Year: 2019

HORSE RACING THE consistent Brett Scott-trained gelding, Toosbuy, continued his brilliant start to his preparation by scoring his fourth victory at Cranbourne on Friday 29 November. The six-year-old son of Danerich sat wide and towards the rear of the field for the entire race before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to score a comfortable one-and-three-quarter length victory over the Gary Cluning-trained Written Letter and the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Crimson Tycoon. It was a great way to close out the night for jockey, Daniel Stackhouse, who bought up a winning double having also won on the Lindsay Park-trained Zorro Macho earlier in…

By Brosnan Kelly IN only its second year, two hundred and forty athletes from around Victoria – and some interstate – descended upon the Thomas Barclays Oval for the annual running of the Hastings Gift. An event organised by a local community based group, ‘Peninsula Athletics Association Incorporated’, the Gift was initiated in 2018 in an attempt to raise interest in the suburb and attract tourism to the area, as well as aiding in the continuity of the richly historic sport of Professional Athletics. The AGL Hastings Women’s Gift was run and won by emerging sprint star and local peninsula…

DURING the thunderstorm which took place on Wednesday the lightning was very vivid. One of the gum shade trees in Young. St, near the old garage, was struck and split in two. *** THE Frankston Brass Band will play several selections in the street tomorrow evening. *** Helping Returned Soldier Settler The working “bee” organised by the local Repatriation Committee met at Mr Peters farm on Tuesday. Cr F. H. Wells was in charge, and there was a good muster of both men and teams. Some useful clearing was done, which will prove a substantial “lift” to Returned Soldier Peters.…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Table Tennis Association will this week play host to the best players from Australia and the Oceania region. Stars of Oceania include Heming Hu, Nathan Xu, Melissa Tapper, Grace Yee. They will be competing for a ticket to the teams’ events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the 2019 ITTF Oceania Tour of Australia, Friday to Sunday 6-8 December. Residents are invited to get in on the action at Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, Dunns Road. Association president Max Coulthard said: “We welcome all spectators to come and cheer and a give a warm welcome all…

FORMER Mornington Peninsula Shire Citizen of the Year Karen Fankhauser last week opened the season of Mornington Yacht Club’s Sailability program. As chair of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s disability advisory committee, Ms Fankhauser would have felt right at home in the sailing program which allows people of all ages and abilities to enjoy sailing in a fun and inexpensive way. The program has been running since 1999 and participants can enjoy the freedom and fun of recreational sailing, while the more competitive strive to develop their racing skills. Participants come from the general community, disability service organisations, and special developmental schools.…

A TYRE slasher is costing Mt Martha motorists thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. Using a box cutter or sharp knife the man has slashed the tyres of 23 cars parked outside their owners’ homes – often slashing more than one tyre on each car. Black and white images captured on a resident’s CCTV camera show a hooded man striding purposely along the street. One victim, who did not want his name used, said he had spent $1800 replacing nine tyres. “My daughter’s had seven tyres slashed and I’ve had two,” he said. “If there’s a next time I’m…

A CLASS project by Year 11 Design Technology Fabrics students at Mornington Secondary College will improve life for poverty-stricken children in Africa. Their Little Dresses for Africa project began with donations of pillow cases by parents and other students that the girls crafted into colourful dresses. They will be sent to Africa through the charity and the students will be sent pictures of the girls receiving them. The school’s head of art Lea Gilbert said she came across the idea while looking for recycled fashion ideas. “I thought it would be a great thing to do for charity as well…

FRESH from rescuing a swimmer in danger under Frankston pier, Senior Constable Julie Morris is planning a pier-to-pier swim from the Frankston to Mornington. The endurance swim in January will raise money for the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. To be called #piertopierforourpeers the swim also has the nickname “10k for 10k”. Senior Constable Morris, a member of Frankston police and a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor, led a distressed Corey Wood to safety from under Frankston pier on a hot and windy Thursday 22 November (“Police to the rescue in pier drama” The News 26/11/19). An accomplished long-distance swimmer, Senior…

A ROSEBUD man caught driving at an alleged 111kph, pictured, in a 60 zone near the base of Arthurs Seat had his car impounded and will be summonsed to appear in court for driving at a dangerous speed. The 23-year-old, apprehended at 7.30pm, Sunday 24 November, faces a 12-month driving ban. Somerville Highway Patrol officers also detected a P2 probationary licence holder doing an alleged 141kph on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at McCrae on the same day. The 21-year-old man, of Yarraville, told police he was “on a car cruise and was trying to catch up with mates” about 7pm.…

A SPEECHWRITER has been hired to “provide help” to Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 11 councillors and its CEO John Baker. Christina (Tina) McGuffie was appointed in August “to support our councillors by providing help with the high demand for speeches which has always been a function of the shire’s communications team”, communications and events executive manage Randal Mathieson said. “The peninsula has a very active population and our councillors are highly engaged with their local communities,” Mr Mathieson said. “Each month we receive dozens of requests from community groups for councillors to speak at events, launches and activities throughout the shire.…

WITH more than 25,000 properties on the Mornington Peninsula relying on septic tanks to process their waste water it’s no wonder there are concerns about pollutants entering ground water and waterways. Many of these systems were approved decades ago and are long past their use-by dates. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said it was important to ensure the health of septic tanks systems year round. “A poorly kept septic system is a health risk to our family, friends, waterways and the wider community,” he said. “This also applies to wastewater systems at commercial premises which also contribute to contaminating local…

A MORNINGTON tree-lopping business has been fined almost $7000 for illegally dumping truckloads of mulch and garden waste. This comes after Mornington Peninsula and Frankston councils joined forces to prosecute the company at both the Dromana and Frankston magistrates’ courts. Tree pruning and removal business Trim Up Tree Service, described as a “serial rubbish dumper”, was found guilty of dumping the waste at Mount Martha and Langwarrin. A Mornington Peninsula Shire news release said the shire had a strong zero-tolerance approach to illegally dumped rubbish, successfully prosecuting 12 offenders this year resulting in fines of $12,000. “Illegal dumping is a…

EVERY walk has a start and a finish. On Friday 22 November Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Sam Hearn joined the CEO of Kids Under Cover Jo Swift in taking the first steps of a four-day walk to raise money to prevent young people being homeless. Kids Under Cover has been running for 30 years, although it was the first time its fundraising walk has started in Rosebud. “We hope it’s the first of many,” Cr Hearn said, of the walk which ended in Richmond on Monday. “The work Kids Under Cover has done in this region and the state broadly…

ARMADAS of the stinging bluebottle jellyfish (Physalia utriculus) have been washed up on the Mornington Peninsula’s ocean beaches and may soon be entering Port Phillip. The bluebottle, or Pacific man-of-war, is an occasional visitor to Victorian beaches but more common in Sydney and further north. The wind and currents determine its journey before being brought ashore by incoming tides. Wikipedia says bluebottles differ from other jellyfish in several ways. The gas-filled float supports a number of specialised tentacles, which are actually members of a complicated colony. The individual members, or zooids, cooperate to form what looks like one jellyfish. Some…

THE Environment Protection Authority Victoria says beachgoers should check its forecasting service or sign up for its SMS service before going to the beach on the Mornington Peninsula this summer. EPA chief environmental scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood said the Beach Report, which came on stream last Sunday (1 December), provided information about water quality in Port Phillip. The service ends on the Labour Day weekend next March. The water quality report comes two weeks after South East Water warned that sewage spills into Tanto Creek may have polluted beaches south of Mills Beach, Mornington (“Beach warning” The News 26/11/19). “Our…

IN a two-year trial the speed limits on 38 shire-managed, high risk sealed rural roads will be reduced to 80kph from mid-December. The state government last week approved appeals from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to cut the speed limits to reduce the soaring road toll. So far this year there have been 14 deaths and more than 100 serious injuries – seven on high risk sealed rural roads – compared to two deaths in 2018. Many of the roads chosen for the trial have a history of crashes and have high-crash-risk factors, including narrow lanes, large trees close to the…

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following a fatal collision in Somerville on 25 February. It is alleged a utility collided with a motorcycle on Tyabb-Tooradin Road about 4.25pm. A motorcyclist aged in his 50s died at the scene. The 22-year-old was charged with culpable driving causing death and appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates court yesterday. The Warneet man was bailed to the Melbourne Magistrates court on 24 January.

TAKING part in the Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities competition was a “really positive experience” for students at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Crib Point. The awards aim to “encourage, motivate and celebrate sustainability achievements of rural and regional communities across Australia”. Each year regional and state winners are announced between August and October. The school’s grade 3/4s Sea is my Best Friend project was a finalist in the Active Schools category. It aimed to teach and connect them to the local environment, Jacks and Woolleys Beaches and nature reserves. Students learned about Western Port Bay being a Ramsar site and…

SOMERVILLE Primary School students have been busily knitting during Thursday lunch times for a special project. The students, along with family members and staff, have been making woollen squares which are being crocheted together by colleague Judy Bray to make colourful blankets to donate to The Salvation Army. They will then go towards making cold nights more bearable for the homeless. “The children are loving being involved, and it has been wonderful to see them developing their knitting skills, making new friends and raising their sense of pride in contributing to a team project that is helping others,” school chaplain…

SEVERAL hundred people marched through Hastings last Friday (22 November) to show their disgust of family violence. The fifth Taking a Stand Against Family Violence march organised by Westernport Respectful Relationships Group was formerly known as the White Ribbon March. The annual march raises community awareness about family violence and “helps the community to unite and take a stand together”, Cr Kate Roper said. Speakers at the march included Cr Roper, Hastings Senior Sergeant Andrew Horscroft, family violence survivor Melissa, who shared her own story, and shire staff member Mandy Roche, who gave an overview of the shire’s Gender Equality…

PENINSULA A BRILLIANT performance from Moorooduc has seen them claim an outright win over Pearcedale at home. Pearcedale were bowled out for just 110 in their first innings, which Moorooduc chased down with pace. Moorooduc ended up being bowled out for 222 off just 41 overs, allowing them another opportunity to take on Pearcedale’s batsmen. Pathum De Mel was Moorooduc’s best, smashing 7 sixes on his way to an entertaining total of 70. Pearcedale’s innings got off to a horror start when they lost their opening batsman for a duck off a run out. Things didn’t get much better for…

SOCCER NEWLY promoted Somerville Eagles has been rocked by the resignations of senior coach Scott Morrison, assistant Stan Packer and goalkeeping coach Stuart Mitchell. All three resigned last week due to a difference of opinion with director of football Zach Peddersen over Somerville’s refusal to participate in the 2020 Steve Wallace Memorial Cup. The tournament commemorates the late Langwarrin president who was an icon of the sport in the local area. Peddersen claimed that his club had previously been snubbed by Wallace Cup organisers. “We have never been invited in years and the committee has never received any information or…

THE Arthurs Seat Challenge 6.7km fun run + walk was held on Sunday 10 November. The Challenge is held annually to promote the profile of the Fit to Drive road safety program and to raise funds to enable the continuation of this invaluable program at no cost to the secondary schools on the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston region. The overall male winner was Liam Ryan-Nicholls with a time of 25:53.217, which came extremely close to being a course record, and the overall Female winner was Sarah Klein in 28:09.383. The largest school entry was won by Bayside Christian College and…

HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based racehorse trainer Shane Nichols took out the opening race on Ballarat Cup day with his speedy mare, Tahitian Dancer, on Saturday 23 November. The talented four-year-old daughter of Dawn Approach was looking to make amends after being held up at her previous start at Flemington. Ridden by two kilogram claiming apprentice jockey, Teo Nugent, the speedster drifted to the rear of the field and rounded the corner in last position before letting down strongly in the straight. Storming down the centre of the track, Tahitian Dancer quickly ran past her rivals before being eased down near the…

PERHAPS no community in the State has suffered greater inconvenience, and annoyance through inadequate lighting than the town of Frankston. The grievance is one of long standing and although repeated assurances have been given that cause for complaint would be remedied the users of electric light are still minus a satisfactory service. The experience at Capt Bruce’s meeting in the Frankston Hall last Tuesday night was not one calculated to reflect credit on the town. When the candidate was about half way through his speech the electric light suddenly failed and the hall was plunged into absolute darkness. Capt Bruce,…

MOUNT Martha resident Judi is calling for public assistance to locate five rings, believed lost. And while not one hundred percent sure where they went missing, she has a hunch they fell from her bag while at a café in Mount Eliza. “We were sitting having lunch in a Mount Eliza café on 4 November; the day before Melbourne Cup Day,” said Judi. “I recall reaching into my handbag to get something and I believed they may have fallen out.” The five rings were in a small, bright red, Asian-style purse. Of the five rings, one was an engagement ring,…

NEW signs, blocking tracks and revegetation are the latest moves being made to stop cliff jumpers at The Pillars, Mt Martha. Police and local laws officers will also be keeping a close eye on illegal parking, booking misbehaving motorists where possible. But there will be no return of the fence that last year cost Mornington Peninsula Shire ratepayers about $200,000 and saw police refusing to climb over it to enforce alcohol bans. Last Wednesday (20 November) saw no shortage of thrill seekers jumping off the cliffs, with boats and jet skis anchored close by.” The shire’s coastal planner Laura Crilly…

RESCUING a swimmer struggling in rough water under Frankston pier was all in a day’s work for policewoman and Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Julie Morris. The senior constable (pictured) and her sergeant responded to a distress call on the pier during Thursday 21 November’s strong north winds and 40-degree temperatures. A young man taking a dip before work was unable to climb back onto the pier and wedged himself between pylons and the pier’s roof at about 11.30am. Waves crashing through the pylons were knocking him around and he was barely able to hang on and was forced to hold…

WITH that festive time of the year fast approaching, Santa is planning a return to Mornington Railway. Mornington Railway Preservation Society says its Santa Specials will return on Sundays 1, 8, 15 and 22 December, with two special afternoon departures on Saturdays 14 and 21 December. The rides give children and families the chance to enjoy some Christmas spirit while also experiencing the delights of the heritage railway which opened in 1889. The vintage steam locomotive K163, built in 1941, will be doing the hauling on the one hour return ride. Other activities to keep families entertained include a jumping…

ELEVEN years after it was first suggested, Mt Martha seems set to have its own skatepark. Mornington Peninsula Shire is inviting public comment on plans to build the skatepark as part of a revamp of the playground opposite Mt Martha Primary School, in Glenisla Drive. A public meeting was held on Monday night to discuss the plans and online comments will be accepted up until 5 January next year. The $500,000 plans outlined to councillors at their 22 October meeting describe the Eco Park playground as an active recreation hub that will include a skate and scooter bowl with pockets,…