A KAYAKER flipped his craft 500 metres off Fishermans Beach, Mornington, and had to swim for it at about 5.30pm on Saturday 3 June. The man, 41, of Healesville, managed to make a 000 call while in the water and then swam ashore where he was met by police. The $1000 kayak spent the night on the bottom but was recovered next day by a fisherman and towed to the beach. The fisherman, of Mornington, called friends who then carried the kayak to Mornington police station. Sergeant Daniel Patten, of Mornington police, was told the fisherman was a “bit worried”…
Author: MP News Group
By Barry Morris GOING up the creek was all part of an inspection tour for Briars ward councillors Rosie Clark and Sam Hearn. The two Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors elected last October were told about the fragile beauty of Balcombe Creek, its estuary and its adjoining bushland during a tour of the reserves with BERG Mt Martha president Graham Hubbard and field officer Liz Barraclough. The third Briars ward representative is the mayor Cr Bev Colomb, who has a long acquaintance with the Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group, Mt Martha. For more than an hour Mr Hubbard and Ms Barraclough briefed…
MORNINGTON Special Developmental School’s pirate-themed day on Friday 9 June raised money for The Kids for Cancer Project, with a ship-load of pirate adventurers joining forces to support the cause. Piratey fun and games, such as walk-the-plank, pirate coits, pin the patch on the pirate, treasure hunts, baking pirate cookies, listening to salty stories and, of course, pirate bingo were fun activities for pupils and staff who dressed as pirates for the event. “It was a fantastic day and many thanks to all our buccaneers and their families for their support,” teacher Angela Holland said. “It was a terrific way…
THE Hastings-based Dolphin Research Institute has launched a new online publication Reflections to “celebrate” Port Phillip and Western Ports bays. “Reflections is a magazine that will take you into the lives of some amazing people and marine life that live in and around our bays. The goal is to create a friendly voice to help Melburnians to appreciate and care for our bays,” DSI executive director Jeff Weir said. Launched on World Oceans Day the first edition includes articles on Victoria’s commissioner for environmental sustainability who steered the production of our first State of the Bays Report; the institute’s David…
PLANNING expert Michael Buxton will be at Hastings next week to outline changes to the state’s planning laws that allow three-storey houses to be built across the Mornington Peninsula and fast track developments previously subject to public comment and objection. “We are wanting a large attendance at this meeting because, in memory, there hasn’t been a greater threat to the peninsula’s unique identity,” organiser Peter Avery, of the Peninsula Speaks community group, said. Dr Buxton, professor environment and planning with the School of Global Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University, has held senior positions in four Victorian planning and…
THE $1.56 million Eastern Sister rock seawall and pathway project at Sorrento will connect Sullivan Bay with Camerons Bight. Almost one third of the cost – $500,000 – is being provided by the developer of a five-lot subdivision at 3080 Point Nepean Rd. The Eastern Sister Headland is at the northern end of Camerons Bight and the southern end of Sullivan Bay. At the top of the cliff is the Collins settlement historic site, which was Victoria’s first official settlement in 1803. It includes graves, asphalt pathways, monuments and lookouts. “The toe of the Eastern Sister limestone cliffs has continued…
THE often-hidden scourge of elder abuse will be highlighted on Thursday (15 June) with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on the Mornington Peninsula. Members of PACE – the Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders – will man stalls at Rosebud Plaza, near Coles, and at Bentons Square Shopping Centre, Mornington from 10.30am. Their theme is “We can stop Elder Abuse”. The day aims to remind residents to honour older people and uphold their right to live in safety, with dignity and respect. Many older people are sometimes mistreated by someone close to them. The abuse is any act which causes them…
THIEVES broke into the Hastings Club, 3am, Wednesday 31 May, after unscrewing the lock on the front door and rewiring the alarm to prevent it activating. Police said three men drove up to the club in Marine Parade in a stolen black Holden wearing black clothing, gloves and balaclavas. Two of the men then forced an internal door with a jemmy bar. One was captured on CCTV and is described as being Caucasian with a stocky build. He used an angle grinder to try to cut open an ATM behind the bar. He got away with a small amount of…
THE BOMB Squad took away an “explosive device” from outside a Hastings house, 12.30pm, Sunday. Hendersons Rd was blocked off for several hours when police isolated the “smouldering object” believed to have been thrown from a car. The object was later taken away for forensic examination. Mornington Peninsula CIU detectives on Monday could not discount the theory that the package was a bunch of sparklers taped together and lit – or whether it was something more dangerous. Detective Senior Constable Shane Moodie said it was unclear why the device was placed outside a particular house. Senior Sergeant Peter Drake said…
HUNDREDS joined Saturday’s Reconciliation Walk to the Willum Warrain Association’s gathering place in Pound Rd, Hastings. Association president Peter Aldenhoven estimated that more than 300 Indigenous and non-Indigenous people participated in the march “in a spirit of hope and optimism for the future”. The walk from the foreshore ended at the gathering place with a smoking ceremony and didgeridoo performance followed by a barbecue. Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of Mabo Day, “a special day for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”, Mr Aldenhoven said. “This is always the last day of Reconciliation Week and honours the successful High…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie BAXTER’S commanding 3-0 home win over Monash Uni on Saturday has catapulted it into the State 4 South promotion race. Baxter gaffer Roy Kilner made three changes to the team which was unlucky against Harrisfield Hurricanes the previous week with Matthew Owens replacing the suspended Edin Ali, captain Frank Ntim replacing Daniel Sharratt and Alan Lipsett dropped to the bench for Daniel Disseldorp. It didn’t take long for Baxter to strike and in the 11th minute, a superb Travis Ernsdoerfer pass found Liam Kilner whose scintillating finish made it 1-0. Monash responded but found Baxter’s defence…
LAURA Pintur, 24, of Mt Eliza, has won the Victorian Young Achiever of the Year Award. She receives a $2000 flight voucher and trophy. The awards aim to acknowledge, encourage and promote the positive achievements of young people. Ms Pintur, co-founded the “What’s normal” program which aims to engage and educate young people on issues relating to pornography and its negative impacts on society. Workshops, such as “Living in a pornified culture”, aim to equip young people to be creators of culture – not just consumers. As part of the workshop, Ms Pintur spearheaded a campaign to remove Zoo magazine…
MCCRAE artist and jeweller Katrina Newman is the first Australian to be selected to participate on the Canadian Wilderness Artist Residency in the Yukon Territory this July and August. Newman was chosen from 42 applicants for the trip in which she and nine other artists will paddle 735 kilometres on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City, in sub-arctic Canada, arriving in time for the Riverside Arts Festival. Newman will exhibit her work and provide a short training course for young people at the Riverside Arts Festival in Dawson City. “I’ve always understood that to create great work or…
A LONG-AWAITED dream came true for members of Mornington Peninsula Chorale when they sang at New York’s Carnegie Hall earlier this year. About 50 members of the 100-member chorale made the trip to perform in the Sir Karl Jenkins Requiem as part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY), in January. Alongside them were combined international choirs from Finland, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, UK and US. The invitation to sing came about after the chorale performed Sir Karl’s Armed Man at Frankston Arts Centre in 2015 for the Anzac Day centenary celebrations. Senior chorister Judi McKee wrote to…
By Teresa Murphy THE wild, elemental beauty of Point Nepean, on the tip of the Mornington Peninsula is an awe-inspiring experience for any visitor. For the creatively inclined, it must be particularly intense – especially if they are lucky enough to live within the landscape for a while. Balnarring Beach artist Amanda Nelson was one so fortunate early last month (May) when she was artist-in-residence at Police Point for two weeks, staying at the historic gatekeeper’s cottage. But before luxuriating in and interpreting the dramatic surrounds, her immediate reaction was rather more prosaic. “After 18 years of housework, it was…
THE death of David Cassai in Rye on New Year’s Eve 2012 was the catalyst for the installation of street CCTV cameras last week. Flinders MP Greg Hunt met with community leaders on Friday 19 May to announce that the federal government had provided $200,000 for six CCTV cameras covering the foreshore and shopping precinct. “That fatal one-punch hit took the life of an innocent young man and sent a ripple-effect through an entire community,” he said. “The installation of CCTVs will assist in reducing anti-social behaviour, deterring would-be offenders and helping people to feel safe.” Mr Cassai’s mother Caterina…
WHILE many people plan a huge party when they reach the milestone age of 60, it’s not something Somerville grandmother Margaret Caffyn contemplated. She had a calling to walk solo the 800 kilometre Camino trail in Spain. So what makes a successful career woman pack it all up and walk alone on one of the most historical pilgrim paths in the world? At first it was to find herself after all those years being “everyone’s someone” – mother, wife, daughter, friend and employee. “I felt I had lost myself,” Caffyn said. However, the more she delved into the journey, the…
By David Gill* NEW planning provisions have been introduced state wide by the Planning Minister, Richard Wynne, without meaningful consultation. This may lead to further degrading of town and rural character on the Mornington Peninsula. The changes seek to avoid excessive site coverage of buildings and sealed surfaces but there is a stinging trade-off that allows new height “limits” of 11 metres in a general residential zone (GRZ). This could mean three-storey houses. The GRZ applies to all of our residential areas including coastal villages. Our planning scheme protective overlays may still apply, limiting houses to two storeys, but in…
By Ben Triandafillou A MORNINGTON Peninsula-based Gridiron club is looking to provide the area with the first and only Gridiron club on the Peninsula since 2009. Currently based in Carrum Downs, the Peninsula Sharks was formed in early-January and is currently in a recruitment phase. The Peninsula Sharks are hoping to have teams entered in the 2018 Gridiron Victoria league, but co-founder Garry Smith said, that the club will have a different ‘feel’. “We want to start fresh and put new games in place because some teams have the stigma that it’s just a boys club but being a young…
By Ben Triandafillou IT’S been a year since the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League announced their smoke-free initiative and now local football clubs along the Mornington Peninsula will be following in their footsteps. Football clubs along the Peninsula will stand together to remove smoking at both junior and senior levels ahead of the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on 31 May. Working towards becoming smoke free, AFL South East and its leagues, Frankston District Junior Football League (FDJFL) and Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League (MPNFL), have teamed up with Peninsula Health, St Kilda Football Club, Good Sports, Frankston City Council and…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie TWO goals in the final two minutes gave Langwarrin a stunning 2-1 win over Mornington in Saturday’s derby at Dallas Brooks Park. Connor Belger’s 91st minute strike was a goal for the ages and left Mornington players and fans gobsmacked. Langwarrin had equalised in the 90th minute after Alex Metcalfe’s curled strike from the left. The ball eluded Liam Baxter’s attempted header and deflected off Mornington stopper Steve Elliott before sneaking inside the far post. A minute later Langy keeper Robbie Acs gathered then launched a long kick downfield. Belger trapped the ball inside his attacking…
A MOTORCYCLIST died after crashing into a kerb at Pearcedale, Sunday 28 May. The male rider lost control near the intersection of Pearcedale and Robinsons roads about 3.30pm. Emergency service crews began treatment but he died at the scene. No one else was injured in the incident. The rider had not been identified by Monday afternoon. Witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
A SURFER died at Gunnamatta beach on Saturday 27 May after being hit on the head by his board. Des Watson, 65, of Armstrong Creek, had been competing in a Kneeboard Victoria event when he was found unconscious in the water about 11am. Fellow competitors helped drag him ashore. Emergency services were unable to resuscitate Mr Watson who died on the beach. Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
JOB ConneXions is a new pilot project to help Rosebud Secondary College VCAL students make the transition from school to work. Over the next 10 weeks mentors from local businesses will share their knowledge and skills with students, helping them to access community networks and career opportunities. The year 11 VCAL students are matched with a mentor who has experience in their chosen industry. “This real world mentor experience is helping the students to understand the practicalities of their initial career choice, and the potential to gain local employment in a particular industry, extending their skills and knowledge beyond the…
OFFENDERS smashed a display case and stole distinctive jewellery and figurines from a market store on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Tyabb, earlier this month. Police are not sure of the number of offenders who jemmied open the front door to the store and robbed the stall sometime between 4.30pm, Friday 12 May and 10am, Saturday 13 May. They smashed a display case to steal the jewellery, including a “yawning” figurine and distinctive cross. Sergeant Kim Bramwell, of police media, said images of the jewellery had been released in the hope someone may recognise the pieces or come forward with their whereabouts. Anyone…
PUPILS at Somerville Rise Primary School have been given an insight into Aboriginal culture as part of the school’s respectful relationships program. Adam McGuiness of the Bunurong community was at the school on Friday to perform a welcome to country and smoking ceremony. “Respectful relationships is at the forefront of [our] school values,” teacher and course co-ordinator Di Wheeler said. Mr McGuiness had been asked to the school as “recognition of the Indigenous people as the first Australians and to promote an awareness of the history and culture of the Indigenous people in the area”. The pupils had been “delighted”…
Detectives from Casey Crime Investigation Unit have seized a number of vehicles following a warrant in Pearcedale last week. Officers attended a property on Pearcedale Road on 18 May to execute a stolen goods warrant. Once on the property police recovered 31 allegedly stolen vehicles that had been stolen over the last 10 years. The investigation into the theft of the cars is ongoing and at this stage no charges have been laid. Anyone with further information is urged to contact Casey CIU on 9705 3114 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source: Victoria Police News – 22 May…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie FRANKSTON Pines sacked Billy Rae as head coach last week and appointed assistant Paul Williams in his place. When Rae took over at the end of the 2015 season he worked hard to bring Williams and goalkeeping coach Lee Davies to the club as his support staff. Rae and the club also agreed to a two-year succession plan which would see Williams take over at the end of the current season. Rae mentored Williams giving him a more hands-on role than that usually given to assistants. But with Pines lying second bottom in State 2 South-East…
A YOUTH Environmental Forum at The Briars last week gave students from schools in the region the chance to learn more about human environmental impacts and solutions. Arranged by Frankston Council, with help from the Frankston High School eco team, the day was about educating students to become better environmental leaders to educate their own school communities. Students from Mount Erin, McClelland, Padua, Monterey and John Paul colleges and Frankston High School enjoyed the day funded by Frankston Council, ethical fashion brand Etiko and toilet tissue company Who Gives a Crap? that donates 50 per cent of its profits to building toilets in the developing…
FIVE medical clinics in the Dunkley electorate will be part of a nationwide trial of a Health Care Home program enabling people with difficult and complex health problems to remain at home rather than be forced to stay in a hospital. The program was announced as part of this month’s federal budget. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Health Care Homes services will tailor care to individual patients’ health circumstances in consultation with GPs. “This is an Australian first and although I will be guided by our GPs and those patients taking part, I am hopeful that if the program…