Day: November 7, 2016

MANGROVES are part of a trial to stop coastal erosion in Western Port. About 500 seedlings have been planted in a trial on the foreshore of Churchill Island Marine National Park off Phillip Island. The indigenous plants, widespread in some areas, are known to be good for a healthy marine environment. Their dense roots also help bind and build soils, and can slow the speed and destructive nature of the waves. Parks Victoria, in partnership with the Friends of Scenic Estate Reserve, has planted the specially propagated mangrove seedlings in an effort to reduce wave erosion of the cliffs. Ranger…

HAVE you ever felt like discussing the finer points of literature with fellow passengers while sitting on a train on the Frankston line? Well now is your chance, with the Books on the Rail project coming to a train near you in December. The idea is the brainchild of copywriter Ali Berg and primary school teacher Michelle Kalus, who have been leaving free novels aboard Melbourne trains for months in an attempt to share their love of literature and get commuters reading again. Frankston commuters can look forward to their turn to read in the last carriage of the 11.14am…

LANGWARRIN fisherman Harry Sellers is the 2016 Victorian Amateur Snapper Champion after he landed an 11.866kg fish over the Melbourne Cup weekend. Jake Milligan, of Mornington, was a close runner up with a snapper weighing 11.620kg, while Rohan McRae, of Wonthaggi, caught the third heaviest Big Red at 9.840kg. The 2016 junior champion is Hunter Blackford, of Frankston, whose fish weighed 7.800kg. The 33rd Tea Tree snapper competition was held on both Port Phillip and Western Port bays with the weigh in and presentation at Mornington Racecourse. The 1492 competitors caught and weighed 1200 fish, with 719 fish coming from…

THE works and methods of artists will be on display for four days this month when studio doors are thrown open during the annual Peninsula Studio Trail. The artists have produced a map that can be used to plan a scenic tour that takes in 17 creative spaces, from Frankston South to Flinders, along the coast to Rye and then back to the Port Phillip side of the peninsula through Red Hill. Along the way, the artists will show a range of art not always available in the commercial galleries. At McCrae, Katrina Newman, who makes jewellery with gold and…

ROSEBUD residents Margaret and Mike Ringham are aware that fate moves in mysterious and wonderful ways. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at Trofeo Estate, Dromana, with their family and friends last week. But things would have turned out differently if British-born Mike, who was walking to work in a typical cold, dank London pea-souper in the early 1950s – with the foggy air invading his lungs – hadn’t thought that there had to be a better way of spending his life. Returning from lunch, he impulsively turned into the office of P&O Shipping Company and applied for a…

MICHAEL Mann made a lasting impression on dozens of teenagers during his 28-year career at Rosebud Secondary College. Mr Mann died in 2011 while assistant principal and the positive impact that he had on student Kayla D’Angelo led to her suggestion that a Reflection Garden be created as a memorial to him. Kayla went on to become the college’s 2015 vice-captain and her vision for this garden is now a reality, thanks to the work of a group of students and the generosity of several businesses. Liam Kelly and Franz Mahr, who run the college’s Hands On Learning program, led…

MORNINGTON Peninsula service stations are increasingly being targeted by late-night thieves. The Red Hill United servo was hit for the fifth time overnight on Wednesday 2 November, after previous robberies on 30 October, two in May – when doors to the servo were wrenched off their hinges – and one in September. Thieves used different vehicles on each occasion, with the latest getaway car a Ford Falcon utility bearing false number plates. A 23-year-old Clyde man was arrested on Friday and charged with the two most recent Red Hill United burglaries. He appeared at a bail hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’…

IF you noticed a lot of huge men around Frankston last Saturday (29 October), there’s a strong chance they were part of a fast-growing powerlifting craze that attracted lifters to town from around the world. Here for the ‘Big Dogs’ powerlifting competition, an invitation-only competition held for the first time in Frankston, eight powerlifters from Russia, the UK and Australia pitted their muscles against each other in the three-set lifting sequence. After lots of grunting and clenching of muscles by all involved, Russia claimed the $30,000 prize when 39-year-old Andrey Malanichev lifted a total of 1140 kilograms in the combined…

FIVE new beds have been added to the paediatric ward at Frankston Hospital thanks to Mt Eliza Rotary Club’s Kids Fun Run against Mornington Railway Preservat6ion Society’s locomotive, K163. The club raised $20,000 from last year’s fun run for the beds and this year hopes to match that with more specialised equipment for children. Frankston Hospital paediatric ward nurse unit manager, Helen Hutchins, says the beds are used for children who need help to sit up and be supported in bed. “We care for a lot of kids who have severe disabilities so these new beds are great for them.…

GRADUATION rates at Evocca College campuses have plunged to new lows amid a belated federal government crackdown on taxpayer funding to the private owned vocational education and training providers. Updated figures released by the federal government late last month show course completion rates at Evocca College campuses nationally fell from a low 23.6 per cent between 2012-14 to 12.2 per cent in 2013-15. The Queensland-based company trades as the Australian College of Training and Employment abbreviated to ACTE Pty Ltd and offers “study now, pay later” deals, known as VET FEE-HELP loans, to students who do not have to pay…

POLICE say a Lilydale man was lucky not to be seriously injured when he tripped and fell while walking at The Pillars, Mt Martha, on Cup Day. The 63-year-old injured his shoulder when he tripped and fell onto “jagged and sharp” rocks about 2pm. Acting Sergeant Ray Box, of Mornington CIU, said a rock fisherman saw the man lying injured in a wedge-shaped depression after his fall and called Triple 000. “The tide was coming in and he was getting splashed by the waves so there was no time to lose,” he said. Ambulance crews called to the scene had…

VISITORS to the U3A Mornington art and craft show at the Currawong Hall had a rare view of the creative work by the artists and Currawong Crafties group. “We are delighted to present a wonderful selection of watercolour, oils and acrylic paintings, sculpture and beautiful pieces of craftwork from our beginner, intermediate and advanced classes,” U3A art tutor Jan Oliver said at last week’s opening.    Artists and tutors from various classes showed off works: from watercolour to experimental media and paintings in the style of cubism, impressionism and others. Opening the show, Mornington MP David Morris praised the group’s…

TOUGH new legislation introduced into state parliament last week to get so-called “monkey bikes” off the streets gives police the power to seize and impound the miniature bikes and fine owners up to $3109. If police find a monkey bike and no rider comes forward to claim it, the bike will be impounded and crushed after three months. Riders found not to have a valid motorcycle licence will be charged with unlicensed driving. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said the legislation came about after monkey bikes were involved in an incident that claimed the life of Carrum Downs mother-of-two Andrea…

PROVINCIAL SORRENTO sits in the bottom half of the MPCA Provincial ladder after being convincingly beaten by Baxter on Saturday. The Sharks resumed at 2/13, chasing Baxter’s first innings total of 7/298. Despite some resistance in the middle order from Liam O’Connor (50) and Bobby Wilson (53), the Sharks were unable to reel in the total. Brandon Rulach also worked hard in the middle order for the Sharks with 36 but it could only drag the total to 223 from 75.1 owners, handing Baxter a 65 run win. Chamika Sattambi finished with 3/35 from 15 overs after snaring 2/7 on…

SUB-DISTRICT TOOTGAROOK and Hastings stand alone at the top of the MPCA Sub District ladder after the opening three rounds of the season. Tootgarook recorded an easy victory of Skye on Saturday to shoot to the top of the table while Hastings won a tight match against Balnarring. There is then a log-jam of five teams a game behind on 18 points. Balnarring offered plenty of resistance in its game against the Hastings. The Blues scored 245 on the opening day of the match and had the Saints reeling at 3/26 overnight. However, the home side dug deep and got…

DISTRICT RED Hill has already opened up a gap on the ladder against the rest of the MPCA District teams after the conclusion of the third round. The Hillmen sit on 44 points, a game clear of Mt Martha (32), while Flinders (30) and Heatherhill (26) make up the top four. Red Hill were too good for Seaford Tigers on Saturday. Skipper Simon Dart hit an unbeaten 101 as the visitors took their time getting to 6/151 in 65 overs to get the 12 points. Resuming at 2/14, Red Hill needed to get themselves back into the game and while…

THE Coroner, Dr Cole, opened an inquest at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Frankston, on Friday, 3rd November, touching the death of Mrs Mary Sidwell, whose dead body was found floating in the Bay near Oliver’s Hill, Frankston, on 2nd November. Dr Maxwell of Frankston deposed that under the instruction of Constable Ryan he had made a post mortem examination of the body of deceased. In his opinion the cause of death was drowning. The body had been in the water apparently about 4 days. Edwin Christie Ryan, Constable of Police, residing at Frankston, deposed: At about 1.30p.m, on Thursday…

Re-emerging from a hiatus earlier this year with the catchy pop dittie ‘Are We Flirting’, Abbe May’s followup ‘Doomsday Clock’ unveils yet another side to her personality as she reveals yet another layer of her forthcoming album ‘Bitchcraft’ and a national tour this November/December. The song contrasts a joyous Gospel choir (Featuring May, Joni Hogan and Odette Mercy) with striking, ominous bells that ring throughout what could be May’s most immediate single yet. May suggests there is a chance for hope offered through  acknowledgment of our inevitable demise. One of the earliest songs written for ‘Bitchcraft’, Doomsday Clock was developed…

The Black Sorrows have earned the reputation as a dynamic live act. There is a level of accessibility to The Black Sorrows that can appeal to the newest of fan. At the helm, Camilleri steers the band through an energetic interplay of solid grooves and well- crafted songs that mix those well-worn ingredients of blues, soul, R&B, gospel, country and even Brill Building pop. Spontaneous (forget set lists) and emotionally driven, Joe ensures that no two performances are ever the same. Camilleri’s mantra is simple “we come to play and leave the audience feeling exhilarated”. The Black Sorrows continue to…

For 30 years, the glorious voices of Vika and Linda Bull have comprised one of the most distinctive, versatile and emotionally charged sounds on the Australian music landscape. Since their multi-platinum conquest of pop radio with the Black Sorrows in the late 1980s, the sisters have forged diverse pathways into soul, gospel, blues, country and the island music of their Tongan ancestry. By turns tender and powerful, their rich solo vocals and instinctive harmonies have spawned eight albums of their own, as well as illuminating studio and concert performances by Paul Kelly, Rockwiz, C.W. Stoneking, Deborah Conway, Kasey Chambers and…

Police have arrested three people following a series of incidents that started in Mornington this morning. Shortly before 2.20am, police attempted to intercept a Holden Commodore station wagon with stolen number plates coming out of a service station on Mornington-Tyabb Road. The driver unsuccessfully attempted to ram the police vehicle before driving off. Police followed the vehicle and it stopped on the Frankston-Dandenong Road near the Peninsula Link overpass. A man and a woman then ran from the car and several police units, including a Dog Squad unit, followed them on foot. The pair, who are both aged in their…