A MT ELIZA woman must have been in a rush to get to the city early Friday afternoon because she allegedly drove past an unmarked police car on Eastlink, near Thompsons Road, at about 160kph. The 23-year-old was intercepted and found to have a suspended licence due to 79 demerit points as well as outstanding arrest warrants for road-traffic offences. She was arrested and left the scene in handcuffs. Her car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $979. Leading Senior Constable Greg Wolfe, of Somerville Highway Patrol, urges drivers to “slow down, drive according to the conditions…
Year: 2019
POLICE have issued a picture of a man they believe may have smashed a car’s rear side window at McCrae and stolen a woman’s handbag possibly used her credit card to buy alcohol at a nearby supermarket, Monday 28 January. Somerville detectives said the woman parked her car on Point Nepean Road and walked to the beach at lunchtime. Later, she found her car’s window smashed and her handbag missing from the back seat. Police have released CCTV images of a man at the check-out who may be able to assist with their inquiries. Anyone recognising him is asked to…
A COUPLE arrested after a courier’s van was stolen in Mt Eliza while he was making a delivery faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 February charged with more than 60 theft-related offences. The man, 28, and woman, 27, both from the Somerville area, were found asleep in a stolen car at Black Rock, 2am, Thursday 14 February, before they allegedly rammed a police car, injuring one officer. They were apprehended in Brighton soon after while attempting to flee on foot. The driver of the StarTrack van was at the front door of a house in Boxmoor Court, 1.30pm, when…
A NEW Zealand fur seal that had been resting on the beach at Dromana last week (Seal draws crowd and ‘unwelcome’ attention” The News 12/2/19) decided to move further down the bay and hit the high spots of Blairgowrie, Thursday afternoon. But, not content with sunning himself on the sand, the big fellow shuffled across Point Nepean Road, bringing the busy thoroughfare to a halt and prompting shoppers to call police to direct traffic. Constable Garry Robinson, of Rosebud police, said he spent 45 minutes shepherding the seal across the road “with a bit of a rest in the middle”.…
Storm damage: The Jillian lies battered and broken on McCrae beach. Pictures: Supplied ONE of Rye and Rosebud’s longest-serving fishing charter operators suffered a blow last week when The Jillian was wrecked in a fierce storm. Operators Jon and Steve Dart’s Pompei-built 32 footer was washed ashore in huge waves while moored at McCrae, Saturday 9 February. Its cabin and covered area was torn off and the hull split along one side. Last week the 20-passenger boat was sitting high and dry and roped off while the brothers decided what to do with her. In an open letter to friends…
A RED Hill boy was left fighting for life late last week after the car being driven by his mother crashed head-on into another car in Red Hill South. Paramedics rushed to the horror scene on the Point Leo Road just after 4.30pm, Wednesday 13 February. The Red Hill community is rallying around the family, with the Mornington Peninsula Shire, CFA, Consolidated school, scouts and residents helping them cope in their time of need. The 11-year-old was flown to The Royal Children’s Hospital by helicopter ambulance in a critical condition with head, chest and abdominal injuries. Police said the badly…
DON’T mention gas, coal or oil to the Brooks family of Dromana. They’ve made a conscious decision to distance themselves from those passe fossil fuels and, instead, are gearing for an all-electric future. Simon, the Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor, and his wife Allison are “keen to do their bit” to reduce their carbon footprint by buying an electric car, installing electric appliances, electric heating and cooling and roof-top solar panels. “As a councillor I’ve made it a focus to become even more informed about climate change and how practical steps can be taken by everyone to reduce our carbon footprint,”…
POLICE have released images of graffiti “tags” at Somerville Secondary College in the hope they can help identify those responsible. The vandals roamed the school grounds over the summer school holidays and spray painted most buildings. Principal Chris Lloyd said the school’s buildings were defaced regularly. “It is a constant problem here and at the primary school, especially on weekends,” he said. CCTV footage sent to the police had captured vision of those responsible, but Mr Lloyd said he had not identified any current students although a “much older” former student had been recognised, he said. Clean-ups have cost the…
FAMILIES descended from the original French Island Thompsons flocked to the Tankerton Memorial Hall for a 125th reunion. More than 230 family members from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Victoria took the ferry across from Stony Point and were picked up by bus on the island, Sunday 3 February. Some came across from Corinella, with their vehicle on the barge, and planned to stay several days to catch up with family members from further afield. The day capped off 18 months of planning by organisers Joan Shepherd, Lois Airs, and Carol Lake – grandchildren of…
HASTINGS police are keeping an eye out for riders of illegal “monkey bikes”. Acting Sergeant Scott West said the mini-bikes were “becoming an issue” as they posed a danger, especially to pedestrians in public areas. “We all remember the tragedy of the woman struck and killed in Carrum Downs a few years ago and we would hate for something like that to happen again,” he said. Police are coordinating resources and gathering data to back up a campaign against monkey bike riders. The riders potentially face a raft of charges, including careless riding, riding an unregistered bike, dangerous riding, riding…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire marked World Wetlands Day (Saturday 2 February) with a boat trip in Western Port for “key decision makers across local government, industry, and environmental advocates”. The trip enabled the passengers to “explore one of the peninsula’s most internationally significant regions”. The Western Port Ramsar wetlands near Hastings is part of the United Nations (UNESCO) declared special biosphere reserve of the Western Port catchment and is one of only nine biospheres in Australia. The shire’s boat trip preceded the release this week of new research showing Western Port is increasingly vulnerable to pressures from population growth, urbanisation, run-off…
ORGANISERS of the 50th Western Port Festival at Hastings say they have knocked back potential sponsorship from AGL despite being short of money and “up in the air” over grants promised by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The festival committee is hoping to raise $200,000 through online fundraising, but by Monday had received just $1600, including $1000 from the Save Westernport group. “A unanimous vote [of the committee] was passed to not accept any AGL money,” event manager Yvens Ferraz De Camargo said, citing community concerns over the power provider’s plans to moor a floating gas import and processing terminal at…
PENINSULA A RUTHLESS performance by Long Island has seen them dismiss Main Ridge for just 70 runs in the first day of their two day clash. Main Ridge’s openers combined for just 12 runs, and their top scorer put only 16 runs on the board. After 46 overs, Main Ridge were dismissed and were left with a lot of work to do with ball in hand. Long Island came in to bat and finished at 4/97 at stumps, ensuring a first innings win. Pubudu Edirisinghe top scored for the day with 41 runs. At Eric Bell Reserve, Pines played well…
SOCCER LANGWARRIN kicks off the most anticipated season in the club’s recent history when it hosts Melbourne City at Lawton Park on Saturday at 3pm. The spotlight has shone on the local club ever since it made the surprise announcement last August that Scott Miller had been appointed head coach. Few expected the former Fulham assistant manager and Newcastle Jets boss to step down from professional to semi-professional ranks but his appointment raised the bar markedly in terms of expectations for the 2019 season. Langy has backed Miller with a host of new signings and the establishment of the club’s…
BLAIRGOWRIE boxer Jayde Mitchell returns to the ring on Saturday 30 March for the final send-off of one of Australia’s greatest boxers. The current world number nine super-middleweight boxer, Jayde Mitchell, will line-up on the undercard of his sparring partner and former world champion, Sam Soliman, who will step into the ring for the final time. In a phenomenal career spanning more than 20 years, Sam Soliman will bow out against another former world champion, Manny Siaca, at the Melbourne Pavilion. While Mitchell’s opponent is yet to be confirmed, he said to be on the final card of one his…
MORNINGTON has a new up-and-coming racehorse trainer in its midst with the former New Zealander Joe Waldron setting up base opposite the racecourse late last year. The former travelling foreman for champion New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman has been training in his own right in New Zealand for the past three seasons but decided to make the move in search of greater prize money. Along with the majority of his client base in New Zealand being from Australia, Waldron has embarked on his next chapter of his training career which now sees him own a 40 box…
FRANKSTON Australia Clay Target Club (FACTC) shooters made their way to Brisbane for the ISSF National Trap and Skeet titles on Monday 14 January. Some of Australia’s best showcased their skills and put some stellar scores on the board in what was a full field in the Trap events as well as the introduction of the Trap Mixed Teams events. FACTC landed some top shots to return home with eight National and Commonwealth title medals across the trap and skeet competitions. Commonwealth Games gold medallist and FACTC member Laetisha Scanlan led the way in the Ladies Trap qualifiers shooting a…
WHILE returning from the funeral of his father at Hastings, last month, Mr John Ward was thrown from his vehicle and sustained a compound fracture of the leg. From enquiries made a few days ago it was ascertained that Mr Ward was still in the Melbourne hospital, and was progressing as well as could be expected considering the serious nature of his injuries. *** AT the last meeting of the Frankston and Hastings shire council, Constables Revell and Walker were appointed presenting officers. *** THE Shire Council has been notified that the following soldiers are returning from abroad: Private Jack…
LENA Taranto has come a long way in a long time. The mother of three, who enjoyed a 100th birthday lunch for family and friends at a Mornington nursing home last week, was born in the town of Waltham, Massachusetts, US, on 7 February 1919. When she was just four her Italian family pulled up stakes and returned to Italy. Then, in 1927, they again set out “for a better life”, this time migrating by ship to Australia. Two more children were born in Melbourne with the family of seven running a fruit shop in Glenferrie Road, Malvern. Money was…
A DEVELOPER’S bid to build 10 apartments on a 1003 square metre block in Mornington comes as Mornington Peninsula Shire holds a series of public meetings aimed at guiding future development across residential areas and reinforcing what makes areas “special”. The proposed apartments, in Williams Road, have been knocked back by the shire as an “overdevelopment of the site and out of character for the area”, prompting developer Kencole to appeal to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal. The outcome of the appeal could be seen as a test case on how far developers will be able to go on the…
A FIBREGLASS cabin cruiser (pictured) was stolen from Westernport Trailers in Marine Parade, Hastings, over the Australia Day long weekend. Detective Tony Woolcock, of Somerville CIU, said offenders cut the padlock on the front gate and drove off with the $40,000 2004 Mustang 2400 boat. It is blue and white and the registration number is Q0710. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 February 2019
TWO fires started when “sparkler bombs” were set off in a Mornington park last week are being investigated by police. Detective Leading Senior Constable Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said youths taped the sparklers to aerosol cans and lit them in a playground in Tallis Drive, 11pm, Tuesday 5 February and 6.30pm, Wednesday 6 February. The resulting explosions scorched timber edging and a tree in the park, opposite Mornington Secondary College, on days of moderate fire danger. There is no CCTV footage but youths were seen in the area. “It is a bit concerning that the explosives were set off…
It may have been the calamari for breakfast or just the chance to nab a spot in the sun near the water’s edge. Whatever the impulse to come ashore, the New Zealand fur seal lying on the beach at Dromana quickly began to draw a crowd. Some sat on the seawall to get a view of the seal, which obligingly lolled about, waving its flippers in the air. But it was the woman out for a swim that caused the most concern for volunteer seal monitor James Clemens. Not content with swimming past, the woman came ashore and tried to…
THE Labor party is yet to name its candidate for Flinders in the May federal election. Last week news broke that Tracee Hutchison would contest the seat held by Liberal Greg Hunt since 2001. But this week the Rosebud born broadcaster and journalist said she would not be a candidate. “There’s been much speculation over this past week about my reported foray into federal politics, unfortunately none of it has come from me and the story in your article [“Hunt under pressure of coup fallout” 5/2/19] about me being the Labor candidate is incorrect,” Ms Hutchison told The News. The…
During the holidays, 85-year-old grandmother Joy Gray (nee Bird) and her family visited Point Nepean National Park, Portsea. Ms Gray told park rangers that she had some recollection of a personal history in the area, but did not know much more than that she had been born in Gunners Cottage. In 1933, Ms Gray’s father Ernest William Bird was the army cook for Fort Nepean. He lived in Gunners Cottage with his wife Victoria Blanche Bird and five children – Ray, Jack, Alan, Teddy and Joy. The family’s relationship to Point Nepean is now assured with references to the Bird…
SOUTHERN Peninsula Rescue Squad members are being run off their feet by the number of calls for help. From Christmas through to the end of January, the squad has answered 42 rescue calls involving 150 people on the water. The areas covered have ranged from Martha Cove to Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Portsea, Queenscliff, St Leonards and even out into Bass Strait. Types of craft in trouble have included motor boats, yachts, jet skis and kayaks, as well as snorkelers and divers. Problems encountered were flat batteries, running out of fuel, mechanical problems, changing weather conditions, tidal influences, and…
A rubbish dumper has been fined $3509 plus $420 costs for leaving “renovation materials” on a roadside at Tootgarook. Mornington Peninsula Shire says the fine levied by Dromana Court backs its “zero-tolerance approach” to illegal rubbish dumping. On 10 January, a peninsula resident was found guilty of aggravated littering, sentenced with conviction, fined $3509 and ordered to pay council’s $420 clean-up costs. The shire says the offender was “caught in the act unloading renovation materials from a trailer at a Tootgarook roadside”. Illegal dumping can incur penalties of up to $9500. “Council spends more than $700,000 at a cost to…
DUNKLEY MP Chris Crewther has said he would be “happy to support” a trial of a cashless welfare card system in Frankston. The system being trialled interstate sees 80 per cent of money from Centrelink payments received by welfare recipients placed onto a card, where it cannot be withdrawn. The money on the card also cannot be used to buy alcohol or on gambling products. The card has been trialled in four regions across Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Mr Crewther said “the program helps kids get their school books and makes sure money is not used on drugs…
UNSUCCESSFUL Liberal Party candidate for Frankston Michael Lamb , left, has been suspended from his position with Victoria Police after being charged with disclosing police information without reasonable excuse. Mr Lamb has been suspended with pay, and will face charges over four separate incidents that allegedly occurred in 2018. A Victoria Police statement stated that “a police officer has been charged with unauthorised release of information by Professional Standards Command. “The Senior Sergeant from Southern Metro region has been charged with four counts of disclosing police information without reasonable excuse.” Mr Lamb was comfortably defeated at the 24 November state…
Social researcher Hugh Mackay wants a “radical culture shift” in Australia towards compassion to minimise the damaging consequences of social isolation, renowned social researcher. In his 2019 Australia Day Address Mr Mackay said looking after our neighbours was a good starting point. The Officer of the Order of Australia recipient says the biggest social challenge the nation faces is “preserving our social cohesion”, as we focus on ourselves rather than showing greater responsiveness to those around us. Mr Mackay will be in Mornington this week to discuss his thoughts outlined in his latest book, Australia Reimagined. “We are facing some…