Day: February 20, 2017

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie SOUTHERN United is hoping to sign an international midfielder as it prepares to kick-off the 2017 NPL women’s season. The consortium club’s negotiations with the player are advanced but Southern has been careful to ensure that every new signing is a good fit for the inclusive culture the fledgling club is trying to nurture. It’s believed that the player has made over 100 appearances for her country but recently was granted permanent residency in Australia and is currently interstate. Southern’s sole visa player is Florida native Courtney Hueston, a midfielder who has played with the Miami…

SUB-DISTRICT HASTINGS are sure to finish on top of the MPCA Sub Distrct ladder after smashing 9/318 against second place Ballam Park on Saturday. The Blues’ brothers Luke and Jake Hewitt dominated, Luke falling short of triple figures by just one run after running out of overs. Luke finished on 99 after 80 overs while younger brother Jake hit eight fours in his total of 64. Rob Hearn contributed 45 and Ash Cole hit 48 to help the Blues well over 300. Knights’ skipper Stuart Plunkett bowled 40 overs for a return of 2/121, while David Cross bowled 25 overs…

DISTRICT MT MARTHA has some enormous work to do to maintain its position in the top four after the first day of play in MPCA District cricket. In the final two-day game of the season against Seaford, the Reds will be chasing 277 for victory after Seaford had a day out with the bat on day one of the match. The Reds’ chances of claiming victory have been made that much harder by the fact that Alex Mason is already back in the sheds after the visitors faced the final 13 overs of the day. A massive 154 from Ryan…

PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON has the upper hand in its crucial match against Langwarrin after the opening day of Round 10 in MPCA Provincial cricket. Coming into the match in fourth place on the ladder and 12 points behind the Kangas, the Doggies need to win to ensure it is in the best possible position going into the final match of the season, a one-dayer. Mt Eliza is breathing down the neck of the Dogs, just eight points behind in fifth place. The Mounties are locked in a tough struggle against Sorrento and were 4/174 before rain stopped play after 68 overs.…

Remember the joy of flying your first kite? The anticipation as it lifted into the air? The spark of magic as you discovered you could actually play with the wind? Well, you can experience it all again at one of Australia’s premier kite events: The Rosebud Kite Festival. On Sunday 12th March, both the young and the young at heart will come together to celebrate the art of kite flying. Visitors can make and fly their own kite courtesy of local outfit; Kites 4 Kids. And alongside the novice kite flying arena, will be the latest designs and displays from…

Saturday, 11th March, the Red Hill Showgrounds come alive with the festivities of one the State’s most popular agricultural shows. Entries for most categories close this week so download a general entry form now: www.redhillshow.com.au/forms This year we encourage handlers of all ages get involved in our CALF FANCY DRESS – we’re looking for the calf most like its handler! Aside from the remarkable array of animals including Clydesdales, Pintos, cattle, sheep, alpacas, poultry, minature goats, working dogs and more, we are pleased to announce the inaugural Cider Show with special guest wine reviewer Max Allen. There will be ciders…

FURTHER action has been taken under the war precautions regulations to limit expenditure on places of amusement. A new regulation, dated 14th February, which comes into operation forthwith, provides that no person, firm, company, society, club or association shall, without the written consent of the Treasurer, erect any building or structure for amusement purposes; make any structural alterations in or to a building used, or intended to be used, for amusement purposes; or expend money for the purpose of establishing an amusement business at or in any building or structure which is not at the commencement of the new regulation…

By Barry Morris SHE is the Lady of the Lake – or more accurately – a saviour of Mt Martha’s Balcombe Estuary. Liz Barraclough, OAM, a founding member of BERG Mt Martha 20 years ago, has devoted much of her life to protecting and improving estuary, its plants and wildlife. Instead of brandishing a sword, Ms Barraclough is most often found wielding a pair of garden shears to fight weeds invading bushland adjoining the estuary. Over the past two decades she has attacked countless weeds and noxious plants, bagged and loaded truckloads of green waste for disposal, prepared the ground…

MORNINGTON’S The Bays Hospital is the first Victorian centre and only the second in Australia to use advanced technology that is helping to revolutionise shoulder replacement surgery. Orthopaedic surgeon James Chiu carried out the first surgery on Capel Sound resident Pam Chitty on Friday using the technology, after leading the push to bring the groundbreaking GPS navigational computer system to Mornington. Mrs Chitty had surgery in 1980 when she first injured her rotator cuff, but deterioration meant full replacement was the only option when even hanging out the clothes became unbearable. Mr Chiu said patients like Mrs Chitty now had…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has refused to confirm the remuneration of council CEO Carl Cowie and four executives who report directly to the shire’s highest-paid employee. The shire’s reluctance to reveal exactly how much executive pay and perks cost ratepayers at the highest level of council comes amid enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with council staff. Employees are being offered a 6.8 per cent pay rise over three years as part of a proposed pay deal. Permanent staff have also been offered a $1000 “incentive” payment to accept the new EBA, with reduced redundancy and sick leave provisions according to the Australian…

PENINSULA Surfriders Club started its 2017 season with a contest at Rye in small, choppy surf. Despite the conditions on Saturday 11 February, secretary Jane Featherston said “impressive performances” and “great ocean management skills and wave knowledge” were shown by surfers in the female and under-13 divisions. Charli Wookey won the girls’ event and Taj Barber the under-13s. Winners in the four older age divisions were Calum Nicolson (over 28), Andrew Hyde (over 35), Darren Bird (over 45) and Gavin Duffy (over 55). In the Cadet final (under-16s) Max Burton defeated his older rivals, adding 2000 points towards his season…

IT was a weak, inconsistent beach break, and the wind wasn’t favourable, but the Maladiction surfers were not about to be wiped out when it came to their February contest. Club president Greg Lloyd described the conditions at St Andrews Beach (near Rye) as “challenging”. Formed 20 years ago this October, the club’s riders favour long, Malibu surfboards and the stylist surfing made possible with a large deck area, although there is a contest division for “retro” short boards. Any former members who would like to be involved in Maladiction’s 20th celebrations can contact club president Greg Lloyd through the…

NEW research has highlighted the health and social benefits of spending time semi-immersed in a hot spring. Family and friends tend to enjoy the shared experience, while the shedding of mobile phones and time spent in singular contemplation have emerged as being among the main attractions to a hot springs. The latest research findings (first published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research) are based on 4265 responses to survey of bathers at Peninsula Hot Springs, in Springs Lane, Fingal, near Rye. As well as highlighting beneficial social outcomes,  he study also found bathing at the hot springs provided…

ROAD safety camera commissioner John Voyage is puzzled at the lack of “objective evidence” presented to him by motorists blaming their speeding fines on faulty Peninsula Link cameras. Mr Voyage on Monday wrapped up the evidence-collecting part of an investigation which he wants to finalise in six-to-eight weeks. His report will then go to Police Minister Lisa Neville. Controversy has raged over the costly speed readings for months, with social media besieged by complaints that the fixed cameras were just inaccurate revenue-raisers. Those at Eramosa, Cranbourne and Loders roads came in for special criticism. Angry drivers formed the Peninsula Link…

A MAN wearing a hoodie and armed with a kitchen knife robbed the United service station in Tyabb Rd, Mornington, at 10.15pm on Wednesday 8 February. The man, who covered his face and was described as Caucasian, pointed the knife at the attendant and demanded cash. He grabbed the till and ran off. Within the hour, the BP service station in Mt Eliza was robbed of cash, possibly by the same man. At about 2am, Thursday 9 February, the Caltex service station and also the 7-Eleven in McMahons Rd, Frankston, were robbed when a man threatened staff with a large…

COMPOSITIONS by Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven will be played next month at two concerts by Peninsula Chamber Musicians. The first concert is at Rosebud on Saturday 4 March, followed the next day with a performance in Mornington. Formed in 2013, the Peninsula Chamber Musicians present “intimate chamber recitals” through to performing as an “energetic chamber orchestra”, committee president Anthony Poe said. “The group seeks to touch the hearts of concert goers and inspire the next generation of performers.” Mr Pope said primary and secondary school pupils and students can attend the “family friendly and engaging concerts free of charge”.…

DOMESTIC and stray cats are running amok all over the Mornington Peninsula as many cat-owners ignore the cat curfew. Environmentalists and wildlife carers have called on Mornington Peninsula Shire to enforce its cat curfew to stop increasing numbers of cats from killing wildlife and causing a nuisance to residents. One Hastings property is being inundated with cats every night after a nearby vacant block was cleared of old cars and sheds. Renate Luhn said she complained to the shire and was told by one officer not to feed them and they would “go away”. The shire adopted a 24-hour cat…

ROSEBUD resident Nigel Edwards is “passionate” about helping people and his record of more than 76 years working in public service is proof enough. The 91-year-old JP, civil celebrant, bowls player, senior citizens register volunteer, Rye cemetery trust chair and Rosebud Probus Club committee member recently decided to “pull back” from his commitments on advice from his doctor, retiring from 10 years as document signing at the Rosebud police station. Mr Edwards was recently honoured by Victoria Police area commander Brett Coloe for his “character, humour and knowledge” and his invaluable service to the police and community, But while his…

THE Law and Order forum at the Rosebud Country Club last week was described as being an “extraordinary response from the community to discuss their feelings and concerns about the dramatic increase in crime we are seeing across the state and on the Mornington Peninsula”. Nepean MP Martin Dixon said about 250 people were at the club on Tuesday 14 February to “vent their anger at a legal system which has largely left victims of crime behind, while it acts to defend criminals”. One outcome of the meeting was to create a community consultative group to distil the information outlined…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire council is refusing to respond to concerns that a private jetty being rebuilt at Sullivan Bay, Sorrento, has contravened a planning permit requirement to build “like for like”. As reported in The News last week, (“Anger over ‘new’ pier’s beach block”) residents are upset that the large, privately-owned structure blocks public access to the beach at high tide, despite it being part of a recently upgraded historical walk from Blairgowrie to Sorrento, heavily promoted by the council’s tourism department. Despite several requests from The News, and a request directly from Parks Victoria to clarify the issue for…

THE adage of getting knocked down and then getting straight back up again describes Karen Stevens, 46, of Rosebud, to a tee. Unfortunately, the knock part literally happened, not once but three times, until Ms Stevens said to herself “enough is enough” and moved out. The penny had dropped; she realised the cycle of domestic violence would be repeated if she stayed around. “I didn’t want to pass that pattern onto my children,” she said. Across the Mornington Peninsula hundreds of domestic violence victims are struggling to get their lives back on track. “I know because I was one of…

A GROUNDSWELL of opposition to a new boat ramp at Rye flooded in to the Mornington Peninsula Shire council chamber last Monday evening. Councillors, in front of a packed public gallery, voted down the shire’s own planning permit application for a fourth boat ramp after 175 written objections were lodged against the plan to build the $1.2 million ramp. Numerous objectors addressed councillors at the meeting, held on 13 February, voicing their concerns about a rise in jet-ski use in the area and associated dangers to rare Burranun dolphins which frequent Rye waters. Nepean ward councillor Hugh Fraser backed the…