MT ELIZA and Mornington fire brigades rushed to extinguish a fire at a laundromat in Mt Eliza Sunday 7 August. The Mt Eliza Pumper was first on the scene at 8.10am when crews found smoke billowing from the business and flames spurting from a dryer. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus to quickly extinguish the fire and make the building safe, Mt Eliza Fire Brigade 4th Lieutenant Mark Turnham said. “Using thermal imaging cameras and a gas detector, crews investigated the premise and found all to be OK.” Lieutenant Turnham said a passer-by had made a valiant attempt to put out the…
Author: MP News Group
HASTINGS FNC ON Saturday the Hastings Football/Netball Club played against its local rival Crib Point Football/Netball Club. The Hastings boys certainly had to win this game to guarantee a spot in this year’s Mornington Peninsula Nepean finals series. They achieved this with ease! The boys played a great style of team orientated football to set up a great clash next week against Frankston Bombers at Frankston. Now the club has secured another shot at this year’s premiership, it’s all systems go in preparations for this year’s finals series. Get down to training this week and show your support as we…
By Brendan Parnell LIFE on court is still getting back to normal for Western Port Basketball Association after the dramatic events of Sunday 1 May. That day – sometime before dawn – the Steelers’ long-time basketball home at Somerville Recreation and Community Centre was destroyed by fire. While Western Port was only one of 26 community groups using the centre, with more than 1500 players, 50 referees and a vast number of volunteers, coaches and team support staff the loss of the two-court facility hit them hard. The loss has had a galvanising effect on the community. “We’ve been getting…
A DOG was killed and two other dogs injured, one seriously, when a car they were riding in crashed into a pole at Rosebud, Thursday (4 August) night. The driver of the car, a 55-year-old Safety Beach man, was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The accident occurred at 6.40pm at the intersection of Point Nepean Rd and First Av. Sergeant David Collins, of Mornington Peninsula Highway Patrol, said the dead dog was on the front seat and hit the windscreen and the others were in the rear. He said marks on the rear of the front…
MORNINGTON Racecourse is “putting the peninsula on a plate” with a new food and beverage regime that supports local businesses, farms and workers. Under a five-year program with Chisholm Institute 50 trainees each year will gain on-the-job experience working across race days and events. As well as new management and staff, the racecourse is working with 30 businesses – from wineries, fruit and vegetable farms to meat and smallgoods suppliers – to ensure that what’s served up on the plate represents the produce available on the peninsula. Under the guidance of the new head of food and beverage operations, Paul…
Local Frankston band and teen sensations X MINUS took out the prestigious Frankston Freeza Fresh Start Battle of the Bands held at the Frankston Mechanics Hall on Saturday the 30th of July. All members hail from the Frankston area with only Bailey the drummer out of the area from South Yarra. Ben Gorman is the guitarist for X MINUS and he is modest about the bands early success “We are amazed and grateful for the comments we’ve been receiving. There were so many great bands on the night and we’re just happy we played tight on the night and the…
Direct from London, THE BOOTLEG BEATLES, the world’s first and finest homage to the Fab Four will be performing at the Frankston Arts Centre on Sunday September 4. Now in their 36th year, THE BOOTLEG BEATLES have performed over 5,000 shows worldwide. Their stunning authenticity coupled with their musical credibility has seen them perform at some of the world’s best-known venues such as Wembley Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall, Knebworth, Glastonbury Festival and the Budokan Stadium in Tokyo, where The Beatles originally played. They also performed on “The Graham Norton Show” in London. The legendary English Record Producer/Arranger/Composer Sir George…
LOLA the Molar and the Tooth Fairy explained to Western Port Primary School children how important it was for them to care for their teeth in this week’s Oral Health Week. They and Hastings Family Dental Care oral health therapist Hafize Coskun visited seven schools to share tooth tips and distribute healthy showbags. Pupils from Hastings, Wallaroo, Tyabb, Tyabb Railway, Somers, Crib Point and Moorooduc primaries got the message – and had fun at the same time. First published in the Western Port News – 2 August 2016
POKIES losses across Frankston rose slightly in the past 12 months and still topped $63 million despite the introduction of voluntary pre-commitment cards for gamblers last year. Pokies punters in neighbouring Mornington Peninsula Shire and Kingston lost $82,381,143 and $83,473,105 respectively in 2015-16. The Labor state government launched a $197 million YourPlay scheme in December last year allowing pokies players to preselect losses limits using a swipe card to gamble on poker machines. Critics of YourPlay note gamblers can simply increase the preselected limit if they want to play on. Uptake of the scheme has been slow. Just 8130 YourPlay…
HASTINGS FNC SATURDAY saw the Hastings Football/Netball Club travel to our neighbour Somerville, for what was going to a terrific game of local football between two very well drilled sides. They did not disappoint in a fabulous hard fought clash that the Somerville Football/Netball club came away with a slender victory. The game see sawed throughout the afternoon with not much between the two sides Hastings kicking with a strong breeze in the last quarter certainly had their chances to put the game to bed to only hit the post on a couple of occasions, it certainly shows that the…
A DRIVER charged over the death of Mornington Cycling Club member Joel Hawkins in June last year has been bailed to appear at the County Court in April. The Rosebud man, 47, fronted a committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week on charges of culpable driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and summary charges. A “ghost bike” memorial near Ponderosa Place, Dromana, honours the memory of the 17-year-old, of Mt Martha, who was a popular clubman and member of the Victorian cycling team. “Joel was an extremely talented rider with dreams of riding in the Tour de France.…
TWO people are in custody after police found a “clan lab” – possibly used for manufacturing drugs – in Rosebud. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the clandestine drug unit, as well as a large amount of fertiliser, was found at the house in Balaka St, Wednesday 27 July. A Rosebud West man, 48, has been charged with drug-related matters and possession of possibly explosive materials. He appeared at Frankston Magistrates Court, Wednesday, and was further remanded to appear on 25 August. A Rosebud woman, 37, was released pending further inquiries. First published in the Southern…
A FRANKSTON South man hid from police for more than an hour in the dark, cold waters of Martha Cove, 5.30am, Saturday 23 July. Police called in the Air Wing to help search for the man, 21, and he was soon hauled aboard a pontoon after 90 freezing minutes. Police allege the man and a mate, 24, of Patterson Lakes, stole a white utility in Frankston and drove to Safety Beach where they stole another car after pushing it down a driveway. Martha Cove security staff intervened and called Rosebud police when the men “did a runner” – straight into…
ROSEBUD Police Senior Citizens Register has clocked up 21 years of providing peace of mind to more than 3500 older residents of the southern peninsula. Since 1995, co-ordinators Marie Parkinson and Elaine Wallbridge have worked with 35 other volunteers to provide assurance and security among senior citizens from Mornington to Portsea. For 21 years Ms Parkinson has been overseeing and updating the growing client list, ensuring the welfare of disabled, retired or isolated elderly via regular phone calls and home visits, as well as providing ongoing support and coordination with Rosebud Police. Ms Parkinson has been running things out of…
‘Human sound-effects machine’ Michael Winslow will be back in Australia this July and August for his most extensive stand-up tour of our shores to date. Winslow’s mastery of vocal gymnastics first came to prominence on the stand-up circuit in the early 80s after doing voiceovers for both Disney and Universal Studios for films like Back to the Future and Terminator. His performance as Sgt. Larvelle “Motor Mouth” Jones in the Police Academy movie series saw Winslow become a household name, a role specifically created to showcase his vocal talents. Notably, his is the only character to appear in all instalments…
Locals will be able to hear tracks from ‘Strange Loop’ live as Paul Dempsey heads to The Grand Hotel in Mornington on 9 September. Arriving seven years after the Something for Kate front man’s acclaimed solo debut, 2009’s top five ARIA charts success ‘Everything Is True’, ‘Strange Loop’ –is freewheeling in form but precisely executed; it’s a record that knows what it wants to say, what it needs to be – 11 tracks that enclose surreptitious dry wit, the irregularity of the everyday, and the pathos of longing in a mix of magic hour melodies, striking instrumentation, and tenderly charged…
The Bennies recently wrapped up their Wisdom Machine Australian tour in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Two weeks and 15,000 kilometres later they were playing a festival in Berlin, Germany. It’s indicative of the work ethic for the Melbourne band who have earnt a reputation for not only hard partying but heavy touring. So far 2016 has been a whirlwind for the band. In January, Wisdom Machine’s first single ‘Party Machine’ reached number 88 on triple j’s Hottest 100, some two months before physical copies of the album were even available. They toured the country and sold out shows wherever…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie ROSEBUD Heart maintained its push towards a maiden championship by smashing arch rival Baxter 5-0 in their State 5 South showdown at Baxter Park on Saturday. Baxter has been smarting ever since losing 4-2 to the champion elect earlier in the season in a fiery encounter that saw two Baxter players sent off for violent conduct. Baxter thought that it was the better side that day and few at the club could have anticipated Saturday’s whitewash. Heart star Dave Greening missed two chances in the opening 20 minutes but in the 40th minute made no mistake…
AFTER a year’s break, the Mornington Peninsula Hinterland Scarecrow Festival and Trail is about to return with Shawne Rubinstein already having someone in mind for his scarecrow. Mr Rubinstein and wife Lisa Panuccio, of Red Hill, are busy building a scarecrow of cricketer Shane Warne. “He’s Australia’s most popular cricketer, favourite larrikin and the best bowler this country has seen,” Mr Rubinstein said. The couple is hoping to do justice to Warnie with a double-sided scarecrow. They plan to inject some humour by immortalising a few infamous off-the-pitch moments – including his love of baked beans. “They say imitation is…
THREE of Mornington Yacht Club’s four nominations won prizes at the annual Yachting Victoria Awards held at Sandringham Yacht Club, Sunday 19 June. The awards celebrate sailing in Victoria and recognise the achievements made through various programs and regattas. Nick Sharman and James Grogan were named Youth Sailors of the Year and selected to represent Australia at December’s World Youth Championships in Auckland. Sophie Ciszek was named Yachting Victoria’s Female Sailor of the Year. This follows her success as a competitor in the 2015-16 All Women’s team in the Volvo Around-the-World Ocean Race. John Mills, Tanya Lawton and Jason Ettridge…
MORE than 1550 jobs are expected to be created in the disability sector in the Bayside and Mornington Peninsula regions over the next three years. A report by the National Disability Insurance Agency on the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme says the number of people working in disability care is expected to double by 2020. At that time the scheme is expected to allow people with a disability to have a greater say in their own support. Victorian NDS state manager David Moody said the jobs boom will be powered by demographics and the rollout of the NDIS…
THE lure of the Outback is calling long-standing Variety Club Big Bash contestants John Crossin, John Mackie and Geoff Adshead. The Mornington men are looking forward to another drive with their “family of 320 people from all walks of life” when they head for Darwin, Wednesday 10 August, and – hopefully – arrive at the Top End, Saturday 20 August. The drive takes in scenic country from Mildura to Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy, Eridunda, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Over the past 13 years the men’s Car 86 has raised $242,000 for special needs kids on its…
Entry into all Mornington Peninsula News Group competitions published in print, online or social media is free. Entries must be submitted by the due date and time as requested in the individual competitions as follows… Entry is open to Australian residents over the age of 18 years only, excluding employees of the promoter, publisher and associated parties. Competition entry opening and closing dates as outlined in each specific printed/posted competition. Winners are selected at Random. Winners for print competitions will be notified by phone/mail/email, online competitions by email and Social Media competitions by private messaging on Facebook/Instagram and noted on the…
Police have arrested seven people following the execution of a number of search warrants in the south east suburbs earlier this month. The warrants were executed in relation to on ongoing undercover police operation in Rosebud between Thursday 14 and Friday 15 July. On Thursday 14 July police executed search warrants at Panorama Drive, Tootgarook and Weeroona Street, Rye. A 49-year-old Tootgarook woman has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine and trafficking cannabis. She has been bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 12 August. A 42-year-old Tootgarook woman has been charged with possessing proceeds of crime and has been…
A Somerville man had his tow truck impounded for a month after he was caught driving while disqualified in Balnarring this morning. Somerville Highway Patrol members spotted the yellow tow truck travelling along Balnarring Road with false plates fitted about 8am. Police stopped the unregistered Ford tow truck and the driver underwent a roadside oral fluid test which indicated the presence of illicit drugs. During a search of the truck police discovered rounds of live ammunition and drug paraphernalia. The 25-year-old driver was found to be a disqualified driver. His truck was impounded for 30 days and he will have…
Ft. Queenie, Katie Breheny and CJ Fortuna CJ Fortuna “Smart, energetic and surprising!” The Age With five Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows under his belt, including a Moosehead Award in 2000 for his comedy musical Rockothello, CJ has firmly entrenched himself in the Australian comedy scene. CJ made his television debut in 1997 playing a nerdy ventriloquist on Neighbours. Since then he has worked on a variety of short films, TV commercials regular guest roles on Blue Heelers and Stingers most recently writing and performing on channel seven’s Hamish and Andy. In Melbourne, his dry wit has featured on local commercial…
BITTERN Primary School celebrated its 100th anniversary last week with 100 former pupils and staff members watching as current pupils dressed up and paraded in old-fashioned clothes. Guests included former pupils Rodney Hayne, now a policeman, professional boxer Kane Watts and former principal Colin Stevens. Two other principals attended as well as some pupils from the 1940s. Some were surprised to see the old shelter shed still standing. Afterwards guests enjoyed a sausage sizzle while they walked down memory lane with a photo display showing Bittern through the decades. A former staff member brought a replica of the old school…
SOUTHERN Metropolitan Region Crime Team Investigators have charged an 18-year-old Langwarrin man following two aggravated burglaries and a burglary in Rosebud in which a Kia car was stolen. They occurred at houses in Eighth Av and Tarwarri Av, 8 July. Police arrested the man at 7.40am Wednesday. He was charged with numerous offences, including aggravated burglary, intentionally causing injury, assault, theft and burglary. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on a later date. The Kia was recovered at Langwarrin Football Club the following day. Sergeant Anthoula Moutis, of the media unit, said the police has escalated their…
HEARING of children being frightened by masked youths banging on walls and peering through windows at a Rye children’s holiday camp struck a chord with Southern Metro Region police inspector Karen Nyholm. “I’ve got kids myself,” she said. “I heard the kids were frightened and I understand and appreciate the concerns of the carers. “I know I’d hate to see my kids frightened.” Worried carers at the Camp Australia program at Rye Primary School mid-month reportedly placed crying children under tables to comfort them during the incident before calling 000. Some mothers are said to have criticised police for taking…
A PENINSULA production company, Peninsula Film Office, has won Best Short Film Screenplay at the Amsterdam Film Festival for their film – The Gift. Written and directed by Peninsula Film Office director, Steve Bastoni, The Gift is about isolation and re-connection and how a small act of kindness, like a ripple, can have far reaching and profound affects. The Gift was made in association with Mental Health Australia and premiered at this year’s Peninsula Short Film Fest in February. Director, Steve Bastoni said he felt honoured to be recognised for the film. “It is a terrific accolade and it’s…