Author: Liz Bell

DOG owners are again being reminded of the need to keep their pets on leashes or under control in public areas after a tragic end for a kangaroo thought to have been chased into the water at Dromana. Wildlife rescuers, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council rangers and police were called to the beach at Dromana beach on Thursday (9 November) morning, when a kangaroo was seen lying on the sand, drenched and clearly unwell. The area was cordoned off to give the kangaroo time to recover and stop it from jumping out onto Point Nepean Road until vets could arrive to…

VOLUNTEERS from Sunshine Reserve conservation group and Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group have been spreading the word about the need to control weeds. The groups set up a Saturday morning stall at Mount Martha shops to show what weeds can look like and talk to passersby about the dangers they pose to the peninsula’s bushland areas. With an estimated 30 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula’s indigenous vegetation remaining, privately owned bushland, national parks and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council-owned parks and reserves are vital to the survival of native flora and fauna. One wildlife corridor is Sunshine Reserve in Mount Martha,…

RSPCA Victoria has announced its Mornington Peninsula vet clinic is operating at “full capacity” after expanding its Pearcedale site. The clinic has a team of veterinarians, of which four out of five live on the peninsula, including Dr Victoria Collins, a vet for the past seven years. Collins said she relished the variety in her work as an RSPCA veterinarian, and while she enjoyed working with all species, including “pocket pets” like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice and ferrets, she tried to avoid snakes as much as possible. “I love seeing the positive impact we make on the lives of…

CONCERN over a parcel of Crown land being allegedly incorporated into a privately-owned beachside block in Mount Martha has prompted Mornington MP Chris Crewther to ask for state government intervention. Crewther, who is acting on complaints from a neighbour, said he believed the issue of land encroachment could set a precedent and was potentially causing a financial loss to Mornington Peninsula Shire ratepayers. The case involves the owner of a house on the Esplanade who has added three stone retaining walls, a stone letter box, stone edging, landscaping and an extensive paved area for parking to 277 square metres of…

NOBODY was more surprised and elated than 36-year-old Gemma Maini from Mount Eliza when she was the first woman runner to cross the line in the Melbourne Marathon on 15 October. Not only was Maini a new mum, having given birth to son Ollie less than 12 months ago, but it was her first official marathon. The coach and secondary teacher, who has determination, good training practices, and a naturally athletic stamina on her side, beat the competition by close to five minutes. “I’m still pinching myself; it was an amazing race; a big challenge but an amazing experience,” she…

But the force will be with you – on patrol COUNTER hours at police stations in Mornington and Hastings will be reduced due to statewide staff shortages and a plan to “focus on the frontline”. In a move announced late on Friday 3 November, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner regional operations Neil Paterson said Victoria Police would temporarily reduce reception counter hours at 43 stations across the state. Counter hours at Mornington will be reduced from 24 hours to 16 from Sunday to Wednesday and remain 24 hours the rest of the week. At Hastings, a 24-hour manned station, counter hours…

HE may only be seven, but Taj McCallum has a wise outlook when it comes to his number one passion – fishing. The primary school fishing fanatic has been taking to the rod for as long as he could walk, and dad Michael couldn’t be prouder. Not only is the youngster dedicated to being the best, but he is also passionate about sustainability of the sport he loves and making sure people understand responsible fishing. Michael McCallum says his son’s enthusiasm for fishing is matched by his love and health of the water. “His passion is fishing, being with his…

MORNINGTON residents who fear the popular Beleura cliff path may never open again are urging the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to intensify its pressure on the state government for money to repair the path. Friends of Beleura Cliff Path spokesperson Peter Nicholson said the $1.5 million needed to restore the cliff path after landslips means there was a “50/50” chance it will never be done without government help. “The shire needs to do a lot more than it is doing now if the path is to be re-opened. And to strengthen their backbone, we need to lobby them strongly, efficiently…

THE “witch of Rye” returns this Halloween to haunt the streets for a spectacular 10th Halloween celebration. Karren Fleming, of Rye, transforms into a fan-favourite witch to bring Halloween magic to the southern peninsula, in readiness for the Tuesday 31 October’s trick or treating. District nurse Fleming, a mother of four and grandparent to 12 grandchildren, has been weaving her magic as the witch of Rye for 10 years. With a background in the local theatre scene and a love for portraying the witch character in the renowned Wicked musical, Fleming has become a beloved icon in the community. Last…

ROSEBUD based charity Clothes4U is taking the stress out of looking professional on a budget, providing students and people looking for work with quality clothes at low or no cost. Prices are low, but quality is not. There are suits, race day wear and hats, dresses, designer brands and clothes for most occasions. Charity president Tina Donahue said buying new clothes that were suitable for employment situations was sometimes out of reach for students or people looking to join the workforce. Donahue said clients who come to Clothes4U were given a one-on-one consultation, taking into account their body shape, likes…

AT least seven businesses affected by a fierce blaze in Main Street, Mornington have been forced to close temporarily after a building was severely damaged and deemed in danger of collapse. Emergency services evacuated patrons on Friday night as the fire took hold in the newly opened Colt Dining at 9a Main Street. The blaze could be seen from across the bay, as flames leapt from the building and smoke blanketed the beach and the end of Main Street. Fire Rescue Victoria, assisted by several CFA units, was called to the fire at 8.43pm, arriving to find the entire second…

THE Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group is preparing for the 2024 stage of its biolink project and is keen to hear from landholders from Cerberus to Tyabb who would like to take part. The project, now in its fourth year, aims to help the peninsula’s koalas by strengthening existing indigenous vegetation in the region. So far, the group has planted more than 70,000 plants, with 25,000 planned for 2024. President Dirk Jansen said the main reason for the decline in koala numbers on the peninsula was the loss of indigenous vegetation, and one of the keys to improving that was…

A MOOROODUC land owner living in green wedge zoning is calling for stronger enforcement of protections following the allegedly illegal development of a neighbouring property. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council acknowledged it is looking into the alleged non-compliance of use and development of the land at a property in Males Road, but was unable to comment because the investigation is underway. Moorooduc resident Susan Bell accused the council of being a “toothless tiger” after being told by the council it was “working with” the neighbouring land owner and it could take 12 months to resolve. Bell said she believed the…

FIVE councillors and 99 objectors have failed to convince Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to reject a planning application to erect a temporary religious marquee on green wedge land in Pearcedale. In a close vote at last Tuesday’s (17 October) meeting, six of the 11 councillors agreed with principal planner Ersi Ni’s recommendation to allow the remedial Hindu pooja ceremony to purify the land at 1915 Hastings-Dandenong Road, where the applicants want to build the largest Hindu temple in Australia. That separate planning application is due to be heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in February. Nine objectors to…

ENCOURAGING subdivisions, removing red tape and amending planning guidelines to incentivise housing construction have been suggested by a Mornington Peninsula charity to ease the housing and homelessness crisis. Peninsula Voice, which describes itself as a social platform for community learning, has compiled a comprehensive report on homelessness to raise awareness and foster an “all community” approach to solving the problem. A social movement with no political or religious affiliations, the charity is distributing the document to politicians, charities and housing groups while calling for “urgent” action. Convenor Peter Orton said that while there was a lot of good work being…

MERRICKS author Megan Rogers is not wasting time when it comes to telling stories, having signed a two-book deal for her novel The Anatomy of Tears. Rogers’ book is about Simone Wells, a psychologist who specialises in the language of pain, and whose own life falls apart due to her own pain. Wells escapes by taking a job in a country town needing a pain specialist, where she learns the stories of the locals, and realises there is more than one mystery to be solved. At the same time Wells questions herself and fears she is far from the woman…

MOUNT Martha resident and Cure Cancer fundraiser David Sutherland ran 10 kilometres on Sunday 15 October as part of the Melbourne Marathon Festival, and has already raised more than $2000, beating his $1500 target. Originally from Hamilton, 69-year-old Sutherland grew up on a farm with a brother and sister and now, as a father of four and grandfather of four himself, understands the importance of family and friends. Sadly, four important people in Sutherland’s life are now undergoing treatment for cancer, which is why he decided to raise money for Cure Cancer. “Right now, one of my amazing nieces, Heidi,…

BASKETBALLERS from around the state will descend on the Mornington Peninsula in November to compete in the Southern Peninsula Tournament. It has been estimated that the expected 25,000 visitors will also provide a $4 million boost to the economy. Held over 11 and 12 November and hosted by the Southern Peninsula Basketball Association, the tournament has been running for 35 years and is a highlight of the state’s basketball sporting calendar. SPBA general manager Ben White said the tournament would see the 600 competing teams use 47 courts at 18 venues. The tournament involves 250 volunteers and is being held…

ON and around World Mental Health Day on 10 October Mornington Peninsula police showcased the work of Sergeant Barry Randall, who founded Operation Soul Surf. When it comes to healing the mind, water and waves are the best healers. From early in his career, Randall became aware of the impact policing can have on a person’s mental health, describing “high highs and low lows” during his nearly 30 years at Victoria Police. Not long into his career, an attempt on Randall’s life in 1995 ended in a fatal police shooting. Nightmares followed, as did insomnia and PTSD; a diagnosis that…

AUTHORITIES are appealing for anyone with information about the apparent fatal mauling by dogs of a juvenile Australian fur seal at McCrae beach on Monday (9 October). The Conservation Regulator Victoria is seeking information after the seal was found on the beach with bite wounds and other injuries. Officers are investigating the incident following a report from the Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit which were alerted to a wounded juvenile fur seal by a member of the public. Marine wildlife officers attended the beach at 10.30am but found the animal had already died as a result of its injuries. The…

SUAN Lee Campbell has a grand vision to bring people together on the Mornington Peninsula. A strong advocate for refugees and the disadvantaged, Campbell, of Rosebud, is hoping to encourage others to embrace newcomers to Australia and invite them to the peninsula to be part of the community. She has organised a fundraising lunch next week (28 October) to help support the refugee cause. “I think the peninsula is a great place to live and I would love to invite people to a lunch to listen to inspiring stories from refugees and share great food,” she said. Campbell said there…

SIXTEEN-year-old Balnarring resident Matty Meysztowicz has always had a healthy fascination with dog poo, recycling and innovation, not unusual interests given the teenager’s background. It has become something of a Meysztowicz family tradition to think ahead and plan for the future. The young Meysztowicz, whose father Ed runs a recycling plant in the south eastern suburbs, has an innovative idea to solve the problem of discarded dog poo and the plastic bags used by owners to pick up and dispose of the mess. The avid dog lover says he came up with the idea after seeing too many plastic-based dog…

MORNINGTON Peninsulas charity Saltbush Balnarring Beach is on the lookout for a new CEO, after Rachel Connor announced that she would leave the organisation at the end of the year. Saltbush was established in 1989 with a vision to provide short-term holiday accommodation for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with disabilities, physical or mental illness, asylum seekers, refugees and families recovering from domestic violence. The organisation caters for more than 1600 people each year for short-term stays in its six purpose-built houses and arranges holiday programs for children to provide respite for parents and carers. Connor joined Saltbush as…

FOR some it conjures up images of Alice in Wonderland and the croquet-loving queen and her flamingo mallet, but the game means more to an increasing number of people on the Mornington Peninsula. The Rye and Blairgowrie Croquet Club is opening up the game to a new community of sports lovers by being one of the first, if not the only, croquet club catering to those who are disadvantaged, isolated and “disillusioned”. The RNB Croquet Club is a mobile/pop-up club working with community groups on the peninsula. Club president and co-founder Terri Manwaring, who started the club five years ago…

MORNINGTON Peninsula firefighters had no hesitation last week in heading off to help manage the Gippsland fires. Brigades from across the peninsula responded to a call out for strike teams after bushfires started in the East Gippsland, Baw Baw and Wellington Shire areas on Sunday 1 October. They were among more than 600 CFA and FFMVic firefighters, with more than 180 CFA trucks attending the fireground throughout the week. By Tuesday, fires near Briagolong had grown to 17,500 hectares and one at Loch Sport on the Gippsland lakes grew to 3000 hectares, before they slowed when a change of conditions…

WOMEN facing family violence or homelessness are waiting up to 17 months for crisis accommodation as demand surges on the Mornington Peninsula and across the state. Providers say women victims are the hidden faces of the accommodation and cost-of-living crisis and are often forced to stay in dangerous relationships. The peninsula has one small crisis accommodation centre in Mornington, but Southern Peninsula Community Support CEO Jeremy Maxwell says it is mainly used for rough sleepers and not suitable for women escaping unsafe situations. He says many women are forced to stay in violent and unsafe homes because they have nowhere…

THE time-worn adage that it “takes a village to raise a child” is the unofficial motto of youth specialist officers on the Mornington Peninsula who are leading the way in proactive policing and initiative based support of young people. Along with youth resource officers, specialist officers like Somerville’s Senior Constable Trent Delaney work directly with young offenders to prevent recidivism and get them back on track. They work mainly with 10 to 20 year old offenders involved in serious crimes and network offending, including evading police, assaults, aggravated burglaries, carjackings and anti-social behaviour. Delaney says he has a genuine and…

ANYONE looking for free skills training, a sense of purpose and a new bunch of good-hearted friends can look no further than becoming a member of the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES). VICSES is looking for new volunteers to help keep people and property safe when disaster strikes and educate the community on a range of safety issues. As the control agency for storms, flood, earthquake, tsunami and landslide throughout Victoria, VICSES volunteers are involved in many types of emergency situations and road rescues. SES volunteers are often the first to step in during a crisis, but also participate in…

DROMANA Community House is running a program to lighten the load for families and individuals struggling to make ends meet. The weekly Grab and Go program turns donated food into hot meals for the needy, with time-poor families able to “grab and go” from 4pm to 4.30pm. Community house manager Tracey Trueman services had been ramped up at the house as food poverty grew locally. “Over 70 families are collecting weekly on Thursdays from 10 am to 10.30am and our pop-up cart is stocked and well visited by the community seven days a week,” she said. In addition, the pop-up…

ALCOHOL and drug-related health problems in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula are among the highest in the region. The Alcohol and other Drug Catchment plan of Peninsula Health, 2023 (Bayside Peninsula area), reveals that Frankston has the highest demand for alcohol and drug services in metropolitan Melbourne (2972), with the peninsula close behind at 2262. Bayside had 847. The catchment plan – which also covers Kingston, Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip – looks at service usage data to identify the needs of people with alcohol and drug (AOD) problems and factors driving support and demand for alcohol and…