Day: January 28, 2020

A FLOCK of magpies – the footballing kind rather than the feathered variety – invaded the Sorrento Bowls Club greens last week. A game of barefoot bowls was part of a relaxing pre-season break for Collingwood Football Club’s new season recruits and leadership team. “It was a sunny day so my visors were in demand,” the club’s Judith Mordech said. “Brodie Grundy and Jordan Roughead wanted to buy them but I was delighted to donate them because of their exemplary behaviour on the greens.” Groups can book private barefoot bowls event to celebrate a special occasion; gather family or friends…

A MAN involved in an altercation with security staff at a Mornington licensed venue was later found by police at the intersection of Main Street and the Eastern Ring Road, Thursday 16 January. The 34-year-old, of Mornington, allegedly returned a positive breath test of 0.166 per cent. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1075 and his licence was immediately suspended. He will be charged on summons with drink-driving and traffic-related offences. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 January 2020

ITEMS including money, handbags, computers, iPads, iPhones, electronic devices and cables should never be left in cars, police say. They continue to take calls from residents and visitors reporting their cars being broken into and valuables stolen – a costly crime easily preventable. Police from General Duties, Highway Patrol, Crime Investigation and Proactive units ask people to ensure their car is locked when they walk away from it – especially in beach carparks and neighbouring streets. They say residents should report any unusual activity as often offenders walk the streets and carparks, checking car door handles and looking in car…

ABOUT 10,000 cubic metres of sand will be pumped onto Rosebud beach this week. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is replacing sand which has eroded over time due to wind, waves and tidal flow. High tides to the east of Rosebud pier have resulted in waves overtopping foreshore vegetation and the Bay Trail boardwalk. Sand will be dredged from offshore sand bars adjacent to the beach and pumped ashore, DELWP Land and Built Environment Program Manager John Downs said. “By bringing sand back to the beach we are protecting the foreshore from further erosion. It is a…

MORNINGTON Peninsula artists are doing their bit to help those affected by the devastating East Gippsland bushfires. They are taking part in Art Aid Gippsland which brings together hundreds of artworks that have been donated from all parts of Australia and internationally for a four-week exhibition and auction. The exhibition will be held at Gippsland Art Gallery, Saturday 15 February to Sunday 15 March. An auction of art works will be held at The Wedge Performing Arts Centre, Sunday 15 March with all money raised going to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund to help those who have lost homes and…

RESIDENTS have only a few days left to provide input on whether they’d benefit from a Cross Peninsula bus service and an on-demand bus service on the Mornington Peninsula. “Since the launch of the council’s Better Buses campaign in August, about 70,000 people have told us how public transport plays a vital role for many on the peninsula,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. “Public transport connects young people with education and employment. It allows our ageing population to live independently and go to medical appointments and social activities. During the peninsula’s busiest periods, public transport benefits visitors who are…

FOUR Mornington Peninsula men will combine overseas community work with one hell of an adventure next month. Along the way they aim to improve the lives and self-esteem of families through promoting child education and vocational training in Cambodia – a country still emerging from the devastation of the hideous Pol Pot regime in power from 1975-79. It is estimated one-in-four people were killed in the period of oppression – up to 200,000 – leaving it with half its population aged under 25 and only 5 per cent aged over 60. Ben Hodgetts, who is trained in trauma medicine, of…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is likely to come under pressure to adopt an emblem featuring a koala. The idea will be floated at a public meeting in March, along with a plan to use the shire’s planning powers to protect koalas. Cr David Gill is holding the 26 March meeting and says having a koala-based flora and faunal-based emblem is a good idea, although changing the planning rules “is a long process which needs ministerial approval”. However, he says advocating using planning laws to protect koalas “would generate much needed publicity on the lack of state government action”. Craig Thomson, director…

A RED Hill resident thought “world war three had erupted” when a wedding at a boutique bushland-surrounded hotel climaxed in a fireworks display. The resident complained to former mayor Cr David Gill, as well as the CFA, the Lindenderry Hotel in Arthurs Seat Road, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Worksafe about potential dangers from ember attack. He said he felt “totally devastated; gutted – especially with the Dandenong CFA which issued a permit for the fireworks” on Saturday night 18 January. “For the surrounding residents, their animals, and native animals there was no warning,” the resident, who The News has…

FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt has sailed into a storm of controversy over grants handed out to sporting groups and clubs in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election. Calls are being made for his colleague, then Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie, to resign or be sacked over the way the grants worth $100 million had a “distribution bias” towards marginal Coalition electorates. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ordered his department head to investigate how the grants were handled and whether Senator McKenzie, the Nationals deputy leader, breached ministerial standards. Allegations of pork barrelling followed a critical assessment by the Auditor-General, Grant…

IT was the day community spirit reigned supreme at Main Ridge. What started out as an initiative by Main Ridge Bowls and Petanque Club to raise money for a thermal imaging camera for the Main Ridge CFA, and hay for fire ravaged Gippsland farmers, turned into an inspiring rally of support on Sunday 19 January. “At the start we hoped for $5000 to help buy the thermal imaging camera and to buy and transport some hay to the farmers in East Gippsland,” organiser Neville Mallard said. “By the end of the first week I thought maybe we could get $10,000…

AN accelerant – possibly petrol – was used to start a fire at Wittingslow’s Rosebud Carnival last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Somerville CIU, said an “explosion” caused at least $500,000 damage to the dodgem cars, 1.05am, Friday 24 January. He said CCTV showed a group of youths near the site in Point Nepean Road. “The entire ride was destroyed,” he said. The blaze was especially cruel coming in the lead up to the carnival’s busiest time – the Australia Day long weekend. Tyrone, son of proprietors Cindy and Bruce Miller, said his family was “devastated” by the…

BURGLARS who stole a large quantity of alcohol from Mornington Golf Course last week also made off with a tin containing members’ bushfire donations. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Somerville CIU, said the two men “did lots of damage” smashing a window to gain entry to the club on Tallis Drive after walking from the car park, 1.38am, Tuesday 21 January. They also smashed a window to the pro-shop. Staff on Tuesday were tallying details of stock lost in the raid which included spirits and pre-mixed drinks. The donations tin contained about $400. CCTV showed one of the men…

WILDLIFE is being threatened by the artificial opening of the entrance to the Balcombe Estuary at Mt Martha. Estuary wildlife has adapted to a natural cycle of flooding as the sandy barrier at the entrance to the bay opens or closes depending on the weather and tides. However, this cycle is disrupted when a channel is cut through the sandy barrier – or berm – to create waves for body boarding or surfing. “This is probably great fun, but we need to understand that artificial human intervention in the flooding and emptying cycle poses a serious risk to the health…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire officers can now get tough on jet ski hoons but, instead of issuing fines for bad behaviour, will still only be “speaking to and educating the public, surveillance and gathering evidence”. Instead of issuing infringement notices, officers will use cameras to gather evidence and act as witnesses to inform Marine Safety Victoria of dangerous and unlawful behaviour by jet ski riders. Acting manager environment protection Katie McKenzie said officers would enforce compliance within the five-knot zone – usually within 200-metres of shore – or 500-metres from shore along the coastline from Safety Beach to Portsea. These are…

SOCCER THERE is increasing doubt about goalscoring legend David Greening remaining at Somerville Eagles. The veteran marksman was due to arrive back in Melbourne from an overseas holiday as we went to press and has declared his unhappiness with what he claims are mixed messages emanating from his club. Two weeks ago new senior coach Billy Rae said that he would like Greening to be a playing assistant coach but that role has also been offered to fellow striker Mark Pagliarulo. “The mixed messages I’ve heard coming out of the club are a worry with different guys being offered the…

PENINSULA HEATHERHILL had to work for it, but eventually defeated Moorooduc in a hard fought one day match on Saturday. Moorooduc chose to bat first on their home deck and did well, scoring 170 before being sent packing. Each of Heatherhill’s five bowlers managed to grab a wicket, with Jake Theobald and Aidan Lenehan taking three apiece. Heatherhill’s run chase started well, and they were flying at 1/112. Steven O’Donnell and Kristian Miller both passed their half century for Heatherhill, helping them secure the win with four wickets in hand and eight balls to spare. Somerville and Long Island also…

HORSE RACING ANTHONY Freedman and Luke Currie have again struck juvenile success with the Godolphin blue as Hanseatic stormed home for a dominant win in the $140,000 Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings on Saturday 25 January. The combination joined forces to claim the $1.5 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes with Lyre last year and look well positioned to try and emulate those heroics once again as the son of Street Boss shot to $3.40 favouritism following his emphatic victory. Despite settling wide without cover after drawing the outside barrier, the classy colt still managed to…

THE death of Lynella Jane Nichol –  the six-year-old daughter of Mrs. L. Nichol, of Royal Parade, Royal Park – who was knocked and down and killed by a motor car at Frankston on 22nd November, 1919, was the subject of an inquiry by the City Coroner (Dr R. H. Cole) at the Morgue. Thos. Edwin Barnett, importer, of High Street, Kew in the course of his evidence, stated that on 22nd November he drove his wife, his brother, and several friends to the Fernery at Frankston, arriving there about 4.30 pm, and driving slowly all the time. Sounding the…