POLICE last week invited religious leaders to a dinner marking the end of the month-long Ramadan fast. Police said 200 hundred people attended the dinner, including more than 60 young Muslims and 50 police officers and employees. Mr Ashton said he was proud the Iftar dinner was his first official function as Chief Commissioner. “The Victoria Police Iftar dinner gives police a chance to show respect to the Islamic community whilst breaking fast and reflecting together,” he said. “Ramadan is also an opportunity for all of us, regardless of faith or background, to reflect and acknowledge the important contribution the…
Author: MP News Group
WHAT’S the real story with ice? is the title of a free community forum 6.30-9pm, Tuesday 4 August, at the Peninsula Community Theatre, Wilsons Rd, Mornington. It is being presented by Peninsula Voice. Organiser Peter Orton says there has been a significant increase in public concern about the use of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice. “This forum will dispel some of the common myths and will counter the hysteria that has emerged in the media,” he said. “It will provide empirical evidence regarding the drug and provide people with tangible steps we can each take to move the incidence…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is drawing up a list of projects it would like to be financed through the state government’s $50 million Outer Suburban Growth Fund. The government is making the money available to 10 “interface” councils, including Mornington Peninsula. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the fund would “help deliver important social and economic benefits”. The other interface councils are Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges. “The interface councils group has spent a lot of time talking to the Minister [of Local Government Natalie Hutchins] about the issues and challenges we face and we…
VANDALS have destroyed hundreds of trees planted on the foreshore at Mothers Beach in Mornington twice in the same week. The trees, their stakes and plastic guards were stomped on and pushed over on Sunday night last week. Mornington Peninsula Shire contractor Naturelinks Landscape Management replanted undamaged trees and cleaned up the site last Wednesday but the trees were again vandalised the following night and removed, stakes and tree guards included. Jan Oliver of Mornington Environment Association, one of several groups working with Naturelinks to improve the town’s foreshore, said the damage was hard to comprehend. “It would appear the…
Phil Price’s large scale, wind-activated kinetic sculpture, The Tree of Life, located near the Peninsula Link Cranbourne Road exit is being dismantled much to the disappointment of people passing by. Three stunning monumental sculptures were installed along the Peninsula Link freeway in Melbourne’s South East on the 14 December 2012, before the official opening of the freeway in January 2013, as part of a unique partnership between Southern Way and McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery. As part of the biennial Southern Way McClelland Commissions, a new sculpture will be commissioned every two years until 2037, alternating between two sites on the Peninsula Link freeway.…
A 17-year-old boy has died in hospital after being hit by a car in Dromana earlier this month. It is believed the cyclist was travelling west on Nepean Highway just after midday on 17 June when he was struck by a vehicle turning from Pondorosa Place. The cyclist was thrown from his bike and the vehicle stopped nearby the scene. The 17-year-old cyclist from Mount Martha was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with serious injuries where he remains. Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have seen the bicycle or the white Ford…
CRIB POINT FC – By Jared Newton CRIB Point remain winless at home for 2015, as it suffered its second consecutive heavy defeat against Somerville over the weekend. Last year’s grand finalists are a shadow of themselves this year as they’ve been decimated with injuries and sub-par form as their season drifted away over the last few weeks. The Pies were never in the contest from the start with a six goal blitz from Somerville in the opening term putting the game out of reach early. After quarter time the Magpies toiled away but were hugely undermanned as avenues to goal…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president ON Saturday, Hastings FNC ventured down to Rosebud FNC to take on a very in-form Rosebud side across all grades. Unfortunately the club had a day it would rather forget. We just have to put it behind us and look forward to this week’s clash against Sorrento FNC. Let’s make sure all our supporters get down to Sorrento and support the club in what will be a massive day. Plus that night is our Comedy Night back at the club featuring some great acts: Des Dowling – Kihne, Brad Oakes – Rove, Mick…
TRAINS will return to the Stony Point rail line today (30 June). Passenger services between Stony Point and Frankston have been suspended since early April due to technical problems which saw boom gates occasionally malfunction and fail to close when trains approached level crossings. Axle counters have been installed along the Stony Point line to ensure boom gates are triggered to close. First published in the Western Port News – 30 June 2015
A house fire was attended in George St Mornington by both Mornington and Mt Martha CFA units last night. Four trucks attended, the call came in at 11:40pm on Monday 29th June 2015. An Ambulance was there and one person was taken to hospital.
RAKU firing is a hot topic for a group ceramic artists at Rye. Raku – meaning “enjoyment” – was practiced in Kyoto, Japan, as far back as the 16th century. Vessels produced were used in the Japanese tea ceremony, most often as tea bowls. Artist Sue Sanderson said raku firing was one of the most exciting processes in ceramics. “The smoke, the fire and the excited squeals when we see the end result has made us want to share these wonderful pieces,” Sanderson said. “Pots are placed in the kiln, the firing commenced and anticipation grows for that moment when…
STUDENTS starring in Rosebud Secondary College’s musical production of Footloose had not been born when the original film version came out in 1984, with its timeless themes of teenage angst and rebellion against authority. “Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager who moves from Chicago to small town USA where the local minister, Reverend Shaw, has outlawed dancing and rock music,” performing arts teacher Anthea Mackenzie said. “Ren starts dating the preacher’s rebellious teenage daughter, Ariel, who joins him on his crusade to have the bans lifted so they and their friends can enjoy the pinnacle of the…
By Alexandra Dellaportas THE Briars came alive with the sounds of American Pie and I Dreamed a Dream last week as 150 children from across the peninsula celebrated the 31st annual Southern Peninsula Music Camp. The three-day camp drew students from Boneo, Rye, Eastbourne, Tootgarook, Rosebud and Pearcedale primary schools, and Parkdale Secondary. They were assisted by music teachers and secondary school students. On the first day, pupils were given a list of songs to rehearse for a concert at the end of the week. The secondary students then tutored the younger pupils and ensured they had fun while learning. With…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president In what was a fantastic day for the Hastings Football/Netball Club, the past players and our premiership heroes of 1975 and 1995 got to see the senior and reserve boys put on a wonderful display of modern day football. The fantastic crowd really emphasised the point that local football is truly up and about when two local rivals go head to head. Our Club just wants to thank our past players for making the effort and supporting the club on the day, it truly did help the boys and didn’t go unnoticed. SENIORS…
CRIB POINT FC – By Jared Newton HASTINGS inflicted Crib Point a 109 point hiding at Hastings in what was Crib’s worst loss in a few years. The game started evenly with a goal for goal opening term with the contest looking poised at quarter time before Crib Point were completely blown out in the remaining three quarters. Hastings piled on goal after goal to kick 18 unanswered goals, before Crib Point salvaged a bit of pride in the dying minutes of the game with two late goals. For the Pies, Brad Arnold was their best through the middle and toiled…
CONSUMER Affairs Victoria has urged people to know about common scams used to con the unwary. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission statistics show Victorians last year lost just under $20.5 million to scammers. Fake bank notes, sham refunds and bogus lottery prizes are among the top scams used to tempt unwary targets to part with their cash for no return. A trend in recent months involves the “refund” scam which often involves the con artist offering large sums of money in exchange for an upfront payment. Scammers pretend to be from a bank, organisation or government department, such as the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula businesses are supporting Australian of the Year Rosie Batty’s campaign against domestic violence. A breakfast in August being held by Peninsula Business Networking will feature a talk by Ms Batty as well as raise money for the Luke Batty Foundation, named after her son who was killed by his father after a cricket practice at Tyabb in February last year. The group expects more than 100 to attend the event and hopes to raise money through sponsors and the breakfast, which costs $49 for members and $59 non-members. Sponsors pay $220 for a package that includes use of…
By TIM FLANNERY I GREW up beside Port Phillip, just up the road from Melbourne’s most striking natural feature, the Red Bluff cliffs. In those easier days I was allowed to wander to the beach to fish, beachcomb or swim. When I was 10 I took up snorkelling and at 15 scuba diving. From Sandringham to Mornington I came to know Port Phillip’s waters intimately. I loved it in all of its seasons – even mid-winter, when my face would ache from the freezing water. In that season life was in suspended animation – like a frozen tableau – but…
DESPITE strong community pressure to keep speed limits as they are, VicRoads is proceeding to reduce Coolart Rd to 80kph. “To make this road safer right now, the speed limit needs to be reduced and we will start working on making repairs on the road to improve the condition of the road,” VicRoads Metro South East regional director Aidan McGann said. He said that a large part of the community had expressed a desire to retain a higher speed along the road and suggested that VicRoads should instead make the road safer with widening and repairs and improve lighting. Mr…
CRIB POINT FC – By Jared Newton CRIB POINT remains winless on their home deck after a narrow 4 point loss to Devon Meadows on Saturday. The game ended in nail biting fashion with Crib Point surging late and having a few chances late in the game to pinch the lead but failing to do so before time ran out. The Pies put in a stuttering performance managing five goals in their first three quarters before piling on six in the final term only to fall short. Had the Pies got up it probably wouldn’t have been warranted as Devon Meadows…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president SENIORS REPORT OUR focus was to play team first footy. We knew that if we were mentally focused we could maintain our good form. I felt like the boys played to their roles well. I was really happy with our stoppage work. It was good to see us gel well, our delivery to our forwards was outstanding and it was good having 16 goal scorers which is awesome. It was great to get a big win and percentage could be key later in the year. We got hit with a few injuries, so…
“JOHN’S Jaguars” – a name inspired by their coach: Sorrento Bowls Club member John Shepherd – has won the inaugural Primary School Lawn Bowls Challenge. The Year 5 team, from Sorrento Primary School, won with 22 shots up while the runners-up, with 14 shots up, was another Year 5 team called Sassy Sorrento. Primary school teams from Sorrento, St Joseph’s, and Rosebud took part and played in teams of four over 14 ends at Wednesday’s event. A supportive crowd of teachers and parents came along to watch the challenge which was supervised by a team of 10 Sorrento Bowls Club…
NOT content with being a member of Rye Bowls Club’s first ever Division 1 premiership team, Frank Krsolvic is this week challenging the best at the Australian Bowls open championships on the Gold Coast. The youngest player, at 16, in that victorious Rye side, Krsolvic is playing in the open men’s singles, open pairs, open fours and under-18 singles. The matches started last Saturday and end Sunday. “Frank’s entry to the game is interesting,” club official Bruce Sowerbutts said. “A few years ago two of our members took up a Bowls Victoria program to introduce the game to schoolchildren. This…
By David Harrison and Mike Hast THE landfill in Hampton Park likely to be the destination for shire rubbish after Rye tip closes is set to be expanded. Last week it was reported that French-based Suez Environnement, operator of the Hampton Park landfill, or tip, would expand adjacent land that could take waste for many more years (“Quarry waste target again”, The News, 9/6/15). The Hampton Park landfill is a key plank in the shire’s future waste disposal strategy as it looks for sites to set up a so-called bulk haul centre that would take waste from smaller trucks and take it…
Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a service station in Mornington on Sunday, 7 June. Frankston Embona Task Force detectives have been told a man brandishing a knife entered the service station on Moorooduc Highway just after 9pm. He approached the sole male attendant and demanded the contents from the till before removing cash. The offender then ran out of the store towards Moorooduc Road. He is perceived to be Caucasian in appearance, around 40-years-old, 183cm and medium build. He was wearing a black hoodie top, a black beanie and a black scarf covering his face.…
Direct from Las Vegas and following a sold out tour of the US and the UK, ‘The Rat Pack’ will be making their way to Australia in June. ‘Frank’ (David deCosta), ‘Dean’ (Johnny Edwards) and ‘Sammy’ (Nicholas Brooks) are back in town and will be lighting up stages across the country as they bring back the grand old days of those classic crooner hits that we all know and love. Johnny Edwards brings the magic and charm of Dean Martin back to the stage. With that chiselled smile, charming ways and funny lines, Dean Martin is remembered as the King…
MPNFL clubs should be moving as quickly as possible to take control of their own destiny, according to the man who led the charge for Casey Cardinia Football League to defect from the MPNFL two years ago. Narre Warren Football Club president and South East Football Netball League board member, Kahl Heinze, said if clubs wanted a future and to remain relevant in local football in their community, they needed to take action and break ties with the MPNFL immediately. Heinze said the management of the league from a board and administration perspective was “blatantly incompetent”. “These guys that run…
THE recent $40 million sale of 94-hectares of land earmarked for a commercial and retail precinct at Martha Cove, Safety Beach, has breathed new life into the waterfront development 15 years after it was proposed. The Martha Cove sales office staffers say the dream of a thriving waterfront estate with direct bay access is now a reality. The $650 million development was envisaged to encompass multiple housing developments, marina berths and a commercial project to draw residents and tourists to the peninsula. However, the global financial crisis (GFC) took its toll in 2008 with sales stagnating for a time, and…
PREPARATIONS are well underway for this year’s Arthurs Seat Challenge fun run from Rosebud to the top of Arthurs Seat. At last week’s event launch students from Woodleigh School, Mt Eliza Secondary College, Toorak College and Rosebud Secondary College spoke about the benefits of the Fit 2 Drive program funded by the challenge. They said the program gave them skills that they would carry with them throughout their entire time as young road users. People aged 18- 24 years are the most at risk group on the roads, with P-platers in their first year of driving, being 30 times more…
AROUND 2000 students from 22 schools will attend three Teenagers Road Accident Group presentations at the Peninsula Community Theatre this month. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill will be guest speaker on Tuesday 28 July. The first, on Monday 15 June, will host eight schools and 616 students; the next day (Tuesday) eight schools and 795 students and the third, on Tuesday 28 July, six schools and 589 students. The message could save their lives. Project manager Cindy Last said TRAG’s innovative program gives the students an insight into the dangers of modern driving. Speakers consist of CFA, ambulance and…