The Mornington Peninsula Shire have committed to a “support package for local business” a week after the Committee for Mornington Peninsula began lobbying the shire on behalf of businesses hit by the coronavirus. Peninsula cases stand still as state jumps 96 today. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 917 – an increase of 96 from yesterday. Four people have already died in Victoria, many more are in hospital or self-isolating at home. The total number of cases includes 501 men and 413 women. Four cases in pre-school aged…
Month: March 2020
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are now at 917 with 96 newly diagnosed cases today. In positive news, the Mornington Peninsula’s figures remained the same at 46. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 28 confirmed cases. a jump of seven since yesterday. The City of Casey have 28 confirmed cases, a jump of two since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula now has the equal second highest number of infections with Boroondara after they jumped to 46. City of Stonnington still has the highest rate of infections at 76 confirmed infections. Following on from the peninsula are: City of Banyule with 44 confirmed…
Visitors have been told to stay away from the Mornington Peninsula. Traders plead for ‘drastic’ help. Mornington Peninsula cases up to 45, a jump of five in two days. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 821 – an increase of 56 from yesterday. Victoria has recorded four deaths related to COVID-19. The total number of cases includes 447 men and 370 women, with people aged from three to 88. There are 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently 29…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are now at 821 with 56 newly diagnosed cases today. The Mornington Peninsula accounted for 46 of them, a jump of five cases in two days. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 21 confirmed cases, and City of Casey have 26 confirmed cases. The Mornington Peninsula still has the second highest number of infections in the state with only the City of Stonnington in Melbourne’s east surpassing it with 71 confirmed infections. Following on from the peninsula are: City of Boroondara with 40 confirmed cases. City of Melbourne with 38 confirmed cases. City of Glen Eira…
TEDDY bears are universal symbol of all that is good and wholesome about happy, healthy childhoods. Cute and cuddly, they provide comfort and a sense of security. They’re non-judgemental and, of course, can be a child’s “secret friend”, someone to confide in. Evie and Matilda Pentland, of Rye, wanted to share their teddies with passers-by last week, knowing that a state of social distancing had changed day-to-day interaction between neighbours. While it’s early days of what promises to be a drawn-out time of social isolation, it was heartening to see a youthful reaction to the community’s shared time of trouble.…
TEN multiple-birth families from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula met at Angus and Rose at The Briars, Mount Martha, Sunday 15 March. The families are members of the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Multiple Birth Association which provides peer support for parents of multiple birth children (twins, triplets or more). Families expecting twins or more babies are encouraged to connect with others as multiple-birth parents are at increased risk of perinatal health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Services provided by the association include subsidised playgroups in conjunction with Chisholm TAFE, library, equipment hire, in-home support, and meals for families with…
TRADE is down, visitor numbers are down and revenue is down. With this nightmare scenario now a stark reality, Mornington Chamber of Commerce is pleading with all levels of government, financial institutions and landlords to “treat business tenants compassionately and urgently with respect to the current financial hardships caused by COVID-19”. It also wants government, financial institutions and local councils to freeze their landlords’ mortgages and municipal rates to help their tenants keep small business operating. Describing itself as the “key voice and advocate for local businesses” on the Mornington strip, the chamber wrote: “Main Street has been one of…
HORSE RACING THE Matt Laurie-trained Riddle Me That has topped off an impressive campaign with a narrow but decisive victory in the Listed Bendigo Guineas on Saturday 28 March. The three-year-old son of Deep Field kicked off his preparation in fine form with a dominant victory at Pakenham before having a luckless run at Flemington when posted three-wide the entire trip and still managing to secure second place. The gelding turned the tables on the victor from last start, Spend, with a narrow head victory in the $150,000 Bendigo Guineas. Given the perfect ride from jockey Daniel Stackhouse, the gutsy…
SOCCER A FOOTBALL Victoria statement issued last week has been met with disbelief and derision by local clubs. At a time when all competition and training is suspended at least until 14 April the state federation has said player registration costs and other fees and charges will continue to be levied. In part the statement said: “Clubs remain obliged to pay any competition administration or registration fee, zone/association fee (if applicable), member federation fee and FFA’s national registration fee (governing body costs) out of the registration fees they collect per participant.” Langwarrin, Mornington and Strikers are the only local clubs…
THE Dromana Foreshore Reserve Caravan Park closed earlier than normal for the year last week following state government directives aimed at limiting the COVID-19 pandemic. The management committee acting on advice from the [state’s] chief health officer closed the park on Wednesday 25 March saying it regretted the inconvenience adding that “the welfare of campers, our staff and our contractors must be paramount”. The closure came three days after Mornington Peninsula Shire closed its foreshore camping grounds at McCrae, Rosebud Rye and Sorrento, sending campers packing just weeks before the Easter holidays. The 47-site caravan park at Dromana runs from…
FRANKSTON MP Paul Edbrooke says that the Baxter rail extension will remain at a “standstill” until the business case is released. The proposed rail extension would see the Frankston line duplicated and electrified to Baxter, with two new stations at Langwarrin and Frankston East constructed. The business case was handed to the federal government in October last year, but has not been publicly released. Mr Edbrooke said “our community understands that the project is at a standstill until the federal government releases the business case for consideration of the costs and benefits.” The News has twice asked the office of…
LAKESIDE Villas at Crittenden Estate, Dromana has won the silver award for self-contained accommodation in the 2019 Australian Tourism Awards. The award was presented in Canberra on 6 March and followed Lakeside Villas winning gold at the Victorian Tourism Awards. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, Pearcedale won bronze in the ecotourism category at the Australian Tourism Awards. Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages, Western Australia and Avalon Coastal Retreat, Tasmania won the gold and bronze awards in the self-contained accommodation while Margaret Island Walk, Tasmania won gold and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Queensland silver in the ecotourism category. Lakeside Villas…
BLIND golfer Jeff Ellis got some handy tips on lining up his shot from caddy Esther McArdle at the Victorian Blind Golf Open. Both are members of Rosebud Country Club where the event has been played over the past 30 years. Ellis, captain of Blind Golf Victoria, was one of the players at the inaugural event, while McArdle is the club’s volunteer coordinator. The top blind golfers from around Australia competed in the 36-hole stableford event in mid-March, followed by the ISPS Handa Australian Blind Golf 36-hole stroke tournament, 29-30 March. They included Mark Eschbank, winner of the 2019 ISPS…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has stepped in to assist small business by developing a support package to “help the local community through the unprecedented effects of COVID-19”. The package includes a business concierge service, supporting local business campaign, advocacy to state and federal departments, fast tracking of approvals and compliance matters, temporary cessation of fees and charges, support for local contractors and rate and rent relief options for those in council properties. The package comes a week after the Committee for Mornington Peninsula began lobbying the shire to provide a “support package for local business” as the coronavirus disaster hits their…
A GARDEN project has been keeping years 5 and 6 students at St Joseph’s Sorrento busy. Last year they were finalists in the Tidy Town Awards for their indigenous medicinal, edible sensory garden, which led to them receiving a $1450 Land Care grant to complete a garden this year. The garden also helped the students work towards the Resource Smart Schools biodiversity module. Teacher Jane Byrne said students had joined parishioners at St Mary’s to learn about plants named in the Bible, as well as their symbolism and medicinal use. “This tied in with stewardship and the responsibility of catholic…
WHILE Mornington police station remains staffed 24/7 extra precautions have been taken for the safety of police and the public in response to the coronavirus. Visitors are being asked to stay behind a two-metre exclusion zone near the counter. Police say they are aware of those waiting and will attend to them as soon as possible. They ask that prospective visitors assess whether they really need to attend the station. Those requiring documents to be signed should bring their own pens. To report a non-urgent crime or event, or for general police inquiries, call the police assistance line 131 444.…
A CARRUM Downs woman allegedly blew 0.185 per cent when breath tested in Eramosa Road East, Somerville, Wednesday 25 March. Members of the Somerville Highway Patrol earlier saw the 26-year-old driving along Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville, half over the fog line and half on the roadway, 8.30pm. She was allegedly doing 60kph in a 40kph zone when pulled over. The woman told police she had drunk a bottle of wine throughout the afternoon and thought she would be “right to drive”. She wasn’t. Her licence was immediately suspended and her car impounded. She will face court at a later date. First…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol members are seeking help from people with mobile phone or dash-cam footage of the black Ford ute, pictured, which came to grief in the Coles car park, Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington, 11.50am, Friday 13 March. The driver, a 37-year-old Somerville man, had allegedly been doing burnouts at the Nepean Highway/Tanti Avenue and Nepean Highway/Mornington-Tyabb Road intersections, before driving up to the car park where he ran over an embankment and got stuck. He was later airlifted to The Alfred hospital with serious injuries. (“Airlift after smash, drive-off” The News 13/3/2020). Police believe shoppers captured the driver’s on their…
A WOMAN seen by police walking near a grey Audi sedan at a Rosebud service station was later found to have a string of outstanding warrants against her name. The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, allegedly claimed to own the car when she was approached at the Nepean Highway service station, Monday 23 March. Sergeant Brendan Leihy, of Rosebud police, said a registration check listed the car as stolen, and a personal ID check found the woman was wanted on six outstanding matters. A search of the Audi allegedly found 4.8 grams of the drug ice and $660 cash. The…
A DRUNKEN driver who killed a friend and seriously injured two others at Tootgarook last year has been sentenced to more than 12 years’ jail. Brandon Phongthaihong, now 22, had drunk beer and bourbon before the incident at the intersection of Marshall and Field streets, 1.15am, 12 April. His friend, 17-year-old Timothy Hocking, of McCrae, died and three other 17-year-olds, from McCrae and Capel Sound, were injured when the Mazda CX3 crashed through a roundabout and into a tree. Phongthaihong had pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court to culpable driving causing death, two counts of negligently causing serious injury,…
EASTER is usually the final fling for seasonal holidaymakers on the Mornington Peninsula – but this year there is no welcome mat out. The healthy injection of income businesses rely on to balance the books over winter has been replaced by closed doors and staff being stood down. Visitors are being asked to stay away. The peninsula was last week identified as having second highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases of any Victorian municipality. The statistics released by the Department of Health and Human Services showed the City of Stonnington had the highest number of cases, 61, with the peninsula…
BEACHES have been closed in Frankston and across the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said beaches were closed Saturday morning following advice from the Department of Environment Lands Water and Planning and senior police. The advice was issued after crowds gathered at St Kilda beach on Thursday, despite warnings of the need to lessen the spread of COVID-19 through close contact. The shire also received complaints about crowds at The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mount Martha. On Saturday, police were telling people to leave shire-controlled beaches “They [the government] told us they were going to…
AT the Frankston Progress Association meeting on Tuesday last, Mr. A. E. Lasslett, J.P., said: – In many towns throughout Victoria and New South Wales, the tradespeople have adopted the system of closing their shops for an hour at lunch time. This system has, where tried, proved a great success. The advantages are many in adopting this system, but there are one or two that might specially be mentioned. As you well know, business people rarely have an undisturbed luncheon. The system is the means of overcoming that annoyance, and is therefore conducive to better digestion, and, as matter of…
Today we are asking for the community’s help. We are asking you to subscribe, for free, to your favourite local title by clicking here. We continue to print our five weekly newspapers but understand that, without subscribing, many of you that are isolating may have trouble getting a copy of your local title. Subscribing guarantees you won’t miss out on a single word. *** It has been an unprecedented two weeks where we have worked non-stop to bring you the most up-to-date information possible. This website has been swamped with over 300,000 visitors a week for the last two weeks,…
All Mornington Peninsula beaches closed until further notice. Two new peninsula cases as state number soars. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 685 – an increase of 111 from yesterday. Victoria has recorded three deaths related to COVID-19. There have been no new deaths recorded overnight. The total number of cases includes 378 men and 300 women, with people aged from eight to 88. There are 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently 21 people are in hospital, including…
Victoria has experienced its biggest one day jump in COVID-19 cases today with 111 newly diagnosed cases. The Mornington Peninsula, though, only accounted for two of them lifting our total to 41 confirmed cases. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 16 confirmed cases, and City of Casey have 23 confirmed cases. The Mornington Peninsula still has the second highest number of infections in the state with only the City of Stonnington in Melbourne’s east surpassing it with 61 confirmed infections. Nipping at the peninsula’s heels are: City of Melbourne with 36 confirmed cases. City of Greater Geelong with 33 confirmed…
BEACHES have been closed across the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said beaches were closed Saturday morning following requests from the Department of Environment Lands Water and Planning and senior police. The approach was made after news outlets showed pictures of crowded beaches at St Kilda, despite warnings of the need to lessen the spread of COVID-19 through close contact. The shire also received complaints about crowds gathering on Friday at The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mount Martha. “They [the government] told us they were going to close beaches and wanted our help with signs,”…
36 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the peninsula. But do the number of metro Melbourne people that have decided to spend their 14 day “isolation” period relaxing on the peninsula bump us up even further?. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Victoria has recorded its first three deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19). All were men aged in their seventies. All died in Melbourne hospitals. The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 520 – an increase of 54 from yesterday. In Victoria, the total number of cases includes 300 men and 216 women. People…
THE first release of data showing COVID-19 cases in local government areas shows there are 36 confirmed cases of coronavirus on the Mornington Peninsula. The surprising high number puts the peninsula second highest in Victoria, behind to Stonnington which has 57 cases. Frankston has 11 cases and Casey 16. The mayor of the Mornington Peninsula, Sam Hearn, said to The News tonight: “The thoughts and compassion of our whole community is with those people and their families. These figures make it more clear than ever that street by street we need to do the right thing by each other at…
Arthurs Seat Eagle falls into administration. Was COVID-19 the straw that broke the Eagle’s back? Mornington Centrelink wins a six month stay of execution due to current challenges. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 466 – an increase of 55 from yesterday. The total number of cases includes 271 men and 191 women (with four cases under investigation). People are aged from pre-school age to their late eighties. At the present time, there are eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community…