Day: October 28, 2019

BILL Philip realised every golfers’ dream of a hole-in-one earlier this month but admits he took a long time to achieve the honour – 91 years. “It was my first hole-in-one … and the last,” quipped the Mornington resident who has a 36 handicap and has been playing 70 years. Mr Philip and regular partner Brian Randall had teed off on the Peninsula Golf Club’s south course par-3 third hole of 145 metres when he achieved the “ace”. Sadly, he didn’t see the ball actually drop in. “We walked up but I couldn’t find the ball and was looking for…

AT the first sign of last week’s hot weather daredevil cliff jumpers were back at The Pillars. The fence erected by Mornington Peninsula Shire last year to stop public access to Mt Martha’s famous natural attraction was dismantled months ago, but cold water and cloudy skies provided their own disincentive. But now, even with tougher parking regulations and the ongoing alcohol ban, The Pillars is back in vogue. On Wednesday night there were seven jet skis parked near the base of the cliff and plenty of jumpers scrambling in and out of the clear waters. On Thursday, even as shire…

A BABY girl from Mt Martha is suffering from a one in a million genetic condition affecting her lungs and heart which means she must breathe through a tube. Since birth, four-and-a-half-month-old Eve has been unable to breathe without her oxygen bottle. First-time parents Georgie and Shaun Doherty spent the first two months of Eve’s life in the newborn intensive care unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital while doctors scrambled to find out what was wrong. Eve was eventually diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (chILD) and severe pulmonary hypertension (PHA). The condition chILD in newborns is said to be extremely…

A MORNING tea to honour Mornington Peninsula Shire’s previous Australia Day Awards Citizens of the Year was held at the Rosebud offices on Friday 25 October. The mayor Cr David Gill hosted the event to “recognise and celebrate the recipients’ significant contributions to the enrichment, improvement and advancement of the Mornington Peninsula community”. Special guest was the shire’s Citizen of the Year Josie Jones, who was last week awarded the 2020 Victoria Local Hero award at a ceremony at Government House. She was among about 20 previous winners representing all award categories at the event. A staunch environmental and litter…

SENIOR Liberals are reportedly seeking to overturn a decision by their own federal seats committee that would require sitting MPs to face preselection. If the committee’s decision remains on the party’s books, Flinders MP Greg Hunt, a Cabinet minister, could face a challenge early next year from within his own party’s ranks. The committee recommended nominations for all Liberal-held seats open on 15 January next year, with party members voting in February or March and candidates selected by October. However, neither the chairman of that committee, Russell Joseph – who last November failed to win the former Liberal state seat…

SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol intercepted a 38-year-old Rye man driving without headlights or taillights along Frankston-Dandenong Road, Seaford, 2am, Saturday 19 October. The man was driving the same blue Commodore sedan issued with a defect notice in August still with the same wiring extending from the battery up through the bonnet and in through the window to provide a charging port for his phone. The man returned a positive drug test and his car was found to have suspended registration due to his not complying with the previous defect notice. He allegedly told police he was driving to Seymour to drop…

A MAN who answered an advertisement to buy a mobile phone from a Facebook Marketplace page snatched it from the seller, ran to a waiting car and drove off, Sunday 22 September. Rosebud police are looking for the man, pictured, who took the new Apple iPhone 11 valued at $1720 which was still in its box, and drove off in a white Toyota Camry. The victim could not make out the registration number. The man is described a Caucasian, dark hair, dark eyes, and wearing a distinctive top. Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Constable Leanne Marshall at…

IT’S 25 years since council amalgamations throughout Victoria, which led to formation of a “super shire” on the Mornington Peninsula. The amalgamation of 1994 saw the peninsula run by three state government-appointed commissioners instead of elected councillors, who were effectively sacked by the Kennett Liberal government. The commissioners’ job was to create one council where there had been three: Flinders, Mornington and Hastings. In the lead-up to amalgamation, individual councils fought turf wars, staking their claim (through submissions to the government) to land outside their municipal boundaries. But the government stood firm on wanting one municipality for the peninsula. Surrounded…

TIME hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of Mornington war veteran Alan Moore. He’s just been honoured with the Victorian Senior Achiever Award at the ripe old age of 98. Mr Moore, of Benetas Corowa Court Aged Care, was presented with his award at Government House last week for his outstanding community contribution over 40 years of voluntary service to the care provider. Four generations of family joined Mr Moore for the occasion, including his two daughters and several grandchildren. “It’s a great privilege to receive this prestigious award by the Victorian Governor-General and I think I may just be the most…

A SOMERVILLE woman honoured at last week’s Victorian Senior of the Year awards says state governments and large corporations must learn to wean themselves off relying on gambling revenues. Anna Bardsley received the Healthy and Active Living Award from the Governor Linda Dessau for her work in helping others beat their own gambling addictions since winning her own self-destructive battle several years ago. The awards are part of the month-long Victorian Seniors Festival and aim to celebrate older Victorians who support and inspire others through their volunteer work and efforts in their communities. After rising above her own troubles Ms…

FEE hikes of 70 per cent for annual food registrations are being described as outrageous by a Peninsula Link fast food restaurateur. Barton Smith, who runs two Oporto outlets at the BP service stations on Peninsula Link, Baxter, said Mornington Peninsula Shire Council had demanded $650 for each of his food outlets, up from $388 each last year. “How does the council explain such a large increase?” Mr Smith, who wants an Ombudsman’s inquiry, said. “This is a rise of 69.71 per cent and must be a mistake or clearly there are grounds for this massive rise. “I have received…

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision which occurred in Rye Sunday evening. Emergency services were called to Nepean Highway about 10pm after reports a pedestrian had been hit by a car. On attendance police found a man, believed to be in his 20s, with critical injuries. First aid was provided but the man died. The driver of the car stopped at the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the collision or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Provisional Lives Lost: 2019: 226 2018: 170 Victoria Police News -…