MOVIE buffs can enjoy a premiere screening of the English National Opera’s La Traviata on 16-17 May at Mornington Cinemas. The film was first shown in London in March. After Mornington it will be shown in capital and regional cities. It is performed in English by the stars of the opera at the London Coliseum theatre in multi-camera HD. Filming was directed by double MTV award-winning director and Grammy award nominee Andy Morahan. Organisers say Peter Konwitschny’s production cuts to the heart of the opera’s themes of passionate love and tragic death with a modern and uncluttered staging. La Traviata…
Year: 2015
IT was just an early morning bike ride to start the day on Friday 6 March. But when Luke Matthews’ was hit by a concrete truck as he was riding along Beleura Hill Rd, Mornington, a frantic battle for life began. Mr Matthews was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to The Alfred. The 34-year-old Mt Eliza man was operated on for head and facial injuries, including the removal of part of his skull to relieve swelling on his brain. Family friend Rowena Beach told The News at the time that doctors were only giving Mr Matthews a 50…
THE race is on to save the Frankston City Motorcycle Park as an affordable venue for motocross riders after Frankston Council decided not to renew its lease with the Frankston Motorcycle Club in the wake of a fatality at the Seaford track last month. A 20-year-old man died after a collision with a fellow motocross rider and council asked the club to close the Seaford facilities in the short term (‘Fatality closes motorcycle track’, The Times 13/4/15). Last Friday council issued a statement headed “Safety first priority at Frankston Motorcycle Park” and advised the Frankston Motorcycle Club’s tenancy would end on…
A GROUP of peninsula artists is promoting art as the ‘third leg’ of peninsula tourism to join the region’s well-established food and wine industries. They have set up Red Artists Gallery, a showcase for the work of artists, sculptors, printmakers and jewellery makers at Red Hill South in part of the former post office building. (The PO moved next door to the Cellar & Pantry store last July.) One of the group, sculptor Jean Sheridan, said Red Hill was the hub of one of Victoria’s most creative communities. “We have more artists, sculptors, printmakers and jewellery makers per head of…
MORNINGTON Peninsula’s population will surge 20 per cent from the current 150,000 to nearly 180,000 in the next 20 years, research done for the shire predicts. The peninsula has long been regarded as a stable population area, which makes the newly calculated growth pattern a bracing challenge for Mornington Peninsula Shire and other authorities responsible for infrastructure such as roads and public transport. The strongest growth would occur on the Port Phillip side from Mornington to Dromana, Safety Beach and Rosebud and across to Fingal and Cape Schanck, stated the recently released demographic forecast undertaken by consultants Informed Decisions. Populations…
PASSERSBY copped an eyeful in Frankston on Thursday afternoon when a naked man casually strolled along Cranbourne Rd towards Karingal. The nude dude did not appear agitated as he took a solo brisk naked walk at 2.50pm on Thursday (30 April). The News contacted police late on Friday to ask whether the reason behind the naked walk had been investigated but there were apparently no complaints lodged with police. Anyone with further information about this naked man of mystery can contact The News at team@mpnews.com.au. Please: no bum steers. UPDATE: Frankston police have now confirmed there were numerous calls to report the naked…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Burwood teen Jacob Fowlds. Jacobs was last seen at a property in Burwood on 20 April and it is not known where he was headed. Jacob is known to frequent the Croydon, Hastings and Doveton areas. Police are concerned for the 14-year-old’s welfare given his young age. Jacob is described as being perceived to be of Caucasian appearance, 160cm tall with a thin build and light brown short hair. He was last seen wearing a red hooded jumper, black jeans and a black cap. Police have released an image of…
Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the theft of property at a local basketball match on 8 April. It’s believed a woman attended the hall on Warrandyte Road, Langwarrin around 7.30pm while it was being used for competition basketball. The woman accessed a room where officials keep their belongings and stole a handbag and two mobile phones. It is believed the woman arrived and left the area in a grey Ford Territory. Some of the stolen property was located in the carpark of a fast food restaurant on Lee Street, Frankston later that night. Investigators have released images of…
METRO Trains has denied the troubled Stony Point rail line will be shut down permanently and may bring back diesel trains until a boom gates problem is fixed. Passenger train services have been suspended on the Stony Point line since 30 March after boom gates failed to close when trains approached level crossings on two occasions last month (‘Rail line shut down’, The News 7/4/15). Buses have replaced trains to transport passengers to stations between Stony Point and Frankston while Metro works on an “engineering solution”. Axle counters are being installed along the rail line to ensure boom gates are…
Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a large amount of cigarettes were stolen from a Karingal tobacco store on Anzac Day. Four men have forced open a roller door to a store at the Ashleigh Avenue Shopping Centre using a jemmy bar about 3.05am. They obviously hadn’t done their research, as they soon realised they had broken into the wrong store and left without taking anything. The bumbling thieves had better luck on their second attempt and forced entry to the roller door of the tobacco store and left with a doona cover filled with a large number…
A man has been charged with an assortment of offences following the execution of a search warrant in Carrum Downs yesterday morning. More than 300 grams of methamphetamine, a conducted energy device, more than $15,000 in cash and small amounts of other drugs suspected to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis were allegedly found at the Hillview Drive house. A brand new Holden SSV utility was also seized as part of the operation and it will be alleged to have been obtained by proceeds of crime. Yesterday evening, 25-year-old Domenic Quadara was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, traffick…
Carrum Downs uniform members will be forced to make room in the property office after executing a search warrant in Carrum Downs late this morning. More than 300 grams of methamphetamine, a conducted energy device, more than $15,000 and small amounts of other drugs suspected to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis were allegedly found at the Hillview Drive house. A brand new Holden SSV utility was also seized as part of the operation and it will be alleged to have been obtained by proceeds of crime. A 24-year-old Carrum Downs man was arrested at the address and he is currently…
HASTINGS Football Club recently established their Hall of Fame with the induction of ten men who have been star players and administrators over the past 100 years. Some of these inductees have passed on, and their awards were received on their behalf by family members. Richard Francis was one such recipient who stood out from the rest because he accepted TWO awards – one for his father and one for his grandfather. Richard was a Hastings team-mate of mine in the 60’s and, although I knew his father from those days, it was his grandfather, Bert Francis, who held the…
HASTINGS FNC by Phil Stone, club president SENIORS REPORT IT was a good weekend for the Hastings Football/Netball club. We showed each other a new side of ourselves that we haven’t seen, and that is grit and determination. It was a cold windy day and for the most part dry but rain at times. I feel that we played good football at times but we were a little too unaccountable for our men too and the Bombers made the most of this. We had our chances and were the best side on the day for sure but not converting really…
A search is underway for a 48-year-old Frankston North woman who has been missing for two weeks. Karen Rae has not been seen since leaving her home address in Adib Court on Wednesday 15 April about 7pm. Investigators have been told that Karen left home in the company of a man named Tony Smith. Police believe the pair drove away from Karen’s home in a black Commodore station wagon. Karen has not made contact with any of her friends or family since that time. Investigators have released an image of Karen in the hope that someone may have information on…
MR and Mrs Trenchard have decided to continue their residence in Frankston for the winter months. *** MESSRS Alex Scott and Co will hold their usual monthly sale at Tanti, on Monday next, when a good yarding of cattle and sheep is advertised. *** MESSRS Brody and Mason’s bi-weekly produce market at Frankston, will be held on Wednesday afternoon next. *** DURING last week Mr W. West, storekeeper, Violet Town, and Mr D. Crothers, contractor, of Rushworth, visited Frankston, and each bought a building allotment in Petrie St Frankston. *** A POST office pillar box has been erected at the…
In just four weeks’ time Mornington will come alive with the sights and sounds of the Queen’s Birthday Weekend Mornington Winter Jazz Festival from 5th – 8th June. Now in its third year the festival has grown to include even more live performances with free and low cost activities the whole family can enjoy. This year’s dynamic jazz program offers a wide range of jazz performances with styles and sounds to suit everyone. Kicking off the festival on Friday 5th June is a new addition to the program, a dinner performance by Latin Jazz Ensemble Clave Mania at Biscottini Mornington.…
A seven-year-old Girl Guide has been reunited with a family brooch after losing it at the Mornington Anzac ceremony. The 65-year-old brooch holds great sentimental value as it belonged to her great grandmother who passed away very recently. She had worn it as a sign of respect for the day. After it was discovered to have fallen off, a frantic search failed to locate the brooch. On Sunday, Mornington Tadpole Unit Guide Leader, Michelle Dawson, turned to the media for help. After posting it up on Mornington Peninsula News Group’s Facebook page last night, the post reached over 25,000 people. Ms…
DROMANA resident and shire councillor Graham Pittock is off to Ireland in June, at the invitation of the matriarch of the 21st generation of FitzGeralds to occupy the land on which Dromana House stands. Cr Pittock and his wife Prue will, with the FitzGerald descendants, celebrate 800 years of continuous occupancy of the land on which the splendid new house stands, high above the River Blackwater near Lismore in County Waterford, southeast Ireland. The invitation reads: “Your township is named after our demesne and this unique link in history creates an important link, for you and for us.” It came…
MT ELIZA has started the 2015 Peninsula League season in blistering fashion after knocking over Mornington on ANZAC Day. The Redlegs have now beaten the two 2014 grand finalists in Frankston YCW and Mornington in their first three games, as well as Bonbeach, who played in the Preliminary Final last season. In a tight and scrappy affair, the Redlegs simply used the football a lot more effectively when they went forward, giving them a 9.6 (60) to 6.9 (45) victory. Despite losing the clearances and having less inside 50 entries, the Redlegs were much more efficient when they got into…
PEARCEDALE caused one of the boilovers of the season on Anzac Day when they thrashed Somerville in Nepean League. The Panthers led from the start to the end and totally dominated a lacklustre opposition, winning 15.8 (98) to 9.15 (69). Pearcedale fielded its strongest side of the season and probably the strongest side it can field for the year. The likes of Troy Jacobson was back from Frankston Dolphins, Basil Sibasado was cleared for one game from the Kimberley’s and Mornington recruit Kallum Searle made his debut for the Panthers. As it turned out, Jacobson finished the afternoon with three…
MT MARTHA surfer Arturo Tallarida rode his way to third place in quality surf for the first round of the state longboard titles at Point Impossible, near Torquay. The 2-3 foot reef break suited Tallarida, who was one of the few east coast surfers to make any sort of mark in the round which was dominated by west coast surfers. Tallarida came third in the open men’s and open logger sections. Other Mornington Peninsula surfers to secure a foothold in the round were Craig Burton, St Andrews Beach, Tomaso Bellasai, Mornington, and Benjamin Pitts, Mt Martha, who came second, third…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s contentious Municipal Charge, now $180 per domestic rate notice, is to be reviewed, shire CEO Carl Cowie told the 13 April council meeting. Responding to a question from Joe Lenzo of Safety Beach, Mr Cowie said the review could result in a change to the flat-rate charge starting in the 2016-17 financial year budget. Mr Lenzo had asked if the shire would “consider discontinuing this regressive and unfair tax”, collecting it instead by increasing the rate in the dollar. He had provided figures showing its disproportionate effect on the less well off. The highest dwelling rate, excluding…
TRADERS in Rye are being encouraged by two shire councillors to install their own CCTV cameras after years of delay and unfulfilled promises by state governments and the shire. Nepean Ward councillors Tim Rodgers and Hugh Fraser say they are “working closely with the newly formed Rye Beach Business Association, Leading Senior Constable Julie Simpson of Rosebud police, Rob Miller of [Sorrento-based CCTV supplier] Telsec and council officers to promote a safe Rye”. Cr Rodgers said many Sorrento traders had installed CCTV, which had made the town’s main street safer, and “we hope Rye traders will follow suit as cameras…
THEY’VE chopped down the trees of my childhood in Mornington. Fifty old pine trees were removed from CB Wilson Reserve near the Fishies Beach end of Wilsons Rd a couple of weeks ago. They had to go – they were old and potentially dangerous, although it’s odd the shire council declared them a danger more than four years ago. I used to live in Marine Ave with mum and dad in an old house on more than an acre, and our back fence was close to the park. It was a tumbledown fence covered in tea-tree and shiny leaf with…
IT may have started as a pure flight of fancy, and has developed into one of the most successful marketing and branding exercises the world has known, but there seems no end to epic that is Star Wars. The movies have been shown (repeatedly), merchandise made, costumes worn, snatches of dialogue endlessly swapped and still the lure of time and travel seems infinite. Like space, the story of the Star Wars phenomena seems to have no outer limits. Next week’s May the Fourth Be With You Day is being as eagerly anticipated around the globe as the staged releases of…
AN expanded Bentons Square Kindergarten was officially opened last Wednesday by the state government’s Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos as Labor and Liberal politicians put aside their differences to celebrate the building of the $1 million centre. The preschool’s second “licensed kindergarten room” provides space for 33 children and was built with $600,000 from the former state government and $400,000 from Mornington Peninsula Shire with, according to the shire, “support from Community Kinders Plus and Bentons Square Community Centre”. (Community Kinders Plus manages 18 preschools for the shire and Frankston Council.) The kinder is next to the community…
THOUSANDS of people commemorated Anzac Day, attending dawn services and marches across the Mornington Peninsula. The threat of rain did not appear to impact on the numbers gathering to mark the centenary of the ill-fated landings of Australian and New Zealand troops on the beaches at Gallipoli, in Turkey. In direct contrast to the suffering of the troops, Saturday’s crowds parked their cars and walked to the various ceremonies free of any impending danger. Children proudly wore the medals of relatives as they approached memorials, letting everybody know the soldiers’ deeds would not be forgotten. Ironically, while the various speakers…
FIVE men have been charged with various drug offences after three different cars were pulled over by police in the same Rosebud street in one week. Two of the drug busts involved ice and one cannabis growing in a pot on a car’s back seat. In one case an alleged 23-year-old drug dealer was arrested and charged and held in custody. Two days later a second man, 46, was arrested and charged with similar offences but bailed to appear in September. In the first incident on Sunday 5 April police from Rosebud spotted a potted cannabis plant on the back…
THE final winding up of the financial affairs of the organisation behind the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga, Mt Eliza, could depend on “litigation flowing” from allegations against its former spiritual leader, Russell Kruckman, also known as Swami Shankarananda and Swamiji. Paul Burness and Con Kokkinos of Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants were last week appointed voluntary liquidators of the troubled Shiva Yoga Inc. Mr Burness on Saturday said the timing of the winding up of the organisation would be determined by the “litigation flowing” and contingent liabilities. Once finalised, the liquidation will see the end of an organisation…