A CASE of snakebite occurred at Frankston on Wednesday afternoon, the victim being a school boy named Alexander Nicholson. It appears that he, in company with other lads, was going through some scrub at the back of the school grounds when he felt what at first he thought was a thorn prick him on the knee. Later on he began to feel sick, and the head teacher was informed. On examination two distinct punctures were seen, and Mr Jennings at once tied a ligature above the marks, cut an incision each side and sucked the wound. The lad was then…
Month: September 2017
THE works of US composers George and Ira Gershwin will get a working over from jazz singer Anita Harris and her band when she takes to the stage at Frankston Bowling Club on September 24. Harris, a popular performer at jazz festivals around Victoria and beyond, has called her program Gershwing, which gives an indication of the direction she will take. Since her first gig in 1993, Harris has delighted audiences at restaurants, wineries, jazz clubs – and festivals. Critics have called her “one of those very rare vocal stylists” and enthused that “she has a strong fluid contralto which…
By Barry Morris LITTER from across Port Phillip as far away as Stonnington, Yarra and Boroondara local government areas and the suburb of Parkdale is ending up in Balcombe Estuary, a survey has found. Forty year 6 Balcombe Grammar students, with the help of their teachers and Balcombe Estuary Reserve Group Mt Martha, conducted the litter survey at the end of Henley Av, Mt Martha, in the estuary’s south-eastern corner. They found rubbish thickly covered the ground and in 30 minutes, from a 100 square metre area, collected litter, including small bits that can be swallowed by fish. They then…
FIVE Mornington Peninsula Shire-owned sports and leisure centres will be managed from 29 October by a private company that manages more than 120 other centres across Australia. Belgravia Leisure will manage and operate the Pelican Park Recreation Centre in Hastings, Mornington’s Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, the Somerville Health & Fitness Studio, Crib Point Pool and Western Port Gymnastics at the Hastings Hub. Ratepayers will pay $5,720,290 to Belgravia Leisure over five years in management fees. The Bayswater-based leisure centre and golf course management company will also run All Access outreach programs for older adults in Mornington, Rosebud, Hastings, Somers, Blairgowrie…
FREE all-day parking in central Frankston is being pushed as a way to encourage shoppers to support local traders and businesses. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke launched a ‘Free parking for Frankston’ petition this month calling on Frankston Council to make car parking free in “our CBD [central business district].” The state government surprisingly decided in August 2015 that a multi-deck carpark at a redeveloped Frankston train station is not needed. It was decided to instead consider a partnership with Bayside Shopping Centre to lease unused short term parking spaces for train commuters. “The state government and Bayside [Shopping Centre]’s…
A MT MARTHA-based builder has won two Housing Industry Association awards for Best Townhouse/Villa Development and Townhouse of the Year. The awards were for two adjoining townhouses on the Esplanade, Mornington, opposite Mills Beach. The 2017 HIA Eastern Victorian Awards were presented at the RACV Resort, Inverloch, Friday 8 September. Builder Craig McPhan did his apprenticeship with a Dromana builder 36 years ago and worked for various builders on the Mornington Peninsula before starting Individual Builders about 20 years ago. The company has previously won five HIA awards. “We are local builders based in Mt Martha and have been building…
WORKS to protect the ageing seawall at Mt Martha’s Craigie beach will begin this month. The 240-metre rock revetment will be built by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The department said the rock revetment would ensure the whole of the seawall was protected against future storm events. “Last year a 97-metre rock revetment was constructed and this 240-metre section completes the protection works,” Eastern Region MP Daniel Mulino said. “The stone seawall is thought to be at least 50 years old and is nearing the end of its life.…
WHILE men aged over 85 have one of the highest suicide rates in Australia they are often overlooked in the fight against suicide. This lack of attention and help is due to “ageism” and a lack of community support, according to Mornington-based Mentis Assist. The organisation which provides opportunities for people living with mental illness based its conclusion on the results of a 2014 statistics study. “Life events commonly associated with elderly suicide include the death of a loved one, physical and mental illness, cognitive impairment, unmanageable pain, fear of dying, loneliness and major changes in roles, such as retirement,”…
A SURVEY aimed at gaining a greater understanding of the caravan park and residential villages’ population on the Mornington Peninsula found that 63 per cent are aged over 70, most are single women, and nearly 90 per cent rely on the age pension as their main source of income. The survey was compiled by the Peninsula Residential Parks and Villages Group and focus groups convened in April and August. Responses were received by 164 of the 600 residents at four core parks: Peninsula Parklands, Hastings, which has 220 permanent residents; Mornington Gardens, Mornington, (also 220); Dromana Holiday Village (80); and…
THE outlook was certainly different for a group of girl netballers who arrived in Sorrento last week. Although well into spring, the continuing wintery weather that greeted them was a far cry from that of their home in the remote Northern Territory community of Ngukurr. The 10 girls – aged nine to 13 – experienced their first plane trip, rode in a gondola to the top of Arthurs Seat and then crossed Port Phillip on the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff. The group’s trip was arranged by Georgia Croad, of Sorrento, who has been teaching at Ngukurr for the past…
POLICE pursuits in Mornington and Mt Eliza last week were aborted over concerns for public safety. In one instance, police chased an unidentified car with stolen number plates driving west along Nepean Highway near Wilsons Rd, 6.25pm, Thursday 14 September. Acting Sergeant Daniel Patten, of Mornington police, said police tried to pull the car over but it sped away and they called off the pursuit after less than a minute. The driver managed to elude police. In Mt Eliza at 4.55pm the same day, a twin cab ute was recorded at 108kph in an 80kph zone on Nepean Highway. The…
A MAN and a woman on the run following a home invasion in Langwarrin and liquor store robberies in Carrum Downs, Rye, Cranbourne, Berwick and Clyde were arrested in rural New South Wales last week after a dramatic police chase in a stolen car. The 24-year-old man, of no fixed address, and the woman, 19, of Cranbourne, were spotted by police driving a Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD at high speed on the Mitchell Highway, Orange, Sunday 10 September. Police aborted their chase over “public safety concerns” but, about 15 minutes later, they saw the car on another road after it collided…
POLITICIANS who may ultimately vote in Canberra to decide if same-sex marriage is legalised in Australia are taking different approaches to the outcome of the marriage equality vote. Local federal Liberal MPs Chris Crewther (Dunkley) and Greg Hunt (Flinders) have both confirmed they will both personally vote “yes” in response to the question “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?” mailed out to all Australians listed on the electoral roll last week but have different views on voting in line with the postal survey outcome in their respective electorates. Mr Crewther said he will vote for…
STANDING in the sand dunes at Rye, Josie Jones is pleased to note the absence of rubbish. She is there to promote a community walk at Hastings to raise money and awareness of the Dolphin Research Institute, for which she has designed and added a poster to her “I’m really a mermaid” series. No stranger to the foreshore at Rye, Ms Jones has for the past 12 years walked its length and breadth collecting rubbish either dropped by careless beachgoers or dropped in the bay. A graphic designer, Ms Jones estimates she’s collected four tonnes of rubbish in a personal…
A CORONER’S report into the deaths of an elderly Rosebud couple late last year has described the tragic circumstances as a “common theme”. Judge Sara Hinchey was commenting on the death of Nancy May Budge who died in an apparent murder-suicide pact with her husband, Roy, in the driveway of their Adams Av property, 4.30pm, Thursday 3 November. Both were in their mid-80s. “It is well understood that people who have lived a full, productive and loving life, but who experience an irreversible deterioration in their physical health, can develop a determination to end their own lives, often in circumstances…
Because of wet weather the venue for the community fair scheduled to be held this Sunday at Ferrero Reserve, Mt Martha has been moved to Mt Martha Primary School. The fair is being held to raise money for Mt Martha Pre-School and includes children running laps of the oval as well as “designer market stalls”, food trucks, live entertainment, animal farm and reptile enclosure, jumping castles, 10 pin bowling, and family games and amusements. The fair runs from 10am to 2pm at the school in Glenisla Drive, Mt Martha. Details: Louise Brown 0409 332 226.
TOP brand off-road cycles and clothing valued at more than $200,000 were stolen from a Dromana shop over the weekend. It is believed an offender broke into Chain Brain Bicycle Workshop, Boundary Rd, overnight, Friday 8 September, and stole 15 Intend and Santa Cruz cycles valued at up to $15,000 each, as well as cycle clothing. CCTV shows the man wearing a high-vis jacket smashing the front glass door to the shop’s workshop and then walking the bikes out to a waiting van. Detective Senior Sergeant Alan Paxton, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the bike brands were “readily identifiable and…
LONG time leader of the 1st Hastings Scout Group, Janice “Brolga” Danaher, has received one of only five chief commissioners’ awards in recognition of 60 years of service to scouting. Ms Danaher started as an assistant lady cubmaster with the 2nd Hastings Immaculate Conception Scout Group in 1957. When the group went into recession in 1962, she continued as lady cubmaster with 1st Hastings Scout Group until becoming group leader in 1979, a title she has held aver since. “Known by scouts as Brolga, Janice is always a reassuring presence, whether at the hall or by the campfire, where her…
SOMERVILLE Secondary College year 10 student Angelica Haskins has won the Picture This art competition, which aims to spread the message that social inclusion is important for everyone to consider. The competition encourages students to get creative and produce artwork depicting their interpretation of how social inclusion can work for everyone. Students set aside time to think about disability and what social inclusion means. They take on board that people with different abilities are often excluded from mainstream activities – denying them opportunities others take for granted. Visual arts co-ordinator Stephanie Zurcas said the college considered social inclusion an “important…
SOME of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s planning staff and senior executives may soon be operating out of an office in central Melbourne. The shire’s CEO Carl Cowie told The News on 31 August that “there is nothing to report regarding a Shire office in central Melbourne”. But one day later (1 September), in his regular Friday email to shire staff, Mr Cowie described sitting in an Uber “waiting to get on the Monash [Freeway]” on his way to a meeting in the Melbourne CBD with “the exec team”. (He also praised the benefits of having a tablet, or hand held computer,…
NEPEAN LEAGUE FRANKSTON Bombers will play Sorrento in the 2017 MPNFL Nepean Division Grand Final this Saturday at Frankston Park after beating Rosebud by three goals. In a tight and highly contested affair, there was very little in the game all afternoon in terms of the scoreboard but Frankston always seemed to have the edge, eventually winning 10.11 (71) to 8.5 (53). There were no goals kicked in the opening 12 minutes of the game, such was the contest. However, goals to Lachy Mew and Keegan Downie saw Rosebud take a five-point lead into the first change. Frankston took the…
PENINSULA LEAGUE BONBEACH will be looking to win its first senior premiership since 1984 when it takes on Frankston YCW in the MPNFL Peninsula Division Grand Final on Saturday. The Sharks stormed into the Grand Final after thrashing Edithvale-Aspendale by 40 points, 13.9 (87) to 7.5 (47). It was a sloppy, hard and contested first quarter but the Sharks stormed out in the second quarter and booted seven goals to one to set-up a game-high 53-point margin at the main interval. The Sharks midfield was absolutely sensational, led by ruckman Dylan Jones, who was clearly the best player on the…
IT was one of the most eventful weeks in local MPNFL football history last week. After news broke that former Sorrento and Rosebud premiership coach Nick Jewell had taken over the coaching job at Pines last Sunday afternoon, just three days later, current coach Pat Swayn was reappointed at the Pythons for the next two years. Jewell accepted the Pines coaching job in writing last Saturday night (September 2), confirmed his position with Pines president Jeff Svigos after the story broke on Sunday afternoon and then resigned the position on Sunday night. Svigos conceded that the situation wasn’t handled well…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie LANGWARRIN and Southern United switch into finals mode this week in preparation for Saturday’s crunch ties against Altona Magic and Calder United respectively. State 1 South-East champion Langwarrin finished its league campaign last weekend with a 3-2 loss away to Malvern City while Southern’s table-topping under-13s won 3-0 away to Bayside United. Langy squares off with State 1 North-West champion Altona Magic at JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne, on Saturday afternoon for the right to claim the mantle of Victoria’s State 1 champion. Gus Macleod’s side goes into the clash without veteran striker Caleb Nicholes, first-choice…
THE pig, kindly donated to the Wattle Club by Mr Reeves of “The Grange” Mornington Road, has proved to be a valuable asset, and owing to the public spirit of its various owners, the funds of the Club have benefited to the amount of £7 17s 6d. The pig was won at the euchre tournament by Mrs C. Wood and Mr J. Wells who promptly returned “Denis” to the club to be raffled. This Irish gold mine was raffled on the spot, the sale of tickets realising £1 11s. The winner proved to be Mr Reeves, the original donor. Mr…
AS people live longer, memories can get shorter but that does not mean families’ shared time together is any less precious. That’s the message in the pages of a new children’s book dealing with the potentially upsetting issue of dementia. Grandma Forgets, written by Paul Russell and illustrated by Langwarrin resident Nicky Johnston, tells the story of a young girl coping with her grandma’s dementia amid memories of earlier times. It’s the latest in a series of children’s books dealing with weighty topics illustrated by Johnston. The Grandma Forgets tale is loosely based on Russell’s own observations coping with “the…
POLICE are seeking help in identifying a man involved in an assault outside a takeaway near the Grand Hotel, Frankston, 2.20am, Saturday 1 July. The man allegedly knocked his victim out with a coward’s punch, causing a facial fracture. The assailant is described as 180cm tall, thin build, short brown hair, clean shaven with a sleeve tattoo on his right arm. He was wearing a white T-shirt with the letters NXP in large dark-coloured letters on his upper back. He was wearing light-coloured pants with dark runners and smoking a cigarette. The offender, was accompanied by a blonde woman. First…
PADUA College will appeal to the Victorian and Civil Administration Tribunal against Mornington Peninsula Shire’s decision to refuse a planning permit for a car park in Oakbank Rd, Mornington. The case will be heard in late January. The council refused the school’s application on the grounds it would reduce agricultural land; limit agricultural activities on adjoining land; be incompatible with agricultural activities in a green wedge zone; and is at odds with the peninsula’s planning scheme. The council believes the school has not demonstrated how its proposal would relate to sustainable land management under the Environmental Significance Overlay. Padua College…
PEOPLE feeling unwell – especially with flu-like symptoms – should avoid visiting friends and family in hospital to limit the spread of the virus. That’s the plea from Peninsula Health, which is urging members of the public to take sensible steps to stop the spread of germs. Those feeling unwell should see their doctor for treatment and minimise their exposure to others. “This is the worst flu season this decade,” Peninsula Health’s executive director of medical services Dr Tim Williams said. “It is vital that we do all we can to keep the patients that we have in our hospitals…
THE cost of cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish at the Arthurs Seat State Park and Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve is taking away money that could go to both parks’ upkeep, according to Parks Victoria. Parks Victoria ranger Luke Ashford said weekly dumps of household and green waste, building material, old furniture and timber offcuts, had to be cleaned up by two rangers over an average two hours each week costing $36,000 a year. “That’s money that’s not going back into parks where it should be going,” he said. Parks Victoria spokeswoman Sally Nowlan said the cost of clearing the…