbish at our beaches”. Josie Jones collected the award at Horsham, Saturday 15 October, in the annual Tidy Towns competition in which three Mornington Peninsula townships – Mornington, Hastings and Crib Point – were finalists in their categories. Horsham won the 48th Tidy Town Awards which are run by the Keep Australia Beautiful Council. Media personality Mark Mitchell was master of ceremonies. Ms Jones has a strong passion for…

IT is a stark statistic; 91 per cent of all women hate their bodies. That was the finding of Taryn Brumfitt who interviewed more than 5000 women on the subject while making her landmark film on body image, Embrace. The statistic was no surprise to one Mount Martha mother, Yasmin Chandler, who has suffered from a lifelong negative body image, and is only now breaking free from its effects. “It has taken up far too much of my life,” Yasmin said. “If I am raw about this, if I put myself out there, maybe other people will benefit from my…

A VOLUNTEER transport service which goes out of its way to get seniors out and about on the Mornington Peninsula has won an Age-Friendly Victoria award. Peninsula Transport Assist president Neil Toyne accepted the honour at a ceremony at Government House earlier this month. The service was formed to overcome two issues affecting peninsula residents without transport: the second highest proportion of elderlies in Victoria and the second lowest level of public transport. Added to this is the low proportion of taxis to residents. These factors combine to make getting around a tall order for a significant proportion of the…

ART lovers or anyone looking for a unique Christmas gift can enjoy two consecutive weekends of creative expression when 18 artists showcase their work for the Peninsula Studio Trail. About 20 artists from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula will display their artwork, covering a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and printmaking. Some artists will demonstrate their techniques and take questions from visitors. One of the artists participating in the event, Mt Eliza author and publisher, designer, silk painter, printmaker, card designer and teacher Lorna Gerard, said the event was a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors…

VICTORIA’S longest serving police officers were honoured at a special morning tea at Parliament House last week. Police Minister Lisa Neville and Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton hosted the event in Queen’s Hall – where they thanked the officers for their dedication and service in keeping the community safe. Over their time the officers have witnessed changes in crime fighting techniques, including the introduction of random breath testing, drug testing and DNA profiling. It’s a whole new world. Among the 50 police honoured were Highway Patrol Sergeant Bruce Buchan, who has served at – among others stations – Frankston and the…

FENCES, trimming trees and erecting new warning signs are seen as the solution to crowd control at the Pillars diving and swimming spot on the cliffs at Mt Martha. Mornington Peninsula Shire has teamed up with the state government to spend $50,000 to lessen risks faced by the hundreds of mainly young people who flock to perch on the cliff faces on any sunny day. Police and shire rangers last summer booked hundreds of illegally parked cars on the Esplanade and surrounding streets, but the result has done little to counter the appeal of the Pillars. The scenic spot -…

NEW councillors elected to Mornington Peninsula Shire council will have half the support staff available to their predecessors. Council CEO Carl Cowie told councillors last week, just before council elections, that two councillor support positions will be made redundant. In an email, seen by The News, Mr Cowie said he had made a judgement call to make the council support team “even better” despite the loss of two jobs from a team of four female employees. All four positions were made redundant and the staff involved have been told they can apply for the two new jobs. “We have a…

NEW councillors elected this weekend who have never served on council may get a helping hand from mentorship services provided by a former Kingston councillor and mayor. Topsy Petchey, a four-time Kingston mayor and councillor for eight years until 2008, has been a consultant for hire to both Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire councils in the past few years. Her TePee Pty Ltd business offers mentorship, mediation and consultation advice and help for councils and companies. Frankston Council confirmed $59,695 was paid to Ms Petchey over two council terms, totalling eight years, for work done to assist council and councillors.…

AN exciting month is coming up for Mornington-based Aboriginal art group, Baluk Arts, as artists prepare to show off their works for the ‘On the MAP’ (Mornington Arts Precinct) project 10am-4pm Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November. The event is dedicated to showcasing the region’s creative talents and offers the chance for weekend visitors to the peninsula to view the artwork, meet the artists and even have a go at making a weaving or painting a boomerang. Baluk Arts’s newest recruit, administration officer Tallara Gray, a descendant of the Yadhaigana People of Cape York, will also present her work for…

RAIN was the only winner in MPCA cricket on Saturday. There was some cricket played throughout the competition and there were some results, however most games ended in draws. Provincial In Provincial cricket, all matches ended in draws despite a few overs being bowled throughout the afternoon. Langwarrin got out in the middle against Baxter, chasing down 256 for victory. Play was ended with the home side 4/93, Simon McEvoy top scoring for the Kangas with 42. Dale Irving picked up a couple of wickets for Baxter while Chris Brittain and Justin Bridgeman snagged one each. The only other play…

The following letter has been received from W. L. Gregory by his parents: Just a line to tell you I am getting on as good as gold since I got smacked. I dare say you have got my card by this from the Convalescent Camp at Boulogne. I told you I would give you a description of what it was like when I wrote. To sum the whole thing up it was just like hell let loose. Anyone that reads about it at home cannot imagine what it was like. One division of Australians went in (I cannot name the…