Day: December 5, 2016

ARTISTS, writers and musicians are invited to apply to stay at a Mornington Peninsula Shire-owned cottage on land abutting Point Nepean National Park. The residency program based at the former gatekeeper’s cottage at Police Point Shire Park provides an opportunity for artists to work in a different environment and explore new ideas. Balnarring-based photographer Daryl Gordon, who finished his residency at Police Point earlier this month, describes his time there as “a great indulgence as a creative artist”. “It’s not often that you can take time out of a busy schedule and just be. By saying that, I mean having…

BEACHGOERS are reminded to keep their distance from seals resting on beaches in Western Port and Port Phillip bays beaches. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning manager program manager Suraya VI said some seals may appear sick or emaciated, but should not be approached under any circumstances. “While we understand that seeing a seal in poor condition may be upsetting, approaching the seal or trying to move it will cause an already stressed animal further distress,” she said. “If people sighted seals or seal pups lying on the beach, leave them in peace and enjoy their presence from afar.…

A DROMANA service station attendant was bashed by thieves who then helped themselves to a “significant quantity” of cigarettes, early Friday 2 December. The 35-year-old man was outside the closed 7-Eleven fuel outlet on Point Nepean Rd, Dromana, 2am, when two men and ambushed him. The man was knocked to the ground, receiving facial and dental injuries, and bound with cable ties. One offender stood guard over him while the other used the man’s keys to enter the store and steal the cigarettes. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the offenders were seen on CCTV wearing…

ONE hundred years ago this month – on 11 December 1916 – a group of Mornington residents met at the Mechanics Institute in Main St to discuss forming a fire brigade. At that time, Mornington was a small but progressive township with a population of 1100. It had about 500 houses, four churches, four hotels, state school, girls’ private school, two convent schools, post office, courthouse, police station and a lock-up. It was the middle of World War I, less than a year after Gallipoli, and armies on both sides were bogged down in the trenches and sustaining heavy losses…

THE Mornington Peninsula has long been marketed to those seeking a pampering, resort-style holiday experience, and now it seems many want the same for their pets. It’s no secret that the pet industry is a lucrative industry estimated to be worth about $8 billion annually, with many owners today taking a “no expenses spared” approach when it comes to the social and emotional wellbeing of their animals. Cory Andrews, who runs kennels in Baxter and whose family has been involved in the pet industry on the peninsula for 43 years, said the trend for luxury cat and dog boarding, doggy…

Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO Carl Cowie is questioning the veracity of figures which show shire councillor expenses far exceed those at neighbouring councils. A ratepayer at last Monday evening’s public council meeting asked Mr Cowie to explain why shire councillors’ expenses in the previous 2012-16 council term “are so high in comparison” to Kingston and Frankston (“Shire’s councillors are costly”, The News 14/11/16). Eleven shire councillors claimed $616,712 in ratepayer-funded expenses over four years compared to $205,329 for Frankston’s nine councillors and $101,807 for Kingston’s nine councillors over the same period. Mr Cowie said he doubted the expenses were a…

MCCRAE Yacht Club hosted a state government campaign focusing on elder abuse and family violence, Friday 2 December. Prevention of Family Violence Minister Fiona Richardson announced that $1 million would be spent on programs to support the elderly victims of family violence. “Older Victorians suffer from high rates of family violence and abuse, yet it’s rarely discussed in public,” Ms Richardson said. “We need to increase people’s awareness of this problem so senior Victorians are supported and empowered. “Elder abuse is a form of family violence that must be addressed as a priority to ensure older individuals are kept safe.”…

SOMERS residents are celebrating their win against Mornington Peninsula Shire’s plan to make property owners pay for more than five kilometres of concrete paths through their town. The landmark decision by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) may have far reaching effects for the shire and any plans it has to build new concrete paths on the peninsula. There were tears of joy and relief from opponents of the plan when VCAT declared late Thursday that the shire’s special charge scheme was “invalid”. Michelle Gregory saw the decision as a “resounding victory for democracy at the local level and…

BERG Mt Martha president Graham Hubbard is applauding the funding successes achieved by the conservation group’s philanthropy members Bronwyn Street and Bev Fryer. Their aim is to generate money from new sources for the Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group, which was formed in 1997 to preserve and restore bushland around the Balcombe Estuary at Mt Martha. “The committee thought it might be possible to raise $50,000 a year through the group, which would make a great difference to our ability to restore the reserves,” Mr Hubbard told the annual meeting. In May it received $15,000 from the Sally Oatley Memorial Fund,…

MORNINGTON’S Main St ambulance station will get a $1.4 million upgrade and a new “super response centre” will be built under a $500 million plan to improve the Mornington Peninsula’s ambulance response times. The upgrade is part of a five-year plan which will see Mornington’s station get a new ambulance and be manned round the clock by 14 full-time paramedics. Ambulance response times on the peninsula have been some of the worst in the metropolitan region, with ambulances meeting the government benchmark of 15 minutes in just 71.7 per cent of cases in 2014, according to the Victorian auditor general’s…

CHANGES to boating and swimming zones in Port Phillip and Western Port bays are part of an ongoing review to improve public safety on the water. Parks Victoria is inviting public comment on the proposed changes. “It’s important that boating and swimming zones are a good reflection of the current and future needs of water-based activities in the area, and that they maximise safety on the water,” acting senior manager for local ports and waterways Cathy Jenkins said. “The focus of [the] review is to refine the zones in order to provide a safer environment through better separation of boating…

FEARS have been raised that another person will be killed before improvements are made to the two increasingly congested intersections linking Mt Martha to Nepean Highway. A pedestrian was killed at the intersection of Forest Drive and Nepean Highway in 2014, resulting in a 700-signature petition to VicRoads urging the authority to upgrade traffic conditions at the access points of Forest Drive and nearby Uralla Rd. But despite the Mornington Peninsula’s soaring population and increased traffic accessing Mt Martha from the highway, no works have started. Resident Mike Goethel said he had a “substantial folio” of correspondence with VicRoads going…

AFTER five years of negotiations and planning, beach matting has finally arrived to provide safe access for wheelchairs at Mt Martha beach. Unrolled to public for the first time two Saturdays ago (27 November), the matting was quickly given trial runs, and the thumbs up. Several wheelchairs and one man using two crutches took to the matting after a ribbon cutting ceremony involving Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor, Cr Bev Colomb, the shire’s MetroAccess officer Virginia Richardson, Mt Martha Life Saving Club president David Mowat and Karen Frankhauser. The first roll of matting was given a kick by Mark Hopper before…

TWO Saturdays ago Jim Kolokithas turned his wheelchair along a strip of plastic matting down to the water’s edge at Mt Martha beach. “It was amazing; a good feeling,” he said.  “I got a bit emotional just sitting there.” The emotion was not just for himself, but for the other disabled people who will now be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of crossing a beach to the water. With the new matting being regularly rolled out in front of Mt Martha Lifesaving Club the soft sand will no longer be an insurmountable obstacle for narrow-tyred wheelchairs. Although Jim Kolokithas…

PROVINCIAL MT ELIZA has shot to the top of the MPCA Provincial ladder after recording its second outright victory for the season against Pines on Saturday. While the Mounties have moved to the top of the table, the top four have now given themselves a buffer of 24 points. Langwarrin, in fourth place, recording a convincing win against Moorooduc with leaders Jake Prosser and Travis Campbell starring with the bat. Baxter star Chris Brittain was at his sensational best with an amazing 155 to help his side record a 50 plus run win against Mornington. Peninsula Old Boys are in…

DISTRICT A LOG-JAM continues at the top of the ladder in MPCA District cricket after the conclusion of round five on Saturday. There are nine teams all within a game of the top four with Red Hill, Flinders and Mt Martha all providing themselves with a little buffer after recording wins on Saturday. Both Red Hill and Flinders failed in their attempt to record outright wins over Main Ridge and Rye respectively on Saturday after being in strong positions to do so, however, still recorded strong victories. Mt Martha didn’t have things all their own way against Seaford Tigers but…

SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS sits alone at the top of the MPCA Sub District ladder after smashing Carrum Downs on Saturday. The Blues took 20 wickets for just 164 runs against the Cougars, giving them a 14 point break at the top of the ladder. It was one of Carrum Downs’ worst results in recent times while Hastings appears to be flexing its muscles after a couple of years in lean times. In other round five results, Dromana won a nail biter against Tootgarook, Carrum was too strong for Balnarring, Ballam Park upset Frankston YCW and Skye recorded a rare win against…

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie LANGWARRIN’S assault on the 2017 State 1 South-East championship will be powered by a raft of visa players. The Lawton Park outfit will throw down the gauntlet to local clubs Mornington and Casey Comets and cashed up Greek-backed opponents Malvern City, Clifton Hill, South Springvale and Caulfield United Cobras by backing the quality of its imports to take the league by storm. Central defender and former Macclesfield Town youth team captain Kieron Kenny has agreed terms with Langy and should arrive within a fortnight. Kenny, 23, is currently on the books of Congleton Town in the…

FRANKSTON Court of Petty Sessions. Thursday 7th December, 1916. Before Messrs S. Sherlock and W. J. Oates. Js. P. DISORDERLY VISITORS. Constable Ryan charged Kenneth Logan and Charles Brodie with having been found drunk and disorderly in a public place to wit Beach Street at Frankston on Wednesday night, 6th December. Prisoners at first pleaded not guilty and afterwards amended their plea to guilty. Constable Ryan informed the court that it was alleged that on the evening of 6th December two drunken men who answered to accused’s description, followed two ladies, using offensive language to them and generally misbehaving. The…

Fresh off playing sold out shows nationally with Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and blowing away audiences on the biggest festival stages around the World, Pierce Brothers are delighted to announced a special Summer run of Australian shows. Be the first to hear brand new music from their anticipated debut record & fan favourite live staples which have helped the Melbourne twins achieve huge success on the live stage. Strictly one night only & tickets selling fast from www.piercebrothers.com.au Pierce Brothers will be playing at The Grand Hotel, Mornington, on Friday 13 January. Special guest Josh Cashman. Doors: 8pm.…