By Barry Morris Two men are waging war against Indian myna birds, sometimes called flying rats and cane toads of the sky, which they say are a scourge on the Australian landscape. Peter Wiltshire, senior ranger at Darebin Parklands where he has spent 33 years, and Michael Mann, a volunteer and a member of the parkland’s friends group, are dedicated to spreading the message of the harm the bird is causing. They have spent years trying to rid Darebin Parklands of the Indian myna which drove the eastern rosella from the urban park. Mr Mann now lives at Hastings. His…
Year: 2019
More than 40 artists have donated original works of art to support Peninsula Home Hospice. Their “traditional to contemporary” works will be sold through a silent auction art show, Unframed-Art. The auction will be attended by the artists and held 5pm Saturday 13 April, at Southern Bouys Studios, Mornington. The auction is a fundraising event for Peninsula Home Hospice, a not-for-profit, community palliative care organisation that provides free palliative care and practical support to people living at home with a life threatening illness. The home hospice care team includes specialist palliative care nurses, counsellor-case workers, palliative medical consultants, a spiritual…
THE Future Health Hub partnership between Peninsula Health and Monash University has received a shot in the arm from the federal government, with Dunkley MP Chris Crewther and Health Minister Greg Hunt jointly announcing $32 million for the aged care and mental health project. The budget boost for the partnership was announced alongside a $10 million injection into the paediatric emergency centre at Frankston Hospital. The Health Futures Hub project has received bipartisan support from both major federal parties. Mr Hunt said “this funding will help deliver new research and treatment programs for our elderly and those with addiction and…
AN industry expert will be brought in to help manage the lead up, as well as after, the opening of the Rosebud Aquatic Centre. The five-year fee-for-service management model adopted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council at is meeting on Tuesday 12 March includes up to 12 months’ pre-opening planning for the $41 million pool complex which is expected to open in September 2020. Under the model the council will retain control of business functions, such as asset management, utilities, maintenance, fees and charges, while the centre manager will provide input on key decisions and oversee the pool’s day-to-day operations. The…
A DONATION of three iPads to nonverbal students at Mornington Special Development School is allowing them to communicate with their families, teachers, carers and friends – some for the first time. The students are learning how to use the devices through an app. “Students benefit from instant feedback and communication programs on their new iPads and they have fun while doing it,” Principal David Newport said. “The school struggles financially to provide up-to-date technology. This is a great start. These kids will have a better opportunity to improve their communication skills.” The iPads are part of an $80,000 donation of…
A YOUNG Mornington woman who “always wanted to help people” is the first to enter a traineeship program at Mornington Peninsula CIU. Victoria Police launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school-based traineeships in 2017 and the program is said to have “made great strides” since then. The program is designed for students completing years 10, 11 or 12 who are interested in a career with Victoria Police and is available at several police stations around the state. Ashcka Woods, 18, a Year 12 student at Mornington Secondary College, is completing the program as part of her Certificate III in…
Recycled material collected by Mornington Peninsula Shire is set to resume being “processed” instead of being taken to landfill. Bans on the shire’s recycling processor SKM were lifted late last month and infrastructure services executive manager Jessica Wingad was late last week hoping to have “an update and timeframe for when our recycling will start to be processed again in the coming days”. “Once our recycling processing resumes, the shire will be able to confirm the total quantity of recyclable material sent to landfill as a result of the shutdown,” she said. The recycling processor was unable to take waste…
Five of the Mornington Peninsula’s Port Phillip beaches are ranked in the top 10 for water quality by Environment Protection Authority Victoria. Top of the 36-beach list for having the best water quality over summer was Santa Casa, followed closely by Easter, The Dell and Portarlington – all beaches on the Bellarine peninsula. Portsea and Rosebud came in at equal five, up from eight the previous summer. Overall, water quality at the bay’s beaches was rated good throughout summer, except after large rain events which produced days when swimming should not take place. Brighton came in as the worst of…
Rye Tennis Club is opening up the courts to offer a Free Tennis Day to the public. The club will be welcoming people of all ages who have never played before through to tennis regulars to the club on Sunday April 7th between 11am and 2pm to enjoy free activities including: ANZ junior HotshotsCardiotennisSpeed serveHit the Target competitionCoachingFree Social playFree sausage sizzlePrizes and more This promises to be a lot of fun and you don’t need to know how to play tennis to come along and join in. We encourage everyone to pick up a racquet, have a hit and…
The roar of engines in the dead of night was deafening, and the commotion the largest Tyabb has ever seen. But by sunrise, the only sign of the previous night’s strange activity was a familiar light blue 747 parked off the runway at Tyabb’s airport. Yes, Trump had touched down, and he was a man on a mission. He had endured a partial government shut-down to get it, but he finally had the cash to build his wall and, quite frankly, it was burning a hole in his pocket. Back in Washington, Trump’s lightning visit was top of the discussion…
A shoplifter with a penchant for baby formula is being sought by detectives. The man, pictured, entered the Woolworths supermarket at Bentons Square, Dunns Road, Mornington 5pm, Saturday 9 March, and stole $498 of baby formula. Detectives said he made several attempts to steal formula at the store as well as from other Woolworth’s stores in the area. Police have released CCTV images of the man described as Indian in appearance, late 20s, 175cm tall and with a thin build. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at…
THE real estate agent’s waiver said it all: “Please note this is a working fire station at the moment. Inspections may be cancelled at short notice.” And so, forewarned, potential buyers of the old Crib Point fire station in Disney Street, pictured, are making their inspections before it goes to auction for the first time in 50 years on Saturday 13 April. Harcourts Jason Dowler said the 770 square metre residential zone block offered a “multitude of options”. It has shedding for up to five vehicles, a main building and smaller shed, kitchen and meeting room and bathroom facilities, and…
PENINSULA BADEN Powell are champions of the Peninsula division of MPCA cricket after defeating Main Ridge at Pearcedale Rec Reserve last weekend. On day one Main Ridge chose to bat first, and would have done very poorly if not for some brilliant individual performances from two batsmen. A spectacular innings of 94 runs from Daniel Polson was vital for his side. Another well taken 62 from Shaun Foster also looked as if it would be a huge help. Main Ridge ended up at 9/204 at the end of play on day one. Play restarted on Sunday for day two and…
SOCCER FRANKSTON council re-turfed Monterey Reserve on Friday and the work was so extensive that Southern United was forced to call-off five matches scheduled for the venue on Saturday. The local women’s club plays at the elite level of the sport in Victoria and president Shannon Palmer was furious that no-one from council contacted her to tell her what was planned. “It’s a complete and utter debacle for us,” Palmer said on Sunday. “I don’t know why they didn’t contact us and tell us what they’d planned. “They contacted (co-tenant) Frankston Pines but they didn’t say what day they were…
MORNINGTON’S Shelley Heath made her debut for Melbourne Football Club’s AFLW team on 9 March. The 18-year-old, who finished school last year after attending Mornington Secondary College, was drafted by Melbourne in October. “We were surprised and thrilled that Shelley was drafted,” said mum Gill Heath. That was the beginning of a lot of hard work and training that culminated in the start against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Shelley’s winning spirit has followed her through life. An Australian Taekwondo champion at age eight, she grabbed the opportunity to play Australian Rules Football with both hands. Rising through the…
MORNINGTON-based trainers made the Mornington Cup day their own on Saturday 23 March, claiming both of the day’s feature races, the Mornington Cup and the Hareeba Stakes, as well as winning four of the nine races on the day. The David Brideoake-trained stayer and talented jumper, Self Sense, continued his exceptional form on the flat with a victory in the day’s highlight, the $350,000 Mornington Cup, just six days after landing the Yarra Valley Cup. Self Sense ($12) settled midfield and moved into the race boldly under jockey Luke Nolen approaching the home turn before fending off the persistent challenge…
MR Henry Scarborough, who died at the residence of his son, Cranbourne Road, Frankston, on Tuesday last, had attained the ripe old age of 81 years. He was born in 1838 near what is now Market Street, Melbourne, 3 years after the Yarra district became a white settlement. Mr. J. Fleming, a member of the Brunswick shire council, who is still living, was Mr Scarborough’s senior by a few months, and is believed to be the oldest Victorian native. Mr Scarborough’s father was the first poundkeeper of Melbourne, the pound being situate in Elizabeth Street opposite the present site of…
JO Cooper is a woman with a firm grasp on history. The Peninsula Grange resident who celebrated her 102nd birthday on Saturday 9 March with family and friends, lays claim to being born in Sorrento as the great-great-granddaughter of the first white baby born in the area, Jane Watts, in 1803. Daughter Joyce Curry, who says “it’s an education listening to her stories”, confirmed her mum’s great-grandparents owned Watts Cottage next to the Nepean Historical Society building at the back beach end of Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. Ms Cooper can recall delivering milk and butter to her great-grandmother after school…
Human rights advocate and lawyer Nyadol Nyuon spoke of her family’s difficulties of adjusting to a new society after being brought to Australia from a refugee camp in Kenya. Ms Nyuon, who was born in the refugee camp in Itang, Ethiopia, said the difficulties were faced mainly by her mother, who spoke with “limited English” and had a longing for the place and friends of her birth. Since her family settled in Ballarat, Ms Nyuon has completed a Bachelor Arts from Victoria University and a Juris Doctor from University of Melbourne and currently practises in commercial litigation and as community…
CONCERNS about erosion and the impact of silt on Tanti Creek have been allayed by a fish survey which found that none of the previously recorded species has been lost. The survey, organised by Tanti Creek Friends and conducted by Streamline Research, followed fears that fish numbers and diversity had decreased “significantly” over the past two years. The survey was conducted 5-6 March with samples taken during a dry period after several weeks without rain. It covered the entire length of Tanti Creek and involved setting bait traps and electrofishing, water quality data reviews, assessing the impacts of erosion…
Hundreds of blue and yellow rash vests were the most eye-catching fashion item for the second time in two months at Point Leo beach on Saturday 16 March. Hundreds of blue and yellow vests were visible along the beach as the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula organisation ran a surf day. Groups of people wearing blue vests – supervised by a lesser number of people wearing green or red vests – were either forming two parallel lines in the surf of huddled in groups on the sand before carrying surfboards and their occupants into the water. DSAMP president John Bowers…
THE billy cart derby organised by Point Nepean Men’s Shed went off without a hitch, Saturday 16 March. “We could not have asked for a better day,” organiser Terry Phippen said. “We had all 20 carts in action over the afternoon, plus a few extras, and a design by shed president John Stevenson became instantly popular with competitors of all ages.” Charities to benefit from the $1200 raised were Rye Community House, “Buy a Bale” and Gippsland Farmers’ Relief. “The kids all took to the idea of racing the carts,” Mr Phippen said. “Some were a bit nervous at first,…
Repairs are being made to the sandbag seawall installed to stop erosion at Portsea front beach in 2010. “The seawall was first installed in 2010 and since then has helped protect the foreshore against storm surge, waves, tides and wind,” the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Port Phillip regional director, Kelly Crosthwaite, said. “The outer layer of the of the wall is in poor condition, with wear and tear resulting in damage to several areas. Because of the way the sandbag seawall is constructed, the repairs required are extensive and involve replacing most of the existing wall.” Ms…
BURGLARS forced a rear window at a Rosebud rental property and stole jewellery, between 1-9 March. Taken from the Eighth Avenue property was a chain, two rings, costume jewellery and a jewellery box, valued at $650. A security door, flywire door and a dishwasher were stolen from a house under construction in Bittern, overnight Friday 8 March. A $4800 yellow kayak was stolen from a Mt Martha house that had earlier been gutted by fire. Detectives said burglars forced a garage door at the Spencer Street house that had been unoccupied for several weeks. Offenders unsuccessfully used a jemmy bar…
A MAN was punched, kicked and threatened with a hammer by five men who then stole his phone in Mornington, 4.45am, Sunday 17 March. Detectives said the man was waiting for a cab just off Mornington-Tyabb Road when a white VT Commodore with flashing red and blue lights with five men aboard pulled up. They threatened the victim and, when he refused to hand over his phone and attempted to run away, he was chased down and assaulted. The phone is valued at $500. One of the men is described as a tall Caucasian, two others are described as Aboriginal…
A MORNINGTON milk bar owner chased two men on bikes after they attempted to steal from her shop, 2.45pm, Friday 15 March. Detectives said the men wearing scarves as face coverings entered the Wandella Road shop with a hammer and a knife and attempted to raid the till. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Somerville CIU, said the woman shopkeeper refused and hit out as she tried to defend herself. The men ran out of the shop but not before swinging the hammer and smashing a display case. The victim drove after the men but lost them. Anyone who recognises…
THE upsurge in on-line movie streaming has claimed possibly the last of the neighbourhood video-hire stores on the Mornington Peninsula. Rosebud’s Video Ezy was getting ready to close its doors over the weekend after 10 years in operation. Manager John Conti, who has been at the helm since 2010, said he had stopped hiring out movies on Thursday 21 March and was planning to shut the doors for the last time on Sunday. “I think we are the last video store standing on the peninsula, although there is a Civic Video at Frankston South,” said Mr Conti, who revealed he’d…
The federal government may get involved in safety and accessibility issues at The Pillars cliff jumping site if Labor wins the May election. The party’s candidate for Flinders, Joshua Sinclair says the 400 metre long “temporary” fence erected along the Esplanade at Mt Martha by Mornington Peninsula Shire should be replaced by a boardwalk. Mr Sinclair says that if elected he will work closely with the shire “to ensure an environmentally appropriate, safe, and accessible boardwalk is built”. He says he has told “those living off the esplanade” that he wants to see a permanent solution to this issue and…
COMMUNITY meetings will be held at Mornington, Rosebud and Hastings next month to discuss Mornington Peninsula Shire’s role in supporting older residents following announcement of the federal government’s proposed aged care reforms. The mayor Cr David Gill said Flinders MP Greg Hunt called him on Friday concerned that a news release issued by the shire was misleading. “He [Mr Hunt] said that there would ne no reduction to government funding [for aged care] and that it was already in the budget,” Cr Gill told The News. Cr Gill said three public meetings would help the shire respond to the reforms…
Nepean MP Chris Brayne has suggested Senator Fraser Anning be sent to Indonesia “where, hopefully he might learn some compassion, empathy and, just maybe, come back less ignorant”. Mr Brayne was speaking in state parliament last week after the New Zealand terrorist attacks in which 50 Muslims praying at two Christchurch mosques were shot dead and dozens wounded, Friday 15 March. Senator Anning, a former One Nation and Katter Australia Party MP, later linked the shootings to immigration and called for a ban on Muslim immigration. He was controversially “egged” by a 17-year-old student when making his comments and a…