MORNINGTON detectives are investigating a suspected road rage punch-up on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, Wednesday 14 November. A Rye man driving a Holden Commodore reportedly clashed with two men in a Mercedes sedan, one of Taylors Hill and the other of Sunshine North, after they pulled over into the emergency lane opposite the Safety Beach Country Club, 6.20am. After the incident the Rye man was taken to the Frankston Hospital but was expected to be released late last week. The others were treated at the scene. The three men are believed to know each other. Police later charged the men…
Author: MP News Group
POLICE are investigating a series of ram raids in a stolen car in the Somerville area. The 2004 silver Ford ute was stolen from a house in Bellary Lane, Langwarrin, 5.30am, Wednesday 7 November. A man broke into a shed and stole tools as well as the keys to the car before driving it away. The next burglary was at Woodleigh School, Frankston South, overnight Thursday 8 November when the ute was reversed into a shed door and tools stolen. The ute was then spotted in Simcox Street, Somerville, where the driver attempted two more ram raids. Both were unsuccessful.…
POLICE Dog Squad member Fargo put his nose to the ground and tracked down a 15-year-old Hastings youth after two houses were allegedly broken into at Hastings, Tuesday night 13 November. Several police units converged on the area about 1.15am after reports of break-ins and began a lengthy search. Fargo tracked the youth after he was seen disappearing into nearby bushland. Another youth was not found. After covering some distance during his “track”, and having earned a break, the Somerville Highway Patrol nightshift unit gave him a lift back to his vehicle. First published in the Mornington News – 20 November…
A SOMERVILLE man has been charged with allegedly assaulting an off-duty female paramedic in a road rage incident in Bungower Road, Thursday 1 November. The man, 21, allegedly started following the 23-year-old when she flashed her headlights at him after he “cut her off”. Police will allege that when the woman parked her car, the man approached and smashed her window and kicked her side mirror. He is then alleged to have punched her in the face and struck her with a can of deodorant. The woman, who was in uniform, suffered facial injuries, including a broken eye socket. She…
VICTORIAN Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp was the guest speaker at a dinner for local fire brigades at the Safety Beach Sailing Club, Thursday 8 November. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council hosted the event at what was Cr Bryan Payne’s last official occasion as mayor. He said the meeting provided an opportunity for councillors and staff involved in fire prevention to meet in the lead up to this year’s fire season. “The efforts and commitment of all emergency service personnel involved in protecting our community is extremely important in providing a safe environment across the Mornington Peninsula,” Cr Payne said. “Council…
FOUR candidates will contest the seat of Mornington in the state elections on Saturday 24 November. They are David Morris, Tyson Jack, David Sinclair and Ryan White. Neither Mornington nor the adjoining seat of Nepean have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Mr Morris, who took over in 2006, has a seemingly safe hold on the seat with a 26 per cent majority on a two party preferred basis. Here, The News publishes biographical details of the candidates in the order they were drawn in the ballot. David Morris…
VISITORS to Mt Martha House can tune in to podcasts to learn about the history of the former coffee palace, hotel and barracks. The 10 podcasts, which launched on Thursday 8 November, were made possible by a $5000 Mornington Peninsula Shire Placemaking grant and $1000 flexible grant to help the historical society buy a computer to catalogue its collection. “The house is such an important part of Mount Martha’s history and we’re working to share stories of the Peninsula with everyone,” the mayor Cr David Gill said. “The shire also worked with the society to produce the trail signage, including…
RED Hill Ward’s Cr David Gill has succeeded Cr Bryan Payne as mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire for 2018-19. He was elected at the annual council meeting on Monday 12 November. Briars Ward’s Cr Rosie Clark was elected as his deputy mayor. Cr Gill in his acceptance speech said it was a “privilege” to be appointed and thanked his councillor colleagues for their confidence and support. “The Mornington Peninsula is such a beautiful and unique part of Victoria,” he said. “My focus will be on continuing council’s strong advocacy on Green Wedge preservation and planning issues to ensure the unique…
IF it’s a case of horses for courses then Cruza is on the right track … He is proving his worth at the shire’s animal shelter in Watt Road by keeping the grass in the paddocks down. The gentle giant, who was rescued by the RSPCA after being found suffering from “extreme malnutrition”, was taken to the pound several months ago. Environment Protection manager John Rankine said Cruza was being housed under the shire’s Lost Livestock Register – the same as for cats and dogs. “Cruza the horse has been a great experience for the shelter and our rangers,” Mr…
TWO Mornington Peninsula artists have teamed up to open a pop-up gallery at Red Hill. Potter Sandi Faulkner and contemporary gold and silversmith Katrina Newman will be available over two weeks to talk about their work and welcome visitors to shop 1/1016 Mornington-Flinders Road. After art school Faulkner, with almost 5O years’ pottery experience, trained under Viennese master potter Franz Kukowetz, of Terra Nigra. She was a production potter and teacher at the old Chelsea pottery in London. From her studio at Mt Martha she makes small batches and individual pieces using ash from the Outback and peninsula vegetation in…
THE Arthurs Seat Challenge on Sunday 11 November promoted the profile of the Fit to Drive program and to raise funds for it to continue. The number of entrants in the annual 6.7km fun run and walk was greater than expected at nearly 1300. Organisers said the cool weather was perfect for those who rose to the challenge of walking or running from near Rosebud Primary School to the top of Arthurs Seat and finishing at Seawinds Gardens. The first-time male winner was Jake Stevens with a time of 0.27.35. The female winner was reigning champion Bec Rosel, in 0.30.07.…
FIVE candidates will contest the Victorian Lower House seat of Nepean at the 24 November state election. They are Simon Mulvany, Rodger Gully, Chris Brayne, Russell Joseph and Paul Saunders. Mr Joseph has been office manager for retiring member Martin Dixon for the past five years. Mr Dixon has held the safe Liberal seat since 2002. He has a 16 per cent margin on a two party preferred basis. Neither Nepean or the adjoining seat of Mornington have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Here, The News publishes biographical…
FUTUREFISH Foundation director David Kramer last week took aim at the Liberal candidate for Nepean, Russell Joseph (pictured), saying he “seems to be sitting back disinterested in the boat ramp situation”. This comes after the foundation blasted the standard of the Mornington Peninsula’s boat ramps, saying they were a “shambles”. “Mr Joseph has a safe seat and doesn’t really need to show concern for the thousands of boat owners on the peninsula,” Mr Kramer said. “His seat in state parliament is being handed to him on a platter.” Mr Kramer said Mr Joseph had never taken an interest in camping,…
A SURVEILLANCE camera at a graffiti hot spot at Hastings is the latest tactic by Mornington Peninsula Shire to deter graffiti on the peninsula. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the camera, at the intersection of Wallaroo and Hodgins roads, Hastings, was a “joint initiative of the shire and Hastings police to reduce anti-social behaviour and address the ongoing issue of graffiti”. “It’s proving to be a very useful tool with an offender already recorded by the camera,” he said. Cerberus Ward’s Cr Kate Roper said it was a shame when public spaces were damaged by “senseless acts of vandalism”.…
WORK has started on the first stage of the 120-bed The Bays Aged Care Home at Hastings. It is part of a $20 million development expected to open in January 2020. “We are ready for this exciting state-of-the-art home to become a reality,” The Bays Healthcare Group chairman Adrian Wischer said. “Since 2017 The Bays aged care has been at full capacity as a sought after home for ageing residents. The building of the new home will enable more of our community to access our services. “Our new home will have the flexibility to provide choice for couples. It includes…
“RELENTLESS hard work and environmental activism” lay behind the Save Westernport group’s receipt of the annual Community Environment Recognition Award at Environment Victoria’s annual meeting in Melbourne recently. The aim of the award is to recognise the “achievements of remarkable community groups and individuals who have led innovative and persistent grassroots campaigns to protect places they love, often with very limited resources”. The Save Westernport group was formed in May by a group describing themselves as “passionate locals [with] grave concerns about AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal in the protected Ramsar wetlands area of Crib Point”. Many had…
PRIDE Performance sprinter, Nathan Riali, will be out to try and claim the first ever running of the Hastings Gift on Saturday 17 November at Thomas Barclay Oval, Hastings. The Ivanhoe resident who travels down to Seaford and Frankston to train under head coach Matt Carter certainly knows what it takes to win a Gift. Having been competing across the country for the past five years, Riali has won the 2014 Ballarat Gift, the 2014 Northcote Gift, the 2016 Davenport Gift and the 2017 Rye Gift. He even finished second in the iconic Stawell Gift just last year. Riali said…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol police are appealing for witnesses after a car’s tyres were slashed and its panels sprayed with graffiti on Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville, 7.15-8.30am, Thursday 1 November. They are hoping passing drivers may have recorded the incident on dash cam, possibly without realising, so they can identify the culprit. The incident number is 1800 371 824. Any information should go to Senior Constable Allen, at Hastings police, on 5970 7800. First published in the Mornington News – 13 November 2018
MOTORISTS are warned to be on the lookout for “vulnerable road users” – such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – out and about on Mornington Peninsula roads in the warmer spring weather. They are much more likely to be injured if involved in a collision than someone inside a vehicle. Serious injury collisions occurring during October included four motorcyclists coming to grief (two on-road and two off-road); two young children running out in front of cars; a pedestrian hit by a left-turning vehicle and an adult cyclist riding along the footpath running into a car coming out of a driveway.…
A MAN walking along High Street, Hastings, Thursday night 1 November, was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with serious, but not life threatening, injuries after being hit by a car. Police said the 47 year old was “so engrossed in FaceTime on his smartphone that he walked straight across the road without looking and in front of a car. He went up onto the bonnet with his back hitting the windscreen. He then landed back on the road in front of the car and received serious head injuries.” Leading Senior Constable Greg Wolfe, of Somerville Highway patrol, urged pedestrians to…
TOUGHER penalties for breaking road rules came into effect over the Melbourne Cup long weekend. Under new road rules as part of Operation Furlong, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 25-35kph will now have their licences suspended for three months instead of one; the maximum penalties for unlicensed driving are now a $9500 fine or six months’ jail, and the maximum penalty for driving while disqualified is a $38,000 fine or two years’ jail. Police are warning car owners to be careful who they lend their cars to because anyone who knowingly allows an unlicensed driver to drive faces a…
THE Melbourne Cup has been run and won – and so has the police Operation Furlong which ran over the long race weekend. In the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas, Somerville Highway Patrol police breath-tested 2400 drivers and found 10 over the limit, one who refused a breath test and two driving without alcohol interlocks when required. They drug tested 45 drivers and found 14 who were positive and three who refused the test. Seven vehicles were impounded and 48 unregistered vehicles detected. Police charged 13 unlicensed drivers, 12 disqualified drivers, and issued 97 speeding infringements. Four drivers were fined…
By Eve Kelly THE opening of The Nature Nook at The Briars Nature Reserve, Mt Martha, on Saturday 3 November was a great success enjoyed by locals and state-wide visitors. Designed and presented by the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, with the support of a Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Placemaking Grant, the jam-packed day of wildlife wonder officially opened the permanent space at The Briars Nature Reserve for all to enjoy. The space, a quiet place for the community to sit and contemplate wildlife, was opened by Cr David Gill and attended by supporters, including state Greens candidates Paul Saunders and…
BROTHERS Bradley and Lucas Banks are excited to be taking part in the annual Kids Fun Run with K163 this weekend, to help raise funds for the special care nursery at Frankston Hospital. The fun runs, where children get to run alongside the historic steam train K163, go from 150 metres for three-year-olds out to four kilometres. Each runner will receive a show bag and a personalised certificate at the event, Sunday 18 November at Moorooduc Railway Station. Rotary Club of Mount Eliza is helping organise the event. The Banks family are one of the top fundraisers for the event…
VOLUNTEERS experienced in repairing household goods are opening up a repair cafe in Mornington. Members of the Peninsula branch of Solve Disability Solutions and the Mornington Men’s Shed will hold their first “repair day’” on Sunday. A similar volunteer repair workshop is already up and running at Rye Community Centre, following on from the first Repair Cafe which opened in Holland in 2009. The list of items to be fixed ranges from small furniture pieces to bikes, toys, crockery and computers. “Anything that is broken is welcome but, at this stage, for safety reasons, we can’t touch mains electrical components…
MORNINGTON Botanical Rose Garden volunteers are this week celebrating a decade of delight in their floral haven. It’s a labour of love for this happy and supportive group of mainly retirees who, over the past 10 years, have established, maintained and managed the gardens for the enjoyment of the many visitors. The garden concept came from businessman the late Don Gordon and the land at Civic Reserve was allocated by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Mr Gordon is remembered by the naming of the information centre known as the Don Gordon Garden Room. It has given the volunteers a delightful space…
FOR the 10th year in a row artists from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are opening their studios to the public … and, to get there, all you have to do is follow the Peninsula Studio Trail. For two weekends the artists will be happy to talk with visitors about their creative techniques and show off their work places. The annual trail event held over two weekends (17-18 and 24-25 November) allows visitors a glimpse behind the gallery facade of a working art studio. Many of the 20 artists involved in the “trail” have won awards and are known on…
THE Only Butt campaign was rolled out across Rye as a pilot campaign in July with bin-size posters adorning Pt Nepean road bins with the message of The Only Butt. Now, four months later, the campaign comes to an end at this week’s Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayoral change-over. “The aim of the campaign was to educate and inspire smokers to put their butts in bins,” organiser Josie Jones said. “To reduce butt litter in your area, the first thing you can do is offer an ashtray as research shows most smokers do not see their butts as litter. However,…
A LAND management program on the Mornington Peninsula is not only helping to control weeds and pests – it’s also imparting cultural knowledge and providing certified training for indigenous participants. The Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management course is in its final weeks and is being run through Holmesglen TAFE as part of a partnership between Trust for Nature, the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Wurundjeri Land Council. The course involves field-based assessments where students work with 10 landholders on the peninsula who have Trust for Nature protective covenants.…
Southern Peninsula Food for All with $3910 in hand is striving hard to reach a target of $55,000 for its 2018 Christmas Appeal. Last year enthusiastic helpers at Food for All provided 51 Christmas hampers and gave toys to 505 children. Organiser Dianne Faulkner said hampers and toys would once again be distributed to those most in need in the community. Collection bins for non-perishable goods are at Woolworths Rosebud, Capel Sound and Rye, Coles Rosebud and McCrae, and Ritchies Dromana. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. They can be sent to Food for All, PO Box…