Month: April 2017

McCRAE Lighthouse burst into a sea of light last Sunday 2 April to mark World Autism Day. Organised by Bianca Appleford from Light Up Autism Foundation, over 300 people gathered to witness the illuminating of the lighthouse. “This was a great team effort,” said Mrs Appleford. “I’d like to thank McCrae and District Lions Club, Bendigo Bank (Rye, Rosebud and Dromana), Dromana Fire Brigade and Sorrento SES, and all our supporters that come out on the night.” Light Up Autism Foundation was founded five years ago by Mrs Appleford after she saw first hand the need  for assistance programs in…

WORK has begun on a $1.56 million coastal path and seawall at the Eastern Sister headland connecting Sullivan Bay to Camerons Bight, Sorrento. Initially the focus will be on fencing the construction site and diverting pedestrians around it, with project signs detailing the works. The headland is at the northern end of Camerons Bight and the southern end of Sullivan Bay. At the top of the cliff is the Collins Settlement Historic site, Victoria’s first official settlement, dating back to 1803. It includes graves, asphalt pathways, monuments and look-outs. The project will provide pedestrian access around the headland along a…

TWENTY experts who buy and recommend what wines are served in some of the world’s top restaurants were last week taken on a tour of Mornington Peninsula wineries. The marketing exercise organised by Wine Australia saw two busloads of sommeliers being driven around the peninsula on Tuesday and Wednesday. The sommeliers were in Melbourne for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards which saw New York’s Eleven Madison Park take out the top spot. Tuesday’s tour of the peninsula started at Stonier Winery, Merricks, where the group was welcomed by Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association CEO Cheryl Lee. From there the sommeliers…

Police have arrested a woman after a hit run collision in Main Ridge yesterday. The 27-year-old male cyclist has been hospitalized with critical injuries after colliding with her car on Shands Road about 6pm. A 69-year-old Flinders woman is currently assisting police with their enquiries. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are at the scene. Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating a serious assault in Rosebud West yesterday (4 April) evening. It is believed a car containing an unknown number of people arrived at a property in the vicinity of Kingfisher Road, Rosebud West about 7pm. A dispute arose in the street between two parties, which resulted in one man receiving serious injuries, including lacerations and severed fingers. The injured man was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition and is yet to be spoken to by police. A second man attended a medical clinic in Rosebud with a wound…

A MORNINGTON man is expected to be charged with home invasion and aggravated burglary on Wednesday afternoon after a  break-in to a Frankston North house, 3.45am, yesterday (Tuesday 4 April). Detective Senior Constable Paul Roberts, of Frankston CIU, said the man, 36, was taken to Frankston Hospital after allegedly breaking into a house occupied by a woman in her 60s, her three sons aged 25, 30 and 37, and the pregnant girlfriend of one of the sons. Detective Roberts said the man, said to be armed with a hammer and a knife, unsuccessfully tried to force a security door at…

SUPER heroes, kings, pirates, punks, presidents (ex) and bogans seem an unlikely mix, but seemed ideal for Saturday’s surf contest at the somewhat appropriately named Atlas break at The Pines, Shoreham. The 12-team event was being held to raise money for the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch with the help of Maladiction Longboarders Club. Four-member teams dressed for the occasion (pirates were pirates, presidents wore suits, the punks were in plastic and so on) and the starter’s horn was blown while the reef at the Pines Beach was still exposed. Despite a lack of waves the early heats showed…

ARTIST and author Peter Strickland, who along with his wife Kathie has put together a series of books on indigenous plants, said the Mornington Peninsula had to decide whether it was going to be just a playground for Melbourne or an entity in its own right. “We face lots of problems regarding population expansion, such as farmland, hotels and resorts and transport versus virgin bush,” he said. “We have got to be more self-centred and do what suits us, such as deciding whether we want to develop the port of Hastings or have Western Port as a relaxation area.” Mr…

AN afternoon tea for Peter and Kathie Strickland at Balnarring Hall in mid-March was an “acknowledgment of their considerable contribution to the local environmental and art communities”. The couple, active members of community groups and environment organisations, are leaving their Beattie Av, Bittern, home and moving to Queensland to be near their children after more than 50 years on the Mornington Peninsula. The farewell was attended by friends and representatives of these groups. “[Kathie and Peter] have made many friends and been inspirational with their sense of commitment and can-do attitude and, importantly, they have always delighted in sharing their…

A HASTINGS resident was taken to Frankston Hospital after allegedly being shot in the arm by an air rifle, 6.30pm, Saturday 1 April. The 34-year-old, who was reported to ambulance officers as being near the Wallaroo general store when the incident happened, later told police he recalled hearing a shot but could not remember where. X-rays at the hospital could find no pellet, just graze marks. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 4 April 2017

THE rent paid by the Hastings Club for premises in Marine Parade is about to be increased tenfold. The club has been paying $4000 a year since 1996, but Mornington Peninsula Shire last week decided to bring the rent more into line with market values and how much income the club raises through gaming machines. After a long and sometimes bitter debate councillors agreed to raise the rent to $42,234 for the first year of a new 21-year lease. The club will then face $5000 a year increases for two years with reviews every five years. The shire manages the…

A P-PLATE driver was flown by Air Ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital after a car crash on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington, 10.30pm, Monday 27 March. The man, 19, of Mt Eliza, was with two friends in a small sedan when it lost control and skidded backwards into a tree near Dunns Rd. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay, of Mornington police, said the man was freed by ambulance officers and stabilised. Mornington Fire Brigade and Frankston SES crews assisted in the rescue. First published in the Mornington News – 4 April 2017

THE Bays Hospital, Mornington, is looking for volunteer drivers to help patients get to hospital. “While family and friends transport most patients to and from medical appointments, some have to rely on public transport, have limited mobility or are too unwell to drive themselves,” nursing director Anita Woods said. “Our two patient transport vehicles, both donated by Bernie Taylor of the Grand Hotel Mornington, are enabling nursing staff to be increasingly mobile and reach patients in the community to provide better care.” Ms Woods said the vehicles enables the hospital’s prostate cancer specialist nurse and breast care nurse to counsel…

COLLECTING and sorting goods for sale has been keeping members of Mt Eliza Rotary Club busy for weeks. The culmination of their efforts to raise money for community projects comes this Saturday (8 April) with the club’s annual garage sale. It will be the seventh year the club has sold goods donated by households from across the Mornington Peninsula and some Melbourne suburbs. The first part of the operation involved collecting the donated goods and then sorting and storing. Items come from families moving house, down-sizing or parting with possessions they no longer require. Categories of goods include artworks, books,…

RESTORATION work will begin next month (May) on some sections of the exterior of Mt Martha House. The heritage listed Federation Queen Anne style building dates back to 1891 when it was known as the Martha Hotel. Built of timber, it sits on a high point of land opposite the beach at the corner of the Esplanade and Dominion Rd, Mt Martha, where it is sometimes subjected to severe weather conditions. Mornington Peninsula Shire says it is awaiting approval from Heritage Victoria to spend about $100,000 on exterior restoration works to the community centre. However, Heritage Victoria says delays have…

NEARBY residents believe a skatepark at Narambi Reserve, Mornington will reduce vandalism to bus shelters and Mornington Park. A 298-signature petition calling for a skatepark at Narambi Reserve was delivered to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors at their Monday 27 March meeting. Sport and recreation infrastructure planner Mark Stahel said the shire’s skate and BMX strategy did not include a skatepark at Narambi reserve “however there is a large skate facility located at Civic Reserve in Mornington, which is approximately one kilometre from Narambi reserve”. Mr Stahel said the strategy “will be reviewed once the implementation plan from the existing strategy…

CHANGES to church service timetables at Mt Eliza are believed to be unsettling many long-time parishioners. Up until now, Mt Eliza Anglicans worshipped at either St James the Less or across Nepean Highway at the Chapel of the Resurrection in the grounds of Peninsula Grammar. However, changes introduced by the Rev Jennie Savage, of St James the Less, will see the current four Sunday morning services at the two churches reduced to two in the main church at St James the Less. Palm Sunday, 9 April will mark the “final celebrations of thanksgiving and worship at each service” and, from…

A POTENTIAL loss of heritage was taken into consideration in assessing a permit application to redevelop a group of shops in Main St, Mornington. This has resulted in three shopfronts being retained rather than demolished and a fourth relocated. Initially the four shops, at 55-61 Main St, were slated to be demolished, but three will now remain and the fourth “largely retained, but moved to a similar shopfront position inside the new arcade”. This follows a 346-signature petition asking Mornington Peninsula Shire to stop the development of a three-storey shopping arcade, basement carpark, offices and apartments. The council’s Monday 27…

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie GUS Macleod will coach his 400th league game for Langwarrin on Saturday when his side squares up to South Springvale at Warner Reserve. A constant throughout Macleod’s tenure has been the presence of assistant coach and close friend Neil Collyer. They are in their 19th season at Lawton Park and oversee a heavily revamped senior squad attempting to win its first title since 2004. Manchester-born central defender George Whiteoak, 21, arrives from the UK this week and becomes the 11th newcomer to this year’s senior squad. He is a friend of 23-year-old central defender Kieron Kenny…

PENINSULA LEAGUE IT’S hard not to get excited about the 2017 Peninsula Division season. All clubs have worked tirelessly over the summer to improve their lists and it’s exciting to report that all have achieved their objective. Without question, this is going to be the most competitive season in years. Those that were hoping that Frankston YCW would slip will be saddened by the fact that they have recruited arguably the best Nepean Division defender of the past 10 years in Christian Ongarello, while they have also picked up a 21 monster who stands at 205cm and weight-in at 115kg.…

NEPEAN LEAGUE Season 2017 brings with it a real air of excitement. There are four new coaches in the competition – Leigh Stewart at Pearcedale, Bevan Malloy at Somerville, Brad Arnold at Crib Point and Adrian McBean at Rosebud – all are expected to have positive impacts on their clubs. Round 1 is mouth-watering and in many ways will tell a lot about what we can expect from teams this season. Tyabb has the benefit of playing last week against Hastings when it faces Crib Point this week. The Yabbies have added some talent and the Pies have lost some…

BY the death of the late Cr. Geo. Griffeth, of “Two Bays Nurseries”, Somerville and district has sustained a loss that will be very keenly felt and deplored. Since coming to the district in 1888, when he and his brother commenced the now famous Two Bays Nurseries which is the largest nursery business this side of the Equator, he has identified himself with the district, and as a Councillor of two shires (Frankston and Hastings, and Mornington) for many years, he has been foremost in advancing the district in every possible way, and, as President (which position he held in…

HOT rods, classics, pin ups and trade stalls, fender benders, DJ Jeff and the Rockin’ Daddies will feature at the Rosebud Rock ‘n’ Rods Festival, 10am-5pm, Sunday 9 April. The ninth annual event is at Eastbourne Primary School, Allambi Av, Rosebud. Entry is $10, with those under 12 free and display car drivers free. All profits from the event go to Rosebud Hospital. Details: 0408 583 727. The event is held in conjunction with the Rock ‘n’ roll with Jump ‘n’ Jive plus DJ Jeff, from 7.30pm until late, Saturday 8 April, at Eastbourne Primary School stadium. The cost is…

Mornington Railway has teamed up with Mornington Peninsula Brewery to create a great new event to lock into the calendar on Saturday 22 April; The Ale Train.  This event combines the relaxing experience of riding Mornington Railway’s 75-year-old heritage steam locomotive, with great company, music, and Mornington beers! Departing from Moorooduc station, the locomotive will chug its way down to Mornington. There are two types of tickets available for the day: Train Lovers – Patrons will remain on the train to enjoy a return trip aboard the beautifully maintained machine. Or Beer Lovers – Patrons will disembark the train to…

A PATIENT dubbed by his doctor as “the luckiest man in Rosebud” has thanked his good fortune – and his personal alarm – for saving his life. Rosebud man, Ron Hampton, was recently saved by the device when at home having a rest last year. “I became so overcome with pain that I couldn’t move,” he recalled. “A major blood clot cut off the blood flow to my heart and brain which totally immobilised me. “The situation and pain was so bad that I couldn’t even reach the phone nearby to ring 000, and, had I been able to call,…

RYE super-boxer Jayde Mitchell “stepped on the gas” in the sixth round to overpower rival Les Sherrington at the popular Punches at the Park III event on Saturday 18 March. Mitchell stormed to a TKO win in the 10 rounder at Melbourne Park Function Centre to retain the interim WBA Oceania title. Hundreds of supporters from the Mornington Peninsula gave their man a standing ovation – and even tears – after his convincing win over his bigger rival. “The peninsula blew the roof off the function centre and I can’t thank everyone enough who came out or tuned in and…

SKIRTS below the knee? Nope. Long socks? You’re kidding! Checks and plaid shirts? Forget it! That’s the message from Moonah Links golf course where leggings, lycra and active wear are de rigueur in the club’s Swing Fit program. “The innovation is challenging the traditional perception of golf and providing the platform for women to learn the basics of golf while also getting a full body work out, including yoga and Pilates,” Golf Victoria regional development officer Jo Charlton said. She said PGA professional Phil Boulton has introduced more than 30 women to the game through Swing Fit. “The true success…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire celebrated the 20-year anniversary of its inaugural council meeting held on 20 March 1997 at the Rosebud Council Chamber. The occaision was marked with the cutting of a cake at Flinders Civic Hall. The first meeting was attended by nine councillors elected in the 1997 municipal election. The election followed the formation of the shire in December 1994 with the amalgamation of the former shires of Flinders, Mornington and Hastings. For the following three years the shire was managed by state government-appointed commissioners, Nick Hutson, Peter Newman and Jane Moffat. The shire’s first councillors were Bill Goodrem,…

WORKS by the late Mt Martha artist Rudi Fuchs will feature at the Peninsula Plein Air Painters annual exhibition and sale at Sorrento over Easter. Fuchs, 88 who passed away last December, was born in East Germany where he trained in art and won the prestigious Weimar scholarship before escaping to West Germany in 1946. He arrived in Australia in 1953 and tutured art across the Mornington Peninsula with David Taylor and Robert Wade throughout the 1960s and was a long time member of the Peninsula Plein Air group. The exhibition is being held at the Sorrento Activity Centre from…

THE unexpected resignation of key Dromana Australia Day committee members has forced the scheduling of an annual meeting to find replacements. The president, treasurer and six members of the committee unexpectedly quit on the night of the debriefing for the Thursday 26 January event, followed by another a couple of days later. Their resignations have prompted a plea by long-time office bearer and former president Ray Barnard-Brown for new faces. “They are all a great loss as each has made a significant contribution to the successful Dromana Australia Day event,” he said. “We now need to replace them, together with…