AGE is just a number to Elaine Burge who wouldn’t miss her twice weekly table tennis sessions despite tuning 90 last week. The Somerville resident has been a keen member of the Mornington Table Tennis over 40s group for the past 20 years. “Table tennis is a wonderful social activity and I’ve made lots of friends here,” she said. “We have coffee and a chat and can relax and have fun.” Ms Burgess, who fought against breast cancer in 1989, said one of the benefits of the one-on-one sport was “breaking the ice” in social situations. “It’s easy to talk…
Author: MP News Group
ON 30 June light from the Cape Schanck lighthouse will have been shining into Bass Strait for 160 years. Now automated and using LED globes from the Sealight company in Somerville, lighthouse keepers and their families once carefully maintained the light. Burning oil lanterns produced the original light with hand wound clockwork providing the movement. This was followed by kerosene mantle burners and then electricity, with an array of globes and electric motors to turn the lens. Janice Haynes, who will be running activities to mark the lighthouse’s 160 years, says records show it has never failed to provide “that…
A MAN refuelled a green Holden ute at a service station on Baxter-Tooradin Road, Baxter, and left without paying, Saturday 8 June. Police said the ute’s registration plates – BAM684 – had been stolen from Dromana on 25 May. Anyone with information is urged to call Hastings police 5970 7800 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or make a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 25 June 2019
TOOLS and equipment were stolen from the Western Port Men’s Shed sometime over the weekend, 15-16 June. The haul included a MIG welder, biscuit joiners, drills, and a laptop computer. Shed president Colin Prowd was at a local hardware store valuing the stolen items for insurance purposes on Wednesday. He said the offenders used a grinder to cut bolts off a door, and cut locks off a shipping container. It’s not the first time the shed in Frankston-Flinders Road has been robbed: In a previous hit thieves took out screws and then levered up galvanised iron to get inside. Detectives…
HASTINGS police have thanked the public for help in identifying a man and a woman shown on CCTV allegedly stealing plants from an early learning centre at Crib Point, Saturday 11 May. Soon after the vision appeared on The News’ social media viewers called in to give their names. Senior Constable Lauren Coster said a man, 21, and woman, 31, of Hastings, had been charged with theft. They have been bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court in December. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 25 June 2019
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol members say they are doing their bit to “relieve traffic congestion and improve road safety on Frankston and Mornington Peninsula roads”. “One by one we are steadily removing cars driven by hoons and unauthorised drivers,” Senior Constable Greg Wolfe said. These included a Ford ute being driven by an unlicensed 57-year-old Rosebud man, 6am, Thursday 13 June. The ute – owned by the man’s partner – was impounded. Senior Constable Wolfe said the driver had not held a licence since losing it for drink driving in 1992. He had been caught driving without a licence “on a…
THE COMPLEXITIES of parent-child relationships, family conflicts and rising living costs are some of the hidden factors behind elder abuse being uncovered by Peninsula Community Legal Centre. “Without adequate education of what constitutes this form of abuse, the perpetrator may be unaware their actions are abusive,” the centre’s legal services director Kate Ross said. PCLC says that Senior Rights Victoria’s help line data for the past two years points to the fact that 90 per cent of alleged perpetrators of elder abuse were related to the older person; often an adult son or daughter, or estranged ex-partner. “Part of the…
ROSEBUD Primary students and residents of Rosebud Retirement Village both get a lot of enjoyment out of the school’s interactive programs. The year 4 students, some of whom may not have grandparents, and the elderly residents, just enjoy getting to know each other as well as reading together and playing games. Village manager Debra Riedel said many friendships had been established. “The visits enhance the lives of the residents and give something special back to the children,” she said. “Long may they continue.” First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 25 June 2019
MORNINGTON became the music capital of Melbourne over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The Mornington Winter Music Festival started on the Friday night (7 June) with musicians playing at nine venues, starting at 10am in the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. When the “Dissonant Rhythms” of Ross Manning ended at 5pm, the show moved on to wine bars, pubs and restaurants. The gallery again started the show on Saturday, which had a much bigger line up musicians playing to audiences in a longer list of venues (as well as on Main Street). this time including wineries and the Mornington Yacht Club…
THE impact of road trauma – on yourself and others, will be one of the topics covered at road trauma presentations to thousands of students at Peninsula Community Theatre in two sessions: 24 and 25 June and 22 and 23 July. Other topics at the talks put on by Teenagers Road Accident Group (TRAG) include the aspects of life that can be affected by road trauma; safe driving practices and decision making, and a focus on making good choices with the message Drive4Life. About 3000 secondary school students from around the Mornington Peninsula will attend the presentations, in Wilsons Road,…
A FINE issued to a boatie parked at Rye boat ramp was a mistake, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill has conceded. “The error was made by a local laws officer and it will be quickly sorted out,” Cr Gill said. The $81 fine for supposedly “failing to pay a fee and obey instructions on a sign” drew scorn from Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer. (“Fine adds to boat ramp confusion” The News 21/5/19). It followed a statement by Cr Gill that the shire had stopped processing boat ramp fees. Mr Kramer said “the left hand doesn’t know what…
A HOON driver allegedly doing late-night burnouts in Rye last week later blew over the legal blood alcohol limit and had his car impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1010. Rosebud police saw the man’s white Holden ute as they turned the corner into Johnson Avenue, 11.50pm, Saturday 8 June. They said the driver parked and started walking away before being stopped for the breath test: he blew 0.171 per cent. Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said the man’s P1 licence was suspended and he will be charged on summons with drink driving and traffic-related offences. First published…
A YOUNG speedster nabbed at 160kph in a 100kph zone at Dromana has had his car impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1280. The 18-year-old Capel Sound P1 licence-holder is also expected to be charged on summons with driving at a dangerous speed and exceeding the speed limit. A major collision investigation unit officer on his way home intercepted the man’s white Mazda ute on Mornington Peninsula Freeway, 8.20pm, Sunday 9 June. Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said impounding the car was part of Operation Regal, a four-day high visibility road policing operation over the Queen’s birthday long…
THREE men who allegedly bashed an older man walking near Bittern railway tracks are being sought by Hastings police. Senior Constable Lauren Coster said the men were skylarking on the tracks in a white Nissan Patrol when it became stuck near Moreton Crescent, midday, Thursday 30 May. As they tried to winch the vehicle free the older man approached and commented and an argument started. One of the younger men allegedly punched him to the head, knocking him down and causing pain, lacerations and swelling to his face. The alleged attacker is described as having fair skin, 183cm tall, stocky…
A HASTINGS man has been charged in relation to the theft of five cars from a Marine Parade, Hastings, car yard, Monday 3 June. He appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week charged with burglary, theft of motor vehicles, shop theft, handling stolen goods and possessing the proceeds of crime and was remanded in custody to appear at the same court at a later date. The man, 31, was arrested at a Spring Street house along with two others: a woman, 25, and a man, 30, who were charged and bailed in relation to outstanding warrants unrelated to the car…
THE Australian Electoral Commission officially named Peta Murphy as the new member for Dunkley on 4 June. Ms Murphy was officially declared a member of the Australian Parliament at midday, ending the single term of outgoing MP Chris Crewther. Ms Murphy thanked the AEC and her supporters on social media. “Thank you to the AEC, who make sure that the best system of democracy in the world works smoothly. The final result was 52.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent, with a margin of just over 5000 votes. This means we achieved a swing to Labor well in excess of…
POLICE are treating as suspicious a fire which destroyed a two-storey house at Safety Beach, early Monday 3 June. The Balmoral Avenue house, above, was engulfed by fire when CFA crews from Dromana, Rosebud and Mt Martha arrived, 1.15am. Minor fire damage was caused to neighbouring houses. The house was supposedly unoccupied leading police to suspect that squatters may have been responsible. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 11 June 2019
TRAIN commuters misusing pedestrian crossings, and cyclists riding on pedestrian walkways at level crossings, face fines during a joint two-week Victoria Police and Public Transport Victoria campaign targeting pedestrians engaging in unsafe behaviour at level crossings. Statistics show more than 200 near misses a year occur when train drivers are forced to brake unexpectedly or take other actions to avoid trespassers on the lines. Police have urged members of the public to ensure they stay safe around train stations and level crossings, and don’t engage in dangerous behaviour. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 11 June 2019
RAW sewage escaping into the foyer forced Mornington Police Station to close last week. Passers-by said toilet paper and excrement were flowing out from under the doors and the odour from unsanitary water on the footpath was “very strong”, 4.30pm, Monday 3 June. Workers in the side street near the old cells pumped out blocked pipes and even a Frankston SES crew turned up to lend a hand. Officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards said the problem was caused by heavy rain and a blocked pipe – for the second time in a decade. He said sewage flowing downhill in pipes…
AFTER 60 years of service – and donating more than $4 million – members of the Southern Peninsula Community Fund (SPCF) have good reason to celebrate. Volunteer David Wills said Rosebud Rotary Club established the fund in 1959 to support families, elderly and cancer patients. In 1971 the fund expanded its operations to become the first meals on wheels service on the Mornington Peninsula. In 1975 it bought a shop and launched the Rye Opportunity Shop at 2141 Point Nepean Road, which has been a mainstay of financial support for those needing help in the community. In 1997, when the…
By Fred Wild EWART Melbourne Brindle saw his first Rolls Royce Silver Ghost on Dromana Esplanade on a summer afternoon in 1912 — a sighting that led the eight-year-old to a career that would make him America’s most celebrated illustrator of the famous cars. On May 17 the Twenty Silver Ghosts gallery in the Rolls Royce Foundation’s museum in Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia, US had its official opening. The purpose built gallery features 26 of Brindle’s original paintings the basis for the 1971 book, “Twenty Silver Ghosts”. The paintings detail some of the most famous pre-World War I cars. The gallery houses…
PENINSULA Aero Club will submit a new application to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in an attempt to have it lift the ban on flights during the controversial “holy hour”, 9.30-10.30am Sundays. Club president Jack Vevers said a knock-back would give the club the trigger to bypass the shire and seek a ruling from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. A previous application to the council’s planning services meeting to remove the one hour no-fly ban was withdrawn by the club alarmed at a shire officer’s recommendation to ban take-offs and landings from sunset on Saturdays to 9am Sundays in exchange…
NEW Sunnyside Road footpath and toilet facilities at Mt Eliza will allow easier beach access with better facilities for visitors from this week. YMCA Camp Manyung, along with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, TAC and Sport and Recreation Victoria, opened the safe, all-weather path and upgraded toilet, Thursday 30 May. The developments were described by the YMCA as the “result of years of tireless efforts from locals, community groups and support from partnerships, [with] the $370,000 raised for the works … creating a safer, more inclusive beach and camping experience for locals and visitors”. The footpath runs from Camp Manyung to…
SCOOPING Best Play, Best Actor and Best Composer, Guru of Chai has gone on to sell out tours around the world – tours that have brought audiences to their feet pronouncing it “the best show”. Now it’s time for our Guru to bring his magic to Frankston Arts Centre’s stage. The contradictions of modern India with its iPhones and ancient gods come alive in this outrageously funny and heartbreakingly beautiful production. Our Guru, a poor chai-wallah, has his life changed forever when a young girl is abandoned at a busy railway station and brings the place to a standstill with…
SPEED is being blamed for a tragic collision at Mt Eliza last week in which a young couple ploughed into an approaching car – killing themselves and seriously injuring the other driver. Apprentice hairdresser Kalinda Nheu, 18, of Pearcedale, and Pauly Khaled, 22, of Heatherton, were driving north in a yellow ute when it ran across the median strip into the south-bound lanes and collided with an oncoming vehicle on Nepean Highway, near Mt Eliza Way, 11.15pm, Monday 27 May. The other driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The pair were said to be car enthusiasts with…
A MAN allegedly reversed his ute into a parked car outside a hardware store on Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings, last week. Police say the man drove off without making any attempt to contact the owner of the damaged vehicle, 9.55am, Saturday 25 May. Anyone with information is urged to contact Hastings police station 5970 7800 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Mornington News – 4 June 2019
A MT ELIZA man pulled over by police during an automated number plate recognition operation in Cranbourne Road, Frankston, last week, allegedly tested positive to methyl-amphetamine. The 41-year-old, who was already disqualified from driving due to a previous drug-driving offence, had his car impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1042. He will receive a summons to attend court at a later date. Sergeant Matthew Nott, of the state highway patrol said: “We make no apologies for taking people’s cars when they make the conscious decision to drive when they don’t have a licence. “This is not a game,…
By Hugh Fraser* THE devastation left behind when Indonesian forces finally withdrew from their 24-year occupation of Timor Leste was graphically described by Professor Clinton Fernandes at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s signature Library Week event: “Knowledge Integrity and Truth”. Prof Fernandes, from the University of New South Wales and the Australian Defence Academy, was at the shire’s Mornington offices to launch his new book on Australian foreign policy, “Island off the coast of Asia”. He and lawyer Bernard Collaery spoke about the agony and deprivations faced by the citizens of Timor-Leste both during and after their fight for freedom. Mr Collaery,…
MAKING prosthetic limbs and hands from plastic bottle tops sounds like an amazing project and is one which Eastbourne Primary School is enthusiastically supporting. Students have set themselves a goal of collecting one million tops which Seaford not-for-profit group Envision will use to make artificial limbs for children in developing countries. Principal Stephen Wilkinson is asking the community to get on board. “It’s easy to collect the plastic bottle caps with the numbers two or four inside,” he said. The impetus for the project came from Saun Teer at Envision. He visited the school to explain how the plastic tops…
A LAWYER previously employed by the Peninsula Community Legal Centre has been awarded for her efforts as a volunteer. Claire Williams was presented with the Kath Neilsen Award for outstanding contribution to the centre at the recent annual volunteer and supporters appreciation dinner. The award is named after Kath Neilsen, a founder and long-term supporter of the centre. It acknowledges a volunteer who has demonstrated a superior understanding of the centre’s values and the principals of social justice; along with a reliable and respectful approach to interactions with our clients. Ms Williams was employed by the centre for six years…