Month: August 2015

FOR council watchers, the shire’s austerity drive is plain to see. It’s the biscuits. Now only a small jar accompanies the pre-meeting tea and coffee, a small jar bereft of cream treats. The gallery arrives at an hour where dinner merely beckons from the distant other side of the meeting closure, to find entry barred. And, once inside, not a cream bikkie to sustain oneself. One shivers in the cold, dark and rain, beating futilely with whitened knuckles on the locked armoured glass door (CW tends to gaudy prose when hypothermic), callously ignored by those inside luxuriating in the warmth,…

POLICE are investigating whether any video footage was taken by a gyrocopter pilot before his fatal crash at Cannons Creek on Sunday last week. They are also seeking anyone who may have witnessed or filmed the incident. Carl Solomons, 59, of Patterson Lakes, died when his Cavalon twin-seater aircraft hit power lines and crashed into shallow water on a flight between Tyabb airfield and Tooradin. His passenger, 37, of Hampton Park, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with serious injuries. Neighbours waded and paddled out to assist the stricken men despite the risk of electrocution from the fallen power…

MORNINGTON MP David Morris has called on state Environment Minister Lisa Neville to save the South East Water reservoir land at Mt Eliza from housing and turn it into a reserve. His surprise call was made in the Parliament last week and follows a state government-appointed planning panel recently ruling in favour of the 2.8-hectare decommissioned reservoir on the corner of Barmah and Kanya roads near Kunyung Rd being used for houses. Last Friday, Mr Morris told The News that transport magnate Sir Reg Ansett had bought the land in the late 1950s and handed it to State Rivers and…

FRANKSTON and Mornington residents have been receiving automated phone calls from an electrician in the past week but the sparky hasn’t been getting in touch about a home electrical wiring job. The call is part of a campaign by the Electrical Trades Union to “stop the China Free Trade Agreement” amid union fears electricians’ jobs are at risk. A pre-recorded message urges recipients to contact federal Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson to make any concerns about the free trade agreement known to the Abbott government’s Small Business Minister. ETU state secretary Troy Gray said the “robo-calls” to Dunkley electorate voters…

While the federal government spends billions of dollars preventing asylum seekers and refugees from landing on Australian soil, the Victorian government has recruited thousands of unpaid workers to stem the predicted tide of voracious hordes from Asia. Although Operation Sovereign Borders carries out the government’s turn-back-the-boats policy the state government’s keep out the mites program depends on the humble bumblebee. If the bees are unable to detect an invasion a $90 million a year industry is threatened. The federal government has never quite spelt out what is under threat if asylum seekers and refugees are allowed to land in Australia…

DEEP divisions within the Liberal Party over the legalisation of same-sex marriage have been mirrored in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula with local federal Liberal MPs Bruce Billson and Greg Hunt at odds on the contentious subject. Flinders MP and Environment Minister Greg Hunt declined to be publicly outed as a supporter of same-sex marriage when asked by The News whether he supports its legalisation. Mr Hunt was coy last week about his stance on the issue despite being named as “a same-sex marriage supporter” in recent months by the The Australian and The Age newspapers and the ABC. Rather…

STUDENTS from Padua College, Mornington, were given a glimpse into the world of Islam during a visit to a mosque in Langwarrin. For the second year running the college has visited the Bait-ul-Salam Mosque where they are given a talk about the basic teachings of Islam by Iman Syed Wadood Janud. “The purpose of this visit is to educate young Australians about Islam, and repelling any misconception and negative perceptions they have,” mosque spokesman Soofi Aziz said. Arriving over two days in several groups, the 300 students were told by Iman Janud that Islam is “a religion that teaches peace,…

THE new Somerville police complex – not to be confused with a police “station” – is nearing completion but neither police nor contractors could set a finish date last week. The $16.3 million two-storey building has been dogged with controversy since its inception over fears it would strip front-line police from stations on the southern peninsula and that it will not be open to the public. An intense public meeting attended by 150 people at Rosebud public hall in October was told by Police Association secretary Ron Iddles and president John Laird that the complex should operate as an operational…

IMPAKT Productions and Mornington Peninsula Shire are putting on the 2015 Freeza Push Start Battle of the Bands, Friday 21 August, Peninsula Community Theatre. Local bands The Illusionals, The Elements, Jebusology, LuVibe, End Hope, Break the Lines and Shmegma have been selected to compete, with the winners having the chance to compete in the regional finals as well as win prizes. Headlining the event is Aussie pop punk band Day Break. Other contestants will be advertised on the Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth Services website, mpys.com.au The event runs 6-10.45pm. Tickets at $10 will be at the door on the night.…

ASPIRING yachting champions and Mornington Yacht Club members Sophie Jackson and Ella Sharman, both aged 15, have been training three days a week on Port Phillip this winter. They are hoping to gain an edge on rivals who train only in spring and summer as they aim for the top in world yachting. The girls have already won state championships and have teamed up to sail in the 420 Class at international level. Inspiration for Sophie, who attends Toorak College, and Ella Sharman, who is at Frankston High School, comes from one of their role models, another Mornington Yacht Club…

SAFETY Beach residents could have been forgiven for thinking they were in the Yukon on Sunday last week when 22 samoyeds came strolling along the beach. Along with a Jack Russell and dalmatian they posed for a group photo on the jetty and then walked to the Tassels Cove off-leash beach for a play and run with the locals, before walking around Martha Cove boardwalk. The occasion was a monthly pet walk by members of The Samoyed Club of Victoria which visits different locations in Victoria. The aim is to promote the breed and to encourage socialisation and education among…

A MT ELIZA restaurateur has been billed $2000 by Mornington Peninsula Shire to reinstate a garden bed outside his eatery. The fine comes after the council last week ripped out his well-established kerbside vegetable and herb patch saying it had been planted without approval. Marc Syawish, who has run 1001 Nights, near the intersection of Mt Eliza Way and Canadian Bay Rd for the past two years, said council workers on Wednesday moved in to strip his plot and replace it with native plants. He said he was devastated at losing verdant bunches of spinach, broccolini, silverbeet and wild rocket…

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing man Les Moulden. The 96-year-old Rosebud man was last seen in Redmond Court about 10am today. He was last seen wearing grey trousers, navy blue sleeveless cardigan and a tweed hat. Police and Les’s family have concern for his welfare as he has dementia and requires medication. Les may be on foot and heading toward Frankston or Sorrento where he has family. Police have released a photo of Les in the hope that someone may recognise him. Anyone who sees Les is urged to call Rosebud police station on 5986…

A 23-year-old man has been charged following a double fatal collision in Rosebud on Wednesday. The collision occurred on Eastbourne Road shortly before 9.45am on Wednesday 12 August. It’s alleged a white Holden Commodore travelling east collided with a mini bus heading in the opposite direction. A 91-year-old Rosebud West woman passed away last night at The Alfred hospital while an 88-year-old Rosebud West woman, who was a passenger on the bus, died at the scene. The Coburg man was interviewed by Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives and charged with two counts of culpable driving, two counts of dangerous driving…

A second woman has died following a collision involving a car and mini bus in Rosebud earlier this week. The 91-year-old Rosebud West woman passed away last night at The Alfred hospital. The woman was a passenger on the bus. The collision occurred on Eastbourne Road shortly before 9.45am on Wednesday, 12 August. It’s believed a white Holden Commodore travelling east collided with a mini bus heading in the opposite direction. An 88-year-old Rosebud West woman, who was a passenger on the bus, died at the scene. The driver of the Commodore, a 23-year-old Coburg man, remains at Dandenong Hospital…

A FATAL collision at Rosebud has claimed the life of an elderly woman. She was on a mini bus with eight others travelling west along Eastbourne Rd when it collided head-on with a white Holden Commodore travelling east at 9.44am. The driver of the car, a 23-year-old P-plater from Coburg, has been arrested and taken to Rosebud Hospital under police guard. The woman on the mini bus, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. A second elderly woman was flown by air ambulance to The Alfred hospital suffering facial and chest injuries and leg fractures. The…

FRANKSTON Embona Armed Robbery Squad detectives are seeking public help in finding the rightful owner of an axe allegedly used in violent robberies at two peninsula 7-Eleven service stations late last month. They believe the axe was stolen in a previous aggravated burglary and used to commit other offences. Finding its owner could help them in their inquiries, they say. The axe and a handgun were allegedly wielded by two balaclava-clad offenders arrested and charged with armed robbery and car theft last week over the raids which terrorised lone store attendants in the early hours of Wednesday 29 July. In…

CRIB POINT FNC – By Jared Newton IT was a tale of two halves on Saturday for Crib Point as they dished up some of their best and worst football for the year in a single afternoon. The first half for the Pies was great who were full of running and pressure as the lead see-sawed throughout with good end to end football from both sides. At the half the Pies, trailed by seven points but could have felt confident despite not taking all their chances. The second half descended into a farce as the Pies hardly gave a yelp as…

HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president SATURDAY saw the club travel to Tyabb FNC with one purpose in mind; to turn around our fortunes from the previous round. The boys did this in spades playing a wonderful team orientated brand of football to take the four points. We now travel to Crib Point FNC next Saturday in what looms as a season defining game for our club. It’s a very exciting time around the club presently and we certainly will not be taking Crib Point lightly. So lets make sure we get a great crowd to the game. Seniors…

FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt was back in the political fast lane on Monday, in Canberra for the Liberal party room’s vote for a Speaker to replace Bronwyn Bishop. Three days before that he had been standing at the end of Cowes pier after completing his 19-day Walk for Autism. His walk to raise $25,000 for Amaze (Autism Victoria) and the Abacus Learning Centre, Hastings, took him 500 kilometres through his electorate, which includes the southern Mornington Peninsula and Western Port, including Phillip Island. While on his walk Mr Hunt was publicly absent from being involved in the controversy surrounding Mrs…

“WOW, what a night. I can’t describe how amazing it felt last night making one of my dreams come true. A massive shout out to Emosi, a couple of great guys.” That’s how Bittern boxer Kane Watts told his Facebook followers after Friday night’s third round Australian title win over Emosi Solitua at the Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington. “Brian Amatruda, Julian Holland, Quincy Amatruda and Ray Giles – my team family – have been with me from the start and stood by me! “And thank you, too, to everyone that gets behind me and supports what I do; it’s much appreciated.…

DESPITE buying land at Hastings, Puma Energy says it is conducting a feasibility study before deciding on using it for a fuel storage and distribution depot. No permit applications have been lodged with Mornington Peninsula Shire, although any approval could be required to include detailed traffic reports, flora and fauna surveys, cultural heritage and management plans. The use of the land for a fuel tank farm would appear to fit In with the state government’s stated wish that the Port of Hastings be increasingly used for the import and export of “bulk” goods, such as gas, fuel and, possibly, brown…

CHELSEA Poll and Grace Chapman, both 11, had their heads shaved on the weekend to raise money and people’s awareness of leukaemia. Their team, Crazy Coconuts, aimed to raise $2000 but managed to triple it to more than $6000 with donations still coming for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave. The event at the Village People cafe, Balnarring, was packed with classmates and family friends. “We were overwhelmed by a tsunami of love and generosity from family, friends and our wonderful community of Balnarring who came along to show their support,” mum Melissa Poll said. “We had so many kids…

PENINSULA Aero Club members are mourning the loss of a pilot who died Sunday when his twin-seater gyrocopter crashed at Cannons Creek. The name of the man, 59, of Patterson River, had not been released by police when The News went to press. Club president Peter Bernardi described the fully qualified pilot as “a gentleman” and said “the club’s thoughts are with his family”. He had been a member since 2011. The small craft went down into shallow water at Rutherford Inlet, between Warneet and Cannons Creek, just after midday. Witnesses reported the sound as “like a gunshot” and “like…

NEPEAN LEAGUE DROMANA caused the upset of the season on Saturday in Nepean League, leading all afternoon to beat Rye by 11 points. At one stage in the third quarter, the Tigers led by as much as 51 points. It’s been a tough year for the Tigers but they have continuously proved that their best is good enough to match it with the best in the competition. On Saturday at Dromana Recreation Reserve, they jumped the Demons and led by 11 points at quarter time and 10 points at the main change. Billy Quigley was a real handful for the…

PENINSULA LEAGUE FRANKSTON YCW flexed its muscles on Saturday in the Peninsula League match of the round, thumping Edithvale-Aspendale by almost 100 points. The Eagles came into the game having won five games on the trot, including against top five teams Pines and Mornington. However, at no stage was the home team in the match against the Stonecats. They were held goalless in the first and third quarters, eventually going down 19.16 (130) to 6.3 (39). The Eagles weren’t helped by the fact they were missing prime mover Tim Mavric and ruckman Aaron Pawel. The lack of a ruckman meant…

THE seventh list of contributions to the Frankston Patriotic Fund is published in another column. It has now reached the respectable total of £268 7s. This amount is quite independent and apart from the very considerable contributions of money, material, and work afforded to the Australian Red Cross Society.   The list we publish this week includes a handsome second contribution of £19 4s 3d from the Frankston Ladies’ Collecting Committee. Of this sum £10 was realized by a raffle of a quilt by the Frankston storekeepers. *** IT will be seen from an advertisement in another column that a…

MISSION accomplished. Dedicated readers of this journal may recall Cr Graham Pittock being invited to visit Dromana House, Ireland, to help celebrate the 800th anniversary of the FitzGerald family’s occupation of the land on which the latest dwelling (circa 1780s) stands. Cr Pittock, whose ward includes Dromana, flew to Ireland with his wife, Prue, to the celebrations. They are now returned safely to their slightly younger parcel of land, with a tale or two to tell. The stories involve several bottles of Dromana wine and a rather nice green bowl, a gift from Dromana to Dromana House. And a cherry…

SORRENTO Portsea RSL Club had its snooker table re-covered last month and a little piece of Australian snooker history was revealed in the process. When Sean Partridge of Complete Billiards was removing the old cloth, he found this note written in pencil on the slate: “Stretch 14/1/96 Ron Atkins, 1980 runner-up World Snooker Championship.” A club member did some research. “Ron Atkins was a remarkable snooker player from Tasmania, who despite losing his left leg in a shooting accident, became one the best players of his time. He finished runner-up to snooker legend Jimmy White at the 1980 World Snooker…

ROSEBUD police are investigating a Rye school girl’s “missing couple of hours” on Monday last week. The girl, 13, got off the Flinders Christian Community College bus at 3.40pm at the corner of Cain Rd and Pt Nepean Rd and started to walk home. She later told Rosebud police that she noticed a white van with dark windows travelling beside her and then became aware of a stranger standing in front of her. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Rosebud CIU, said the girl’s next recollection was waking up on the beach near the lighthouse at McCrae, from where she called…