Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing 15-year-old, Melinda Kaiser-Andrews from Woodend. Investigators believe Melinda may frequent the Hastings area and may be in the company of a 26-year-old male. Melinda has not been seen since late November, however has been in contact with family over the phone. Police and Melinda’s family have concerns for her welfare and have released a photograph in the hope someone may have information on her current whereabouts. Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing 15-year-old, Melinda Kaiser-Andrews from Woodend. Investigators believe Melinda may frequent the Hastings area and…
Author: MP News Group
A SOMERVILLE Auskick Access All Abilities Family Day in March will feature live bands, rides, market stalls, free kids’ activities and dance performances. The free day will be held 10am-9pm on the Labour Day Weekend at the Fruitgrowers Reserve, Somerville. The day is being presented by Somerville Auskick to bring together members of the community to showcase the local area and the talent available. Proceeds raised this year, at what’s hoped will become an annual event, will help initiate the Somerville Auskick Access All Abilities program. Coordinator Felix Arena said organisers were seeking sponsors for the family day, an audiovisual…
ONE of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will be staged at Coolart Homestead and Wetlands, 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 January. It is being put on by OZACT as one of its 40 productions and 500 outdoor performances over the past 20 years. Coolart, at Somers, is regarded as an idyllic setting surrounded by lawns, floral borders and gardens. The talented and energetic cast will take audiences on a delightful journey: from the majestic court of Duke Theseus to the woodland home of the Fairy King and Queen. “This production is a wonderful introduction to…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will again take a “no entertainment – no nonsense” approach to New Year’s Eve. Working with a community-based steering committee, police, residents and businesses, the shire says it aims to reduce the “negative impacts of celebrations” in the area. “This approach has assisted in providing a safe environment for holiday makers and residents since its introduction more than 10 years ago, in 2001-2002,” shire spokesperson Kat Hodgins said. “The shire aims to make sure the southern peninsula is a safe place for people to enjoy over the New Year period.” Cr Tim Rodgers said the summer holiday…
ESTABLISHED in 1976, Silvers Circus provides world class family entertainment and fun. With extraordinary artists continually arriving from all parts of the world, Silvers are proud of the ever-changing program they are able to present. After nearly three decades on the road, Silvers is a household name in Australia. They still maintain the sparkle, glamour and death-defying acts expected of Australia’s premier circus. The 2 hour action-packed show, featuring Ringmaster and Master of Illusions Simon Tait, will also include the Wheel of Steel. A young man with nerves of Steel, Dominik Gasser will run, jump, skip and flip…
FRANKSTON Arts Centre is the cool place to be in the hot weather over the coming school holiday period. If you’re a parent looking for engaging things to do with the kids this summer, Frankston Arts Centre has got something for everyone. FAC is renowned for presenting international, national and local drama performances and thrilling displays of live art. Now, FAC is the perfect venue for locals to develop their acting skills before they get their big break on the main stage. Drama Thrills and Spills is a one-off drama workshop for three different age-groups on Tuesday 19 January. Each…
MATT Mackay spends a lot of time taking note of the weather and its effects on the scenery. A surfer based in Sorrento, he seeks out tide times and wind speeds. As a photographer, he uses all this knowledge to compose scenes through a camera lens. “I’ve built up a strong connection with the Mornington Peninsula’s coastal and marine environment,” he says. “My main focus is on nature and landscape photography, that’s what inspires me photographically and it’s where like to spend much of my time.” Mackay says this connection to the environment is necessary to “truly capture its essence”.…
THE News Mornington Art Show opening on Thursday 21 January and running through to Australia Day will feature a display and sale of recycled oak barrel furniture. The concept of creating quality furniture from used wine barrels is a creative initiative of Frankston based furniture maker Carl Smith. After completing school and working in the construction industry for more than decade, Mr Smith decided on a career change to capitalise on his passion for working with wood. On seeing a fruit bowl made from the staves of a used wine barrel at Christmas a few years ago he realised he…
THE oil and gas drilling rig that towered over the low lying foreshore of Phillip Island before appearing to hover for days in the early morning mists of Port Phillip is finally on its way back home to Singapore. With its drilling duties for Origin and Hibiscus Oil in Bass Strait completed, the rig was last week taken on board by the heavy lift vessel Hawk before heading out of Port Phillip on Tuesday. Equipment was taken from the rig before it was welded to the Hawk’s deck for transport. The 223 metre, 44, 700 tonne Hawk sails at about…
THERE is an old adage in television about not working with kids or animals, but that is exactly what Mt Eliza Rotary Club plans to do next year for its two main fundraising events. On Sunday 6 March the club will hold its Dogs in the Park expo, with plenty of family fun and many “not too serious” competitions for dogs and their owners. There will be food and coffee stalls, face painting for children and an animal farm 11am-2.30pm at the John Butler Reserve, Mt Eliza. Entry is free and there will be a small fee for participation in…
MORNINGTON Peninsula secondary schools are pleased with their students’ ATAR results in the recent VCE examinations. Here is a sample of schools and scores. Mornington Secondary College YEAR 12 student Saskia Bauer Lodge was named Mornington Secondary College dux after scoring an impressive ATAR of 95.6 in this year’s VCE exams. “This result is down to hard work, great friends and the support of my teachers and family,” she said. The college celebrated record breaking VCE results with seven students achieving an ATAR score of 90 and above. Saskia was joined in the 90s club by Stuart Boyd, Hannah Chambers,…
THE Salvation Army is planning to bring peace to Main St Mornington over six normally hectic summer Saturday nights. Starting on Saturday 2 January, the Salvos will create a “safe zone” based around a yellow food van where young people can take time out. Once at the van they will be offered a free bottle of water, a snack and even advice. If successful, the safe zone will be continued beyond the first six Saturday nights of 2016. “We want the people in our community to have a good time, but we also want them to have a safe time,”…
A SCRUB fire at the corner of Bullecourt Rd and Disney St, Bittern, has prompted police to appeal for witnesses. The fire started at about 9pm on 29 November. A small area of grass and shrubs was burnt before the fire was put out by CFA crews. No one was injured. Police would like to hear from two teenage boys on BMX bikes who spoke to firefighters. One of the boys is described as Caucasian, mid-teens, slim build with shoulder length dark hair. He was wearing a black hoodie, jeans and a black cap with a red peak. The other…
PENINSULA Surfriders Club on Saturday claimed consecutive titles by winning the Original Source Australian Boardriders Battle at Phillip Island. The event was held at the more protected Smiths Beach due to a large swell and strong onshore winds. PSC won with 5800 points, followed by Portland Boardriders Club, 5025; Phillip Island, 4850; 13th Beach, 4562; Torquay, 4474; and South West, 3874. Peninsula and Portland will compete in the national finals at Cronulla in January. “It was pretty tense in the Teams final,” PSC team World Surfing League qualifying series surfer Caiden Fowler said. “We were lucky enough to get through…
TALENT, originality and audience appeal were the rather subjective tasks judges were asked to assess at last month’s second Rosebud Buskfest. Musicians, dancers, singers, puppeteers and circus performers were on the street performing for the $1000 cash prize. While the judges roamed shoppers stopped to stare, appreciate and applaud. Top act was duo Deer Prudence (Mariah McCarthy and Georgia Delves). The over-14 group was Those Kids (Bethany Shields and Drew Alsop). Dancer Santhini Barratt won the adult solo performer section and the junior category was shared by singer/song writer, Fox Deroche, with Jarrett and Holly Sweeney on keyboards. Pictures: Yanni…
SINCE its relaunch in January the Sorrento-based Tuckey Track Friends Group has been restoring habitat along the two kilometre track and reserve. “The commitment of our core members and having the support of the wider community when we need it, make our achievements possible,” convenor Julie Corridon said. Despite some protection from planning overlays the track was under pressure from planned developments. “Recent discussions of plans for a large scale development and heliport adjacent to Tuckey Track in Ivanhoe St, Sorrento, and the Mornington Peninsula National Park, have further raised residents’ concerns,” Ms Corridon said. “Other subdivision plans along the…
UP and coming skateboarder Charlotte Heath, of Arthur’s Seat, is taking her skating skills to new heights. Last week she received a youth encouragement award after success in the Phruntside Skate Park Jam competition at Mansfield. Charlotte, 8, was presented with her award by Hayley Wilson, under-14 Australian female skateboarding champion. They know each other, with Charlotte skating with her idol for the past season in the North Western Skateboarding Series. Wilson says she sees a future for Charlotte in the sport, with the youngster able to compete successfully against girls nearly twice her age – after skating for only…
TREE clearing has started to make way for the Skylift and its string of gondolas running up to the summit of Arthurs Seat. The first trees to go were near the summit, opening up the vista and removing what has previously been seen as natural foreground for scenic snapshots. While there is no doubt the $16 million project will proceed, unresolved matters include the bushfire emergency plan and the final number of trees to be removed. The Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) gave permission for 26 trees to be removed, lopped or pruned. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors were advised by…
BEWARE: Spider Crabs are coming to Rye! They’ve been spotted by members of Rye Beach Community Action Group near an arts’ project by Rye Primary School pupils. But relax: Their arrival is all part of a large mosaic art piece called: The invasion of the spider crabs, by artist Simon Normand. Mr Normand designed the artwork with assistance from the pupils during the mosaic process. It is on the wall of the toilet block facing the community playground, which also came about through the efforts of the action group. “We decided we wanted something beautiful for the Rye community and…
THE star studded line up has just been announced! Peter Helliar from The Project, Michala Banas from Upper Middle Bogan, Damon Gameau – That Sugar Film, Acclaimed Australian Director Rob Connolly (Paper Planes and Balibo) and Actor Lachy Hulme will form the Peninsula Short Film Fest 2016 judging panel Held on Saturday February 6 at the Village Green Rosebud, the FREE outdoor film festival will showcase a selection of 12 short films. PSFF Festival Director, Steve Bastoni said there is still time to get your short film in for inclusion, “Entries have been extended until December 31 this year. The…
On the Beach considers the place of the beach within Australian life by bringing together paintings and photographs by some of Australia’s acclaimed Modernists with works by contemporary artists. The exhibition considers the ways in which people relate to the beach, its place in understandings of national identity and its history as a contested site. On the Beach features works by Arthur Boyd, Gordon Bennett, Daniel Boyd, Max Dupain, Charles Meere, Tracey Moffatt, David Moore, Sidney Nolan, Polixeni Papapetrou, John Perceval, Scott Redford, Jeffrey Smart, Albert Tucker, Guan Wei and Anne Zahalka. The exhibition also features a series of photographs…
IN the 114-year history of the Royal Australian Navy, just five men have been awarded the George Cross, making them the Navy’s bravest of the brave. Although they are honoured individually at points across Australia there has never been a joint memorial to their heroism. That changed at Hastings on Saturday last week when Commodore Jack Rush, RFD, QC, unveiled a memorial tribute at Hastings Community Hub, Frankston-Flinders Rd. In a display of inter-service solidarity, he was accompanied by Army hero and VC winner Keith Payne. The tribute was prepared by the Victorian Maritime Centre to be part of a…
EMERGENCY relief for the homeless on the Mornington Peninsula received a welcome shot in the arm in May with a $5000 grant from StreetSmart. The money allowed Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre to establish a food pantry to assist those at high risk of homelessness, or those that are homeless, with food, medication, transport and other material aid. The pantry provides basic food to make needy people’s lives as comfortable as possible. It assists them to achieve self-reliance, thus encouraging self-determination over their lives. And local businesses are eager to help: Through the DineSmart campaign restaurants Pizza D’Oh,…
LITTLE Tommies Early Learning Centre will be built in Mt Eliza as part of a state government $50 million investment in the early childhood sector. Eastern Victoria MP Daniel Mulino said $650,000 would be spent on the stand-alone facility at St Thomas More School, Canadian Bay Rd. The centre will provide 44 funded kindergarten places as well as 44 three-year-old places. “This grant will help give Mt Eliza families flexible, accessible and affordable early learning and care services,” Mr Mulino said. “The facility will foster supportive relationships for the wider community. It will offer opportunities for community learning and allow…
A FRANKSTON South man has been arrested and charged over a spate of trailer thefts in the Mt Eliza and Mt Martha areas. Police will allege the man, 25, stole four trailers and $20,000 worth of tradies tools over several weeks. Two of the trailers have been recovered. Detective Sergeant Mel Nixon, of Somerville Police Complex, urges tradies to identify their tools “anyway they can” to make returns easier. Engraving an owner’s name and address or driver’s licence number on their tools is easy and practical, she said. First published in the Mornington News – 15 December 2015
THREE women with a collective 100 years’ service received a mayoral commendation for their dedication to Western Port Community Support at a special morning tea recently. The citation is awarded to those who volunteer their time for 20 years or more. Mollie Warren recalls the humble beginnings of what was the Hastings Citizens Advice Bureau when it opened on 1 April 1979. Both Nanette Cumming and Margaret Mildern have countless stories to tell, and many memories to recall, when the early days of the centre are discussed. Community information and support centres on the peninsula have more than 150 active…
THE Warringine boardwalk reopens on Sunday after being closed since a bushfire in January. More than 700 metres of the Hastings boardwalk have been restored and Mornington Peninsula Shire is inviting the public to the opening. The official opening is at 10am, to be followed by guided tours through the reserve and a light lunch. While the shire has been reconstructing the boardwalk which meanders through coastal wetlands bushland has been regenerating, with some types of plants appearing in the park for the first time, including the swamp daisy. Shire rangers will conduct guided walks and to introduce visitors to…
Now in its second year, the Sorrento Spiegel Zelt is celebrating with a show that is even bigger and more spectacular! This summer, the very special Spiegeltent is presenting a hit show that has wowed audiences in more than a dozen countries around the world – LIMBO UP CLOSE! After a sell out season last year, make sure you book early and secure your tickets for this amazing night of theatre. You are guaranteed to be blown away by the world of cabaret, burlesque, circus, music, dancers, acrobats and singers, all contained in a fast-moving show in the glorious and…
THE Beleura cliff path, Mornington, remains officially closed, despite being used by many people each day. Safety barriers erected by Mornington Peninsula Shire have been pushed aside, providing access to the cracked and crumbling bitumen path up the steep cliff. Its use is expected to increase over summer but the shire has yet to say when, or if, the seriously eroded path will be repaired and made safe. The previous mayor Cr Bev Colomb has praised the state government for a $50,000 grant, although Mornington MP David Morris says the amount falls well short of the amount needed. A public…
BEACHGOERS and boaters are being warned to take care around water in the summer months ahead. The 2014-15 Drowning Report released last week by the state government highlighted some disturbing trends. Overall the number of drowning deaths fell to 39 compared to 47 in 2013-14 and 35 men died with alcohol and risky behaviour contributing factors in several deaths. Nine deaths were boating related drownings. Most drownings occurred off coastal areas (49 per cent) compared to inland waterways (31 per cent). Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said “the loss of a loved one through drowning is a tragedy”. “Thousands of…