Month: November 2017

IN JUST over a year, junior tennis player Emmerson Priest, of Mt Eliza has risen from competing in entry level competition for the Mornington Tennis Club to sitting in the top 50 of Victoria’s under-12 girl’s category. Her commitment and rapid improvement has seen her move from section six in 2016 to now representing her club in section one and competing in Australian ranking tournament events. Emmerson has had a full schedule over the past few weeks where she has represented the Mornington region at the Judy Dalton Cup and competed in the 2017 Better Tennis Frankston Cup, an Australian…

SOCCER A CLOSER relationship with new NPL outfit Langwarrin could be the springboard which catapults Baxter into State 2 South-East. That’s the target that new Baxter gaffer Francis Beck and director of coaching Billy McLeod have set in an ambitious five-year plan for the State 4 South club. “We’re looking at two promotions in five years,” said Beck. “If we can do it then we’d call that success. “We’re not ready to be a State 1 club yet and you have to move up then consolidate but we think that what we are aiming for is achievable.” Baxter’s generosity in…

MPNFL A WORKING party representing the majority of Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League clubs has called on AFL South East to look at existing clubs within the area to introduce a third division in 2019. The working party, which includes John Coburn (Frankston YCW), Mick Dunne (Mt Eliza) and Chris Sharman (Frankston Bombers), met with AFLSE boss John Anderson last week. The working party believes that non MPNFL clubs operating from within the traditional Mornington Peninsula area should be the clubs used to expand the MPNFL competition into three divisions. These clubs include South Mornington, Peninsula Old Boys, Skye, Carrum…

SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING won yet another match in MPCA Sub District on Saturday, however, the ladder leaders will not be able to claim the points, or, not yet. The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association stripped Balnarring of all of their points for claiming they played an unregistered player, Mitch Klienig. Klienig was registered with the club, however, was permitted out to Ivanhoe last season for the final three games of the year. Knowing Mitch Klienig was in fact registered, Balnarring CC was not aware that it required a permit from Ivanhoe back to their club. Rather than communicate and use common sense,…

DISTRICT HASTINGS defended its miserly total of 119 against Baden Powell on Saturday, winning by more than 50 runs. The Braves were always going to start the day in some trouble, resuming at 4/23, however, things didn’t improve any. Bryce Kellerman with 15 was the only remaining Baden Powell batsman to score double figures, as the home side slumped to 64. The Blues went to the crease again and batted another 51 overs, slumping to 5/72. It was enough to pick up a much-needed win for the Blues. Rye was back to its old ways with the bat on Saturday,…

PENINSULA GUN Flinders batsman Tom Clements single-handedly won his team the match against Delacombe Park on Saturday after scoring a monster century. With his side in some early trouble at 2/5, chasing the Parkers 237, Clements took control of the situation, faced 224 balls, banged eight fours and six sixes and finished unbeaten in the 80th over on 151. While teammates continued to fall around him, Clements took it upon himself to win his team the match. Skipper Neil Barfuss hung around for 29 balls and made 29 and Brennan Gillies hit 22. Other than Will Tuck with 11, not…

PROVINCIAL LANGWARRIN sits at the top of the MPCA Provincial ladder after crushing Crib Point by nine wickets on Saturday. A half century to Taylor Smith and centuries to Andy Johnson and Matt Prosser saw the Kangaroos reach 1/284, in reply to Crib Point’s total of 162. Prosser played a typically patient innings opening the batting, hitting five boundaries in his 101, while Johnson was the aggressor, hitting nine fours and three sixes in a dominant display. Baxter’s woes continued on Saturday, humiliated by old foe Peninsula Old Boys. Chasing 212 for victory and resuming at 1/4 with Daniel Warwick…

Fresh off the back of 2017’s epic festival, Blues At The Briars returns on February 24 for its sixth celebration of blues and roots music on the Peninsula. A combination of great music, amazing food and wine, and a dedicated children’s area make this day a must in everyone’s calendar. The Peninsula’s best kept secret keeps delivering in the amazing rural setting of the historic Briars homestead and surrounds. Bring a chair or a picnic rug and soak up the landscape and vibe while listening to the best bands from Australia and abroad. February’s festival is shaping to be the…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn AMONGST the names in the last list of returning wounded soldiers we are pleased to see that of Private A. E. Hollier, of Tyabb. *** WE regret to have to record the death of Pte. A. J. Dent, at the front. Word was received by the mother of deceased a few days ago of the sad event, and general sympathy is expressed for the bereaved friends. Mr H. Purdy has also been notified that his son has been wounded in the face, though the extent of the injury is not stated. Both lads were well known…

A FORMER bush walker turned bush poet will have her poetry preserved in print in a project that proves it is never too late to have written work published. Mary Lyons, 87, a former Mt Martha resident and keen walker in the Peninsula Bushwalking Club in the 1980s and 1990s is now mostly confined to a wheelchair at Somercare in Somerville but her love of life living amongst nature is vividly described in her poetry. She worked as a tobacco picker, hop picker and dairy hand. Husband Norm passed on after 54 years of marriage. Family friend Kev Cooper, whose…

A TOW TRUCK driver winching aboard a broken down car on Peninsula Link had his arm ripped off when his rig was struck by a speeding motorist, 3.30pm, Tuesday 14 November. The 30-year-old Hampton Park man’s arm was found 70 metres away after the crash. The southbound lanes of Peninsula Link between Eastlink and Frankston-Dandenong Rd were closed for the evening peak after an earlier major collision. Police said the Nationwide tow truck driver was assisting a four-wheel-drive with motorbike trailer attached when a wayward Holden Commodore drove into the emergency lane at speed and struck the rear of the…

POLICE are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage of a pursuit involving a stolen Nissan Navara which ended in drama at Benton Square shopping centre, Monday 13 November. The police Air Wing helped track the 36-year-old driver, of Cranbourne, to the shopping centre in Dunns Rd where he allegedly ran through the car park and attempted to hide behind a liquor store until cornered by a police dog which bit him on the upper arm, 1.30pm. The man was taken to Frankston Hospital where police expected to interview him on Thursday in regard to multiple offences, including aggravated burglaries, theft…

“TREASURE” valued at more than $2600 was found buried in a Mt Eliza backyard last week. Two young boys and their uncle came across the booty as they dug a hole for a tree to fill a gap in the hedge. Their spades kept bouncing off something buried deep in the soil – until they managed to dig up a box weighing 22kg. William, nine, and Thomas Gielen, seven, and their uncle David Dicker, discovered the box was full of coins and a tattered and stained note written by a Captain Snodgrass in 1976. The captain advised that he was…

THE police air wing, water police and emergency services crews were late last week continuing to search for a missing kayaker off Mt Eliza. Kylie Phillips, 44, of Mt Eliza, was last seen at the Canadian Bay Yacht Club, Wednesday 15 November. The alarm was raised when she did not return from paddling her green kayak. Her car was found in the club’s car park. Mornington police Acting Senior Sergeant Russell Sephton said SES ground searches overnight had scaled down but the bay search would continue. It is believed Ms Phillips has a medical condition. She is described as being…

BEACH users, beach box owners and residents will next Saturday be presented with options for combating the sand loss and cliff erosion that has led to the closure of Mt Martha north beach. A study into the latest erosion that came on the back of two severe storms in winter 2016 has found that the crumbling cliffs threaten the stability of the Esplanade. The problems at the beach and possible remedies are contained in a report prepared for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning by consultants, Water Technology (“Beach ‘repairs’ could cost $4m” The News 31/10/17). The report…

EXAMS are over and six years of secondary college are completed, so now it’s time to unwind. Mornington Peninsula Shire is preparing to welcome scores of young people during Schoolies Week when they will relax on the beach, take in the sights and spend time with friends before moving on to the next chapter in their lives. To assist, the state-wide response Good Times, Great Breaks (GTGB) aims to ensure the young people celebrate respectfully and safely with minimal impact on the community. It will operate in the coastal shires of Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast and Bass Coast and has…

By Hugh Fraser* WASTE was offensive and stuck in the ground to be forgotten until typhoid and cholera reared their ugly heads. It still is. In medieval times it dropped down from a hole in a plank in a room in the castle walls into another hole in the ground or at the bottom of the domestic garden. Fast forward 800 years to the 21st century – we still do so – into the septic euphemistically called “settling tank” to contaminate the ground water we love to pump up and use on our golf courses and gardens. As to household…

THERE was more shooting the breeze than shooting the curl when thousands of surfers descended on the Mornington Peninsula’s most popular surfing beach, Point Leo. Organisers estimate there were more than 2000 visitors to the Sunday 12 November Surf Vintage Day organised by the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula. “More than $7000 was raised for the DSAMP, which will ensure the continuation of the popular surf days for people with disabilities held at Point Leo each summer,” organiser Rod Jones said. “My personal highlight was seeing such a large gathering of the tight knit peninsula surf crew and hearing the…

A SIZEABLE majority of voters across the federal electorates of Dunkley and Flinders backed same-sex marriage in the marriage equality postal survey. The Australian Bureau of Statistics announced last Wednesday (15 November) that 61.6 per cent of eligible voters across the nation voted for the law to be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry and 38.4 per cent opposed the move. An ABS breakdown of voting showed 70 per cent of Flinders voters voted “yes” and 30 per cent voted “no”. The seat of Flinders is held by Liberal MP and Health Minister Greg Hunt. In the marginal seat…

THE decision to lease out the running of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s aquatic and leisure centres to Belgravia Leisure has been blasted as “disgraceful” by a union official in a letter sent to all shire councillors. The official, organiser Ty Lockwood, represents staff involved in the transition which took place on 1 November. The lease arrangement affects staff at Pelican Park Recreation Centre, Crib Point pool, Somerville Health & Fitness Studio, Civic Reserve Recreation Centre in Mornington, and Westernport Gymnastics at Hastings Community Hub. The shire’s best practice facilitator Vicki Bishop notified Mr Lockwood beforehand that all leisure centre staff, including…

FORMER deputy mayor Cr Bryan Payne, of Nepean ward, is the new mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire. The now retired Cr Payne, whose previous jobs included being CEO of several municipalities, was elected at the Tuesday 14 November council meeting, with Cerberus ward’s Cr Kate Roper named deputy mayor. Councillors Hugh Fraser and Antonella Celi nominated themselves for the mayoralty but were passed over for Cr Payne. Cr Simon Brooks, who is in Germany at a conference, was nominated for deputy mayor but lost out to Cr Roper. In his acceptance speech, Cr Payne thanked his colleagues for their “vote…

RETIRING mayor Cr Bev Colomb, above, said at the Tuesday 14 November special meeting that it had been “an honour to guide the council and to serve the peninsula as mayor”. Cr Colomb – who received the Mayor Emeritus award for serving three terms – thanked the shire’s CEO Carl Cowie as well as volunteers, local government ministers and the community “for their support”. (Mr Cowie was not present as he is overseas on a $30,000 study tour.) “There have been many highlights throughout the year,” Cr Colomb said, citing the transition to LED street lighting, continuing work on Destination…

SHORT-TERM rental provider Stayz wants proposed local laws regulating “party houses” on the Mornington Peninsula to be rescinded once the state government introduces blanket controls. Under the shire’s proposed laws, which it says are the first of their kind in the state, a registration system will be introduced for owners of short stay rental accommodation. Property owners will be required to nominate an appointed agent who must respond to neighbours’ complaints within two hours. A code of conduct will govern the number of occupants and establish expectations for their behaviour, as well as setting rules on car parking and rubbish…

SOUTHERN Peninsula Food For All president Ken Northwood said a large donation from the Southern Peninsula Community Fund had boosted its total to $26,090. “This donation will be a great help to us in providing more than 500 hampers to our community this Christmas,” he said. The Southern Peninsula Community Fund – an all-volunteer association – has supported the Southern Peninsula Food For All Christmas Appeal for many years. “[The fund] is approaching 60 years of service to our local community,” Mr Northwood said. “And, after opening its doors in 1975, the fund’s Rye Op Shop at 2141 Pt Nepean…

Somerville Highway Patrol are appealing for witnesses after a car collided into a tow truck on Peninsula Link on Monday. Officers have been told that a Holden Commodore sedan was travelling southbound along Peninsula Link between Eastlink and Frankston-Dandenong Road when the driver allegedly swerved in to the emergency lane and collided into the tow truck driver about 3.25pm. The 30-year old tow truck driver was conveyed to hospital with serious injuries. The 38-year old driver of the Commodore is assisting police with their enquiries. Investigators are keen to speak with anyone that may have been in the area at…

PENINSULA Aero Club members brought smiles to some small faces at the annual Australia-wide FunFlight charity event at Tyabb Airport on the weekend. The volunteer-run program was established to provide children touched by adversity with joy and inspiration through the exhilaration of flight. By the end of this year, the charity expects to have carried more than 10,000 children into the skies. Last Sunday about 70 children enjoyed a free light-aircraft flight as well as receiving a photo memento of the occasion from Harvey Norman, Mornington. They enjoyed a lunch provided by volunteers from Peninsula Aero Club and received a…

THE Atticus Health Medical Clinic in Carrum has received a welcome shot in the arm as the winners of the 2017 award for Best General Practice in Australia by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Owner Dr Floyd Gomes started the clinic four and a half years ago and is proud of what his practice has achieved in that time. “It’s a big deal — I think it validates our willingness to be a bit different and try to extend beyond the clinic, and that takes a lot of effort from a lot of people along the way, including…

A BRAND new vessel, purpose built to operate the French Island Ferry service, has arrived in Westernport Bay this week and has begun daily operation. The new MV Naturaliste is an impressive 95 passenger vessel that will deliver a new level of comfort for guests. It is fully airconditioned and complete with large viewing windows and outside deck seating on the lower and upper levels. Named ‘MV Naturaliste’ after the ship captained by Jacque Hamelin who named French Island in 1802, the fast catamaran vessel is 18 meters in length with a total capacity of 95 passengers. Western Port Ferries…

REMEMBRANCE Day came into its own this year when 200 St Joseph’s Primary School children and their parents laid a wreath at the Crib Point cenotaph. Crib Point RSL president John Ord welcomed them, saying Anzac Day had always been popular with the children, while attendances on Remembrance Day were usually small. Attendances are now better balanced. “This year St Joseph’s decided to move their service to the cenotaph to commemorate the achievements of Defence personnel in conflicts around the world to protect our freedom as we know it today,” Mr Ord said. “Wreaths were also laid by the RSL…

THE ability to provide a quick refuelling stop to police search-and-rescue helicopters proved the worth of the new heliport at Tyabb Airport last week. The chopper had been tracking a driver over the Mornington Peninsula whose erratic behaviour had caused motorists to alert police when crews received the search-and-rescue call. Instead of having to return to its base and lose precious time refuelling, the chopper dropped in to Tyabb for a top-up, saving it 60 minutes. The length of the mission to Gippsland required maximum endurance – meaning one officer had to be dropped at Tyabb so more fuel could…