A BUS service between Rosebud and Monash University’s Peninsula campus in Frankston will continue to shuttle students to and from classes after several trial periods proved there is demand for buses to and from the university campus. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said last week the bus service will now be provided on a permanent basis. He announced extra morning and evening bus runs on route 887 from Rosebud. An extra morning bus will leave Rosebud at 5.57am on weekdays and arrive at Monash University at 6.55am. An additional evening service will leave the university at 7.06pm, arriving at its…
Month: May 2017
MORNINGTON’S Delsie Storie, pictured, was born at Castlemaine in 1917 and has lived through two world wars, witnessed the evolution of the motorcar, radio, aeroplane, computer, internet and watched men walking on the moon in 1969. Ms Storie met husband John just before WWII and they were married for 54 years, with Delsie nursing Jack for his final years. On Friday 5 May she celebrated her 100th birthday at Morven Manor in Mornington, and the next day enjoyed high tea at Lotus Chiropractic, Mt Eliza, with many of the people she has met and spent time with over the years.…
POLICE are offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person involved in the hit-and-run death of Frankston woman Jennifer Moller outside Karingal Bowling Club five years ago. Ms Moller was waiting to cross Skye Rd, Frankston, 1.30pm, on 27 April 2012, when she was struck by a car, believed to be a 2011 white Mercedes Benz sedan. The 54-year-old was treated at the scene by paramedics but later died. The driver fled the scene. Detectives believe the reward will entice someone with key information to come forward. Husband John Moller, 53, said: “It’s…
A COMMEMORATION to mark the 125th anniversary of the drowning of 15 Mornington Football Club players in 1892 will be held 2pm, Sunday 21 May. The event will be at the footballers’ memorial, above, on the corner of the Esplanade and Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington. The public is invited to the commemoration followed by afternoon tea at the Bay Hotel, 62 Main St, organised by Mornington and District Historical Society. The footballers were returning on a fishing boat from a match at Mordialloc which foundered as it approached Pelican Point, off Mt Eliza. The skipper, Charles Hooper, was a player…
IT IS hard to imagine a greater contrast – the beautiful seaside town of Mornington, with its thriving lifestyle – and war-torn and starving South Sudan where just staying alive is the main concern. Yet, they are linked by a former Melbourne school headmaster and the generosity of a Mornington church. South Sudan is suffering from a long and brutal civil war. It is one of four nations described by the United Nations as in the grip of famine. Millions of people may die of starvation. Located in the heart of Africa, it is the youngest nation in the world,…
A COMPANY set up by Frankston Council to manage swim centres has been negotiating with Mornington Peninsula Shire council to take over management of peninsula sports centres. Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd has expressed an interest in operating recreation centres across the peninsula. The shire tested market appetite for taking over management of Pelican Park Recreation Centre in Hastings, the Crib Point Pool, Civic Reserve Recreation Centre in Mornington and the Somerville Recreation and Community Centre. Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Frankston Council established in 2013, operates the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) in Frankston and the Pines Forest…
SECONDARY schools in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula are set to be shortchanged by millions of dollars in federal funding over the next two years, according to figures released by the Victorian Department of Education. The schools are among 70 statewide slated to receive up to $1.1 million less in the short term than would have been the case under Better Schools funding, also known as the Gonski agreement since businessman David Gonski reviewed schools funding for both the previous Labor and current Coalition federal governments. A “Gonski 2.0” funding agreement officially announced in last Tuesday’s federal budget by…
THE need for a considered and comprehensive approach to alcohol management is underscored by statistics showing Mornington Peninsula residents are more at risk than elsewhere in the state. The draft management plan states that the lifetime risk of alcohol-related harm impacts shire residents at a higher rate than in the southern metropolitan region and Victoria as a whole. The shire has more alcohol-related road accidents, more ambulance call-outs to alcohol-related incidents, more hospital emergency department presentations and more hospital admissions as a result of alcohol than other areas. “While alcohol consumption is widely recognised as a legitimate social activity, alcohol-related…
MORE than 40 Mornington Peninsula business women got together on Thursday 11 May for the Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event in Dromana’s Green Room, raising $3236 for the Cancer Council. Magician Cath Jamison entertained while auction items included manicures, massages and food. Held by the Mornington Peninsula Business Women Facebook Group, the annual event was part of a national campaign to recognise how the Cancer Council saves lives through prevention, and offers counselling and support services. “The day is as much about supporting each other in our community as it is about supporting the Cancer Council. We were thrilled to…
BURGLARS used a Tootgarook family’s trailer to steal a range of household and sporting items after first turning off the power and immobilising the house’s alarm, possibly Sunday night, 30 April. The thefts at the Plain St property were not discovered for a few days as the family was away. Detective Senior Constable Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said it appeared the thieves waited days before the alarm was run down allowing them to break in undetected. They loaded the trailer, registration X36917, with a ride-on mower, 125cc quad bike, women’s Giant mountain bike, and a large amount of fishing,…
DIVERS are continuing to uncover acts of cruelty to fish caught from piers in Port Phillip and Western Port. The killing of a “resident” smooth ray on Rye pier on 2 April resulted in a 25,000-signature online petition calling for a ban on the killing of rays in Port Phillip, including stingrays and banjo sharks. The CEO of peak Victorian recreational fishing body VRFish, Michael Burgess, says his organisation “encourages all fishers to return unwanted rays to the water unharmed and comply with fishing regulations”. “We all need to work together to stamp out this unacceptable and illegal behaviour. Rays…
A CAPEL Sound WWII navy veteran had his 12 service medals stolen the day before Anzac Day. Ron Bergman, 89, couldn’t believe it when he discovered his seven Australian service medals and replicas of his five US service medals had been taken from his Ronlyn St home. Detective Senior Constable Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said thieves let themselves in through an unlocked front door on Monday 24 April. They stole replicas of his US medals from a bedroom and his Australian medals from a display cabinet he was making in his carport. “The shock didn’t set in until later,”…
Task Force Razon members caught a husband and wife allegedly drink driving less than two hours apart in Mornington over the weekend. Police attention was first drawn to the vehicle after watching it being allegedly driven erratically as it left at Mornington licensed premises. The vehicle was intercepted just after midnight on 14 May, and the driver returned a positive preliminary breath test. The 52-year-old Maryborough woman later returned an evidentiary breath test result of 0.175 percent. She has had her licence immediately suspended for 12 months and will be charged on summons. Returning to their duties, the members were…
AN abrupt about turn by Frankston councillors withdrawing support for a container port at Hastings has plunged council into troubled waters. The Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire councils previously officially supported the establishment of a port at Hastings by a state government potentially decades from now. A second container port to service the Melbourne area will be needed when the Port of Melbourne reaches capacity. Councillors at the Frankston council meeting on 1 May voted to oppose the establishment of a port at Hastings after Cr Quinn McCormack urged fellow elected representatives to oppose any dredging or deepening in the…
YARINGA Boat Harbour owner Stefan Borzecki has put the Western Port marina on the market six months after receiving state government approval for a proposed $95 million redevelopment. Selling agent Duncan McCulloch, of CBRE, has reportedly received of inquiries from local and overseas developers for the site near Somerville which he values at around $15 million. An expressions-of-interest campaign closes 3pm, Tuesday 6 June. Planning approval was received in November for the 24.6 hectare site, including an inland waterway lined with 180 apartments with their own berths and promenades similar to Mt Martha Cove at Safety Beach, conference centre, and…
HASTINGS Liberal MP Neale Burgess predicts schools around the Western Port area “will continue to suffer” after missing out on extra funding in the latest state budget. “Following the release of the Victorian budget on Tuesday, [the Premier] Daniel Andrews and his government have been crowing about their investment in schools, yet only one school within the District has recorded additional funding,” Mr Burgess said. “Perseverance Primary School on French Island has secured $72,000 for an upgrade to facilities, while the other 19 government schools have missed out.” “Although it’s pleasing to see Perseverance Primary finally being put on the…
MID-year is the latest sailing date set for the Western Port Oberon Association’s MV Wyuna to leave Tasmania for Melbourne. The 64 metre cutter was given to the association in 2013 and plans were made to have it join the submarine Otama as part of a maritime museum in Western Port. However, both vessels remain tied up in red tape and anchored offshore – the submarine at Crib Point and the Wyuna at Launceston. Otama association president Max Bryant last week was confident the project would receive a “kick start” once the Wyuna arrives in Melbourne. He said it would take…
WESTERN Port Basketball Association members are meeting on Saturday to protest at the lack of action and transparency in the rebuilding of the Somerville stadium which burnt down 12 months ago. Association officials say they have heard “rumours” but had no official word from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council about when a new stadium will be built to cater for their 1300 members. Basketball operations manager Tyler Molloy said the association received “many phone calls daily” from members asking for updates. “We can’t give them anything because we haven’t been told anything,” he said. “Even an email now and again [from…
Dromana members have interviewed a 35-year-old Dromana woman following a crash at Safety Beach last night. Emergency services were called to Dromana Parade about 11.45pm after reports that a car had crashed into a parked car. Police attended and spoke to the 35-year-old and checked that her 11-year-old male passenger was okay. The driver underwent a preliminary breath test and was required to attend a police station for an evidentiary test. An evidentiary breath test returned a reading of 0.173%. The woman had her licence immediately suspended and is expected to be charged on summons for drink driving and other…
A generous donation has enabled Mornington Peninsula residents to access scalp cooling during their cancer treatment, in an attempt to reduce their hair loss, at The Bays Hospital. This service was previously only available if they travelled to Brighton or further in to the city for their chemotherapy treatment. Patients are offered the complimentary use of this new technology at The Bays as part of their chemotherapy treatment, to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Scalp cooling has been offered for patients at Melbourne hospitals including Cabrini Brighton since 2015 and more recently Epworth Richmond, which is where many Mornington Peninsula patients…
INTERLEAGUE RADIO station RPP will be the host broadcaster of Saturday’s WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships match at the MCG on 13 May. The second-ranked Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League Sharks will tackle the number one team in state footy, Geelong Football League (GFL), starting at 3pm and for those not heading to the ‘G’ will be able to tune-in to 98.7 or 98.3FM to hear all the action. The RPP team, anchored by Andrew ‘Toe Punt’ Kelly, will be joined by Geelong Football League experts, giving listeners a balanced view of the match. MPNFL Sharks coach John Hynes expected…
PENINSULA LEAGUE IT took Mornington until the 16-minute mark of the final quarter to kick its one and only goal against Pines in MPNFL Peninsula Division on Saturday. Billed as the match of the day, it was anything but that as Mornington struggled to get out of a canter. Pines steamrolled the Dogs in every aspect of the game and in many instances, made the opposition look second rate. The score line of 13.14 (92) to 1.5 (11) was a true reflection of the contest. Doggies coach Chris Holcombe described the performance of his side as “putrid”. Holcombe said the…
NEPEAN LEAGUE THE divide between the best and worst teams in MPNFL Nepean division is widening, with a number of big blow-outs on Saturday. Despite wet and windy conditions, the better sides in the competition still booted big scores and restricted the lesser sides to tough afternoons. Sorrento booted 24 goals against Pearcedale, Frankston kicked 17 majors against Rye, Hastings kicked 18 goals against Crib Point and Red Hill nailed 20 goals against Tyabb. Five of the six matches were blow-outs with Devon Meadows and Somerville predictably the closest match of the round. After just five rounds, we can draw…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie LANGWARRIN remained on top of the State 1 South-East ladder after downing St Kilda 2-0 at Lawton Park on Saturday. Gus Macleod’s side now faces a crunch fixture against second-placed outfit Caulfield United Cobras at Victory Park next weekend. Langy’s new Scottish signing Liam Baxter took just three minutes to make a major impact last weekend when he skinned an opponent on the left and surged into the penalty area before watching his cutback deflected by Sam Sweeney for an own goal. Big George Whiteoak was at the near post to head home Connor Belger’s corner…
LETTERS from the Front. The following letter has been received by Miss W. Scarborough from Pte Dent:– Just a line to let you know how I am getting on. We had a good trip over, the water being like a piece of glass all the way. –– is a pretty place. The scenery is beautiful, far better that Australia. The people gave us a grand reception, giving us free meals and free tram rides all the time we were there. I can tell you we did it in great. At the next port of call, the people were altogether different…
RAY Rogers has always been into art and things that look interesting. So what better way to utilise his passion for the creative than to commission murals outside his Dromana bottle shop, Sea Breeze Cellars. “When I first bought the bottle shop over four years ago, it was run down and so our first priority has been to stock it with the best quality spirits. We have achieved that and are now regarded by patrons and suppliers as one of the top three stores in Victoria for the vast range of spirits we have on offer,” said Ray. “We then…
THE long-mooted Mordialloc bypass is expected to be built by 2021 after the state government announced $300 million for the project in the 2017-18 state budget unveiled on Tuesday (2 May). A 9-kilometre road will be built between Springvale Rd in Aspendale Gardens and the Dingley Bypass in Clayton South to ease congestion in the south east. The new Mordialloc bypass will link up with the existing Mornington Peninsula Freeway in a bid to prevent traffic jams and delays in peak hour traffic. Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson welcomed the funding for the bypass. “I am so proud that the…
A SPECIALIST family violence court to be established in Frankston is among a raft of state budget measures that MP Paul Edbrooke says “commit more to the prevention of family violence than the whole nation put together”. The new court – expected to be at the magistrates’ court in Fletcher Rd – was included in a $1.9 billion package to tackle family violence across the state. Other similar courts will be established at Ballarat, Shepparton, Moorabbin and Heidelberg magistrates’ courts at a cost of $90 million over five years. “There’s no sugar coating the fact that we are confronted with…
THE Road Safety Camera Commissioner has backed the performance of the Peninsula Link speed cameras and reproached motorists contesting their fines. The commissioner, John Voyage, was asked to investigate the cameras by Police Minister Lisa Neville after “public disquiet about the system” – most noticeably by members of the 108 group who claimed they had “set their vehicle’s cruise controls and so the detected speed reading was in error”. Mr Voyage stated in his report that he was “unable to find any error in any of the aspects of the road safety camera systems along Peninsula Link”. His investigation covered…
ANTI-bullying seminars for children aged 6-14 and their parents will be held at a Mornington martial arts centre next month. The free seminars are aimed at teaching children practical strategies to help them identify and deal with bullying behaviour and how to “buddy” rather than “bully” others. “Bullying is still a huge problem, and we believe that no other industry is better equipped to end bullying than martial arts,” said Glenn Shand, owner and chief instructor of Peninsula Kung Fu. The centre is a member of Martial Artists Against Bullying, an international organisation with hundreds of members devoted to “ending…