Day: March 14, 2017

RYE boxer Jayde Mitchell has been awarded one of the biggest wins of his career. The super middleweight was named 2016 Australian Boxer of the Year at the annual Australian Boxing Hall Of Fame induction gala, Saturday 4 March. A cavalcade of Australia’s boxing royalty attended the function at the Pullman on the Park, Melbourne. “I’m such a huge fan of the sport of boxing,” Mitchell, 31, said later. “It feels like only yesterday my father (Len) was taking me to these special nights and I’d be in awe of all of the past champions and legends in the room.…

PROVINCIAL BAXTER will host Mt Eliza in the MPCA Provincial grand final this weekend after both teams recorded commanding semi-final victories on Saturday. While the MPCA played its cards close to its chest in relation to announcing grand final venues, it was widely tipped on Sunday night that no other ground than Mornington’s Alexandra Park should be the venue for a Provincial grand final. While Baxter went into its semi-final against Langwarrin as unbackable favourites, the same couldn’t be said for Mt Eliza over Peninsula Old Boys. Mt Eliza did beat POB before Christmas, however, the Old Boys have been…

DISTRICT RED Hill were comfortably the best team in MPCA District cricket this season and again proved why against Flinders in the semi-final. The Hillmen cruised into the grand final after smashing the Sharks at RM Hooper Reserve. An early Red Hill Show shifted the Hillmen from their home ground advantage, however, it made little difference to the end result. Flinders won the toss and batted first, however, things turned pear-shaped early for the Sharks losing 3/0 to be 3/3 early in the match. Glenn Collett was at his vintage best and removed Andrew Power for a duck, before Simon…

SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS will play Frankston YCW in the Sub District Grand Final this weekend after both claiming strong semi-final victories on Saturday. However, despite their strong wins, things could quite easily have of gone the other way for the Blues and Stonecats. Despite Hastings finishing with 235, they were in some early trouble against Tootgarook before Luke and Jake Hewitt came together at the crease. At 4/50, the Hewitt brothers were able to steady the ship and get to tea in a reasonable position at 4/99. At that stage Luke was on 25 and Jake was on 15. AJ King,…

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie SUPERSUB Michael Freeman’s extra time winner at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday sent Mornington through to the fourth round of the 2017 FFA Cup. Mornington and fellow State 1 South-East title contender Malvern City went head to head in what loomed as the most intriguing cup clash of the round. The pair locked horns in a battle that didn’t reach the heights expected but nevertheless was a closely fought affair that saw Mornington run out a 2-1 victor. Mornington assistant coach Dale White stepped into the head coach’s role in the absence of Adam Jamieson, holidaying…

The celebration of Graeme’s ’60 Summers’ album continues as he heads to Frankston Arts Centre on Thursday 23rd March. He recently had three nominations for the 2017 Golden Guitar Awards held in Tamworth on Saturday January 28. The song 60 SUMMERS is nominated for Single Of The Year, Video of The Year and APRA AMCOS Song of the Year. This album has had the longest continuous run in the ARIA Top 40 Album Chart of any Australian  album newly released in 2016.  The latest single, MT EVEREST is currently sitting at #20 on The Music Network Country Airplay Chart and…

THREE of the biggest pop icons of the 1960s – Normie Rowe, Ross D Wylie and Johnnie Young – are coming to the Mornington Peninsula for a spectacular step back in time. Between 1965 and 1967 Rowe was the biggest male pop star in Australia, and for two years he reigned supreme as Australia’s first King of Pop. He had a string of solo hits, with Shakin’ All Over the top-selling Australian single of the 1960s and still one of the biggest-selling Australia recordings. Johnny Young started his career in the 1960s with number one hits Step Back and Cara…

TOORAK College recently celebrated the official opening of a new international-standard sports track and hockey field, and is hoping the ground will fill a gap in quality hockey and track facilities on the Mornington Peninsula. Hockey Victoria has expressed interest in having a permanent presence at the field, and the school hopes it can be a venue for  international competition. Hockeyroos goalkeeper, dual Commonwealth Games medalist and Olympian Rachael Lynch joined students during a training session for the opening and expressed her approval of the facility. Principal Kristy Kendall said the land used to be large open space known as…

IT gobbles fuel and emits smoke and steam like a legendary dragon, but the historic 75-year-old steam train K163 is a drawcard for children where it is stabled at Moorooduc railway station. The engine will be all fired up on Sunday (19 March) when the train again takes to the tracks to see if it can beat a bunch of fleet-footed children. Mt Eliza Rotary Club’s annual kids’ fun run is open to children aged three to 12 and has graded distances (150-1200 metres) according to competitors’ ages. The children race on a separate purpose built and secure track alongside…

BOOZE on the ratepayers’ tab was nearly back on the menu at Mornington Peninsula Shire when councillors considered revising their councillor expenses policy. A bid by Cr Hugh Fraser to reintroduce alcoholic drinks for councillors after meetings was not supported by fellow councillors. “In so far as the consumption of alcohol is concerned, that [should be] permitted after council meetings — not before council meetings and not during council meetings,” Cr Fraser said at the 27 February meeting. Councillors in August voted to stop filling up council liquor cabinets at ratepayers’ expense. Other councillors voiced discomfort at reintroducing ratepayer-funded booze…

A MORNINGTON boy who was stung by a stingray at a Rosebud foreshore camp and then had his bike stolen the same night has had his faith in human nature restored. James Gardner, 12, stood on the stingray while standing knee-deep in the bay and received an excruciating sting, Friday 24 February. Mum Fifi, who rushed to help him, said the normally tough young man was “beside himself with pain”. But then, to make matters worse, his valuable Pilgrim BMX bike and several other bikes owned by campers were stolen by young thieves – who had the cheek to try…

Our Letter Box. Sir,–It is amusing to note in your journal that the shire councillors of the Frankston and Hastings shire have agreed to support the venture of the Lilydale Shire Council in an effort to secure the non use of powerful (or search) lights on motor cars. Frankston has the most dangerous and worst conditioned roads of which I know, and yet these wise? Crs. in committee, have decided to try to prevent motorists, driving cars of big value, from using a protection for the safety of their lives and their expensive motor cars; for only in these searchlights…

A BLUE over the colour of a heritage-listed fish and chip shop in Sorrento has led to Mornington Peninsula Shire looking at ways of having the original colour scheme restored. It says it is “working with the tenant and the building owner to look at potential options to remove the paint” – despite having issued a permit for work. The contentious bright blue of the old The Esplanade building has shocked many locals, with Cr Bryan Payne describing it as “another blot on the heritage buildings in Sorrento”. But shop proprietor Julian Gerner, who is behind with the $50 million…

THIS year’s Winter Blanket Appeal will not be about blankets. St Vincent de Paul and Southern Peninsula Community Support at Rosebud are reportedly “awash with blankets”. And the view of the appeal’s organisers is that given the relative cheapness of reasonable quality doonas, young families prefer them. So organisations which provide warm bedding and clothing this year are focussing on doonas. However, the army of knitters that provides hundreds of blankets and warm hand knitted clothing, could start on beanies, scarves, gloves, jumpers and jackets for all ages. “Unwanted wool from unfinished projects to help those knitters who can’t afford…

THE Disabled Surfers’ Association Mornington Peninsula branch set a new record in the number of participants at one of its surfing event. With 163 taking to the surf at Point Leo on Saturday 4 March the branch broke the national record of 160. Australia’s 16 DSA branches are in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. There is also a branch in New Zealand. The day at Point Leo was “a relief” for DSAMP secretary Bill Hallett as it followed an event scheduled in January which had to be cancelled because of sharks being attracted to the decomposing body…

LAST year’s protests which forced Mornington Peninsula Shire to scrap its plans for a concrete footpath in Somers has prompted talk of a new community supergroup to represent residents in the seaside township. While the Somers Village Community Association (SVCA)  had a minor win at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year when the council’s case was rejected, the battle is not over, as council prepares to pursue another footpath scheme. Somers Residents Association (SRA) president Gerry Lewis, whose group supported the council’s proposal to build the concrete paths, said residents needed to “work together”. Plans to build a…

DINNERS will still be dished out to ratepayers who sit down to break bread with councillors at regular community council meetings despite some misgivings about the cost of the meals. The meetings, held six times a year, see elected representatives mix with the people they represent, but some councillors at the latest public council meeting, on 27 February, questioned spending ratepayers’ money on feeding ratepayers. Council officers had prepared a report – at the request of unnamed council-lors – that suggested the meetings either be axed, continue as they are or offer finger food instead of a full meal. Governance…

NOT too many 15-year-old girls would voluntarily shave off their hair, but for Rye teenager Jemma Tolson, the loss of her enviable long tresses is a small price to pay to help others. The year 10 Rosebud Secondary College student is raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave and will say goodbye to her mane on Thursday in front of the entire school. Jemma’s grandfather died of leukaemia two years ago, but the idea to be brave and shave was a seed planted long before that. “I have thought about it for years as a good way to…

A PORTSEA resident who lodged a submission to Road Safety Camera Commissioner John Voyage relating to his speeding fine says it “probably never reached him due to administrative errors”. David Gilder, who uses Peninsula Link regularly, said perhaps many others were in the same situation. “When I became aware of the commissioner’s investigation I wrote to Civic Compliance Victoria asking that I be added to the list of names that he required. I informed them that I had already paid my fine,” he said. “My request was forwarded to the Department of Justice and Regulation. I next received two letters…

RYE residents are being asked to help shape the future of the community and have a say on what happens to 7.2 hectares of vacant land in French St. A group of residents have set up a campaign website called the French St Project to encourage Mornington Peninsula Shire to keep the land for community use. The council has indicated initial support for reserving the land – zoned public open space – and has opened up the issue for comment with an online survey asking for suggestions. Campaigner Heidi Duell said a community meeting organised by the French St Project…