LITTLE did the judge know when sentencing a 19-year-old farm labourer to spend years in Britain’s Van Dieman’s land penal colony that his actions would have a profound effect on as yet unnamed town of Portsea. James Sandle Ford was transported to what was to become Tasmania aboard the Eliza in 1831, a convicted fellon because of his role in an uprising of agricultural workers. After being granted a free pardon in 1836, Ford went to Sydney in 1838, marrying Helen Sullivan in 1841. The Sullivan family had emigrated from Ireland two years earlier hoping to find employment in the…
Day: February 17, 2020
Surfboard manufacturers Paul and Phil Trigger are riding a wave of nostalgia. Mostly used to designing and liaising with clients over the shape and size of a custom surfboard, the two brothers are increasingly involved in restoring boards that have historical or sentimental value. In some instances, surfboards have become family heirlooms. One of the more interesting restoration jobs to come the Triggers’ way in recent months was brought in by their long time friend, former Peninsula Surf Centre proprietor, Ted Bainbridge. When shown the board Bainbridge wanted to refurbish, both in looks and function, Phil Trigger’s advice was to…
NEPEAN MP Chris Brayne realised he was growing into the role when a roomful of staunch Liberals came up to shake his hand after a Sorrento Rotary function at Portsea. The Labor pollie – the youngest in the state at 26 and the first ALP candidate to win the seat since it evolved from the former electorate of Dromana in 2002 – said no one had wanted to know him when he arrived. “I was reminded by the club president that I was walking into the Lion’s den and just had to smile and agree with him,” Brayne recalls. “Then,…
DRIVERS using towbars are being urged to check that they are properly connected to their vehicles after one was found on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, McCrae, Wednesday 5 February. Officers on patrol found the towbar, pictured, in the middle of the outbound lanes. In December a tow bar on a road west of Melbourne was flicked up by a truck and smashed through an oncoming car’s windscreen killing a mother and injuring her baby son. Visit bddy.me/2Utbjog First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 February 2020
A MT ELIZA woman has been reunited with jewellery valued at $35,000 after it was stolen from her Walkers Road house, Monday 10 February. Detective Acting Sergeant Steve Reidy, of Somerville CIU, said the jewellery was found at the home of a 28-year-old Frankston man, Thursday 13 February. The jewellery was returned to the woman – a widow – who was said to be “overjoyed”. The man appeared before Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday and remanded to reappear at a later date. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 February 2020
POLICE have charged 10 drivers on summons with a range of offences after a crackdown on hoon and anti-social behaviour at the summit car park at Arthurs Seat lookout, Thursday 6 February. The charges include reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage, drive in a manner dangerous, careless driving, improper use of vehicle involving loss of traction and drive vehicle causing undue noise and smoke. Two drivers have had their vehicles impounded for 30 days and a further seven have been issued with infringement and defect notices. Tyre marks, pictured, were all over the car park last week. Leading Senior…
A MEMORIAL “pilgrimage” conducted at Queenscliff last week has special relevance to families living on the Mornington Peninsula. It marked the date 60 years ago when three young Army commandoes lost their lives in a training exercise while crossing The Rip, 17 February 1960. A ceremony marking the tragedy was held at Shortlands Bluff, Sunday 16 February. Soldiers involved in the exercise still living on the Mornington Peninsula are Bob Dunball, Dave Gilder, Leigh Power, Wil Vicum and Winston Trood. A keen historian – and skipper of an army vessel involved in the disaster – Mr Trood said on that…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s conservation park The Briars has donated 950 bales of hay to the Need for Feed disaster relief program. Need for Feed provides fodder to farmers affected by drought, fire and flood emergencies. In 2018, 800 bales of hay from The Briars broad-acre paddocks were donated to farmers hit by drought. Last year 950 bales were donated. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the small gesture would give some relief to bushfire affected communities and farmers. The Lions Club project the Need for Feed coordinates the pick-up and delivery of hay. See needforfeed.org. First published in the Mornington…
OWNERS must register their swimming pools and spas with Mornington Peninsula Shire by 1 June. This is in line with tougher standards introduced by the state government to improve pool and spa barrier safety. To ensure safe and compliant pool or spa barriers, owners must register their pool or spa; have the barrier checked by a qualified surveyor; undertake required works to make it compliant and then have their pool or spa barrier certified. A one-off registration fee set by the state government is $79 for pools and spas built before 1 December 2019, and $31.80 for those built after…
A TARNEIT man will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 8 July over a series of roadside concrete dumps on the Mornington Peninsula. The EPA’s southern metro regional acting manager Megan Vallas said the waste caused “serious road safety concerns and cost the community thousands of dollars to remove” (“Concrete dumper set on avoiding tip fees” The News 21/10/19). At the time, builders and plumbers across the peninsula were asked to help track down the alleged concrete dumper after at least eight solid clues were left on peninsula roadsides. Authorities believed the concrete was most likely leftovers from a building…
NAMES are rapidly being added to a petition aimed at stopping the closure of Mornington Centrelink and Medicare offices. By last Friday (14 February) the petition had in less than a week attracted 970 signatures and 291 “shares” on social media. The petition followed the federal government’s shock decision to close the Main Street offices on 27 March (“Centrelink shutdown” The News 11/2/20). Clients would be expected to access services at either Frankston, Rosebud or Hastings offices from then on. Mornington Community Information and Support Centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan organised the petition to be presented to Health Minister and Flinders…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is being urged to investigate the background and implications of permit applications affecting the green wedge buffer zone between Mount Eliza and Mornington. In a notice of motion to last night’s planning services committee meeting (17 February) Cr David Gill moved that the council ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to protect the “intrinsic value of this land from any insensitive development that urbanises this area, which has a long history as green wedge, [in] between what could otherwise be contiguous residential and related development”. Cr Gill also called for a planning officer’s report be tabled at…
A SMART-parking trial aimed at easing traffic congestion at Rye will feature in-ground and camera parking bay sensors, mobile electronic parking availability signs, and a smart parking availability App. In the trial, drivers approaching Rye will be able to see the number of available parking spaces on the foreshore and commercial precinct and be directed to those spaces. “The trial aims to make accessing the Rye precinct easier and more convenient, while providing a better parking experience for both residents and tourists,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. “By using this innovative technology, visitors and residents can drive straight to…
PENINSULA PEARCEDALE have slumped to an outright loss against Long Island. Long Island put on an aggressive display on day one, replying to Pearcedale’s first innings score of 71 with 1/128. They declared after just 22 overs, sending Pearcedale back in to face the music again on day two. Adam Tweddle was the star of the show on day two, posting figures of 5/27 off 19 overs to inflict further misery onto Pearcedale. After 45 overs, Pearcedale were dismissed for 56. To lock in an outright win, Long Island came in for one over and put the final two runs…
SOCCER ROSEBUD agreed terms with Mark Pagliarulo last week breaking up the most prolific strike partnership in local ranks. Pagliarulo and goalscoring legend Dave Greening powered Somerville Eagles to the State 5 South championship last season but the dynamic duo are no more. Between them they nabbed 49 goals in 2019 as Somerville cruised to the title with a nine-point margin. Both fielded a number of offers recently with Greening deciding to remain at Somerville while “Pags” has flown the nest. Before settling on the switch to Olympic Park the big Scot turned down a lucrative offer to sign for…
HORSE RACING THE Grahame Begg-trained Galaxy Raider made one final attempt to secure his spot in Australia’s richest mile race with a last to first victory at Flemington on Saturday 15 February. Prior to running on Saturday, the Pinecliff, Mt Eliza-based runner sat just outside the top 10 on the leaderboard for the $5 million All-Star Mile which is set to be run at Caulfield in March. With almost 2,500 votes to his name on Thursday night, the stable favourite didn’t leave anything on the track in his final bid to secure his spot in the multi-million dollar race by…
A SAD fatality took place on Sunday last, the victim being Mr Angus Sharkey, who was visiting at “Beachleigh,” the residence of Mrs Forster, Mornington Road. Deceased was riding on the road in the vicinity of the Mornington racecourse, when he was thrown from his horse, and falling on his head, received such injuries as to cause death to ensue very shortly after. Deceased, who was 21 years of age, was a returned soldier. The funeral took place on Tuesday, the interment taking place in the Frankston cemetery with military honors. The coffin was mounted on a gun-carriage and a…
Police and emergency services were called to Rosebud this morning following reports of a collision between a car and a mobility scooter. It is believed the collision occurred on Boneo Road near Grenfell Way just before 10.20am. The male rider of the mobility scooter was treated at the scene but could not be revived. The driver and sole occupant of the car was uninjured and stopped to assist at the scene. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are attending the scene and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Anyone who witnessed the crash or with further information or dash cam…