FRANKSTON Bombers, Rosebud and Sorrento Football Clubs have slammed AFL South East, claiming that the competition review process is “flawed, superficial and has not been undertaken in the best interests of the MPNFL collective”. Following a meeting last Monday night (July 19) where 20 of the 22 MPNFL Clubs attended (Pines was not present and Tyabb was an apology), a letter was penned to AFL South East on Friday by club’s representative, Rosebud president, Lachy White. The letter was presented to AFL South East on behalf of 18 of the 22 MPNFL Clubs, declaring that every club in attendance at…
Month: June 2017
SEAROAD Ferries has won a lucrative contract to run the Western Port ferry service between French Island, Phillip Island and Stony Point. The company, trading as Western Port Ferries, will run the service for five years from Saturday 1 July. The existing operator, Inter Island Ferries – whose contract ends on that day – is believed to carry about 32,000 passengers a year. Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says she “expects that number to rise under the new operator”. Searoad Ferries says it aims to increase the number of services by more than 30 per cent, including a new daily…
PEOPLE living on the Mornington Peninsula are statistically more likely to suffer a stroke than those living anywhere else in Victoria. The federal electorate of Flinders, held for the Liberal Party by Health Minister Greg Hunt, is the worst of the state’s four stroke “hotspots” identified in the latest Stroke Foundation report. The latest predictions show nearly 500 residents of the Flinders electorate are expected to have a stroke this year, resulting in 116 deaths. The number of strokes in Flinders is predicted to grow to 1294 by 2050. According to the foundation’s No Postcode Untouched: Stroke in Australia 2017…
THE main road leading from Western Port to Melbourne was closed to all traffic on Thursday night following a fatal crash between a car and a loaded liquid gas tanker at Tyabb. A major explosion was averted by emergency crews and gas was still being removed from the tanker early Friday afternoon. Authorities also feared the blaze – attributed to the tanker’s fuel tanks – had damaged the surface of Hastings-Dandenong Rd. The crash comes at a time when both state and federal governments are considering plans that could greatly increase the number of trucks carrying volatile cargoes through towns…
NEPEAN LEAGUE SORRENTO coach Nick Jewell has scoffed at suggestions that the competitive nature of the 2017 Nepean Division season was over after his side handed out an almost 100-point thrashing to Frankston Bombers on Saturday. Frankston Bombers came into the game ranked second on the ladder, only behind Sorrento, however the home team made the opposition look as though they were miles off the pace as they proceeded to belt them. The one-sided demolition prompted keyboard warriors around the peninsula to declare the season was finished. One person listening to the match on RPP FM sent through an SMS…
PENINSULA LEAGUE BONBEACH stands alone at the top of the MPNFL Peninsula Division ladder after handing out a 12 goal hiding to Langwarrin. The Sharks have been in sensational form in the past eight weeks and have knocked over both of the 2016 grand finalists, YCW and Mt Eliza. There is no question that the race for the 2017 title is well and truly on. Edithvale-Aspendale has now emerged as a genuine contender too after leading all day to beat Frankston YCW. The sixth-placed Eagles are on six wins, locked together with Mt Eliza, who currently hold down fifth place…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie NICK Theodore has an impeccable sense of timing. With Skye United’s promotion push under serious threat from bottom side Dingley Stars, Theodore came off the bench in the 78th minute and scored twice in the final six minutes of normal time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Skye’s 4-3 come-from-behind win at home on Saturday gives it hope that it can beat Brandon Park in the race for second spot in State 3 South-East but it will have to perform at a far higher standard to achieve its aim. Skye dominated in the air…
ON Monday last three schoolboys (James and Cyril Hodgkinson and William Walker) when crossing the railway line, near the local goods sheds, at Frankston, found a purse containing a diamond ring and 16s 7d in cash. The boys at once proceeded to the police station and handed their “find” over to Constable Ryan. Later on in the day, Mr Thomas, a local railway employee, reported the loss of his purse and contents, and received his property back intact. Mr Thomas stated his intention of rewarding the boys for their commendable honesty. *** TROOPER C. Paynter, who was in Frankston on…
A NEW era of “cooperation” between the state government and councils across Melbourne’s suburbs has been heralded with the formation of six metropolitan partnerships by the government. The groups are “a new platform for cooperative engagement between governments, business and communities” according to Labor Suburban Development Minister Lily D’Ambrosio. A Southern Partnership representing Kingston, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Casey, Dandenong and Greater Dandenong councils appointed Dr Elizabeth Deveny as chair this month. Dr Deveny is CEO of the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. South East Local Learning and Employment Network CEO Andrew Simmons has been appointed deputy chair. Council…
THE proposed $280,000 car park to ease Mt Eliza Primary School drop-offs has upset nearby residents. They say their main concerns over the Canadian Bay Rd-Nepean Highway site are safety, increases in traffic when a nursing home is built opposite, and the “destruction of a beautiful park area which is characteristic of Mt Eliza”. Traffic is often chaotic in the area during morning and afternoon peaks, with parents parking on roadsides while dropping off and picking up pupils. The residents say they met with the mayor, councillors and shire staff at the proposed site recently to discuss potential issues and…
MORNINGTON netballers have celebrated the opening of the seven Elsie Dorrington Reserve netball courts, following the recent completion of court upgrades and lighting. The project was jointly funded by the federal government ($500,000), state government ($100,000), Mornington Peninsula Shire Council ($363,568), and Mornington Netball Association ($50,000). The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the competition standard lighting would aid night games. “It will grow the number of events that can be hosted on the reserve,” she said. “I’m pleased to see this upgrade finally complete and I am looking forward to seeing the increase in competitive sports in the region from…
SLEEPING out in the cold is a tough ask even for one night – let alone on a regular basis. But it’s a common plight on the Mornington Peninsula for many people without jobs or on low incomes – and one being made worse by the scarcity of affordable rental properties and the closure of several traditionally cheap and accessible caravan parks. Mt Martha-based Fusion Australia – an organisation which works with the homeless – estimates up to 2000 people sleep “rough”, or in their cars, on the peninsula every night. To help them, it is running its third Sleep…
THE skies are blue for Mornington model aircraft flyer Daniel Arapakis who takes off for Sweden next month to compete in his second world championships. The 16-year-old started flying model aircraft only four years ago at Western Port Model Aero Club, Crib Point. In 2015, as a 14-year-old, he flew at the world pylon racing championships in the Czech Republic and won a third place and bronze medal – the youngest pilot ever to do so. Now, two years on, Daniel has multiple wins and placings in pylon racing events which are held around the country. And, according to dad…
DOG walkers at McCrae proved the social aspects of their regular beach outings by getting together on 10 June to pressure Mornington Peninsula into loosening the laws on keeping their pets on a leash. Bill Chalkley said unique winter restrictions at McCrae were the “bones of the issue”. “Since it was established in November 2008 the McCrae beach off-leash dog exercise area has had winter time restrictions – no off-leash exercise is permitted outside the daylight saving period after 9am or before 5pm daily,” he said. “An identical off-leash dog exercise area east of the Rosebud jetty has no such…
CFA crews worked desperately to prevent a B-double truck’s huge liquefied petroleum gas tanks exploding after a fatal collision in Tyabb on Thursday night. Police are investigating why a black Mercedes sedan travelling south on Dandenong-Hastings Rd at 8.15pm crossed onto the wrong side of the road and ran head-on into the tanker. Both vehicles caught fire, but luckily it did not extend to the 20 tonnes of LPG on board the tanker. The driver of the Mercedes, a 49-year-old Hastings man, died at the scene while the driver of the tanker escaped with minor injuries. CFA District 8 operations…
THE Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) is about to begin designing a rock seawall to provide “long term protection” to the foreshore and beach at Portsea. The department says other works will improve access to the beach east of the seawall. The decision to replace the existing sandbag seawall with a rock seawall follows the completion of an independent options assessment by consulting firm Advisian. Cost of the project is put at $3 million, well below the $20.42m estimate for the “permanent solution” option contained in the Advisian report. “The erosion at Portsea front beach is a…
The who’s who of the peninsula gathered at Sorrento on Friday 23 June to channel their inner “Torvill and Dean” at the launch of Sorrento’s winter pop-up, Skating at Sorrento. An ice skating rink rivalling that of Times Square and Paris has popped-up on Sorrento Foreshore from 23 June to 16 July. The rink, measuring 25m x 9m, is set by the picturesque bay between The Baths and Rotunda on Sorrento foreshore, with ice skaters able to enjoy the views while ice skating, day or evening, rain or shine. The Skating at Sorrento Ice Rink is a partnership between Sorrento…
THE state Labor government’s planning department has no interest in protecting the Mornington Peninsula from overdevelopment, says RMIT planning specialist Professor Michael Buxton. Peninsula residents will have to fight hard to protect the shire from overdevelopment and will have to involve themselves in the future governance of the region as well as put electoral pressure on the government, he told a meeting of more than 300 residents at Hastings last Thursday night. The meeting had been called to explain recent changes in state government planning laws that will allow developers to build three-storey houses up to 11 metres high in…
ST JOSEPHS Catholic School won Sorrento Bowls Club’s third annual Primary School Challenge last week with 17 shots up. Runner-up was Red Hill Consolidated School with 16 shots up. About 100 years 5 and 6 pupils from eight peninsula schools showed their skills at lawn bowls. That was double the number of previous years, the club’s Judith Mordech said. Participating schools with imaginative team names included Sorrento (Strikers, Thunder, Superstars and Sharks), Tootgarook (Yellow, Green and Frogs), Rosebud (Rockets, Rabbits & Rascals), Our Lady of Fatima, Rosebud (Fatima Falcons, Fatima Fury, Fatima Flames), Red Hill Consolidated (Rockets, Renegades and Rebels),…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing teenager Joshua Heard. The 16-year-old was last seen on Main Street in Mornington at 2pm on Tuesday 13 June. Police and family have concerns for his welfare due to his age and length of time that he has been missing. Joshua was last seen wearing a blue hoodie with a white horizontal line and denim shorts/jeans. Police have released an image of Joshua in the hope someone can provide information on his whereabouts. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Mornington Police Station on 5970 4900. Source: Victoria Police…
A PUSH against pokies is being planned in the lead up to next year’s state election by a group trying to enlist councils to the anti-pokies cause. The Alliance for Gambling Reform wants councils to support a campaign calling on both sides of politics in the lead up to next year’s state election to act on pokies reform. Alliance media and communications advisor Stephen Mayne addressed Kingston Council at a public meeting to hear council budget submissions last week. He asked council to get behind the campaign to rein in pokies losses by joining the group as a “tier one”…
SPECIALIST sports consultants have been hired to source state government money to rebuild the Somerville Recreation Centre which burnt down in May last year. Mornington Peninsula Shire has set aside $750,000 in its 2017/18 budget to get the project up and running “while discussions with the insurers continue”. The likely completion of the tender documentation process for the Edward St centre is the end of September. The shire has Otium Planning Group to oversee the funding application to Sport and Recreation Victoria’s 2018-19 Better Indoor Stadiums Fund towards the $3.5 million four-court stadium. Otium’s website says it provides services in…
IN the face of widespread criticism, Mornington Peninsula Shire is now calling for comment on the process it uses to bill residents when apportioning footpath construction costs. Without specifically mentioning footpaths, the shire has issued a news release “inviting residents to provide feedback on the recently reviewed Special Charge Schemes Policy for Infrastructure Works”. The review followed a costly defeat late last year for the shire at the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal when Somers residents successfully objected to a plan for them to pay for more than five kilometres of concrete paths through their town. The shire’s forward planning committee…
PENINSULA LEAGUE JUST when everyone thought that the 2017 Peninsula Division premiership race was wide open, Frankston YCW came out on Saturday and once again highlighted that it is still the team to beat. The Stonecats haven’t been playing the greatest of football in 2017 despite winning games of footy and being equal top of the ladder. However, on Saturday, with an armoury of VFL, yet local talent, the Stonecats were able to put the new kids on the block in Seaford to the sword. Just two weeks early, the Tigers were right in the game against Pines, however, on…
By Ben Triandafillou THE Mornington Football Club’s senior women’s side have kept their unbeaten status with a draw against Endeavour Hills on Saturday. Both teams came into the match with a perfect record and were looking to take the top spot in the Division Two South Eastern Women’s Football League. Endeavour Hills came out firing, having the first five scoring chances of the match and finished the first quarter to lead by two goals. Mornington started to fight back in the second quarter but couldn’t make much ground. However, the third quarter was dominated by Mornington with most of the…
NEPEAN LEAGUE FRANKSTON Bombers will need to improve considerably if it is to go one step better in 2017, despite getting over the line against Rosebud at Greg Beck Oval on Saturday. The Bombers were beaten all over the ground for the large majority of the afternoon, however, in a really tight contest, a couple of dubious umpiring decisions early in the last quarter swung momentum Frankston’s way and it was able to record a 10.9.69 to 7.14 (56) victory. Rosebud led at every change and by as much as nine points late in the third quarter, however, it did…
ONE of the most respected people in local football, MPNFL Life Member Mark Hustwaite has pleaded with AFL South East to work together with clubs and not to make decisions for the benefit of the minority. Hustwaite, who is willing to assist the league to help improve clubs, has been involved in the MPNFL for more than 30 years, is a life member at Rosebud and Pines football clubs, is a premiership player and coach, interleague coach and currently the football manager at Rosebud. There’s not much ‘Hussy’ hasn’t achieved in our game. Without question, Hustwaite is well qualified to…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie CELLAR dweller Mooroolbark ended Langwarrin’s unbeaten run last weekend while Somerville Eagles recorded the second win of their inaugural State League season. While the Barkers were surprising the football world with a 3-2 win against the league leader in State 1 South-East, Somerville Eagles were soaring to a 3-0 win over Old Mentonians in their State 5 South encounter at Mentone Grammar. A Ciaran McConville corner in the 31st minute gave the Eagles the lead and a McConville cross in the 56th minute found Liam Morgan sliding in to volley home from close range. Pat Acha…
A DEPUTATION from the residents of Frankston waited on Mr Adamson, Minister of Public Works on Thursday morning. The deputation was introduced by Mr Downward M.L.A. and Crs Oates and Plowman, Dr Maxwell and Mr Mason spoke on the necessity of taking some steps to have Kananook. Creek cleared out, and asked if the Government would be willing to grant £2 for £1 in the event of the residents raising £100 locally towards that object. The Minister, whilst sympathising with the deputation in their efforts, said it would be no use spending money if the work had to be done…
SEAROAD Ferries CEO Matt McDonald wants “local input” into the company’s plans for a new ferry terminal and “significant local infrastructure upgrades” at Sorrento. Searoad announced the project in April and Mornington Peninsula Shire has since started a planning scheme amendment process with the state government. The amendment was sought after shire officers told councillors that under present zonings the transport terminal at Sorrento pier should be run by Parks Victoria. The shire wants the state to agree to amend the planning scheme and override the prohibition. The proposed terminal will be 9.5 metres high and include a cafe, shop,…