Day: August 5, 2019

SOCCER A SIZZLING injury-time winner from import John Baird gave Langwarrin its best win of the season against visitor Werribee City at Lawton Park on Saturday. The former Scottish professional let fly with a first-time left-foot volley from the left of the area that Werribee keeper Nikola Kostadinoski couldn’t stop from rocketing into the far corner of goal. Werribee came to the peninsula in third spot in NPL2 West just two points behind leader St Albans Saints but its promotion chances were dealt a bodyblow by Baird’s late winner. Langwarrin had lined up in a pink strip as part of…

DIVISION TWO HASTINGS have kept their finals hopes alive with a thrilling come from behind win over Seaford. A win for the Tigers away from home at Thomas Barclay Oval would have put them two games ahead of Hastings and in a good position heading into the last games of the year. A loss for Hastings would have effectively ruled them out of finals contention. Seaford started strong with a three goals to zero first term, but Hastings fought back in the second. Seaford overturned the two point deficit in the third quarter, and were up by nine heading into…

DIVISION ONE PINES have slumped to their second consecutive loss after being defeated by Dromana on Saturday. The out of form reigning premiers played host to the Tigers in what would prove to be a tense afternoon. Dromana got the jump early in an even first quarter, and had established a handy three goal lead halfway through the second term. Tensions bubbled over just before half time when Pines defender Guy Hendry wiped out his opponent with a massive bump in a marking contest. The hit fired both teams up, and after a short scuffle Dromana continued to play with…

HORSE RACING SOME of Anthony Freedman’s talented crop of thoroughbreds stepped out at the Mornington jumpouts on Wednesday 31 July as they begin their preparation for the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival. At the top of the list for the Pinecliff, Mount Eliza-based trainer was Group One Blue Diamond Stakes winner and Golden Slipper placegetter, Lyre, who was put through her paces in the opening heat of the morning. Similar to most of Freedman’s triallers, Lyre wasn’t asked to do much and was given a quiet time in her trial despite finishing a close third. Freedman said he was rapt with…

FROM the creators of celebrated Australian works Rumour Has It and Wrecking Ball, comes the must-see live music event of the year. Lady Beatle is a modern memory play set to a kaleidoscopic soundtrack of the Beatles’ most monumental hits. Starring Australian stage and screen star Naomi Price (The Tragedy of King Richard III, Ladies in Black, The Voice Australia) and inspired by true accounts, Lady Beatle weaves a fantastical tale soundtracked by the Beatles’ biggest chart toppers, including Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane. Rediscover the Beatles’ immortal catalogue as new; reimagined and reinterpreted…

CAN you believe it’s over 50 years since Mrs Robinson  removed her garter in the Graduate?And over 30 years since the landmark Grammy winning Album – Garceland! Paul Simon is undoubtedly one of the greatest songwriters in Contemporary Music His success & variety of work, spanning 6 decades, is true testament to his genius. From his massive early success in Simon & Garfunkel, who defined the folk rock sound, Mrs Robinson…The Boxer Sounds of Silence …Bridge Over Troubled Water..…Feelin Groovy ….to his solo endeavours in reggae, rock, contemporary. …Mother & Child Reunion… 50 Ways….. Kodachrome ….. Me & Julio… &…

MR S. Lawrey took suddenly ill last Saturday. He was hurried to the Melbourne Hospital where an operation was performed and the patient is now progressing favorably. *** Frankston residents were delighted to welcome home this week Privates Cyril Twining, and Eddie Barton. Both soldiers had several years active service. *** Cr C. M Griffeths was not present at Thursday’s Council meeting. He is still ill suffering from gastric influenza. *** Mr W. J. F. Boake, L.D.S., B.D.Sc., dental surgeon, notifies in another column that he will visit Frankston every Wednesday, and may be consulted at Messrs Brody and Mason’s…

NEARBY residents are appalled by the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal go ahead for 10 apartments with basement carpark to be built at 17 Williams Road, Mornington. The VCAT ruling overturned Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s knockback of Kencole Holdings’ bid for the mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, and removal of all vegetation on the double block. In refusing a permit, the council cited concerns with the size of the proposed building over neighbouring properties and streetscape – exacerbated by its high-set position on a corner. Officers described plans for the “large two-storey apartment complex as an inappropriate response to the…

PEOPLE are doing it tough and sleeping rough on the Mornington Peninsula in ever greater numbers. Mornington Community Information and Support Centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan said it was “concerning” that his staff members were seeing “more and more people experiencing homelessness and, in particular, sleeping rough”. “On average, in the first half of this year, we have seen 14 people experiencing homelessness each month,” he said. “Last year for the same period we saw nine people.” Their plight underscores the importance of Homelessness Week across Australia (4-10 August) with its theme: “Housing Ends Homelessness”. The event also comes as Council…

IT was many happy returns for Kunyung Primary School last week when celebrating its 40th anniversary with a big cake and special assembly. The 780 students and 50 staff were arranged in a “human 40” on the oval to be photographed from overhead by a drone. Buddy grades spent the morning playing party games. Business manager Eleanor Nuttall said the school was to be called Mount Eliza West Primary School when work started in October 1978, but changed its name to Kunyung Primary when its doors opened in February 1979. Doug Slattery was the first of five principals assisted by…

TRADERS at Mt Martha who lost revenue and were forced to cut staff hours and reschedule appointments during the Thursday 25 July power cut are claiming compensation from United Energy. Lyndal Barnes, of Mr Curtis Cafe, said traders have asked the Ombudsman to negotiate with United Energy rather than pursue a costly class action. “We were told early on that we couldn’t sue United Energy because it was an essential service,” she said. While Ms Barnes said United Energy had indicated it was “quite open” to the issue of compensation, the power provider’s Emma Tyner yesterday (Monday) said: “United Energy…

LEADERS of the newly formed business-backed Committee for Mornington Peninsula have told the state Opposition that the peninsula should be recognised by governments as “regional” rather than “metropolitan”. Opposition leader Michael O’Brien and members of the shadow cabinet meeting at Rosebud last week were told that classing the peninsula as metropolitan was hurting business, causing job shortages and lost government grants. The committee was launched in March and now has 50 members (“Business behind new lobby group” The News 10/4/19). Its president, former Liberal federal government MP for Dunkley, Bruce Billson, said the committee would pay for research to examine…

A MORNINGTON Peninsula based social enterprise is on a mission to replace single-use plastic straws with reusable, ethically-sourced bamboo straws. Co-founders of theotherstraw Jamie-Lee Kay and Lennart Meijer, pictured, say most of the 10 million plastic straws used every day end up in landfill, Port Phillip and waterways, polluting the environment and jeopardising marine health. “We founded theotherstraw because we were shocked by the amount of plastic waste on the peninsula’s beaches, parks and just about everywhere else – we knew we had to do something about it,” Mr Meijer said. So far 10 retailers on the peninsula are selling…

NEW regulations being introduced in December mean backyard pool and spa owners must pay $37 registration fees to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The shire says it knows of about 17,000 combined pools and spas on the peninsula – the most of any municipality in Victoria. Under the state-wide rules, owners must shell out $20 for compliance certificates from qualified surveyors and arrange three-yearly inspections of pool fences and safety barriers. Fines of up to $330 will be levied if pools are found to not comply. Owners will have 20 days to fix safety issues. The deadline for registrations is 14…

A farm at Boneo has been given permission to build motel type accommodation for foreign farm workers. The workers will come to Australia under the federal government’s seasonal worker program. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have been told that it is hard to find workers locally and that allowing workers from overseas will “further underpin” the viability of the land for agriculture. The development approved by shire in May includes eight units with a total of 32 bedrooms, a common study, laundry and amenities block with a kitchen and entertainment area. A condition of the permit is that the buildings cannot…

SOLO Resource Recovery has been hired to collect Mornington Peninsula Shire’s household recycled waste. The new contract means recyclable waste collected for the shire will not go to landfill. The change comes after discredited former contractor SKM put a sudden stop on all incoming material late last week. The company was wound up by the Supreme Court last Friday (2 August). The signing with Solo means there will be no disruption to kerbside collections. The shire and 30 other municipalities was told on Thursday night 25 July that SKM would “cease accepting recyclable material effective immediately”. The mayor Cr David…

THE female partner of a man who blew more than three times the legal limit blasted police for “wasting our time”. Somerville Highway Patrol members pulled over the 51-year-old Skye man in McClelland Drive, 9.15pm, Wednesday 31 July. After blowing positive he was asked to return to Carrum Downs police station for an evidential breath test. There the woman “became abusive towards the testing officer, setting a poor example for the young teenage girl in the back seat”, Senior Constable Greg Wolfe said. The man blew 0.159 per cent – or more than three times the limit – and had…

POLICE Operation Reset held over the weekend was aimed at encouraging drivers on the Mornington Peninsula to reset their attitudes towards road safety. Southern Metro Region Acting Commander Tony Silva said Operation Reset provided a “highly visible presence of police with a particular focus on known road trauma locations”. “We are incredibly saddened by how many lives have already been lost in Victoria’s south east this year, with 24 people not returning home to their families.” This is double the number of lives lost at this time last year. Acting Commander Silva said: “We are seeing reckless speed, failure to…

A “UNDERSTATED and simplistic” house in rural Dromana has been awarded the building design of the Year. Moat’s Corner was praised by the judges for its understated and simplistic design as well as its emphasis on ensuring views of the manicured gardens and natural vegetation can be seen from every angle. Results of the annual Building Design Awards – formerly known as the Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV) Building Design Awards – were announced on Saturday 27 July at the National Gallery of Victoria. Designed by the Vibe Design Group, Moat’s Corner is described as acting as a centrepiece…

A MAN who allegedly twice rammed police patrol cars spent the night under guard in Frankston Hospital before fronting Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week. Police cornered the 21-year-old around 1.30am, Thursday 1 August, in a Moorooduc Highway service road near Humphries Road, Frankston South. They said he deliberately reversed the stolen car he was driving into them and attempted to run off but was caught after a brief chase. Police searched the vehicle and allegedly found a quantity of knives and stolen number plates. They said the man had earlier rammed a police car in Frankston South and attempted to…

The future course of a Mornington Peninsula-based study into the causes of the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer could depend on the outcome of a public meeting next Saturday. Organisers are hoping for “a reasonably civilised event” to fully explain the Buruli study so “concerned groups and individuals can decide where to take it from there”. In a letter to the mayor Cr David Gill last week, Flinders MP and Health Minister Greg Hunt said Mornington Peninsula Shire had “total control” over “mosquito control activities” and “a broader public health responsibility to its residents to ensure that all necessary actions are being…

ALTHOUGH the mayor is Mornington Peninsula Shire’s “lead spokesperson”, councillors have been cleared to “express their own independent views” in the media. The new media policy adopted by councillors earlier this year came nearly two years after they rejected moves by senior management to limit the release of information about the shire to three people, the mayor, CEO and the media and events manager (“Revolt over shire ‘muzzle’ bid” The News 19/6/19). The CEO at that time, Carl Cowie and the media and events manager, Mark Kestigian, are no longer with the shire. The media policy now followed by the…