Month: April 2020

CRYSTAL Ocean Wildlife Shelter’s Brenda Marmion was preparing to release four tawny frogmouths back into the wild last month. The birds, not believed to be related, were found in separate locations by helpers after falling out of their nests. Frogmouths usually build nests in the fork of a horizontal tree branch. Ms Marmion said the areas in which the birds fell were unsafe due to predators – especially roaming cats – so they were sent to Crystal Ocean to give them a new start on life. “The tawnies are all flying and fit and ready to go – especially one…

DETECTIVES are searching for a white Ford work ute and trailer stolen from the driveway of a Balnarring house, 1am, Thursday 23 April. Detective Senior Constable Rohan Brock, of Somerville CIU, said another vehicle was broken into at the property earlier in which a spare key for the missing ute was found. A credit card in the ute was later used at a McDonald’s restaurant at Officer. Anyone with information can call Detective Brock, 5978 1300, or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 29 April 2020

NEW Somerville Secondary College principal Sarah Burns is no stranger to secondary school leadership on the Mornington Peninsula. For 24 years she held senior positions at Frankston High School and Mornington Secondary College, where she spent nine years as principal in a period she describes as a “most enjoyable and rewarding time leading the school through a significant improvement journey”. For the past five years she has been a senior education improvement leader for the South Eastern Victoria Region working with 31 schools. However, she said her “passion in education” was at the school level with the school community as…

AN assessment is being made of the financial hardship and wider effects COVID-19 is having on businesses on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire acknowledges many businesses are “doing it tough” and says it will use the data to help with the “recovery process”. The move comes after the shire helped set up a system to deliver “care packages” to households throughout the peninsula. Cr Simon Brooks says statistics for casual workers on the peninsula “linked to hospitality and tourism who may have lost their jobs” could be given to state and federal politicians. “These are typically, but not always,…

SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria may soon announce a July start to the 2020 season. Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government wanted to get Australians back into recreational sport “as soon as we can” and the national cabinet of state and territory leaders agreed to develop principles for sport and recreation to get consistency across the country. FV and Football Federation Australia would have to sign off on a series of bio-security measures and how they would be monitored but it increasingly looks like training could resume in June with a 22-game season starting in the first weekend…

HORSE RACING JOHN McArdle’s consistent stayer, Themoonlitegambler, has taken another promising step towards the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) on Saturday 9 May. The three-year-old gelding backed up his solid third placing in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) with another gutsy performance in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday 25 April. Having sat outside the lead, jockey Emily Finnegan got going 800m out from home and gave a great sight in the straight before the race-favourite and leading SA Derby contender, Dalasan, gained the lead inside the final 100m. Themoonlitegambler stuck on nicely for second…

THE Pantry House, at Benton’s Square shopping centre, has been overwhelmed with support for its pay-it-forward board for emergency services and frontline emergency staff which is “getting huge every day”. “We would love more of those people to come and collect the free coffees the community have paid forward,” proprietor Emily Cook, said. “We always have over 50 coffees paid forward and if you check out our Instagram and Facebook I have posted photos of some of the front-liners that got the coffees.” First published in the Mornington News – 28 April 2020

IAN Higgins has borrowed an idea in an effort to liven up social isolation. He’s built a small street library outside his house in Mornington from which neighbours can borrow a book and either read and return it or, perhaps, swap it for a book of their own for others to read. Street libraries or small book exchanges are not new, but they make sense right now as public libraries are closed and residents stay close to home. “I saw something written about them and thought, ‘that sounds like a good idea’,” Mr Higgins said from his house in Strachans…

THE number of animals being adopted from Mornington Peninsula Shire’s pound in Watt Road, Mornington has remained steady so far during COVID-19 pandemic. “They are about the same as they were prior to social distancing,” the shire’s environment protection manager John Rankine said. The number of animals being impounded was decreasing. The compatibility of pets and prospective owners is of primary concern to staff at the pound, who list animal profiles online with descriptions of their personalities and photographs. Interested applicants inquire online and staff send out an adoption form. Mr Rankine said the shelter team judged an applicant’s suitability…

VOLUNTEER members of Sorrento State Emergency Service unit are on standby to help during the COVID-19 crisis, but are unable to visit schools, kindergartens, clubs and attend events. “With the winter weather here and people spending time at home we would like the community to think about their home maintenance to reduce the event of injury to themselves and damage to their property,” deputy controller – community education/events Margaret Davis said. Preparing for winter included clearing gutters and downpipes; making sure roofs and fences were in good repair; and securing such outdoor items as trampolines. Ms Davis said it was…

IN a year typically made up of happy memories, lasting friendships and, yes, study, the struggle towards the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) is far from normal in the time of COVID-19. Rosebud Secondary College year 12 student Zoe Dellaportas, 17 this week, is coping like as best she can. “The hardest part is staying motivated,” she said of her studies at home. “It’s a matter of maintaining structure.” Luckily, her older sister Alex has been able to help. “She’s set alarms on my phone for the start and end of periods which has been a big help.” Years 11…

FLOWERS and condolence messages delivered to police stations across the Mornington Peninsula illustrate the widespread sense of sadness over the deaths of four officers in Kew, Wednesday 22 April. Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney died when they were struck by a truck in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway, 4.30pm. Truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa, 47, of Cranbourne, was due to face court yesterday (Monday 27 April) charged with four counts of culpable driving over the crash. The driver of the car the police were booking, Richard Pusey, 41,…

FINANCIAL savings on lost productivity for travel times alone justify the retention of the shire’s $80,000-a-year central Melbourne office, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was told last week. Business support team leader Sally Milne, in a report to council’s 21 April meeting, said the office would “continue to benefit our ratepayers with improved customer service”. “It has already provided council with a significant competitive edge in attracting and retaining high quality staff that find it easier and more accessible to work out of a CBD office for part of the week,” Ms Milne said. Her report, authorised by planning and building…

GRATITUDE for the dedication of frontline medical staff has prompted a Mornington Peninsula group to spring into action. Hearing that nurses at Rosebud Hospital needed more scrubs, volunteers from Mt Martha’s Boomerang Bags group decided to do something about it. So far, they have made 30 set of scrubs in an array of colourful patterns. News spread and the group was recently asked to make scrubs for Frankston Hospital nurses as well. Coordinator Robyn Ruhl said the job was a challenge for the group’s 10 members. “We normally make fabric shopping bags to reduce people’s use of plastic bags and…

MOST of Victoria’s 79 councils want to cancel the elections scheduled to be held in October. Mornington Peninsula Shire, while not having a specific point of view, says “primary considerations” should be the community’s health and safety as well as “upholding the core principles of local democracy”. The Municipal Association of Victoria has told the state government that the council’s favour deferring the elections until next year. The government is expected to decide in the next few weeks to go ahead or abandon the council elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “A delay should be considered if over the coming…

THE mental health support organisation headspace has opened a satellite service in Rosebud. While offering three of the four core headspace streams the Rosebud service will also provide outreach support to young people and their families on the Mornington Peninsula. “Right now, Australians are facing a once in a century challenge,” federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt said. “It is not only important during the coronavirus to focus on our physical wellbeing, but also our mental wellbeing”. Financed by the federal government through the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), the new service will be delivered by…

ROSEBUD Aquatic Centre construction work costing $11.2 million is the single biggest item in Mornington Peninsula Shire’s proposed 2020-21 budget. Other big expenses are $4 million for road resealing and rehabilitation works, $1.5 million for construction works at Somerville Active Recreation Hub and $1.9 million for the Merricks Station grounds master plan. The proposed budget is on display and is open for public comment until 21 May. This comes as the council takes advantage of a time extension offered by the state government due to changed circumstances under COVID-19 (“Extra time to strike balance with budget” The News 14/4/20). The…

SORRENTO-Portsea RSL president John Prentice knew it would be an Anzac Day like no other. In line with other RSLs around the country, the sub-branch had to cancel its traditional commemorations, such as the dawn service, Gunfire breakfast, street march, midday service, afternoon barbecue and live music. “Regulations required our sub-branch to be closed on this important day. Sad, but there it is,” Mr Prentice said. “Normally we would have 400 for the breakfast, the march and the guest speakers, the laying of the wreaths and the flag-raising.” But not this year. At 5.45am, Saturday 25 April, Mr Prentice and…

AN unknown number of the 1300 colourful beach boxes regarded as attractions on Mornington Peninsula beaches and foreshores could be death traps. Potentially deadly amounts of asbestos has been found in about 120 of the beach boxes on beaches controlled by Mornington Peninsula Shire and Dromana foreshore committee, but details of another 500 boxes is un-known. The owners of the Dromana beach boxes have been asked to remove asbestos from their buildings but no such request has been issued by the shire. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said none of the asbestos in 89 of the 824 beach boxes on…

THE estimated cost of installing solar panels on the yet to be named Rosebud aquatic centre, above, has more than doubled. The original design called for a 231kW system of solar panels for the centre now being built in Boneo Road, but council last year called for “the maximum number of solar panels possible … whilst maintaining safe roof access and symmetry for aesthetic purposes”. A 375kW system has now been incorporated into the design, adding $321,450 to the $303,000 cost of solar panels. A quotation of $624,400 has now been accepted for the expansion of the rooftop solar panels…

AT the Court of General Sessions on Monday, before Judge Dethridge, a young man named Walter Edward Leach, 18 years of age, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault upon girls. There were four counts relating to Hampton, Black Rock, Middle Brighton, and Frankston on different dates between October, 1919, and March, 1920. Accused also admitted a prior conviction at the Children’s Court at Brighton on July 4, 1918, for an aggravated assault upon a female child, when he was released upon probation for a year. Mr E. C. Kelly, on behalf of Leach, said that the case presented some…

GARRY Gosling is doing his bit to support the now dormant live Mornington Peninsula music scene. He and partner Connie Beckett have opened the Peninsula Virtual Pub to help people get together for a drink online on a Friday night and interact with others in their Social Isolation Bar. But, while they are enjoying social time together, their “pub” is also giving local musicians an audience which helps them earn some much-needed income in these troubled times. “We were sitting around when the [stage three COVID-19] restrictions started, saying what a shame it was that we couldn’t go to the…

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are appealing for public assistance as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Safety Beach man Jacob Horton in June last year. Jacob was last seen leaving a residential premises in Drum Close, Frankston on the morning of Thursday, 27 June 2019. At the time of the 28-year-old’s disappearance he was not in possession of a mobile phone or motor vehicle. Detectives believe that on the morning Jacob vanished, he was attempting to source transport to travel back towards the Rosebud area. Jacob was well known in the Rosebud area and often travelled…

Shire tips are open to all. Car park clinics test Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Frankston and Hastings. Peninsula numbers stable today after a jump of three cases yesterday.  Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1329 – an increase of one from yesterday. The new case was a man recently arrived from overseas, who was diagnosed in mandatory quarantine in a city hotel. There were no new deaths reported yesterday. To date, 15 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. The total number of cases is made…

Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1329 – an increase of one from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s cases stayed stable at 59 today after jumping from 56 to 59 on Sunday. The peninsula’s COVID-19 cases  have risen by just six in the last two weeks. In nearby municipalities, City of Frankston have 36 confirmed cases, unchanged for over a week. The City of Casey have 53 confirmed cases, stable from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula is currently sixth in the list of Local Government Areas’s number of infections. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City…

IT’S like a career change, or a sea change for staff at Chief’s Son Distillery, Somerville. While they usually produce single malt whisky, a shortage of hand sanitiser has opened a new product line that is benefiting the business and the community. “We significantly retooled so that we could help the local community in the battle against COVID-19 and continue to employ our staff,” the distillery’s Naomi McIntosh said. “Our primary aim is to provide medical grade hand sanitiser to front line medical and emergency services workers, to the vulnerable in the community, to businesses so that they can keep…

INDEPENDENT breweries on the Mornington Peninsula are under pressure as their taprooms, bars and community areas are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past decade, independent breweries have become part of the peninsula’s economy, adding to the its reputation as a hub for innovation and culinary excellence creating places for social connection. They are likely to be important assets as communities struggle to get back on their feet following COVID-19. The Independent Brewers Association is calling for people to buy locally made beer to support these businesses in their time of need. David and Karen Golding, who established…

AGILITY and the ability to pivot have become buzzwords to describe the ability of businesses to adapt to the emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commercial reality is that most commercial enterprises are being forced to close their doors and face major profit losses. However, some businesses have been able to pivot by changing product seeking new ways of distributing their existing product. Jesse Leeworthy and his business partner Jonathon Byrt have been able to swing their trademark business of making plastic water bottles to home deliver bottles of hand sanitiser. The pair entered the commercial world some years…

A CHANCE conversation has led to a meals program being cooked up for needy clients of Mornington Community Information and Support Centre. It began when Mt Martha restaurant Volpino owner David Weill was speaking with a customer about his struggles in keeping the restaurant open during the stage three COVID-19 restrictions. Without ceremony, the generous customer donated $1000 to help keep staff employed. This led to a charity, the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, putting the restaurant in touch with support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan and Mornington Peninsula Shire. The restaurant’s staff now prepare, pack and label freshly cooked meals which shire…

AVOIDING close contact with other people is a luxury police cannot afford. Their role in the state of emergency brought on by COVID-19 is a combination of things they have never done before and things they have always done, but with the added fear of being exposed to a new, unseen enemy. Officer-in-charge of Mornington police station Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards said his staff had been told to “keep their distance [from people] to limit their possible exposure” to the virus as directed by the Chief Health Officer. “There are only so many precautions we can take as we still…