Month: March 2018

A FLEET of classic cars and motorcycles will travel across the Mornington Peninsula next month in support of children suffering from cancer. The first Ruby’s Ride ‘n’ Roll was held last year by Rachael Ford and Shane McGuinness, who started their own charity – Ruby-Rose Rainbow Fund – to raise money for children with cancer. “We lost our daughter to cancer two years ago, She had acute myeloid leukaemia, which is a very aggressive type of blood cancer. We’re fundraising for clinical trials, particularly for this type of leukaemia which one in three children will not survive,” Ms Ford said.…

GIFTS over the past three years to Mornington Peninsula Shire staff revealed in the much debated and now public gifts register range from a $1200 trip to Sydney to items valued at $2. Ten pages of the register from 4 September 2015 to 19 December 2017 show 69 gifts, three of which were declined. The register identifies the positions but not the names of staff declaring gifts or receiving offers of gifts. The $1200 “gift” was made by the US-owned Dell EMC information technology company for the shire’s chief information officer to attend an August 2017 forum in Sydney. The…

RED balloons floated on 11-metre-long strings above Capel Sound last week to show how high the state government allows houses to go on the Mornington Peninsula without a permit. Mornington Peninsula Shire says the contentious rules imposed last year “without consultation” already apply to 24,000 housing sites on the peninsula. The figure represents a quarter of the peninsula’s housing stock. The shire says the rules will lead to the proliferation of “three storey McMansions”. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said Thursday’s balloon demonstration aimed to “alert the Victorian community to the threats to coastal villages posed by future inappropriate development”.…

A GROUP of Dromana men are working to save Dromana pier from rotting away into the sea while ensuring the community retains “a valuable asset”. The group – part of Association for Building Community in Dromana – believes the 185 metre concrete structure, built in 1959 to replace a timber jetty built in the 1860s, is estimated to have about 10 years’ useful life left. Following an “extensive community survey” of residents’ views the group says a new pier needs to be longer so as to reach deep water to allow ferries to berth, and wider to allow space for…

A BID to revamp the Woolworth’s supermarket at Rye, as well as put up new shade sails, cut trees and reshuffle car parking areas, has been given the go ahead, while a proposal to “swap” land at its sister store at Mornington has been refused. Other works approved at Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s Monday 19 March planning committee meeting for the Rye supermarket, on the corner of Point Nepean Road and Hygeia Street, include an eight-metre-high street sign; reducing car parking spaces; adding more rubbish and recycling bins; and installing charging outlets for electric vehicles. The shire’s statutory planning team…

An elderly man has died in hospital following a collision in McCrae earlier this month. The 91-year-old McCrae man was struck by a turning vehicle in the car park of a Point Nepean Road shopping centre shortly before 9am on 16 March. He was taken to hospital, where he died last night. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. The driver, a 61-year-old Rosebud man, has assisted police with their enquiries. Somerville Highway Patrol members are investigating the collision and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a…

A BOMB scare this morning (Tuesday 20 March) saw part of Fletcher Road near Frankston Magistrates’ Court cordoned off between about 8am and 10am. Police gave the “all clear” and reopened the road after the bomb squad was called in to investigate using a robot to get close to “suspicious devices” outside the courthouse building. Eyewitnesses said it appeared a fuel container had been wired and taped up to look like an incendiary device in what seemed to be “a hoax”. Anyone with information about the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime…

NAVAL police combined forces with a Victoria Police highway patrol to carry out a road safety operation at HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point. Operation Adiona — named for the Roman goddess of travel and safe return — saw military police and civilian police conduct roadside breath testing and mobile drug testing of both defence members and civilians entering the base as well as registration and roadworthiness checks. Warrant Officer Darren Lonergan said the operation strengthened the relationship between the military and civilian police “in many practical ways and will be followed by more joint operations”. “Working alongside our colleagues from the…

AN exciting new residential project in Hastings was officially launched on Tuesday 13 March by award-winning developer Defence Housing Australia (DHA). The 3.78-hectare site will comprise 68 land lots, including 30 new homes for Defence members and their families, supporting the local Navy base, HMAS Cerberus. Ten medium density lots are already under offer to a prominent local builder for private development with another 12 lots in stage one selling out in six weeks. DHA Chairman, the Hon J.A.L. (Sandy) Macdonald, said the new $16 million development would create a sustainable residential community while making a significant contribution to the…

RARE and classic cars dating back to the early 1900s will be on show at the Flinders Motoring Heritage show, 10am-4pm, Sunday 1 April (Easter Sunday). Around 100 vehicles are registered to appear, including those carrying such badges as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Triumph, Jaguar, Holden, Ford, Porsche, Austin Healey, Daimler, Bentley, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Tesla, Vauxhall and Cadillac. The verhicles will displayed at the corner of Cook and Norman streets, Flinders, as well as in the park on Cook Street. Trophies will be awarded to the best vehicle in each category. The $5 entry includes a ticket in the raffle.…

THE councillor who successfully moved to limit spending on the proposed Rosebud Aquatic Centre at $43.57 million admits his hand would have been only “halfway up” without the cap. Cr David Gill told last week’s meeting at the Rosebud Memorial Hall, which adopted the larger pool option, that he was “putting my hand up for a 50-metre pool. Yes I want a 50-metre pool”. But, he said later, he was concerned the shire was neglecting other issues, such as pressing social needs in Somerville and Hastings, low cost housing, halls in disrepair and “community houses going bankrupt”, such as Mornington…

TYABB market gardener Steve Taranto joined the heavyweight prize-winners at this year’s Red Hill Show with pumpkins weight 204 and 175 kilograms. The journey of the giant pumpkins is one that has taken around six months, with Mr Taranto having planted the pumpkins late last year. “We planted the pumpkins in October, this whole process takes a while,” he said. “The type of pumpkin is called an Atlantic giant, so it’s not your regular everyday pumpkin.” “I’ve been growing these giant pumpkins for the past eight years. The kids love it and they love the Red Hill Show. It started…

A GROUP of Mornington residents are celebrating a “victory” in their fight against a 371-unit retirement village development in Roberts Road. This comes after developer Steller Estates withdrew its application for appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the project was earlier knocked back by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. As a result of the withdrawal, VCAT has cancelled a compulsory conference set down for 5 April and a hearing date listed for 21 May. Opponent Christine Pingiaro, who lives nearby, described the developer’s appeal withdrawal as a “temporary victory”. First published in the Mornington News – 20 March…

THIS racing season means more than usual for Mornington-bred jockey Jake Noonan as he aims to set a positive example for his newborn son, Isaac. Noonan “is more driven than ever” to be at his best and will head into the feature Mornington Cup meeting with high hopes as he boards the Michael Meaghan-trained Prussian Vixen in the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes on Saturday 24 March. Noonan said his whole outlook and perspective on life has completely changed since his son entered his world on Thursday 2 November and is hoping to be a positive role model for his four-month-old…

MORE than 20 blind golfers from across Australia descended upon the Rosebud Country Club for the Victorian Blind Golf Championships and the ISPS HANDA Australian Blind Golf Open two weeks ago. The golfers competed over two days for the Victorian Blind Golf Championships on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 March before teeing off for the national title in the ISPS HANDA Australian Blind Golf Open on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 March. Sydney’s Rod Mills was a standout in the men’s events as he led all the way in the Australian Blind Golf Open to secure the national title with…

SOCCER THE State League season kicks off this weekend with Mornington, Peninsula Strikers and Skye United looming as serious promotion prospects. Mornington and Strikers will underpin their promotion push with quality visa players while Skye has used the local market to bolster its senior squad. Promotion for Mornington would mean a third State 1 South-East title in four seasons and would unlock the NPL door for Adam Jamieson’s men. “If anything I was probably guilty of being overconfident last season so I’m a bit more wary this time but we know what’s ahead of us and what we have to…

SUB-DISTRICT By Mr & Mrs IT Gully DROMANA cruised into the MPCA Sub District grand final after thrashing Carrum Downs in the semi final over the weekend. The Hoppers smashed 254 before rolling Carrum Downs on the second day for just 118. On the opening day on Saturday the Hoppers lost their first two wickets for ten runs before Kierran Voelkl and Jack Fowler steadied the ship with 53 and 72 runs respectively.  Jedd Savage then strolled to the crease and helped himself to 63 while Sam Fowler chimed in at the end with 34 to help the Hoppers to…

DISTRICT By Mr & Mrs IT Gully BADEN Powell will play in the MPCA District grand final after a thrilling last over win against Mt Martha. Baden Powell was shaken up after two players pulled out due to injury before the match. Things were made even worse when skipper Craig Entwistle injured a calf and was forced to bat with a runner, however, with one over to spare Baden Powell was able to pick up victory and advance to the grand final. The Braves resumed day two on their home turf at 0/2 chasing Mt Martha’s first innings total of…

PENINSULA By Mr & Mrs IT Gully FLINDERS will play in the MPCA Peninsula grand final after beating Moorooduc in the Peninsula Semi Final by six wickets. Moorooduc won the toss and batted first but lost their first three wickets for just twelve runs. These wickets included Rashimal Mendis and the dangerous Madushanka Perera for a duck. Shamith Kannangara steadied the Moorooduc ship with 43 and Nick Williams scored 41 at the bottom of the innings, but it only helped the Ducks to 161 in 79.5 overs. Dwayne Field, Matt Burns and Neil Barfuss were all convincing with the ball…

PROVINCIAL By Mr & Mrs IT Gully LANGWARRIN will play in the MPCA Provincial grand final after beating Mornington with ten wickets in hand in a dominant semi final performance. Langwarrin openers Matt Prosser and Taylor Smith were both at the crease for the first ball and the final ball after both scoring an unbeaten 76 to see Langwarrin finish on 158, chasing Mornington’s 157. Mornington won the toss and batted first. Langwarrin’s Adam Campbell was a star with the ball, bowling 20 overs, nine maidens and snaring 4/37. Matt Prosser wasn’t far behind also bowling 20 overs and picking…

WE call special attention to an advertisement in another column of a public meeting, to consider the best means of perpetuating the memory of the late Sir John Madden amongst us. Since the Franskton man’s lamented death there has been singularly unanimous public expression of opinion, both in the Press and otherwise, of his many virtues as Lieutenant Governor and as Chief Justice of Victoria. Many tributes to his upright personal character have also appeared. It has been very fully recognised that in all his actions and in his many public utterances, he always was on the side of right,…

WHEN Maria Peters looks back on a 30-year career at Chisholm TAFE Institute she says it is the camaraderie between staff she will miss most of all in retirement. The CEO decided last year to step down at Chisholm Institute on 31 December and hand over the chief executive officer reins of the vocational education college’s campuses to successor Dr Richard Ede. “I know I’ll miss the people and I’ll miss the intellectual stimulation but I’m just looking to have some time to re-energise and I’ll always have my eye on Chisholm and I’m sure it’ll go on to bigger…

OBJECTIONS are being lodged and a petition signed opposing a two-storey 180-bedroom aged care centre near the corner of Bird Rock Avenue and the Esplanade, Mt Martha. The proposal by the Lendlease adjoins the company’s existing Martha’s Point and Koorootang retirement villages. Mornington Peninsula Shire has been asked to approve subdivision of 594 and 602 the Esplanade to create a lot at the rear for the aged care centre. Access to the centre would be from the Esplanade and houses in Bird Rock Avenue would back onto the proposed development. Planning consultants hired by objectors say the “constraints of the…

BERG Mt Martha, a bushland friends group for the Balcombe Estuary, is gearing up for its biannual family day on Sunday 25 March with an emphasis on art and crafts. The free fun activities are designed to help youngsters understand the environment and the creatures who live in it at the old camping ground in Mirang Avenue from 10am to 2pm. There will be art and craft activities for children (including face painting) and Indigenous artists from Baluk Arts will run workshops to create bush critters from hay and wool. Other activities will include bird watching with Birdlife Australia, model…

A BOOK launched in Mornington last week comes about after a chat between an author and a Main Street book seller. Patrick Guest got the idea for his children’s book Rabby the Brave from a conversation he had with Ann Briggs, who has worked at Farrell’s bookshop for the past six years. While chatting, Ms Brigg’s revealed she was soon to have a “small surgical procedure”. Being naturally curious, Mr Guest asked what it was all about and was told she was getting ready to donate a kidney to her husband, Garry, whose kidney function had fallen by 93 per…

AIRCRAFT of many shapes and sizes took to the skies over Tyabb (and beyond) during the Tyabb Air Show on Sunday 11 March. Peninsula Aero Club president Jack Vevers said the “pretty busy day went off without any hiccups”, with a record crowd thrilling to the sound of Rolls Royce Merlins and the roar of heavy radial engines. Nicknamed “War & Peace” the show featured planes from WWI, such as Tiger Moths and Spitfires, as well as a WWII-era Mustang fighter, a Melbourne-built A68-199, and the world’s only airworthy Lockheed Hudson bomber. Other drawcards included high powered military machines, like…

A GREEN sea turtle found sick and tired on a Rye beach last August is now back at sea somewhere off Victoria’s east coast near Mallacoota. Named Terry by staff at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, the turtle weighed 7.7kg when rescued and “a healthy” 15.8kg when released earlier this month at Secret Beach. Terry underwent a rehabilitation program designed and supervised by the aquarium’s veterinary team. “There’s no doubt that this special turtle means a great deal to our team and we’ve been absolutely privileged to work closely with Terry over the last seven months as we’ve nursed him back…

ONE result of the Sufferfest triathlon in Mt Martha earlier this month is that councillors may take over deciding which events can be held. Permit applications are now determined by council officers. Cr Sam Hearn is expected to move at the next meeting that councillors develop an evaluation policy “as a matter of urgency”. The most obvious date-clash over the 3-4 March weekend was with the annual Clean-up Australia Day which has been running 19 years. The clash – which saw a six-hour closure of the Esplanade from Mornington to beyond Mt Martha – was described as “highly disappointing” by…

A “50 Shades of Grey” adoption promotion ending next Sunday (25 March)  is aimed at finding new homes for 30 greyhounds from the RSPCA Victoria’s Animal Care Centres. RSPCA Victoria animal care manager Liz Walker said the dogs had distinct personalities. “We have excitable, attention-seeking greys through to docile, shy gentle giants,” Ms Walker said. Most are exempt from having to wear muzzles in public and come with a reduced $50 adoption fee. “Greyhounds are intelligent, friendly dogs with a gentle and sensitive temperament. They are well suited to a variety of different lifestyles and homes, which is why they…

CRISIS accommodation is now available for women, children and their pets fleeing family violence. The Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS) says pets can play a significant role in family dynamics and it is importance to also support them when women and children are fleeing family violence. EDVOS now has accommodation available at three crisis properties in Melbourne’s eastern metropolitan area that can safely accommodate women, children and their pets – each equipped with kennels, pet food and other animal amenities. The service is also working with Women’s Liberation Halfway House (WLHH) to provide the first specialist pet-friendly women’s refuge in…