Month: November 2018

THE WESTERN Port Steelers will lead the way when it comes to mental health and wellbeing for basketballers in Victoria as they commence their new resilience project on Tuesday 11 December. Becoming the first basketball association in Victoria to implement this initiative, the Steelers will hold a “resilience project” information session that looks at building resilience within sporting clubs, schools and work places as well as opening up conversations about mental health and positive health habits. The program is targeted towards the junior basketballers, in particular the representative players due to the perceived extra pressure of competing at that level,…

SOME of the best bowlers from the Mornington Peninsula will battle it out in the Regional Triples Final on Wednesday 21 November at the Mount Eliza Bowling Club. Having made their way through the semi-finals in convincing fashion, Mt Eliza will play off against Frankston in the Men’s division while Dromana and Karingal will face off in the Women’s division. A packed crowd is anticipated to attend the final which will be played under-lights and is set to kick off at 6:00pm. Mount Eliza Bowling Club chairman, Dale Verhagen, said he was very much looking forward to seeing how Mt…

MORNINGTON detectives are investigating a suspected road rage punch-up on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, Wednesday 14 November. A Rye man driving a Holden Commodore reportedly clashed with two men in a Mercedes sedan, one of Taylors Hill and the other of Sunshine North, after they pulled over into the emergency lane opposite the Safety Beach Country Club, 6.20am. After the incident the Rye man was taken to the Frankston Hospital but was expected to be released late last week. The others were treated at the scene. The three men are believed to know each other. Police later charged the men…

POLICE are investigating a series of ram raids in a stolen car in the Somerville area. The 2004 silver Ford ute was stolen from a house in Bellary Lane, Langwarrin, 5.30am, Wednesday 7 November. A man broke into a shed and stole tools as well as the keys to the car before driving it away. The next burglary was at Woodleigh School, Frankston South, overnight Thursday 8 November when the ute was reversed into a shed door and tools stolen. The ute was then spotted in Simcox Street, Somerville, where the driver attempted two more ram raids. Both were unsuccessful.…

POLICE Dog Squad member Fargo put his nose to the ground and tracked down a 15-year-old Hastings youth after two houses were allegedly broken into at Hastings, Tuesday night 13 November. Several police units converged on the area about 1.15am after reports of break-ins and began a lengthy search. Fargo tracked the youth after he was seen disappearing into nearby bushland. Another youth was not found. After covering some distance during his “track”, and having earned a break, the Somerville Highway Patrol nightshift unit gave him a lift back to his vehicle. First published in the Mornington News – 20 November…

A SOMERVILLE man has been charged with allegedly assaulting an off-duty female paramedic in a road rage incident in Bungower Road, Thursday 1 November. The man, 21, allegedly started following the 23-year-old when she flashed her headlights at him after he “cut her off”. Police will allege that when the woman parked her car, the man approached and smashed her window and kicked her side mirror. He is then alleged to have punched her in the face and struck her with a can of deodorant. The woman, who was in uniform, suffered facial injuries, including a broken eye socket. She…

A MAN described as “Mr Mt Martha” passed away on Tuesday 6 November. John Pingiaro, 95, played a big role in the growth of the district as a founding member of Mt Martha Fire Brigade in 1951 and as an early member of the Mornington Yacht Club in 1946. He was a Life Member of Mt Martha Fire Brigade, Life Member of the CFA, received a 70 years’ service award in 2013 and a Queens Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct medal, in 1974. In February this year, as a spritely 94-year-old, Mr Pingiaro took part in the Gold…

A CHARMING photograph of a Mt Martha grandfather and his granddaughter marching in the Mornington Anzac Day parade last year has been chosen as the 100 Years of Repatriation stamp. And recognition of the photographs’s quality and relevance to the theme has given Mornington amateur photographer Peta Heffernan one of the greatest thrills of her life and created a bond between them that will last a lifetime. Her picture of decorated veteran Major Alec Weaver, 98, and Able Seaman Liz McCallum, taken in Main Street, was released nation-wide last month as an Australia Post stamp and postcard representing 100 years…

VICTORIAN Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp was the guest speaker at a dinner for local fire brigades at the Safety Beach Sailing Club, Thursday 8 November. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council hosted the event at what was Cr Bryan Payne’s last official occasion as mayor. He said the meeting provided an opportunity for councillors and staff involved in fire prevention to meet in the lead up to this year’s fire season. “The efforts and commitment of all emergency service personnel involved in protecting our community is extremely important in providing a safe environment across the Mornington Peninsula,” Cr Payne said. “Council…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is concerned about a potential shortage of police over the busy holiday period. New mayor Cr David Gill last week flagged his intention to hold “positive discussions with senior police and the government after the state election (Saturday 24 November) to ensure that adequate police numbers will be allocated to the Mornington Peninsula over summer”. This follows claims that police could be understaffed and unable to cope with an emergency situation. “Over the Christmas holiday period the population on the Mornington Peninsula explodes almost overnight: from 163,000 to 225,000-250,000 people,” Cr Gill said. “On top of…

FOUR candidates will contest the seat of Mornington in the state elections on Saturday 24 November. They are David Morris, Tyson Jack, David Sinclair and Ryan White. Neither Mornington nor the adjoining seat of Nepean have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Mr Morris, who took over in 2006, has a seemingly safe hold on the seat with a 26 per cent majority on a two party preferred basis. Here, The News publishes biographical details of the candidates in the order they were drawn in the ballot. David Morris…

VISITORS to Mt Martha House can tune in to podcasts to learn about the history of the former coffee palace, hotel and barracks. The 10 podcasts, which launched on Thursday 8 November, were made possible by a $5000 Mornington Peninsula Shire Placemaking grant and $1000 flexible grant to help the historical society buy a computer to catalogue its collection. “The house is such an important part of Mount Martha’s history and we’re working to share stories of the Peninsula with everyone,” the mayor Cr David Gill said. “The shire also worked with the society to produce the trail signage, including…

A SECOND sewage pipe break near Mt Eliza beach on 1 November brought South East Water crews scurrying down with an excavator to cover a spill into Earimil Creek. This follows a similar spill in September in which a broken pipe sent raw sewage cascading down the Earimil Steps escarpment into the creek. (“Sewage flows to Mt Eliza beach” The News 17/9/18). Engineer and Mt Eliza Association for Environmental Care president Des Berry said the first break occurred at the start of the underground pipe at the Earimil Lookout carpark. The second broken pipe is 15 metres south of the…

RED Hill Ward’s Cr David Gill has succeeded Cr Bryan Payne as mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire for 2018-19. He was elected at the annual council meeting on Monday 12 November. Briars Ward’s Cr Rosie Clark was elected as his deputy mayor. Cr Gill in his acceptance speech said it was a “privilege” to be appointed and thanked his councillor colleagues for their confidence and support. “The Mornington Peninsula is such a beautiful and unique part of Victoria,” he said. “My focus will be on continuing council’s strong advocacy on Green Wedge preservation and planning issues to ensure the unique…

THE Futurefish Foundation has slammed the standard of Mornington Peninsula’s boat ramps as a shambles. And it has called on the major political parties to remove the management of boat ramps away from the Mornington Peninsula Shire, as well as the multitude of committees of management, which “claim to look after the smaller boat ramps”. The foundation says it is “time for the management of all the peninsula’s boat ramps to be brought under one single boat ramp authority”. Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer came out swinging last week, saying: “It is a joke having the Rye boat ramp under…

IF it’s a case of horses for courses then Cruza is on the right track … He is proving his worth at the shire’s animal shelter in Watt Road by keeping the grass in the paddocks down. The gentle giant, who was rescued by the RSPCA after being found suffering from “extreme malnutrition”, was taken to the pound several months ago. Environment Protection manager John Rankine said Cruza was being housed under the shire’s Lost Livestock Register – the same as for cats and dogs. “Cruza the horse has been a great experience for the shelter and our rangers,” Mr…

TWO Mornington Peninsula artists have teamed up to open a pop-up gallery at Red Hill. Potter Sandi Faulkner and contemporary gold and silversmith Katrina Newman will be available over two weeks to talk about their work and welcome visitors to shop 1/1016 Mornington-Flinders Road. After art school Faulkner, with almost 5O years’ pottery experience, trained under Viennese master potter Franz Kukowetz, of Terra Nigra. She was a production potter and teacher at the old Chelsea pottery in London. From her studio at Mt Martha she makes small batches and individual pieces using ash from the Outback and peninsula vegetation in…

THE Arthurs Seat Challenge on Sunday 11 November promoted the profile of the Fit to Drive program and to raise funds for it to continue. The number of entrants in the annual 6.7km fun run and walk was greater than expected at nearly 1300. Organisers said the cool weather was perfect for those who rose to the challenge of walking or running from near Rosebud Primary School to the top of Arthurs Seat and finishing at Seawinds Gardens. The first-time male winner was Jake Stevens with a time of 0.27.35. The female winner was reigning champion Bec Rosel, in 0.30.07.…

FIVE candidates will contest the Victorian Lower House seat of Nepean at the 24 November state election. They are Simon Mulvany, Rodger Gully, Chris Brayne, Russell Joseph and Paul Saunders. Mr Joseph has been office manager for retiring member Martin Dixon for the past five years. Mr Dixon has held the safe Liberal seat since 2002. He has a 16 per cent margin on a two party preferred basis. Neither Nepean or the adjoining seat of Mornington have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Here, The News publishes biographical…

FUTUREFISH Foundation director David Kramer last week took aim at the Liberal candidate for Nepean, Russell Joseph (pictured), saying he “seems to be sitting back disinterested in the boat ramp situation”. This comes after the foundation blasted the standard of the Mornington Peninsula’s boat ramps, saying they were a “shambles”. “Mr Joseph has a safe seat and doesn’t really need to show concern for the thousands of boat owners on the peninsula,” Mr Kramer said. “His seat in state parliament is being handed to him on a platter.” Mr Kramer said Mr Joseph had never taken an interest in camping,…

A SURVEILLANCE camera at a graffiti hot spot at Hastings is the latest tactic by Mornington Peninsula Shire to deter graffiti on the peninsula. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the camera, at the intersection of Wallaroo and Hodgins roads, Hastings, was a “joint initiative of the shire and Hastings police to reduce anti-social behaviour and address the ongoing issue of graffiti”. “It’s proving to be a very useful tool with an offender already recorded by the camera,” he said. Cerberus Ward’s Cr Kate Roper said it was a shame when public spaces were damaged by “senseless acts of vandalism”.…

WORK has started on the first stage of the 120-bed The Bays Aged Care Home at Hastings. It is part of a $20 million development expected to open in January 2020. “We are ready for this exciting state-of-the-art home to become a reality,” The Bays Healthcare Group chairman Adrian Wischer said. “Since 2017 The Bays aged care has been at full capacity as a sought after home for ageing residents.  The building of the new home will enable more of our community to access our services. “Our new home will have the flexibility to provide choice for couples. It includes…

“RELENTLESS hard work and environmental activism” lay behind the Save Westernport group’s receipt of the annual Community Environment Recognition Award at Environment Victoria’s annual meeting in Melbourne recently. The aim of the award is to recognise the “achievements of remarkable community groups and individuals who have led innovative and persistent grassroots campaigns to protect places they love, often with very limited resources”. The Save Westernport group was formed in May by a group describing themselves as “passionate locals [with] grave concerns about AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal in the protected Ramsar wetlands area of Crib Point”. Many had…

ABOUT 100 residents packed Balnarring Hall last week for a community information session put on by Arcare. The aged care provider is proposing a 75-bed centre in Brooksby Square. (“Residents up in arms over ‘invasion’ plans”, The News 23/10/18). Brooksby Square resident Jan Eyles, who previously hosted a public meeting at her home to alert nearby residents to the proposal, said the session on Wednesday 7 November attracted a big crowd. “They massively underestimated how many would turn up,” she said. “I think there were at least 100 people, including Nepean candidate Russell Joseph and Liberal MP Neale Burgess, as…

DISTRICT HEATHERHILL have batted strongly on the first day of their two dayer against Carrum to set their opponents a daunting total to chase. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Heatherhill started shakily and lost their first wicket for just 11. Kieran Miller was waiting at first drop to come in, and he did all the damage. Miller put together  brilliant innings of 93 runs before being bowled by Hand, and helped his side post a mammoth total of 9/285 before declaring with an over left to play. Carrum defended out their lone over for the day without loss…

SOCCER LANGWARRIN has successfully fended off overtures from other NPL clubs and has agreed terms with striker John Kuol for a second straight season. And while Mornington looks set to sign Langy striker Liam Baxter it may lose attacking midfielder Sammy Orritt and striker Max Etheridge. Dandenong City was among a number of clubs interested in Kuol but the opportunity of being coached by former Fulham assistant manager and Newcastle Jets head coach Scott Miller was too good to refuse. “It was a no-brainer really,” Kuol said. “I wanted the chance to be coached by someone of Scott’s experience plus…

MORNINGTON-based racehorse trainer, Matt Laurie, topped off Kennedy Oaks day at Flemington on a high as his talented filly, Bleu Roche, saluted in the last event on the card. The three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock saw the Flemington straight for the first time and scored a narrow but tough victory against her own age and sex in the $200,000 Group Three World Horse Racing Roses Stakes (1100m) on Thursday 8 November. The up-and-coming filly held off a wall of horses with the Clinton McDonald-trained filly, Causeway Girl, and the Lee Curtis-trained Meryl both being beaten by just under a head…

PRIDE Performance sprinter, Nathan Riali, will be out to try and claim the first ever running of the Hastings Gift on Saturday 17 November at Thomas Barclay Oval, Hastings. The Ivanhoe resident who travels down to Seaford and Frankston to train under head coach Matt Carter certainly knows what it takes to win a Gift. Having been competing across the country for the past five years, Riali has won the 2014 Ballarat Gift, the 2014 Northcote Gift, the 2016 Davenport Gift and the 2017 Rye Gift. He even finished second in the iconic Stawell Gift just last year. Riali said…

UP-AND-COMING junior Motocross rider, Ty Godfrey, has topped off his 2018 season by successfully taking out the Western Series final in Colac on Saturday 27 October. The Tyabb 12-year-old led the series by 50 points with one round to go and finished the final round in third place, providing him with the overall series victory. Ty’s father, Matt Godfrey, said it was great to see his son get around the track and finish the year on a high. “He finished third for the day, but he didn’t have to finish on top to win overall, he just had to get…

THE quiet which had been brooding over Frankston, since the outburst on Friday, when it was rumoured that the Allies’ Peace terms had been agreed, and hostilities on all battle fronts had ceased, was broken on Monday evening at about nine o’clock when it was officially announced that Peace had at least been proclaimed and the war was ended. Although Friday’s demonstration had somewhat worn off the novelty, there was no less sincerity and relief in the hearts off the crowd which thronged the streets and gave vent to their pent up feelings a few minutes after the bells began…