Month: September 2018

A $15,000 grant to Cerberus Cottage will enable it to deliver courses, gatherings, events and services for Australian Defence Force families. The money for the HMAS Cerberus-based centre is part of $1.4 million provided by the federal government for not-for-profit organisations to deliver community programs for Defence families. “The family support funding will enable [us] to provide a multitude of programs, including our youth connection program, fire safety program, cooking and budget courses, AUSLAN, swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, coffee mornings, playgroups and group fitness training just to name a few,” coordinator Julie Prentice said. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the…

CRIME Statistics Agency figures released last week show a 6.5 per cent drop in crime on the Mornington Peninsula in the 12 months to June. Local Area Commander Inspector Janene Denton said while there was “still a lot of work to be done, it is positive to see the number of recorded offences on the peninsula area has started to decrease”. “Thanks to the hard work of local police we’ve seen significant decreases in aggravated burglaries (25.3 per cent) and residential burglaries (18.8 per cent),” she said. “We know this type of offending has been a real concern for the…

MODERN and affordable homes for low-income families will be built on the site of a former college at Crib Point which was being demolished this week. Habit for Humanity is building “at least five” single detached homes on the 3300 square metre property formerly occupied by the Victorian Academy of Fine Arts, in Stony Point Road. The site has been abandoned for about seven years. “Having a safe and secure home is fundamentally linked to our well-being,” Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s executive director Philip Curtis said. He could not say how many homes would be built before town planning approvals…

DIVISION ONE Sorrento SORRENTO bounced back brilliantly from their early season dramas, which saw coach Tony Blackford replaced Luke Tapscott in rushed circumstances. The Sharks had an excellent home and away season and looked unbeatable at times, before running out of steam at the wrong time during finals. Despite a disappointing after the siren Grand Final loss, Sorrento can take pride in the fact that they proved themselves this season with their new Peninsula league opponents. In Mitch Hallahan, James Hallahan, and Luke Tapscott they boast an impressive midfield, who provided great service to their quality tall timber all year.…

SOCCER THE silly season exploded into action last week with Jamie Skelly, Billy Armour and Scott Morrison taking a spin on the annual coaching merry-go-round. And more local clubs will join in shortly with newly created coaching vacancies at Peninsula Strikers and Skye United, Baxter still searching for a senior coach and rumours of change at Frankston Pines. Skelly was appointed assistant to Scott Miller at Langwarrin last week. He is a former Langy player, reserves coach and senior assistant who has now finished a second stint as senior coach of Peninsula Strikers. “This is an opportunity to further my…

MORNINGTON Pirates Baseball Club has topped off a thrilling season with two grand final victories on Saturday 1 September and Sunday 9 September. The Pirates’ Senior C2 side scored a narrow one-run victory over Berwick at the Bonbeach Bluejays ground in Chelsea on Sunday 9 September, while the under-16s Junior Pirates’ side landed a convincing win against Frankston Red to take out their grand final, the week prior. Mornington Baseball Club president Matt Hardie said it was a top effort by all five of their final’s sides to make it so far. “It’s the most we’ve had playing in the…

A FOOTBALL match between Frankston and Mornington was played at Mornington on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for the home team by a substantial majority. *** A “BACK to Childhood” dance the proceeds of which will go to the Frankston Roll of Honor fund, will be held in the Frankston Mechanics’ on Saturday (this) evening. Tickets priced at 2s are selling freely, and patrons are assured an enjoyable time. Prizes for the best sustained character, lady and gentlemen, will be given. *** MR J. A. Cameron notifies in another column that he has commenced business as a horseshoer…

A POLICE car responding to an “urgent job” last week collided with another car injuring an elderly woman. Both cars sustained significant damage. The Mornington-based Ford Territory police vehicle was travelling along Nepean Highway at the Bungower Road intersection when it ran into the woman’s car as it turned onto Nepean Highway, noon, Wednesday 19 September. Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Cooke, of Mornington police, said the patrol car, with “lights flashing and siren sounding”, had slowed as it entered the intersection. “The middle and right-hand-lane traffic had stopped but the elderly driver, in her 80s, may not have seen the…

Steve Bastoni’s often on call. He’s an actor and is ready to fit into a role at a director’s discretion. But his job also has a lot to do with timing and he knows “hurrying is just not worth it, especially if you’re driving”. Bastoni, pictured, has taken on the role of ambassador for next month’s Arthurs Seat Challenge, the 6.7 kilometre run/walk that raises money to spread the Fit to Drive program’s road safety message in schools throughout the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston. “I’ve never been a participant before, but this year I’ll be giving it a red hot…

RAMSAY House, at Rendlesham Avenue, Mt Eliza, has won this year’s Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards in the category: Restoration of a Heritage Place. The house was designed and built by Roy Grounds in 1937 as a family holiday house on the cliff overlooking Ranelagh Beach. The small cottage is one of the few remaining early houses built at Ranelagh. The restoration was overseen by his daughter, Victoria Grounds. Roy Grounds also designed the round house at the bottom of Olivers Hill at Frankston South; the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 1959–68; and the Arts Centre Melbourne, also…

A SPATE of barbecue fires has prompted the CFA to urge Mornington Peninsula residents to “look before you cook”. Mornington station officer Geoff Barker said spring weather had prompted residents to get out and fire up their barbecues – without being aware of gas leaks which have caused fires. “One resident was lucky to escape with just singed hairs after a gas leak ignited by barbecue flames caused a gas cylinder to catch fire in their alfresco area,” officer Barker said. “Firefighters were on the scene within four minutes. They cooled and protected the cylinder prior to closing the valve…

MORNINGTON father-of-three Ian Thompson felt his head go “cloudy”, couldn’t think straight and became disoriented; to make matters worse, he began to lose his vision. Although the 64-year-old did not know it at the time, he was having a stroke. “After meeting other stroke survivors I feel lucky, as if I had dodged a bullet,” he said last week. “Thankfully, the staff at Frankston Hospital’s emergency department recognised the signs and responded so quickly.” The stroke hit while he was working on his arrows at Frankston Archery Club. “I was using this new solvent to repair the arrows and it’s…

DESPITE hours of meetings, speaking with residents, writing reports and to-ing and fro-ing with government departments, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is almost back to square one with its management of The Pillars. The council last week moved to adopt its draft long term management plan for the contentious cliff jumping site at Mt Martha and asked the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for more support to help manage the area. The council will now concentrate on making it safe for visitors to The Pillars; controlling traffic and parking; and running an “education and enforcement campaign”. In 2016, the…

WHEN generations come together, good things happen. That’s the message being learned through a social program at CraigCare Mornington in which youngsters from the Pelican Child Care Early Learning Centre visit the elderly residents to talk, read and sing. “Each week the children spend time with residents playing, reading stories, singing and making arts and crafts together,” manager Sarah Mitchel said. “This brings great joy to both the children and the residents and they look forward to it each week.” The youngsters absorb traditions and wisdom, while developing respect and empathy. At the same time, the elderly residents expand their…

THE policeman killed when hit by a car during a memorial motorcycle ride in Gippsland last week was serving at Somerville. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk, 59, was a member of the Mornington Peninsula family violence unit based in Eramosa Road West. He died when his motorbike collided with a car on the Princes Highway, near Orbost, Friday 14 September. The driver of the car, Jesse Reid, 21, of Botanic Ridge, later appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court charged with culpable driving and dangerous driving causing death. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court…

A NUMBER plate recognition camera, pictured, set up in Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington scanned 2506 sets of plates, 10.30am-1.30pm, Monday 17 September. The operation, run by Mornington and Somerville highway police, detected plates which were unregistered or stolen, as well as registered owners who are unlicensed or required to have alcohol interlock devices fitted. It also advises if the vehicle, or owner, is linked to outstanding sheriff’s fines. Nine drivers were fined for unlicensed or unregistered driving and two will be summonsed to appear at court for driving while suspended. Acting Sergeant Sarah Blackmore, of Mornington police, was pleased with the…

FOUR Mornington Peninsula cyclists will ride 1200km in Western Australia next month to raise $5000 for road safety programs for peninsula school children. Hayden Fenn, 35, of Frankston South, Scott Lovegreen, 43, of Mt Martha, Rhys Buzza, 42, of Mt Martha and Gregory Pratt, 48, of Mornington, plan to take 90 hours to complete the Perth-Albany-Perth ride, 1-4 October, organised by Audax Australia Cycling Club. The men are using the ride to prepare for the world-famous Paris-Brest-Paris epic next year. Fifteen peninsula students from 13 schools met up with The White Bike Foundation founder Chris Savage last week to wish…

FRANKSTON is the third worst electorate for rough sleeping of all of the state’s 88 electorates, as well as the eighth worst for people living in rooming houses. The Nepean region – from Rye to Portsea – is the fifth worst regional electorate for “severe crowding” out of all 33 regional electorates. Severe crowding is defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as a house where at least four extra bedrooms would be needed to accommodate the occupants. Many have multiple families living under one roof, or multiple adults and children sharing sleeping areas. Mornington is the 29th worst regional electorate for rough…

Power company AGL is considering bringing forward its offer of discounts for businesses along a proposed gas pipeline between Crib Point and Pakenham. The pipeline is an essential part of AGL’s plan to moor a 300 metre long floating gas terminal at Crib Point to process imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). In June AGL “guaranteed” to discount power prices to small businesses along the pipeline route from Crib Point to Pakenham if the floating terminal is approved by governments and its own board (“Contracts ‘advance’ AGL’s gas plan” The News 12/6/18). AGL senior manager – project engagement Kelly Parkinson has…

A $130 MILLION upgrade of South East Water’s Boneo water recycling plant will connect another 16,000 Mornington Peninsula properties to the Peninsula ECO scheme. The reticulated pressure sewer network is replacing septic tanks and mini-treatment plants which cause groundwater and waterway pollution on the southern peninsula. South East Water last week described the works upgrade as “pretty significant”. It will aim to provide for low-energy nutrient removal and energy recovery processes to achieve emissions targets of 45 per cent by 2025. It is expected 160 jobs and 10 apprenticeships will be created for the design, build operation and maintenance of…

Little did she know as she grew up, but it was probably inevitable that Alexandra Dellaportas’s artistic eye would see creative possibilities when learning about her wider family’s history. Talking with her grandfather while visiting Greece and learning about Greek mythology have led directly to her third dance production, Ariadne. Unlike the easy familial linking of the Mornington Peninsula-based director and choreographer to Greece, the story of the mythical Ariadne involves corrosive family relationships and her eventual escape from these bonds through a labyrinth built to hold the half man half bull Minotaur for her father King Minos. Dellaportas’s version…

REPRESENTATIVES of power company AGL on Saturday were met with chants and informed questions about their employer’s plans to moor a floating gas conversion plant at Crib Point. The 300 metre long floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) – if allowed to operate at Crib Point – will use seawater to turn imported liquefied natural gas back into gas before being piped to Pakenham. Save Westernport member Rod Knowles said “emotions were running high” at the AGL-arranged information session held at the RW Stone Pavilion, Somers. “The drop-in session was seen by AGL as an opportunity to explain to the…

THE Escape from Antarctica exhibition being shown by the Hastings-Western Port Historical Society focuses on the life and work of British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, right, whose expedition to Antarctica turned out to be one of the greatest survival stories of all time. More than 100 years ago, Shackleton set out on a bold plan to cross the frozen continent from coast to coast via the South Pole. His quest was steeped in the grand traditions of the British Empire and the glories that would come to the first to achieve the epic feat. With his ship trapped in the…

DIVISION ONE PINES have scored with a kick after the siren to claim a thrilling encounter with Sorrento and take out the 2018 MPNFL Division One Premiership in one of the greatest games in local football history. There was plenty of pregame drama before a ball was even bounced, as Chris Dawes was surprisingly named in the side despite an injury last week and Beau Hendry was named after narrowly escaping suspension during the week. James Hallahan kicked the first goal of the afternoon for the Sharks, which was badly needed to settle nerves. Both teams had showed nerves by…

MPJFL THE Mt Martha Junior Football Club had a massive hand in the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League grand finals which were held over the weekend of Saturday 8 September in Pearcedale. The Mounties relished the “perfect grand final atmosphere” over the two days, with five of their nine teams taking out their respective age-group grand finals. There were three sides from the Frankston District Junior Football League (Mt Eliza, Frankston Rovers and Seaford) that also added to the occasion, with Mt Eliza also managing to claim the grand final victory in the under-18s Girls grand final over Mt Martha.…

SOCCER SOUTHERN United will lay claim to having the best under-14 squad in Victoria if it wins next weekend’s grand final and records an historic second successive double. Last year the side coached by former Matilda and FFV Hall of Famer Deb Nichols and former Langwarrin, South Melbourne and Casey Comets keeper Emma Bracken won the under-13 NPLW championship and Grand Final. That cemented their status as the premier outfit in Victoria’s elite underage competition. This season the squad clinched the under-14 title in August and on Saturday defeated Victorian powerhouse South Melbourne 3-2 at Monterey Reserve in the under-14…

BLAIRGOWRIE boxer Jayde Mitchell is one step closer to his world championship title after a tough victory over former Australian champion Kerry Foley on Friday 7 September. Just as he’s overcome various injuries, Mitchell managed to pick himself up after suffering several blows from Foley in the sixth round, to take out the 10-round match-up at the Melbourne Pavilion. Mitchell, who sat just inside the top 10 world rankings prior to the fight, believes he will now jump into the top five following the victory. Mitchell said Foley would have to be one of the biggest hitters he has faced…

HE’S only 12-years-old, but Tyabb Motocross rider, Ty Godfrey, is quickly climbing the riding ranks and has claimed the Victorian Junior State Motocross Title on Saturday 1 September. The humble athlete has lived and breathed the sport since he could speak, making motor bike noises and riding his first quad bike by the age of two-years-old. While he wasn’t specifically aiming to take out the state title, Ty still managed to rack up victories in three of the four rounds at various tracks across Victoria. Ty’s only unplaced round came after dislocating his finger in the second lap, yet he…

MR. A. Downward,. M. L. A., is seriously indisposed at his residence, Mornington, and his medical adviser has enjoined complete rest. Last week Mr. Downard suffered a painful shock owing to the sudden death of his second daughter, Ethel, from heart trouble. *** A PUBLIC meeting of the residents of Seaford will be held this (Saturday) evening to consider the matter of selecting a school site. *** THE sale of Mr Stanley’s property at Bittern, advertised in last issue to take place on September 21st, will now be held on October 5th. Particulars will appear next issue. *** MISS Lillie…

THE Victorian coalition have made an election promise to expand the Protective Services Officers program to provide additional PSOs to Frankston and Mordialloc train stations between 10am and 6pm. Up to 20 stations identified as “daytime crime hotspots” will receive 100 additional transit PSOs on a new dayshift roster if the Liberal Nationals win the November state election. “A Liberal Nationals Government will make Victoria safer. We are going to put more police on the beat and more PSOs at train stations.  If we are going to encourage more people to use more public transport then we need to make…