Arthurs Seat has been the scene of two RAAF aircraft crashes. The first was an Avro Anson A4 on 10 August 1938, resulting in the loss of four lives and only one survivor. The second was a Bristol Beaufort A9-64 on 12 July 1942, with all four crewmen killed. This is the story of the Avro Anson crash. ON 10 August 1938, five RAAF Avro Anson A4 bombers from No. 2 Squadron based at Point Cook were on navigational exercises. The aircraft followed a short triangular course with Port Phillip, Western Port and the Gellibrand lighthouse at Williamstown as the…
Author: MP News Group
RESEARCHERS are excited and confused by early sightings of whales in Port Phillip and Western Port. Dolphin Research Institute executive director Jeff Weir said whales usually showed up in June “so this is quite extraordinary – but then again so is 25 degrees in Mornington harbour”. Mr Weir said the first report of whale off Seaford “sounded more like a false killer whale”. Since then reports of a humpback whale have come from sailors at Somers and Balnarring. “One of the people from Somers Yacht Club seems very knowledgeable about humpbacks. We also had a reliable sighting of a humpback…
Melbourne’s newest freeway Peninsula Link is set to open to traffic over night on Thursday 17 January 2013. The certificate of completion has now been issued by the project’s Independent Reviewer, confirming the 27 kilometre road is safe and ready to carry traffic. Given the logistics of opening 27 kilometres of freeway at the same time, Peninsula Link will open overnight on Thursday 17 January and carry live traffic by the Friday morning peak depending on weather. Victorians will be able to travel the entire distance from Melbourne CBD to the Mornington Peninsula without encountering any traffic lights. The opening…
THE master of the fishing trawler Lady Cheryl, which hit Corsair Rock near Port Phillip Heads last March, was affected by alcohol and fatigue at the time of the incident, says a report by the chief investigator of Transport Safety. The 27-metre trawler sank off Point Nepean at 1.20am on 24 March (pictured), spilling about 30,000 litres of diesel fue. The master and four crew members recorded blood alcohol readings in excess of 0.05 in breach the trawler owner’s zero tolerance policy. All crew were rescued by Port Phillip Sea Pilots. “The master was fatigued and had consumed a significant…
SECURITY cameras outside a shop in High St, Hastings, caught this dramatic image of the aftermath of a serious assault in Hastings. The victim, on the right, can be seen leaving a trail of blood on the footpath as he moves up the street with a friend after being glassed in King St about 12.30am on Saturday. Hastings police said the man, aged in his 20s and a resident of the Western Port area, sustained “extreme injuries” to his face and eye area and was taken to Frankston Hospital where he underwent emergency microsurgery. Detective Leading Senior Constable Darren Sherren…
SMOKING has been banned within 50 metres of lifesavers’ flags at Point Leo. The statewide ban came into effect this week along with a $140 penalty. Smoking is now banned over summer at all patrolled beaches on the Mornington Peninsula. The ban was introduced by the state government to protect beach users from secondhand smoke and to reduce children’s and young people’s exposure to smoking, which may influence their adult behaviour. The government says that smokers will initially be encouraged to self-regulate when near the red and orange flags. No smoking signs will be installed at beaches. Similar bans are…
HUNDREDS of volunteers are being marshalled in the final frenzied days of the campaign to build an adventure playground at Rye. More than two years in the planning, the nautical-themed playground will be built by the community over five days beginning Wednesday 24 October. Project coordinator Miranda Gillespie said there was a “last minute panic” to fill the rosters but the mood in Rye was “warm and fuzzy” and excited. “I can’t believe the time to build is actually here,” she said. The Rye’s Up! Community Playground, designed by Leather Associates, a United States company that specialises in community-built playgrounds,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has bought Rosebud Central Shopping Centre in Wannaeue Place for $5.1 million. It could become the location of the shire’s proposed multi-million dollar Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre (SPA). The shopping centre is currently occupied by 10 specialty shops and Ritchies IGA supermarket, whose lease expires next July. The centre had been on the market since January with an asking price of $6.1 million. It is next to Rosebud Library, adjacent to Rosebud Cinemas and has a large car park. The council also announced on Monday night it had bought for $770,000 a property next to Rosebud Central,…
NATALIE Isarin of Mt Martha is “the face” of this year’s Peninsula Cup. The 23-year-old dental hygienist will have VIP entry to key fashion and race day events and share hosting, trophy presentation and media interview duties on behalf of Mornington Racing Club. Ms Isarin also will judge Fashions on the Field. As the face of the cup she will receive $5000 in prizes, including cash, clothing and hair styling. Ms Isarin said being the face of the cup was a “very exciting opportunity and a real privilege”. “I go to the Peninsula Cup every year, entered Fashions on the…