PEARCEDALE artist Merran Berry has joined the Peninsula Studio Trail, which sees artists open their studios to the public next month.Berry, of Favourite Hill Road, also creates sculpture from recycled items and likes to talk about connections between life and art while working in her Potato Shed gallery.Just down the same road is Janice Mills, another artist planning to open her workspace and welcome visitors to the peninsula trail.Visitors to the artists on the trail are invited to have a behind-the-scenes view of works in progress and ask questions about the creation of the works. Artists work in varied mediums,…
Author: mpnews
DUCKS left injured by shooters can receive veterinary care through Wildlife Victoria. The wildlife rescue organisation will deploy veterinary triage units statewide this duck hunting season to care for ducks left hurt by hunters.Wildlife Victoria CEO Lisa Palma has slammed the state government for failing to ban duck hunting in the wake of a parliamentary inquiry into recreational native bird hunting. She says the lack of action will leave other animals at risk during duck hunting season. “We were incredibly disappointed in the government’s decision, especially considering the recommendations from the committee and the resounding call from Victorians supporting a…
MOVES are being made to protect one of Somerville’s few remaining historic treasures, Seaton Carew House, from development.Hastings MP Paul Mercurio has been urged to join the community push to retain the privately-owned house for community use.Seaton Carew House was built in 1905. Someville resident Phillip Ross said the 0.58 (1.42 acres) of land “could be developed into a wonderful park and the house could have endless uses for the community”. The property, at 10 Graf Road, is for sale for $1,795,000, and is described as being “ripe for renovation” to bring back its original glory, or for subdivision. The…
By Captain Diana Jennings FROM the Mornington Peninsula to the shores of Gallipoli, Able Seaman Musician Laura Campbell, right, will represent the ADF at the 2024 Anzac Day dawn service at Anzac Cove, Turkey.“Growing up I usually made Anzac biscuits and attended the services at school,” she said. “I remember trying to imagine what the war would have looked and felt like while the bugle call was played.”The bugle call will certainly hit closer to home this year, as she stands on hallowed ground to perform and represent a nation as part of the Royal Australian Navy Band at Anzac…
GEORGE MORBY INGRAM was born in Bendigo in 1889, but lived much of his life in Hastings. He died in 1961 and is buried in Frankston cemetery.On 4 October 1918, the 24th Battalion took part in the attack that captured the Beaurevoir sector in France, and was, therefore, expecting to have a rest the following day when the unit was unexpectedly ordered to take part in another attack. The assault was to starts at 6.05am from the village of Remicourt, and lead to the capture of Montbrehain by the 21st and 24th Battalions with tanks to provide support. The action…
Shire should disclose answers to Potter questions Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transparency surrounding Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience at The Briars has again come under scrutiny, and so it should (Events denied sanctuary at The Briars, The News 16/4/24).Heavily redacted minutes have been added to the shire’s website. Councillors who vote one way or another should not be redacted from the minutes, and they must have the courage of their convictions made known.The website also fails to publish the cost to the shire – us the ratepayers – so what is the use of an expensive website that provides no…
AUSTRIAN composer Franz Schubert died at the age of 31 at a time when he should have been at his most productive. He left a symphony incomplete, his famous Unfinished Symphony in B Minor. Schubert was, however, best known for his songs (lieder) and chamber music of which he left the world a treasure trove of work.Somers Chamber Music Society will celebrate the composer’s work with a concert at St John’s Anglican Church, King Street, Flinders on the afternoon of Sunday 5 May. The society’s Homage to Franz Schubert concert features Susan Pierotti, violin, Zoe Knighton, cello and Brian Chapman,…
HASTINGS not-for-profit Kindred Clubhouse has launched a new project to increase mental health awareness and care in the community, while raising money for peer support and homelessness.Kindred Clubhouse offers a free peer support model in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas for people wanting to improve or maintain their mental health through friendships and purpose.Its new project, the Welcome Project, is giving the community a chance to get involved by decorating a sign and entering it in the clubhouse competition.Signs can be collected from Wednesdays to Fridays at 29 Marine Parade, Hastings between 10am and 3pm for donations of $5…
FLINDERS CFA is recruiting new members. The brigade, which started in 1945 as the South East Bushfire Brigade in an old shed in Flinders Park, was incorporated in the Country Fire Authority in 1945, moving to Barker Street in 1981, where a new fire station was built in 2017.Flinders is one of the CFA’s 1222 brigades and has 23 members including five women. The brigade trains or meets three times a month and responds to about 30 calls a year, mostly during the December to March bushfire season. It also attends major fires throughout Victoria and interstate.For more details about…
THE camping area with a difference is being expanded at Point Nepean National Park. The campground, with its pre-pitched “discovery tents” has been popular since opening early last year, with more than 2000 people staying overnight. Thirteen more tent platforms are now being built within the historic Quarantine Station precinct, creating a “woodland” camping area among the park’s moonah trees.Parks Victoria says it worked with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Heritage Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to pass the relevant cultural heritage and environmental assessments for approvals to complete the works. The project is part of a $6.4 million…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughA LARGE deputation waited on the council on Friday last with the request that action be taken to provide adequate drainage for the residential area from Beach Street to Overton Road, Frankston.Cr. Gray read a letter from Mr. E. A. Evans, asking him to introduce the deputation of residents affected by the recent floods, and it was evident from the commencement that the deputation had the sympathy of the whole council.Under the circumstances it was extremely unfortunate that Mr. W. Milvain, who was absolutely “straining at the leash” in his eagerness to address the council, should have…
Need to protect the ‘gem’ that is Western Port I was shocked to read that “the Ramsar information sheet for Western Port has not been updated since 1999” (“Forum a chance to protect Western Port’s future”, Letters, 9/4/2024). In that 25-year period, climate change has worsened considerably, and several species have moved from vulnerable to endangered, even critically endangered – the step before extinction.Growing industrial pressure, all energy related, has also increased the threat to the internationally acclaimed wetlands and heightened the need and urgency to conduct new “baseline environmental studies”.I sincerely hope that the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has…
AUTISM crusader Bianca Appleford died on Friday 12 April after a battle with cancer.The mother of four was renowned for her work in the autism field. In 2012 she founded Light-Up Autism Foundation to introduce improved teaching aids into southern peninsula schools so students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and those with other learning difficulties, could more easily stay happy, and focused, in the mainstream system.The Rye resident, who has an autistic son, received an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2020 for “service to people living with autism”. Mrs Appleford had previously been honoured by being…
SOMERS landscape designer Ellen Freeman has won two awards at this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show with Eclipse, her entry in the Challenger Achievable Gardens section.Eclipse won a gold medal and the specialist award, Best Use of Plant Life. One side of Freeman’s creation comprises silver and blue toned plants while the other side has purple, red, and black plants. The two sides are separated by a white limestone path and circle. Textures also add contrast between the two halves of the garden, with more matte plants on the lighter half and shiny leaves opposite. Plants chosen by…
A MEMORIAL garden space at the former Bembridge Golf Course, Somerville is having a “sunflower spectacle” to promote its green credentials and honour a friend.The concept of paying for a plant or tree to be planted in honour of a loved one, with ashes treated and made environmentally safe, is relatively new to Australia. But the owners of Mornington Green, Luke Roberts and Rob Amro, say the uptake has been great since opening in 2022.The green wedge zoned land was a market garden before becoming a golf course in 1995. Roberts said the idea for memorial gardens came to him…
PRIVATE, agricultural and planned burns are likely to take place on the Mornington Peninsula and across Victoria in the coming weeks. While current conditions are considered ideal for burning, weather patterns may cause smoke to linger over parts of the state overnight and through to early morning.Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said it was crucial fire agencies took advantage of favourable conditions when they presented. “Planned burning on public land is one of the tools FFMVic uses to keep Victoria safer from bushfires,” Hardman said. “While we burn to the conditions not the calendar, autumn generally…
TOURIST trips to the Mornington Peninsula are 5.7 per cent below December 2019 levels, while international visitor numbers remain below pre-COVID levels.Nepean MP and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events Sam Groth said there had been 40,000 international visitors to the peninsula in 2023. In calling on the state government to not impose any more taxes in its upcoming budget Groth said tourism on the peninsula remained below pre-COVID levels, with many businesses “struggling to operate”. Groth said one of the most high-profile businesses which had announced it would close was the Donna Maria restaurant in Flinders. A spokesperson…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough THERE is no doubt the autumn of 1924 will be long remembered as the wet autumn.Again we have had another soaking downpour, with the result that all the low-lying land is again under water.Our representative paid a visit to a number of the places affected, and points out that something will have to be done, and done immediately, to bring about an end to this state of affairs.Quite a number of houses are practically unapproachable, the only dry means being by a vehicle or by boat. Some places have fixed planks to walk on, and woe…
Forum a chance to protect Western Port’s future The upcoming Future Forum by the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula (CFMP) will provide an opportunity for the Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to announce new funding for our region, including funding to protect our local environment.Since 2014, the state government has deprived the Mornington Peninsula of infrastructure funding while providing hundreds of millions of dollars around the Geelong region – this is unacceptable. However, any new developments must not be at the expense of our green wedge zone or marine and coastal environment.The Port Phillip Bay Fund has provided over…
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was located with serious injuries in Bittern on April 6. It is understood a man, who is yet to be formally identified, was located on the side of Frankston-Flinders Road, near the intersection of Coolart Road, just after 4am. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Investigators believe that a NSW registered white Mitsubishi express van that was located nearby, may be linked to the man. The circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who has seen the Mitsubishi van in the area,…
NEW Wave 24 is an exhibition at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery that showcases the works of local VCE and VCE VET art, visual art, media arts, fashion, design and technology students within the Mornington Peninsula Shire. The exhibition includes paintings, drawings, multimedia, ceramics, installation and more by a new generation of young artists. The show offers students the opportunity to participate in a group exhibition in a public gallery and serves as inspiration for other senior students to see the work and ideas of local students.Also on display at MPRG is New Exuberance, a Jam Factory touring exhibition focusing on…
THE creative director of the Share Sustainability Agency has won third place in the Melbourne international flowering garden show border garden design competition.Josie Jones, of Rye, said that stepping into the realm of the competition was “a complete leap of love”.The Mornington Peninsula clean-up hero, who daily picks up litter from the beach and heads rubbish awareness programs, drew on her love of the rare weedy seadragon and gardening to create a garden bed that impressed judges.“As someone who has quietly nurtured a passion for gardening my entire life, the joy and humility I feel in securing a place on…
TWO young men from the Mornington Peninsula have made a spectacular entrance into the electric vehicle market, armed with nothing but a bright idea, a modest amount of savings and a lot of faith.Twenty-four-year olds Toby Batters-Holding and Daniel Henry, who became friends while students at Western Port Secondary College, have launched a mobile EV charging business that has attracted interest from media around the country.Before taking their idea to the market, Henry, an electrician, and Batters-Holding, a boiler maker, spent 12 months learning about the EV industry. Although they did not own EVs themselves, they knew enough to see…
By Max Bryant* WESTERN Port Oberon Association has celebrated the 100th birthday of its oldest member, Duncan Lamont Mackinnon.Born on a sailing ship, the steel barque Garthsnaid, on 5 December 1923 while it was moored in the Yarra River, Mackinnon is the oldest member of the association, which operates the Victorian Maritime Centre at Crib Point.To attend school in Port Melbourne he had to row a dingy with his bike aboard across the Yarra and cycle to school.At the age of 10 his mother took him to Scotland where they lived for three years.Aged 14 at the start of World…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough AT the Frankston Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Smith, P.M.; and Messrs. C. Gray, P. Wheeler, and J. Brown, J.’sP., Miss Irene Galt sought an order from the Court to compel J. B. Jolly to erect a six foot paling fence between their respective properties on Melbourne Road, Frankston.Mr. Robertson appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. J. Hogan for Mr. Jolly.Irene Galt said she was the owner and occupier of property on Melbourne Road, Frankston. Mr. Jolly occupied the property on the north side of her place.The properties at present were divided by a fence…
Parks vegetation provided its own protection There is a small bush reserve between Shire Hall and Mills beaches encircled by a popular walking track. Recent notices erected advise that the “Friends” are restoring the bush”, which means they are removing introduced species which are not natural such as tea-tree and replacing them with grasses and shrubs.A further notice advises “Management” requests visitors to stay out of the area to protect the vegetation which, if the area had not been “opened up” in so many places and the scrub had remained dense, there would be no reason to stray off the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has buckled under pressure and introduced some changes to its controversial paid parking trial after receiving a backlash from businesses and drivers.It is believed the council has introduced a 50 per cent discount for people who pay through the PayStay App, and also recently offered a 24-hour grace period from the date of parking. But a popular waterside Mornington restaurant which has spearheaded a petition to the state government is calling for a bigger revamp of the parking trial. Robert De Santis, who owns The Rocks restaurant and a separate cafe next door, at Schnapper Point,…
THE 20-year-old Pelican Park Recreation Centre at Hastings will be closed for four to six months from October.Mornington Peninsula Shire Council the closure is needed for such “vital works” as replacing plant equipment including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and boilers and repairs to the pool shell. The centre should reopen in March or April 2025.These works are necessary to ensure our community can continue to enjoy visiting Pelican Park into the future.Mornington Peninsula Shire will provide regular updates while we work towards enhancing the facilities at Pelican Park Recreation Centre.“The maintenance and renewal of Pelican Park Recreation Centre is crucial…
RSPCA Victoria is inviting exhibitors to connect with hundreds of passionate pet owners at this year’s Million Paws Walk at Hastings. The Mornington Peninsula is home to one of the RSPCA’s main dog walking events, which provides the opportunity for businesses to make contact with dog and pet lovers, while raising money to end cruelty to animals.Event and community fundraising manager Kate Kasby said this year’s event was a special milestone. “We’re very excited for this year because it marks the 30th anniversary of Million Paws Walk and we are planning an amazing day out for all pet lovers,” Kasby…
A DRAFT plan for the Sorrento’s pier and harbour is open for community comment. Parks Victoria says the Sorrento Local Port Area Plan outlines improvements for the pier precinct, balancing and enhancing existing uses, creating new, safer recreation opportunities and shoring up the future for Sorrento pier. Feedback from the public will be considered in the development of the final plan to be released mid-year.“Sorrento Pier is a popular destination for locals and tourists, fishers and boaters, and a valued feature of the Mornington Peninsula,” Parks Victoria’s regional director Jodi Heath said. “As a vital part of the planning process,…