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…
Year: 2020
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…
A SIX-MONTH extension to the lease will allow Centrelink and Medicare offices in Mornington will remain open in their present form. The offices at 332 Main Street had been slated to close on 27 March and replaced with a private, part-time agency to run over 15 hours three days a week. (“Centrelink shutdown” The News 11/2/20). The new agency was expected to “complement” existing services run out of Rosebud, Hastings and Frankston offices. In a welcome turnaround, Flinders MP and health minister Greg Hunt said the lease extension would create certainty for Mornington Peninsula residents “through both the health and…
THE Eagle cable car ride at Arthurs Seat has been placed in the hands of administrators. The estimated $20 million ride that started carrying passengers in December 2016 has now ground to a halt. Lisa Macnamara, senior manager – corporate affairs at Pricewaterhouse Coopers said the closure was due to “the government’s advice on COVID-19, which coincided with the appointment of the voluntary administrators [Craig Crosbie and Robert Ditrich] the following day [23 March]”. “Due to the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, a potential reopening date cannot be provided at this stage.” Ms Macnamara said all full time…
A STUDY of the wreck of a small Australian-built ship off Rye has helped Flinders University maritime archaeology students reveal more of the history of early timber vessels in Victoria. The students from South Australia partnered with Heritage Victoria and the community-based Maritime Archaeology Association of Victoria to investigate the wreck of the Barbara sunk near the pier in 1853. The ship was built along the Tamar River in Tasmania by Joseph Hind in 1841 and operated as a lime trader in Port Phillip. The making of lime and its shipment to Melbourne for brickmaking was one of the southern…
FISHERIES officers have arrested five men and seized their car for allegedly taking 399 blacklip abalone from waters around Cape Schanck. Victorian Fisheries Authority director Ian Parks said 12 Fisheries officers backed up by police caught the “highly organised illegal fishing syndicate” from Pakenham, Cranbourne East and Botanic Ridge, Wednesday 18 March. “This type of alleged illegal fishing has the potential to do serious damage to the sustainability of Victoria’s abalone population, which is highly valued by commercial and recreational fishers,” Mr Parks said. Officers said they saw four men walk from the car park down to the rocks leaving…
A commercial flower farm that allowed thousands of litres of fuel oil to spill into a Moorooduc waterway has been ordered to pay Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) $500,000 in compensation and fined $150,000. On Wednesday 11 March, Aaree Pty Ltd and its director Admir Isovski, faced five charges under the the Environment Protection Act 1970 at Frankston Magistrates Court for causing environmental hazard, pollution of water and failing to comply with the requirements of an EPA notice The incident occurred in July 2017 at Barakee Reserve Outfall Drain, Moorooduc when a greenhouse on the Coolart Road property, which used…
CUSTOMERS flocked to Hastings Centrelink in High Street on Monday (23 March) after the MyGov website crashed and they could not access services online. This meant many had to be there in person to apply for reference numbers for coronavirus payments after losing their jobs. Safe distancing rules seemed to apply. “MyGov is currently unavailable,” a message on the government site said, blaming a cyber attack (where hackers flood a website with users so that the site becomes overloaded, similar to problems on census night). “We’re experiencing unprecedented demand for the service right now. We’re working on expanding capacity for…
Mornington Peninsula Shire is rolling out emergency measures to look after our community’s most vulnerable in the face of COVID-19. Schools close, businesses shut, and the future is uncertain for many. Long lines formed outside Centrelink Mornington this morning, as phone lines backed up and the MyGov website went down due to increased traffic. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Sixty-one new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 355. The new cases include 34 men and 25 women, with people aged early-teens to mid-eighties. Two cases remain…
FREE parcels of food and personal care items are to be delivered to needy and socially isolated people across the Mornington Peninsula. The food parcel plan is part of the rollout of emergency measures by Mornington Peninsula Shire to help lessen the spread and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Caring for our Community program volunteers and staff left without jobs by the closing of shire services due to the coronavirus outbreak will be redeployed to deliver packages being put together with the help of health and welfare agencies, Red Cross, the Department of Health and Human Services and…
SCHOOL is out early and many businesses will be forced to shut their doors as part of the latest COVID-19 precautions implemented across Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrews announced late last week that school holidays would begin from Tuesday 24 March in an effort to “combat the spread of coronavirus”. “This is not something that we do lightly, but it’s clear that if we don’t take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die,” Mr Andrews said. “Victorians will still be able to go to the supermarket, the bank, the pharmacy and…
FUNDRAISING efforts including a charity auction last month have helped Red Hill Fire Brigade raise more than $225,000 for building works. The auction, held at Many Little Bar and Bistro on Friday 21 February, raised $80,000. “The day was a huge success with a raffle and auction and was attended by more than 200 people,” First Lieutenant Sam Norris said. “Hamish McLachlan as the MC did an incredible job.” Donations and pledges helped raise the total to a staggering $225,000. “We are incredibly humbled by the generosity of our community,” First Lieutenant Norris said. First Lieutenant Norris said the works…
A COUNCILLOR is waiting to “see what response comes back from the community” before again considering a move to have foreshore toilet blocks opened to all beach users – not just campers and beach box owners. Cr Hugh Fraser was speaking after fellow Mornington Peninsula councillors at their 25 February meeting knocked back his push to have all 26 toilet blocks open daily. Claims by officers that this would cost the shire an extra $750,000 a year may have swayed their votes. “That was a ridiculous sum of money and it certainly frightened the other councillors,” Cr Fraser said. “We…
A MAN, above, who spent counterfeit money at a Baxter motel on 31 January is being sought by police. Detectives from Mornington Peninsula CIU said the offender approached the gaming counter in the Baxter-Tooradin Rd business and exchanged a counterfeit $50 note for two $20 notes and one $10 note. The attendant realised the note was not a standard note. The offender is described as being of medium height and build, red hair, unshaven and was wearing a black shirt with multi coloured board shorts. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a…