Day: December 6, 2016

FRANCES Josephine Wattis was born in Ballarat on 30 November, 1916 to Charles and Patricia. Those were the days prior to the SEC and each town generated its own electricity. Charles Wattis was an electrician employed by the company which supplied power to Ballarat. Frances had one sister, Dorothy, and they attended Loreto College. On leaving school at 16 Frances worked in a chemist shop. At a dance in Ballarat, Frances met Thomas Robert Bruce who was employed by a local company as a graphic artist. Much of their work was advertising for theatres. Frances also had an interest in…

Moving house is seen by psychologists as being one of the most stressful of undertakings and the same probably applies to koalas. Monitoring stress in people is not too hard – just listen. But when it comes to koalas a more scientific approach is necessary. Thirty koalas relocated from French Island to a forest near Tallarook in central Victoria have been fitted with a radio collar so their movements and wellbeing can be closely monitored. Scientists decided it was best to make the move after the ever-increasing numbers of koalas started to eat their way through their island home. While…

HASTINGS foreshore will come alive to the sound of Christmas carols on Friday 9 December. Churches and Mornington Peninsula Shire will hold Carols by Candlelight from 6pm when Santa arrives. Children can enjoy the petting zoo, face painting, sausage sizzle, doughnut stall and, weather permitting, jumping castle. The singing group Thumbs Up will entertain and children will perform. Carols are scheduled to start at 7.15pm and finish at 8.45pm. Carols by Candlelight at Balnarring will be held at the primary school, 6pm, Friday 16 December. First published in the Western Port News – 6 December 2016

IF there was just one thing that Greg Hunt the retiring executive officer of the South East Council Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA), could proclaim as the best way to protect the environment for future generations, it is “education”. The former science teacher with a passion for the natural world has spent his 43-year career advocating for change in the way individuals and organisations manage resources. Education has always been a huge part of that process, whether it’s investigating options for energy conservation, or promoting broader thinking on energy use. Hunt has a varied employment background, but the environment has always…

A WOMAN washed off the rocks at Cape Schanck late Saturday night was rescued by members of her family with the help of SES, police, ambulance and Fisheries officers. The 35-year-old, of Hampton Park, was crab fishing when a big wave, exacerbated by the low tide, surged into the group, dragging her under in rough water, at about 10pm. The woman was pulled from the water by members of her family who called Triple 0 and began performing CPR. “She swallowed a fair bit of water,” Senior Sergeant Phillip Hulley, of Frankston police, said Monday. Intermittent phone coverage made pinpointing…

IT was 1968 and the Premier of Victoria was Henry Bolte, John Gorton was Prime Minister, Lionel Rose was world bantamweight champion, The Seekers were Australians of the Year and Rain Lover won the Melbourne Cup. On the roads, Victorian-built Holdens and Fords were the vehicles of choice. And David Bristow began his fledging career at Balnarring Motors. Last week, after 48 years and two months, Mr Bristow said goodbye to the business which has been a big part of his life and also that of his son, also David. A mechanical engineer, Mr Bristow, 74, started working at the…

MONEY raised through Reclink Australia’s 2017 Great Peninsula Paddle on Australia Day (26 January) will be used to re-establish the Westernport Warriors Football Team. Players from the Hastings and Somerville areas are invited to play next season with the team which was previously led by former police officer, Andrew Brady. Hastings MP Neale Burgess and Reclink Australia CEO John Ballis, pictured, met in Hastings last week to show their support for the Warriors and to invite the team to re-join the annual Reclink Football fixture. “Playing with the Warriors was the only means for hundreds of disadvantaged young people and…

A lone cyclist tackles the road’s sweeping bends as paying customers in the Eagle cable car take 15 minutes to get to the top of Arthurs Seat. The $16 million direct link to the 300 metre summit opened on Saturday and the blue gondolas now run 10am-8pm daily (except Christmas Day). Sue Sharples and her grandson Dusty, above, were able to take the easy and comfortable way to the top while the cyclist, right, worked somewhat harder before he could enjoy to the views of Port Phillip. The Eagle runs along the same route as the former 1960s era chairlift…