VOLUNTEERS who created a new native garden for the community in Mornington are distraught over the callous destruction of the garden and theft of most of the plants. The Pine Avenue Reserve restoration project was only completed last month, with volunteers from Friends of Pine Avenue Reserve joining children from the nearby South Mornington Preschool to create a green space and a native habitat for birds and frogs. But some time over the past two weeks, someone has ripped out and removed many of the plants and left others uprooted and dying on the ground. Friends of Pine Avenue Reserve…
Author: MP News Group
By Ranald Macdonald FLINDERS resident Zeta Newbound attends weekly stretching classes at the Balnarring Town Hall on Tuesdays. A former schoolteacher and physical education instructor Newbound, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 7 October, actively participates in all the exercises. She was a pennant golfer and member of the Flinders Golf Club committee. Newbound and her late husband Maxwell have two children, with her daughter following in her footsteps as a teacher. The family had a weekender in Shoreham for 30 years when living in St Kilda, before moving to Flinders in the 1950s where they built a two-storey house.…
By Liz Bell and Keith Platt MOST Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillors are remaining tight lipped about how they will vote in the upcoming Voice referendum. At the 5 September council meeting, around 30 local residents, including two indigenous elders, called on the council to support three questions given without notice – one from Marg D’Arcy and two from former Voices of Mornington Peninsula-backed independent candidate for the seat of Flinders Dr Sarah Russell. However, Russell said the CEO’s response was “dismissive” and similar to what a “spokesperson” from the council said to an ABC journalist. Russell said the residents had…
AFL MASTERS By Chris Richmond IT wasn’t the last day in September, it was the tenth; the day the Peninsula Raiders 45s men’s side secured back-to-back premierships beating the Parkdale Vultures at Roy Dore reserve, Carrum. In a rematch of last year’s game, the final score was a resounding 13.7,85 to 4.2.26 victory. The day started off poorly for the Raiders with skipper Toby Loft limping to the sidelines with a popped calf and fellow midfielder Dave “Buddy” Franklin also following suit moments later. With two of the Raiders premier on-ballers effectively out of action someone needed to step up.…
MOUNT Martha kart racer, 13-year-old Mathew Basso, has claimed another title, winning the 2023 Australasian Kart Title after competing in the KA3 junior heavy class in the Goulburn Valley. Basso competed against some of Australia’s best junior drivers and was the only driver out of all the other classes to qualify, lead, and win every single race all weekend. He was also selected as the commentator’s driver of the weekend for the 2023 Australasian Titles. Announcer Aryton Creagh, who interviewed Basso after the race, said the young driver “is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on throughout the rest of…
A RECRUITMENT drive has seen Hastings Tennis Club more than double its membership. At the beginning of 2023 Hastings had no junior teams and a about 30 members. New coach Reece Driscoll said new members and new coaching programs had breathed new life into the club. “The club now has eight junior teams, two of which are section one, two nights of after-school coaching, a junior performance squad and has signed up over 50 new members,” he said. The club employed a new coaching team at the start of term two and with that had come a new atmosphere and…
A SMOKE-free trial run by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is among the finalists in the 41st annual Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria’s Tidy Towns & Cities – Sustainability Awards. In the litter category, the Safety Beach smoke free zone specifically has been hailed a success in navigating a smoke free environment. Since the original smoke free trial in April 2021, Beach Patrol volunteers have monitored the uptake of butt bins, with findings showing a significant decrease in butt litter. Local businesses were also surveyed, with 42 per cent noticing a reduction in butt litter near their businesses. The council has…
The Voice: It’s Your Choice, Not Ours – Councillor Mar Let’s be clear why the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has not taken a position on The Voice to Parliament and the reasons why. Australian citizens will be called upon to formalize their personal position from media, print and letterbox drops and place their vote at the polling booth on 14 October 2023. The Voice to Parliament is a personal decision where democracy is playing its important role that will help shape the future for Australia. I sought my information talking to locals, Bunurong Land Council and our friends at Willum…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council will launch mental health training for small businesses next month. Together with Mornington Peninsula organisation Speak & Share the council has developed mental health workshops for small businesses with a $15000 grant from Business Victoria. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said discussions around the importance of good mental started as early as kindergarten, and for young people mental health discussions came with little stigma because it was a natural topic to talk about for them. Holland said the state government was introducing legislation around occupational health and safety regulations in a bid to recognise hazards that…
VICTORIANS opposing what they think is unsuitable property development will have a new rallying point next week after the launch of a public declaration for a “Liveable Victoria”. The declaration is the joint effort of Planning Democracy, and Green Wedges Coalition. Planning Democracy was formerly known as Planning Backlash, an umbrella group formed by veteran planning activist Mary Drost OAM in 2003. Backlash was a loose alliance of 250 community groups across Melbourne and Victoria lobbying for more democracy in local and state planning. Planning Democracy convenor Kelvin Thomson – the former federal MP for Wills with a long involvement…
A probationary licence holder was been caught more than four times over the limit in Hastings on Saturday 16 September. The Hastings van was on patrol when they notice an illegally parked car on High Street about 3.50am. Officers checked the vehicle and found a woman slumped across the front passenger seat and asleep. The 39-year-old woman, who had been driving the vehicle, was taken back to a local police station where she returned an evidentiary breath test result of 0.18. The Crib Point woman was served with an immediate suspension of her licence and had her car impounded for…
THE local answer to the Archibald Prize, the Oak Hill Archies, is set to coincide with the “real” prize coming to the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery expects up to 50,000 viewers will come to see this year’s Archibald works when exhibited there from 15 September to 5 November. The Oak Hill Archies will be at Oak Hill Gallery from Saturday 16 September. Oak Hill Gallery is a community arts centre designed to promote and develop the arts. Board member and artist Michelle Nixon said the event, which had a prize pool of $1000, had attracted some “remarkable…
THE Western Port Biosphere Reserve has retained its UNESCO status for the next decade and rebranded itself with a more contemporary logo. The two moves coincide with the state government’s “investment in marine ecosystems and blue carbon” through the foundation and the Bunurong Aboriginal Land Council. The UNESCO status renewal confirms the reserve as being south-eastern Australia’s only member among the 748-members from 134 countries in the world biosphere reserve network. The foundation’s CEO, Mel Barker, said UNESCO’s decision. Followed a “rigorous review” which also marked the Western Port Biosphere Reserve entering its third decade. “This is fantastic recognition of…
VETS for Compassion, a not-for-profit organisation of vets and assistants, spent more than a week trying catch a skinny and wheezy ginger cat hanging around a factory at Hastings. After many attempts, the crew was finally able to capture the scared and hungry cat, which was treated by the vets and is now in care with Forever Friends Animal Rescue until it is ready for adoption. The animal, which was suffering from a respiratory illness, had been hiding under machinery, coming out from time to time at workers – almost asking for help. Vets for Compassion is a registered charity…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is looking to strengthen planning controls around advertising signage following residents and councillors’ concerns about large, brightly lit neon signs in Mornington. A report presented to council on 8 September called for “strategic work” to tighten its planning policy in a bid to provide “better guidance” on major promotion signs. Cr Anthony Marsh pushed for the policy review after council lost a fight at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ban a large, electronic sign in Nepean Highway, Mornington, with the tribunal finding that the sign adhered to all current policies. First published in the…
By Hugh Fraser* A DIVIDED and dysfunctional Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has voted down a motion by Cr David Gill to restore the right of councillors to transparently question council officers during public council meetings. Gill was right to bring this issue to the attention of council and the community. In a democratic, functional and responsible council, his motion ought to have succeeded. The democratic right of councillors to question council officers and senior management in council meetings is an essential council and transparent process. It assists in making a CEO, shire officers and management accountable to council and the…
Carrum Downs artist Jaq Grantford has been named as the Archibald Prize 2023 ‘People’s Choice’ winner for her winning portrait of former Playschool presenter and beloved Australian personality Noni Hazlehurst. This month, the highly anticipated Archibald Prize 2023 opens at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery – the only Victorian destination for this popular event. Thousands of art lovers and curious cultural adventurers will head to Mornington to see the 57 portraits hanging side-by-side, including Jaq’s now famous portrait and this year’s winning work of Montaigne by Julia Gutman. Portraits have always intrigued the viewer: the eyeline, the position of the…
The Voice: Residents look to councillors for leadership I attended the 5 September public meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting with the expectation that councillors would debate whether they should support a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum. I was deeply shocked and disappointed that questions regarding the referendum were dismissed, with the CEO advising that council would not be taking a position on this matter. Local councils play a pivotal role in representing and reflecting the sentiments of their community. The shire has previously shown its support for Indigenous rights and reconciliation in its Reconciliation Action Plan, so…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is calling for nominations for its 2024 Australia Day awards. Nominations of a friend, family member or colleague in the categories of Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year until Friday 17 November if they have made an outstanding contribution to the community. Last year’s Citizen of the Year was Jack Van Der Zwart, in recognition of his work caring for foster children, cooking for the homeless in Rosebud and providing meals for the needy. There is also an opportunity to recognise events, through the category of community event of the year. The…
THE St Andrews Beach Brewery is on the market, with agents calling it a “significant coastal land-banking” opportunity and say they expect interest from throughout Australia. The former horse training centre once owned by the Freeman brothers is on 37.2 hectares and includes a wholesale business as well as restaurant and bar. The property is being offered for sale and expressions of interest are being sought by J L L Hotels and Hospitality’s Will Connolly, Peter Harper and Lachlan Persley. Formerly known as Markdel, the Fingal property was redefined in 2017 to create a hospitality venue and on-site brewery. It…
A SPRING cold front caused havoc across the Mornington Peninsula overnight Thursday (8 September) and into Friday (9 September), bringing rain and strong winds, as well as general misery for football fans ahead of the AFL finals. Gale force winds downed trees and dislodged anything not tied down as blasts swept across the southeast and the peninsula over Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued wind warnings for Western Port and Port Phillip, but for some boat owners they came too late. The extreme weather also saw emergency service volunteers, and CFA and SES teams clearing trees…
ARTISTS who regularly open their studios along the Peninsula Studio Trail are holding their annual combined art exhibition at Mornington. The annual studio trail started 15 years ago and includes about 30 artists working in a variety of mediums, including painting, textiles, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture. New works will be displayed at this month’s exhibition and visitors will have a chance to meet and speak with the artists. The exhibition is being held at The Studio, 91 Wilson’s Road, Mornington. Tickets to the opening night on Friday 22 September are $15 a person and include food and wine and entertainment…
RISING food bills, vet bills and the surrender of dogs and cats “adopted” during the COVID pandemic have created a “sad situation”, according to Rosy Fischer. Fischer, of Mornington, has compiled a list of pet organisations that may help pet owners who are struggling to keep their pets. “Many people are surrendering their pets with most shelters and rescue groups overwhelmed with pets,” she said. “I regularly see people posting online pets for rehoming and asking for pet food, or assistance with vet bills. “Financial constraints due to increased costs of living, vet fees, lack of pet friendly rentals, COVID…
THE removal of at least five trees at Tyabb Primary School has left some residents distraught at the loss of a piece of the area’s heritage. Contractors for the Department of Education removed the trees from the school yard, including English oak, Norfolk pine and desert ash. Former student Alden Collins said he was devastated to see that the Norfolk Island pine gifted to the school by Harriet Benton, a sewing mistress for the school and part of an early pioneering family, had been razed. The tree was planted with Benton’s class in 1908 as she was leaving to go…
AN application for a second electronic billboard on Nepean Highway Mornington has been recommended for approval by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers, despite concerns about neon signs providing the peninsula with a Las Vegas-like landscape. The proposal is for a billboard-style sign at 1002-1004 Nepean Highway, several doors up from one erected earlier this year at 988 Nepean Highway. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal had overturned the council’s 2020 refusal of the application, prompting Cr Anthony Marsh to call for change. At the 8 August council meeting, Marsh successfully moved that the council “explore options for a strategic planning…
Municipal rates: Are we being overcharged? Just received my annual rates notice – just the 9.1 per cent increase for me this year, notwithstanding the apparent state government’s 3.5 per cent cap. It is not clear to me how the cap can be met when the dollar rate is increased by 7.55 per cent. Perhaps someone could explain, as the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s website and employees certainly could not? The glossy brochure I received along with my rates bill entitled Your rates explained, boasts that “Our shire has the eighth lowest rates in Victoria out of 79 councils”, a…
A DECISION to change courses has paid off for Leela Subramaniam who has been named Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Victorian Training Awards. The former Chisholm Institute student was studying a double degree in commerce and law before switching to cooking. After completing a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery at Chisholm’s Mornington Peninsula campus, Subramaniam now works as a full-time junior sous-chef at Flinders Hotel, Flinders. As well as the training awards win she was named Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Chisholm Education Awards and was the Victorian winner and national bronze medallist at the 2022…
THE Fair Work Ombudsman has started legal action against a Boneo celery farm – one of Australia’s largest celery producers – alleging it underpaid three visa holders $91,907 across one year. The FWO says it investigated A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd after receiving requests for assistance from three farmhands who alleged they had not been paid during extended periods of their employment. It is alleged that Lamattina underpaid the farmhands between February 2020 and February 2021. One of the farmhands was allegedly underpaid more than $37,000 while the other two were each underpaid more than $27,000, respectively.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council’s community animal shelter and pound will desex dogs and cats for pet owners over 60. Under the new initiative, Seniors Card holders who have a dog or cat registered with the shire can get their pets desexed for free. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the program would enhance the wellbeing of both pets and their owners, but also aimed to encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce the number of stray animals. Holland said the community animal shelter and pound had been caring for animals for more than 30 years, and understood the role pets play…
SORRENTO Cricket Club is focussing on child safety in the lead up to National Child Protection Week (3-9 September) and is raising awareness of how sports clubs can help. Child safety officer Ella McConnell said the club’s leadership team had implemented the Victorian Child Safe Standards and improved safeguarding practices and culture over the past 12 months. “At Sorrento Cricket Club we are committed to promoting child safety awareness and protecting our children and young people on the peninsula from harm and abuse,” she said. “With National Child Protection Week approaching, it is the perfect time to raise awareness and…