Day: December 4, 2017

SOCCER HE is preparing for his 49th straight season at Monterey Reserve and he’s one of the most recognisable characters in the local game. Tommy Mitchell is a living legend. The 66-year-old is a life member of Frankston Pines and wears his heart on his sleeve. In more ways than one. If you haven’t seen the Edinburgh-born Mitchell at a senior match wearing one of his Heart of Midlothian scarves and bonnet festooned with club badges then you’re a newcomer to the local scene. Mitchell has three brothers – Colin, Bruce and Grant and the family migrated from Scotland in…

DISTRICT THERE was some cricket played in District and it was Seaford that were the big losers against Heatherhill. Seaford resumed at 0/12 chasing Heatherhill’s first innings total of 190. After getting through 64 overs in challenging conditions, Seaford finished agonisingly close at 7/186, just five runs short of victory. Mt Martha was in all sorts of trouble against Baden Powell. Defending 264, the Braves had Mt Martha in strife at 5/97. Once again, rain saved the day for the Reds. There was no cricket played at Thomas Barclay Oval. Hastings was to resume at 1/20 against Rosebud, who were…

PENINSULA IT was easy to feel sorry for Main Ridge, who required just six runs for victory against Somerville on day two of Peninsula cricket. All that was needed was one or two overs to try and grab the required runs but they never took to the field. The Ridge bowled out Somerville last week for 172, then proceeded to hammer the Eagles’ attack and finish the opening day at 0/167, five runs short. It was guaranteed a win if the rain held off. It didn’t and the Ridge fell short, Somerville ending up the big winners of the round,…

PROVINCIAL PENINSULA Old Boys were the big winners in Mornington Peninsula Provincial cricket on Saturday, the only team to get a result. On a day that was dominated by soggy grounds and rain, all Provincial, Peninsula, District and Sub-District First XI matches ended in draws, except for the Old Boys, who got the job done against Pearcedale. Defending 8/260, the Old Boys rolled Pearcedale for just 121 in 47 overs. Jon Forrest was the key to the victory for the Old Boys, bowling 15 overs and four maidens for a return of 7/22. Tom Shayler was impressive again also with…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn SERGEANT Tracy and A. W. Glencross, Esq will address a public meeting at Somerville on Monday evening next to explain the truth in the matter of the Reinforcements Referendum. *** YOUR RESPONSIBILITY PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE. To the Electors of FLINDERS. Are you for Australia or against her? Will you stand with those who are resolved that, come what may, we will not desert our boys at the Front? Or will you stand with the real leaders of the campaign against the Government’s proposals to send reinforcements to the boys at the Front? The Government has put…

SEVERAL elusive swamp skinks have been rediscovered in parks on the Mornington Peninsula. A small team of scientists and field naturalists from La Trobe University rediscovered the skinks (Lissolepis coventryi) which have not been caught in the area for 30 years. The last anecdotal sighting was in 2012. So far, 13 of these “mini Godzillas” have been measured and weighed after being caught in Elliott traps – which allow for live capture – and under tiles. “Self-confessed reptile fanatics find swamp skinks appealing due to their fussy and secretive habits. They live in swampy areas and shelter in burrows. They…

PERMANENT bans on alcohol are among a range of tough rules designed to crack down on anti-social behaviour at youth hot-spot The Pillars. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the bans at the popular rock jumping spot and surrounding streets have been introduced in time for the warmer months and the holiday season. “These bans will help prevent the types of illegal behaviour that have become widespread at The Pillars through reducing alcohol-related incidents, improve public safety and amenity and protect the environment and overall community interest,” he said. “Council continues to work hard to protect the safety…

A WOMAN was allegedly punched to the back of her head by another woman in Robinsons Drive, Mornington, about midday, Monday 27 November. She received facial injuries when she fell to ground in the alleged attack on the corner of Jacana St. The woman was taken to The Alfred hospital for treatment and was said to be in a stable condition with severe bruising, Thursday. Her alleged attacker walked away after the incident. A 49-year-old Mornington woman has been charged with assault and will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court, 20 February. First published in the Mornington News – 5 December…

A WOMAN in her 20s was lucky to escape death and serious injury when her car ran off the Esplanade near Burdoo Way, Mt Martha, 1.55am, Monday 27 November, may face charges. The p-plater was driving home – and possibly talking to her boyfriend on the phone – when her car left the road and careered 20 metres into thick scrub and overturned (above). The woman’s boyfriend heard her calls for help during their alleged conversation and called emergency services. The woman, a chef at a Mornington restaurant, suffered neck and back pain and was taken to The Alfred hospital…

BEACH box owners and users of Mt Martha Beach North want the state government to pay about $30,000 for a “modelling” of a plan to save the eroded beach. A public meeting at Mt Martha Lifesaving Club  (Saturday 25 November) called on the government to  more fully investigate building a 25 metre long groyne designed to bring sand back to the beach and protect the crumbling cliffs. Land and built environment program manager for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Cass Philippou, said on Friday the proposal “is currently being considered”. “Construction of a rock revetment to stabilise…

ARTWORK by Rosebud Secondary College students will carry a heart-felt plea when it is displayed as part of the street art event: Voices To Be Heard at the Rye fairground after Christmas. It aims to focus community attention on youth suicide. The works will go on show at the Wittingslow Carnival with the support of the Sorrento Activity Centre and Studio Sorrento. Money raised from the sale of the paintings and donations will go towards the college’s Youth Wellness Pavilion. The street art concept was chosen because it provides a platform for “freedom of creative expression in a modern form”,…

ABOUT 80 guests enjoyed a photographic display and a chance to reminisce about the early days of the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad at a 50th anniversary function at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron last week. President Eileen Murray said the squad bought its first helicopter in 1976 – the first of four over the next 34 years. “The helicopter service was unique in Australia as being the only one owned and operated by a volunteer organisation without regular government funding,” she said. “The helicopter was sold in 2010 but the squad continues with its rescue boat operation.” Several boats were bought…

BONEO community market is gearing for its 40th birthday on Saturday 16 December with a visit from Santa, live music and an after-market gathering of past committee, volunteers and stall holders. The first market was held on 17 December 1977 and then every third Saturday of the month, 8am-12.30pm. It had 63 stalls when it began and around 200 stalls today but the ethos of “make it, bake it, grow it” has stayed the same. It is run by volunteers from Boneo Primary School, cricket club and tennis club, with about 20 people per market making it happen. Starting as…

A “TEAM” from Mornington Peninsula Shire has returned from overseas with “invaluable information” to help the shire “address and respond to climate change”. Cr Simon Brooks, CEO Carl Cowie and project delivery manager Derek Rotter attended a conference in Germany, while Mr Cowie also went to Sweden and Malta.    The latest overseas by council representatives comes as the shire moves towards meeting its target of being carbon neutral by 2021. Cr Brooks and Mr Rotter went first to a conference in Essen, Germany and then were joined by Mr Cowie for a United Nations conference in Bonn. “Our team…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is urging the state government to “continue to lead the way in banning single-use plastic bags and containers in Victoria”. It has written to the Premier Daniel Andrews and energy, environment and climate change minister Lily D’Ambrosio to say it “continues to strongly support the proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act to ban the sale of single use plastic bags”. The shire says protecting the environment and marine life is an “important initiative for Mornington Peninsula Shire”. “The ecological and environmental impact caused by the increased use of plastic bags creates a significant threat to Port…

MOST rubbish entering the bay comes from car parks and the street. So, to reduce the amount of rubbish finding its way onto the foreshore and into the water meant cleaning up street litter – especially outside shops and supermarkets. And that’s a task Rye resident Josie Jones excelled in: so much so that the graphic designer was last week awarded the Litter Prevention prize in the Keep Victoria Beautiful 2017 Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Awards. The presentation was made at Horsham, in the Wimmera, on Saturday 25 November. The Victorian Tidy Towns program, first run in 1983, sets…

TRAVELLING tradesmen offering discounted prices for work on the Mornington Peninsula over summer should be avoided, local police warn. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen McKenzie, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said con artists offering cheap painting, roof repairs, driveway repairs and other similar work should be avoided. “These are people doing sub-standard work and charging considerably more than the value of the work being quoted,” he said. “Unfortunately, they are known to prey on the elderly and vulnerable, and can be very assertive, offering one-off sale prices or heavily discounted prices due to job cancellations or other reasons. “Historically, these people…

A DEAD whale found washed up at the base of the Jubilee Point cliffs at Sorrento back beach Monday 27 November will be left to rot. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Parks Victoria decided last week “after assessing all the options” to leave the Bryde’s whale where it was. “Moving a whale is a complex task and many options were discussed, including moving the whale offsite to either bury on a beach or in landfill, cutting up the carcass and even exploding [it],” DELWP spokesperson, Dan White said. “None of these were safe options as they…

THE state Liberal Party has stepped in to save plans for a memorial service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt. Mr Holt was last seen by friends on 17 December 1967 wading into the water off Cheviot Beach at Point Nepean near Portsea. Plans by the Harold Holt Memorial Committee, auspiced by the Nepean Ratepayers’ Association, for a memorial service on 17 December this year looked like being scrapped after little interest was shown by either federal, state or local governments. However, the state Liberal Party president Michael Kroger this week has sent…

At Portsea, a man was charged after two “Molotov cocktails” were allegedly thrown at a house, 1.30am, Monday 27 November. Police will allege the man and a mate followed a group of young people from a hotel to a Latham Drive house. They were refused entry to the house and returned with what police described as two “improvised incendiary devices” which they allegedly threw at the house. Neither device – said to be two beer bottles filled with accelerant – ignited. One smashed a window causing a small amount of damage but the other fell short. Sorrento CFA crews attended.…

WAYWARD schoolies may have let the heat go to their heads during rowdy gatherings on the foreshore near Rye pier on several nights last week. Sergeant Dean Matthews, of Rosebud police, said “three or four” young men had been arrested for lighting flares, minor assaults, assaulting police, resisting arrest and bringing alcohol to the foreshore. He said they may be summonsed to appear at Dromana Magistrates’ Court at a later date. Sergeant Matthews said the rowdy behaviour of between 600 and 1000 youngsters prompted police to call for back-up from Frankston and Mornington. In one instance youths were capsicum sprayed…

MORNINGTON-Flinders Rd near Baldrys Rd, Main Ridge, was closed off Monday morning 4 December after a car was found crashed into a large gum tree. The 22-year-old driver, of Frankston, was dead at the scene. Leading senior constable Greg Wolfe, of Mornington Peninsula highway patrol, said a passing motorist discovered the badly damaged Hyundai Getz at 6am. The car had been travelling north in a 100kph zone. Police later cordoned off the area. A report will be prepared for the coroner. First published  in the Western Port News – 5 December 2017