ANOTHER big blow on Monday last week gave Mornington pier its second storm battering in two weeks. Huge seas and strong winds again smashed over the concrete structure which just two weeks before had seen nine 15-tonne concrete panels torn off in 60-knot winds. Top deck planking, handrails and a seat were also damaged. Since that storm the outer section of the pier has been closed to the public. The damaged panels were recovered by divers and a crane on a barge and taken away for inspection. No details of what caused the pier to break down have been released…
Year: 2016
A WOMAN who has loved opportunity shops all her life – “getting a bargain, finding a treasure and being able to afford it because of the prices” – has opened her own op shop. Trudy Lennon-Bowers, of Mornington, said her “life changed” when her father passed away last year. “I started to think about exactly what was important in my life and what wasn’t,” she said. “I was working three 12-hour days as a development chemist for Dulux, driving two hours a day and never seeing my husband or kids, and thought to myself: What am I doing? “I was…
A LOVE of crafts – particularly knitting and crochet – was behind Lynda Sibbald’s decision 18 years ago to take over the Mornington Wool Centre, which had been a feature of the town since 1971. Business grew steadily and she found it necessary to move to new premises in Yuilles Rd, Mornington, to cater for the rise in demand. Now this “hidden gem” – tucked in between a plumbers’ supply and power tool outlets – is able to take whole bus tours, prams, walkers and wheelchairs. It offers loads more room to display stock and samples and the huge glass-fronted…
THE Victorian Ombudsman has interviewed Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Graham Pittock, CEO Carl Cowie and governance manager Joe Spiteri as part of an investigation into secrecy in local government. Complaints about the shire have been made to the Ombudsman’s office by several individuals and community-based organisations. The Ombudsman Deborah Glass announced in March that she was making an “own motion” investigation into Victorian municipalities after receiving complaints. “Secrecy in local government can create conditions in which improper conduct and poor administration can flourish,” Ms Glass said. “It also fuels suspicions of wrongdoing and erodes community trust. “Members of the…
‘Human sound-effects machine’ Michael Winslow will be back in Australia this July and August for his most extensive stand-up tour of our shores to date. Winslow’s mastery of vocal gymnastics first came to prominence on the stand-up circuit in the early 80s after doing voiceovers for both Disney and Universal Studios for films like Back to the Future and Terminator. His performance as Sgt. Larvelle “Motor Mouth” Jones in the Police Academy movie series saw Winslow become a household name, a role specifically created to showcase his vocal talents. Notably, his is the only character to appear in all instalments…
Locals will be able to hear tracks from ‘Strange Loop’ live as Paul Dempsey heads to The Grand Hotel in Mornington on 9 September. Arriving seven years after the Something for Kate front man’s acclaimed solo debut, 2009’s top five ARIA charts success ‘Everything Is True’, ‘Strange Loop’ –is freewheeling in form but precisely executed; it’s a record that knows what it wants to say, what it needs to be – 11 tracks that enclose surreptitious dry wit, the irregularity of the everyday, and the pathos of longing in a mix of magic hour melodies, striking instrumentation, and tenderly charged…
The Bennies recently wrapped up their Wisdom Machine Australian tour in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Two weeks and 15,000 kilometres later they were playing a festival in Berlin, Germany. It’s indicative of the work ethic for the Melbourne band who have earnt a reputation for not only hard partying but heavy touring. So far 2016 has been a whirlwind for the band. In January, Wisdom Machine’s first single ‘Party Machine’ reached number 88 on triple j’s Hottest 100, some two months before physical copies of the album were even available. They toured the country and sold out shows wherever…
NEPEAN LEAGUE IT was mixed emotions for Sorrento Football Club on Saturday. While a legend of the club in Brent ‘Sticks’ Kenyon was breaking the 25-year games record of Bernie Lynch of 263 games, reigning premier Rosebud was ending a finals streak which dates back to 2007. While it’s mathematically possible that Sorrento can still make finals, they must beat Red Hill in their one remaining game of the season in the final round and hope that Hastings gets belted by Crib Point and Frankston in their final two matches. Sorrento got a taste of finals when Tony Blackford took…
PENINSULA LEAGUE PINES coach Pat Swayne will invite South Umpires Association boss Mark Mounsey to the club this week to explain some rules to his charges after he was left frustrated and bewildered after his side went down to Mornington by 17 points in MPNFL Peninsula Division on Saturday. Swayne said that in his 18 years in senior football, never has he used poor umpiring as an excuse to his players. Things changed on Saturday, Swayne conceding that he could “legitimately” use the umpires as an excuse in their loss to the Doggies. “We were bad at times, however, our…
WHEN MPNFL Nepean Division clubs instigated a vote of no confidence that eventually saw the sacking of the board and administration this time last season, the reason for doing so was “change”. Nepean Clubs were no longer prepared to accept a dictatorship that constantly stripped them of having a voice and they got on the front foot to do something about it. Peninsula Division clubs followed later. AFL South-East General Manager Jeremy Bourke and his team of regional managers were like politicians before an election, campaigning and meeting with clubs, standing on the platform of ‘being heard and having a…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie ROSEBUD Heart maintained its push towards a maiden championship by smashing arch rival Baxter 5-0 in their State 5 South showdown at Baxter Park on Saturday. Baxter has been smarting ever since losing 4-2 to the champion elect earlier in the season in a fiery encounter that saw two Baxter players sent off for violent conduct. Baxter thought that it was the better side that day and few at the club could have anticipated Saturday’s whitewash. Heart star Dave Greening missed two chances in the opening 20 minutes but in the 40th minute made no mistake…
MR JOHN E. Jones (the Shire Secretary) is still suffering from the attack of influenza that he has been the victim of for some weeks now, and was unable to take up his duties at the Council meeting on Thursday. Mr W. G. Sanders, of Mornington, acted as locum tenens in Mr Jones’ absence. We hope soon to see the latter again able to take up the duties of his office. *** MADAM Emily Benson, the Melbourne Society entertainer will sing at the concert in aid of the Frankston District Roll of Honor. *** IN our last issue Mrs A.…
IMAGES on a Facebook page dedicated to the killing of feral cats have been called “disturbing” by federal Liberal MP for Flinders Greg Hunt. Mr Hunt, appointed as Industry, Innovation and Science Minister in a Coalition government cabinet reshuffle last week, was contacted by The News for comment on the Cat Busters page while still Environment Minister. In 2014 Mr Hunt launched a $10 million federal government program “to tackle feral cats”, as part of a Threatened Species Strategy, across Australia since the wild cats pose a threat to native animals. Despite the government’s push to eradicate feral cats, Mr…
A BALNARRING laneway designated as a road in an early 1900s subdivision, but now zoned green wedge, will be sold to a neighbouring Turner Rd land owner for $22,000. But not everyone is happy with the sale, with a submission from a Myers Rd vineyard with restaurant and cellar door complaining that the sale will remove an important “buffer” between it and a neighbouring chicken farm. The laneway, owned by Mornington Peninsula Shire, is not used for vehicle or pedestrian access, but is heavily vegetated and subject to an environmental significance overlay. The 12.7m wide, 713.7m long strip of land…
THE focus of the master plan eventually adopted by the state government for Point Nepean National Park is likely to take a broad approach, rather than focussing just on developing the Quarantine Station precinct. The plan will take account of Point Nepean’s connections to Point Lonsdale, the marine national park, its occupation and use by Aborigines as well as “appropriate” commercial and educational developments. A report being released this week on the results of public consultations earlier this year is seen as the first step towards the adoption of a master plan largely based on one favoured by the state…
FRANKSTON councillors have finally adopted a united front against any possibility of sky rail along the Frankston line after unanimously backing rail under road as Frankston Council’s official position on level crossing removals. Councillors last month deferred a decision on opposing elevated rail last month. Frankston Council’s decision to formally oppose elevated rail follows neighbouring Kingston Council’s stance against sky rail adopted in May. At last week’s council meeting Frankston councillors voted to tell the state government tthey did not support elevated rail to separate rail and road at Seaford Rd in Seaford and Skye/Overton Rd crossings in Frankston. But…
ROSEBUD resident Thelma Appleford celebrated her 100th birthday with her sons, daughter, grandsons, granddaughter and great grandchildren on Saturday 23 July. Also there to celebrate were her nephews, great-nephews, cousins and neighbours. Congratulatory letters were received from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and the Queen Elizabeth. Born Thelma Jean Brown on 23 July 1916, Mrs Appleford grew up and married in the Coburg area. She experienced the tough times of the Great Depression when she and husband Edwin lived in Greensborough. In January 1939 she recalls standing in a grassy paddock holding her little son Don’s…
AFTER a year’s break, the Mornington Peninsula Hinterland Scarecrow Festival and Trail is about to return with Shawne Rubinstein already having someone in mind for his scarecrow. Mr Rubinstein and wife Lisa Panuccio, of Red Hill, are busy building a scarecrow of cricketer Shane Warne. “He’s Australia’s most popular cricketer, favourite larrikin and the best bowler this country has seen,” Mr Rubinstein said. The couple is hoping to do justice to Warnie with a double-sided scarecrow. They plan to inject some humour by immortalising a few infamous off-the-pitch moments – including his love of baked beans. “They say imitation is…
ROSEBUD resident and amateur historian Ray Gibb has spent years researching and documenting the history and people of the Mornington Peninsula. He believes it is important for us to appreciate the roles of pioneers in making the peninsula what it is today. A recent Mornington Peninsula Shire decision to name 70 tracks along the foreshore caused him to take a stand. The aim of the naming is to better assist emergency services when incidents occur during the peak camping season. Tracks within camping areas at Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento managed by the shire will be named after local flora, reptiles,…
FOLLOWING months of accusations and claims of accounting inaccuracies and overspending, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors are struggling to agree on the definition of expenses. The expenses are separate to councillors’ $28,000 yearly remuneration; $85,000 for the mayor. Shire officers last Monday asked for an extra month to prepare a draft of the councillor expenses policy by 31 August. Legal advice in March cast doubt on the validity of a previous policy which limited each councillor to spending up to $4000 a year on such things as conferences, seminars and courses, giving a total $16,000 over a four-year term. Included in…
THREE of Mornington Yacht Club’s four nominations won prizes at the annual Yachting Victoria Awards held at Sandringham Yacht Club, Sunday 19 June. The awards celebrate sailing in Victoria and recognise the achievements made through various programs and regattas. Nick Sharman and James Grogan were named Youth Sailors of the Year and selected to represent Australia at December’s World Youth Championships in Auckland. Sophie Ciszek was named Yachting Victoria’s Female Sailor of the Year. This follows her success as a competitor in the 2015-16 All Women’s team in the Volvo Around-the-World Ocean Race. John Mills, Tanya Lawton and Jason Ettridge…
MORE than 1550 jobs are expected to be created in the disability sector in the Bayside and Mornington Peninsula regions over the next three years. A report by the National Disability Insurance Agency on the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme says the number of people working in disability care is expected to double by 2020. At that time the scheme is expected to allow people with a disability to have a greater say in their own support. Victorian NDS state manager David Moody said the jobs boom will be powered by demographics and the rollout of the NDIS…
THE lure of the Outback is calling long-standing Variety Club Big Bash contestants John Crossin, John Mackie and Geoff Adshead. The Mornington men are looking forward to another drive with their “family of 320 people from all walks of life” when they head for Darwin, Wednesday 10 August, and – hopefully – arrive at the Top End, Saturday 20 August. The drive takes in scenic country from Mildura to Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy, Eridunda, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Over the past 13 years the men’s Car 86 has raised $242,000 for special needs kids on its…
PARKS Victoria says it has “full confidence in the structural integrity and longevity of Mornington pier” despite losing nine wave screen panels, top deck planking, handrails and a seat in a storm two weeks ago. The 15 tonne concrete panels were torn from the pier during the Tuesday 12 July storm when 60 knot winds were recorded. Port Phillip and Westernport chief ranger Reece Taranto said damage was restricted to the wave panels attached to the $18 million pier – not the structure itself. He said a marine contractor made an early morning assessment the day after the storm and…
A MT ELIZA mother has taken a stand after being “horrified” at the number of drivers disobeying road rules, ignoring 40kph school speed zones and disregarding flags at school crossings. When her daughter was nearly run over at the unmanned crossing near Mt Eliza Secondary School, Jo Kidder decided to form the Mt Eliza Community Safety Group. It was a cry from the heart which many in the community are now heeding. Ms Kidder wrote to the police, school and Mornington Peninsula Shire to get things moving. In her letter she said: “These cars are coming from the village up…
WE call special attention to an advertisement in another column announcing the holding of a Public meeting at the Mechanics’ Hall, Frankston, on Thursday, August 4th at 8 p.m., to commemorate the anniversary of the Declaration of the War by England. The meeting will be held in response to a request from the Premier of Victoria, that meetings should be held at the Centres throughout the whole State to commemorate the event. After two years of this ghastly war, waged by the Allies for freedom, truth, justice and the fulfilment of honorable agreements between nations, it is fitting…
PENINSULA LEAGUE LANGWARRIN proved once again on Saturday that it is not far off becoming a consistent competitive outfit after leading all afternoon to beat Pines. The Kangaroos, who again had five Under 19s playing, jumped out of the blocks and snatched an early lead, one that they didn’t give up for the entire match. Karingal assistant coach Leigh Poholke told the RPP Footy Show on Saturday morning that he thought the Kangaroos could “get the Pythons on the outside with their leg speed on the open spaces of Lloyd Park”. Poholke was absolutely right. Many say that Langwarrin should…
NEPEAN LEAGUE RYE’S season is over. The Demons are now a game and a half outside of the MPNFL Nepean Division top five, as well as a whopping 31 per cent after being humiliated by Rosebud by more than 100 points on Saturday. After a mid-season slump that saw them look right out of contention, Rye responded to public criticism and got themselves back into the finals hunt. However, a loss last week against an emotionally-charged Devon Meadows and then a 102 point belting on Saturday has ended their season. This is the second season in succession that the Demons…
Entry into all Mornington Peninsula News Group competitions published in print, online or social media is free. Entries must be submitted by the due date and time as requested in the individual competitions as follows… Entry is open to Australian residents over the age of 18 years only, excluding employees of the promoter, publisher and associated parties. Competition entry opening and closing dates as outlined in each specific printed/posted competition. Winners are selected at Random. Winners for print competitions will be notified by phone/mail/email, online competitions by email and Social Media competitions by private messaging on Facebook/Instagram and noted on the…
Police have arrested seven people following the execution of a number of search warrants in the south east suburbs earlier this month. The warrants were executed in relation to on ongoing undercover police operation in Rosebud between Thursday 14 and Friday 15 July. On Thursday 14 July police executed search warrants at Panorama Drive, Tootgarook and Weeroona Street, Rye. A 49-year-old Tootgarook woman has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine and trafficking cannabis. She has been bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 12 August. A 42-year-old Tootgarook woman has been charged with possessing proceeds of crime and has been…