McCRAE Lighthouse burst into a sea of light last Sunday 2 April to mark World Autism Day. Organised by Bianca Appleford from Light Up Autism Foundation, over 300 people gathered to witness the illuminating of the lighthouse. “This was a great team effort,” said Mrs Appleford. “I’d like to thank McCrae and District Lions Club, Bendigo Bank (Rye, Rosebud and Dromana), Dromana Fire Brigade and Sorrento SES, and all our supporters that come out on the night.” Light Up Autism Foundation was founded five years ago by Mrs Appleford after she saw first hand the need for assistance programs in…
Author: MP News Group
WORK has begun on a $1.56 million coastal path and seawall at the Eastern Sister headland connecting Sullivan Bay to Camerons Bight, Sorrento. Initially the focus will be on fencing the construction site and diverting pedestrians around it, with project signs detailing the works. The headland is at the northern end of Camerons Bight and the southern end of Sullivan Bay. At the top of the cliff is the Collins Settlement Historic site, Victoria’s first official settlement, dating back to 1803. It includes graves, asphalt pathways, monuments and look-outs. The project will provide pedestrian access around the headland along a…
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating a serious assault in Rosebud West yesterday (4 April) evening. It is believed a car containing an unknown number of people arrived at a property in the vicinity of Kingfisher Road, Rosebud West about 7pm. A dispute arose in the street between two parties, which resulted in one man receiving serious injuries, including lacerations and severed fingers. The injured man was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition and is yet to be spoken to by police. A second man attended a medical clinic in Rosebud with a wound…
ARTIST and author Peter Strickland, who along with his wife Kathie has put together a series of books on indigenous plants, said the Mornington Peninsula had to decide whether it was going to be just a playground for Melbourne or an entity in its own right. “We face lots of problems regarding population expansion, such as farmland, hotels and resorts and transport versus virgin bush,” he said. “We have got to be more self-centred and do what suits us, such as deciding whether we want to develop the port of Hastings or have Western Port as a relaxation area.” Mr…
A HASTINGS resident was taken to Frankston Hospital after allegedly being shot in the arm by an air rifle, 6.30pm, Saturday 1 April. The 34-year-old, who was reported to ambulance officers as being near the Wallaroo general store when the incident happened, later told police he recalled hearing a shot but could not remember where. X-rays at the hospital could find no pellet, just graze marks. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 4 April 2017
A P-PLATE driver was flown by Air Ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital after a car crash on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington, 10.30pm, Monday 27 March. The man, 19, of Mt Eliza, was with two friends in a small sedan when it lost control and skidded backwards into a tree near Dunns Rd. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay, of Mornington police, said the man was freed by ambulance officers and stabilised. Mornington Fire Brigade and Frankston SES crews assisted in the rescue. First published in the Mornington News – 4 April 2017
THE Bays Hospital, Mornington, is looking for volunteer drivers to help patients get to hospital. “While family and friends transport most patients to and from medical appointments, some have to rely on public transport, have limited mobility or are too unwell to drive themselves,” nursing director Anita Woods said. “Our two patient transport vehicles, both donated by Bernie Taylor of the Grand Hotel Mornington, are enabling nursing staff to be increasingly mobile and reach patients in the community to provide better care.” Ms Woods said the vehicles enables the hospital’s prostate cancer specialist nurse and breast care nurse to counsel…
COLLECTING and sorting goods for sale has been keeping members of Mt Eliza Rotary Club busy for weeks. The culmination of their efforts to raise money for community projects comes this Saturday (8 April) with the club’s annual garage sale. It will be the seventh year the club has sold goods donated by households from across the Mornington Peninsula and some Melbourne suburbs. The first part of the operation involved collecting the donated goods and then sorting and storing. Items come from families moving house, down-sizing or parting with possessions they no longer require. Categories of goods include artworks, books,…
RESTORATION work will begin next month (May) on some sections of the exterior of Mt Martha House. The heritage listed Federation Queen Anne style building dates back to 1891 when it was known as the Martha Hotel. Built of timber, it sits on a high point of land opposite the beach at the corner of the Esplanade and Dominion Rd, Mt Martha, where it is sometimes subjected to severe weather conditions. Mornington Peninsula Shire says it is awaiting approval from Heritage Victoria to spend about $100,000 on exterior restoration works to the community centre. However, Heritage Victoria says delays have…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie GUS Macleod will coach his 400th league game for Langwarrin on Saturday when his side squares up to South Springvale at Warner Reserve. A constant throughout Macleod’s tenure has been the presence of assistant coach and close friend Neil Collyer. They are in their 19th season at Lawton Park and oversee a heavily revamped senior squad attempting to win its first title since 2004. Manchester-born central defender George Whiteoak, 21, arrives from the UK this week and becomes the 11th newcomer to this year’s senior squad. He is a friend of 23-year-old central defender Kieron Kenny…
HOT rods, classics, pin ups and trade stalls, fender benders, DJ Jeff and the Rockin’ Daddies will feature at the Rosebud Rock ‘n’ Rods Festival, 10am-5pm, Sunday 9 April. The ninth annual event is at Eastbourne Primary School, Allambi Av, Rosebud. Entry is $10, with those under 12 free and display car drivers free. All profits from the event go to Rosebud Hospital. Details: 0408 583 727. The event is held in conjunction with the Rock ‘n’ roll with Jump ‘n’ Jive plus DJ Jeff, from 7.30pm until late, Saturday 8 April, at Eastbourne Primary School stadium. The cost is…
Mornington Railway has teamed up with Mornington Peninsula Brewery to create a great new event to lock into the calendar on Saturday 22 April; The Ale Train. This event combines the relaxing experience of riding Mornington Railway’s 75-year-old heritage steam locomotive, with great company, music, and Mornington beers! Departing from Moorooduc station, the locomotive will chug its way down to Mornington. There are two types of tickets available for the day: Train Lovers – Patrons will remain on the train to enjoy a return trip aboard the beautifully maintained machine. Or Beer Lovers – Patrons will disembark the train to…
A PATIENT dubbed by his doctor as “the luckiest man in Rosebud” has thanked his good fortune – and his personal alarm – for saving his life. Rosebud man, Ron Hampton, was recently saved by the device when at home having a rest last year. “I became so overcome with pain that I couldn’t move,” he recalled. “A major blood clot cut off the blood flow to my heart and brain which totally immobilised me. “The situation and pain was so bad that I couldn’t even reach the phone nearby to ring 000, and, had I been able to call,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire celebrated the 20-year anniversary of its inaugural council meeting held on 20 March 1997 at the Rosebud Council Chamber. The occaision was marked with the cutting of a cake at Flinders Civic Hall. The first meeting was attended by nine councillors elected in the 1997 municipal election. The election followed the formation of the shire in December 1994 with the amalgamation of the former shires of Flinders, Mornington and Hastings. For the following three years the shire was managed by state government-appointed commissioners, Nick Hutson, Peter Newman and Jane Moffat. The shire’s first councillors were Bill Goodrem,…
WORKS by the late Mt Martha artist Rudi Fuchs will feature at the Peninsula Plein Air Painters annual exhibition and sale at Sorrento over Easter. Fuchs, 88 who passed away last December, was born in East Germany where he trained in art and won the prestigious Weimar scholarship before escaping to West Germany in 1946. He arrived in Australia in 1953 and tutured art across the Mornington Peninsula with David Taylor and Robert Wade throughout the 1960s and was a long time member of the Peninsula Plein Air group. The exhibition is being held at the Sorrento Activity Centre from…
USING a rabbit as a symbol for Easter and the tradition of distributing chocolate eggs prompted an Australia-only push to replace the agricultural pest with the more environmentally friendly bilby. The move has worked a bit, with chocolate copies of the desert marsupial (also known as a rabbit bandicoot) competing for shelf space with chocolate bunnies. However, both varieties of the children’s favourite are now being pushed aside by the clever antics of an animal much closer in heredity to humans: the Easter monkey. There is at least one book and several videos depicting Easter monkeys as “an upgrade from…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing woman Clare Hutson. The 71-year-old Bittern woman was last seen at her Island View Crescent home on Sunday. Investigators believe Clare may be in the Kilcunda area. Police and Clare’s family hold concerns for her safety due to a medical condition. Investigators have released an image of Clare in the hope that someone knows her current whereabouts. She is described as having a slim build and dark blonde shoulder length hair. Anyone who sees Clare is urged to call Hastings Police Station on 5970 7800. Source: Victoria Police News -…
ST JOSEPH’S Primary School, Crib Point, is holding a year of celebration to commemorate 90 years of catholic education in Crib Point. St Joseph’s, in Martin St, was opened in 1927 by Archbishop Mannix to allow Father AJ Martin and the Josephite sisters to provide a catholic education for defence force families. At that time, many pupils also came from the migrant camp at Somers. Funds for the original building came from parents, committees and through collections from Our Lady Star of the Sea chapel at HMAS Cerberus (formerly Flinders Naval Base). For many years the Naval chaplain supported the…
A TRACTOR and a four-wheel-drive were severely damaged when they collided on the Frankston-Flinders Rd, Balnarring, Monday morning. Sergeant Bruce Buchan, of Somerville Highway Patrol, said the crash occurred about 7.20am when the grass-cutting tractor was turning at Mt Barron Rd; the four-wheel-drive overturned on impact. The tractor driver, 72, of Somerville, was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition. The driver of the four-wheel-drive, 30, of Crib Point, was taken to Frankston Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition. First published in the Western Port News – 28 March 2017
SLAIN Hastings jeweller Dermot O’Toole has been awarded the Star of Courage in the Australian Bravery Awards. The awards announced over the weekend recognise those who put their own lives at risk to protect the lives or property of others. Mr O’Toole, 64, died while protecting his wife, Bridget, during an armed robbery at their shop in High St in July 2013. The couple were working at the back when they heard the front door open. When Mrs O’Toole went into the shop she was confronted by a man in disguise approaching the counter. The offender – later identified as…
FELIX Arena, pictured, has been named Somerville Community Member of the Year. The award – announced at Somerville Family Day on Monday 13 March – was made in response to his “selfless commitment to helping and improving the community of Somerville”. Mr Arena founded the annual family day in a bid to bring the community together to celebrate the local area and its variety of skills and talents. He is president of the family day committee, runs his own business and started up the town’s first soccer club – the Somerville Eagles. Chrissy Kouvaras, a member of the committee, said Mr Arena…
BELEURA Junior Football Club representatives Matty Mayne and Khyal Jacobson have excelled in the 2017 AFLNZ Premiership held in New Zealand. AFLNZ approached the boys at the start of the year to participate in New Zealand’s premier football league as part of a pilot program after their performance in the 2016 ANZAC Tour. Since leaving on 2 March, the boys played three matches in the AFLNZ Premiership against some of the best senior players in the country. They also worked as ambassadors for AFLNZ and have had continued support from the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. Jacobson, 16, was a…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie MORNINGTON’S title threepeat attempt got off to a flyer last Friday night with an impressive 2-0 away win over Casey Comets. Adam Jamieson’s men bossed their fancied opponent from the outset, particularly in midfield, where Scottish duo Craig Smart and Chris Reid were dominant. The confronting thought for others with eyes on the championship is that Mornington can only get stronger as the club maintains an interest in English striker Josh Hine from Salford City while another forward, Simon Mur, is back after two years in the UK and looking sharp in training. Young Josh Valadon…
By Barry Morris IT IS the great mysterious love story of estuaries and creeks across the Mornington Peninsula that has its beginning and end 4000 kilometres away in the Coral Sea. Short-finned eels (Anguilla australis) live in or around the waterways for 10 to 20 years, maybe longer, growing up to one metre long and as thick as a man’s arm. Nobody seems to know how often, but around the full moon on an Easter tide they burst out of the estuary in their thousands to return to the Coral Sea to mate and die. And the cycle starts all…
THE CFA is urging landowners in the cities of Frankston and Kingston and Mornington Peninsula Shire to register burn-offs and avoid unnecessary call-outs. With the official end of the fire danger period on Monday (27 March), CFA operations manager Mark Kennedy said there would be a lot of private burn-offs over the next few weeks due to vegetation growth caused by heavy rainfalls at the start of the year. He urged people to check conditions and register their burn-offs. Mr Kennedy said every year firefighters had to respond to calls from the public concerned about smoke in the air from…
A SORRENTO commercial site sold at auction for $3.71 million on Saturday 11 March – more than $1.31 million over the reserve. The sale of 157-163 Ocean Beach Rd attracted 68 bids from the 300-strong crowd. It achieved an area record of $6700 a square metre for the 554 square metre block on a yield of 2.6 per cent. The corner site contains two freestanding commercial buildings – Happy Days and Patrick’s – and is said to be “strategically positioned” adjoining a 200-space council car park. Selling agent Sandro Peluso, of CBRE, says the sale proves the Mornington Peninsula property…
THE long term operation and safety of Tyabb airfield is being scrutinised as part of the preparation of a precinct plan by Mornington Peninsula Shire. “Council recognises that the airfield and the surrounding areas require careful consideration and the development of a policy and planning framework to provide for the long term operation of the airfield while protecting the safety and amenity of residents,” shire strategic projects manager Allan Cowley said. As well as making written submissions residents can attend three drop-in sessions being organised with consultants hire by the shire, Kneebush Planning and Arcadis. Mr Cowley said that “as…
By Ben Triandafillou TWO AFL premiership players will be coming to the peninsula in April to play a few matches for local Nepean League football teams. The Pearcedale Football Club will have the ex-AFL stars Daniel Kerr and Barry Hall joining their line-up for a couple of one-off matches at the start of their season. Kerr, 33, spent his entire career at the West Coast Eagles and helped take the side to a one-point victory in the 2006 AFL grand final. Kerr will play his first match for the Tyabb Football Club on 01 April before slipping on the boots…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie CHAMPIONSHIP aspirants Casey Comets and Mornington slug it out on Friday night at Comets Stadium in a blockbuster opening to the 2017 league season. Both sides have made significant changes to their squads during the off-season and the visitors have boosted their chances of a State 1 South-East title threepeat by improving both the quality and depth of their personnel. Both camps are keen to get off to a flyer in a season where the championship winner is offered a place in the second tier of the elite NPL competition for 2018. At the heart of…
A P-PLATE driver who crashed on the Esplanade, Mt Martha, Sunday 12 March, was lucky not to have plunged 50 metres onto rocks. Roadside vegetation snagged the Holden Apollo’s axles after the driver, 19, of Dandenong, lost control while reportedly racing up to six other cars on the narrow, winding road, at 9.30pm. Although it has a designated 60kph limit, police believe he may have been going much faster. Police, ambulance and CFA trucks rushed to the scene and used ropes to prevent the car from falling over the jagged clifftop with the man still trapped inside. He was later…