DESPITE his modesty and unassuming demeanour, Mornington Peninsula-based swimmer Chris Yencken is something of a legend in swim circles. At 66 and boasting a level of fitness many men half his age would envy, the retired banker is gearing up for his 36th Portsea Swim Classic, an event he has participated in every year since its inception in the 1980s. Yencken first took to the sport of swimming at three, when his mum enrolled him in swimming lessons at Sorrento baths. He has barely spent one day out of the water since and is now a regular competitor at swim…
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THE 50th anniversary Mornington Art show will feature about 700 paintings, work from glass artist Roberta Easton, artist and sculpture Neil Uren and coastal art hangings by Amber Skehan. “Glass blowing is such a captivating medium, a truly worthwhile and satisfying art form,” said Easton, who has been a professional glass blower for more than 20 years. “In 1990 I was introduced to glass and immediately formed a strong attraction. From this was born a commitment to pursue glass as my chosen career.” A regular contributor to the show, Uren will be exhibiting some of his nearly one metre high…
A VIETNAM veteran is making Christmas gifts that bring joy to the little ones and raising money for his fellow veterans. Vic Alsbury, of Barkly Street, Mornington, makes and paints wooden toy trains that he sells from a table at his front gate. The trains, which sell for $75, are selling out quickly. Supporting the Vietnam Veterans’ Association is a cause dear to Mr Alsbury’s heart. “The vets have missed out on two years of get-togethers, such as Long Tan Day, due to COVID-19 and so I thought I would help raise some money for the committee this way,” he…
ROSEBUD Italian Club president Lorenzo “Laurie” D’Alia has been named Elder of the Year in the Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor’s senior achiever award 2021. The award to Mr D’Alia was among several presented as part of the shire’s Delys Sargeant Age-Friendly Awards announced Tuesday 14 December. The awards recognise individuals, clubs, services or businesses that contribute to building a stronger community for older people on the peninsula. Mr D’Alia was described as a “tireless volunteer”. His citation said that during the pandemic lockdowns, he “visited many older, isolated members of the community, and assisted with care and transport for medical…
YOUNG people feeling challenged by their teenage years, life circumstances, or want to find somewhere they can just be themselves are welcome to visit Jimmy’s at Rosebud. The sanctuary for marginalised, disengaged, and disadvantaged youth on the Mornington Peninsula is the creation of philanthropist Sarah Darling and the Jimmy’s Foundation board. It was opened by Flinders MP Greg Hunt on Monday 13 December and will be managed and fostered by the YMCA Peninsula Youth Services. About 75 per cent of mental health problems are said to occur before a person turns 25; one in 10 of those aged 12-17 years…
RESIDENTS at Morven Manor Retirement Village, Mornington have welcomed the installation of a plaque featuring the Uluru Statement from the Heart. With an average age of 75, the group of residents want to see the kind of changes First Nations people are calling for in the Statement from the Heart. None of the group received education at school about Australia’s past treatment of Aboriginal people. “What happened in the past is shameful,” village resident Joyce Toth, 94, said. Another resident, Maureen Donelly, said she remembered visiting Mooroopna with her grandfather in the 1950s. “Even as a small child I could…
SEVENTEEN past students were back at Sorrento Primary School on 1 December as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations – some being amazed at changes to buildings and grounds. “Many memories were shared,” principal Meg Dallas said. “Including how trenches were dug for World War II. “One visitor remembered jumping over the Norfolk pine at the front gate in the 1950s – making it over 70 years old.” Nepean Historical Society displayed memorabilia and photo albums provided by the school. “Those who attended the function enjoyed a trip down memory lane and will be sharing further information about the school…
YAWA Aquatic Centre is the 200th Victorian aquatic centre to join Life Saving Victoria’s Watch Around Water safety campaign. The campaign aims to reinforce the message about the importance of supervising children around water: younger children should be within arm’s reach and those under 10 within sight and under active supervision. The campaign places the onus on parents and guardians and their close attention to their children is a condition of entry to the aquatic centres. Life Saving Victoria marked the occasion with a celebration at Yawa last week. Manager aquatic industry services Alek Olszewski emphasised the importance of the…
SOMERVILLE resident Chris Renouf is training for the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival next week to raise money for Very Special Kids. The children’s charity provides professional support services to Victorian families who have a child with a life-threatening condition. In late 2019, Chris and his partner Tess lost their two-year-old son Reggie to complications stemming from infantile onset pompe disease. Since Reggie’s diagnosis, Very Special Kids has provided support to Chris and his family, helping them through what’s been described as a “devastating journey”. The charity continues to provide the services of a dedicated support practitioner, professional counselling services and…
AFTER more than 20 years representing the people of the Flinders electorate in federal parliament, Liberal Greg Hunt is looking forward to spending more time at home with his family. When announcing his retirement from federal politics last week, Mr Hunt told parliament “it’s time to turn to focus on another family: Paula, Poppy, James, Elsa and Charlie the cavoodle”. “But for all the time that we have spent together, and as fond as I am of the Prime Minister [Scott Morrison] and the Treasurer [Josh Frydenberg], my card is ultimately elsewhere – sorry, Josh,” he said. “It is with…
JANET McNeill last week watched as what has been described as a tsunami of cloud rolled over Mornington. “It was eerie,” she said. “I went outside at about 5pm (Thursday 2 December) and just kept taking pictures.” At first the Mornington real estate agent thought the approaching air mass could be a dust storm, then she felt a strong gust of wind and what was later described as a “shelf cloud” was overhead for about 15 minutes. “It was incredible,” she said. Meanwhile, photographer Yanni, a noted storm chaser, had a feeling something unusual was about to happen and drove…
LIKE Santa’s helpers, the Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula have been busy all year making 825 toys for charities to give to children this Christmas. The group’s president John Bayliss said the past year had been the toughest of 25 due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, . The Salvation Army’s Lynne Jones thanked the woodworkers for their donations and highlighted their “creativity and attention to detail”. She praised the team “for their gift of time and commitment”. “As you know, there is a lot of homelessness and domestic violence on the Mornington Peninsula and Salvo…
TWO Mount Martha students have been selected to play in School Sport Victoria’s 12 years and under soccer teams in NSW next month. Jack Barnet, who attends Mount Martha Primary, and Tilly Boadle, of Woodleigh School, will play in the Sydney International Cup at Cromer Park Sports Complex, Friday 3 December-Sunday 5 December. Jack is goalie in the boys’ team while Tilly plays attacking midfield in the girls’ team. Team Vic football’s Jeanetta Rodwell said Jack had performed well in a structured trial process before being selected. “Jack plays for the Mornington Soccer Club in the under-12s and has been…
TWO Mount Eliza brothers – both members of Portsea Life Saving Club – have been recognised for their efforts in saving three young women from dangerous seas at Canadian Bay. Their Everyday Lifesaver Award recognises “outstanding bystander rescues undertaken in a safe manner that doesn’t put the rescuer at risk”. In September last year, Oscar and Ryan Peddle were surfing a “bay wave” in 60-70kph winds and four-foot waves. The chaotic conditions were so extreme that Ryan said afterwards he had “never seen Canadian Bay like that before”. Hearing a woman’s frantic calls, the boys paddled their boards to help…
A MURAL at Dromana marks the 20th anniversary of the Rye group of community banks. Rye was the first of the banks, followed by Dromana and then Rosebud, with the Rosebud business centre added more recently. Senior manager at Dromana, Fiona Somjee, arranged for artist Wina Jie to create the mural which depicts peninsula people and the banks’ yearly contribution to sporting groups, CFAs, surf lifesaving clubs, and arts groups. Included in the mural are Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck on the Dromana Drive-In cinema screen from the film On the Beach. The central figure was inspired by Kanoula, a…
ARTIST Kitt Bennett has painted a mural to celebrate the opening of Jimmy’s Youth Wellbeing Sanctuary at Rosebud. During lockdown the courtyard and front garden at 827-829 Point Nepean Road was completed and a start made on the mural on the entrance wall. The design reflects items and objects of meaning to the young people who use Jimmy’s services. They include a combination of fruit/vegetables/card games/coffee keep cups and plants to create a welcome and hint at what to expect when joining the Jimmy’s community. Yoga, reiki, acupuncture, naturopathy, and mental health first-aid courses are just some of what members…
A BIO-INFILTRATION swale is replacing a dirty old storm water drain at Rye, to become the first of its kind on the Mornington Peninsula. Friends of Rye Foreshore worked in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Chris Lyne, Jessica Wingad and Mel Burridge and contractors to weed the swale and plant about 11,000 indigenous, water tolerant plants as part of a natural filtration system. The plants will clean stormwater of pollutants as it flows through the sand dunes. Street litter will be collected via a gross pollution trap. A timber boardwalk along the swale leads to the beach. The group hopes…
THE 916 solar panels covering the roof of the Yawa Aquatic Centre reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 406 tonnes a year and saving $100,000 in running costs is impressive. But it is water, not statistics, that is the main attraction at the new community pool in Besgrove Street, Rosebud. After a lengthy lockdown, the centre opened to the public last week and welcomed a steady stream of residents keen to take the plunge. “Yawa Aquatic Centre is a great example of how we have maximised sustainability in the design and build,” said the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor, adding that the…
MORNINGTON RSL hosted a stirring Remembrance Day ceremony at Memorial Park, Thursday 11 November. Official guests, Health and Aged Care Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt, Mornington MP David Morris, the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and Cr Anthony Marsh, watched as MC Allan Vidler read the Lord’s Prayer and conducted the service before about 150 guests. Bugler Joseph Tobias played the Last Post and The Rouse, and Piper Lindsay Burgess played a lament while the names of the fallen from Australia’s two world wars and the Vietnam and Korean wars were read out by Valerie Wilson OAM. Ms Wilson has…
SOUTHERN Peninsula Food for All is seeking support for its 2021 Christmas appeal. Now in its 30th year the service has raised $3530 thanks to generous donations from Rosebud Bethany Lutheran Church and Hillview Quarries. More help is needed to enable it to give joy and encouragement to families and individuals in need within the community this festive season. Christmas food items together with new toys will again be distributed this year. All donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible and can be sent by cheque to Food for All, PO Box 440, Rosebud 3939. Donations can also be made…
A ROSEBUD man who spent 50 years in the television industry watched Friday’s state funeral for the legendary Bert Newton with more than a passing interest. The service at St Patrick’s Cathedral was, naturally, televised to a wide audience such was Bert’s popularity and his long-standing role as the quintessential essence of Melbourne. So the depth of feeling expressed by those who loved Bert didn’t surprise Ray Punjer one bit … Starting at Channel 9 in the late 1950s, Mr Punjer directed Bert on many of his most popular shows and counts himself as one of the great man’s closest…
AT 11am on 11 November 1918, the guns of Europe fell silent. After four years of bitter fighting the Great War was finally over. That date is now observed as Remembrance Day, and this year, members of Rye RSL again paused to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served in Australia’s Defence Forces over the years. For more than a century the RSL has served its members, the nation’s veterans and their families, and strongly supported the defence and wellbeing of Australia. As guests paused for a minute’s silence on Thursday, they acknowledged the service of veterans and…
Woolworths is a proud supporter of local Mornington Peninsula suppliers like Mornington Peninsula Eggs. Peter Kambouris and his family from Mornington Peninsula Eggs have been producing premium free range eggs, with no antibiotics or chemicals, for Woolies for the past five years. Their hens are free to roam in natural grasslands, which results in eggs that are flavourful and full of nutrition. The eggs are then delivered fresh from the farm to all Woolworths stores across the Mornington Peninsula. Peter from Mornington Peninsula Eggs believes in allowing hens to naturally forage in open fields looking for food. He supplements the hens’ natural diet of grass, bugs…
UP to 12 people a week are being invited to receive a free hot lunch and dessert at the Holy Trinity Hastings Anglican Church hall. Now that lockdown has ended the meals, dubbed Trinity Tucker, are being served between 12-1pm every Tuesday, with the doors opening at 11.30am. No bookings are necessary. The service was paused in early August after opening in May, with the church paying for the meals with the help of donations from local businesses. Volunteers from the church will prepare the food for those doing it tough, in need, or just lonely and wanting to meet new…
A RED Hill South artist’s work reflects his love of the sea. Ron Farnill, 94, has been painting ships and maritime scenes for decades with his works regularly on show and being sold – such as at Oak Hill Gallery where last year he sold six paintings on the opening day of his exhibition. He also won the 2018 Oak Hill Gallery members’ exhibition and conducts watercolour painting classes and demonstrations there. One of Farnill’s works was shortlisted at this year’s Mission to Seafarers’ Maritime Art Exhibition. The winner of the virtual exhibition is yet to be announced. Mr Farnill…
Woolworths is a proud supporter of local Mornington Peninsula suppliers like Pure Peninsula Honey. Pure Peninsula Honey’s apiarist John Winkels has been producing honey for more than 25 years. After starting out with two beehives on his Moorooduc farm, John’s hobby has grown into a full-time business producing more than 20 varieties of honey and numerous honey-related products. Pure Peninsula honey is cold-extracted to retain flavour and goodness and a number of their products are available in Woolworths stores across the Mornington Peninsula. In the bee-themed gift shop at the Moorooduc farm you’ll find beauty products made with honey or beeswax. There’s no waste…
IN January 2022 Mornington Rotary Club is set to celebrate its 50th annual art exhibition. Despite COVID restrictions organisers are confident the show will go ahead “in a very similar format to previous years”. Money raised from this 50th anniversary art show will go towards several Mornington Rotary Club projects including the Bay Trail being developed by Mornington Peninsula Shire and other Rotary clubs; completing a shelter over the Rotary long table in Mornington Park; and helping provide accommodation for homeless families. Mornington Rotary, with the shire, has recently installed a women’s bathroom in the Fusion building at Mount Martha. …
STORM chaser photographer Yanni was in his element on Thursday, although the biggest decision was where would be the best vantage point. Drawn to the darkness of wild windswept Cape Schanck, Yanni knew the possibilities of lightning and clouds creating an awe-inspiring silhouette and background for the both the lighthouse and cliff-clinging vegetation. He was not disappointed. Yanni has published a book, Beautiful Storm, which not only records many storms to have hit the Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Melbourne, but also acts a diary for storm-chasing travels. The storm of Thursday 28 October shows there will always be no…
ACHING arms and shoulders next morning proved it had not been a dream – Crib Point resident Phillip Goepel had indeed landed his biggest fish so far. Out fishing with dad Greg, he had hooked a 141kg bluefin tuna at a depth of 33 metres not far from Seal Rocks, Friday 22 October. The pair, pictured, had left Stony Point about 10am and cruised the 70-metre line past Cape Schanck towards The Rip and then trolled skirted plastic lures on 37kg breaking strain line back towards Flinders. In 80 metres of water they were making a beeline towards Seal Rocks…
BALNARRING Junior Football Club is taking steps to minimise the long-term effects of concussion among its players. The club recently took part in a trial with a machine that quickly tests brain health by scanning eyes and can show signs of the condition which can worsen with ageing. President Dan Chapman said the club looked at how it needed to be a leader in concussion management as “any decision made now affects the community in the next 50-60 years”. The club’s committee decided it needed the EyeGuide technology but faced a problem in finding $7000 to pay for it. A…