RYE Community Centre’s Betty Jennings shows off her painting of Oosterschelde, one of the tall ships to enter Port Phillip. The paintings is one of many at the centre’s annual art and craft fair this Saturday 13 September 10am-3pm. Everyone is invited. Entry is by gold coin donation. The fair showcases and celebrates the creative achievements of participants. Social art is on Mondays 12.30-3.30pm, patchwork on Tuesdays 9.30am-11.30am, social drawing group Tuedays 1-3pm, craft group on Wednesdays 9-11am and watercolours Thursdays 9.15am-noon or 12.30-3pm.
Author: MP News Group
A NINE-year-old Rosebud girl has told police a man driving a white Toyota utility tried to grab her by the arm as she was walking to school on Friday morning. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Rosebud CIU, said the incident occurred on the northern side of Besgrove St, next to the soccer fields, at 8.50am. The vehicle, being driven on the wrong side of the road travelling west, stopped next to girl. The driver – the only occupant – said “come here kid” but the girl refused. The man then allegedly attempted to grab her from the driver’s seat. The girl says she…
MORNINGTON Toy Library is celebrating a big birthday next week – 25 years of lending funny, colourful, interesting and creative toys to boys and girls from its Albert St premises. Staff members are planning an open day on Saturday 6 September to mark the occasion. Councillors Bev Columb, Anne Shaw and Andrew Dixon will be there from 9.30-11.30am, with speeches and a “cutting of the cake” at 11. There will be balloons, giveaways and activities for the children. The toy library began in 1982 and operated from the Community Contact House in Albert St and then from the children’s section…
THE shire council is calling on peninsula residents to have their say on the preferred design for the $34 million Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre. The aquatic centre is planned for the Rosebud foreshore and will feature a 25 metre pool, warm water program pool, leisure pools, aqua play area, sauna, gym, and café. The SPA centre will also incorporate Rosebud Memorial Hall’s community meeting spaces. The mayor, Cr Antonella Celi, said four architects had been selected to work on a council design brief for the aquatic centre, with each concept reflecting the council’s “commitment to design excellence, innovation and environmental…
Police were left powerless to move on a loitering visitor, on account of it weighing over 30 tonnes. The members were called to a whale sighting off the coast of Mornington to ensure the safety of the whale, little did they realise how close they would come. It’s believed the whale was migrating north for the mating season, however it seems it may have taken a fancy for the water police boat on the way. “Our members stopped a few hundred metres away as to not disturb the whale. They turned their engines off to minimise noise and vibrations and that is…
Police are investigating a spate of armed robberies which occurred in Melbourne’s southern suburbs this month. Officers believe that three men are responsible for at least five separate armed robberies at service stations. Detectives believe the crime spree started at a service station on Thompsons Road in Patterson Lakes on Sunday 3 August just after 8.30pm. Two men entered the premises and threatened the attendant with a knife before demanding cash and cigarettes. The pair then fled the scene with cash and cigarettes. Investigators believe that the same trio committed a further four service station armed robberies at – •…
Police are appealing for the public’s help following recent hair-raising burglaries targeting factories in Somerville and Carrum Downs. The bearded burglar has had a few close shaves and was captured on CCTV at three separate industrial areas where CCTV cameras were damaged. The first two incidents occurred at a factory area on Simcock Street in Somerville where a CCTV camera was damaged at 5am on 20 May and then on 17 July a camera was also damaged. The most recent incident occurred on 1 August at a factory area on Access Way in Carrum Downs when a CCTV camera was…
FOR the best part of a century, few but the most studious of history buffs were aware of the momentous role an artillery crew stationed at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula played in the chronology of events rapidly unfolding following Great Britain’s declaration of war against Germany in 1914. History records the shot they fired across the bow of a fleeing German merchant ship, SS Pfalz, as the first shot of the British Empire in World War I. But it took the arrival of the one hundred year anniversary of the outbreak of that war, and the approach…
PENINSULA LEAGUE By Toe Punt FRANKSTON YCW humiliated Mornington in front of their own crowd to win by more than ten goals in the Peninsula League match of the round on Saturday. Inaccuracy saved Mornington from further humiliation, the Stonecats dominating from the first bounce to have 35 scoring shots to just 11. The Stonecats had an even spread of contributors, which went a long way to the 14.21 (105) to 6.5 (41) victory. Frankston YCW coach Scott Mathers said when his side got their hands on the footy and started to win it, they were able to gain control…
NEPEAN LEAGUE IN an extraordinary tale of events, Rosebud is a realistic chance to play finals this year after beating Red Hill on Saturday. Despite losing four games by less than a goal this season and being struck down by injury to some key players, the Buds are now just a game outside of the top five with two matches to play. The Buds (111.77 per cent), sit in sixth position and have a superior percentage over Rye (106.37), who currently hold down fifth position. Rosebud face Tyabb this weekend, before finishing the season with a match against Devon Meadows…
By Cr David Gibb DAVID Harrison continues to talk hogwash. Unfortunately readers, just because you read it in the paper, it doesn’t make it true. He talks about a 6:5 split with me in the imaginary six. And yet how is it that a few amendments to motions that I have put up recently have been defeated, or motions that I’ve moved have been supported by councillors in his imaginary five? Tim Rogers and I have always voted together on the issue of dwellings in the green wedge. Voting was all over the place on the controversial freeway service centre,…
MISS Galaxy Australia title holder Jessica Martini is all set to jet off to the United States next weekend to compete for the international Miss Galaxy crown. The 26-year-old Hastings resident, who represented the Mornington Peninsula when she won the Miss Galaxy Australia crown on the Gold Coast earlier this year, will compete against national winners from across the globe in Orlando, Florida, from 2-12 August for the prestigious international beauty pageant crown. In the lead-up to the international final, Ms Martini said she had been working hard to help raise funds for the competition’s chosen Australian charities, Make a…
HIGH-profile Winter Olympian and long-time peninsula resident Belle Brockhoff is ready to go above and beyond to help turn the tide against discrimination. The Olympic snowboarder, who grew up on her family’s estate in Dromana, was last week appointed a beyondblue ambassador and said she plans to use her new position to highlight the issue of homophobia. Brockhoff was also the only openly gay member of the Australian team at the Sochi Winter Olympics earlier this year and spoke out against Russia’s anti-gay laws. Not only is Brockhoff proud to be gay, the 21-year-old has also shared her story of…
A THIRD wave monitoring and modelling investigation is to be carried out at the badly eroded Portsea front beach. The $290,000 investigation will cover Port Phillip Heads, the Great Sands and the shoreline from Pt Nepean to Portsea and is expected to take 18 months. The two earlier studies were reviewed by the CSIRO which noted that there is limited wave measurement data in this part of the bay, limiting the accuracy to which any model can be calibrated and adding a degree of uncertainty to any results. Both studies recommended more extensive measurements of waves as they move into…
FORMER Mornington MP and state government minister Robin Cooper has renewed his opposition to the sale of the Mt Martha quarry. Mr Cooper says the quarry reserve should be made safe and opened to the public. “No development should happen there. They should let people in; it’s not the place for multi-storey development, we’re not Hong Kong.” The quarry has been earmarked for sale by Mornington Peninsula Shire which badly needs money to help pay for a $40 million swimming pool complex it wants to build on the foreshore at Rosebud. It is understood the shire has been told it…
MORE than 2000 participants are expected to enter this year’s 6.7km Arthurs Seat Challenge in November. The challenge to climb to the top of the Arthurs Seat summit is a fundraiser to support a reduction in road trauma for young people and to raise money for the Fit to Drive road safety program. Since the introduction of the Graduated Licensing System, there has been a 23 per cent fall in deaths on our roads. Nevertheless, young people are still over-represented in road crashes and fatalities despite comprising just a small portion of licensed drivers. Young drivers aged between 18-25 years…
JENI Doherty and Kim Rowe from the Mornington Chamber of Commerce hosted business people, music lovers and representatives of local government at the launch of the Mornington Winter Jazz Festival, held at The Social on 29 May. The jazz festival, which kicks off on Friday 6 June, runs across the long weekend and features a plethora of events, both ticketed and free. The cornerstone of the festival is a program of internationally renowned jazz artists including Vince Jones, Katie Noonan and Paul Grabowsky, as well as Melbourne Jazz artists Hetty Kate, Wilbur Wilde, Jex Saarelaht and Flap! The festival also…
Go Away, Mr Worrythoughts! is a delightful stage adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Frankston author Nicky Johnston. Featuring three professional performers, puppetry, slapstick humour and songs, it’s described as an exciting adventure in developing emotional resilience for primary school children. Through the story of Bayden, and his struggle with anxiety, the production explores creative ways to zap ‘worrythoughts’. Johnston wrote the book to help her first child overcome anxiety. It was such a success that she wrote another, Happythoughts are Everywhere, as well as developing a resource kit for parents and teachers. She is now in demand as…
Mornington Police now have more options to deal with troublemakers, after most of the Mornington CBD was declared a designated area by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. The order took effect on 22 May after police made a submission to the VCGLR. Police will be able to ban people from the designated area, or all licensed premises within the area for up to 72 hours. Police will also be able to apply for an exclusion order against people convicted of certain offences committed within the designated area with these exclusion orders lasting for up to 12 months. The area…
WINNING the Best Picnic Racing Club in Victoria award for the third year in a row – and the fifth in six years – proves Balnarring is doing something right. Club president Peter Spyker accepted the accolade at the annual Picnic Racing Awards at Amstel Golf Club, Cranbourne, on May 17. He praised the ‘’hard work by the committee and generous support from members, sponsors, owners, trainers and jockeys who race at Balnarring and the public who attend our meetings’’- and singled out the Weymouth family for their involvement. He also acknowledged support from Country Racing Victoria. Club secretary Neil Heathcote…
NEPEAN INTERLEAGUE By Toe Punt DESPITE an under strength Nepean League team going into battle at Rosebud’s Olympic Park on Saturday, it proved far too strong for Central Murray FL on Saturday. Nepean League dominated in the opening and last quarters to run out comfortable 16.12.108 to 9.15.69 winners. Central Murray FL got with two goals on a couple of occasions late in the second quarter and got within five points in the third, but they were no match for the locals when the game was there to be won. It was no surprise that Nepean league won the match,…
PENINSULA INTERLEAGUE By Toe Punt PENINSULA league coach Stevey Ryan believes that unless the league’s governing body, PCN Sports Alliance, gets behind representative football, the competition will go backwards. Ryan made the claim in the wake of the Peninsula League’s 85-point belting at the hands of Geelong Football League at Simmons Stadium on Saturday. Whilst the 21 players who represented the league did their very best, they were no match for the Geelong FL, who dominated from start to finish to win 18.18.126 to 6.5.41. Peninsula League was held scoreless in the final quarter and booted just two goals in…
FREELANCE photographer Daryl Gordon is fascinated by the connection between Balnarring and its people – and this interest has led to an exhibition focusing on “that single frame, that single moment in time’’. The Balnarring Portrait Project 2013 is being held at the Apple Stick Gallery from May 30 to June 8 from 5-7pm. Its focus is on 120 images of those who visited his ‘pop-up’ studios in the village last year. “I have always had a fascination with the storytelling and archival/documentary nature of still photography,’’ he told The News. “So, for history’s sake, I’m setting about documenting the…
NEPEAN LEAGUE By Toe Punt RED HILL has claimed top spot on the Nepean League ladder after leading all day to beat Crib Point. In the battle for top spot, Red Hill jumped out of the blocks and led at every change, eventually winning 14.8-92 to 10.13-73. The Hillmen dethroned the Magpies at the top of the ladder, led by Marcus Dal Lago and YCW recruit Paul Wintle. In attack, Red Hill continues to get maximum benefit from Jarrod Eames, who finished with four goals, while Ben Maguiness (three majors) is getting forward and contributing on the scoreboard, something that…
PENINSULA LEAGUE By Toe Punt FRANKSTON YCW flexed its muscles on Saturday and once again highlighted that it is the measuring stick in Peninsula League, thrashing Edithvale-Aspendale. Heading to the home of the reigning premier has become a frightful experience for most clubs in the past couple of seasons, however it held no fears for the Stonecats on Saturday. YCW led at every change, extended their lead throughout and finished with a ten goal to three hammering in the last 30 minutes, winning 22.20-152 to 9.11-65. The Eagles can thank their lucky stars that the visitors struggled for accuracy in…
IT is that time of year again, when the International Cool Climate Wine Show is held here on the Mornington Peninsula. This annual event is now in its 15th successful year and is recognised as one of the best boutique wine shows in Australia. With an experienced judging panel lead by Meg Broadtman MW, the wine show offers participants from cool climate wine regions the opportunity to showcase their wines. Owned and organized by the Red Hill Agricultural & Horticultural Show, and held at the Mornington Racing Club, it was originally established to help benchmark cool climate wines. Since 2000,…
EARLY morning fog rolled in over Port Phillip Bay on Monday 12 May. It settled into a low cloud cover that lasted till late afternoon. Viewed from atop Arthurs Seat, the eerie mist resembled a white cotton wool blanket, as it hugged the Mornington Peninsula coast. Picture: Yanni
AN emergency call has gone out to find a bottlenose dolphin with packing tape wrapped around its torso. The dolphin was spotted off Portsea by dolphin swim tour operators on Friday 21 March and rescuers want to track it down before the dolphin becomes too distressed or dies. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) issued an alert for boaters to be on the lookout for the dolphin. DEPI’s regional director of Port Phillip, Travis Dowling, said the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad used its boat for a zig-zag search of the area. “Representatives of the AGL Marines Response Unit,…
POINT Nepean’s famous guns, renowned for having fired the British Empire’s first shot of the First World War, are just one of the peninsula’s many historic attractions set to be celebrated during Australian Heritage Week. Flinders MP Greg Hunt, pictured admiring the Fort Nepean installation with First Shot committee chairman Major Bernie Gaynor, said Australian Heritage Week from 12-20 April provided an opportunity to celebrate the places, buildings, landscapes and stories that had forged the peninsula’s unique history. “It’s a great time to explore some of our local places of historical significance. You can take a diving tour and explore…
HILLVIEW Quarries has opened a new pit on Arthurs Seat and has started removing gravel and stone after clearing bush and building haul roads. The work explains the higher than normal amount of dust created by the company in recent months, which has generated public comment and complaint. The company gained permission to open the new area from Mornington Peninsula Shire in January 2006. A condition of the permit was Hillview should avoid stripping topsoil or overburden from the site “during the summer months where possible”. The new pit is southwest of the main pit and is closer to Arthurs…