IT might be a relatively narrow stretch of water, but Bass Strait is a major factor in the survival chances for the critically endangered yellow-bellied parrot. With the number of birds in the wild estimated at less than 50 experts say they face most dangers when flying to Victoria from their breeding grounds in Tasmania. Most of the surviving birds are banded and are easily tracked in Tasmania as they breed in a relatively concentrated area, but the bigger problems arise on the mainland where they are spread more thinly in small groups or individually. Michael Johnson’s Moonlit Sanctuary at…
Month: September 2016
FISHING By Paul Pingiaro WELL it’s fair to say Melbourne’s spring weather has been very typical. Four season in one day seems to be the norm at the moment, however when the weather gods shine the fishing has been quite good and the good news is it’s only going to get much better. This time of year the majority of anglers focus on snapper. While the large schools of fish are still a few weeks away, it’s very promising to see some great early catches. Anglers fishing off the Rocks at Mt Martha, Mornington and Brighton are catching some nice…
CRIB Point is celebrating the 100th birthday of the original school building with a free Family Fun Day, 10am-2pm, Sunday 16 October. Former teachers of the Park Rd school will be returning to reminisce and catch up with each other and past students. Construction began on the first purpose-built school in Crib Point in 1915 and classes ran 1916-84 when it moved to Milne St. The building was saved from demolition in 1985 by the then Flinders Federal MP Peter Reith and then State MP Robin Cooper. It is now the home of the Crib Point Community House, and the…
THE weather’s warming up and snakes are waking up. Just as warmer, sunny days send a signal that it’s fine for outdoor recreation the same applies for snakes, who see it as time to “get some sun, look for food and a mate”, according to scientist Nick Clemann. Senior scientist from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)’s Arthur Rylah Institute Mr Clemann said people were likely to see snakes when “walking dogs, cycling, bush walking, enjoying parks and gardening”. “Snakes are more common in areas around the urban fringe or in rural areas, but they do turn…
HMAS Cerberus will hold an open day, Sunday 23 October, to mark the end of Navy Week. Those attending can bring a picnic, buy lunch from one of the food stalls, including an army field kitchen. Activities will include military fly pasts, air force hot air balloon team, army vehicles, navy helicopters, fast roping from helicopters, federation guard precision drill displays food stalls, bands from all three services, vintage cars, and children’s activities. The base’s steam truck will also make an appearance. Teams of sailors will compete to “rescue” a shipmate from the far side of a “river”. Entry off…
PENINSULA Over 60 cricketers are padding up for the season opener next month with three new teams bringing the competition total to 22. Peninsula players come from Frankston and all over the Mornington Peninsula to the oval at Grayden’s Rd, Tuerong. They play midweek and Sunday one-day matches comprising a 40-over innings. The game is designed for players of all abilities and new players are welcome. Some have played all their lives while others may not have played for 20-40 years. The common thread is a love of cricket and being part of a team keeping fit while enjoying the…
THE driver and passenger of a van needed hospital treatment after being hit from behind by a large truck on Peninsula Link, 8.45am, Saturday. The force of the impact stove in the front of the truck with the airbag possibly saving the driver from serious injury, Leading Senior Constable Darren Myers, of Carrum Downs Highway Patrol, said. The truck driver, who may not have noticed banked-up traffic ahead, hit the back of the cleaning service van, pushing it into the back of a small, fully loaded, passenger bus, all heading south on the freeway, between Robinsons and Golf Links roads,…
TWO four-wheel-drives were used in a ram-raid attack on Peninsula Homemaker Centre, early Saturday 24 September, and a large amount of cash stolen. Possibly four men used a stolen Nissan Patrol to try to pull out a bollard from the front of the centre, 3.40am, but only managed to bend it. They then managed to position the vehicle so it could ram through a door into the centre, and used a large grinder to cut free an ATM. The second vehicle was called upon to pull free the first when it became wedged between the bollard and the wall. The…
A 47-year-old Crib Point man has been arrested and charged following an alleged aggravated burglary at a house in Verdun Court, Crib Point, Saturday 17 September. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the charges also included burglary and common law assault of a woman at the property. The man faced a bail justice week and was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, 9 December. Anyone with information is urged to call Mornington Peninsula CIU, 5978 1300. First published in the Western Port News – 27 September 2016
ENVIRONMENTALIST Steve Karakitsos says the sale of the Melbourne Business School in Mt Eliza will worsen the area’s dwindling natural environment and lead to species loss. President of the South Eastern Centre for Sustainability, Mr Karakitsos, said the redevelopment of the site will contribute to the loss of “precious” habitat, which was a recognised factor in species loss. The 8.9 ha property in Kunyung Rd has been bought by Ryman Healthcare for $40 million and will be redeveloped into a luxury retirement living centre with independent living apartments, pools, cafes, care hospital and theatre. The site is opposite the Kunyung…
PERFORMING arts are used as a platform for young people’s health, sense of inclusion and feelings of wellbeing by members of Artzmartz, based at Mornington. The group is part of Smart Communities which believes in creating communities where children and young people are valued, respected and heard. It fosters projects designed by and for young people, which provide a platform for community connection and skill development, feelings of belonging and sense of purpose and control in life. “Our young people have enormous potential and, as an organisation, we hope to provide many opportunities for them to hold onto their optimism…
FOOTPATHS, foreshores … and frogs. There is seemingly no end – and some cases no relation – to the variety of issues and concerns listed by the 50 candidates for the 11 seats on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Easily added to the three mentioned above are “over development”, waste disposal, planning for coastal “villages” and, certainly an elephant in the room, how much councillors should be allowed to spend above their $29,000 a year stipend ($92,000 for the mayor). The candidates’ buzz word for this election is community. Although not a definable issue, community will be a frequent persuader used…
THE RSPCA is investigating a “horrific” case of cruelty in Rye after a young brushtail possum was caught in a steel-jawed trap tied to a wooden trellis. It is unknown how many hours the distressed animal was forced to hang by its crushed paw at the vacant holiday house before a nearby resident saw it and reported it to a peninsula wildlife shelter. Brenda Marmion, of the Crystal Ocean wildlife shelter, Rye, said the trap was a shocking example of disregard for native wildlife. The possum was barely alive when its plight was discovered and it had to be euthanised…
CAMP Manyung, Mt Eliza, is running programs to encourage seniors to get active in the outdoors. The YMCA camp’s outdoor adventure program includes sea-kayaking, archery, high ropes and bike riding will launch on Friday 7 October at 25/35 Sunnyside Rd, Mt Eliza, and then run every month until April. The program will include challenges based on group members’ interests, as well as the weather. “We’re excited to be launching something that can make a difference to our community’s health and bring people together,” manager Maree Feutrill said. “Research shows that, as people get older, their participation in sports and recreation…
HEAVEN knows how a cannonball lay undetected on Shire Hall beach for the past 120 years – until Peter and Fairlie Pirouc stumbled upon it last week with their metal detector. The Croydon couple often use their detectors to search for valuables, but never before had they been to the Mornington beach where the three kilogram ball was found only four or five centimetres under the sand. “We heard yesterday that it may have been from an old ship that came in,” Ms Pirouc said. “Or perhaps it came from the fort at Queenscliff with all the dredging? It’s one…
ON Saturday, at 6.30pm, Henry Woodward, about 11 years of age, was drowned at Carrum, and Mr C. Gill, the local dairyman, had a narrow escape from a similar fate. The boy, wanting to see the flood, had persuaded Mr Gill to take him with him in his cart on the way to Well’s road. To reach his destination he had to drive through the flooded portion. Suddenly the horse was carried off its feet, the cart went under, and both man and boy were swept into the water. Gill got the boy on his back and made a desperate…
PENINSULA LEAGUE IT was six premierships in seven years for Frankston YCW last Sunday. What an unbelievable achievement from a lot of dedicated off-field people and a committed on-field group. Question now is, will this continue? A competition-wide salary cap of $150,000 per year is expected to effect the Stonecats. How do they keep the list together? Do the players take a significant pay cut to stay together? Or, as some would have you believe, after so many flags, now is the time to explore other opportunities. With absolute respect to Frankston YCW (they absolutely deserve to have achieved the…
NEPEAN LEAGUE THE 2016 Nepean Division season may have come to a conclusion with Hastings winning the flag, however, the silly season is about to begin as teams prepare to challenge in 2017. For footy clubs, the season never finishes – one season just rolls into another. Who’s going to take us to the next level? Where did we fall short? These are the questions that coaching groups and committees discuss at the conclusion of every season. It’s the catalyst for hundreds of phone calls being made between now and the first bounce of 2017. So what would be the…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie ROSEBUD Heart cemented its claim as Victoria’s team of the year by clinching the State 5 grand final in a penalty shootout last Saturday at Murphy Reserve in Port Melbourne. The season finale presented Heart with the opportunity to continue its perfect record having won every league game in State 5 South and becoming only the third senior team in the past 54 years to achieve such a feat. Heart went into this clash with State 5 North champion RMIT as a firm favourite but the large group of travelling Heart fans soon found out that…
CENTRAL Mornington will again be the setting for art, culture, food and wine during the 21st Main Street Mornington Festival on Sunday 16 October. There will be entertainment for all ages from up-and-coming artists and well-seasoned performers, including pop, jazz, blues, and retro, to folk, country, acoustic and indie. Seasonal produce, food and a selection of wine will be available. This family-friendly event runs 11am-5pm and is organised by the volunteers of Northern Mornington Peninsula Tourism. The program is available at mainstreetfestival.com.au or on Facebook at MainStreetMorningtonFestival. First published in the Mornington News – 27 September 2016
SAVE the Dromana Pier campaigners are buoyed by Mornington Peninsula Shire’s support for their cause, even though any decision on its future ultimately rests with Parks Victoria. Councillors voted at Monday night’s Special Council meeting – the last before the shire goes into caretaker mode – to advocate for the redevelopment of the pier to ensure its long-term survival. The group’s secretary Ray Barnard-Brown said the shire’s backing was a much-needed “shot in the arm” for their campaign. “It gives us added legitimacy,” he said. It also reinforces community approval for the 1862 pier – extended in 1873 and rebuilt…
TWO Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have been accused of misleading the state government which gave $588,000 towards extending the Rye boat ramp. Nepean MP and Rye resident Martin Dixon, who has announced his intention not to run at the next election, told parliament that It was “misleading of the council” to advise the Andrews Labor government that there was community support in Rye to add a fourth lane to the three-lane ramp. The Liberal MP said the grant was based on the council’s assurance to the government that the project had broad community support. But the community was, in fact,…
ROSEBUD carpenter Hamish Hardeman is well on his way to taking on the world in the increasingly popular sport of GT3 car racing. The quietly-spoken 23-year-old won the Porsche CT3 cup challenge at Philip Island after a six-round contest against participants from all over the country. Hardeman, who has been racing for about six years, developed a passion for the sport as a child when he followed his father – who raced an MX5 – to the tracks at Sandown, Winton and Philip Island. While he started off racing motor bikes, by the time he was in secondary school Hardeman…
Hastings MP Neale Burgess wants an “urgent investigation” into the failure of level crossing boom gates at Somerville. Mr Burgess says the boom gates at the Eramosa Rd crossing stayed down for hours, preventing traffic from crossing the line on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 September. “Somerville motorists had reported their frustrations with the Eramosa Rd level crossing after it was closed due to malfunctioning boom gates,” Mr Burgess said. He said there had also been reports of other faulty boom gates at level crossings on the Stony Point line over the past 12 months. . “The Minister for Public…
PEARCEDALE man Bill Griffiths has been smiling ever since his son Sam’s equestrian success at the Rio Olympics. The international rider and member of the Australian eventing team won a team bronze medal and placed fourth individually making him the equestrian team’s best performer at the games. “It was a great effort,” Mr Griffiths (senior) said last week. “He did a great job for Australia; the Germans were red-hot favourites but Sam put us back into a gold medal-winning position – it was a great effort, he did brilliantly.” Day one of the eventing was dressage, day two cross country…
ALTHOUGH they were thousands of kilometres away in Somerville, Caroline and Peter Wagner rode the highs and lows along with members of Australia’s Olympic equestrian team at Rio. The couple’s business Wagners Saddlery supplied the bespoke clothing for all members of the eventing, dressage, show jumping and Paralympic teams. And, now that the fortnight’s frenetic competition is over, they can relax a little and take stock of another hectic period in their business lives. Ms Wagner said she and Peter and their six staff were proud of the way competitors looked in their tailored jackets, riding breeches, shirts, boots and…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula council candidate has withdrawn an application for a planning scheme amendment that would allow planes to be on her property abutting Tyabb airfield. Lisa Dixon and her husband Ken Ingersoll had sought approval to amend planning rules over their property in Stuart Rd, Tyabb. Ms Dixon says she intends to stand for the Watson ward seat left vacant since the resignation in May of former councillor, Lynn Bowden. “It has been a massive journey, not to mention the financial and emotional toll it has placed on us,” Ms Dixon said in a letter asking the shire’s strategic…
NEW Zealand’s largest retirement village operator, Ryman Healthcare, has snapped up Mt Eliza’s waterfront Moondah Estate for almost $40 million, with plans to redevelop the property into a retirement village. And they are looking for help from Mornington Peninsula residents to give the village a name that is in keeping with the history of the iconic site. The 8.9 ha property on Kunyung Rd, Mt Eliza was placed on the market in June in an international expressions-of-interest campaign and was expected to fetch more than $20 million. At the time CBRE sales assistant Bianca Butterworth said that price [$20 million]…
BURN-OFF restrictions on small Mornington Peninsula properties will be eased next month so fuel loads can be reduced before the fire season. Open air burning will be allowed 9am-4pm Fridays and Saturdays on land less than 1500 square metres – but there are conditions. No more than one cubic metre of vegetation can be burnt at any one time; the fire cannot be within 10 metres of any neighbouring dwelling and the General Fire Safety Provisions must be followed at all times. Open air burning is otherwise banned on properties less than 1500 square metres. “Residents are reminded that burn-off…
WHILE speaking with portrait artists Fiona Bilbrough and Vicki Sullivan it becomes clear that their subjects are much more than mere objects to be represented as one-dimensional art. Sullivan likes to have lunch with her subjects and have at least two sittings in her Rye studio. The lunch provides a relaxed way “to study the structure of the head, skin tones and the character in the hands”. Bilbrough, who is exhibiting her works alongside Sullivan’s in a Portraits exhibition at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, spends “many hours conjuring up a concept that will hopefully look appealing to me enough to…