Day: June 14, 2016

A MAN whose name is synonymous with squash, not just on the Mornington Peninsula but across the southern suburbs, has been inducted into the Squash and Racquetball Hall of Fame. For almost 40 years Allen Minchington owned and managed the Oakleigh, Portman’s and Dromana squash centres, as well as being a player, coach and administrator. He is still active in the sport, most recently running in-house practice and coaching sessions at Tonic Squash and Gym, Dromana, on Sunday afternoons. As a Victorian senior state team member, junior and senior state team coach and team manager, he is a highly sought…

YEARS of fundraising and advocacy by ageing parents of children with disabilities and their supporters has paid off with the promise of a secure future. The parents, who fear for the care of their adult children after they are no longer around to look after them, are overjoyed at the support they have received for a two storey, four-unit complex to be built at Rosebud by April 2018. The $2.4 million Cloverleaf centre, earmarked for Uniting Church land in Murray Anderson Rd, will be built to house men and women – many now in their 50s and 60s – who…

ROSEBUD artist Fiona Bilbrough doesn’t always find, or need, to have a strong bond with her subjects. But Rosie Batty was an exception. After their first contact where Bilbrough sought the anti-domestic violence campaigner’s cooperation of sitting for a portrait to be entered into this year’s Archibald prize, there was no doubting emotions had been stirred. “I feel I’m actually Rosie, except my son is still alive,” Bilbrough said last week. “There’s a similarity in our stories.” There’s now an ongoing relationship between artist and subject that stretches beyond paint on canvas. Bilbrough has become an active campaigner for a…

CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver would be proud of Kunyung Primary School’s canteen menu, thanks to a team of parents and strong school support, says “open minded” manager Mandy Biggins. “The canteen for 30 years has provided a range of snacks and lunches for the pupils and, over this time, it has seen many changes to the menu, but nothing as dramatic as our most recent project,” she said. “Gone are the pre-cooked packaged meals, snacks and juices, replaced by home cooked meals made from local produce, home baked muffins and cookies, fresh popcorn, fruity energy balls and delicious frozen yoghurt…

TWO men and a woman allegedly attempted to steal a car in Andrews Place, Mornington, and, when challenged, one man pulled out a gun at 8.30am Wednesday 8 June. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Drake said the trio, driving a white Magna sedan, had called a tow truck to retrieve the car, possibly as a way of recovering a debt. When the victim ran out to remonstrate there was a brief argument before one of the would-be thieves produced a gun. No shots were fired. Police were called and the two men drove off, leaving the woman behind. A brief pursuit…

A MAN threw rocks through 10 windows in Mt Eliza and Mornington in the early hours of Wednesday 8 June. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Drake, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said witnesses saw a man damaging houses and businesses, including windows at Mornington Golf Club. A wallet and credit card were stolen from a car in Canadian Bay Rd where several cars were later found damaged. A resident said he heard what he thought was an alarm and ran out to see a car parked beside his own. He challenged the driver, who quickly sped away. Anyone with information is asked…

THE judges presented 21 trophies to wineries from the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and even Italy at last week’s International Cool Climate Wine Show at Mornington Racing Club. Of the 400-odd entries, 80 came from the peninsula and, of the 21 trophy awards, seven went to peninsula wineries. Two successful peninsula wineries were Elgee Park and Tucks Ridge estates, which won inaugural perpetual trophies: Elgee Park for its Family Reserve Chardonnay 2015 and Tucks Ridge for its Buckle Pinot Noir 2013 wine. In her show comments, chief judge and master of wine Meg Brodtmann praised…

A MORNINGTON Peninsula artist has an ambitious plan to sell his three metre by two metre canvas for $1.6 million. Philippe de Kraan says his online “offer” is receiving attention around the globe. The Gathering, an eye-catching expressionist work in bold, bright colours, took de Kraan almost four years to complete using a miniature paintbrush. While most people who have viewed the work would have difficulty scraping together that kind of money, de Kraan said interest from overseas was encouraging. “The news is getting around and I’ve had feedback from people in London and Dubai,” he said. “I’m very confident…

THE state government may be facing anti-sky rail protests but it is happy to welcome a SkyBus to Frankston. SkyBus has taken over the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne Airport shuttle route. It offers free travel to children, online ticketing and smartphone ticket access. The cost is $38 one way. The service takes in Frankston, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Dromana, and Rosebud. SkyBus director Adam Begg, who says he was “born and raised in Frankston”, said the operator was delighted to be expanding on its existing routes. “I understand the importance of easy, convenient and value-for-money services from the outer…

MORNINGTON Peninsula councillors are divided over a revised code of conduct that discourages them from making personal attacks on each other and sets out the process for dealing with bad behaviour. However, shire CEO Carl Cowie told The News he expects that the version of the code of conduct adopted at last week’s special council meeting will be signed by all councillors before the end of June. On Friday, the mayor Cr Graham Pittock said that while he did not agree with some of the amendments, councillors had no choice but to sign the code and “just agree to abide…

MT MARTHA Tennis Club is under increasing pressure to withdraw its objections to a skatepark, with a second Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor reminding it of how it has benefitted from “ratepayer funds”. Cr Andrew Dixon last week accused the tennis club of “effectively holding the rest of the community to ransom” by objecting to the skatepark being built alongside its courts. The club is able to hold-up the shire’s plans because the site for the skatepark is within land leased to the club by the shire. For the third week in a row shire officers have failed to acknowledge problems…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is about to appoint an in-house lawyer to provide “risk-based” solutions for its legal dilemmas. The “corporate counsel” will report to the chief financial officer – currently Matthew Hubbard – and be responsible for legal advice and representation on a such issues as planning, commercial contracts, property transactions, governance, employment law, freedom of information and privacy. While no salary range had been provided, The News believes an in-house lawyer is considered to be more cost-effective than the bills being clocked up by the shire from private lawyers. Shire CEO Carl Cowie sees hiring a lawyer as being…

MYSTERY surrounds the deaths of two scuba divers near Mornington pier, Friday, but rough seas and strong winds almost certainly contributed to the tragedy. Diving instructor Leonie Hanson, 40, who worked for Harbour Dive Australia, Mornington, and her pupil, a 39-year-old man, of Langwarrin, drowned when they got into difficulties around noon. Witnesses said they heard screams as a desperate Ms Hanson tried to keep her unconscious pupil afloat and lift him onto a ladder on the seaward side of the concrete wall, while being buffeted by large waves. Nearby restaurateur Robert De Santis, who ran to help, told Channel…

VOTERS bored with a seemingly interminable eight-week federal election campaign can now begin to focus attention on polling day on 2 July after the political runners were confirmed on Friday. The Australian Electoral Commission released the official list of candidates on Friday (10 June). A field of six will contest the seat of Flinders and 11 candidates will battle to win the hotly-contested marginal seat of neighbouring Dunkley. Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt holds Flinders by a whopping 11.8 per cent margin so there seems little chance of an upset victory as he faces challengers Carolyn Gleixner (Labor), Willisa Hogarth…

PENINSULA LEAGUE BONBEACH is just half a game outside of the top five after a convincing win against neighbour Edithvale-Aspendale in Peninsula League on Saturday. The Sharks came from 12 points down at quarter time and three points down at the last change to win 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63). Luke Damon was at his vintage best for the Sharks with three goals while Chris Bryan and Shane McDonald played important roles with two goals each to help seal the victory. While the win brought the Sharks to within half a game of fifth spot, the loss came at a…

NEPEAN LEAGUE HOW quickly the wheel can turn in our great game. A fortnight ago, Rye Football Club was on its knees after being thrashed by Frankston Bombers. That loss came on the back of a drubbing against Sorrento and a last quarter capitulation against Red Hill the week before. Rye was on struggle street. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the Demons have beaten top of the table Hastings and turned the tables on premiership fancies Sorrento in consecutive weeks. It was Rye’s first win against Sorrento at Sorrento for more than 10 years. Wins against Hastings and…

WHILE walking along the road at Carrum at 7.45 on Sunday night last, John Leslie Atkins, 22, a jockey, who lived at Cherry street, Northcote, was run over by a motor car, which passed across his face, fracturing his skull, nose and jaw. He died at Homeopathic Hospital at 11 p.m. the same evening. *** MESSRS Adamson, Strettle and Co., will hold their next sale at Tanti Yards on Monday next, when they will have a good yarding of stock including milkers, springers and fat cattle, also sheep and pigs. *** THE “Wattles” Club social and dance takes place this evening…