Author: Brodie Cowburn

FOLLOWING the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal’s decision to grant pay rises to councillors, deputy mayors and mayors across Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Anthony Marsh has released a statement to “set the record straight”. The mayor stated “the deputy mayor’s allowance has been increased from $34,588 to $59,659. However, this new allowance is not an increase but a correction”. Cr Marsh said the “correction” was in recognition of how the role of deputy mayor had evolved significantly over recent years. The article that sparked the response (“Councillors collect healthy pay rise” The News 23 March 2022) stated the base rate…

MORNINGTON Peninsula’s councillors will enjoy a substantial pay rise this year. The Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal made the decision earlier this month. Councillors statewide are set to enjoy a pay increase, with deputy mayors the biggest beneficiaries. Mornington Peninsula council is designated a category three council. Under the new pay rate, category three councillors will receive an allowance of $35,972, up from the previous amount of up to $31,444. The mayor’s pay has risen from up to $100,434 to $119,316. Deputy mayors will now be paid $59,659. The new allowance comes into retrospectively from 18 December last year. The Victorian…

CRICKET PROVINCIAL OLD Peninsula are the premiers of the MPCA Provincial division. Saturday’s Grand Final saw Old Peninsula take on Sorrento at Peninsula Grammar School. Old Peninsula batted first on the day. They put together a strong innings, finishing up at 7/217. Thomas La Brooy’s unbeaten score of 79 was his side’s best. Sorrento were competitive, but ended up falling short of their target. They were bowled out for 180. William Crowder was one of the difference makers. His five wicket haul (5/26) helped restrict Sorrento’s total. Old Peninsula emerged triumphant by 37 runs, securing them the premiership. PENINSULA A…

CRICKET PROVINCIAL SORRENTO upset Baden Powell to book a spot in the Provincial division Grand Final last weekend. The two sides faced off in the semi-final after Baden Powell finished the season in first place with ten wins, and Sorrento finished fourth with seven wins. Overport Park hosted the clash. Baden Powell were sent in to bat first, and set Sorrento a huge target to chase down. Rhys Elmi was Baden Powell’s best. He scored 75 runs before he was run out. Baden Powell finished their innings at 5/224, giving Sorrento a huge mountain to climb. Sorrento’s batters proved up…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS LANGWARRIN have been crowned the first ever MPCA Women’s division premiers. Langwarrin took on Balnarring at Lloyd Park on Sunday. The two sides have played each other twice this season, with a tie the result in round one and a 12 run win to Langwarrin the result in round six. Balnarring chose to bat first on Grand Final day. They set Langy a target of 90 to score to win. Some good bowling from Kiah Laughlin-Glen frustrated Balnarring. She posted figures of 3/21, her best bowling of the season. Langwarrin’s run chase was led by first drop…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS IT was semi-finals round in MPCA womens. Balnarring cruised to victory after Pines posted a lacklustre score in their innings. Pines never got into gear, with only two batters reaching double figures before being bowled out for 70. Balnarring reached the required runs with the loss of just one wicket and in under nine overs. Grace Barnes top scored for Balnarring with 20. In the other semi-final, Langwarrin managed 88 in their innings for the loss of just a single wicket. It was within reach of Tootgarook, but they fell just three runs short, running out of…

A DOG has survived an all night ordeal stuck in the pipes under a Frankston sports ground. 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier Tuppence was walking at Ballam Park with her owner when she ran off into some pipes. She became stuck inside, and spent the next 11 hours there. Tuppence’s owner Laura Sorraghan said she was overwhelmed with emotion when her dog was finally freed. “I was beside myself laughing and crying,” she said. “She went in just before 8pm and then they got her out at around 7am. She was fine, she was a bit stiff the next day but…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS A BRILLIANT century from Kylie Walters helped Langwarrin seal a big win on Sunday. Walters has been excellent for Langwarrin this season, with a knock of 104 against Rye last weekend her best. She had scored half centuries in her previous two innings, and now has a century to her name as reward for her efforts. Walters’ 104, paired with an excellent knock of 74 from opener Kiah Laughlin-Glen, contributed to Langwarrin’s big total of 247 from 30 overs. Rye finished their 30 overs at 7/128, more than 100 runs short of what was needed to win.…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS SPECTATORS were treated to two of the best individual performances of the MPCA Women’s season at Eric Bell Reserve last weekend. Pines and Rye did battle in a high scoring battle. Pines were sent in to bat first, and were formidable. Opener Tania Misa was incredible, scoring 103 not out. She hit nineteen boundaries, ten of them sixes. Samantha Ryan had another excellent game for Pines. She contributed 80 runs to the scoreboard. Pines scored a seemingly insurmountable total of 236 runs. Despite the big task ahead of them, Rye worked hard to stay in the contest.…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS NOTHING separated Pines and Tootgarook at the end of a thrilling match on Sunday. Pines took to the crease first at Truemans Road Reserve. Their innings was elevated by Samantha Ryan, who led the charge with 65 runs. Pines set Tootgarook a total of 115 runs to chase down. Opener Ella Hilton put her best foot forward early on. Tootgarook’s run chase was helped by her knock of 51. Tootgarook’s batters struggled to make much scoreboard impact, but errant bowling from Pines kept them in the contest. The game went down to the final over. When stumps…

CRICKET WOMENS AN impressive win on Sunday kept Langwarrin clear at the top of the MPCA Women’s division ladder. Langwarrin took on Pines at Eric Bell Reserve. Pines batted first but struggled, only managing to score 36 runs from nine overs at the crease. Kylie Walters did most of the damage for the visitors. She posted career best bowling figures of 5/11 from four overs. Langwarrin chased down their target quickly, losing just one wicket along the way. The other match for the round saw Balnarring take on Tootgarook. Tootagrook’s batters had a hard time getting started. They were all…

CRICKET WOMENS A HARD FOUGHT victory saw Langwarrin go two wins clear on the top of the MPCA Women’s division ladder last weekend. Langy took on Balnarring at Lloyd Park. Both sides have had good seasons, and the contest proved to be a close one. Langwarrin chose to bat first and were in good form. An excellent knock of 74 from Kylie Walters was the highlight of the innings. By the end of their innings, Langwarrin had put 165 runs on the board. Balnarring’s run chase got off to a great start. They only lost one wicket for their first…

CRICKET PROVINCIAL AN unbeaten century from Simon Dart was the difference between Red Hill and Old Peninsula on Saturday. Playing at home, Red Hill chose to bat first. Thanks in part to Dart’s knock of 106, Red Hill set Old Peninsula a target of 201 to chase down. Old Peninsula’s run chase got off to a rough start, with both openers falling cheaply. The middle order steadied the ship, but the run rate began to work against them. Old Peninsula ended up finishing their 40 overs at 8/172, 30 short of what was needed to win. Lincoln Toy was the…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS AFTER a thrilling battle at Eric Bell Reserve on Sunday, nothing could separate Pines and Balnarring. The two sides have both been impressive in the MPCA Women’s league so far. A win for either would have put them in the mix for the top of the table spot. Balnarring were sent in to bat first and put a good score on the board. Opener Abby Trezise top scored with 27, with her side going on to make 139 before their 20 overs were up. Pines were impressive with the bat, but their run rate was what cost…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS LANGWARRIN picked up a good win last weekend in MPCA Women’s cricket, getting the better of Tootgarook. Tootgarook won the coin toss and elected to bat. They put a total of 99 runs on the board from their 20 overs. Langy’s run chase started well, with openers Kiah Laughlin-Glen and Brittany Partington both putting runs on the scoreboard. Langwarrin hit the winning runs with six overs left to play and seven wickets left to spare. Pines secured a win on Sunday on the road against Rye. Rye struggled at the crease, only managing to put 56 runs…

CRICKET MPCA WOMENS THE inaugural MPCA Senior Women’s competition got underway last month, providing a new platform for athletes to showcase their talents. Pines, Tootgarook, Langwarrin, Balnarring, and Rye make up the new league. Balnarring have been the standout team across the opening rounds. They took on Rye at RW Stone Reserve on Sunday. Rye chose to bat first. They set Balnarring a target of 71 to chase down. Balnarring made quick work of their opponents with the bat. A great opening knock of 51 from Diane King helped her side to a swift win. Balnarring chased down their target…

CRICKET PROVINCIAL THERE may have been only one run in the final score, but Langwarrin made easy work of Mt Eliza on Saturday. Mt Eliza batted first and managed 130 with the loss of four wickets in their 40 overs. Sam Glenn was their best with a knock of 36 before being dismissed LBW. Langwarrin made short work of their total, getting the job done in 33.5 overs with the loss of just one wicket. Chris Brittain managed a half century before being caught, and Matthew Prosser and Ian Cockbain 42 and 25 respectively. Sorrento had a bad day at…

AFL THE 2021 MPNFL and SEWF seasons have been called off. After weeks of inactivity on the field because of COVID-19 restrictions, AFL South East finally made the decision to pull the pin on the season last week. A statement from AFL South East read “following on from [the] announcement to extend the lockdown for Greater Melbourne, it is with much sadness that AFLSE has determined that the remaining games fixtured for season 2021, including all finals, for all AFLSE administered leagues will be cancelled.” “This is an extremely difficult decision and we had continued to hold hope that we…

A NEW report by Infrastructure Victoria recommends improving bus services in Frankston rather than extending the electric train service to Baxter. Infrastructure Victoria released its updated 30-year strategy last week. The organisation is an independent body that advises the state government on its projects. Among the recommendations included in the report was to investigate the rollout of more bus services in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula in the next year “instead of progressing a rail extension to Baxter”. The report said a preliminary business case had considered rail and bus options to improve public transport between Frankston and Baxter, but…

VICTORIA’S sixth COVID-19 lockdown is nearing its fourth week. The vaccination hub at Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston was named a tier two exposure site last week after a positive COVID-19 case got the jab there. Anyone who visited the vaccination centre on 16 August between 11.30am and 12.45 pm must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. A statement on Peninsula Health’s Facebook page said that the positive case had no symptoms while at the hub. “The Frankston Community Vaccination Hub remains open and is safe for you to visit if you have a booking for…

MPNFL – DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL is back after another COVID-19 shutdown. The senior MPNFL season restarted without crowds on Saturday afternoon. Division One leaders Frankston YCW struggled in their return to the field, falling to defeat against Rosebud. Rosebud took the game to the Stonecats right from the first bounce at Olympic Oval. They led by five goals at half time. After an even third term, Rosebud sealed the win with an impressive final quarter. They ended up defeating the ladder leaders by 39 points 17.13 (115) to 11.10 (76). The loss saw Frankston YCW drop down to second. Keegan…

MPNFL – DIVISION TWO LANGWARRIN look unstoppable heading into the end of the 2021 season. The Kangaroos took on Mornington in a clash between first and second on Saturday. What could have been an even matchup between two premiership contenders turned into thrashing, as Langwarrin ran away with an 85 point win. Langwarrin led by four points at quarter time, but really put their foot down in the second quarter. A nine goals to one second term saw Langwarrin move out to an unassailable 54 point lead at the main break. Langwarrin continued to score freely in the second half.…

TWO more level crossings are set to be removed along the Frankston train line, in addition to the 18 already announced. The state government has named 10 more level crossings which it will remove statewide by 2025. They include Parkers Road in Parkdale and Warrigal Road in Mentone. The preferred solution for the project is to build rail bridges between Mentone and Parkdale. The plans would also see a new station built at Parkdale. Taxpayers will end up paying around $3 billion on all of the works taking place on the Frankston line. Eight stations have been built and 13…

MPNFL – DIVISION ONE LAST place Edithvale-Aspendale almost pulled off a shock upset against ladder leader Frankston YCW on Saturday. Edi-Asp raced out of the blocks and took control in the first half. At half-time they were up by 16 points, and looked poised to claim a shocking win. A four goals to zero third term put Frankston YCW back in front. After a tense last quarter, YCW claimed a narrow win 9.14 (68) to 9.5 (59). The Stonecats survived the scare thanks to three goals from Roan Steele. Michael Bussey was Edithvale-Aspendale’s best with four goals. At David Macfarlane…

MPNFL – DIVISION TWO MORNINGTON have kept touch with the top of the ladder by beating Karingal at Ballam Park Reserve. The Bulldogs struggled early, and couldn’t kick a goal in the first quarter. They came alive after the first break and took a lead into half time. Going into the last quarter the Bulldogs led by four points. Both sides traded goals in an entertaining final quarter, but the Bulldogs held on to win. The final scoreboard read Karingal 9.8 (62) to Mornington 10.10 (70). Jackson Calder added another three goals to his tally for the year. James Cameron…

SEWF PREMIERS A 100 POINT win has cemented Seaford’s place on top of the SEWF ladder. The Tigerettes were dominant from the outset against Mornington. They managed to hold their opponents goalless for the game while scoring 16 of their own. The final score read Mornington 0.2 (2) to Seaford 16.11 (107). Tahlia Fellows was dominant in front of goal, kicking six. Courtney Clarkson kicked four, taking her tally for the season to 16. A goalless opening half cost Tyabb any chance of winning against Coburg Lions. The Yabbies were able to close the lead to one goal at three-quarter-time,…

DIVISION ONE FRANKSTON Bombers scored their best win for the season on Saturday by defeating top of the ladder Frankston YCW. The Stonecats have been the standout side in Division One this season, but were put on the back foot early. The Bombers rushed out to an early lead and held the Stonecats goalless in the first term. Frankston YCW hit the scoreboard in the second term, but the Bombers hit back. They didn’t let the Stonecats get too close to them all afternoon, and ended up winning 14.10 (94) to 8.11 (59). Alex Harnett, Harrison Prior, and Sam Drake…

MPNFL – DIVISION TWO TYABB are finally on the board in season 2021. The Yabbies took on Pearcedale at Pearcedale Recreation Reserve. They went into the game 0-10 for the year. Both sides looked evenly matched in the first half. Pearcedale went into half time up by a point. Tyabb were excellent in the second half. They managed to hold Pearcedale goalless, and scored six of their own to wrap up a well deserved win. Tyabb ended up victorious by 32 points 4.10 (34) to 10.6 (66). Luke Stanton kicked three goals for the Yabbies. Lachlan Cox also impressed. After…

SEWF PREMIERS MORNINGTON won their second match for the season on Saturday in a hard fought encounter against Mt Eliza. Both sides have struggled this season. The game was a good opportunity for each team to grab a win. The Bulldogs got on the front foot early with a two goals to zero opening term. Although they didn’t add another goal to the scoreboard for the rest of the day, they defended well and held on to win. The final score read 1.3 (9) to 2.5 (17). Skye Nisbet scored both of Mornington’s goals. Tyabb took on St Kilda Sharks…

MPNFL – DIVISION ONE PINES upset Sorrento on Saturday to score what could be a season defining win. The Pythons have endured a difficult 2021. They came into the clash against the Sharks with just one win to their name for the season. Sorrento controlled the game for most of the day on their home deck. They led at each break of play, and took a 22 point lead into the final term. Pines didn’t give up though, and booted six goals in a final term blitz. The Pythons ended up clinching a thriller by just five points 11.8 (74)…