ALCOHOL and drug-related health problems in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula are among the highest in the region. The Alcohol and other Drug Catchment plan of Peninsula Health, 2023 (Bayside Peninsula area), reveals that Frankston has the highest demand for alcohol and drug services in metropolitan Melbourne (2972), with the peninsula close behind at 2262. Bayside had 847. The catchment plan – which also covers Kingston, Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip – looks at service usage data to identify the needs of people with alcohol and drug (AOD) problems and factors driving support and demand for alcohol and…
Author: Liz Bell
MANY Mornington Peninsula cyclists are gearing up for the Around the Bay bike ride on Sunday 8 October. Some, like Carly and Rob Jordan and their daughter, have signed on because of the enjoyment they get from completing as a family. Carly and now 11-year-old daughter Laila completed the 50-kilometre ride last year, while dad Dan completed the 300km ride. This year is Laila’s third ride, after she completed the 20-kilometre distance with her dad and older sister Mia in 2019. Next month, Carly and Laila will do it all again on the 50-kilometre ride with family friends Kady and…
MORNINGTON Retirement Village resident Beryl Spencer celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by friends and family. Born in Wandin Yallock, near Lilydale, where her younger sister Edna, 98, still lives and drives her own car, Spencer studied typing, shorthand and business studies at Box Hill Technical College, and worked as an administrative typist at Wakes mail orders in Melbourne for 11 years. It was “a handsome young man”, carpenter Melton Spencer, who she chose to marry in 1949. The married couple then moved to Bendigo, where Melton worked for the railways for 33 years. The Spencers had four children Christopher, now…
ROSEBUD skater Lenny Richardson wants help to get back to the business of helping others and supporting young people in and around Rosebud. The former skate shop owner and competition organiser’s life has taken a tumble since he was evicted from the shop he ran at Rosebud Plaza, forcing his not-for-profit business into limbo. Richardson operated the Janice Earth Community, which ran free skate events at Rosebud skate park and put through more than $50,000 in prizes and money over the past 10 years. Through his advocacy and financial support, he has been able to have the skate park upgraded…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has reacted with caution to the state government’s decision to remove the requirement for planning permits on second homes or granny flats. Under the changes, granny flats will be allowed in large backyards without a permit, with some restrictions. Hastings MP Paul Mercurio said the new rules meant people would have extra space for a growing family or somewhere “when the kids visit”. In comments posted to Facebook on Friday 22 September, Mercurio said there were some restrictions, with the permit-free granny flat only permitted it if was less than 60 square metres. It is believed…
AT just 12 years old, Jackson Martin from Arthurs Seat is already a hit in the world of squash. The talented young sport star will next week represent Victoria at the Australian Individual and Teams Championships in Brisbane. Jackson has set his sights on finishing in the top 10 of the more than 250 competitors from all over Australia. The grade six student at Red Hill Consolidated School has been honing his skills at Tonic Squash and Gym in Dromana under the eye of his mother, Amelia Pittock, who was once world-ranked number 26. She describes Jackson’s journey into the…
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Steve Holland says that Premier Dan Andrews’ plan to introduce a 7.5 per cent short stay accommodation tax will do “nothing” to fix the housing crisis. Holland said last Monday’s (20 September) announcement was a “huge disappointment” and would severely impact the “struggling tourism and hospitality sectors”. He said the levy would override the shire’s short stay rental local law and fail to solve the housing and rental affordability problem. The 7.5 per cent levy could add an estimated $42 a night for stays on the peninsula. “That’s $42 a night not contributing to our…
MOUNT Martha man Sebastian “Sabe” Saitta has been recognised for his selfless act of bravery 27 years ago when he stepped in to protect two female prison officers taken hostage by two offenders at Townsville Correctional Centre. On the day in question, Saitta – a former member of the Defence force and known as Sammy to his corrections’ colleagues – was a 34-year-old officer in charge of the maximum division, with experience in negotiation and de-escalation. Taking on the role of main hostage negotiator, Saitta disarmed one of the offenders who was holding a makeshift knife to a female prison…
REPORTS of animal cruelty on the Mornington Peninsula have dropped slightly in the past year, according to the RSPCA. The RSPCA Victoria recently released its statistics for the 2022/2023 year, with data revealing there were 281 reports of cruelty in the shire compared to 311 the previous year, lifting the shire’s ranking from sixth worst to eleventh. Statewide, the figures reflect the cost-of-living crisis, with a high number of animals surrendered or seized. For the first time ever, this year’s release includes the number of animals coming into RSPCA Victoria’s care via the Inspectorate for each local government area. Twenty…
AS a single mum of three boys, Celeste Sinclair has spent years seeking ways to provide her family with a safe home. Against all odds in a tough housing market, that has finally happened after charity Habitat for Humanity provided the lifeline Sinclair needed to step into the housing market on the Mornington Peninsula. The young family have just taken ownership of a new home in Crib Point, one of several properties built by Habitat for Humanity Victoria, which is part of the global Habitat for Humanity network, working in more than 70 countries towards its vision of a world…
THE state government has backed Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s efforts to protect eight green wedge parcels of land. The C270morn amendment, which has been waiting for Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s stamp of approval since last year, will see the rezoning of eight parcels of land outside the Urban Growth Boundary and fix irregularities in the Mornington Peninsula planning scheme. The amendment affects 10 sites across Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Portsea and Shoreham. Leigh Eustace, a member of the Green Wedges Coalition and spokesperson for Save Reg’s Wedge – a grass roots group that unsuccessfully fought to prevent the development…
CONCERNS about fishers causing environmental damage in the Balcombe Creek estuary at Mount Martha are being investigated, following complaints about people leaving rubbish, trampling the bushland, and using the area as a toilet. One resident who walks the estuary boardwalk daily said groups of visitors from Melbourne were fishing at the estuary every day, causing significant damage by walking through the wetland areas to fish and relieve themselves in the bushes. She said she was also concerned about “unsustainable” fishing and claims she had witnessed fishers carrying away large bags of adult and juvenile fish. “I have tried to say…
THE state government is considering a tax on short-term stays and Airbnbs, which are a dominant factor in the Mornington Peninsula holiday rental market and have been blamed for adding to the housing crisis. State cabinet considered a new levy of up to 7.5 per cent on short-stay accommodation like Airbnb on Monday (18 September). Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula CEO Joshua Sinclair said the “significant funding” must be re-invested on the Mornington Peninsula. “Our region will generate more than $10 million in revenue from a tax like this, and a significant portion of that should be spent on…
A FESTIVAL in October at Main Ridge will feature 100 singers performing to raise money for support programs for homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. According to Mornington Peninsula Shire 35 per cent of peninsula residents are in rental stress, while 12 per cent of those experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough in cars or on the foreshore. Low income residents are being forced off the peninsula and away from their support networks and family as fewer than one in three peninsula rental properties are affordable, according to Southern Peninsula Community Support CEO Jeremy Maxwell. Maxwell said housing and homeless support programs…
IN a post-COVID world where many people are searching for meaning and purpose, one organisation is reaching out to offer a way to fill the void. The volunteer-based CFA is always seeking new volunteers to help it continue its mission of helping the community, responding to emergencies and supporting other services in times of community need. Mornington Fire Brigade is currently on a recruitment drive after its volunteer numbers have since 2016 dropped from around 80 to 30. Captain Michael Licciardo said the sense of satisfaction volunteers got from helping the community and being involved in something bigger than themselves…
LOCAL laws officers have started patrols at Shoreham Foreshore one week after the death a wallaby joey at Shoreham foreshore whose mother was apparently chased by dogs on Sunday 3 September. The death prompted an outcry from residents and the Shoreham Foreshore Reserve Committee, which is calling for greater awareness of the risk unleashed dogs pose to wildlife. The dead joey was found in the foreshore reserve on the Monday morning, following an incident on Sunday night in which it is believed barking dogs chased the mother and caused it to eject or lose her joey. Management committee chair Toby…
WARNINGS to use only wildlife-friendly baits for rats and mice have been issued after at least six birds of prey, including tawny frogmouths, owls and goshawks have been found dead on the southern Mornington Peninsula. The birds did not show any signs of injury and all except one were dead when discovered. Peninsula marine advocate and researcher Kent Stannard said birds of prey dying from baits was a long-standing issue in the area, but mainly on the back beach and national park. Stannard said he recently found several dead birds near the Whitecliffs foreshore camping ground and suspected they may…
WELFARE services say it is “time to act” on homelessness, with the Peninsula Voice adding its views with a report “Working together on the homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula”. Peninsula Voice president Peter Orton said the community had “watched the growing homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula damage lives”. “It’s a complex issue, so it’s vital that our community understands the drivers behind this crisis and how broadly it impacts us, so we can work together on local solutions,” he said. Orton said that to support the issued, Peninsula Voice had held three events aimed at taking a “deeper…
ORGANISERS of a walk for the Voice to Parliament are inviting people to join the event to support the Yes vote and learn about the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. One of the volunteers, Madeleine Machin, said the walk organised by the Mornington Peninsula Yes 23 campaign would show participants’ “solidarity” and support for the Voice to Parliament. The walk will be on 17 September starting at Safety Beach foreshore, opposite Prescott Avenue, at 1pm. Machin said there would be shorter walks at various points, including Dromana (2pm), Anthony’s Nose ( 2.30pm) and McCrae (3pm). The walk will finish…
HAVING a new baby is supposed to be one of the most joyous times of a mother’s life, but for 29-year-old Taylor Johnston it was marred by a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Just one week after giving birth to her daughter Billie earlier this year, Johnston, of Rye, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and now faces an uncertain future and the trauma of having to spend time apart from her baby for treatment. Her husband Jesse, a senior footballer at Rye Football Netball Club, said the family was trying to stay positive, which had been helped by community support.…
THE volunteer-run Mornington Tourist Railway has been given three carriages from Vline and is looking for suggestions about how to best use them. Owen Paden said the 22.86 metres long carriages, known as the N set, included an economy seating carriage (BN) with 88 seats, an economy class carriage (BRN) with a buffet seating 67 passengers, and first-class carriage (CAN) with a guard compartment seating 52 passengers. Paden said the carriages were originally broken down into classes, but all seats were now considered “premium class”. “These N set carriages began operation on 5 October 1981 and were built at the…
A FISHING competition in honour of Jamerson Ross, who died on 8 October last year in a hit-and-run incident in Hastings, will be held from the 6 to 8 October in conjunction with the Western Port Angling Club. Jamerson (known as Jammo) was a 23-year-old working in the marine electrical business Australian Integrated Marine when he died. His mother Chantelle Ross said her son was a hard-working young man who also worked on weekends to save money. When not working hard was outdoors following his passion for fishing. Jamerson had extensive fishing knowledge and experience in running and competing in…
SHIREEN Hammond says her life went to the dogs, literally, following a breast cancer diagnosis around nine years ago, months of chemotherapy and seemingly endless hospital visits. The award-winning photographer from Tootgarook was known for capturing the emotion and beauty of families and weddings but was forced to consider another way to continue her artistry, and dogs were it. “When I came out of hospital in 2015, I needed a project to heal as I had no strength and couldn’t shoot my 30 weddings that year at eight to 12 hours a shoot,” she said. “Our beautiful border collie Mariah…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has strengthened its stand against the commercial harvesting of kangaroos on the peninsula. At the 8 August council meeting councillors agreed to write to the state government to demand the banning of commercial kangaroo harvesting on the peninsula “by using the background information supplied to alert our community of the issues and to further inform the state government of the urgent need to protect the viability of kangaroos on the peninsula”. Cr David Gill said there was an “urgent need to protect the viability of kangaroos on the peninsula”. Gill’s motion followed a council decision on…
STELLA Mars has conquered many difficulties in her short life, not the least being literacy and academic mastery that’s not always associated with people living with autism or ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). A finalist for this year’s Mornington Peninsula Mayor’s Short Story Writing Award in the eight to 12 years old category, the Mount Eliza girl has shown that she has a strong driving force determination to succeed. The nine-year-old already considers herself a professional creative who knows where her talents lie and the obstacles she faces. “I really enjoyed writing my story and I am proud of it. It took…
WELFARE workers are calling for an end to the scapegoating of homeless people over thefts and anti-social behaviour on the Mornington Peninsula. The call follows an incident on Tuesday 22 August near the Rosebud foreshore, where a 36-year-old woman allegedly assaulted a police officer after she was seen throwing objects into traffic and behaving erratically on Point Nepean Road. The woman, from Dromana, allegedly spat at officers and was arrested at the scene. She was charged with assaulting police and remanded in custody to appear before Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. CEO of the Mornington Community Support, Ben…
THREE sisters who founded the mental health charity It’s Okay, Not to Be Okay are encouraging people to get involved in next month’s Walk for Suicide Prevention. Social worker Georgia Hocking and her sisters Maddi and Hayleigh, who grew up in Somerville, lost their younger brother Ben, 22, to suicide in 2016. Their passion and mission since then has been to raise awareness of mental health and the importance of community support. Georgia said the family’s mission was to prevent suicide by destigmatising mental health and encouraging people to seek support. She says suicide has a devastating impact on families,…
SPORTSWOMAN, mother and company founder Donna Groves can add another feather to her cap when her first book Shine is released in October. Groves, who grew up in Western Sydney but now lives in Cape Schanck with her husband and their child, plays soccer in Mount Martha. She says one of her aims in writing her book was to help women find “self-love” and empower them. Groves says she experienced the trauma of a difficult childhood and a “disastrous” first marriage, only to find herself a single mother at 26 raising two children under five. After studying at night, and…
YOU can almost hear the excited chatter of children in the halls, smell the aromas of early Australian cooking, and sense the spiritual energy that has powered Mount Martha House for almost 200 years. Now home to the Martha House Community Centre, Mount Martha House is a Mornington Peninsula icon and landmark, perched on a grassy hill that was once part of the Martha sheep run and today is just steps from bustling Mount Martha village. The house’s many incarnations mean it holds an indelible place in the shire’s history, with strong connections to the area’s early inhabitants and a…
GET ready for a fashion twist that’s turning heads and tickling funny bones – meet “the wheelchair guy” from Capel Sound, who is trying to add a bit of levity to disability and give disabled people a way to connect with community. Daniel Laing, pictured, has designed a range of disability-friendly t-shirts that he hopes will help bridge the gap between able-bodied people and those with disabilities with a touch of humour. In Laing’s own words, his is not your “run-of-the-mill clothing gig – we’re here to prove that disability and style can have a hilarious, inclusive dance party”. “I’m…