By Barry Morris THE St Vincent de Paul Society has seen a sharp spike in calls for assistance from the needy on the Mornington Peninsula in the past year, figures released by its Melbourne office reveal. The Vinnies’ figures for the southern region showed it provided help and support to the value of $890,000. In 2016-17, the number of food parcels handed out rose 11.3 per cent, the society was called on to provide help with housing for 12.9 per cent more people, the number of prescription medicines paid for rose 13.2 per cent and education costs shot up 27…
Month: June 2018
A RALLY to “save Western Port from two threats” is being held next month at Hastings. Rally organisers say the threats come from power company AGL’s plan to moor a 300 metre long floating gas terminal at Crib Point and the building of a pilot hydrogen gas-to-liquid plant at Hastings. While AGL plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be sold into the Victorian market after being turned back into gas, a consortium led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries wants to ship liquid hydrogen to Japan. Under the $496 million project – subsidised with $50m each from the federal and…
A MOOROODUC artist won a top award at this year’s Chelsea Rotary Art Show, taking out first place in the oils/acrylic category. Janis Barbieri’s Tropicana was deemed best in show in its category by judges at the 43rd annual Chelsea Rotary Art Show held at Chelsea Hall on 9-11 June. Barbieri, who signs her maiden name Janis Taber on her artworks, said it is the first arts award she has won since taking up inks and oils six years ago after working in the fashion industry. She said her art is “creative botanical and inspired by nature”. “I love combinations…
SOCCER SEAFORD United recorded its second win of the season and its first under senior coach Matt Morris-Thomas when it defeated Noble Park United 3-2 at North Seaford Reserve on Saturday. Harry McCartney reports that Seaford stunned the visitors in the 27th minute when defender Callum Richardson’s acrobatic overhead kick opened the scoring. Three minutes into the second half Dylan Waugh broke past two defenders before slotting the ball past Noble Park United keeper Andrea Stoilovic to make it 2-0. Seaford fans were in raptures in the 72nd minute after Cam Bryden’s clinical side-foot finish made it 3-0. But a…
DIVISION TWO DROMANA bounced back to claim a win this Saturday to avenge their first loss for the year in MPNFL Division Two football last weekend. After going down in a nailbiting six-point loss to Red Hill last Sunday, Dromana were faced with a more comfortable task in Crib Point at Dromana Recreation Reserve on Saturday. On paper, this looked like a complete mismatch, as it pitted top of the ladder Dromana against a Crib Point side that had remained rooted to the bottom of the ladder since Round One. Despite everything pointing to a comfortable Dromana win, Crib Point…
DIVISION ONE MORNINGTON put on their most complete display of football for the year, claiming a convincing victory over Rosebud at Alexandra Park on Saturday. The two sides, placed 8th and 9th on the ladder coming into the game, looked evenly matched in the first quarter, with the margin only standing at one point Mornington’s way at the first break. Mornington went on to kick ahead in the second quarter but only went into half-time with a 14-point lead on what was a cold and blustery day. Although the game looked alive up until the main break, things got off…
FOOTBALL MORNINGTON seniors head coach and former champion footballer Simon Goosey turned heads on Saturday afternoon after he was spotted making a surprise return to the field for Mornington’s reserves side. Goosey, now 50 years old, had a legendary playing career in the MPNFL with Mornington, kicking close to 2000 goals over 300 games before turning his attention to coaching. Much to the surprise and delight of the crowd at Alexandra Park, the legendary forward again ran out for his old club in what would prove to be a triumphant return to football. Goosey’s appearance was the result of an…
DURING the night of Tuesday, the 18th, the Frankston railway station goods shed was broken into. On Wednesday morning the railway officials found that the thief had broken open a window, and so gained entrance to the goods shed. The cash drawer had been removed from a table and taken away. Fortunately the shed porter had removed all the cash from the drawer before closing up the shed on the previous night, so that all the thief gained for his trouble was a few official papers of no value and a bottle of ink. The police were notified of the…
BASKETBALL BIG V Division One competition was headlined by a top of the table clash between Shepparton Gators and Chelsea Gulls this Saturday. The two sides lined up against each other at Shepparton Sports Stadium in a matchup between two sides considered among the favourites to take out the championship at the end of the season. It was a slow start for the Chelsea Gulls though, who found themselves in an uncomfortable position down by 14 points at the conclusion of the first quarter of play. With their backs to the walls, Chelsea showed their quality to fight their way…
A POSTIE was lucky to escape serious injury when his bike was sandwiched by two cars in Rosebud, Wednesday afternoon. The postie was returning to the depot about 3.30pm when he found himself sandwiched in Bayview Road. Both cars and the bike were extensively damaged. First Constable Chris Spero, of Somerville Highway Patrol, said it was likely “multiple” charges would be laid against the driver of the green car, a 26-year-old Rye man, depending on the result of blood tests. These could include drug driving, careless driving and driving while disqualified. Spokesman John Pyrros said Australia Post had offered the…
A MORNINGTON woman who tripped over uneven bricks in Main Street and rolled her ankle in January ended up spending eight hours in Frankston Hospital’s emergency department. Nola English said it was “not the best way to spend Australia Day”, with x-rays confirming she had a broken foot and would have to spend six weeks in a moon boot. The pain worsened when Ms English wrote to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council explaining the situation and “asking for a little help”. “I live on my own, I have a young dog and I run or walk every day, which I couldn’t…
A MORNINGTON dog owner says she can’t exercise her assistance dog in on-leash parks because other dogs which are allowed to roam free rush up and harass it. And she’s blaming the lack of enforcement of the rules by Mornington Peninsula Shire rangers for letting this happen – particularly at Mornington Park. Autumn Tanfield is quick to dismiss the “whinger” tag: “I really feel for my 14-month-old Labrador-cross assistance dog because, while she’s allowed to have down-time from her training – without her coat on – she is always supposed to be on-leash and never to run wild. “It’s a…
RETIREMENT village proprietor Chas Jacobsen has bought the last parcel of the former Ansett estate in Mt Eliza for an “undisclosed sum”, believed to be around $33 million. The 22.3-hectare block is an addition to the neighbouring 11.7-hectare Gunyong Valley estate which he bought from the estate of the late Lady Joan Ansett for $14.5 million in 2006. Equity Trustees announced the sale after a “comprehensive six month expressions-of-interest campaign” for the property owned by the R M Ansett Trust in Mt Eliza. The land, on four titles of varying sizes and with 100 metres of beachfront, is at the…
THE cause of a collision causing the death of a cyclist in Moorooduc, Monday 11 June, was still to be determined late last week. The 61-year-old father of adult children from Frankston South, was hit by a garbage truck on Moorooduc Highway, near Bungower Road, about 10.40am. Police attended and later interviewed the truck driver, 53, of Noble Park, at Frankston Police Station. Acting senior sergeant Pat Hayes, of Frankston police, said, Thursday 14 June, that “no cause of death has been ascertained at this point and no charges laid”. He said a pair of headphones found at the scene…
ALERT customers helped foil a potential robbery at the BP service station, Dromana, midnight, Saturday 9 June: they pulled the spark plug leads out of the “getaway” car preventing it being driven. A witness said that, minutes earlier, he and others had watched the store attendant remonstrating with a late-night customer who they thought was acting suspiciously. He said the attendant challenged the man and then shut the front door by remote-control, locking the man inside. The witness said the man attempted to force the door and smash a window to get out but, by the time he made it…
A MAN alleged to have fleeced more than a dozen small business owners from Mt Eliza to Rosebud over the past six months was arrested by Rosebud police last week. The 49-year-old, from the Latrobe Valley, appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week and was further remanded to Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court next month. He faces multiple charges of deception, theft, breach of an intervention order, reckless conduct endangering injury and unlawful assault, with some of the charges arising from incidents unrelated to the alleged cons. Leading Senior Constable Ian Huxtable, of Rosebud Police, said up to 13 traders had…
Trevor Douglas Martyn General Division OAM A PORTSEA resident who spent 50 years in the trucking industry has been awarded a medal in the general division OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Trevor Douglas Martyn said he was “amazed and proud to be considered” for the award for service to the road transport industry and to the community. “Trevor has made an enormous and selfless contribution to the Australian transport industry over a highly-decorated career spanning more than 50 years,” Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson said. “He served on the executive council of the VTA 1998-2005, including four years…
ELDER abuse was the theme of a stall at Rosebud Plaza last week by members of Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders (PACE). The group spoke to shoppers and handed out ribbons and literature on elder abuse, which included advice of who to contact for assistance if they become a victim, or know anyone who is a victim. The visit coincided with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Friday 15 June. Organiser Jeanette Lane said elder abuse “can take many forms”. “Often more than one type of abuse can be used,” she said. Emotional (or psychological) abuse can include neglect, such as…
BIG ticket items listed in this year’s Mornington Peninsula Shire budget include $4.9 million to rebuild the Somerville Recreation and Community Centre and $5.1 million for the “preliminary phases” of the Rosebud Aquatic Centre. They are among items in the 2018-19 capital works budget of $49 million adopted by councillors at their Tuesday 12 June meeting. Also included in the budget is another $9.1 million for recreational, leisure and community facilities; $9.7 million for capital works on buildings; $5.1 million for parks, open spaces and streetscapes; $2.7 million for drainage and works; $1 million for climate change mitigation and adaption;…
ADVERTISEMENTS will soon be running for Mornington Peninsula Shire’s top job – chief executive officer. Held by Carl Cowie for the past four years, the CEO’s job comes with a package of nearly $400,000. The shire – with the help of consultant Topsy Petchey, a former Kingston councillor and mayor – will now select a recruitment firm to identify suitable candidates. Mr Cowie was appointed in 2014 and councillors last week decided to advertise the job, giving him the required six months’ notice of their intentions to not automatically reappoint him. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne issued a statement saying…
A DROMANA family which moved into the area more than 100 years ago has been remembered by having a bridge over Dunns Creek named after it. Littlejohn Bridge on Point Nepean Road is named after William Littlejohn who arrived in 1917 with his family of nine children and settled on land along Dunns Creek. In 1927 Mr Littlejohn successfully tendered to build a reinforced concrete bridge to replace an old timber bridge at the entrance to his property. “The Littlejohn family has, over many years, made a significant contribution to the Dromana district and wider peninsula community,” the mayor Cr…
WESTERNPORT Angling Club members are calling on public support to save their club building and public toilets from the bulldozer. Signatures are being collected on a petition to be presented to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council says there is no reason for the club to be on the foreshore. The shire’s latest plan for the Hastings boat ramp and parking area shows road and landscaping works in the site now occupied by the club’s building. Club members say no other building in Hastings would meet the criteria for weighing and cleaning fish, boat trailer parking, fishing competition presentations, use of the…
POWER company AGL sees two agreements signed on Tuesday (12 June) as “advancing” its plans to moor a floating gas terminal at Crib Point. The company said one of the agreements “enables berth upgrades at the Port of Hastings as well as a leasing agreement that would be required, should the AGL project go ahead”. The other agreement involves building a gas pipeline from Crib Point to Pakenham. The project for the 300 metre long floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) has yet to receive government approvals and the go ahead from the AGL board. Announcement on Tuesday of the…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines combined pace with a slick counter-attacking style to overrun Peninsula Strikers 5-2 in Saturday’s State 2 South-East derby at Centenary Park. Strikers started on a positive note and in the 6th minute a cross from Tommy Hawkins on the right set up Ryan Thompson whose shot was parried for a corner by Pines’ keeper Jarrod Nardino. Two minutes later Pines ruthlessly exposed the lack of pace in the Strikers’ defence when CJ Hodgson sent Mitch Lander clear through the middle and his left-foot strike from the edge of the area flew past advancing Strikers’ keeper Ash Kupre…
DIVISION TWO A SEVEN goal final quarter blitz from Tyabb has seen them secure their second win for the season, as they bested Devon Meadows and Bunguyan Reserve. Tyabb were slow out of the gates, and found themselves with their backs to the wall as they fell behind by 15 points at quarter time. They continued to slowly work their way into the game, and were only behind by a goal at the half time break. Devon Meadows continued to work hard but couldn’t stem the flow of goals, as Tyabb finally took the lead going into the three-quarter time…
DIVISION ONE SORRENTO have piled further misery on Frankston YCW, claiming victory in a bruising contest at David Macfarlane Reserve on Saturday. Coming off the back of three consecutive defeats, Frankston YCW faced a tough challenge to break their losing run against the in-form ladder leaders on Sorrento’s home turf. Sorrento initially looked the better team in the early stages of the match, going into the quarter time break with a comfortable buffer of 14 points. Chris Dawes looked to stamp his authority on the contest with a number of big early marks for Sorrento. He was matched up on…
MORNINGTON Cycles owner Brad Clarke competed in one of the world’s toughest mountain bike races in South Africa on Wednesday 28 March. Clarke partnered with common competitor, Rohin Adams, in the gruelling eight-day Absa Cape Epic race and covered more than 650km of rugged land. With 650 teams entered into the competition, the pair managed to claim third place in the Masters category (40-49 years old) and finished 30th overall. For Clarke, it was his second time attempting the race which included 13,530m of climbing – that’s one and half times higher than Mt Everest – and the first word…
A FOOTBALL match between the Frankston and Mornington juniors was played on Saturday last in the Frankston park when, after an interesting game the visitors suffered defeat by 10 points. Mr W. Cain umpired satisfactorily. We understand that Mornington has issued a challenge to play Frankston at Somerville, the losers to pay for a dinner. If the challenge is accepted an interesting game should result. *** IN the 407th and 408th casualty lists, recently published by the Defence department appear the names of two Peninsula soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice – Pte. E. E. Cook of Somerville and…
A MT ELIZA woman who had to leave school when she was 14 is now, aged 75, about to graduate from Deakin University with a PhD (Psychology). Ann Brown’s school in England wanted her to continue with her education but her parents could not afford it. They also believed that an education was “wasted on a female”. So, it was off to work for the bright youngster who says she enjoyed office work and went on, at 18, to become personal assistant to the editor of the Sunday Times newspaper in London. “Choosing office work stood me in good stead…
CO-ED school Peninsula Grammar is seeking an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act to allow it to “better manage” gender numbers in its classes. Principal Stuart Johnston told the school’s alumni that the exemption would allow it to structure waiting and enrolment lists, allocate placements, and advertise or offer scholarships to either boys or girls depending on the genders it needed to balance numbers. The Mt Eliza school, which has 41 per cent girls and 59 per cent boys after becoming fully co-educational in 1996, is seeking to extend the exemption granted by VCAT in 2013 for a further five-year…