Author: Stephen Taylor

THE joys of a sea change to Balnarring have been undermined for new residents Phil and Janet Eyles as they struggle to get over the theft of their Quintrex 370 Traveller, trailer, lifejackets and other safety gear. The boat was stolen from their backyard in the early hours of Tuesday last week, despite it being chained to a caravan and a padlocked towing ball. Mrs Eyles, who said they moved from Ringwood East last October, awoke at 4am but heard nothing out of the ordinary, while her dogs slept on undisturbed in the workshop. “We moved to the area late…

NOT one to let the boys have all the fun, Genevieve Beacom, of Somerville, revelled in her role as the only girl to represent the under-12 Little League Southern Mariners Charter at the Victorian Little League Baseball championships, Jells Park, over the Easter holidays. Her strong pitching helped her team win its way into the grand final and be crowned state champions. The Southern Mariners will now go to Lismore in June to compete in the Australian Little League Championships. But that’s only the beginning: the winner will then go on to the United States to compete in the World…

A 14-YEAR-OLD Somerville girl has been charged with lighting the fire which destroyed the Somerville Community & Recreation Centre, 7.30am, Sunday. She will face Frankston Children’s Court on charges of criminal damage by fire, Tuesday 7 June. The damage bill to the Edward St stadium, mostly used for basketball, is expected to be $1.5-$2 million. Basketball games scheduled for the stadium have been called a draw until other venues can be found. The girl was reportedly with four friends in a teen hangout under the stadium called “The Shack” when they reportedly lit a small fire to keep warm. They…

A 30 YEAR OLD Dandenong man has been arrested in Wagga Wagga, NSW, in connection with the theft of a Ford Ranger from Koonya Av, Blairgowrie, and a wallet from a car in Robin Pd, Rye. CCTV images in The News last week showed a man using a credit card from the wallet to buy fuel and in-store items at a Rye service station, 6.30am, Thursday 14 April. Later, the same man was seen at a Frankston service station making more purchases with the stolen credit card. The card was declined when the man attempted to make more purchases at…

CAPE Schanck lighthouse keepers Tony and Prue Sheers have said goodbye to their former workplace and B&B accommodation business after 20 years, with the 1859 light coming under the control of Parks Victoria this week. Parks has assumed the day-to-day running of the site until, it says, a commercial lease is signed with a new tenant. It will offer free visitor access into the light station reserve from Wednesday 4 May. Visitors will be able to explore the reserve grounds during normal park opening hours. The car park, picnic areas and toilets are open, while access to the surrounding scenic…

AN independent panel will be asked to assess plans for the contentious Carrington Park redevelopment at Rosebud. The 13 June panel, to be appointed by Planning Minister Richard Wynne, will specifically consider a request to change the development plan overlay relating to the number of housing lots allowed on the 3.27 hectare site. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last week considered that modifications to owner Storemaker Pty Ltd’s proposal, including reducing its proposed site density, were required “to ensure an appropriate outcome for this site”. The company wants to subdivide the former golf course into 14 residential lots and also revamp…

PARAMEDIC, personal trainer and a figure competitor Kimberley Parrott is a living advertisement for a healthy lifestyle. The undefeated Australasian Natural Bodybuilding Fitness Mania Overall Women’s Figure Champion recently won her second title in two years. The win has qualified her to compete in the Ultimate Fitness Events World Championship elite division in Toronto, Canada, in November. Parrott said bodybuilding was growing in popularity, throughout the world and on the peninsula. “My journey as a bodybuilder and figure competitor began two years ago after attending a workshop. While listening to other competitors and feeling the passion from those around me,…

A QUIET morning’s walk at Moorooduc quarry for two friends last week was ruined when a stolen car smashed through wire gates and was driven into the deep water. It is believed two young men had been in the car – one possibly jumping out before it hit the water and the other breaking free and swimming to shore before it sank. Events are unclear as no one actually saw the pair leave the car. Frankston South resident Sharon (surname withheld) and a friend heard a “car come flying through the [locked] gate where the ranger has access”. “We didn’t…

BUNGOWER Rd in Mornington was blocked to through traffic for nine hours, Thursday, after a collision between a car and a truck. The man driving the Toyota Prado was trapped inside for more than an hour and his car written off in the incident, which forced the closured of the road between Racecourse Rd and Moorooduc Hwy, 2.30-11.30pm. He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where his condition, Friday, was described as “good”. Senior Constable Paul Holtzinger, of Mornington Peninsula Highway Patrol, said he had rung the hospital “three times in the past 24 hours” to check on the…

MEMORIES of happy holidays at Merricks beach in her married years proved an irresistible attraction to Shoreham resident Dorothy Ellen Johnson as a place to live in her retirement. After moving to the Mornington Peninsula to live at Shoreham House 10 years ago she celebrated her centenary, surrounded by family and friends, on Monday last week. “What a fabulous century she has had,” son Phil Johnson said. “She has experienced everything from steam to electricity, lived through two world wars and the Roaring 20s, danced to rock ‘n’ roll and the twist – she’s seen it all.” Mrs Johnson –…

A DINING setting more in keeping with a restaurant than a ‘soup kitchen’ is enhancing the experience of Mornington Community Meals program participants. Now back at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Albert St, Mornington after renovations, the organisers held a small celebration to mark its return last week. In three years it has provided around 5000 meals to locals experiencing social isolation, as well as local residents who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to afford an evening out. The meals are served by volunteers in what is more of a robust hub of friends enjoying each other’s company, community meals committee…

FED up with having cars parked across their driveways, rubbish strewn in streets and on lawns, and 20-somethings wandering the streets urinating behind bushes,  “concerned residents” in Mt Martha have formed The Pillars Residents Action Group. Theirs is a campaign from the heart, and they are determined to protect their little piece of paradise from what’s become a marauding herd of young people invading the once-pristine shoreline – in ever-growing numbers. As part of their campaign, the group successfully requested young people’s tourism website AWOL – which had listed “Jumping off The Pillars” as one of the ‘Top 20 things…

PUNTERS at the Mornington Racing Club erupted, Monday, when the Tony Noonan-trained Beleura Belle crossed the line first in Race 3, The Eliza Dry Cleaners Plate. And it’s not hard to understand why … The three-year-old is owned by residents of two retirement villages – Beleura Village in Bungower Rd and Peninsula Grange Village in Racecourse Rd – as well as a group of mums from St Thomas More’s Primary School, Mt Eliza. About 100 Social Syndicate members were on course to cheer her on – with their financial support also probably bringing down her odds to even-money favourite in…

ESTABLISHED as a “temporary” school in 1987 and left to take care of itself over the following 30 years, it’s no wonder Mornington Special Development School is dilapidated and run down. Claims of asbestos hidden inside the walls, leaky roofs, run-down portables and substandard facilities don’t paint a pretty picture of the school in what’s acknowledged as being a low socio-economic part of town. That’s not to say the care and welfare of its 33 students is neglected, it’s not, but the surroundings are less than desired by the seven staff and principal David Newport. Despite last week’s trumpeting by…

ROSEBUD West residents opposed to changing the suburb’s name to Capel Sound have a month to lodge objections with the Registrar of Geographic Place Names. They can object either by saying the naming authority did not consider the objections during its deliberations, or the proposal does not reasonably conform to the Registrar’s guidelines. Of the 5600 letters sent out, 1065 were returned supporting the name change and 837 were against – a majority of 228. About two-thirds of the letters were not returned. Councillors voted 7:4 to accept the result of the poll at the Monday 11 April meeting. The…

TYABB and District Ratepayers Group members affected by the ramping up of clay mining operations near their homes were yesterday (Monday 11 April) awaiting documents proving the owner’s continuous use of the site. Spokesman Alan Robinson said he had made application under freedom of information for the documents and had been advised they “are imminent”. Continuous use is regarded as the linchpin in Bayport Group’s securing of an ongoing quarrying permit for the Pottery Rd site first mined in 1964. He said shire officers had earlier claimed they had “no choice” but to confer mining rights because Bayport was able…

MORE than 96 per cent of French Island’s population supports a plan to eradicate feral cats – and that’s music to the ears of the federal government’s threatened species commissioner Gregory Andrews. During a visit to the island last week Mr Andrews met with the island’s Landcare, Parks Victoria officers and community groups to discuss ways to make the island safer for wildlife by removing feral cats. There has already been some success, with about 1300 feral cats culled over the past five years making life safer for threatened species, such as the long-nosed potoroo, eastern barred and southern brown…

THE contentious decision to change Rosebud West to Capel Sound will become reality if councillors back a staff recommendation. The call for change follows months of discussions, meetings, submissions, editorials and a public vote via a mass letter-box drop. Letters and surveys were sent out on 7 December with a 5 February closing date for surveys and submissions. Of the 5600 letters sent to residents, ratepayers and community groups, 1902 responses were received (or 33.9 per cent). In summary, 1065 replies favoured the change – 19.02 per cent of the total posted – or 56 per cent of those received…

MORNINGTON Peninsula mayor Cr Graham Pittock sees the state government’s decision to take over planning powers for the Arthur’s Seat Skylift project as a “slap in the face for local government”. Planning Minister Richard Wynne has virtually left council powerless by taking control of the $18 million project. “You can forget all about community consultation,” Cr Pittock said. “The community was happy with the way we were handling it. “I can’t think of any of the delays they are referring to.” The project consists of an all-weather gondola-style chairlift that will carry passengers to the top of the summit, a…

“I’M SORRY”, an anti-bullying event at Mt Eliza Secondary College on 17 March, coincided with the sixth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. More than 250 students, parents and teachers were joined by members of the Live Out Loud organisation at the day and night sessions. They aimed to equip students, parents, teachers and residents with a range of bully-prevention strategies, as well as the ability to stand up and eradicate bullying for good. Helping lead the event was Mornington’s 2016 Youth Citizen of the Year, 17-year-old Tia McLean. Last year, Ms McLean organised a youth summit at…

THE fire danger season on the Mornington Peninsula has officially ended, with fire crews thankful it’s been a rather quiet affair. Despite two short but intense blazes at Crib Point and one at Somerville, there were no long, drawn out fire battles over the summer period.    Sadly, the Crib Point fires, which started at the same time a week apart and destroyed a home, cars and sheds, were deemed to be deliberately lit, although no one has been charged. Mornington fire station officer-in-charge Troy Thornton said the weather had played a role in quelling fires. “We did not have…

THE court appearance last Tuesday (29 March) of a Pearcedale man with 54 counts of burglary and theft brings Pearcedale property owners Maree and David Brann closer to ending a frustrating chapter in their lives. Their Middle Rd house was robbed three times just before Easter with Mornington Peninsula detectives later recovering “a significant amount of property”. Detective Senior Constable John Melhuish, of Somerville police complex, said the man, 34, was apprehended on Good Friday and charged with 16 burglaries on peninsula properties from 29 January-24 March. He was remanded in custody last week and will appear at Frankston Magistrates’…

STANDING in the open doorway of a pitching helicopter, spraying machine gun bullets while ducking enemy fire, was once a day at the office for Vietnam war air gunner Ian “Slug” Wilson, of Mornington. He was one of 40 Royal Australian Navy and nine Australian Army personnel to fly combat missions as door gunners on helicopter troop carriers with the 135th US Army Assault Helicopter Company 1967-1971. It was dangerous work for the crews and, while the conflict finished a long time ago, this veteran is still coming to grips with the emotional scars that have changed his life. First…

A LOVE of stamps was nurtured in Jon Fladeby when he was a young boy in his native Norway. The seven year old was encouraged by his grandfather to appreciate his country’s stamps and to develop and maintain a worthwhile collection. It became an absorbing hobby and the basis of a lifelong interest. As a teenager and then getting married, meant there was a lack of time and opportunity. Mr Fladeby’s love of stamps remained “on the shelf” while he and his family established themselves in Australia in the early 1970s and moved to Mt Martha when he retired in…

CHRISTMAS should be a time of giving, but for Nicole Hill and her family, this year the reverse was true. The Baxter family lost a car, boat and all their holiday gear in a brazen robbery at their Frankston-Flinders Rd home on Christmas night, just hours before they were to drive to the Murray River for a caravan holiday. The thieves entered their kitchen and stole the keys to their fully loaded F250 utility before crashing through electric gates and driving off. The utility was later recovered at Cranbourne with $17,000 in damages. An $80,000 speed boat and $18,000 in…

POLICE were called in to clear 15 grandmothers before allowing them into pre-arranged meeting at the Hastings office of Flinders MP Greg Hunt. The members of Southern Peninsula Group of Grandmothers Against the Detention of Children presented a 400-signature petition to Mr Hunt which calls on the federal government to improve its treatment of refugees. Ann Renkin said 15 members of the group were “checked out by two local and two federal police” before meeting Mr Hunt who “appeared unmoved by the arguments presented”. She said the high number of signatures collected over a four-week period “reflects the consternation of…

A “GROWING sense of outrage” is being felt by residents opposed to escalating clay mining operations at the Bayport Industries quarry, Somerville. Tyabb Ratepayers’ Group members last week met Mornington Peninsula Shire managers overseeing economic development, planning, and compliance to discuss their concerns over works in Pottery Rd. They will meet with the Department of Economic Development, shire officers and local MPs later this month. Bayport has signalled its intention to attend, although this could not be confirmed as when contacted by The News the company offered a firm: “No comment.” Residents are angry that clay mining on 60 acres…

A MORNINGTON man is “appalled” by what he says is the savage and unnecessary lopping of small nature strip trees along Beleura Hill Rd, and the wholesale clearing of trees and shrubs in the street behind. He has written to the deputy mayor, Cr Bev Colomb, to “express my utmost dismay at the tree-clearing in Craigrossi Rd, which has denuded our once beautiful ‘country lane’ of much of its vegetation”. “I am appalled,” Mr Rob Debernardi said. “If such desecration had been undertaken by a private individual it would amount to tree vandalism.” He said the Craigrossie Rd was 250…

FRANKSTON detectives are reeling in the wake of 53 night-time car break-ins last week resulting in the loss of dozens of wallets, handbags and other valuables – all crimes, they say, that are easily prevented. Inside several cars were spare keys for the same cars or the owners’ homes, meaning the thieves were given ready access to even more booty. The robberies come on top of 43 car break-ins the previous week, which included the theft of 20 number plates. These will be used to shielding thieves as they perform drive-throughs on petrol stations, commit armed robberies and engage in…

ALTHOUGH parts of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula have been flagged as areas of risk for paramedics, none have been declared “no-go” zones. Described as being “like pieces in a pie” by Ambulance Victoria, the 105 areas in Frankston, Mornington, Rye and Hastings and surrounds are listed because of past incidents of violence, or ongoing safety concerns. Most flags relate to where paramedics have previously been attacked by patients with mental health issues, use drugs or own a firearm. Despite the dangers, paramedics will be dispatched to these addresses with police being asked for back up. One example given to…