TWO little penguins are having a short stay at Melbourne Zoo before being returned to their Phillip Island home. The two birds were collected from a Greenvale house north of Melbourne Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) officers. “The Greenvale man alleged he rescued the penguins from Phillip Island because he believed they were sick,” DELWP wildlife officer Abby Smith said. Ms Smith said the penguins were “significantly underweight” and vets believed they had not been fed adequately for the two weeks. “The birds are making good progress and are eating well, swimming and preening normally. However, the…
Year: 2019
A LYNDHURST man handed himself in to police after an incident in Mornington’s Centro car park in which two brothers were allegedly assaulted, early Saturday 4 May. Detective Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said the man was interviewed by officers at Cranbourne police station but no charges had been laid, Wednesday. He said the brothers, aged 17 and 20, of Mornington and Mt Martha, were walking through a car park after leaving a nearby hotel when a fight started with a group of men about 3am. They were punched and knocked to the ground in the melee which stopped when…
SOMERVILLE Highway patrol’s Leading Senior Constable Greg Wolfe has a simple answer when asked why police bother doing breath tests in the middle of the day: “It’s because we keep detecting people like the 56-year-old Mt Martha woman pulled over in Osborne Drive at 1.45pm, Thursday 2 May, who blew 0.233 per cent and the 41-year-old Cranbourne West man detected in Frankston at 11.30am, Tuesday 7 May who blew 0.238 per cent.” “Remember, you can be tested for alcohol and drugs while driving anywhere, anytime.” First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 14 May 2019
A MOTORBIKE rider wearing a purple Ellesse leisure suit with matching shoes and scarf showed plenty of attitude while speeding along Peninsula Link Frankston on 22 April. Detectives are keen to speak with him over a range of “high range and excessive speed offences”. The rider with a tattoo on the back of his left hand was colour coordinated, too: his bike is believed to be a purple Harley Davidson V-ROD. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 14 May 2019
MORNINGTON MP David Morris has called on Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne to add an extra bus service from Frankston to the Mornington Peninsula. “There is an urgent need for an additional bus service from Frankston station to cater for the large number of students being left behind during the morning rush,” Mr Morris said. The issue came into focus last week when the mayor Cr David Gill admitted: “Our advocacy efforts and those of the community have not resulted in any significant upgrades to bus services on the peninsula.” (“Bus services get an F (for fail)” The News 8/5/19).…
THE Access All Terrain program co-designed by YMCA Mt Eliza project coordinator Jason Ellery is a finalist in the VicHealth Initiative of the Year Award. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the awards, which celebrate the achievements of sportspeople with disabilities, as well as the coaches, organisations, officials and volunteers who support them. Mr Ellery has a spinal cord injury and, as a wheelchair user, is able to show the perspective of a person with a disability as well as advocate for them. As a lover of the outdoors and being active, Mr Ellery previously played wheelchair rugby for…
BEFORE Eliza discovered that “the rain in Spain falls mainly in the plane” and Higgins struggled with “why can’t the English learn to speak”, these two characters graced the stage in George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. Much like an artist sculpting a statue of a goddess, Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering attempt to turn street flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a Duchess. However, women are not stoic pieces of art, they are passionate beings with their own mind, a fact that the men forget to consider. As the original My Fair Lady, Pygmalion not only explores the language barriers that…
With Keith Platt UPKEEP and management of the Mornington Peninsula’s public boat ramps is still a grey area – despite it being six months since the state government announced that it was taking over the role. The first the shire knew of it came in a surprise pre-election announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews on Channel 31’s Talking Fishing in November. Since then, the shire has “continued to do the right thing” by checking and maintaining boat ramps to make sure they are safe for the public, the mayor Cr David Gill said. However, no provision had been made for boat…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is calling on all Flinders electorate candidates in Saturday’s federal election to commit to spending more money in the shire. The mayor Cr David Gill says the electorate will benefit if Flinders is seen as a swinging seat. He says the peninsula has suffered because the seat has been regarded for years as “safe” for the Liberal Party, and consequently ignored by all political parties. The shire’s involvement in the election (including a full page advertisement in this issue of The News) comes at the same time as a phone poll of 440 voters indicating that Liberal…
JUST days out from Saturday’s election, mayors from municipalities throughout Australia have demanded that the next federal government takes swift action to tackle climate change. The 15 mayors – including Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Cr David Gill – are from the Cities Power Partnership, the country’s largest local government climate alliance. Cr Gill said local governments around Australia and the world have “been leading on climate action for decades” but their efforts were increasingly being stifled by the “shocking inaction” of state and federal governments. “This election, the conversation we should be having is about the devastating costs of not taking…
BELIEVE it or not, snow and floods hit Peninsula Specialist College early Friday morning – right on school drop-off time. A reader sent in pictures of a frozen white roadway and flooded grounds. “Everyone was quite bewildered,” she said. Principal Peter Koop would not comment on the extreme-weather event which forced the school, in Old White Hill Road, Dromana, to shut for the day. Just kilometres away, Eastbourne Primary School was also faced with a watery dilemma as rain quickly filled a car park exit. No snow, but certainly no lack of water. Pictures: Yanni (main and) supplied First published…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Frankston man Anthony John Papettas. The 44-year-old was last seen in Hastings Street Frankston about 4pm on 2 April. Police and family members hold concerns for Anthony’s welfare as he requires regular medication for a medical condition which he does not have with him. Anthony is approximately 175cm tall with a solid build, balding with short grey hair, a tanned complexion and brown eyes. He was unshaven when he was last seen. He was last seen wearing a blue jumper and black t-shirt. An image of Anthony has been released…
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man following the death of a man in Hastings on Monday night. Emergency services were called to an address on Salmon Street about 7.45pm on 5 May after reports a man had been stabbed. The 43-year-old Hastings man subsequently passed. A 46-year-old Hastings man was arrested on the night and has today been charged with one count of murder. He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon. Victoria Police News – Wednesday, 8 May 2019
Carrum Downs police conducted a random breath test as part of Operation Probe this morning. A 41-year-old driver was pulled over at an RBT site on Frankston-Dandenong Road about 11.30am. The Cranbourne West man, who was driving with his 8-year-old son, returned an evidentiary breath test of 0.238. His licence was immediately suspended for 12 months and his vehicle has been impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1040. He will also be charged on summons with drink driving related matters.
A BAXTER farmer says he could “double [our] workforce to 50 and triple or quadruple production” if his property had access to a reliable supply of recycled water. Wayne Shields and partner Tash, from Peninsula Fresh Organics, grow 50 varieties of organic vegetables, such as heirloom carrots, beetroot and radish on their 16-hectare farm. The couple also have 40 hectares at Barham on the Murray River, bought in 2013 to extend their growing season and their range. The couple’s plight echoes that of Moorooduc orchardists Mark and Jacki Paganoni who are also suffering as the big dry continues. Their Atlanta…
AN organisation serving the disadvantaged around Western Port celebrated its 40th birthday with 40 guests at Flinders Golf Club. Western Port Community Support manager Georgia Hourn said the Hastings-based agency founded in humble circumstances in April 1979 had “grown to become the largest provider of emergency relief in the Western Port region”. “Presently we are a team of three part-time staff, including myself, alongside Liz Maher, who is coordinator of volunteers and administrative assistant, and Kara Van Der Heyde, our housing and support case worker.” Ms Hourn praised the “35 dedicated volunteers” who make the service hum. “As a volunteer…
WOMEN have found their calling at the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard’s Western Port Flotilla, based in Hastings, which has a higher percentage of females than most. Of the 48 members, 29 per cent are female – said to be almost 10 per cent higher than the state average. Members come from diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and ages to assist at the flotilla which responds to maritime emergencies 24 hours a day all year. The area they cover is one of the largest in Victoria: 680 square kilometres which extends out into Bass Strait and takes in 263 kilometres of coastline, including…
HOMICIDE Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Hastings, Sunday night, 5 May. It is believed two neighbours were involved in an argument at a house on Salmon Street when one, aged 43, was allegedly stabbed with a serrated edged weapon. Emergency services were called to the house about 7.45pm. They placed the injured man in an ambulance, but he died on the way to hospital. Detectives on Monday were interviewing a man, 46, who was arrested at the scene and taken to Frankston CIU. A woman seen speaking to police at the…
Marine Investigation Unit detectives are investigating following the death of a diver in the bay yesterday (5 May). A 41-year-old man from Carrum Downs contacted police and was subsequently arrested in Mordialloc today. The incident happened when a diver, a 29-year-old Blackburn man, was allegedly struck by a speed boat in the bay between Frankston and Mornington just before 1pm. The injured diver and his dive partner were picked up out of the water by a passing boat and were conveyed to the Frankston pier. Paramedics performed CPR on the man but unfortunately he died on the pier. The second…
DIVISION ONE PINES have gone another game without a defeat this season, after just beating the Frankston Bombers past the post on Saturday. The Bombers proved they could be a threat to the reigning premiers with a strong first quarter. Frankston Bombers went into the first break with a 14 point advantage. Pines worked their way back into the lead by half time, but the momentum swung again in the third quarter. Heading into the final term, Pines would have to overcome a nine point deficit to keep their unbeaten start to the year intact. Despite their best efforts throughout…
DIVISION TWO CHELSEA restricted Brendan Fevola to just one goal on Saturday to secure an impressive win over Hastings at Thomas Barclay Reserve. Fevola hit the scoreboard with a goal just over a minute into the game, but failed to make an impact after that. He managed four behinds for the rest of the afternoon. Chelsea had to work hard and trailed at every break of play, but only by less than a goal. The Seagulls saved their best for last as they stormed home in the final quarter. They scored three unanswered goals to establish a buffer, which Hastings…
SOCCER PENINSULA Strikers are back on the promotion trail after a stunning 7-0 thrashing of Heatherton United at Centenary Park on Saturday. Heatherton had gone into this State 2 South-East contest with just one loss this season but a first-half hat-trick from the outstanding John Prescott had secured the points by half-time. Second half doubles from Josh Calle and Anton Vulic completed the whitewash. Strikers had lost three games heading into this clash and although they are just five points off the pace head coach Danny Verdun believes that there still is a lot of work ahead. “While we’re pleased…
MORNINGTON-based racehorse trainer David Brideoake took out the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) in South Australia on Saturday 4 May with his classy filly Princess Jenni. Despite a pre-race delay, the three-year-old daughter of High Chaparral scored a decisive one length victory to land Brideoake’s third career Group One win. With champion jockey Damien Oliver on board, Princess Jenni weaved her way through the field to defeat the Archie Alexander-trained Mirette and John Sargent-trained House of Cartier. The victory was the first of two Group One wins for Oliver on the day, and his fourth Australasian Oaks win. Brideoake’s racing…
A MEETING of the Frankston Progress Association was held on the 2nd May when the following gentlemen were present: Messrs Jolly (president) Brody, F. Wells, Jacobs, P. Wells, McMurtrie, Wood, Lawrey, Jennings, Hyndes, W. W. Young and Mrs Burton. The secretary reported; that the Hallam-Berwick drainage scheme was in abeyance pending the completion of certain other water works; that the petition re Kananook creek was being well-signed at the various busness places; that the Health Officer had asked to be supplied with a specific case of sickness caused by the Kananook creek; that the Railway Commissioners said no alteration could…
THIS legendary Irish folk music duo began in 1975 when Mick Foster & Tony Allen formed their duo FOSTER & ALLEN. For three years they toured cabaret venues in Ireland and the UK. Their big break-through came in 1978 when they released the single A Bunch of Thyme in Ireland which stayed in the Irish Charts for an unbelievable 53 weeks. However, at this stage their success was only known to Ireland and it was not until 1982 that A Bunch of Thyme was released in the UK. It was played by all the radio stations in Britain and…
AFTER accepting what it terms a “peer review” a national retailers’ organisation has slammed the proposed Kaufland bid for Mornington as “confirming the worst fears of local small and family businesses” in Mornington Peninsula Shire. Employer industry association MGA Independent Retailers, representing grocery, liquor and hardware retailers, says a recent economic impact assessment had found that Kaufland’s potential effect on “local businesses will be permanent and ongoing”. The giant German-owned retailer is eyeing six sites in Victoria – including a 4000-metre site in Mornington near the corner of Nepean Highway and Oakbank Road. State planning minister Richard Wynne has overridden…
THE finding of Matthew Flinders’ grave during excavations for the London railway inspired historians to hold a small ceremony in Mornington to mark the navigator and cartographer’s links to the Mornington Peninsula. His remains were officially identified in January by archaeologists excavating a former burial ground near Euston railway station. Captain Matthew Flinders led the second circumnavigation of New Holland in the early 1800s, which he later named “Australia or Terra Australis” and identified it as a continent. The first circumnavigation was by Abel Tasman in 1642-43, who also charted its north coast in 1644. Flinders’ return to England was…
MORNINGTON archer Zach Tonizzo had great success at the Youth National Archery Championships at Armidale, NSW, 12-16 April. As a member of the Frankston Archery Club he and teammates Jai Crawley, Elizabeth Ainge and Tian Mortimer brought home 11 medals: three gold, three silver and five bronze. Zach, 17, came second in Target in under-20 Male Recurve; third in Field and third in Short Range. Asked what he enjoyed most about the tournament he said: “It’s hard to pick a single event as they were all so much fun. It would have to be the field course because, not only…
ARGUABLY Australia’s best Elvis impersonator Rick Charles together with his son Adrian as Freddie Mercury of Queen are star attractions at a Variety charity fundraiser at Mornington Yacht Club from 7.30pm on Saturday 18 May. “A Musical Affair with a King and Queen” has been organised by Variety Bash stalwarts John Crossin and John Mackie of Mornington as they prepare for another wild ride across Australia in August, from Melbourne to Geraldton in WA, in Car 86, their Ford Fairlane LTD that once carried Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser around Canberra. This will be John Crossin’s 16th Bash and the 15th…
By Barry Morris A MORNINGTON church group wants Australia’s political leaders to increase overseas aid which has dropped to an all-time low. St Macartan’s Catholic Church social justice group says the lack of commitment to foreign aid is a “disgrace”. The group has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Greens leader Richard di Natale. As well as publishing the letter in St Macartan’s parish bulletin, it has sent the letter to peninsula church newsletters and bulletins in the hope of alerting all people of goodwill on the dire…