A MAJOR section of Main Street, Mornington is about to be turned into a pedestrian mall, at least until the end of February. With state government approval cars will be banned from the street to encourage outdoor dining and shopping between Barkly Street and the Esplanade. Key commercial areas in other towns will also undergo changes to enable more open-air trading, with traffic speeds slowed and some parking spaces being used for outdoor eating. Mornington Peninsula Shire says the moves are part of a plan to help peninsula traders bounce back from lockdown. The decision was made by shire officers…
Year: 2020
SOCCER FEW players have confronted personal trauma and overcome such enormous hurdles as Langwarrin left-back Jaiden Madafferi. The 21-year-old was just seven on 5 November 2006 when his father Peter, 44, died suddenly. Peter Madafferi was president of Carrum United, the forerunner of Skye United. He left behind Jaiden, older brother Anthony and their mother Karyn. “It was hard because my brother and I were both young,” said Jaiden Madafferi. “Mum has brought us up to where we are now and done it all herself. “All credit to her – she has been phenomenal.” Jaiden had started playing as a…
HORSE RACING AFTER suffering setback after setback, Mornington-based apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray has managed to not only ride her first winner, but notch up a winning double at Traralgon on Saturday 31 October. Having fractured her back and knee in a race fall at her fourth race ride in July, Gaudray is still as confident as ever after breaking through to ride her first winner for her boss Pat Carey. Making the most of her four-kilo claim, Gaudray led all the way aboard Pat Carey’s Tippitywichit to win her first ever race by just under two lengths at her 25th…
MR Frank Stonite, The Heights, writes: “There is said to be considerable rivalry existing between Mornington and Frankston as to which should be regarded as the Peninsula’s capital. An article – Facts and Figures – in your last issue, gives Frankston the right to the title. Whereas Mornington had only 26,288 passenger bookings last year, Frankston had 114,420 – a difference of more than 88,000 and £3,000 revenue. “In every way, those railway statistics specially proved the importance of Frankston as the vital centre.” *** ON Saturday evening, at the Anglican Bazaar, in aid of St. Paul’s Church, Frankston, Dr.…
SOCCER WHEN it comes to long-range forecasts Baxter captain Izaak Barr doesn’t hold back. The 22-year-old and his teammates have set their sights on winning the State 4 South championship next year. “I was absolutely devastated when we couldn’t play football this year because (with) the team that we had I reckon we could have won the league,” Barr said. “We put some absolute quality into the team with guys coming back from 2019 and a couple of Mornington senior players coming down in Charlie O’Connell and Charlie Parker as well as Robbie O’Toole in centre mid. “And Ben Meiklem…
HORSE RACING DAVID Brideoake’s Group One winning mare Princess Jenni spoiled the internationals Melbourne Cup party to win the $400,000 Group Three Bendigo Cup last Wednesday. Despite having been winless for over a year, Princess Jenni took control of the race at the top of the straight before fending off the challenge of the Lloyd Williams-owned import, Pondus, who was having his final crack at gaining a Melbourne Cup start, to win by a head-margin. The Archie Alexander-trained Haky finished a further two lengths away in third. Stepping up to the 2400m trip for the first time in her career,…
POLICE are searching for a thief, pictured, who stole a credit card from a car at Balnarring and later used it to withdraw cash from an ATM at Dromana and to buy cigarettes from a convenience store at Carrum Downs. The offender was wearing a red hoodie, black shorts, and has a tattoo on their left calf. Anyone with information is urged to contact Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit 5978 1400 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 4 November 2020
FRANK Brown and cycling go back a long way. The 90-year-old, of Hastings, is a member of the Spice cycling group at Balnarring and enjoys his weekly 40 kilometre Saturday ride with the group of mates he befriended in 1983. Last Saturday they held a “birthday ride” for their friend who celebrated his milestone birthday on 18 October. Mr Brown says he can “usually” keep up with the younger members but admits to finding the hills a “bit of a challenge”. During the week and depending on the weather he may go out for a solo ride on his carbon…
SOMERS residents are being asked to plant trees to help koalas thrive on the Mornington Peninsula. They will join Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group and Mornington Peninsula Shire in growing a corridor of trees so koalas can move safely around Somers and beyond. The project will provide more food trees for koalas (manna gum, swamp gum and narrow-leaf peppermint), increase canopy cover for protection from the weather, increase habitats to support breeding populations, and improve ground cover to keep koalas safe from predators as they move between trees. Somers residents who own properties identified as part of the safe corridor…
INSTEAD of celebrating her 100th birthday in isolation, a much-loved Balnarring great-great-grandmother – born in 1920 – was able to mark the occasion at home. Muriel Bettes accepted best wishes from family and friends at her front door, by phone, or – for a select few, due to the restrictions – inside her Balnarring home. Ms Bettes, a patient of Peninsula Health’s Hospital in the Home Unit, said: “To be able to enjoy the day with those who I love the most, simply meant the world to me. “Even though glass separated me from many of those who dropped by,…
SORRENTO dining hotspots Morgan’s and Sardo Sorrento are taking their cleaning and contact tracing duties up a notch with what is described as the “gold standard” in cleaning and customer safety. The push for higher standards was motivated by the 28 October reopening date to ensure all hospitality venues are able to stay open. Morgan’s proprietor Julian Gerner says the Gold Standard Health and Wellbeing Plan is over and above the COVID Safe plans already submitted to the state government and was developed in collaboration with the Australian Hotels Association, industry gurus and after consultation with the Restaurant and Caterers…
MORNINGTON police took part in the recent Wonder Woman walk to raise money for ovarian cancer research. The walk began in 2016 when Senior Constable Andy Powell’s wife, Helen, was diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease. Six of her friends took part in a 30 kilometre walk from Safety Beach to Sorrento and it has grown in numbers every year since. Their red clothing honours TV’s Wonder Woman character. In 2017 the participants tripled to 18, then in 2018 it grew to 60. Last year there were more than 200 Wonder Woman walkers (including a few men). Helen Powell…
THE title of the book says it all: 2020 a year like no other. While nothing could have prepared Victorians for tragic surprises and uncertainties of this year, the writers’ group of U3a Dromana, has completed a book of short lockdown observations to illustrate how individual members fared during the pandemic. “Despite all the upheaval this year we kept on meeting virtually and decided to write a series of poetry and micro stories in the form of a journal,” organiser Sue Brown said. Nine others recorded their thoughts and observations on a weekly basis. “The writers’ group members have led…
THE only rule of the Tough Guy Book Club is that you do not talk about it. Described as a “fight club for your mind” the club is a “modern meeting place for guys of all walks of life to get together once a month to discuss not just the works of literary greats, but any and all of the issues that men tackle daily”. The inaugural meeting of the Mornington Tough Guy Book Club is 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday 4 November) at The Royal, 770 Esplanade, Mornington. Under discussion is Fahrenheit 451, a book by Ray Bradbury: the dystopian novel…
THE ocean car park at the end of King Street, Flinders has been closed due to a landslide. Part of the bitumen covered parking area collapsed after heavy rain on 9 October and Parks Victoria has hired geotechnical experts to assess the situation. Kris Rowe, chief ranger for the southern peninsula, said the collapse posed a “significant risk to the public” and the car park would be closed “until further notice”. “We are conscious of the value of this car park to the local community and will keep people updated as we determine the appropriate next steps,” Mr Rowe said.…
SOON after the Europeans arrived, they began to colonise territory that was already occupied and providing a living for its long time inhabitants. The original populations were overlooked as the fast-reproducing, more powerful hordes took over the lush valleys and fast-developing agricultural areas. But a growing number of enthusiasts are now coming to the plight of the originals, providing safety and shelter from the spreading hordes. The narrative of invasion and a struggle for survival might sound familiar, but it is one few people know about: the takeover of Australia by European bees. Introduced for their manufacturing and pollinating skills,…
FREE online workshops and events are providing lessons on how to become conscious consumers. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Fix It Festival focuses on implementing sustainable habits, including repairing broken items, earning money from unused items, growing veggies, composting and recycling. Consumers will be asked to consider the resources used to make the things they own and the environmental impact of throwing them away. Before buying something new, check to see if you have something similar you can reuse or repair. If the answer is no, ask can you borrow, swap, rent or purchase the item second-hand? Buying an items second-hand eliminates…
THE gardens at Heronswood were open to the public last Saturday (31 October) to be followed on 4 November by its cafe. Heronswood is also home to the Diggers Club and gardens that change and reflect the seasons throughout the year. The Diggers Garden Shop (10am-5pm daily) specialises in heirloom seeds, cottage flowers and edible plants along with flowering shrubs and cool climate trees. Heronswood is in Latrobe Parade, Dromana, call 5984 7321. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 3 November 2020
FOUR sets of twins graduated from Peninsula Grammar this year. They included Hudson and Jackson Streader, who have been at the school since Prep. The school’s human resources coordinator Kylie Oddy said: “ Hudson and Jackson were both elected by the student body as Prefects, testament to their contribution to the school over many years and the high regard in which they are held. “The boys are high academic achievers, excellent role models, supportive friends and have made huge contributions to various sports for Peninsula over the years, including success in snow sports and triathlon at a national level.” Two…
NOT too many weddings get interrupted by an air raid, but that’s happened when British couple Frank and Rena O’Neil, pictured, tied the knot during the darkest days of World War II. “We had just finished our wedding vows when there was an air raid and we all ran for cover,” Mr O’Neil said. “There were huge rations at the time so we didn’t have any champagne, wine or cake to celebrate with.” The October 1942 wedding – when Rena was 19 and Frank 21 – came after they met while playing in the street as teenagers. They celebrated their…
A STROLL along the Old Mornington railway line from Wooralla Drive convinced Mount Eliza couple Ann and John Scholes that any proposed bike path should be subject to an environmental effects statement to protect indigenous flora and fauna along the route. Ms Scholes was referring to plans by Mornington Community Safelink Group and Mornington Railway Preservation Society to complete the Peninsula Bay Trail’s missing links from Moorooduc to Mornington, (“Groups align for shared path” The News 27/7/20). She said an EES would be a “simple reflection on the beauty and extent of the endangered habitats and indigenous plant species and…
A MORNINGTON woman has complained to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council over the felling of five gum trees that created “a lovely park-like vista”. However, the shire says the trees were “close to death” and will be replaced. Lynette Catlin said the five gums at the corner of Barkly Street and Waterloo Place were “more attractive than any others in all of Mornington”. “It was a lovely park-like vista. They were not tall, straggly ones with messy bark, like most of the ones throughout the other streets, but low growing, slightly twisted with the most beautiful coloured trunks and weeping type…
MORNINGTON, Mount Martha, Mount Eliza and Frankston are ranked fourth in insurer AAMI’s list of storm-damaged suburbs. This comes after analysis of almost 19,000 storm-related insurance claims across Victoria from June 2019-July 2020. The suburbs are among areas in Melbourne’s south east that copped the most damage from storms over the past 12 months – especially after one storm in January that produced large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding. The damage led to more than 8000 insurance claims. The south east has consistently topped the list of storm damaged regions over the past three years, with significantly more home…
A “LIGHT touch, streamlined permit system” for extended outdoor trading is part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s strategy to help businesses get back on their feet now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased. Features include extending footpath space and adding parklets – which repurpose car parking spaces outside shopfronts – to make more space for diners. CEO John Baker said the shire was also working with the business community to identify key shopping strips that could be opened up to pedestrians and diners. “We want to provide more options to enable people to support our local economy and enjoy all the peninsula…
FUTURE “development opportunities” of land now occupied by Mount Martha Public Golf Course will be reviewed by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The shire has hired consultants @leisure Planners and WellPlayed to “develop a vision and long term plan” for the golf course. Described by the shire as an “exciting project”, the shire is inviting public comment until 5pm Wednesday 11 November. With easing of COVID-19 restrictions the 18-hole course off Forest Drive reopened for golfing on 21 October. “We will be reviewing all aspects of the site, including its role as a significant open space for the peninsula and undertaking…
DISTANCE can be a barrier to friendship but, with new technology, staying in touch has never been easier. Although Jo Cooper and Vi Fleming, both aged 103, live in aged care centres at Mornington and Frankston, the stay in touch on a regular basis. Friends since meeting at Baxter Village, Frankston some years ago, the pair are great supporters of Zoom, the videotelephony and online chat service that has become an integral part of daily life during the coronavirus pandemic. Ms Cooper’s daughter Joyce Curry says her mother and Ms Fleming are “tech savvy” and enjoy their “magical moments” on…
THE objectionable conduct of those idiotic galoots who visit Frankston in the summer time, is to be stamped out, according to Mr Clapp, the new Chief Railways Commissioner. He has made a special note of the rowdy elements, and proposes to leave nothing undone to put a stop to it. If Mr Clapp’s prohibitive measure actually prohibits, he will have gained the gratitude of the local and visiting people. Frankston, as a holiday and seaside resort, stands second to none, but once you give the rowdies a bit of rope and permit these unthinking ones to make it “free and…
THE easing of COVID-19 restrictions has allowed the Crib Point pool to reopen in time for the warmer weather. Those living within a 25 kilometre radius can now use the pool for exercise under a safety plan. Features include expanded operating hours from 6.30-10.30am Monday to Friday and 8am-12pm Saturday and Sunday. There will be limits on numbers of swimmers and a booking system. In the past few months Belgravia Leisure staff have been busy draining, filling, cleaning and preparing the pools and centre for the restart. Hand sanitation stations have been provided around the centre as well as the…
A BANK is giving away money to sporting clubs, schools and community groups to spend at businesses in Western Port. Balnarring and District Community Bank’s Love Local campaign provides $10 and $20 cards that can be used to buy goods and services at participating businesses as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. “We know that many business owners have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and expect those impacts to extend into the future,” manager Greg Hood said. “The bank understands that it is a difficult, uncertain time for businesses and has support measures in place for our business and personal…
VOTERS in this month’s Mornington Peninsula Shire elections affected by mail thefts from the Balnarring Village mailbox can expect a sympathetic ear from the Victorian Electoral Commission. Balnarring Post Office licensee David Macfarlan yesterday (Monday) confirmed vandals had targeted the mailbox overnight Saturday 17 October but said he did not know how many letters – if any – had been stolen or destroyed. “There are never many letters in it,” he said. Concerns have been raised that missing postal votes may have influenced the outcome of the all-postal council elections. Polls closed Friday 23 October. Mr Macfarlan said he reported…