FACE masks have now become a part of daily life. Wearing them outside the house is compulsory and may stay that way even when the stage four coronavirus restrictions are lifted or eased. Disposing of the masks, which can take years to break down, has become a massive world wide problem. Not only are discarded masks potential spreaders of the coronavirus (research shows that under certain conditions viruses can survive up to seven days on plastic masks), but they are also a danger to wildlife. Masks can smother the environment and are ingested by animals which sometimes cannot distinguish between…
Month: August 2020
THE southern Mornington Peninsula could play host to an annual festival based around giant spider crab’s if a Rye dive shop proprietor’s dreams come true. The festival would celebrate the annual migration of the crustaceans as they gather in their thousands off Rye and Blairgowrie beaches to shed their skins. The crabs’ arrival from May to June triggers a rush by drivers, sightseers and fishers who scoop them from the water by the bucket load. While divers film under Rye pier, rays and sharks feast on the crabs made suddenly vulnerable through the shedding of their skins. Lloyd Borrett, owner…
JENNY Angliss-Goodall is developing a special relationship. It is one of co-dependency and is not her first. The last one lasted 12 years and, when it ended, she felt as though she had “lost my right arm”. Heartbroken, but realistic enough to know that nothing lasts forever, Angliss-Goodall set about finding a new partner. The loss more than two and a half years ago of her assistance dog, Dudley, left a huge gap in her life. “We did everything together: from helping me around the home picking up anything and everything that I dropped – hair brush, shampoo bottle and…
THE harm caused by uncollected dog poo on the Mornington Peninsula’s marine environment has prompted activist Josie Jones to bring the issue out into the open. “I shudder every time I think about the marine creatures’ exposure to these gross pollutants,” the 2019 Mornington Peninsula Australia Day Citizen of the Year said. “They already have such a mission just to become adults that they deserve our respect and help.” Ms Jones, whose work has been recognised through several awards, including the 2016 Dame Phyllis Frost Award and the 2017 Litter Prevention prize from Keep Victoria Beautiful, said: “In all the…
A MOUNT Eliza man who risked serious injury in freeing the driver of a crashed and burning cement truck at McCrae in 2016 has been awarded a medal “for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances”. Joshua Allan Downes was among 29 people honoured for their courage by Governor-General David Hurley on Wednesday 26 August. Mr Downes was driving along the Mornington Peninsula freeway at 7am, 16 May, when he saw that a cement truck had left the freeway, crashed into trees and rolled onto its side. He pulled his car over and rushed through thick scrub and bent and broken…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council wants residents to back its push to have Planning Minister Richard Wynne sign off on an amendment to the peninsula’s planning scheme. The amendment seeks to shield land that sits outside the urban grown boundary (UGB) from “inappropriate development that could have a negative impact on the peninsula’s rural and coastal landscape”. It would do this by rezoning several sites that are outside the UGB from special use to green wedge. One of the sites proposed for rezoning is 60 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza – the former Melbourne Business School site on which aged care provider…
A CLEVERLY edited but misleading video disparaging Mornington Peninsula Shire, its staff and Cr David Gill has encouraged one viewer to comment: “That guy needs shooting.” Clearly made in support of Tyabb airfield, a link to the video has been included in the latest edition of Peninsula Aero Club’s newsletter, The Tyabb Flyer. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn issued a statement “to remind everyone” that “misleading or inaccurate information” about candidates in the October municipal elections is against Victorian Electoral Commission regulation. Shire CEO John Baker said: “Council is aware of the video that is clearly misrepresenting the council and…
THE number of Frankston Hospital staff members sent into self-isolation has climbed to 618 after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the hospital. As of Saturday (29 August) the Department of Health and Human Services said there were 68 active cases linked to the hospital. The outbreak has led to the temporary closure of the hospital’s acute medical surgical and surgical short stay units and the 5GN ward. On Tuesday (25 August) DHHS said there had been 37 cases (21 residents and 16 staff) linked to Village Glen Aged Care Residences, Mornington. The DHHS is also investigating cases linked to…
SURFERS have been cleared for take-off on Mornington Peninsula beaches by the Department of Health and Human Services and Parks Victoria. However, they still may face a wipeout if they are caught by police outside a five kilometre radius of their homes. Confusion last week saw police on the peninsula saying they would book surfers as surfing was a recreation and not exercise. Under COVID-19 restrictions you are allowed to drive within a five kilometre radius of your house to exercise, but within days of the police interpretation of what constitutes, exercise both Parks Victoria and the DHHS confirmed surfing…
By David Forster TIMES are difficult for dog lovers who have been attending the Peninsula Dog Obedience Club at Quinns Park, Burdett Street, Tootgarook. The club, with 300 members, used to be a hive of activity, with members gathering on Wednesday and Sunday mornings for a chat, a cuppa and dog training. Over the years close relationships have built up within the club which is focused on caring for one another. Some dog clubs have a competitive feel and the status of your dog and their breed becomes top of mind. COVID-19 has affected the club dramatically, with live training…
NEPEAN MP Chris Brayne has involved himself in the October Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections by listing several candidates on his Facebook page. In doing so, he has angered several sitting councillors and is in line to be admonished by the shire for using its logo. Amanda Sapolu, the shire’s head of governance and legal, said the shire logo – prominently reproduced on Mr Brayne’s Facebook page – is trademark-protected corporate intellectual property. “It should only be used for council endorsed business and should not be used without permission,” Ms Sapolu told The News. “It should not be used by…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is on a collision course with farms selling “farm gate produce” not grown or produced there or on neighbouring properties. While the shire says it is “committed to supporting farm gate sales” and is “working constructively with operators to help them comply with state government planning legislation”, it says it is bound by green wedge legislation specifying what can and can’t be sold. The issue arose when some items for sale at farms – which could be presumed to be products actually grown there – were found to have come from elsewhere. State government green wedge…
SOCCER DOES Rob Giabardo ever stop teaching? When he’s not teaching phys ed or taking grade six classes at Hampton Primary School he’s teaching at Chelsea soccer club. He’d be the first to admit that a major part of his life revolves around classrooms and football pitches. The Melbourne-born father of three has been involved at State 4 South outfit Chelsea since 2013 but his journey there was via Pennsylvania where he landed as a 20-year-old around 40 years ago. His US experience did much to shape his views of coaching. “I worked with kids with disabilities at a camp…
HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based trainer David Brideoake has unveiled another promising ‘Jen’ at Sale on Sunday 30 August with Peskijen breaking through for a convincing win on debut. Brideoake, who claimed Group One glory with Princess Jenni last year and landed a dominant debut victory with Jenni’s Rainbow earlier this month, added Peskijen to the list of handy fillies he has in work. Peskijen backed up her promising jumpouts with a decisive three-quarters-of-a-length victory in the second race at Sale. Despite sitting three-wide the entire trip, the three-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls still proved too good for the Tony and Calvin…
After Somerville so narrowly missed victory on Saturday last, there were some of Somerville’s enthusiasts who thought that Somerville ought to lodge a protest against Frankston playing its one-time skipper, Bill Cain. Somerville alleged that it was an injustice to include one who had not played three qualifying games, as they allege that Cain played only two games – one against Dromana on May 21st and one against Somerville on August 14th. Despite the majority desiring to protest, the Somerville skipper, Hutchison, was strongly against it. “No. I’ll not sign any protests.” he remarked, when questioned by the writer. To…
A man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder over an incident in Rosebud on Saturday 29 August. Police allege a man was armed with a tomahawk outside a shopping centre on Boneo Road just after 10am and attacked two males. A 47-year-old man and a 63-year-old man, both from Rosebud, remain in hospital in a stable condition. A 48-year-old man of no fixed address will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday 31 August. Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential…
Emergency services are at the scene of what is described as a “serious assault” at Rosebud Plaza. Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman, of Police Media, said reports had been received of a man armed with a weapon – possibly a knife – at the shopping centre on McCombe Street, 10.15am, Saturday 29 August. A man has been arrested and it is believed two people have been seriously injured. They have been airlifted to hospital. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated. Anyone who has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at…
Confirmed cases and active cases on the Mornington Peninsula as at 27/8/20 Listed in order of most confirmed cases to least confirmed cases. Mornington (Postcode 3931) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 51 – Active Cases (current): 30 Mount Martha (Postcode 3934) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 27 – Active Cases (current): 9 Somerville (Postcode 3912) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 6 Mount Eliza (Postcode 3930) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 0 Rosebud, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal (Postcode 3939) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 10 – Active Cases (current): 2 Flinders (Postcode 3929) – Confirmed…
WRITER Heather Forbes-McKeon wants Victorians to acknowledge coronavirus frontline workers on Saturday by turning off their electric lights and hold a lighted candle or torch. Ms McKeon has launched the #sparkinthedark campaign for the the frontline workers who she describes as being “a beacon of hope for Victorians in the fight against the state’s COVID-19 virus outbreak”. “All Victorians are doing it hard in either a stage four or three Lockdown, with our frontline workers managing heightened risks to themselves and their families,” Ms Forbes-McKeon said. “The darkness is symbolic of the disconnectedness, fear and anxiety that the pandemic has…
POWER company AGL says “safety mechanisms” and “noise mitigation measures” are included in the design of the floating gas import terminal it wants to moor at Crib Point. “The safety of our people and the communities in which we work and live is AGL’s highest priority,” the company’s project director Ricky McNally said. He said the 10,000-page environmental effects statement (EES) produced by the company “includes in-depth investigations to identify potential hazards during construction and operation”. Mr McNally did not respond when asked to comment on the suggestion by Flinders MP Greg Hunt that there were “much more appropriate gas…
BIG and small children are invited to help decorate Smiley the Snake as he clings onto the fence at Crib Point Community House. Manager Mary Budd says next time children are out for a walk, using a permanent marker on a bright strip of material, they should write a short, positive or thank-you message and tie it onto Smiley’s body. Ms Budd will take a picture every so often showing Smiley filling up and “keeping everyone smiling”. “When you’re out for your walk take a moment to read these uplifting messages,” she said. The community house’s art teacher, Phil Philippou,…
SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria is expected to announce its fees refund policy this week. Late last month the state federation posted a joint statement from president Kimon Taliadoros and CEO Peter Filopoulos. The statement said that a refund policy would be based on a consultative process that engaged clubs in decision making. “We are very close to finalising the FV refund policy for our portion of participants’ fees. Emergency committees of football stakeholders have been created to work through the incredibly complex matrix of issues. We are working with clubs to ensure their input in developing a reasonable, transparent and fair…
HORSE RACING SHANE Nichols is confident his Group One winner Streets Of Avalon can get back into form on Saturday when he contests the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. After making a top return in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes when finishing runners-up to the Godolphin-owned Viridine, Streets of Avalon failed to fire second-up when striking a soft track at Caulfield a fortnight ago. Ridden by Ben Melham, the six-year-old gelding sat in behind the pace before sliding out three-wide at the 1000m mark when the pace slackened up front. The son of Magnus was unable to pick…
VICTORIA is dependent upon New South Wales for her coal supplies. But for the coal brought at great cost by rail or steamer from the sister State Victorian industries would vanish. It is a lamentable state of affairs, and we have paid dearly indeed for our experience. Our only hope of the future lies in the Morwell electric power scheme. That there is reason for hope at all is due to the Lawson Ministry. Successive Ministries for the past thirty years have failed to make anything of an asset given by nature that means so much to Victoria. Inquiry after…
UPDATED planning controls and exemptions for vegetation removal are among changes to bushfire protection exemptions on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council said it had successfully lobbied the state government for the state-wide changes which align fence line vegetation exemptions with the map of Victorian bushfire prone areas. The changes mean landowners in areas at risk of bushfire can clear vegetation without a planning permit. Landowners outside bushfire prone areas covered by vegetation protection, environmental significance and significant landscape overlays need a planning permit to remove vegetation. “These changes allow landowners of properties at risk of bushfire to remove…
YOUNGSTERS are doing it for themselves following playgrounds and skate and BMX ramps being declared out of bounds because of the stage four coronavirus restrictions. Informal BMX ramps and accompanying bike tracks have sprung up across the Mornington Peninsula, many within protected bushland reserves and parks. But it’s not just enterprising youngsters digging in to build the BMX tracks. Parents have used excavators at Somers and Flinders to help their children build BMX tracks. The track at Flinders between the football oval and cemetery in Stokes Street “started with the kids just using spades … and has progressed through to…
JUDGES have had plenty of entries to appraise in a contest to paint garbage bins with scenes showcasing the Mornington Peninsula. The 68 entries attracted 4649 votes with their portrayals of rural and foreshore environment, sunsets, beach boxes, marine life, birdlife, fauna and flora and even a fox. The judges led by environmentalist Josie Jones awarded zero waste living packs to the six most popular examples of bin art. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s arts and culture department is encouraging residents to continue to paint their bins and to share them with the hashtag #mpbinspiration on social media. The judges said the…
CAMPING grounds on Mornington Peninsula foreshores will not open until at least 19 December because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to cancel the scheduled 23 October opening followed the introduction by the state government of stage four restrictions. Mornington Peninsula Shire says a decision on when to start to 2020-21 camping will be made later in the year. “While we are disappointed the camping season has to be postponed, it is a necessary step to protect our community and do our part to flatten the curve of this pandemic,” a news release from the shire stated. First published in…
A CAR being driven erratically in West Park, Hastings, attracted police attention, 11.10pm, Monday 17 August. The Hastings divisional van crew pulled the car over in Curacoa Drive and took the driver back to Mornington police station where he allegedly blew 0.115 per cent. The man’s car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1075 and his licence suspended pending a court appearance. The van resumed patrolling near Hodgins Road/Wallaroo Place, Hastings, after reports of a vehicle doing burnouts. At 2am next morning (Tuesday 18 August), they spotted a yellow VW Beetle with no plates driving west along…
FIVE people allegedly caught partying at a Somerville house on the weekend have each been fined $1652. Sergeant Damien Lombard, of Hastings police, said police knocked on the door suspecting a party was in full swing, but this was allegedly denied by the homeowner, Saturday evening 22 August. However, it seems the partygoers headed for the exit when the police used their new powers under the state of disaster declaration to enter the house uninvited. Sergeant Lombard said the partygoers had run out the back to hide but were rounded up and fined. First published in the Southern Peninsula News…