A PROPOSAL is on foot to inaugurate a weekly picture show at Frankston. The details are being worked out by the Frankston Progress Association and Major Conder, O.C. Langwarrin camp, and the proceeds are to be equally divided between the camp and the progress association. *** MRS Reynolds has been appointed agent, for the Royal Insurance Co. for Frankston district. *** OWING to the Rev E Tonkin taking the church anniversary services at Cheltenham on. Sunday next, the Rev C. Bridgborne will conduct both services in the Frankston Methodist Church. He will also preach at Somerville in the afternoon. ***…
Year: 2018
A 34-YEAR-OLD Somerville woman who tested positive to methamphetamines while driving her three young children to school on Tuesday morning 18 September had to leave the car and walk her children to school. Suspecting that the message “might not have sunk in”, Somerville Highway Patrol police sat off the same spot before school the next day (Wednesday) and saw someone come out of the house twice to look up and down the street. Police believe they may have been spotted because, a short time later, a taxi arrived to collect the children. To check that the Don’t-Drug-Drive message had sunk…
A LITTLE girl ran into her mother’s bedroom at their home in Seaford and told her a man was in the house who “shouldn’t be there”, 4.15am, Wednesday 26 September. The woman told police she confronted the man who turned and calmly walked off along Seaford Road. Police arrived with the Dog Squad who arrested a Mt Martha man, 46, nearby. He was allegedly found with items from the house, including a handbag and keys. He may have entered through an unlocked internal door from the garage. Detective Senior Constable Peter Morris, of Frankston CIU, said the man was facing…
By Barry Morris Illustrator and children’s author Terry Denton stepped out as the new patron of environment group BERG Mt Martha last week to teach youngsters aspects of the art of drawing. On a crisp, autumn day, in a marquee at the old campground at Balcombe Estuary, the illustrator of the Treehouse series of books had the children thinking about the estuary’s birds and animals before committing them to paper. The old master conducted two 45-minute workshops – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – for children aged seven to 14. Before and after each workshop, Denton signed…
A NEW feature at The Briars property, Mt Martha, is designed as a place “to bring our human and wild communities together in a more connected way, with a ‘hands-off approach”. Opening next month (Saturday 3 November) The Nature Nook is a place of contemplation at the intersection of two boardwalks. “We’d like to educate children and adults about how humans and wildlife mutually benefit and how we can interact,” Eve Kelly, secretary of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, said of the Nook. The Nook is being developed with a community placement grant from the owner of The Briars, Mornington…
A DIVER surveyed and repaired the well-worn slipway at Mornington Yacht Club last week to ensure it was capable of carrying heavy yachts. A relieved Commodore Bret Levenspiel said Thursday 27 September that the diver “did a hell of a lot of work” on the ageing timbers and supports before giving the slipway the ‘all clear’. Members were told earlier this month that the slipway pilings had deteriorated due to naval shipworm and that the crossheads and rails were “compromised”. Some of the clamps were loose and that acrow props used to secure the slipway during the last slipping day…
Water birds, calm on top and paddling madly underneath, appear happy and healthy in the clear water of two small lakes at Civic Reserve, Mornington. Bobbing around in small wind-driven waves, the birds pass two fountains installed by Mornington Peninsula Shire to aerate the water. Eighteen months ago the lake presented a different picture. Hundreds of birds died in and around the lake from bacteria-produced toxins. The four aerators appear to have done the trick, with Australian Wildlife Protection Council members reporting on the hatching and survival of many birds at the lakes. On Thursday last a variety of water…
SILVIE Paladino and David Hobson are seen together when they appear on Carols by Candlelight each year but are seldom seen performing in their own show together. They will perform classical hits from musicals theatre and their stellar careers at Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 13 October, 2pm and 7.30pm. Silvie has performed throughout Australia, Asia and London’s West End. Her first theatrical role was Eponine in the Australasian tour of Les Misérables. She was then invited to perform the same role in the London production. Her other performances include lead roles inCats, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!, The King &…
POISONOUS fumes from an LPG heater are being blamed for the deaths of a man and his pets asleep in a campervan at Rye last week. The man, 57, was living in the van behind a friend’s house in Sydney Street with his kelpie dog and pet bird. The friend told police he had spoken to the man about the need for proper ventilation if he was using the heater in the days leading up to his death. However, all were found dead when he checked on them, 10.30am, Monday 24 September. Leading Senior Constable Brendan Richardson, of Dromana police,…
THE bid for votes at the 24 November state election is proving fruitful for train commuters with the Labor government offering 50 more spaces at Frankston station than the Liberal opposition. In mid-September the opposition pledged to build a $30 million 450-space multi-deck car park and last week this was topped by Labor coming with a 500-space car park plan. Labor’s promise will depend on the state government regaining office and the federal Labor toppling the government now led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. While neither the government or opposition has indicated where they plan to build the car park,…
By Barry Morris Emerging artists at Chisholm Institute, Frankston are showing off their talents and their works by mounting an exhibition at Frankston Arts Centre. The exhibition, called Drawing on Nature, features the work of eight artists who are completing their Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts – Fine Art at the institute. It includes painting, sculpture, photography and crafted work with more than 60 exhibits of eight artists on display. The students organised the exhibition themselves, with support from the arts centre. Exhibits will be on display in the Upper Curved Wall space from 11 October until 5 January. Entry…
The Labor Party has finally announced its candidate for the seat of Nepean being vacated by retiring MP, Martin Dixon. The choice of Chris Brayne, above, comes months after the Liberals’ Russell Joseph hit the campaign trail and some weeks after the Greens Paul Saunders said he too would be wooing voters in Nepean. Mr Bayne said if Labor was returned to office and also won Nepean it would ensure the seat became marginal and “have the attention of everyone including myself as the local MP, the Premier [presumably Daniel Andrews] and the government itself”. “Imagine the opportunity our electorate…
Plans for a microbrewery in green wedge-zoned land at Moorooduc include car parking for 28 vehicles, an additional dwelling as well as growing hops for the beer that would be brewed and sold on site. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s planning services committee last week deferred making a decision on a permit for the brewery despite officers recommending that a permit be refused. Council officers recommended the permit be refused but Cr David Gill said councillors decided a deferral would allow “interested parties to engage in a discussion to see if all aspects and ramifications of the permit application had been fleshed…
IT may have taken 50 years, but Rye grandmother Wendy Burgis has finally achieved her most treasured birthday wish: to jump out of a light plane. “It was great,” she said, recalling the daredevil jump onto the St Kilda foreshore recently. “I’ve wanted to do it for a long time and when my daughter Kate asked me what I wanted for my 80th birthday I told them.” Ms Burgis said her extended family watched from far below as she and a skydiving instructor leapt clear of the light plane at 15,000 feet and floated gently down. “Never could I say…
DIESEL generators have been brought onto the Mornington Peninsula to avoid power outages over summer. Outages can be expected up to five times each summer, usually when thousands of holiday-makers turn on their air-conditioners at around the same time. Network provider United Energy says the extra demand can lead to “more than double a normal day’s power use”. The 11 generators on private properties at Dromana, Boneo and Rye will back-up peninsula’s grid during peak demand. The generators will be on site for five years but are expected to be replaced with other “demand-management” options, such as batteries and solar…
HUNDREDS of police, residents and well-wishers attended the police Remembrance Day ceremony at Rosebud RSL, Eastbourne Road, Rosebud, Thursday 27 September. Leading Senior Constable Ian Huxtable, below, was among the many uniformed police at the commemoration. The event held for the Southern Metro Region Division 4 Southern Peninsula/Frankston commemorated the 2Oth anniversary of the murders of Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rod Miller in 1998. Pictures: Yanni First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 2 October 2018
A $15,000 grant to Cerberus Cottage will enable it to deliver courses, gatherings, events and services for Australian Defence Force families. The money for the HMAS Cerberus-based centre is part of $1.4 million provided by the federal government for not-for-profit organisations to deliver community programs for Defence families. “The family support funding will enable [us] to provide a multitude of programs, including our youth connection program, fire safety program, cooking and budget courses, AUSLAN, swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, coffee mornings, playgroups and group fitness training just to name a few,” coordinator Julie Prentice said. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the…
CRIME Statistics Agency figures released last week show a 6.5 per cent drop in crime on the Mornington Peninsula in the 12 months to June. Local Area Commander Inspector Janene Denton said while there was “still a lot of work to be done, it is positive to see the number of recorded offences on the peninsula area has started to decrease”. “Thanks to the hard work of local police we’ve seen significant decreases in aggravated burglaries (25.3 per cent) and residential burglaries (18.8 per cent),” she said. “We know this type of offending has been a real concern for the…
MODERN and affordable homes for low-income families will be built on the site of a former college at Crib Point which was being demolished this week. Habit for Humanity is building “at least five” single detached homes on the 3300 square metre property formerly occupied by the Victorian Academy of Fine Arts, in Stony Point Road. The site has been abandoned for about seven years. “Having a safe and secure home is fundamentally linked to our well-being,” Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s executive director Philip Curtis said. He could not say how many homes would be built before town planning approvals…
DIVISION ONE Sorrento SORRENTO bounced back brilliantly from their early season dramas, which saw coach Tony Blackford replaced Luke Tapscott in rushed circumstances. The Sharks had an excellent home and away season and looked unbeatable at times, before running out of steam at the wrong time during finals. Despite a disappointing after the siren Grand Final loss, Sorrento can take pride in the fact that they proved themselves this season with their new Peninsula league opponents. In Mitch Hallahan, James Hallahan, and Luke Tapscott they boast an impressive midfield, who provided great service to their quality tall timber all year.…
SOCCER THE silly season exploded into action last week with Jamie Skelly, Billy Armour and Scott Morrison taking a spin on the annual coaching merry-go-round. And more local clubs will join in shortly with newly created coaching vacancies at Peninsula Strikers and Skye United, Baxter still searching for a senior coach and rumours of change at Frankston Pines. Skelly was appointed assistant to Scott Miller at Langwarrin last week. He is a former Langy player, reserves coach and senior assistant who has now finished a second stint as senior coach of Peninsula Strikers. “This is an opportunity to further my…
MORNINGTON Pirates Baseball Club has topped off a thrilling season with two grand final victories on Saturday 1 September and Sunday 9 September. The Pirates’ Senior C2 side scored a narrow one-run victory over Berwick at the Bonbeach Bluejays ground in Chelsea on Sunday 9 September, while the under-16s Junior Pirates’ side landed a convincing win against Frankston Red to take out their grand final, the week prior. Mornington Baseball Club president Matt Hardie said it was a top effort by all five of their final’s sides to make it so far. “It’s the most we’ve had playing in the…
A FOOTBALL match between Frankston and Mornington was played at Mornington on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for the home team by a substantial majority. *** A “BACK to Childhood” dance the proceeds of which will go to the Frankston Roll of Honor fund, will be held in the Frankston Mechanics’ on Saturday (this) evening. Tickets priced at 2s are selling freely, and patrons are assured an enjoyable time. Prizes for the best sustained character, lady and gentlemen, will be given. *** MR J. A. Cameron notifies in another column that he has commenced business as a horseshoer…
A POLICE car responding to an “urgent job” last week collided with another car injuring an elderly woman. Both cars sustained significant damage. The Mornington-based Ford Territory police vehicle was travelling along Nepean Highway at the Bungower Road intersection when it ran into the woman’s car as it turned onto Nepean Highway, noon, Wednesday 19 September. Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Cooke, of Mornington police, said the patrol car, with “lights flashing and siren sounding”, had slowed as it entered the intersection. “The middle and right-hand-lane traffic had stopped but the elderly driver, in her 80s, may not have seen the…
Steve Bastoni’s often on call. He’s an actor and is ready to fit into a role at a director’s discretion. But his job also has a lot to do with timing and he knows “hurrying is just not worth it, especially if you’re driving”. Bastoni, pictured, has taken on the role of ambassador for next month’s Arthurs Seat Challenge, the 6.7 kilometre run/walk that raises money to spread the Fit to Drive program’s road safety message in schools throughout the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston. “I’ve never been a participant before, but this year I’ll be giving it a red hot…
RAMSAY House, at Rendlesham Avenue, Mt Eliza, has won this year’s Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards in the category: Restoration of a Heritage Place. The house was designed and built by Roy Grounds in 1937 as a family holiday house on the cliff overlooking Ranelagh Beach. The small cottage is one of the few remaining early houses built at Ranelagh. The restoration was overseen by his daughter, Victoria Grounds. Roy Grounds also designed the round house at the bottom of Olivers Hill at Frankston South; the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 1959–68; and the Arts Centre Melbourne, also…
A SPATE of barbecue fires has prompted the CFA to urge Mornington Peninsula residents to “look before you cook”. Mornington station officer Geoff Barker said spring weather had prompted residents to get out and fire up their barbecues – without being aware of gas leaks which have caused fires. “One resident was lucky to escape with just singed hairs after a gas leak ignited by barbecue flames caused a gas cylinder to catch fire in their alfresco area,” officer Barker said. “Firefighters were on the scene within four minutes. They cooled and protected the cylinder prior to closing the valve…
MORNINGTON father-of-three Ian Thompson felt his head go “cloudy”, couldn’t think straight and became disoriented; to make matters worse, he began to lose his vision. Although the 64-year-old did not know it at the time, he was having a stroke. “After meeting other stroke survivors I feel lucky, as if I had dodged a bullet,” he said last week. “Thankfully, the staff at Frankston Hospital’s emergency department recognised the signs and responded so quickly.” The stroke hit while he was working on his arrows at Frankston Archery Club. “I was using this new solvent to repair the arrows and it’s…
DESPITE hours of meetings, speaking with residents, writing reports and to-ing and fro-ing with government departments, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is almost back to square one with its management of The Pillars. The council last week moved to adopt its draft long term management plan for the contentious cliff jumping site at Mt Martha and asked the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for more support to help manage the area. The council will now concentrate on making it safe for visitors to The Pillars; controlling traffic and parking; and running an “education and enforcement campaign”. In 2016, the…
WHEN generations come together, good things happen. That’s the message being learned through a social program at CraigCare Mornington in which youngsters from the Pelican Child Care Early Learning Centre visit the elderly residents to talk, read and sing. “Each week the children spend time with residents playing, reading stories, singing and making arts and crafts together,” manager Sarah Mitchel said. “This brings great joy to both the children and the residents and they look forward to it each week.” The youngsters absorb traditions and wisdom, while developing respect and empathy. At the same time, the elderly residents expand their…