FRANKSTON police are working around the clock to keep residents safe by blitzing crime hotspots, arresting repeat offenders and responding to incidents in public spaces and on train-lines. Sergeant Phillip Hulley said that, by day 65 of its operation last week, the Shadow Taskforce had made 200-plus arrests – equating to an average of three per day. “So far, 4122 vehicles have been checked with many of these checks resulting in traffic stops or the execution of outstanding warrants,” he said. “A large number of the vehicles checked have also been searched for drugs and weapons.” Sergeant Hulley…
Year: 2016
A COMMUNITY forum on advance care planning will be held 2-3.30pm, Tuesday 23 August, at Rosebud Over 55s Club, 121 Ninth Av, Rosebud. It is being run by PACE – Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders. The aim of the forum is to help people learn about medical powers of attorney and advance care directives. In this way people can let family and doctors know how they want to be cared for if they become unable to make decisions for themselves, or when they become seriously ill or frail. This may involve resuscitation and life support, high-risk surgery, permanent tube feeding, and…
RAM-RAIDERS have crashed their way into five businesses at Pearcedale, Somerville, Baxter, Langwarrin and Frankston. They used a stolen Suzuki Swift, an Isuzu utility and crowbars to smash through the front glass doors of three service stations, a newsagency, and a shopping centre, causing tens of thousands of dollars’ damage on top of the thefts of cash and goods. At 3.20am, Tuesday 9 August, in the first of three raids that day, three men in the black Suzuki smashed the front glass doors of a BP service station on Baxter-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale with crowbars. Once inside they grabbed food and…
IT is not hard to find a connection to surfing on the Mornington Peninsula with Australian surfing great Bernard “Midget” Farrelly, who died on Sunday 7 August after several years of battling cancer. At 71, Farrelly’s death came as a shock to the surfing community, both here and overseas. Many of the peninsula’s younger surfers would not know that they most likely owe Farrelly a debt of gratitude. His fame came on the cusp of major changes in surfing: the advent of the shorter board and professional surfers. As Australia’s first official world champion – won at Manly 17 May…
By Wayne Chamley NEWSPAPERS’ reporting of matters such as business and property sales can sometimes overlook other important consequences of such developments. A case in point is the expected sale of the Continental Hotel in Sorrento and an adjoining, council-owned, public car park. There is an important story about these sales and it covers the protection Victoria’s heritage, the greed of a shire and the disinterest of its councillors. On 25 July, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council considered, in sequence, two reports prepared by its staff. The first report considered the possible sale of the car park to Continental Developments Pty…
TWO of the biggest names in the surf industry have quietly moved onto the Mornington Peninsula. Rip Curl came first, buying out Peninsula Surf and next month Billabong takes over the Trigger Brothers store at Sorrento. Recognising the strength in local branding, Rip Curl still displays prominent Peninsula Surf signs at its Frankston, Mornington and Rye stores and Billabong is set to do the same with Trigger Brothers in Sorrento. “After the Rip Curl buyout of Peninsula Surf stores six months ago Billabong needed to ensure rack space or real estate on the peninsula,” Phil Trigger said. “They approached us…
COMMUNITY groups are ready to be consulted on landscaping plans for the area around the new Sorrento seawall. The Department of Environment Land Water and Planning-funded stepped seawall is currently being built and is endorsed by Nepean Councillors and Mornington Peninsula Shire officers. “It is crucial the community has genuine input into the landscaping plans before the seawall completion, expected before the summer holiday period,” Julie Corridon, of Nepean Conservation Group, said. “All our members care deeply about where they live and many are feeling a real sense of alienation about their rapidly changing environment and decisions imposed on them.…
POLICE are praising “astute members of the public” for helping them seize a massive haul of cannabis in Rosebud last Thursday. Sergeant Chris Russo, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said 164 plants were seized as well as 76 cuttings which were in the process of being propagated. He said the crop had a street value of $150,000. Seven police raided the Eastbourne Rd house which had been set up as a hydroponic cannabis warehouse. Six rooms were filled with black plastic tubs for growing the plants which were hooked up to a water system in the bath. A power bypass system…
THERE is no lack of interest in filling the vacancy in Liberal ranks following the announcement that Martin Dixon will not be running for the state seat of Nepean he has occupied since 1996. Russell Joseph, Mr Dixon’s electorate office manager for the past four years, has already signaled that he will seek to take over his boss’s job. “I would like to lead from the front,” Mr Joseph told The News the day following Mr Dixon’s announcement. “There’s a lot of potential for things to still be done and I’d like to see them continuing along.” Mr Joseph has…
NEPEAN MP Martin Dixon says the realisation that “life can be too short” is behind his decision to retire from politics at the 2018 state election. The “life” reference refers to his former wife and partner of 38 years, Christine, who died of cancer in April. He has two adult children. Mr Dixon said “everything has changed now” and that he looks forward to “doing something different with a lot more time to do it” after 20 years as a member of parliament. “I might buy a boat and do some travelling,” the Rye resident said. “And there are some…
A ROSEBUD road with an unenviable crash history is set for a safety upgrade next month. Works will begin on Eastbourne Rd between Jetty Rd and Boneo Rd which Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Graham Pittock describes as a “black length”. “This road really does have a bleak crash history – including three fatalities in the past two years,” he said. “Over a five-year period 14 casualty crashes were recorded, with three of these serious injuries.” Common crash types include right-turning vehicles and parked vehicles. Eastbourne Rd will be changed from two traffic lanes each way to a single traffic lane…
THE Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has unveiled revolutionary new technology at Frankston Hospital to connect patients who present at an emergency department with eye injuries or conditions in outer metropolitan, rural and regional areas with specialist advice without having to travel to East Melbourne. Eye and Ear Hospital CEO Mark Petty said the initiative will enable Peninsula Health’s emergency department clinicians who are not ophthalmic specialists to manage patients with the help of a remote eye and ear specialist when needed. In 2014, 2700 people travelled from the Mornington Peninsula to the Eye and Ear Hospital for urgent…
MORNINGTON Football and Netball Club players enjoyed a half day’s “experience” with the Saints last week as winners of the FOX Footy Club Rewards program. Eight Bulldogs players, who sit third on the Peninsula Football Netball League ladder, visited St Kilda Football Club’s Seaford headquarters for a behind-the-scenes view with senior coach Alan Richardson and his assistants. The aim of the rewards program is to support grassroots sport and recognise local football clubs and recognise the benefits they deliver to their community. The Mornington club has had a long partnership with the Salvation Army: it donates $1 from each club…
PADUA College’s year 10 students from Tyabb and Rosebud will be based at the school’s Mornington campus from 2019. The move comes amid a series of curriculum changes outlined in the school’s educational strategic plan, launched last week by principal Anthony Banks. “The plan will mean greater flexibility for subject choices for year 10 students, including making year 11 and year 12 VCE and VCAL subjects available a year earlier and offering more VET courses on-site,” he said. “It also outlines a revitalised, stand-alone year 9 program and a streamlined year 7-8 curriculum to be rolled out in 2018.” Mr…
KEEPING older drivers safe and mobile is the aim of a free driving seminar at Mornington Community Theatre, 10.30am-12.30pm, Thursday 1 September. The seminar is open to all senior drivers, their families and friends. “Older people make an important contribution to the economic and social well-being of the community as owners, employees or customers of businesses, as volunteers, and through the support they provide to family and friends,” organiser Nancye-Joy Gardner said. “They need to stay mobile to sustain this contribution and to maintain their own sense of independence and well-being. “It is important to keep older drivers driving safely…
A “SPARKLING musical mash-up” will be performed this week to celebrate a century of Tallis family ownership of the now state-owned Beleura house and gardens, Mornington. The musical 1916! will be performed at 6.30pm, Friday 19 August, with a matinee at 1.30pm, Saturday 20 August and a final show, 6.30pm Saturday. Organisers predict the John Tallis Pavilion will morph into the legendary Her Majesty’s Theatre, from where the entrepreneur oversaw his empire as managing director of JC Williamson’s – known as The Firm in theatrical circles. The musical 1916! is set in Sir George’s office at the theatre on Saturday…
MESSRS Adamson, Strettle and Co will hold their next sale at Tanti on Monday next—For entries see advt. *** MR Joseph Unthank will address the electors at the Somerville Hall on Wednesday evening next, and gives a cordial invitation for all Centre Riding ratepayers to be present. *** A PUBLIC meeting will be held on Thursday evening next in the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall, when addresses will be delivered on the 6 o’clock closing question by prominent speakers. *** A PRESENTATION of a travelling bag was made to Guard Phil O’Grady, on being transferred to Mornington, by his fellow employees, Frankston,…
Twenty-six-year-old Torres Strait Islander Daniel O’Shane won the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s National Works on Paper Prize of $15,000 sponsored by Beleura House & Garden. National Works on Paper was established in 1998 and incorporated the former Spring Festival of Drawing and the Prints Acquisitive which began in 1973. The National Works on Paper is a biennial prize and exhibition organised by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery to discover and showcase the most outstanding contemporary works on paper from across the nation. Works acquired from the National Works on Paper become a part of the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s collection –…
By Andrea Louise Thomas Melbourne-based author Toni Jordan has penned four critically acclaimed novels. Originally from Brisbane, she studied physiology at the University of Queensland. She worked in molecular biology as a protein chemist amongst other things before becoming interested in copy writing. She took a Professional Writing and Editing course at RMIT and it was there that her first novel, Addition (2008), was born. It became an international bestseller. Her latest novel, Our Tiny Useless Hearts, has just been released. It’s brilliantly written, insightful and hilarious. I caught up with Jordan before she speaks at Frankston Library on August…
NEPEAN LEAGUE THREE years and three days or a total of 1099 days – that’s how long it had been since the Tyabb Football Club had been on its losing streak. The Yabbies last win had come in the final home and away round of the 2013 season against Somerville. On Saturday, facing 50 straight losses in a row, Tyabb broke the drought, dominating for four quarters to beat Pearcedale by 37 points, 13.8 (86) to 6.13 (49). The Yabbies booted the first 11 goals of the game before Travis Bravo kicked the Panthers first at the 18 minute mark…
PENINSULA LEAGUE KARINGAL put a week of turmoil behind it on Saturday, ending Edithvale-Aspendale’s 2016 season. It was a massive game for both footy clubs at Ballam Park, the Bulls hoping to respond to the resignation of their coach Michael Triep on Tuesday, while the Eagles needed to win to reclaim their place in the top five. Edithvale now needs to beat Frankston YCW at home in the final home and away game of the season while hoping that Mt Eliza can beat Seaford, who is currently in fifth spot. The Tigers are two points clear on 34 points. Karingal…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie BAXTER continued to celebrate promotion from State 5 South with a 3-0 win over visitor Pakenham United on Saturday. Baxter created enough chances to make this a double-figure rout as Shaun Walker turned on a midfield masterclass while strikers Mark Pagliarulo and Liam Kilner terrorised the Pakenham defence. The visitors can thank keeper Jarrod Reynolds whose heroics time and again kept his team in the contest. Baxter should have scored four goals inside a five-minute period of the first half highlighted by an interpassing combination involving Frank Ntim and Pagliarulo and ending with a first-time Kilner…
A POLICE armoured vehicle blocked off a Mornington street this morning (Friday 12 August) as heavily armed Special Operations Group police arrested a man at gunpoint. The 26-year-old was seen crawling on his hands and knees from a Pamela Place property about 10am. He was handcuffed and led to a police car. The police Eastern Region Crime Unit is believed to be clamping down on burglaries and thefts in the area. “The SOG have arrested a 26-year-old man in Mornington this morning as part of an investigation into burglaries and thefts,” Victoria Police spokesman Thomas O’Byrne said. The night before, a home-made incendiary…
Police have arrested a woman following an alleged hit run collision which occurred in Mt Martha earlier this afternoon. The collision occurred on Forest Drive at 1.20pm when a 17-year-old Mt Martha boy was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser travelling south. The 4×4 stopped at the scene but then allegedly drove off. Patrolling police located the car several streets away, outside a local school, and arrested the female driver. The boy was treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. The 46-year-old Mt Martha woman is currently being interviewed by detectives from the Major…
FIREFIGHTERS from Rosebud and Rye had to break down a laundry door to rescue a woman trapped in a burning house in Coleman Crescent, Rosebud, early this morning (Wednesday 10 August). The woman aged in her 40s had suffered a cardiac arrest in the single storey brick veneer when the fire took hold in her bedroom. Senior station officer Grant Kidd, of Rosebud CFA, said crews carried the non-responsive woman outside where she was revived by ambulance officers and airlifted to The Alfred hospital. He said the woman called triple zero at 6.16am and fire crews arrived within minutes. He…
MT ELIZA and Mornington fire brigades rushed to extinguish a fire at a laundromat in Mt Eliza Sunday 7 August. The Mt Eliza Pumper was first on the scene at 8.10am when crews found smoke billowing from the business and flames spurting from a dryer. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus to quickly extinguish the fire and make the building safe, Mt Eliza Fire Brigade 4th Lieutenant Mark Turnham said. “Using thermal imaging cameras and a gas detector, crews investigated the premise and found all to be OK.” Lieutenant Turnham said a passer-by had made a valiant attempt to put out the…
HASTINGS FNC ON Saturday the Hastings Football/Netball Club played against its local rival Crib Point Football/Netball Club. The Hastings boys certainly had to win this game to guarantee a spot in this year’s Mornington Peninsula Nepean finals series. They achieved this with ease! The boys played a great style of team orientated football to set up a great clash next week against Frankston Bombers at Frankston. Now the club has secured another shot at this year’s premiership, it’s all systems go in preparations for this year’s finals series. Get down to training this week and show your support as we…
By Brendan Parnell LIFE on court is still getting back to normal for Western Port Basketball Association after the dramatic events of Sunday 1 May. That day – sometime before dawn – the Steelers’ long-time basketball home at Somerville Recreation and Community Centre was destroyed by fire. While Western Port was only one of 26 community groups using the centre, with more than 1500 players, 50 referees and a vast number of volunteers, coaches and team support staff the loss of the two-court facility hit them hard. The loss has had a galvanising effect on the community. “We’ve been getting…
THREE Balnarring fishermen were lucky to survive hypothermia after being forced to swim 800 metres in freezing waters, 6pm Saturday (6 August). The men, one in his 50s and two in their 30s, were fishing from their four metre dinghy when the anchor became snagged under rocks. The boat flipped when they tried to free it, throwing them into the dark water. One of the men swam to shore to raise the alarm while the others initially stayed with the boat until help arrived. The Police Air Wing helicopter, Hastings police, Hastings Coast Guard, water police and Volunteer Marine Rescue…
THE future planning of town and villages in the Western Port area will be a significant issue in deciding councillors for the Red Hill, Watson and Cerberus wards at the October municipal elections. One major point of contention will be the time being taken by Mornington Peninsula Shire in drawing up a strategy for coastal towns, which has been flagged in successive budgets for the past 11 years. Critics claim small towns are seeing developments more suited to the peninsula’s major centres, such as Somerville, Hastings, Mornington, Dromana, Rosebud and Sorrento. They argue that the same criteria should not be…