SAFETY Beach resident Phyllis Maggs was at the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s monthly lunch at Rosebud Hotel last Thursday but it was a special day – a celebration of her 100th birthday, which was last Sunday. Phyllis was born in Ascot Vale on 5 April 1915. She married in 1939 and she and her husband, a compositor at The Argus, had three children. After her children were launched, Phyllis ran a Melbourne timber business that saw her make regular trips to Tasmania to pick out timber. She later went into partnership with a friend and ran a pineapple plantation, Phyllis making…
Author: MP News Group
THE RSL is launching a campaign this month to raise money for a rotunda at a new avenue of honour in Mornington Park. The rotunda will be furnished with bronze plaques giving information about avenues of honour in general and Mornington’s in particular. These are being funded by the federal government’s Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. The rotunda will in the same place as the park’s original rotunda – a familiar feature to the young men going off to war 100 years ago. The completion date, including painting and landscaping, is expected to be this October – in time for…
THE Langwarrin-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Victoria has been credited as providing the third highest number of volunteers at this year’s Clean Up Australia Day. On Sunday 1 March more than 200 volunteers from association helped collect rubbish at selected sites in Langwarrin, Dandenong and Werribee South. At Langwarrin, above, the clean-up began at the association’s mosque, Bait-ul-Salam (House of Peace), with a recitation from the Quran and its English translation. Imam Janud said Ahmadi Muslims volunteered “very enthusiastically” because cleaning up was “a part of our faith” and Muhammad had proclaimed “cleanliness is half of your faith”. “Secondly, we are…
Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance to help identify a burglar who stole a safe from a Frankston shopping centre last week. The burglary took place at the Cranbourne Road shopping centre on Saturday 7 February at 9.30pm. The burglar approached a pop up sushi shop, which was closed at the time, and crawled under a tarpaulin to access a safe. The man removed the safe from the shop and walked from the centre. Frankston Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Jason Hamilton-Smith said that the man was wearing fairly distinctive clothing that someone may recognise.…
A HASTINGS musician is heading to Gallipoli to play The Last Post on the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings. Able seaman and bugler, Racheal Byrnes, of HMAS Cerberus, is part of a musical group playing aboard the frigate HMAS Anzac when it anchors in Anzac Cove on 25 April. A ceremonial service on board will complement the three Australian and New Zealand commemorative services at Gallipoli: a joint Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site, an Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine, and a New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair. Ms Byrnes left on Thursday for a week’s…
THE remains of what is thought to be the bodies of two men missing off the coast of Cape Schanck were found today. The 42-year-old St Albans man and a 34-year-old Vermont South man were diving for shellfish off the rocks north of the cape at Fingal beach when they got into trouble about 8am on Saturday. A third man, a 50-year-old from Keysborough, managed to get to shore and raise the alarm. He reported that his two friends were unable to get out of the water and were clinging to a rock and getting smashed by waves. Sorrento SES’s…
FRANK Yamma and former Killing Heidi singer Ella Hooper will perform later this month at the second Baany to Warrna Ngargee – Water to Water Festival at The Briars, Mt Martha. Yamma, who sings in English and Pitjantjatjara, has toured Australia and overseas. Hooper, a singer-songwriter, radio presenter and TV personality, won four ARIA awards in 2000 as a member of Killing Heidi. Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys will return to The Briars to join musicians, dancers and artists during Cultural Diversity Week, Harmony Day and the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Mornington Peninsula resident…
The search continues for two missing men off the coast of Cape Schanck, although police sources are now saying it is now a recover rather than a rescue. It’s believed three men were diving for shell fish near rocks off Fingal Beach when they got into trouble about 8am. A 50-year-old Keysborough man managed to get to shore and raise the alarm. A 42-year-old St Albans man and a 34-year-old Vermont South man are still missing. Water Police are being assisted by Air Wing, SES, Parks Victoria, Lifesaving Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and local marine volunteer groups. Anyone with any information…
Water Police members are currently searching for two men missing in waters near Cape Schanck. It’s believed three men may have been snorkelling or fishing at Fingal Beach north of Cape Schanck when two of the men got into trouble just before 8am. The other man managed to get back to shore and call police. Search and Rescue, Air Wing, Surf Lifesaving, volunteer marine rescue units and local police are all assisting with the search. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Police are appealing for public information to help locate a teenage girl who went missing in Frankston last month. Aleesha Kete left her home address in Muruwa Street on 27 February and said she was going to the city to visit friends. The 13-year-old told her family she would return on Saturday night but has not been seen since. Police have concerns for her welfare due to her age. Aleesha is described as being of Maori appearance, with a slim build, an olive complexion, long wavy hair that is currently coloured pink and brown eyes. It’s unknown what the teenager…
Police are searching for a driver who they believe may have witnessed this morning’s collision between a truck and cyclist at Mornington. It is believed a concrete truck was travelling north-west on Beleura Hill Road when it collided with a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction around 6.45am. The cyclist, a 34-year-old Mt Eliza man, was hit by the truck and knocked from his bike. He was airlifted to The Alfred hospital suffering life threatening injuries. The 57-year-old male truck driver from Woodleigh Vale has been interviewed and released pending further enquiries. Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are…
Police are investigating a collision between a truck and cyclist at Mornington this morning. It is believed a concrete truck was travelling north-west on Beleura Hill Road when it collided with a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction around 6.45am. The cyclist, a 34-year-old Mt Eliza man, was hit by the truck and knocked from his bike. He has been airlifted to The Alfred hospital suffering life threatening injuries. The 57-year-old male truck driver, from Woodleigh Vale, is currently assisting investigators with their enquiries. Beleura Hill Road is currently blocked between Barkly Street and Shandon Street while police investigate. Investigators…
Police are investigating a sexual assault which took place on the Frankston foreshore two weeks ago. The incident happened on Sunday 22 February around 3.35pm when the victim, a 15-year-old girl, was walking along a makeshift footpath on the southern bank of the Kananook Creek near the boat hire dock. The victim has told police that she was approached by a young man who attempted to strike up a conversation with her. The girl found the man hard to understand due to his accent and attempted to continue on her way. The man approached her and grabbed her inappropriately several…
Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team detectives are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted at a bayside shopping centre last month. The incident happened in a lift at the Beach Street shopping centre on 8 February around 5.15pm. The victim, a 42-year-old woman who is employed as a cleaner at the centre, was in the process of cleaning the lift when two men entered on level one. One of the men struck up a short conversation with the woman while the second man grabbed the victim by her hand. The victim tried to pull away from…
THE opening of Frankston’s Hospital’s new $81 million building has been hailed “an important milestone” by Peninsula Health. Health Minister Jill Hennessy visited the hospital last Tuesday (17 February) to officially open the new emergency department and three additional wards. Patients began being accepted to the new wards last Thursday. “The opening of this new building marks an important milestone in Frankston Hospital’s proud 74 year history. The last five years have seen more than $150 million invested in capital works for critical care, emergency medicine, and general medical services,” Peninsula Health chairwoman Nancy Hogan said. Known as Frankston Stage…
IT DOESN’T take much to get a plein-air painter out of the house. If it’s a Thursday and there’s a chance of the sun coming out it’s a safe bet the Mornington Peninsula Plein Air Painters are someplace scenic putting on canvas what they see before them. Asked why they choose to paint in the open away from their studio they will say that you can never capture the feeling and the colours from a photo or a pre-determined image that you can on site. Visitors can see this for themselves over three days from Friday 6 March at the…
Sexual Crimes Squad detectives are appealing for information following a sexual assault which is reported to have occurred in 1982 at HMAS Cerberus. The female victim, who was a junior officer within the Navy, was taking part in a course at the training facility when the assault occurred on the night of a ‘mess dinner’ sometime between March and June. It is believed that a Steward, who was working on the particular night of the attack and involved in the ‘mess dinner’, entered the woman’s sleeping quarters in the Gunroom and sexually assaulted her. Detectives have been investigating the matter…
CELEBRITIES including Actors Lachy Hulme, Michala Banas, Nadine Garner, Samuel Johnson, along with The Water Diviner Producer Andrew Mason and KIIS FMs Jane Hall will be head to Rosebud this February to take part in the Peninsula Short Film Fest, proudly presented by Peninsula Hot Springs. Held on Saturday February 7 at the Village Green Rosebud, the FREE outdoor film festival will showcase a selection of 12 short films. These shorts will be judged live on the night by the celebrity judging panel and will compete for a first prize of $5K with second prize of $2.5K and third prize…
NINE Mornington Peninsula residents received honours on Australia Day from the Governor-General – five OAMs, two AMs and two AOs. Liz Barraclough of Balcombe Estuary Rehabilitation Group (BERG) was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her “service to conservation and the environment, and as a volunteer educator”. Ms Barraclough was the Mt Martha conservation group’s inaugural field officer, appointed in 1997, and a key part in the revival and rehabilitation of the estuary. She has been a member of Mt Martha foreshore advisory group since 2007, a member of the community reference group for South East Water’s…
‘HIGH and dry’ is the best way to describe this Coast Guard patrol boat (pictured) which ran aground on Elizabeth Island, Western Port Bay, early last Thursday morning. The crew was returning from Corinella about 3am when they crashed on a high – 3.1 metre – tide. No one was injured. Coast Guard spokesman Jeremy West said a Marine Safety Board inquiry would determine the cause of the accident. “All the crew are safe and well and that’s the main thing,” he said. “They followed the correct processes and procedures and the boat has been taken back for repairs.”
When a grieving mother spoke out calmly just hours after her son’s murder, she gave voice to many thousands of victims of domestic violence who had until then remained unheard. Rosie Batty has risen above her personal tragedy and the great loss of her 11 year old son, Luke, who was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of his father in a very public assault. Rosie’s story jolted Australia into recognising that family violence can happen to anyone. Victorian Police Chief Commissioner, Ken Lay, praising Rosie as the most “remarkable victim” he has ever met, says Rosie has…
TOP line equestrian events, The Boneo Classic, will be held at Boneo Park Equestrian Centre from 22–25 January. The event will feature the Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final and the final round of the Show Jumping World Cup Series. Winners of each discipline will represent Australia at the World Cup Final in Las Vegas in April. Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Bev Colomb welcomed local riders Caroline Wagner and Jamie Coman at Boneo Park last week. Wagner, of Somerville, won the 2014 Sydney International Dressage Event. She will compete in the Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final at the Boneo…
Detectives from the Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are on the hunt for a man who exposed himself to an elderly woman in Carrum Downs last year. Investigators have been told the 65-year-old woman was walking south on Lyrebird Drive when she was approached by a man who appeared to be fiddling with his fly around 7.15am on 13 November. As he got closer, the woman noticed that he had exposed himself and she ran away in alarm. As she began jogging towards home, the man jumped in his car and drove past her. Detectives believe the…
THE annual general meeting of the Frankston Mechanics’ Institute will be held on Thursday, January 28th. *** OWNERS of horses suitable for artillery or remount purposes, who wish to dispose of them are notified that Messrs A. Scott and Co will hold an inspection at Tanti yards, on Monday next, at 12 o’clock. *** MR P. Wheeler notifies by advertisement the hours in which the Frankston Pharmacy will be open for business, he also notifies that in special cases he will dispense medicines at any hour, day or night. *** THE anniversary of the Frankston Methodist Church will be held…
THE audience on top of Rye pier ducked the splashes as more than a dozen sets of arms and legs flailed around in the water below, scrambling for a piece of timber tossed into their midst by a man wearing an intricately woven cloak and wearing an impressive headpiece. Reverend Father Eleftherios Tatsis of the Greek Orthodox Church Panagia Kamriani at Red Hill was back on the pier for the annual Epithany, or blessing of the water ceremony. And the people splashing around in the water were church members eager to be first to seize the wooden cross tossed by…
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man with murder over the 2013 death of Barry Gray in Rye. 72-year-old Barry Gray was found deceased by police at his property in Parson Street on Friday 17 May about 9.40am. Detectives investigating the case successfully applied to both the Victorian and New South Wales Attorney General’s Department’s for the 23-year-old man’s movement into Victorian jurisdiction, from a NSW correctional facility, to face the charge. John Woodruff appeared before the NSW Local Court in August where it was determined he would serve his current sentence, in relation to other matters, in Victoria. He…