PARKS Victoria is conducting its annual summer fuel reduction program to maintain fuel breaks and fire access tracks, slash grass and remove weeds on public land. Prevention work is being done in 16 parks on the Mornington Peninsula and around Western Port. These include Mornington Peninsula, Point Nepean and Arthurs Seat state parks, Bald Hill and Buckley nature conservation reserves, Coolart Heritage Reserve, Crib Point and Tyabb bushland reserves, Devilbend and Warneet natural features reserves, French Island National Park, Kangerong and Main Ridge nature conservation reserves, Langwarrin and The Pines flora and fauna reserves, and Tubbarubba Reserve. “Fire can spread…
Author: MP News Group
BASKETBALL By Jarrod Potter WHEN your first word is “ball”, a life on court is probably in the making. Tom Bahen, 14, a Western Port junior, has been basketball-crazy his whole life. There’s no other way to describe a Frankston kid who was bouncing a basketball before he was walking and telling everyone about his sporting passion. But his isn’t the textbook tale of rising through the ranks and dominating at every turn. He hasn’t been in the Jamboree mix. He hasn’t featured in Southern Cross Challenge yet. Realistically, he has never been on “the pathway”. Instead, his first foray…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing woman Madeline Baxter. Madeline was last seen on Jetty Road in Rosebud on 21 November and has not been seen since. Police have concerns for her welfare due to the amount of time she has been missing. The below image of Madeline has been released in the hope someone recognises her and can provide information on her current whereabouts. She is described as having fair skin, straight brown hair, blue eyes and a medium build. Madeline wears reading glasses and has a small mole on the left of her lip.…
THE Antique Aircraft Association of Australia will be holding its annual toy run at Tyabb Airport on Sunday 27 November. This open day for the public will be hosted by Peninsula Aero Club. Gates open 10.30am, with a sausage sizzle from noon. The aim of the event is to collect unwrapped toys to be distributed to underprivileged children through the Food for All charity. Toys for 10 to 14 year old boys are the most in need. Unique and antique aircraft will be flying in from across Victoria to complement the collection of “warbirds” on display. Details: Ian Johnson, Peninsula…
Enter your short film in the Peninsula Short Film Fest and you could win a share in up to $30K of cash and prizes. Get filming and enter now! 20 short listed films will be judged live on Saturday February 4, 2017 by top industry professionals with the winner taking out $5K in cash, second place $2.5K cash and third place scoring $1250 cash. There are plenty more cool prizes with awards for Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best International and the Woodleigh School Emerging Filmmaker Award (open to any Australian student under 18 years of age). There are also awards…
2 December 2016 to 12 February 2017 – A Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery exhibition Over 70 works by 50 contemporary and modern Australian artists will be brought together for this exhibition on the bird. Encompassing works from painting to sculpture, decorative arts, photography, print-making and installation, this exhibition, two years in the making, will explore the science, symbolism, beauty and curiosity of birds. Artists including Albert Tucker, Rover Thomas, Ginger Riley and contemporary artists such as Brook Andrew, Fiona Hall, John Wolseley, Ben Quilty, Christian Thompson, Kate Rohde, Petrina Hicks, Trent Parke and Louise Weaver consider birds as objects of…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie JOSH Hine could be the key to Mornington’s attempt to win a historic third straight State 1 championship in 2017. The 25-year-old English striker is believed to be in advanced negotiations with the Dallas Brooks Park outfit in what would be a major coup for local football. Hine’s CV includes spells with Burscough, Vauxhall Motors, Clitheroe, Skelmersdale, Chorley and Stalybridge Celtic and he currently is on the books of National League North outfit Salford City. He is one of four English-based players with whom Mornington is understood to have recently held discussions. One of them, 23-year-old…
With Rosebud’s long history as a great place to enjoy summer beach holidays, what better place to revive the fun filled 50’s & 60’s lifestyle? This new festival, Foreshore RockFest, will run over three days, 25th – 27th November and will involve a series of different music, dance, movie, car and vintage shopping events. All these activities will be based in Rosebud with the exception of the Drive in Movies. Fun starts on Friday evening with a Beach Party in the Rosebud Scout Hall plus the Mark Andrews Legends Show at GPO Hotel from 7pm. Mark is a renowned Elvis…
NEW 80kph speed signs went up on Mornington-Tyabb Rd between Peninsula Link and Coolart Rd, Friday 11 November. But, just as quickly, they were taken down again after it was discovered an over-zealous contractor had made a mistake. VicRoads media advisor Jarryd Stokes said the signs were put up a month early by mistake. He said they were changed back to the 100kph limit soon after. “VicRoads will make the [speed] changes from 12 December and we apologise if this confused local road users,” he said. VicRoads has flagged the trial of lower speed limits on several Mornington Peninsula roads…
SCOTTISH soccer star Stuart Munro is appealing for the return of medals he won during a distinguished playing career in the UK. The Mt Eliza resident’s home was burgled recently and medals awarded to him during a successful seven-and-a-half-year stint with Scottish giants Rangers were among the items stolen. “Although they are probably not worth much in gold value they hold great personal value for me,” Munro said. “There were a couple of Scottish championship medals, a couple of League Cup winner’s medals, all in small blue boxes, and a larger medal in a red velvet box which was a…
SAND is being trucked onto the beach at Sorrento for summer. The renourishment works are expected to be completed within a month. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) coastal project officer Jacky Priestly said the works would widen the beach between the boat ramp and the Sea Road Ferries’ terminal by about 12 metres. “Erosion at many Port Phillip beaches means they do not have enough natural sand to protect foreshores and infrastructure,” she said. “We identified that this area was suffering from erosion, resulting in a narrow beach that could no longer support vegetation and was becoming…
WESTERN Port Secondary College may be the first school in Australia to have a sculpture park in its grounds, assistant principal Hannah Lewis believes. It came about after year 8 students visited McClelland Sculpture Park earlier this year to explore the park and ponder why creativity was important, as well as the role of the artist in society. “Inspired and challenged by the sculptures they came away with ideas for setting up their own sculpture park, modelled on McClelland, to complement student-created sculptures in its grounds,” Ms Lewis said. Students from the year 8 Young Entrepreneurs Stream set about curating…
NAIRM Marr Djambana – Frankston Aboriginal Association, will be officially opened on Saturday 19 November, and the association are swinging open their doors to all-comers for the occasion. On the day, there will be indigenous dancing, a smoking ceremony, presentation of council members and politicians, and heaps of things for kids to do, including bouncing castles, petting zoos, bumper cars, and performances on the stage. There will be a market stall there where people can buy Christmas presents and gifts. There will be plenty of handmade gifts and indigenous artworks available for viewing and purchase. There will also be stalls…
DUNKLEY federal MP Chris Crewther has revealed he has Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder featuring involuntary vocal and movement tics. The Liberal MP helped launch the Parliamentary Friendship Group of Tourette Syndrome in Canberra last week and said he personally had suffered from Tourettes before its diagnosis. “I have Tourette’s. This is the first time I have raised this publicly, or in any job, or beyond close friends and family,” he said in Parliament last Wednesday (9 November). “Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder. It consists of vocal and motor tics, that is, rapid, repetitive and involuntary muscle movements. “For…
CLAY target enthusiasts from all over the country converged on Frankston last weekend for the Universal Trench Commonwealth Titles, a qualification event for the 2017 Australian team selection. The prestigious event on Saturday 5-Sunday 6 November was keenly contested with about 90 competitors in 15 squads, coming hot on the heels of the 2016 team’s incredible success at the world championships in Morocco two months ago. That team – made up of shooters from all over the country, returned with world championship titles in three of the four categories – open, junior and ladies, and the Australian junior team and…
THE Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network has been given $300,000 to be spent over four years linking native habitat and controlling weeds and pest animals. The Linking the Mornington Peninsula Landscape – From Planning to Action project will involve several biolink plans which include improving waterways and wetlands. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network to begin the implementation of local biolinks plans and provide a practical demonstration of community-based catchment management,” PPWCMA CEO David Buntine said on Saturday 5 November when announcing the funding at an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Landcare at Boneo…
VICROADS has defended pedestrian lights being installed near the Tower Rd- Nepean Highway intersection at Mt Eliza rather than at Kunyung Rd, which is closer to schools, service centres, post office, milk bar and a bus stop. A summary of complaints to The News over the past six months show most claimed the lights were of little benefit to cars turning into and out of Tower Rd, while fewer pedestrians needed to cross the busy road there. In contrast, the Kunyung Rd intersection was described as a “very dangerous six-lane, 80kph crossing point on the crest of a hill”. The…
A MODEL boat valued at $4000 was among antiques stolen from a Tyabb house early on Sunday 6 November. The display boat, pictured, was among jewellery and other items also valued at “many thousands of dollars”, Mornington Peninsula CIU’s Senior Sergeant Alan Paxton said. The model is 170cm long and named Riva Aqua Marina. No one was at the Mornington-Tyabb Rd house when the thieves struck. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Mornington News – 15 November 2016
A NEW rabbit virus will be trialled next year at four sites on the Mornington Peninsula. The peninsula sites are at Balnarring, Mt Martha, and Main Ridge. The virus will also be released at Cranbourne South and on French and Phillip islands. “Rabbit populations are on the rise and a coordinated effort is needed from all levels of government working with researchers, industry and local communities to address this pest problem,” Flinders MP Greg Hunt said. “The release of the RHDV1 K5 virus in areas where rabbits wreak havoc on native flora and fauna is part of the federal government’s…
THE Mornington University of the Third Age annual concert is a time when members get into the spirit of the festive season. The program of song will range from Schubert and Bach to Andrew Lloyd-Webber, The Seekers and Christmas carols at the concert at 2pm, Thursday 24 November, at the Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington. “Visitors will be impressed by the choir’s joyful singing and be moved by the passionate performance under the new musical director Heather Bird,” choir president Jan Hale said. They have previously performed at charities and other events under the direction of the late Warwick Taylor. “After…
SPEED limits on several Mornington Peninsula roads will be lowered to “improve safety, and make the speed zones clearer and easier to comply with”, according to VicRoads. The roads have been identified as having inconsistencies with varying speed limits, which the authority admitted “causes confusion”. The affected roads are: Mornington-Tyabb Rd, east of Peninsula Link. The 3.5km stretch of Mornington-Tyabb Rd, east of Peninsula Link, to be cut to 80kph to match the existing speed limit on either side of this stretch. VicRoads estimates the journey along Mornington-Tyabb Rd will take an extra 21 seconds. Arthurs Seat Rd, William Rd…
MORNINGTON Peninsula residents are invited to be part of the solution to violence against women by attending a range of community discussions on White Ribbon Day, Friday 25 November. Commentator and former independent MP Phil Cleary will head a 7–9pm discussion at the Commonfolk Coffee Company, 16 Progress St, Mornington. Register at eventbrite.com.au. Cleary has been at the forefront of the campaign to stop violence against women since his sister was murdered by her ex-partner in 1987. On the night, attendees will also hear from Acting Inspector Dean Clinton on how family violence is affecting the Mornington Peninsula. The event…
MANGROVES are part of a trial to stop coastal erosion in Western Port. About 500 seedlings have been planted in a trial on the foreshore of Churchill Island Marine National Park off Phillip Island. The indigenous plants, widespread in some areas, are known to be good for a healthy marine environment. Their dense roots also help bind and build soils, and can slow the speed and destructive nature of the waves. Parks Victoria, in partnership with the Friends of Scenic Estate Reserve, has planted the specially propagated mangrove seedlings in an effort to reduce wave erosion of the cliffs. Ranger…
THE works and methods of artists will be on display for four days this month when studio doors are thrown open during the annual Peninsula Studio Trail. The artists have produced a map that can be used to plan a scenic tour that takes in 17 creative spaces, from Frankston South to Flinders, along the coast to Rye and then back to the Port Phillip side of the peninsula through Red Hill. Along the way, the artists will show a range of art not always available in the commercial galleries. At McCrae, Katrina Newman, who makes jewellery with gold and…
MICHAEL Mann made a lasting impression on dozens of teenagers during his 28-year career at Rosebud Secondary College. Mr Mann died in 2011 while assistant principal and the positive impact that he had on student Kayla D’Angelo led to her suggestion that a Reflection Garden be created as a memorial to him. Kayla went on to become the college’s 2015 vice-captain and her vision for this garden is now a reality, thanks to the work of a group of students and the generosity of several businesses. Liam Kelly and Franz Mahr, who run the college’s Hands On Learning program, led…
FIVE new beds have been added to the paediatric ward at Frankston Hospital thanks to Mt Eliza Rotary Club’s Kids Fun Run against Mornington Railway Preservat6ion Society’s locomotive, K163. The club raised $20,000 from last year’s fun run for the beds and this year hopes to match that with more specialised equipment for children. Frankston Hospital paediatric ward nurse unit manager, Helen Hutchins, says the beds are used for children who need help to sit up and be supported in bed. “We care for a lot of kids who have severe disabilities so these new beds are great for them.…
POLICE say a Lilydale man was lucky not to be seriously injured when he tripped and fell while walking at The Pillars, Mt Martha, on Cup Day. The 63-year-old injured his shoulder when he tripped and fell onto “jagged and sharp” rocks about 2pm. Acting Sergeant Ray Box, of Mornington CIU, said a rock fisherman saw the man lying injured in a wedge-shaped depression after his fall and called Triple 000. “The tide was coming in and he was getting splashed by the waves so there was no time to lose,” he said. Ambulance crews called to the scene had…
VISITORS to the U3A Mornington art and craft show at the Currawong Hall had a rare view of the creative work by the artists and Currawong Crafties group. “We are delighted to present a wonderful selection of watercolour, oils and acrylic paintings, sculpture and beautiful pieces of craftwork from our beginner, intermediate and advanced classes,” U3A art tutor Jan Oliver said at last week’s opening. Artists and tutors from various classes showed off works: from watercolour to experimental media and paintings in the style of cubism, impressionism and others. Opening the show, Mornington MP David Morris praised the group’s…
TOUGH new legislation introduced into state parliament last week to get so-called “monkey bikes” off the streets gives police the power to seize and impound the miniature bikes and fine owners up to $3109. If police find a monkey bike and no rider comes forward to claim it, the bike will be impounded and crushed after three months. Riders found not to have a valid motorcycle licence will be charged with unlicensed driving. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said the legislation came about after monkey bikes were involved in an incident that claimed the life of Carrum Downs mother-of-two Andrea…
Re-emerging from a hiatus earlier this year with the catchy pop dittie ‘Are We Flirting’, Abbe May’s followup ‘Doomsday Clock’ unveils yet another side to her personality as she reveals yet another layer of her forthcoming album ‘Bitchcraft’ and a national tour this November/December. The song contrasts a joyous Gospel choir (Featuring May, Joni Hogan and Odette Mercy) with striking, ominous bells that ring throughout what could be May’s most immediate single yet. May suggests there is a chance for hope offered through acknowledgment of our inevitable demise. One of the earliest songs written for ‘Bitchcraft’, Doomsday Clock was developed…