Day: February 29, 2016

AN accidently discharged flare may have caused a fire at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, Saturday (20 February), which destroyed three boats and burned a man’s face. CFA crews from Sorrento, Rosebud and Rye attended the incident at 2.30pm.    Thick black smoke billowed from the boats which were tied up at the marina. Some members trained hoses on the blaze in a desperate effort to stop it spreading to neighbouring boats. CFA District 8 Operations Officer John Francis said firefighters from CFA and Coast Guard took 30 minutes to control the blaze. “Two boats were destroyed, another was severely damaged and…

USERS of Port Phillip and Western Port are being asked to tell Parks Victoria about any risks they know about in either bay. The feedback may be added to the safety and environment management plan (SEMP) covering the two bays and Port Campbell. “Our local ports feature unique marine habitats that have been recognised internationally for their diversity and we want to make sure we are serving the community and our marine environment as best we possibly can,” Parks Victoria senior manager local ports and waterways Victor Teoh said. “We’re keen to hear from a whole range of people who…

PT LEO surf beach is sure to be crowded on Saturday, but no one is grumbling as it will be the second event held this year by the Mornington Peninsula branch of the Disabled Surfers Association. The first event for the year on Saturday 16 January saw 115 participants enjoying the surf with the help of 300 volunteers. And organisers are predicting this Saturday’s event will attract even more volunteers and participants. Volunteers can register with the DSA near the Pt Leo lifesaving club from 9.30am (or earlier if they want to help set up for the day). There are…

ROSEBUD Secondary College students spent the past two weeks hiking, raft-building, abseiling and camping in the Victorian high country, as part of a Melbourne University study into the impact of outdoor experiences on positive adolescent development. The 130 Year 9 students attended two free camps run by specialist outdoors instructors at Howman’s Gap on the Bogong High Plains. They reportedly revelled in the challenge. They were encouraged to help each other and work as a team setting up camp, taking turns to lead and organise the others. The going was tough, but the sense of accomplishment rewarding. Students completed a…

A DARK musical tale of love, vengeance and the best pies in London, Astral Theatre Society’s production of Sweeney Todd will take to the stage at Rosebud Memorial Hall later this month. Set in grim 19th-century London, the musical tells the story of wrongfully-imprisoned barber Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd), and his desire for revenge against the scheming judge who exiled him to an Australian penal colony for a crime he did not commit. Armed with a sharp, straight razor and a mind full of menace and revenge, Todd sets up shop as one of the finest barbers in the…

SUB-DISTRICT DROMANA will play Frankston YCW and Hastings will host Rosebud in the two MPCA Sub District semi finals this weekend. As predicted last week, despite Carrum Downs being a mathematical chance of playing finals leading into the final round, Rosebud was never going to lose to Skye and that proved to be the case. While the Buds won comfortably and finished in third place, the same can’t be said for the Blues. Hastings was beaten by top of the table Dromana, meaning it hasn’t beaten a top four team this season. Going into a sudden death final this week,…

DISTRICT HEATHERHILL and Seaford both blew their opportunities to sneak into the MPCA District top four on Saturday. In the final round of the season, Flinders, Seaford and the Hills were all equal on 72 points. Flinders seemed to have the easiest of tasks playing Seaford Tigers, while the Hills hosted Mt Martha and Seaford had the tough task of playing the best in the business in Red Hill. Most eyes were on the Sharks and the Hills to see who would win and grab that fourth place. However, there were also some eyes down at Carrum for the relegation…

PROVINCIAL CRIB Point finished the MPCA Provincial cricket home and away season on top of the ladder after recording a comfortable victory against Moorooduc on Saturday. The Magpies will host Baxter in the first semi-final this weekend. In the other big match over the weekend, Peninsula Old Boys and Somerville will go head to head for the second time in as many weeks when they clash in the second of the semi-finals. Baxter maintained its position in the top four despite going down to Pines. The loser over the weekend was Langwarrin, who had a chance to grab fourth place…

MELBOURNE Easter Show is bringing a unique, family friendly “ little , big show” to the suburbs of Melbourne Presenting all the hallmarks of a traditional style show, Melbourne Easter Show has it all- albeit without the expensive price tags! Melbourne Easter Show presents the first free entry show of it’s kind to the families of Melbourne. The team at Melbourne Easter Show wanted to bring the experiences of the show, the thrill of rides, the joy of choosing a showbag and engaging children in an array of activities without the huge entry prices for families , like other events.…

Pierce Brothers have taken their music from busking on the streets of Melbourne to the world. Their irresistible energy and world-class live show has generated a word of mouth buzz not seen for sometime. The acclaimed live act has been shaking dance floors and selling out rooms across UK, Europe, Canada, USA & their native Australia. Comprising of twin brothers Jack and Pat Pierce, the multi instrumentalists have sold over 50,000 EP’s independently. Pierce Brothers are returning to Australia to play a select run of shows to launch their top 10 ARIA EP Into The Dirt. After spending the majority…

ENTRIES for the Somerville Fruit Show close on Saturday next, 11th March. The schedules of prizes and all particulars may be obtained from Mr S. S. Gault, at his office, Somerville. *** REV G. A. Kitchen, who has been away for a fortnight’s holiday, has returned, and will again take up his work in Frankston as usual. *** THE friends of Mr D. Petrie, of Frankston, will regret to hear that he is confined to his bed with a serious illness. We hope that he will soon be on the road to recovery, and able to resume his work. *** MRS Unthank, relict of…

Blairgowrie Yacht Club Monday 22 February – the year’s first community meeting. A capacity house, which got its fill of healthy food and news of progress in the shire, especially works completed and on foot in the local ward, Nepean. COUNCIL Watch has great affection for coastal council meetings. One is usually able to find a seat where, if the subject at hand becomes a drone, the waters of Port Phillip lull the senses. The evening started with a presentation on what was occurring in the ward – much of which had the nautical flavour one would expect on this…

FUNDING for an enclosed structure to house the sand sculptures exhibition at Frankston’s waterfront all year round has faced criticism as “a waste of money”. Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson last week announced a $750,000 federal government grant towards building a weatherproof structure to house the sand sculpting exhibition hosted by Sandstorm Events. Several Frankston residents took to Facebook to say they believed the money could be better spent housing the homeless, helping the aged or improving hospital services in Frankston. Frankston Council confirmed it had been notified of the grant before its announcement but said any ratepayer funded contribution…

A BUS being repaired on the side of Humphries Rd, Mt Eliza, rolled backwards, crashing through fences and into properties when the brakes failed, early evening, Friday 19 February. A mechanic tried to steer the Ventura Bus Lines vehicle while looking over his shoulder as it sped 300 metres downhill and out-of-control. The driver had managed to jump off as the bus began rolling, but his efforts to replace the wheel chocks failed and the bus gained speed as it careered first into one property, then through a side fence and only coming to a standstill after virtually destroying a…

KINGSTON councillor Paul Peulich and former Carrum MP Donna Bauer have missed out on Liberal preselection for the seat of Dunkley at this year’s federal election. Chris Crewther, former CEO of the Mildura Development Corporation, won the Liberal nomination in a close run race featuring eight candidates. The vote by Liberal Party members came down to the wire between Ms Bauer and Mr Crewther on Sunday afternoon (21 February) at a party convention in Mt Eliza with Mr Crewther, 31, emerging as the preferred candidate. Mr Crewther unsuccessfully contested the seat of Mallee in 2013 and is a former staffer…

Up to 20 pupils and 25 teachers at Mornington Park Primary School will soon be sitting alongside each other in class being taught the same course. The school is the only primary in Victoria chosen for the Power of Two mentoring program that principal Beverly Dadds says is all about “connecting and building relationships; it’s not just academic skills, this is not tutoring”. Ms Dadds said two children would be chosen for the mentoring program from each of the school’s 10 classes. These children and teachers would then each be able to mentor other pupils, making the Power of Two…

A WAR of words about money has broken out between the federal and state government over funding for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula health services. State Labor Health Minister Jill Hennessy has accused the federal government of a “sneaky counting trick” that will cut $3.29 million from Peninsula Health’s annual budget. “These cuts are a direct attack on Peninsula Health, and will see patients waiting longer for surgeries and treatment,” Ms Hennessy said. “This is not good enough, and peninsula patients deserve better.” The state government says the Liberal federal government has back-flipped on National Health Funding Pool arrangements agreed with…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire officers have been ordered to compile up to date figures on how much councillors have spent on conferences and seminars. The statistics dating back four years are to be delivered by 10 March and follow the release last month of a table which showed at least two councillors had overspent their $16,000 four-yearly allowance. It has been alleged that some figures in the table were inaccurate. However, any over-spending will have to be repaid by councillors within six months of the 10 March deadline. “The onus is on us to make sure we don’t overspend ratepayers’ money.…