Frankston Sexual Offences & Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives have arrested and charged a male in relation to four alleged separate sexual assault incidents, across the Mornington Peninsula, during January and February. The first incident occurred on The Boulevard in Somers on 22 January about 10.30am. The second incident occurred on Tasman Road in Somers on 31 January about 6.10pm. The third incident occurred on Peterson Street in Crib Point on 1 February about 5pm. The fourth incident occurred on Sandy Point Road in Balnarring on 13 February about 5pm. In each of the incidents it is alleged the male…
Author: mpnews
OAKHILL Gallery, Mornington, has a new micro residency program that is giving artists an opportunity to engage with gallery visitors and increase their exposure.Artists are offered week-long free use of the space to exhibit their works and work on site, as well as chat and meet members of the public and other artists. County Court illustrator Fay Plamka – who works in a range of mediums – was at the gallery last week to start the program. She will be followed by different artists each week until early May.Members of the public can visit to say hello and view works…
POLICE have charged a man with weapons offences after allegedly locating three firearms in a vehicle with stolen number plates in Frankston South.Frankston police were conducting routine patrols as part of Operation Trinity when they observed a Volkswagen Golf sedan parked on Frankston-Flinders Road just before 2am on Friday 8 March. Checks identified the licence plates as being stolen and the male driver, 34, was arrested at the scene.During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly uncovered three pistols and ammunition in the rear footwell.It will be alleged one of the pistols was home made, another had been 3D printed…
A FREE legal information session covering two of the most common legal issues affecting older people – wills and power of attorney – will be held at Safety Beach on Wednesday 20 March.Co-hosted by the Respecting Seniors Network, Peninsula Community Legal Centre and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the session will include guest speakers talking about the tips and traps of planning for decision making as people age. They will also talk about how to protect older people’s rights and assets, as well as how to ensure that a person’s wishes are respected at a time when they are at…
CAMPAIGNERS calling for upgrades to Rosebud Hospital say the state government’s focus on redeveloping Frankston Hospital is short sighted. A rally planned for this Friday (15 March) will put pressure on the government to commit money to upgrading the hospital.Ongoing pressure on the government to repair and upgrade Rosebud Hospital will focus on the catch cry of Frankston Too Far Away to highlight the difficulties for southern peninsula patients to access hospital care. Spokesperson and long-time health worker Sue Gilbert said the nearest major hospital from Rosebud was more than one hour away.“We will not let the government hand ball…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough IT is with deepest regret we learn that ex-Councillor C. Murray, of Somerville, passed away on Thursday morning, at “Marrinook” private hospital, East Melbourne, where he has been hovering between life and death for some time.We feel that we are expressing the feelings of all residents of the shire who were acquainted with the deceased gentleman, when we say how deep the feelings of regret will be.The late Charles Murray, who had been a member of the Shire Council almost continuously since 1904, was a man who did not intrude himself unnecessarily on the Council by…
McKenzie’s colleagues not in the same class Soon after Labor’s Jodie Belyea was declared the winner in the Saturday 2 March Dunkley byelection, the Liberal MP for Flinders Zoe McKenzie congratulated her and posted a picture of the two of them smiling together. Zoe said she “looked forward to working with Jodie”. It was a classy act of generosity towards an opponent and in today’s cut and thrust politics, an admirable gesture.The same, however, cannot be said for Ms McKenzie’s colleagues.They have reacted much as one would expect from a bunch of boorish, born-to-rule dullards. They said that “we are…
By Jane ByrneSANDY beaches, rugged cliffs and the twisting, somewhat haunting Moonah trees are natural features many imagine when they visualise the southern Mornington Peninsula, an area loved by holidaymakers and residents.Not only are coastal moonah woodland areas visually stunning, but they perform an important function. They help stabilise dune systems and prevent erosion caused by climate and sea level changes that threaten our coastal communities. Many of the moonah trees and adjacent vegetation communities are extremely old.With less than eight per cent of its original distribution remaining, coastal moonah woodlands are listed as a threatened community under the Flora…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery has three new exhibitions on display until 12 May. Contemporary art, design and fashion come together in the JamFactory travelling exhibition New Exuberance: Contemporary Australian Textile Design, that celebrates creative collaboration, sustainability and the versatility of textile craft through storytelling and conceptual ideas. There are more than 30 creatives and 10 commissioned works including from Ikuntji Artists, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Grace Lillian Lee and Romance Was Born.New Wave 24, is an annual showcase of incredibly talented local VCE and VCE VET students, and an important platform to support our next generation of emerging artists. There is…
A THREE-day Guitar Fest will be held at the Peninsula Beer Garden, Boneo over the 9 to 11 March long weekend.The brainchild of peninsula-based musician Steve Myles, who has spearheaded a program to revive live music on the peninsula and give seasoned and aspiring musicians a platform, the event will feature local, interstate and international guitarists and support musicians.The line-up includes Geoff Achison, blues player Anna Sconti and peninsula-based Ocean Pulse, a group that takes inspiration from vintage surf music and the peninsula’s surf vibe. Myles says the band plays surf music “like Jimi Hendrix”.Frankston-based guitar maker Jim Cargill, whose…
SOUTH East Water’s annual community grants program is now open for groups to apply for up to $10,000 available for community projects.Now in its fifth year, the program has granted more than $320,000 to 66 community groups across Melbourne’s south-east. “Last year we were thrilled to support 16 community groups with a range of community and environmental projects, from emergency food relief and crisis essentials for children entering out-of-home care, to rainwater tanks and recycled water systems, and a cultural meeting place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students,” South East Water managing director Lara Olsen said.Applications are now open…
PENINSULA Health has joined the lobbying group Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula as a community partner.The membership of the health service comes at the same that the committee “welcome” the state government’s $1.1 billion “investment into Frankston Hospital”. The committee, which said it would continue to lobby “for better health outcomes for our region” works at the hospital would “deliver a multi-storey tower with additional bed capacity, new operating theatres, enhanced mental health and oncology services and expanded maternity and paediatric services”. The committee’s CEO Josh Sinclair said the hospital project was “being delivered under a public-private partnership and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is being accused of not “staying in its lane” after revealing a proposal to charge higher rates for homeowners who do not go solar.Social media pages have been flooded with posts calling the plan “discriminatory” and “unfair”. Under the plan suggested by council officers, ratepayers who do not install new solar panels would pay more to subsidise those who go solar.The council is seeking feedback on its proposal to introduce a 20 per cent rate discount to households that install, replace or upgrade solar systems over 5kw after 1 July. The discount would be applied for…
By Will Jeffares VFL DESPITE a promising fightback, Frankston fell to a four-point defeat to the Northern Bullants as part of the VFL’s Standalones Practice Match Carnival on Saturday afternoon at Kinetic Stadium.A slow start, in which the visitors opened a 23-point buffer at quarter time, and inaccuracy in front of goal proved costly for the Dolphins despite more than doubling the Bullants’ scoring shots and getting the game back on their terms after the first break.After quarter time, Frankston were able to move the ball much quicker, with an intent to link up from defence to attack as they…
Elector selectors can change team in October Wonderful to recall the halcyon days of the Mornington Peninsula Shire with “Captain Brian” leading the First Eleven and getting the job done in an honourable and non-political way (History repeats, Letters 27/2/24).It’s more like the Second Eleven with this latest crop of inexperienced batters and under arm bowlers.One of the current crop has been dropped already for upsetting the leadership team last year over the use of flags beyond the boundaries (Suspended without apology, The News 27/2/24). That poor member has had to sit it out in the pavilion probably having to…
MEMBERS of Somerville Highway Patrol are investigating an accident that occurred on Monday 26 February at 10.18 pm on Koetong Parade, Mount Eliza, near Bambra Street.A white Toyota Landcruiser was reported as travelling at high speed before losing control and hitting a brick wall. The three female occupants were taken to hospital for treatment.Anyone who witnessed the collision, or has CCTV or information, is urged to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au