RECREATIONAL and educational activities for people of varying abilities, held Wednesdays at the Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, Mornington, are popular. The Fit N Fun program allows up to 40 participants to enjoy being with their friends and connecting with the community. Participants develop confidence to participate in sporting and physical activity programs, increase their skills, and are advised on healthy eating and personal relationships. They enjoy the challenge of shooting a goal – as well as having fun, interacting and physical activity. The program follows on from the success of the All Abilities day in December when Belgravia Leisure and…
Month: September 2018
SORRENTO’S landmark Stringers Store is being readied for its next century. The two-storey limestone building, which changed hands in March, has always been a merchant’s store of some description, with new owners the Saba family very much involved in the vision and changes recently adopted. “We stock all the essentials for holidaymakers, with a delicatessen and bottle shop alongside the supermarket,” manager Cosmo McIntyre said. “A cafe serves light meals and coffee for weary day-trippers to refuel after a long drive or the walk up from the beach.” Stringers Store was established in 1896 as a classic part of Sorrento’s…
WHEN Dave Smith crosses the finish line in the Dystonia Walk next month he will have his two daughters beside him and friends and supporters out in front to welcome him home. The Dystonia sufferer is training hard to compete in the 21.1km Melbourne Half Marathon, Sunday 14 October, to raise awareness for sufferers of the disease which has ravaged his body for the past three years. “Having run the full marathon in 1983 from Frankston to the Arts Centre in Melbourne I knew this would become my next goal,” he said. After being diagnosed in March 2015 and undergoing…
POLICE have apprehended three men after a violent incident in East Melbourne early Friday morning, 7 September, in which a Rosebud man was left with serious injuries. A 27-year-old and 24-year-old, from Fitzroy North, and a 27-year-old from East Melbourne, have been charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and other assault-related offences. They have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 December. The charges relate to the alleged assault of the Rosebud man, 61, and his friend, 45, of Mt Evelyn, on Wellington Parade after the Hawthorn-Richmond game at the MCG. Police media officer Leonie…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has appointed Kelvin Spiller (right) as its interim CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement for the departed Carl Cowie. Mr Cowie left Friday 30 August after almost four years at the helm to take up the vacant CEO’s position at Nillumbik, in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. The council voted on Monday 3 September to appoint Mr Spiller who is regarded as an experienced local government CEO with 35 years’ experience in business, local government and community sectors as chief executive and board member. He reportedly is highly regarded for his abilities in…
THE state government has postponed building a rock wall at Portsea beach aimed at further preventing sand erosion, and will instead start repairing the existing sandbag seawall using its current design. This follows a bid by Mornington Peninsula Shire to overturn a decision by the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning to build the rock wall which mayor Cr Bryan Payne slammed as “the final environmental nail in the coffin [which would] permanently destroy the beach”. (See “Restore our beach: council demands” The News 4/9/18). Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio last week ordered the repair of…
IN what seems like a win for animal rights devotees, Mornington Peninsula shire will open the animal shelter and pound for extended hours on Saturdays and Sundays – without requiring those wanting to visit to adopt a pet to make an appointment beforehand. Previously the pound, at 130 Watt Road, Mornington, was only open without an appointment 10am-1pm Saturdays as part of a six-month trial. The limited times rankled some prospective adopters who felt the shire’s “red tape” regulations were making the process too restrictive. Also, under previous arrangements, those intending to visit had to apply online, await an official…
TWO peninsula community volunteers were honoured for their selfless efforts at last week’s Delys Sargeant Age-Friendly Awards. John Drysdale, a Somerville Community House and Peninsula North Men’s Shed committee member, was named Elder of the Year, while RPPFM’s Dennis Gist was named Senior Achiever of the Year. Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Bryan Payne presented the awards at the Mt Eliza Community Centre, Tuesday 28 August. They honour the men’s “significant contributions to the community and the Mornington Peninsula by a person 50-plus years of age”. Other awards were made to individuals, clubs, services or businesses that contribute to building a…
DESPITE “struggling with this terrible carpark situation for years” there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the community of St Mark’s Balnarring – particularly if Liberal candidate for Nepean, Russell Joseph, has his way. He’s promised $60,000 to seal the gravel carpark if the Liberals Nationals win the state election in November. “After attending the opening of the community centre last year, it was brought to my attention that the carpark was a necessary piece of infrastructure to ensure the church can make the best connection possible to those in the community who have come to rely on…
LIKE Phoenix rising from the ashes, so, too, is one of Hastings’ favourite op shops: Holy Trinity Church Op Shop, which is undertaking a rebuilding project. The vision for the new building is for a larger, purpose-built facility that encourages the Mornington Peninsula community in their efforts to recycle and re-purpose unwanted household goods. It aims to be an open, welcoming space for the community to meet, volunteer, browse, read and connect with others. The rebuild follows the devastating fire of March last year that destroyed the building which had been an op shop since 1994. Since then, the shop…
FIVE years after her husband was murdered in front of her in a drug-fuelled attack, Bridget O’Toole has been awarded The Royal Humane Society of Australasia’s 2017 Clarke Gold Medal. The Clarke Medal is the society’s highest award for the most outstanding case of bravery considered during the year. The Clarke Gold Medal was presented by The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Councillor Sally Capp at Melbourne Town Hall on 23 August. Mrs O’Toole was attacked by Gavin Perry, 27, after the parolee entered their High Street Hastings jewellery store in July 2013. Brandishing a 20cm carving knife,…
HASTINGS Liberal MP Neale Burgess is ramping up the law-and-order debate while campaigning for the November state election. He said a Liberal Nationals Government would focus on having “more police on the beat, tougher sentencing and $24 million for more local community safety measures, like CCTV cameras in at-risk areas across the Hastings electorate”. This would include funding a police mobile CCTV camera rollout. Mr Burgess said grants of up to $250,000 would be made available to “local councils to develop public safety and security infrastructure like CCTV systems, improved lighting and creating local solutions to local crime”. “Councils will…
IN a few weeks an elderly Hastings man will forego the comforts of home for a long spell behind the wheel to raise money for drought-affected farmers. Len Brennan, a former professional driver, will set off in early October in his reliable and much-travelled Toyota Hilux ute on a 9000 kilometre journey taking in some of Australia’s toughest bush roads and rutted tracks. The self-described “poor man’s philanthropist” – 82 – will head to Adelaide, then Darwin, then across to Brisbane and back down to Melbourne in his fundraising adventure to, hopefully, raise $20,000 for a cause that’s close to…
SOMERVILLE Primary School pupils have been busily knitting for a very special project. They, along with family members and staff, are making squares to be sewn together to make blankets to be donated to The Salvation Army. “The children love being involved, and it has been wonderful to see them developing their skills, making new friends and developing a sense of pride in contributing to a project that is helping others,” Chaplain Kylie Nicholas said. Chaplain Nicholas, who started the Thursday Lunchtime Knitting Club this year, said she had been “blown away by the incredible level of support the project…
BASKETBALL THE Chelsea Gulls have taken out the opening round of the Big V grand-final series in dominant fashion on Saturday 25 August, while the Southern Peninsula Sharks will need to win two on the road to be named grand-final victors. The Chelsea Gulls men’s division one side claimed an 11-point victory over the Shepparton Gators (94-83) in the first round of the best-of-three grand-final series. The Gulls scored the victory away from home and are set to play their next two rounds in front of their home crowd at Patterson River Stadium, with around 1,000 supporters expected to flock…
NETBALL THE Peninsula Waves’ under-19s history-making run has come to an end with a tough loss to DC North East Blaze in the Preliminary finals on Sunday 26 August. After claiming the minor semi-final over the reigning premiers, Geelong Cougars, on Wednesday 22 August, the Waves quickly backed up their performance to contest for the last remaining spot in the under-19s VNL grand final on the weekend. The Waves’ side, which is the first under-19s team to make it through to the finals series in the history of the club, put in a top performance against the Blaze but were…
SOCCER WHILE Langwarrin was unveiling The Gus Macleod Stand at Lawton Park on Saturday Peninsula Strikers were securing their State 2 South-East status. Macleod has held the reins at Langy for 20 years and in his final home match watched his side come from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against already relegated Nunawading City. Big reputations and a big budget have not saved the visitors who featured former A-League stars Ben Khalfallah and Massimo Murdocca, the former playing as sweeper while Murdocca took up a central midfield role. After a goalless first half the deadlock was broken in the…
DIVISION ONE FRANKSTON YCW have shocked football fans across the peninsula by bowing out of finals in just the second week. The Stonecats were put to the sword by Mt Eliza in a stunning come from behind victory. The Stonecats suffered a blow pregame with Paul Minchington ruled out due to a calf injury. Minchington booted five goals last week to help his team to a win. Despite their injury concerns, Frankston YCW got off to a blinding start, dominating the Redlegs throughout the first half. The Stonecats were absolutely in control at the half time break, with Mt Eliza’s…
DIVISION TWO DROMANA have bounced back from their shock defeat last week in stunning fashion, hammering Langwarrin to book their spot in the Grand Final. The Kangaroos were put on the backfoot early by a fast starting Dromana. Langwarrin could not register a score in the first quarter, and could only manage one goal in the second. In that time, Dromana piled on ten goals to take a 58 point lead into the half time break. The Kangaroos needed everything to go their way, but Dromana were proving far too good, piling on another seven goals to zero in the…
AUSTRALIA’S favourite kidult comedians, The Listies, are bringing their best-smelling book Ickypedia: A Dictionary of Disgusting New Words to Frankston Arts Centre’s stage these school holidays! Ickypedia is a seriously silly show that answers all of life’s unimportant questions: How do you take a smellfie? What exactly are udderpants? and what happens if you never-ever clean your room? With snot-monsters, bubble machines and toilet paper guns, it’s a mix of clowning, slapstick, and improvised chaos that the whole family will enjoy! Richard Higgins and Matt Kelly are acclaimed kidult comedy duo The Listies. In 2008, their show More fun than…
DAY by day the good news of fresh Allied victories continues to come through; each day there are fresh stories of the wonderful deeds of the Australians, and each day sees the line that indicates the horrible leash that the Hun threw across Europe being taken further and further back towards the Rhine. It is good news, it is cheering news; but not for one instant must it be taken to indicate that Australia is now at liberty to slacken in her war efforts. Rather it means that still greater efforts must be made; it is the supreme time when…
DRIVERS unsure how to correctly turn left from Coolart Road into Frankston-Flinders Road heading towards Peninsula Link and Frankston are causing problems, police say. To solve the problem they must use the dedicated merging lane – but some are incorrectly stopping at the give-way sign, causing traffic on Coolart Road to bank back from the intersection. Merging straight out of Coolart Road into the westbound lane of Frankston-Flinders Road across the solid white line marked on the picture is illegal. Left turn vehicles should turn into the merging lane, get up to an appropriate speed and then use their right…
Two organisations that have applied for funding in the state government’s Pick my Project community grant have banded together to “preference” each other. “Projects are granted funding depending on how many votes they get,” said Adam Westaway from the Alexandra Park Project. “And voters have to nominate three projects when they vote, so we decided to get together with Stewart Morgan from ‘Sunday Sessions’ and preference each other.” The Alexandra Park Project have applied for two grants under the scheme. The first is to install new lighting on the Mornington oval on Main Street to allow it to be used…
AN outbreak of influenza-A at a Mornington aged care home has prompted the Department of Health and Human Services to warn of the importance of limiting the spread of the disease. Department spokesman Graeme Walker said 20 residents and two staff at Park Hill Gardens Aged Care Facility in Tyabb Road had been affected. The facility has 68 residents and 90 staff. He said one resident had died “with the flu – not of the flu” in the recent outbreak but that “the department is unable to provide details as to the cause of death”. The highly contagious viral infection…
A CENTURY old artists’ society with links to the Mornington Peninsula is holding its annual – read 100th – exhibition this month. The Twenty Melbourne Painters Society, whose president Bill Caldwell lives in Mt Martha, is exhibiting members’ works at Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery, Caulfield, 10am-5pm, until Sunday 9 September. Caldwell, a member for the past 15 years, said it had been a “great honour” to be invited to join the group, which has never had more than 20 members at one time since forming in 1918. New members must be invited to join – it’s not a…
MORNINGTON and District Historical Society members last week welcomed the return of the Balcombe Fountain to Mornington Park. It is now working as a drinking fountain with a solar light in the cupola which brightens when people approach. The fountain was originally outside the park’s entrance, when work was done on the arches by unemployed men during a job-creation scheme in the Depression of the early 1930s. Members of the Balcombe family gave the monument to the people of Mornington in remembrance of Alexander Balcombe who had the park and much of the foreshore reserve set aside for public use.…
POLICE are investigating four incidents in which cars have been set alight in the Frankston area. A Holden Commodore was pushed down a driveway and into Bush Court, Langwarrin, property and an accelerant used to set it alight, 1.56am, Wednesday 29 August. Carrum Downs police are investigating. A Toyota Landcruiser was destroyed by fire in Narambi Road, Mornington, overnight, Monday 27 August. Somerville CIU is investigating. A silver Ford with false plates was set alight on Jubilee Park oval, 11.10pm, Sunday 26 August, and a Holden utility was set alight at Ballam Park athletics track, 4am, the same day. It…
RAMRAIDERS reversed a car through glass double doors before robbing the Chemist Discount Centre at Peninsula Homemaker Centre last week. Police said the force of the collision “significantly damaged” metal roofing and sheered steel bolts allowing the raiders entry to the Nepean Highway store, 2am, Sunday 26 August. Tyre marks were visible on the roadway. Store manager Louise Smedile said the thieves stole a quantity of perfumes. The extent of the damage was unknown, Wednesday. Police are examining CCTV footage of the incident. The store opened as usual on the Monday. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4…
A BITTERN man suffering an apparent cardiac arrest in the street can thank three Hastings police officers for possibly saving his life, Monday 27 August. The officers on patrol in Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, were flagged down by a bystander who saw the 64-year-old “on the ground and gasping” in Haddock Street about 12noon, Sergeant Scott West, of Hastings Police, said. Senior Constables Stuart Holloway and Teresa Comerford and Constable Cassundra Harris wasted no time in putting their first aid skills to good use and performing CPR on the man who drifted “in and out of consciousness”. They continued to resuscitate…
THE fickle and unrewarding nature of the Mornington Peninsula singles scene has inspired three local women to form their own dating site. “We were tired of swiping left, right or otherwise and being sent unsolicited nude pics!” Peninsula Singles co-founder Abby Barling said. “We went looking for something different but couldn’t find anything here on the peninsula, so we’ve created it ourselves!” The single mums are kicking off the season with a Spring Fling singles mixer, Wednesday 19 September, at Gods Kitchen in Mornington. They say taking a stand against the dubious goings-on of online dating had been rewarding with…