By Patricia MacLeod ENVIRONMENTAL group BERG MM is urging residents to look out for blue-tongue lizards taking advantage of the warming weather. The indigenous reptiles are being drawn out of their dormant phase to soak up the sunshine – making them vulnerable to being inadvertently killed. BERG MM member Hansi Wegner said the cold-blooded animals must sunbathe each morning to produce enough energy to live but that “this can be to their detriment if they choose to do it on the road”. Mr Wegner said motorists seeing a lizard on the road should “avoid them, but only if safe to…
Author: MP News Group
CYCLISTS should have a think about what they wear on their next ride. Brighter colours, such as yellow or white, will make them stand out and allow motorists to see them more easily. That’s the word from traffic police who say many cyclists passing their checkpoint at the bottom of Oliver’s Hill near the car park exit on Saturday morning (where there have been many car-versus-cyclist collisions), had not factored in that being easily seen makes them safer. Their tops were a mixture of fluoro yellow, red, blue, white and black, with leggings predominantly black. “Most of the car/cyclist collisions…
A CRIB Point teenager has been arrested and charged over a series of raids on chemist shops at Somerville, Hastings and Balnarring, overnight Friday 6 September. Detective Senior Constable Rohan Brock, of Somerville CIU, said the 19-year-old was tackled by a “Good Samaritan” as he left one of the shops early Saturday morning. During what was termed an “altercation” his keys were thrown into a bush and he was intercepted by police before he could find them and drive off. The man has been charged with four counts of burglary and remanded in custody. As he was on bail for…
IT took only a minute for two offenders to force their way into the Australia Post shop at Mornington and force open self-serve machines before fleeing with a “large amount of cash”, early Wednesday 11 September. CCTV images show the men parking a dark coloured late model Land Cruiser or similar outside the shop in Main Street at 3am before breaking open the glass front door. The robbery is similar to a raid on self-service registers at the Woolworths supermarket, also in Main Street, 1.50am, Wednesday 4 September. In that raid three offenders stole two whole self-serve machines containing large…
VOLUNTEER fishers working as citizen scientists to tag, release and report the capture of King George whiting in Port Phillip and Western Port bays is helping improve our knowledge of their behaviour. The fishers, working on a three-year Monash University research project funded by recreational fishing licence fees, are helping track the fish’s movement patterns. “We know whiting enter our bays when they’re only a few months old and leave again at about four years of age to mature and begin spawning offshore,” Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said. “What we don’t know is how juveniles move within and…
FORMER Dunkley MP Chris Crewther has come up short in his bid to be elected to the senate. Mr Crewther was eliminated in the first round of voting. Sarah Henderson was instead chosen by Liberal colleagues to fill the vacancy left by Mitch Fifield. He told followers on social media “unfortunately I didn’t get across the line, but it was an honour to stand and I thank all the delegates and members of the Liberal Party who I was able to meet, speak with and who supported me over this journey from across Victoria.” “Particular acknowledgement goes to my wife…
THE 2019 Roy Ward Leadership Prizes for secondary students were presented at the Order of Australia Association, Mornington Peninsula Regional Groups annual luncheon held at the Safety Beach Yacht Club and Community Centre on Friday 23August. The Roy Ward Leadership Prizes have been recognised by secondary schools and students in our region, since its inception in 2000, as prestigious, with the process providing “real life” post-secondary education experiences. Twenty-one secondary schools within the zone were invited to forward submissions. Fifteen nominations were received, and these were evaluated by a selection panel of the Group’s members. Six submissions were short listed…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has praised residents for their “vigilance” in detecting and reporting illegal foreshore works on the beachside of a Portsea property owned by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox. The mayor Cr David Gill said the residents “assisted in bringing this matter to our attention [and] demonstrated our community’s desire to protect the peninsula’s unique environment”. This led to a company associated with Mr Fox being fined $10,000 in Dromana Magistrates’ Court and ordered to pay the council $10,000 in costs over illegal works on a 4600 square metre parcel at Point King beach. (“Fox fined over beach land”…
MORNINGTON Peninsula farmers and animal producers may soon be protected from animal activists trespassing on their properties and shutting down their livelihood. The issue was highlighted earlier this year when animal activists occupied a Tyabb chicken farm. The Crimes Amendment (Trespass) Bill 2019, introduced into the state Legislative Council by Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MP Jeff Bourman last week aims to “enhance protections offered to industries pertaining to animal enterprise and animal recreational activities” once it is passed. After several incidents involving animal activists entering businesses and farms, the issue was referred to a house committee to inquire into…
SOUNDS of chanting and drumming coming from Rosebud shopping centre last week were orchestrated by one of the many pro-environment groups making up Extinction Rebellion Victoria. Organiser Kate Wilkins said the local response to the Thursday afternoon disruption was interesting: “We were mostly cheered, congratulated and thanked by onlookers – surprisingly by a lot of the elderly shoppers,” she said. The retailers’ response was mixed: “Woolworths ran us out quick smart, while Aldi was hospitable and quite unconcerned.” Ms Wilkins agreed it “probably seems like there are so many environment stories and so much climate-related news” these days. “This will…
MEMBERS of the community are invited to share their thoughts on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s draft Smoke Free Environment Policy. Community consultation on the draft Policy is open until Monday 7 October. The initiative stems from the council’s public health and wellbeing plan and the Frankston Mornington Peninsula smoke free charter. The charter encourages the shire, other public land owners, businesses and community groups to provide smoke free public areas and implement programs to reduce smoking rates in the community. Many local businesses have joined the charter by providing smoke-free areas, such as at Bentons Square and Mornington Central shopping…
A COLLECTION of David Hockney prints drawn from the National Gallery of Australia’s collection will go on display at Mornington Peninsula Gallery, October-1 December. Hockney is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th Century and an essential contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s. So popular is the artist’s work that his 1972 Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold at Christie’s auction house in New York City in November 2018 for $90 million, becoming the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction*. The exhibition showcases his talents as…
ROSEBUD Girl Guide Sarah Wallace is getting a name for herself as a quiet achiever. This comes after she completed a range of challenging guiding activities over many months, including outdoors, service, world guiding, The Guide Promise and Guide Law, Guiding Traditions, and the system where girls learn to be leaders – The Patrol System. Last week plans were underway to reward her with guiding’s highest honour – the BP Award – at a special ceremony at Rosebud Guide Hall, Saturday 31 August. “From the time she began as a youngster at Rosebud she has quietly set herself many new…
A MAN allegedly riding a monkey bike without a helmet was later found to be unlicensed, and, when drug tested, proved positive to methyl-amphetamine. Police say they saw the bike on Graydens Road, Hastings, 8.35pm, Tuesday 3 September. The 32-year-old rider, of Mornington, will be summonsed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court in relation to drug driving, unlicensed driving, riding an unregistered motor vehicle and not wearing a helmet. His monkey bike was impounded for 30 days for a cost of $1075. “Police receive constant complaints from the public about unregistered monkey or trail bikes due to them being ridden…
A TOYOTA Land Cruiser was stolen from the car park at the end of Dundas Street, St Andrews, while its owner was walking along the beach, Thursday 5 September. The owner is offering a reward for the return of the $20,000 car with registration AGC422. Anyone with information on any of these incidents is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 10 September 2019
A YOUNG driver showed the steps required to get pulled over by the police on the Mornington Peninsula last week: Exceed the speed limit, have the car lowered so it has less than 100mm ground clearance, and have a bumper sticker saying “Cops don’t like this” on the back. The 24-year-old driver, of Mildura, was intercepted by Somerville Highway Patrol travelling at 115kph in a 100kph zone on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Dromana, Sunday 1 September. The driver said he was on his way to a car show. A bright yellow vehicle defect notice was stuck on the windscreen…
A MASERATI was nabbed on mobile radar travelling at 189kph in a 100kph zone along Mornington-Flinders Road, Flinders, Saturday 31 August. Asked by Somerville Highway Patrol police why he was speeding, the 29-year-old, of South Yarra, said he was running late to visit his sister. Like all drivers intercepted for any reason he was drug-and-alcohol tested with both tests proving negative. “Some people seem to think they can drive at these crazy speeds because they have a good car and they think they’re good drivers,” Acting Sergeant Anthony Deason said. “How someone can think 189kph on Mornington-Flinders Road is OK…
STUDENTS at St Joseph’s Primary, Sorrento, celebrated The United Nations International Year of Indigenous Language by researching and designing their own indigenous sensory, edible and medicinal garden using the indigenous plants of the Mornington Peninsula. The colourful gardens, as well as looking spectacular, encourage birds, native bees and insects to visit their school grounds. The students’ efforts have led the school to being a finalist in this year’s Tidy Town Awards. Sustainability teacher Jane Byrne said the project began following a visit by nine years five and six students to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne. On their return the…
ON a cue of “Let’s clog Shirl,” Judy Phillips, stroke survivor, and Shirley Cheah, Peninsula Health physiotherapist, performed a type of folk dance called clogging before a large group of Allied Health staff at Peninsula Health’s Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Centre. Comfortable in the limelight after a career as a children’s television presenter, Ms Phillips said she had one clear goal after her stroke last June – “I really wanted to get back to clogging.” The toe-tapping show and lunch on Wednesday 4 September was organised as part of Stroke Week and most of Peninsula Health’s Stroke Detours team members…
A $10,000 FINE and an order to pay $10,000 in costs to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was an expensive lesson in planning protocols for Portsea resident Lindsay Fox last week. This came after one of the trucking magnate’s private companies pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to comply with the council’s planning scheme at Dromana Magistrates’ Court. Photographs of a 4600 square metre area of foreshore outside the Fox property show it had been levelled and irrigated turf laid without shire approval and that protected native plants and grasses had been removed. The area is covered by overlays requiring…
ROSEBUD Secondary College students took a peek into the fascinating world of biomedical sciences at the fifth annual Biomedical Sciences Day in Parkville last week. They were among 60 years 10 and 11 students from regional and rural Victoria to attend the event which gave them a rare opportunity to experience life as a biomedical scientist. The event was presented by the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, and the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC). Professor Matthew Watt, head of the university’s Department of Physiology, encouraged the students to think about the science behind what creates, sustains and threatens…
A $530,000 redevelopment project at Tyabb Central Recreation Reserve pavilion will create more inclusive, functional and accessible amenities for players of both genders. The pavilion will include two new change rooms with “female-friendly” amenities, accessible toilet, new path to the pavilion and new ramp. The upgrade, paid for through council’s capital works budget, aims to address a gap in local amenities and remove barriers to female sports participation. The mayor Cr David Gill said the council was “thrilled to be improving facilities at sporting grounds across the peninsula, especially by providing female-friendly and accessible amenities”. “To see more of the…
FOUR cows found wandering loose on Frankston-Flinders Road, Bittern, overnight last week were herded into the nearest fenced area – which turned out to be Bittern Pre-School. Mornington Peninsula Shire rangers responding to a call of stock at large found the cows at 11.45pm, Tuesday 27 August. They chose the pre-school garden area as the nearest and safest place to house them until their owner could be notified. The cows had been moved over to the Bittern hall play area when pre-school teacher Jill Oborn arrived early next morning, but reminders of their visit were plain to see. “There was…
MOUNT MARTHA SOCCER CLUB By Alex Levy MOUNT Martha Soccer Club has just completed their 5th season of soccer and are going from strength to strength with over 400 members playing across 35 teams from U6’s to U18’s and an All Abilities side, all of which cater for both boys and girls. As a community club, we are extremely proud of where we sit today, having just moved onto 2 out of 4 of the brand new pitches at Civic Reserve. Our achievements and general culture and values are strong and testament to the fabulous volunteers and members who live…
FRANKSTON Arts Centre is hosting the first ever Kids Fest in the September school holidays. Featuring live shows and workshops, it promises to be lots of fun. The little ones can take part in the Grand Pawtrait Competition by entering an artwork of your best pet-friend and have it hung at Cube 37 Gallery. Entries close on Saturday 7 September so ensure that you collect the entry pack, which includes the frame, before that. First up is FoRT, a show for cubby creators and den dwellers. If you have ever built a FoRt, you should see this! The show is…
TIM Freedman has been talking about impending new songs for years. Now he is putting it in writing that he will perform some new material in his solo tour this October and November 2019, and that he is prepared to be run out of town if he doesn’t deliver. “Hopefully the new songs aren’t too successful though, otherwise I’ll earn too much to retain my franking credits. Unfortunately, like every one else in the world, I just had to express myself.” Freedman is best known as the front-man and songwriter of Australian band ‘The Whitlams’ – an Australian Recording Industry…
Mornington Peninsula Shire and Headspace Frankston will show the work of LGBTIQA+ people and their allies at next month’s Proud on the Peninsula Art Exhibition . The exhibition theme LGBTIQA+ Lives in the Frame celebrates the lives of LGBTIQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and other terms) people across the peninsula and Frankston. The mayor Cr David Gill said the council was proud to promote equality across the peninsula. “We’re committed to supporting a healthy and vibrant community that celebrates and values diversity,” he said. Applications are being sought from artists wanting to be part of the Proud…
TRAFFIC police taking part in the National Day of Action say it is a direct response to the “horror year which is taking place on Australian roads”. As part of the campaign an alcohol and drug testing site was set up in Marine Parade, Hastings where 321 drivers were breath tested, with one returning a positive result for drugs. Police say they plan to set up testing sites at random locations across the peninsula to conduct mobile and stationary speed checks. Up until Wednesday last week 13 people had lost their lives on Frankston and Mornington Peninsula roads. First published…
TWO men who smashed a plate glass door at the Woolworths supermarket in Baxter stole more than $130,000 in cigarettes and cash about 3.30am, Wednesday 28 August. The men are shown on CCTV footage using an angle grinder to break into the store on Baxter-Tooradin Road and climbing over service counters. Detectives believe the men later attempted to force a roller door at a Coles Liquorland, Ashleigh Avenue, Frankston, but failed. They are shown wearing hoodies, masks and gloves and driving off in a dark coloured SUV. Anyone with information can call Detective Hocking 5978 1300 or Crime Stoppers 1800…
A SOMERVILLE teenager has been charged with criminal damage by fire after an ATM in Eramosa Road East was scorched by a Molotov cocktail, 11.50pm, Tuesday 20 August. Somerville CFA fire crews were able to restrict the fire to the front of the building and no other shops were damaged. Detectives used CCTV footage to identify the 16-year-old who has also been charged over a series of burglaries at Somerville Plaza and an aggravated burglary at a Somerville house, 11.15am, Monday 26 August. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Hocking, of Somerville CIU, said a startled resident arriving home chased the…