FROM Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock and as a solo artist with no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s most awarded, respected and well-known artists! From the legendary band Daddy Cool whose number one anthem Eagle Rock smashed all previous sales records in Australia, to the 1977 formation of Mondo Rock, delivering 80’s hits ‘Cool World’, ‘State of The Heart’, ‘Chemistry’, ‘No Time’, and ‘Come Said The Boy’ and into the 21st century as a solo performer, Wilson has never been out of the…
Year: 2019
LAST week Mr R. W. B. McKenzie of Melbourne Road had the pleasure of welcoming home his soldier son, Lieutenant McKenzie, who as a member of the Flying Corps saw service in Egypy, Gallipoli and France. *** MR A. K. T. Sambell, C.E., having secured an extended lease of “Balnawartha,’ in Frankston, intends establishing his home here at an early date. *** AN old identity passed away on Sunday in the person of Mrs Henderson, of Cranbourne Road, Frankston. The funeral took place on Monday. *** THEIR many friends were pleased to welcome Privates Bob. Dean and Roger Burton who…
TROY Thornton, the former officer-in-charge at Mornington Fire Station who chose to end his life in a Swiss euthanasia clinic last week, left behind a loving family, many friends and a message to legislators. Mr Thornton, 54, who suffered from multiple system atrophy, said in an interview with website Starts at 60: “The Victorian euthanasia legislation needs to be modified to enable people like me with a chronic degenerative disease to have access to the law, not only those defined as ‘terminal’. “As a first-responder I have seen too many traumatic suicides and suicide attempts. An assisted suicide in Australia…
RESIDENTS in the Dalsten Grove area of Mt Eliza are concerned about the safety of mainly elderly pedestrians near Canadian Bay Road as they approach the shopping precinct. They are “desperate for council traffic management action” on the roads which they say are lined with cars of shop staff who “park on both sides of the road all day plus other vehicles entering and exiting Dalsten Grove”. Complaints from residents in Dalsten Grove, Woodland Close and Mews and Clarkestown Avenue, led to the deputy mayor Cr Rosie Clark and Cr Bev Colomb to hold a public meeting also attended by…
PROTESTERS against the Kaufland “mega store” being built on the Bata Shoes site in Nepean Highway, Mornington are taking to the streets, with John and Lorraine Smythe spelling out their opposition in signs near Oakbank Road last week. “We are organising local residents, traders and other interested parties to join our campaign,” their neighbour and fellow Oakbank Road resident Janet Street said. “We hold an information table on Wednesdays at the Main Street market and will be organising large crowds to be outside each hearing day in Mornington to protest against Kaufland. “The proposal includes a 430 vehicle car park…
Murray Mandel has taken his talents to the road in a bid to raise money for Lifeline. The 65-year-old classical guitarist is two years into a three-year journey on behalf of the national 24-hour crisis support phone service. Lifeline volunteers provide suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance, either by phone, face-to-face and online. Mendel, pictured, who lives in Sydney, began his travelling troubadour lifestyle from Canberra in March 2016 with hopes of being back there by 9 March 2020. He has a 75-song repertoire of classical pieces, some of which he’ll be playing at Bentons Square shopping…
IT’S getting hot and crowded on the stairs at Birdrock Beach, Mt Martha. While some visitors are happy to enjoy the scenery and tranquillity, others seem more concerned about beating their personal best times as they rush up and down. Regular stair walker Rob Dawson, of Mt Martha, says barbs are often exchanged between the groups and admits his occasional comments have drawn return fire. To lighten the mood, Mr Dawson has penned light-hearted poems which he thinks encapsulate the method – and the madness – of the bustling scene. He places them along the fence near the stairs along…
AN animal welfare body offering subsidised cat desexing on the Mornington Peninsula has been kept busy. The Humane Society for Animal Welfare launched the pilot project Thursday 20 February as a “trial to be evaluated past the initial response”. Save Mornington Pound Animals organiser Rosy Fischer, who is assisting the group, said 70 vouchers were requested by residents in the first week. The service will target cats in the Rosebud and Hastings areas, which Ms Fischer says are “the worst areas for all pets with most of the impounded pets coming from these areas”. Ms Fischer…
Mornington Peninsula Shire is lining up to congratulate a Dromana supermarket for winning several in-house industry awards. Ritchies Supa IGA Dromana was last month named IGA International Retailer of the Year. The award was presented to CEO Fred Harrison and Jarrod Swaine at the international IGA conference in San Diego, US. Not to be outdone by the hype, shire councillors are arranging some publicity around the store’s awards. In a flurry of emails between councillors, the mayor Cr David Gill said he supported “the idea of official shire recognition for IGA”. “Great news indeed for Ritchies Supa IGA Dromana to…
THE discovery of a metre-long tiger snake behind a Dromana fish-and-chip shop was an unwelcome surprise for proprietor June Wu, Wednesday 27 February. “A delivery guy came in and said: ‘Do you realise you have a snake out the back,’” she said. “It was in the gas meter. I went out and it was the first time I’ve ever seen a snake outside of the zoo.” Ms Wu, the proprietor for 10 years, said she called snake catcher Barry Goldsmith who was able to quickly bag the reptile for release “within five kilometres”. Mr Goldsmith said the snake was the…
Fire-fighting appliances, as well as three Elvis air cranes and two helicopters, tackled a fast-moving bushfire at Shoreham, Thursday 28 February. An emergency warning was issued for people living south-east of the blaze about 1.45pm, however this was downgraded to a watch-and-act about 4pm. A CFA spokesperson described the fire in a plantation off Punty Lane, between Shoreham and Mornington-Flinders roads, as a “dynamic scene” confronting firefighters on the ground and the helicopters operating out of Tyabb Airport. She said the fire was threatening homes on Tucks Road and moving south fanned by fresh northerly winds towards Western Port and…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol nabbed 239 motorists speeding during Operation Hisser, which ran from December to mid-February. It targeted speeding on high risk or high speed rural roads on the Mornington Peninsula. Of those pulled over 41 were prosecuted for low level speeding (less than 10kph over the limit) and 11 were detected at loss-of-licence speeds. Acting Senior Sergeant Dave Collins said that while the number of detections was high, the “majority of motorists were travelling within the speed limit, which contributed to lower trauma on our roads, with only one serious-injury collision on the targeted roads in the operation”. He…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol officers are appealing for witnesses after two incidents – one fatal – in Somerville and surrounding suburbs last week. In the first incident a motorcyclist in his 50s died when he collided with a utility in Somerville, 4.30pm, Monday 25 February. Police said the white Holden ute was being driven erratically, first in Bungower Road about 4pm, and then travelling north on Tyabb-Tooradin Road, when it collided with the southbound motorbike at 4.25pm. A black Holden Commodore then crashed into the utility. The driver of the utility and the female passenger in the Commodore were taken to hospital…
MORNINGTON Peninsula residents are being asked to help the police disrupt the manufacture and supply of drugs in the community by reporting anything they know about offenders. The nation-wide Dob in a Dealer campaign paid for by the federal government aims to stop the supply of drugs, such as methylamphetamine (ice), cocaine, MDMA, heroin and cannabis. It also gives residents an opportunity to support their friends, families and colleagues by voicing their suspicions about who is dealing in drugs in their area. Crime Stoppers Victoria’s Cassandra Joyce said public support played a crucial role in police intervention against criminals and…
The battle for the seat of Flinders in the May federal election became a three-cornered contest on Friday with Labor announcing Josh Sinclair as its candidate. Mr Sinclair was campaign manager for Chris Brayne, who won the seat of Nepean in last year’s (24 November) state election. He was later appointed as Mr Brayne’s office manager. Mr Sinclair’s official endorsement by Labor follows reports last month that Tracee Hutchison would be the party’s candidate. However, Ms Hutchison, a broadcaster and journalist, later said she would not be a candidate despite giving it serious consideration and being “flooded” with support and…
The CSIRO is leading studies into the likely effects of climate change along the Port Phillip coastline. “This project is an important piece of the puzzle in understanding what climate change means for Victoria’s natural and built environments,” Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) project manager, Dr Tamara van Polanen Petel said. The department is one. The project – which involves government departments and bayside municipalities – will assess the extent of three key coastal hazards: inundation, coastal erosion, and groundwater change – under several climate change scenarios. “We know that climate change is happening, and we know…
ADAM Mill has a trademark beard. He’s known in the Rosebud area as a swimming instructor and, more recently, as a leader with Rosebud Sea Scouts. However, he’s now decided to sacrifice his distinctive facial hair to raise money for leukemia research. Mr Mill says the tragic consequences of the disease were brought home to him 18 months ago when a friend of his wife’s died “leaving a widow and five amazing children”. Sea scout Rachael Wood and cub Blake Kelso have also raised their hands to lose their hair to help the leukemia foundation. Rachael’s hair will be made…
Police are searching for two men following two incidents of theft and assault in Pearcedale in January and February. On 20 January at about 8pm it is believed two men have approached the victim outside his home on East Road and punched him to the face before stealing cash from his car. The victim received minor injuries. The men ran to a SUV which was driven away by a third man. On 17 February it is believed the two men returned to the same location in a silver Nissan sedan. One of the men smashed the windscreen of the same…
DETECTIVES are keen to talk to a man and woman after a dumpster was set alight at the rear of David Prosser Seafoods, Blake Street, Mornington, 1am, Saturday 16 February. Detective Shane Moodie, of Somerville CIU, said $1000 damage was caused by the blaze. Mornington fire brigade latter extinguished the fire.
By Jay McCarthy-Rivero After 48 solo art exhibitions across the world, Dutch born Mornington artist, Phillippe de Kraan, is facing his toughest assignment as an artist – exhibiting at the New York Art Expo in April. De Kraan is being represented by The Gallery Steiner, a Vienna based gallery which exhibits works at arts fairs across the world. “It is a great honour to be represented by The Gallery Steiner,” de Kraan said. “To be represented by them will help cast my art across the world stage.” In New York, he’ll be exhibiting two works, Parody of Life and There…
Tony Duboudin The historic cargo shed at Flinders pier it packs a lot of history into a small space. The eight metres by five metres shed is the only building in Flinders on the Victoria Heritage Register. Built in the 1870s, the shed has been renovated and now home to an interpretive display tracing the history of the area back to the days before European settlement. The shed and interpretive display was officially opened to the public by Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill on Thursday 21 February. The ceremony was attended by members of the Flinders District Historical…
AN estimated crows of 4000 people was in Hastings for the 50th Western Port Festival on the weekend to watch the parade, enjoy music, and participate in free activities. Organisers were “very happy with the turn-out” who took in the action on the foreshore, including Sunday’s Classic Car Show with 200 British, US and European cars, Battle of the Bands, rides and attractions, sand sculpture, competitions, amusements, community market and fireworks display. About 40 community groups marched down High Street in Saturday’s parade followed by a flash mob’s – kids from Simply Dance – unplanned dance action bringing up the…
PASSERS-BY put a stop to a potential wine theft at a Mt Martha bottle shop, Wednesday 6 February. Mornington police say a man, pictured, entered the Lochiel Avenue business about 4pm. After allegedly slipping a bottle of wine into his bag he tried to leave the store without paying but was grabbed and the bottle retrieved. The would-be thief ran off. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Western Port News – 26 February 2019
SOMERVILLE soprano Harmony Lee, right, will perform at the 21st anniversary Opera in the Market in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market on 4 March. The 19-year-old singer, who graduated from secondary school in 2017, has made a name for herself this summer with her performance – with fellow Opera Scholars Australia students – of the appeal to Saint Seraphina from Malcolm Williamson’s Our man in Havana ahead of Beechworth’s Opera in the Alps. For the past six years Lee has paid for her singing lessons by busking with her voice and violin. She is now rehearsing with her 21 fellow scholars…
THE weather is looking good for next weekend’s Western Port Angling Club annual whiting challenge. The 2-3 March event – the club’s 30th – is expected to attract up to 300 competitors because of the many whiting being caught in the bay. Categories are senior male, senior female, teens and under-10s. Fishing identity Paul Worsteling is offering $1000 for the first 1.0 kilogram whiting weighed during the challenge. Broadcaster David Kramer will present prizes from 4pm, Sunday 3 March, at the angling club’s rooms next to the Hastings public boat ramp. Entries close 2pm Saturday 2 March. Details on the…
Police are currently on the scene of a collision that occurred about 4.30pm today (25 February) in Somerville. It is believed a man driving a white Holden utility north on Tyabb-Tooradin Road collided with a man riding a motorbike southbound. The motorcyclist, believed to be in his 50s, died at the scene. Another car, a black Holden Commodore, crashed into the utility following the initial collision. The driver of the utility and the female passenger of the Holden Commodore were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Any witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage of the collision is urged to contact…
PENINSULA MOOROODUC have put themselves in pole position to claim a win over Crib Point with a good performance on day one of their clash at Crib Point Recreation Reserve. Having been sent in to bat first, Moorooduc got off to a shaky start when they lost two quick wickets early. A steadying innings of 42 runs from number 4 batsman Shamith Kennangara helped Moorooduc correct their course, and they eventually ended up making 185 runs before being bowled out. Things would have been worse for Crib Point if not for Matthew Blake, who posted bowling figures of 4/16 off…
SOCCER BAXTER soccer club discovered 14 heroes on Saturday and set a benchmark of commitment for the upcoming season that threatens to silence the naysayers and confound its critics. In one of the most remarkable stories of the FFA Cup the local club overcame enormous odds to record a 3-2 victory after 120 minutes of gut-busting effort. Here was a club that a few days earlier was facing the possibility of having to forfeit this fixture. Worse still rumours abounded about players leaving and forcing the committee to withdraw its senior and reserve teams from State 4 South. Senior coach…
PINECLIFF-based racehorse trainer, Anthony Freedman (Mt Eliza), has landed Godolphin’s very first victory in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday 23 February. The famous royal blue silks were carried to victory by jockey Luke Currie as the Freedman-trained Lyre surged from the second half of the field to secure Victoria’s richest juvenile race by half a length. Lyre is one of five Godolphin youngsters that the Freedman stable have under their care, and the only one that they’ve had raced. “This is a great result for our family,” Anthony Freedman said. “Our association with Godolphin…
MOUNT Martha Lifesaving Club has been crowned Victorian Masters Champions for 2019 with a victory at Lorne on Saturday 9 February. The 22-strong MMLSC Masters team finished just five points ahead of Mordialloc Lifesaving Club, with 21 of their members landing individual medals. The annual Masters’ event saw more than 30 clubs from across Victoria and more than 300 competitors enter the competition. Mount Martha Lifesaving Club president and Masters competitor, Bec Gibbs, said it was a fantastic day overall and even better to claim the Master championship. “It’s fantastic, it’s great for our club and it’s great for our…