DINERS were evacuated on Sunday when fire swept through a shed near the restaurant at the Ten Minutes by Tractor winery in Mornington-Flinders Road, Main Ridge. Sheds and a storage area at the winery were extensively damaged in the blaze which broke out at 3.30pm. Vintage wines, a 1928 Fordson Tractor, and a 1938 Allis Chalmers Tractor were lost in the fire. The restaurant and cellar door at Ten Minutes by Tractor will be closed until further notice. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay, of Mornington Police, said that the fire was “non-suspicious” and was suspected to have been caused by an electrical…
Month: February 2018
A SHOP in Hastings High Street was badly damaged after a car drove through its front door on Friday afternoon (23 February). A woman driver, understood to be aged in her late 70s, accidentally mounted her car onto the footpath and drove into the front of the Brilliant Nails shop during the day. Fortunately, no workers inside the shop or pedestrians were injured. Brilliant Nails owner Mattieu Tran said the damage was extensive. “All of the front of the shop will need fixing. When the lady came through the front door all of the glass was broken. Luckily everybody involved…
DETECTIVES were able to return a portable speaker after it was stolen from one of two youths walking home from Mt Erin College, 9pm, Wednesday 21 February. Detective Senior Constable Shaun Rampal, of Frankston CIU, said the 15-year-olds were walking home after basketball along Franciscan Avenue when a group of youths from a nearby party approached. Two of the youths allegedly “stood over” the boys and demanded to be able to go through their backpacks, stealing the speaker and other items valued at $200. Detectives later attended the party and spoke to the hosts who put out a message on…
SMALL hives and “bee hotels” could lead to backyards blooming with indigenous plants as well as helping save the threatened flying insects. Housing for native bees may be offered as a sweetener if Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors follow the lead of Moonee Valley City Council which has embarked on a program to raise awareness of the plight of native bees. A group from the peninsula was given an insight into Moonee Valley’s program, which is likely to see that city’s mayor Cr John Sipek being invited to explain the benefits of bee keeping to his peninsula counterparts. The Mornington Peninsula…
ROSIE Batty will speak as part of International Women’s Day at the Southern Women’s Action Network, 9.30am, Sunday 4 March. Her talk – expected to be one of her final public engagements as CEO of the Luke Batty Foundation – will cover domestic violence, including current initiatives and future proposals. The meeting will be at the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s offices, corner of Queen and Vancouver streets, Mornington. Donation: $8 includes refreshments. Ms Batty, Australian of the Year in 2015, has worked to raise national awareness of domestic violence since her 11-year-old son Luke was killed at Tyabb in February 2014…
HASTINGS Liberal MP Neale Burgess has not given up on his efforts to have Somerville police station open its doors to the public. With a state election in November, Mr Burgess last week returned to the police station accompanied by shadow police spokesman Edward O’Donohue and eight “concerned local residents” to emphasise how hard it is to speak with police. Mr Burgess says the $16.3 million station – “funded and built” by the previous Liberal Nationals coalition government – was originally to be open to the public. “Victoria Police and its then chief commissioner, Ken Lay, confirmed in writing, shortly…
BALNARRING residents appear to have won their “battle” to keep their village’s medical practice after fears they would lose doctors unwilling to move into new premises on the same site. Balnarring Medical Centre has operated in the village for more than 30 years, and from the building at the corner of Frankston-Flinders Road and Russell Street since 1998. This building will be demolished to make way for the new development – possibly including a larger medical clinic – when the doctors’ lease expires in early 2019. Doctors say they and the developer were at loggerheads over lease terms, proposed longer…
FRANKSTON and the Mornington Peninsula have quietly seen a rise in junior rock climbing talent. A Carrum Downs indoor climbing gym at Bayside Rock Climbing has become a base camp for state and national rock climbers with juniors as young as six-years-old taking to the main stage to represent their state. With over 100 competitors taking part at the recent Victorian State Lead Climbing Titles (roped climbing) in Brunswick, the gym managed to take out three of the top four spots in the youth D category for climbers born after 2006. The gold medal was won by 11-year-old Kai Robertson,…
SOCCER GOALSCORING legend David Greening led Somerville Eagles to a nailbiting FFA Cup upset over Balmoral at Somerville Secondary College on Saturday. The man dubbed “The Green Machine” scored in the 18th minute of extra time to give Somerville a 3-2 win over its more fancied State 4 opponent after scores were deadlocked at 2-2 after normal time. Balmoral started brightly and took the lead in the 26th minute with a decent strike from the edge of the box by Enver Malkic but Somerville levelled in the 35th minute via a long-range wind-assisted free kick from Greening which sailed over…
SUB-DISTRICT By Mr & Mrs IT Gully BALLAM Park is staring down the barrel of an outright defeat against Tootgarook in MPCA Sub District cricket. The Knights batted first and lost their first six batsmen for less than fifteen runs between them. Shannon Roberts proved to be the saviour for the Knights with 23. Stephen Brain was clearly the Frog’s best bowler capturing 6/27 off 17 overs. Tootgarook then went to town and in 27 overs rattled together 7/127, Tim Symons top scoring with 43 and Travis French hitting 42. The Knights faced the final 16 overs of the day…
PENINSULA By Mr & Mrs IT Gully SOMERVILLE is just 34 runs short of victory against Red Hill in MPCA Peninsula cricket after 16 wickets fell on the opening day. The Eagles will resume this week at 6/65 chasing down Red Hill’s first innings total of 98. Red Hill skipper Simon Dart was the only notable performer scoring 44. Delacombe Park appears to be in the box seat against Pines on their home turf needing a further 151 runs for victory with 9 wickets in hand. Pines batted first on Saturday with Ashley Hupe top scoring with 47 while Lai…
DISTRICT By Mr & Mrs IT Gully HEATHERHILL has placed itself in a commanding position against Mt Martha in MPCA District cricket. The Hills bowled out the Reds for 180 in the 68th over. It should have been a lot less given the Red’s skipper Rhys Whitling scored 46 at the bottom of the innings. Brett Maxwell was the pick of the Hills bowlers with 3/28. In reply, Heatherhill faced the final 12 overs of the day and opener Steven O’Donnell blasted the attack scoring a quick fire 40 to have the Hills 0/46 at stumps. Hastings needs six wickets…
PROVINCIAL By Mr & Mrs IT Gully IT is going to be an enthralling second week of cricket at Langwarrin’s Lloyd Park this Saturday as the home team attempts to defend its measly total of 135. Baxter’s Dale Irving and Ben Brittain tore through the Kanga’s top order at one stage having them reeling at 2/2. Jake Prosser (23) Trav Campbell (51) and Taylor Smith (22) helped the Kangas get to their final total. They lasted just 66.4 overs. Yohan Maddege bowled 20.4 overs for Baxter and finished with the outstanding figures of 4/41. Baxter faced the final 13 overs…
ANDY and Terry’s treehouse just keeps on growing. With yet another 13 levels, it’s now got a Scribbletorium, a high-security potato chip storage facility (guarded by one very angry duck!) and even an open-air movie theatre. Speaking of movies, our friends are going to be famous! The legendary Mr Big Shot has arrived to make a Hollywood blockbuster! But when his first step is to fire Andy and replace him with a monkey – well, a gibbon named Mel Gibbon – the battle is on. Will the Treehouse Blockbuster ever get made? Who will win the battle of Andy and…
THIS evening a welcome home will be accorded Corporal F. McDonald D.C.M. and Gunner H. Upton, (who have been invalided back from the front) at the Langwarrin Hall. At the same time a presentation will be given Trooper G. Knox on the occasion of his departure to the scene of action. *** MAJOR Conder, Camp Commandant, Langwarrin, returned to camp last week, after a well deserved holiday, extending over eighteen days. This is the only change the Major has enjoyed during his residence in Langwarrin. In two years and one month he has not been absent for a single night…
FRANKSTON train station was a honeypot for politicians on both sides of the political spectrum last Monday (19 February). The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turned up at the station about half an hour after Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan dropped by to announce the awarding of a tender as part of the Labor state government’s $63 million station precinct redevelopment project. Mr Turnbull, accompanied by Dunkley Liberal MP Chris Crewther, travelled to the station flanked by a prime ministerial security detail. Most people walking past on the streets of Frankston seemed non-plussed by Mr Turnbull’s declaration that he was there…
LARGE numbers of baby King George whiting have been recorded in fisheries surveys of Port Phillip for the second consecutive year. Victorian Fisheries Authority ceo Travis Dowling said anglers could expect “sensational fishing” from 2019 to 2021 when the juvenile whiting detected in 2016 and 2017 will have grown to a catchable size. The large number of juvenile whiting in Port Phillip are also seen as a pointer to what anglers can expect in Western Port. “Scientists have conducted annual surveys of small juvenile whiting in the bay’s seagrass beds since 1998 to help forecast the abundance of stocks and…
DR SAM Johnson grew up surfing on the Mornington Peninsula, and now a position training as a young doctor at Frankston Hospital means he may be able to rekindle his passion for the sport. The 25-year-old is excited to be back on the peninsula to complete his graduate year in medical training after spending the past few years studying at Melbourne University. “I used to surf heaps before medicine, then it went on the back burner, but, hopefully, now I’m back down here I’ll be able to go more whenever I’m not working,” Dr Johnson said. As well as being…
THERE is no better way to invest in future generations of sailors and get as many members enjoying sailing than to get them into Pacer yachts like those at Mornington Yacht Club. The club launched six Pacers on 16 February, bought by club members. The preferred equipment for school and youth team racing, Pacers are a two person centreboard dinghy with three sails: main, jib and spinnaker, however the spinnaker is not used during racing. The boats are distinctive with their blue sailcloth, with three racing boats having the standard blue jibs and the other three having white jibs as…
AN “oversight” committee has been formed to ensure “community ownership” of control and infrastructure of a power company aiming to halve electricity bills on the Mornington Peninsula within six years. The People Power Company Mornington (PPCM) is holding a series of public meetings to gauge support for its plan to “fund, build and own together, a renewable plus storage, private electricity company to serve the needs of all ratepayers within the shire”. “In standing up to promote a genuine community opportunity, we have been bowled over by how rigorously the community drills us on critical and important details of the…
A TRIATHLON based at Mt Martha aiming to attract up to 1000 athletes plus their supporters this weekend will clash with the long-established Clean-Up Australia Day effort along the foreshore. Organisers of the four-year-old Sufferfest triathlon – previously held in November – have applied for a permit from Mornington Peninsula Shire to stage the event on 3-4 March, with the new date allowing them to take advantage of more stable weather patterns in autumn. But, in a late development on Friday – and despite planning for the event being well advanced with courses mapped, dates locked in, entries received and…
MEMBERS of the Peninsula Chamber Musicians start their From Baroque to Beethoven series of concerts at All Saints Anglican Church, Rosebud on Saturday 3 March. The group will repeat the concert featuring Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, Bach’s 5th Brandenburg Concerto and Beethoven’s 4th Symphony the next day (Sunday 4 March) at the Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington. The group will be joined by soloist David Macfarlane on harpsichord for what is generally recognised as the first keyboard concerto written. The group’s winter concert will include internationally acclaimed pianist Caroline Almonte playing Mozart’s 22nd Piano Concerto. The performance will also include Borodin’s…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has established its own legal services team. Its search for team members now includes a job for an “in-house planning and building lawyer”. The shire’s advertisement says the role is “rare” and the successful applicant will join a legal services team that aims to integrate a “best practice local government legal department comprising the functions of legal, risk, insurance and claims across the shire’s operations”. The appointee will report to David Carrington, the shire’s “corporate counsel, legal counsel – planning” and provide legal opinions and advice on building and planning activities; drafting court documents and VCAT and…
PREPARATION for the prestigious Bocuse d’Or cooking competition is underway for Michael Cole, current head chef at Georgie Bass Cafe and Cookery in Flinders. Cole was selected last year as the Australian representative in the international cooking competition, which will see him fly to China in May. He has now begun his training for the Asia-Pacific section of the competition with fellow chef, Laura Skvor. “We had a meeting in Melbourne a few weeks ago about our training program for the Bocuse d’Or, so Laura and I have already started training for that, we’ve been training for a while now.…
CLEAN Up Australia Day is on Sunday 4 March. Last year 42 clean-up sites were registered across the Mornington Peninsula and about 40 cubic metres of waste was collected. Those wanting to join in this year can register a site or join a clean-up site online. Each registered site will be provided with a Clean Up Australia Day Kit, including registration papers, posters, bags, one sharp container, warning sign and litter report. Volunteers will need to provide their own gloves as well as sunscreen, suitable clothing and footwear. Schools and businesses can get involved in Business Clean Up Australia Day…
Mornington Peninsula Shire is being accused of ignoring the business case for an alternative “more sensible” 25-metre pool at Rosebud. Retired businessman Colin Watson says building a 50-metre pool will be a waste of shire money while Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ Association secretary Dr Alan Nelsen sees a larger pool as being “over the top”. Shoreham Community Association says money being earmarked for the larger pool are jeopardising its entire 2018-19 budget submissions. Mr Watson, a Portsea resident, said the business case supporting a 25-metre pool by consultants GHD Pty Ltd “could not be clearer that a 50-metre pool would be…
By Brodie Cowburn HASTINGS filmmaker Karen McPherson has won two awards at the Peninsula Film Festival held in Rosebud and Queenscliff from February 9-11. McPherson brought home Best Cinematography and third prize overall for her short film, The Hamster King. The film features her son Harry, who spent many mornings at Balnarring and Somers beaches during filming. Karen’s depiction of these picturesque locations led to her winning Best Cinematography. “Creating a film like this was only possible because we live just a few minutes away from these beautiful beaches. Harry didn’t have to miss any school and we could keep going…
THE RSPCA will reduce prices for adoptions of animals as part of a “clear the shelter” program from Friday to Sunday. Visitors to the Peninsula Animal shelter, 1030 Robinsons Road, Pearcedale, will be charged a $29 adoption fee for dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits. “This promotion is all about finding homes for the animals in our care, and providing an incentive to those looking for a new pet to consider adoption,” RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said. “We monitor adoption promotions carefully and have found that the price someone pays to acquire an animal has no impact on…
STATE MPs are being asked to back moves to have uniform speed limits on all the Mornington Peninsula roads. Cr David Gill says a piecemeal approach to speed limits sees 80kph in some sealed roads while unmade roads “have a default 100kph”. Most of the 570 roads within the shire having at least one section of unsealed road operating under the 100kph default speed limit. Cr Gill, the mayor Cr Bryan Payne and CEO Carl Cowie are meeting with Liberal opposition MPs David Morris (Mornington), Martin Dixon (Nepean) and Neale Burgess (Hastings) at Parliament House on Thursday 8 March to…
REMEMBER the joy of flying your first kite? The anticipation as it lifted into the air? The spark of magic as you discovered you could actually play with the wind? Well, you can experience it all again at one of Australia’s premier kite events: The Rosebud Kite Festival. On Sunday 11th March, both the young and the young at heart will come together to celebrate the art of kite flying. Visitors can make and fly their own kite courtesy of local outfit; Kites 4 Kids. And alongside the novice kite flying arena, will be the latest designs and displays from…