Month: February 2019

WHILE returning from the funeral of his father at Hastings, last month, Mr John Ward was thrown from his vehicle and sustained a compound fracture of the leg. From enquiries made a few days ago it was ascertained that Mr Ward was still in the Melbourne hospital, and was progressing as well as could be expected considering the serious nature of his injuries. *** AT the last meeting of the Frankston and Hastings shire council, Constables Revell and Walker were appointed presenting officers. *** THE Shire Council has been notified that the following soldiers are returning from abroad: Private Jack…

LENA Taranto has come a long way in a long time. The mother of three, who enjoyed a 100th birthday lunch for family and friends at a Mornington nursing home last week, was born in the town of Waltham, Massachusetts, US, on 7 February 1919. When she was just four her Italian family pulled up stakes and returned to Italy. Then, in 1927, they again set out “for a better life”, this time migrating by ship to Australia. Two more children were born in Melbourne with the family of seven running a fruit shop in Glenferrie Road, Malvern. Money was…

A DEVELOPER’S bid to build 10 apartments on a 1003 square metre block in Mornington comes as Mornington Peninsula Shire holds a series of public meetings aimed at guiding future development across residential areas and reinforcing what makes areas “special”. The proposed apartments, in Williams Road, have been knocked back by the shire as an “overdevelopment of the site and out of character for the area”, prompting developer Kencole to appeal to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal. The outcome of the appeal could be seen as a test case on how far developers will be able to go on the…

A FIBREGLASS cabin cruiser (pictured) was stolen from Westernport Trailers in Marine Parade, Hastings, over the Australia Day long weekend. Detective Tony Woolcock, of Somerville CIU, said offenders cut the padlock on the front gate and drove off with the $40,000 2004 Mustang 2400 boat. It is blue and white and the registration number is Q0710.  Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 February 2019

TWO fires started when “sparkler bombs” were set off in a Mornington park last week are being investigated by police. Detective Leading Senior Constable Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said youths taped the sparklers to aerosol cans and lit them in a playground in Tallis Drive, 11pm, Tuesday 5 February and 6.30pm, Wednesday 6 February. The resulting explosions scorched timber edging and a tree in the park, opposite Mornington Secondary College, on days of moderate fire danger. There is no CCTV footage but youths were seen in the area. “It is a bit concerning that the explosives were set off…

It may have been the calamari for breakfast or just the chance to nab a spot in the sun near the water’s edge. Whatever the impulse to come ashore, the New Zealand fur seal lying on the beach at Dromana quickly began to draw a crowd. Some sat on the seawall to get a view of the seal, which obligingly lolled about, waving its flippers in the air. But it was the woman out for a swim that caused the most concern for volunteer seal monitor James Clemens. Not content with swimming past, the woman came ashore and tried to…

THE Labor party is yet to name its candidate for Flinders in the May federal election. Last week news broke that Tracee Hutchison would contest the seat held by Liberal Greg Hunt since 2001. But this week the Rosebud born broadcaster and journalist said she would not be a candidate. “There’s been much speculation over this past week about my reported foray into federal politics, unfortunately none of it has come from me and the story in your article [“Hunt under pressure of coup fallout” 5/2/19] about me being the Labor candidate is incorrect,” Ms Hutchison told The News. The…

During the holidays, 85-year-old grandmother Joy Gray (nee Bird) and her family visited Point Nepean National Park, Portsea. Ms Gray told park rangers that she had some recollection of a personal history in the area, but did not know much more than that she had been born in Gunners Cottage. In 1933, Ms Gray’s father Ernest William Bird was the army cook for Fort Nepean. He lived in Gunners Cottage with his wife Victoria Blanche Bird and five children – Ray, Jack, Alan, Teddy and Joy. The family’s relationship to Point Nepean is now assured with references to the Bird…

SOUTHERN Peninsula Rescue Squad members are being run off their feet by the number of calls for help. From Christmas through to the end of January, the squad has answered 42 rescue calls involving 150 people on the water. The areas covered have ranged from Martha Cove to Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Portsea, Queenscliff, St Leonards and even out into Bass Strait. Types of craft in trouble have included motor boats, yachts, jet skis and kayaks, as well as snorkelers and divers. Problems encountered were flat batteries, running out of fuel, mechanical problems, changing weather conditions, tidal influences, and…

A rubbish dumper has been fined $3509 plus $420 costs for leaving “renovation materials” on a roadside at Tootgarook. Mornington Peninsula Shire says the fine levied by Dromana Court backs its “zero-tolerance approach” to illegal rubbish dumping. On 10 January, a peninsula resident was found guilty of aggravated littering, sentenced with conviction, fined $3509 and ordered to pay council’s $420 clean-up costs. The shire says the offender was “caught in the act unloading renovation materials from a trailer at a Tootgarook roadside”. Illegal dumping can incur penalties of up to $9500. “Council spends more than $700,000 at a cost to…

DUNKLEY MP Chris Crewther has said he would be “happy to support” a trial of a cashless welfare card system in Frankston. The system being trialled interstate sees 80 per cent of money from Centrelink payments received by welfare recipients placed onto a card, where it cannot be withdrawn. The money on the card also cannot be used to buy alcohol or on gambling products. The card has been trialled in four regions across Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Mr Crewther said “the program helps kids get their school books and makes sure money is not used on drugs…

UNSUCCESSFUL Liberal Party candidate for Frankston Michael Lamb , left, has been suspended from his position with Victoria Police after being charged with disclosing police information without reasonable excuse. Mr Lamb has been suspended with pay, and will face charges over four separate incidents that allegedly occurred in 2018. A Victoria Police statement stated that “a police officer has been charged with unauthorised release of information by Professional Standards Command. “The Senior Sergeant from Southern Metro region has been charged with four counts of disclosing police information without reasonable excuse.” Mr Lamb was comfortably defeated at the 24 November state…

Social researcher Hugh Mackay wants a “radical culture shift” in Australia towards compassion to minimise the damaging consequences of social isolation, renowned social researcher. In his 2019 Australia Day Address Mr Mackay said looking after our neighbours was a good starting point. The Officer of the Order of Australia recipient says the biggest social challenge the nation faces is “preserving our social cohesion”, as we focus on ourselves rather than showing greater responsiveness to those around us. Mr Mackay will be in Mornington this week to discuss his thoughts outlined in his latest book, Australia Reimagined. “We are facing some…

SORRENTO and Mt Martha beaches recorded the highest number of offences by jet skiers during the Water Police’s Operation Jetwash. Thirty-one offences were detected at each of those beaches in the operation which targeted unsafe behaviour over the holiday period. Twenty-five offences were detected at Rye, 24 at Martha Cove and 22 at Frankston during the six-day blitz. As the name of the operation suggests, the police’s major focus was on jet skis and their owners’ behaviour. More than 220 infringements were issued including 53 for speeding – the most common offence. This included 39 for exceeding five knots within…

DESPITE work about to start on the footpath and road upgrade in Coppin Road, Sorrento, the gulf between those wanting it and those opposed is as wide as ever. Geoff Allen says the project was “ill-conceived, poorly planned and administered, and a significant waste of ratepayers’ money”, while Cr Hugh Fraser says it will “benefit residents, businesses and visitors; the Sorrento community is looking forward to seeing [it] come to fruition”. Works will start on the up-scaled $900,000 project next month, after almost four years of claim and counter claim. It will take four months to complete. Money has come…

A man has died in Port Philip Bay off Mount Eliza this afternoon. Police were alerted to the missing snorkeler in the water off Daveys Bay Road when he failed to return to shore just after 5pm. Water Police and the Police Air Wing conducted a search of the area and the yet to be formally identified man was located on the sea floor by the police helicopter just after 6pm. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Water police are appealing for public assistance following reports of a paddle boarder seen in distress at Rosebud this afternoon. Police received reports a man on a stand up board was seen in distress in the water approximately 500 metres from the Rosebud pier on Point Nepean Road about 3.45pm. Local police, water police and the PolAir helicopter searched the area and were unable to locate the man believed to be wearing a black wet suit. Police are keen to speak to anyone that may have been paddle boarding in the Rosebud area this afternoon or anyone that may know…

Eyes on the prize: Charlie Hollow, 10, gets ready for the National Hopes Challenge and the Melbourne Open. Happy with that: Georgia Hollow, 7, practises her table tennis prior to the Melbourne Open. Pictures: Supplied UP-AND-COMING table tennis siblings, Georgia and Charlie Hollow, headed into Melbourne for the Melbourne Junior Open and the National Hopes Challenge on Monday 21 January. The Mornington Peninsula table tennis juniors competed in the under-11s singles and doubles competitions at the Melbourne Open where they returned with some top results. Georgia, who is just seven-years-old, finished third in the under-11s Girls singles while her brother, Charlie,…

A SERIES of fires on the Mornington Peninsula had brigades on full alert over the weekend. Dromana CFA Captain Tim Desmond said crews were called out six times on Sunday 3 February – three times to tackle a “suspicious” grass and scrub fire at the foot of Arthurs Seat, Dromana, that had been set alight the previous day. Five CFA crews took 25 minutes to bring the original fire under control on Saturday, just after 9am. The fire below the Dromana cemetery was visible from Peninsula Link and fire crews were called to return several times on Sunday afternoon when…

BALNARRING residents opposed to the building of an aged care home in their street “will most definitely” fight the bid when it goes before the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal. The planning application by developer Arcare will be determined by VCAT because Mornington Peninsula Shire was unable to process it within the required 60 days. Jan Eyles, of Brooksby Square, said VCAT “will be the decision maker in the process”. The shire’s team leader planning services Lucas Gardiner confirmed the planning application was heading to VCAT as the shire was unable to make a decision within the 60-day statutory time…

Cruising while eating canapes and drinking while spotting waders was all part of a twilight cruise on Western Port last Friday to “celebrate” the following day’s World Wetlands Day (Saturday 2 February). The 90 or so paying passengers aboard the Kasey Lee were also kept mindful of the efforts by the Save Westernport group to stop power company AGL processing imported natural gas at Crib Point and plans by successive state governments for a container port at Hastings. World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the International Wetlands Treaty in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971. Western Port was listed…

PENINSULA RED Hill have worked hard to surpass their target of 200, as they took on Moorooduc in the second day of their two-day clash. Having finished day one on a high and restarting at 0/43, Red Hill quickly lost their first two wickets and were sitting a little more uncomfortable at 2/52. Simon Dart was their best batsman, as he scored 59 runs batting at number 4 to help guide the Hillmen to a three wicket win. At Ballam Park East, a pitiful Pines performance saw them waste a golden opportunity to defeat Long Island. Chasing just 110 runs…

SOCCER ROSEBUD has had its application to join State League 5 accepted by Football Victoria and it will compete in the South division in 2019. And club president Melissa Osorio confirmed last weekend that merger talks with neighbouring Rosebud Heart are ongoing. “At the moment we’re going through the 2019 season ticking all the boxes and working with Football Victoria and Rosebud Heart and looking to the 2020 season (to merge),” Osorio said. Rosebud returned to competition under the state federation’s banner last year finishing second in Metropolitan 2 South-East. The previous time the club played under the controlling body…

THOUSANDS of spectators flocked to the Emu Plains Reserve, Balnarring on Saturday 26 January for the Balnarring Picnic Racing Club’s traditional Australia Day meeting. A field of seven took to the track for the highlight of the club’s season, the Balnarring Cup, where Cranbourne-based trainer Cindy Alderson took out the main event with her low-flying mare My Clementina. Ridden by Maddison Morris, My Clementina scooped the prize to become the new ‘star of the picnics’, winning five straight picnic races – a maiden, Trophy 1, Trophy 2 and two Open Cups, which included the Healesville Cup at her previous start.…

PENINSULA Boxing will be out to kick off the year in style when they line up in the inaugural Wild Fighter promotions card held at new boxing venue The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne on Saturday 23 March. Commonwealth Games silver medallist and unbeaten cruiserweight boxer, Jason Whateley (2-0, 1 KO), is set to headline the card in his third career fight as a professional. His opponent is yet to be determined but it’ll be Whateley’s first time entering an eight round match-up. Fellow Peninsula Boxer, Lochie ‘Bubba’ Higgins (4-2, 2 KO), is also locked in to fight the “tough as…

Artists, especially when spotted at their easels in the open air, can be seen as adding a bit of interest to the landscape. But that feeling is not universal, Bittern artist Peter Woods has found out, especially in the home of what many regard as “must make” destination for artists – southern France. While working at his easel outside the picturescue village of Lourmarin, Woods was confronted by a woman who drove up in a car and “started to talk vigorously and gesticulate”. It was not until after hearing the word ‘’out” that he realised that he was being kicked…

FOR the very first time in Australia, and direct from Music City, U.S.A, the hit musical production Nashville Live delivers the energy, glamour and magic of a night out in the home of country music directly to you and totally live! Nashville Live takes you back to the world famous Grand Ole Opry, through the history of country music from golden greats like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, through to the contemporary platinum selling sounds of Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks and many more. Nashville Live is a celebration of the legends of country music and the…

MISSION Songs Project is an initiative to revive contemporary Australian Indigenous songs from 1900 to 1999, focusing on the Christian missions, state run settlements and native camps where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were relocated. Searching for the family songs that were sung around the kitchen table, Jessie Lloyd explores the day to day life on the missions, settlements and reserves through music. From cultural identity to love and loss, these rare songs consist of almost forgotten stories that can now shed light into the history of our Indigenous elders, families and communities. Performed as a vocal quartet, Jessie…

MUSIC of the Night is an enchanting musical and visual spectacular presented by highly acclaimed multi award winning international pianist Joseph Fimmano. Joseph is joined on stage by the elite of Australian entertainment, stars of musicals and the concert stage, and the ultimate in Australia’s musicians with the Music of the Night Orchestra. Joseph debuted on Australian TV with his winning performances on piano accordion on Johnny Young’s Talent Time in the late 70s and has since matured into one of Australia’s finest performers. Music of the Night is a tribute to the musicals, opera and the beautiful melodies of…

SARAH Blasko, Tia Gostelow and Jackalope’s Rare Hare confirmed for Victoria’s favourite food, wine and music gathering off the back of a sell-out event in 2018, The Peninsula Picnic returns on Saturday 30 March, 2019 with an unprecedented line-up of Australian music acts, local restaurants, wineries and producers, bringing together the best of the peninsula to the one location, for one day only. Lead by indie rock five-piece The Rubens, playing alongside beloved song writing legend Sarah Blasko, indie prodigy Tia Gostelow, Latin outfit San Lazaro, and up-and-coming folk artist Fraser A. Gordon, music lovers will be wooed by the…