BAXTER residents have good reason to be proud of their hall, now almost completed, for quite apart from the fact that it is an extremely substantial and sightly building – large enough to provide for the needs of the district for many years to come – its presence, bears eloquent testimony to the public spirit and enthusiasm of the greater portion of the residents. For the past five months, “working bees” have been carried on every Saturday afternoon, the average attendance being about ten, while the families have never once failed to provide the much appreciated refreshments. In addition to…
Author: MP News Group
Decorate Main Street to ‘cheer up’ Christmas It’s almost Christmas, so please can Mornington Peninsula Shire Council make an effort this year? Most people head down Main Street, Mornington at holiday time. We are the gateway to the peninsula, can we please have some cheer with lights in the trees and cheerful, bright decorations down Main Street [and] getting rid of the awful Happy Holiday signs hanging from lamp posts that do nothing to cheer us up. Another suggestion would be to plant brightly coloured flowers around every roundabout. How good would that make us all feel when driving down…
DROMANA Secondary College students have teamed up with the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Mornington group to raise awareness of the need to protect threatened animals and habitats. ACF’s Dr Jodi Vermaas said the Mornington group was championing the southern brown bandicoot through an art project, and believed involving young people was one of the ways to get people to think of threatened species and how strong laws and enforcement are needed to protect them. “I approached the school and the school’s head of arts, Jyoti Funston, agreed that this project would fit with their curriculum and is open to all students…
THE Food For All Christmas Appeal is in full swing as the charity seeks donations to help its support within the community. The volunteer-run charity is calling on businesses and residents on the Mornington Peninsula to give generously, with the need for support increasing and Christmas often being the hardest time of the year for those in need. The Southern Peninsula Food For All began in 1991 and this year has delivered more than 4000 food parcels with pantry staples, fresh fruit and vegetables and tinned food. At Christmas it provides toys for children who may not otherwise receive a…
IN 2019 and at just 44, Shelley Christie had a headache and kept dropping what she was holding in her left hand. Not feeling well, she sat on her bed talking at their Mount Martha home to her husband Craig, who was finding it difficult to understand her speech and noticed her face had “dropped”. It was pretty obvious to them by then that something serious was happening. Medical tests followed quickly, and it was confirmed that Shelley had suffered a stroke, something she had not expected to hear and something that has made her look at her own mortality…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery is holding four exhibitions of works by women artists from across Australia. Know My Name: Australian Women Artists is a National Gallery of Australia touring exhibition which will make the first stop of a two-year tour in Mornington. The exhibition features more than 60 works by 56 female artists including Margaret Preston, Janet-Cumbrae Stewart and Emily Kam Kngwarray. Brisbane-based Natalya Hughes recreates The Interior – an immersive installation at MPRG, transforming the space and combining sculptural seating, patterned soft furnishings and collectors’ pieces around a hand-painted mural. Known for her book sculptures and woodcarvings, Kylie Stillman’s…
THE Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League will launch a women’s division in 2024. The establishment of the MPFNL’s women’s football league was announced last week. The league’s creation was approved by a majority of the MPFNL’s member clubs. A statement from the MPFNL read that the creation of the new league would help football grow. “The MPFNL Board & AFL South East administration are hopeful this will see further growth of other MPFNL clubs participating in this competition in 2024 and beyond. The MPFNL has a proud football history dating back to 1908 through various competition iterations and in 2024…
FOLLOWING the huge success of the inaugural Heritage Motor show in 2022, the Rotary Club of Sorrento is once again hosting the event at the historic Point Nepean Quarantine Station on Sunday 5 November from 10am – 2pm. A perfect activity and venue for the family over the Melbourne Cup “long” weekend. Last year’s event attracted 400 cars and in excess of 2000 patrons, this year is already strongly supported by local entries and interest from interstate. Information and entry for exhibits is on the website www.pointnepeanmotorshow.com.au. Entries will be accepted online up until Wednesday 1 November and late entries…
Council’s ‘discriminatory’ choice of flags to fly Our Mornington Peninsula Shire offices and council should remain apolitical and not promote any legislation that our government promotes (“Councillor to undergo ‘development training’” The News 24/10/23). Why is it that this shire bows down to the government of this day on many issues and particularly with the LGBTQIA+ agenda? Let’s celebrate diversity and inclusion, shall we? Why not fly a flag with a fish celebrating Christians? They are a minority. Or why not a People with Disability flag or an aged flag? Or why not design a flag for the homeless? Since…
THE click, pop and hum of a PA system starting up is soon joined by the sound of guitars tuning, drumbeats and scales on trumpet and saxophone. General chit-chat about the week just past melds with microphone checks. A basic 12-bar blues line on bass guitar is soon joined by a rhythmic drum backbeat and then guitar chords. Soon the room is filled with music and then laughter, friendly banter and eager chatter. These are the sounds of the Headmasters Apprentices, a pop band of eight school principals and assistant principals from the Frankston area and the Mornington Peninsula. Some…
RYE foreshore has again been given official approval for Schoolies Week celebrations. Hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the week-long “schoolies hub” will run from Saturday 25 November to Friday 1 December The shire says the hub will provide a place for schoolies to dance the night away in a supportive and age-appropriate environment. Each night will feature a different line-up of local DJs and party themes. Support teams, including the shire’s youth services team, DanceWize and Red Frog volunteers, will also attend. Peninsula Schoolies 2023 tickets cost $50 for a week-long pass that gives entry to the schoolies hub…
DETECTIVES have made a fresh appeal to try to identify a woman’s body found on the beach at Sorrento 57 years ago. A digitally generated image has been released of the unknown woman, along with a photograph of a woman believed to be linked to her. The woman’s body was discovered floating in the water off Sorrento beach on the evening of 25 February 1966. She is described as being between 65 and 70 years old, about 164cm tall, with a slight build. She had grey hair, no teeth, brown eyes with a blue periphery in her iris, and a…
THE Archibald Prize 2023 Regional Tour at Mornington is winding up for its last day on 5 November, but it has created long lasting memories for at least one family. Mornington grandmother Monica Hughes has turned the portrait exhibition into a family tradition that has so far spanned three generations. “Every year for the past 10 years that it has been on we go as an extended family to wherever it is being held, and we have our very own competition to try and enhance the experience for the young ones,” she said. “It all started a decade ago when…
ANGRY car owners out of pocket thousands of dollars are demanding compensation after their engines were damaged by contaminated diesel fuel at a Hastings service station. Several vehicle owners have told The News that their vehicles either stopped working or malfunctioned after buying fuel in the past two weeks from the United petrol station at 1996 Frankston-Flinders Road. The petrol station franchisee Ram Vidiyala has acknowledged there was a water contamination and that the outlet had shut down the diesel pumps as soon as he was made aware until repairs are made. Vidiyala said he had received the first report…
Water needed to flush away dog urine at shops Mount Martha village has several eateries/coffee establishments. One seems to be very popular, with patrons eating food, and their dogs filling the tables and footpath – a very pleasant scene. However, there are the shop’s corners and a post holding up the roof and the dog owners let their dogs urinate in these areas. The stench of dog urine running down the shop corners and along the footpath with people having to walk through this, is disgusting, while food is served. Some dogs are on their owner’s laps, with the dogs…
Words and pictures by Barry Irving RYE RSL was the venue for the annual dinner and presentation night for 100 Rye CFA members and guests on Saturday 14 October. Hosted by Paul Biaguerra, the evening featured the presentation of a framed certificate to Rye captain Eddy Matt by assistant chief fire officer Jamie Hansen, recognising the 75 years of the brigade’s service to the Rye community. A life membership medal was presented to former captain Glenn Diamond, who was a member for 20 years after joining in 2003 as a firefighter and becoming deputy group officer from 2021 to 2022.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has assured residents not to be concerned if they come across asset inspectors using cameras to film the streets. During a month-long assessment of the shire’s 690km network of footpaths, contractors will ride small quad bike-style vehicles with cameras attached, travelling at walking pace. The cameras are filming the footpath structure only and will not record any commercial, residential or private property. The assessment is expected to be completed by mid to late November. The findings from the assessments will give the council information about the condition of footpaths to help it maintain the network of…
THE Victorian Electoral Commission is reviewing the electoral structure of Mornington Peninsula Shire and is seeking feedback from the community. The municipality is being reviewed by an electoral representation advisory panel, supported by the VEC, who will consider the appropriate number of councillors and wards, ward boundary locations and ward names. The panel will propose models for the council’s structure in a preliminary report, and the community will be able to give feedback. The preliminary report has been released and response submissions for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council review will open on Wednesday 25 October and close at 5pm on…
Mornington Peninsula Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following a series of burglaries at a building site in Rosebud where in excess of $10,000 worth of power tools and building materials have been stolen. There have been five burglaries between 5 July and 22 October this year on Bayview Road between the hours of 2am and 6am. On one occasion, the male offender has climbed the fence and located a wheelbarrow before filling it with power tools, hand tools, laser levels and tradies belts. The thief then carries away the stolen items leaving the wheelbarrow behind. On another…
A would-be car thief elected to lock himself up in a bungled attempt to steal a BMW in Baxter earlier this week. The owner of the BMW X5 SUV had driven to a petrol station at the corner of Grant Road and Lower Somerville Road on the hunt for some delicious dim-sims about 10.45pm on Monday, 16 October. When the man went up to the counter to purchase his snack he happened to peak up at the security camera display and noticed the door of his vehicle being opened on the monitors. Enraged, the man sprinted back to the car,…
Mornington Community Garden invites the community to its first open day since Covid, on Saturday, 21 October. There will be seeds, seedlings, plants and displays on raised wicking beds and biolinks. Relax with a ‘cuppa and cake’ special for $5, or browse through the used DVDs and books. For youngsters there will be face painting by Sue. Mornington Community Garden was established in 2000 and is now a wonderful green space where people of mixed backgrounds and abilities can share and learn gardening skills. The open day will run from 10am to 2pm, at Pine Reserve, Mitchell Street, Mornington.
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council will investigate the balance of time-restricted and unrestricted parking in the Octavia Street, Mornington car park after 202 people signed a petition called for free staff parking. The petition, which will be submitted to council tonight (Tuesday 17 October) is asking for unlimited car parking in the form of a parking permit for staff of businesses on Main Street. The Mornington major activity centre parking precinct plan that was adopted by council on 4 May 2021 investigated current and anticipated future parking demand within the Mornington activity centre and provided recommendations to improve the management of…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council officers have recommended planning approval be given for a temporary religious worship marquee on green wedge land in Pearcedale, despite 99 objections. The application is for a traditional Hindu puja for religious “land purification” that will run for one week, with two worship sessions of 6am to 11am and 4pm to 8pm. There are not expected to be any activities outside of the proposed marquee area, and no loudspeakers, microphones, music or bell ringing. Some of the objections referred to the “inappropriate” use of the green wedge, the potential for traffic issues, impact of neighbours, and…
THE last of the big guns has fired its final shots and been decommissioned at the West Head Gunnery Range, Flinders. More than 100 people, including Naval top brass and former staff attended the Tuesday 10 October ceremony to mark the end of the 76mm medium calibre gun’s role at West Head. Medium calibre training will now be provided via virtual reality simulation and onboard training. The 76mm gun was installed in 1992, and until 2019 used to train operators/maintainers and principal warfare officers from Australia and the Philippines. The decommissioning of the MK75-76mm gun represents the end of 64…
AUSTRALIA’S first equine-assisted therapy program to use retired racehorses is celebrating the Melbourne Cup with a difference. Racing Hearts, a charity that gives former racehorses a new lease on life through retraining and integration to therapy programs for humans, is inviting the community to be part of early cup celebrations and experience humans “helping horses helping humans”. Founded in 2018, Racing Hearts operates from a 12-hectare property in Balnarring with a sand arena for riding lessons with a therapy focus. The organisation has rehabilitated more than 100 retired racehorses, working with Racing Victoria with a large focus on their reset…
WORLD Polio Day will be celebrated by Victorian survivors of the virus at Hastings this year with the theme Stayin’ Alive. Hastings MP Paul Mercurio will open the Polio Network Victoria event at the Sanctuary Inn On Westernport on 25 October. “Polio Day, is an annual opportunity for survivors who met as children at various rehabilitation hospitals such as Mount Eliza, Fairfield, Lady Dugan or country centres, to catch up, and to discuss current health and management issues,” Mornington Peninsula Post-Polio Support Group convenor and PNV vice-chair Fran Henke said. Polio epidemics affected mostly children, paralysing limbs and lungs until…
ANYONE living on an unsealed road in the Mornington Peninsula can be part of the dust suppression program. The program aims to alleviate concerns about living or driving on dry, dusty roads. In response to requests for dust suppression, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council annually selects sections of unsealed and gravel roads, particularly important for community assets or roads used as a thoroughfare. Applications are now open for the dust suppression program. Any resident can put forward their application by visiting the website at mornpen.vic.gov.au/dustsuppression Applications close on 19 November and the program begins in early December. A list of…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Cr Debra Mar was one of six councillors to vote for a move that effectively ruled out any debate about publicly releasing information provided to councillors during private briefings. Mar’s name was inadvertently omitted from the list of councillors backing a ruling by the mayor, Cr Steve Holland (“Council undecided over release of ‘secret advice’” The News 10/10/23). The other five councillors who also backed the mayor were Holland, Sarah Race, Antonella Celi, Despi O’Connor and Kate Roper. Against the mayor’s ruling were David Gill, Simon Brooks and Lisa Dixon. Crs Anthony Marsh and Susan…
DREAMWEAVERS is a series of short documentaries by award winning filmmakers Heather Forbes-McKeon and Yanni Dellaportas about three Mornington Peninsula-based women who have suffered adversity and inspired others. The films focus on the women’s objectives, motivations, challenges they face in relation to their goals and what advice they have for others. Ecologist and ethnobotanist Gidja Walker has worked for years protecting landscapes and overcame discrimination in a male dominated profession. She is a mentor to young women entering the world of nature-based learning and an advocate for traditional owner custodianship. Over many decades, Walker has contributed professionally and informally as…
A NEW charity – Fun in the Sun Foundation – aims to help families under financial pressure enjoy some time out over summer on the Mornington Peninsula. Led by CEO and founder Mary Toniolo, in association with Anglicare Victoria, the group has booked holiday houses on the southern peninsula to provide a week’s holiday for families with children. The foundation is the latest organisation to have offered children from less well-off families summer holidays on the peninsula. Holiday places for children have included Camp Buxton at Shoreham, founded in about 1925; Lord Somers Camp at Balnarring East in 1931; and…