WHILE it’s more common to see CFA volunteers fighting fires in the bush, their Coast Guard counterparts are also around to keep boaties safe when there’s smoke on the water. This year, the Coast Guard volunteers are celebrating 10 years of protecting bays and waterways on the water, and by supporting their CFA land-based firefighting counterparts. The Coast Guard in Victoria began in 1961, with volunteers having the choice of training in marine firefighting for the past decade. Most flotillas are now also CFA brigades, with volunteers trained and prepared to battle all water-based incidents. Volunteers complete a marine firefighting…
Month: September 2018
WITHOUT any public announcement or the type of fanfare usually associated with “good news”, Mornington Peninsula Shire has installed signs proclaiming a small sandy beach at Mt Martha North to be “leash-free” for dogs. The appearance of the signs is the final admittance by the shire that the beach is part of Hawker Beach and should not have been so avidly patrolled by shire rangers over the 2017/18 summer. Rangers visited the beach more than 40 times, warning dog owners that their pets were not allowed there – on or off leash. The shire admitted its mistake only after being…
THEY might be among the most common animals in our backyards, but they are also among the least seen. Microbat expert Dr Casey Visintin will reveal much about these flying animals during a talk at the Australian Garden Auditorium, Cranbourne Gardens. Microbats are among the most common animals in our backyards and in bushland. They come out at night to feed on insects. Children are much more likely to hear their high-pitched squeaks at night than adults. Microbats use echo-location (sonar) to navigate and hunt and consume huge numbers of insects each night, including mosquitoes and other pest insects. Through…
STATE planning minister Richard Wynne is expected to decide before the end of the month on the need for power company AGL to undertake full environmental studies into the effects of a floating gas terminal at Crib Point. AGL and APA Transmission – which, if approved, will build a gas pipeline from Crib Point to Pakenham – submitted details of their proposals to Mr Wynne last Tuesday (11 September). Later that night Mornington Peninsula Shire called for “a state government-run transparent consultation process [into the importation of gas] that includes examining environmental effects and problems associated with the proposed 60…
SOUTH East Water crews were busy last week trying to repair a broken pipe which sent raw sewage cascading down the Earimil Steps escarpment into Earimil Creek. Mt Eliza resident Des Berry said he found a waterfall (“or should that be effluent fall”) of raw sewage on his regular beach walk Wednesday morning, 12 September, which flowed to the beach. “The dirty brown and very smelly discharge emanated from a broken sewage main at the top of the cliff near the Earimil lookout,” he said. “At the north end of Ranelagh beach [the] South East Water pumping station receives the…
Unexpected erosion has caused delays and a change in engineers’ plans to protect crumbling cliffs at Mt Martha North beach. The use of a geotextile sand tube was abandoned after several storms in June and July. Instead, the wall designed to prevent further erosion at the base of the cliff will be built solely using geotextile blankets and rocks. Sand will still be imported from the beach north of the Balcombe Estuary “to top up the beach and inhibit undermining of the [cliff] toe”, according to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Beach box owners have been told…
THE owner of a motor launch washed ashore at Fisherman’s beach, Mornington, on Friday hired an excavator to dig a channel so that another boat could drag it into deep water. The master of the 11.8 metre steel boat told Parks Victoria he expected to have it re-floated “on the next high tide”. Parks Victoria acting manager moorings and port services Stuart Wardrop said he was working with the man to get the unnamed boat back into the water “as soon as practical, given the clear weather conditions”. Mr Wardrop said the home-made boat had been anchored off Mornington pier…
RED Hill artist Jennifer Riddle has been voted by exhibition visitors as the winner of the Mercury People’s Choice Award in the 2018 Hadley’s Art Prize, with her depiction of a Red Hill garden cloaked in mist. The $5000 prize was a welcome surprise to Riddle, who visited the exhibition during its opening in July when local artist Neil Haddon took out the $100,000 landscape prize with his War of the Worlds inspired artwork. The Hadley is considered to be the world’s richest landscape art prize. Riddle, who was also the recipient of the People’s Choice Award for the Glover…
AN experienced Pt Leo surfer paddled out to rescue a teenage girl stranded in choppy and gusty conditions last week. Hastings police Sergeant John Cannon said the girl, 18, got into trouble on her board at popular Suicide break just north of the Pt Leo Lifesaving Club, 12.45pm, Tuesday 11 September. She had been surfing with a friend when they got into difficulties in the strong north wind and current and was exhausted. With conditions deteriorating, her companion managed to paddle ashore and alert authorities. The girl was unable to follow him. First Constable Daniel Crisp, of Hastings police, said…
A WOMAN on the run after she and her male friend crashed a stolen car on the Frankston Freeway last week ran across eight lanes of traffic to escape police causing two cars to collide. Detective Senior Constable Ryan Collins, of Frankston CIU, said the couple was driving a stolen Nissan Pulsar towards Carrum Downs when they left the road and ran into a fence. Both jumped out and ran off towards the Eastlink turnoff, with other motorists reporting the incident to triple zero. Police set up a cordon to corral them but the woman, 31, allegedly ran off and…
FRANKSTON Hospital could be set to receive a major facelift, after the state Labor government promised $562 million for its ongoing development should the party be re-elected in November. Plans for the hospital include a new 11-storey building housing 120 new hospital beds, two operating theatres, and 13 emergency department beds. Premier Daniel Andrews visited the hospital on 10 September to announce that a re-elected state Labor government would deliver on the project. “We said we’d build a bigger emergency department at Frankston Hospital and we have, but there’s more to do,” Mr Andrews said. “Only Labor will transform Frankston…
CAMPAIGNING for the 24 November state election is already underway, although just one of the major parties seems to have acknowledged the existence of the Mornington Peninsula. With the peninsula’s three state seats – Nepean, Mornington and Hastings – solidly held by the Liberals, Labor could be seen as already accepting there will be no change. The Premier Daniel Andrews and even newly-anointed Prime Minister Scott Morrison have been active in neighbouring marginal Frankston, but neither has seen fit to wander any further south. Frankston is held for Labor with a slim majority by Paul Edbrooke. He is being opposed…
FIFTY-SIX active and engaged groups on the Mornington Peninsula are waiting anxiously to see the results of the Pick My Project “competition” being run by the state government. The Victorian-first community grants program is offering at least $1 million to clubs, groups and associations as well as a range of independent bright ideas from people working for their communities. They are all vying with one another to win public online support – or votes – for projects ranging from lighting at football ovals, paths for the disabled, club extensions to music afternoons, yoga and suicide prevention. Voting closed Monday 17…
A FREE community expo during Anti-Poverty Week (14-20 October) offers “support and hope to anyone experiencing hardship”. The expo will raise awareness and address issues around housing affordability and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Housing Network is holding several activities during the week and is encouraging community groups and service organisations to help highlight the issues surrounding poverty and hardship. The expo will enable those on low incomes and Centrelink payments to learn more about services that can easily and affordably be accessed. It will offer giveaways, information and low cost products, including food, dental health checks, haircuts,…
WHILE most young people on the Mornington Peninsula have the benefits of living within strong family structures supported by positive role models and a sound education improving their job prospects – many do not. That’s why the innovative Passport to my Future program is so important. The YMCA Peninsula Youth Service initiative is designed to give young people “a helping hand” to seek work placement and employment opportunities. It provides employers with a better insight into the capabilities and achievements of young people keen to enter the workforce. Rosebud Hotel is an enthusiastic founding supporter of the “Passport to My…
Police are appealing for information following a suspicious house fire in Blairgowrie this month. The blaze broke out about 5.30pm on Father’s Day, 2 September, completely destroying the Fawkner Avenue home. No one was inside the house at the time. The fire has since been deemed suspicious. Investigators are hoping to speak to anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour leading up to the fire, particularly around Fawkner Avenue, Langdon Avenue, Hughes Road and Point Nepean Road. They are also keen to speak to anyone who may have dash cam footage between the hours of 5pm and 6.30pm. Anyone…
A PERFORMANCE space, market space, and nature-based play area, is being built at Balnarring to encourage outdoor recreation activities while residents make friends with other visitors. The first sod for the works at the Civic Court Reserve was turned Friday 31 August. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne joined Cr David Gill, MP Daniel Mulino, Balnarring Bendigo Bank chair Heather Goddard and members of Balnarring Village Common Community Group on a rather wet day. Also on hand were teachers and pupils from Balnarring Preschool who often use the vacant reserve for outdoor play and activities. The $640,000 project includes $290,000 from…
AUSTRALIA’S new Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made first visit to Frankston as leader, visiting Leawarra station to reaffirm the federal government’s $228 million commitment to electrifying the Frankston train line to Baxter. Member for Dunkley Chris Crewther MP, Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge MP, and Victorian leader of the opposition Matthew Guy MP were among the many faces on hand to support the statement. “This is a project which we announced in the budget, this is a commitment that is fair-dinkum. I’m really pleased to hear about the commitment from Matthew Guy and his team…
A RE-ELECTED Andrews Labor government will spend $562 million to build an 11-storey tower at Frankston Hospital. The announcement was made at the hospital by Premier Daniel Andrews and state health minister Jill Hennessy on Monday morning. Building will start in 2020 with completion by 2024. The project will include 120 beds, two operating theatres, maternity ward, obstetrics ward, women’s clinic, children’s ward and special care nursery. Two floors will accommodate mental health services. An integrated cancer ward and day clinic will treat people who currently have to travel to Melbourne for treatment. Mr Andrews said the project would create…
THE former Russian fighter plane that crashed in Gippsland last week killing the pilot was previously owned by a member of Peninsula Aero Club, Tyabb. The single engine Yakovlev Yak-9UM fighter crashed near Moe, Friday 7 September. The pilot’s name had not been released yesterday (Monday). Long-time Tyabb resident Jim Wickham sold the plane to its new owners, based at the LaTrobe Valley Airport, near Traralgon, late last year and it flew east in February. Classic Aviation News reported that the Yak-9 was the only example of the type in Australia. It was built in Russia in 2004. First published…
SEAWEED and litter build-up on Tassels Cove beach at Martha Cove is irritating one user who thinks the council should make a bigger splash in its clean-up efforts. Ken May said the Marine Drive beach, between Mt Martha cliff and the entrance to the marina, was “neglected” by the council: “I and others who use the beach for many years have been disappointed with the lack of any significant plan and upkeep,” he said. “Perhaps a more appropriate name would be Mornington Peninsula Dirty Beach.” Mr May said in April he decided that, as the condition had got so bad,…
CONSTRUCTION on the Mornington Little Athletics Centre’s new $2 million IAAF standard athletics track at Civic Reserve, Mornington has started to get underway. Civil work construction commenced a few weeks ago to level out the dirt and create an even surface for their new track to be built on, and the little athletes are on track to be competing on the new surface by October 2019. Mornington Little Aths president Todd Martin said that with a bit of luck, the club should be on the track by the start of their 2019/20 season. “We always thought it would be around…
SOCCER Adam Jamieson’s return to Mornington and Baxter’s escape from relegation are the major stories to emerge from last weekend’s final round of the league season. Mornington will announce this week that Jamieson has been appointed as head coach for 2019. It will be his second stint at the club after stepping down last May citing work commitments as the main reason for his departure. Jamieson first took the reins at Dallas Brooks Park in 2009 and led Mornington from Provisional League to the doorstep of the NPL winning State 1 championships in 2015 and 2016. “A big part of…
HOCKEY MORNINGTON Peninsula Hockey Club goalkeeper, Julia Ashmore, represented Australia for the first time in the over-45s Masters World Cup in Terrassa, Spain from Saturday 28 July to Sunday 5 August. Ashmore entered the Australian side with little expectations for the World Cup but returned home just one spot shy of earning a bronze medal. Ashmore helped the national side match it with the world’s best in the scorching conditions, and after claiming four of their five matches in the group stage, Australia made their way through to the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Australia faced the in-form English side, which…
DIVISION ONE SORRENTO has earned their way through to the MPNFL Division One Grand Final with a win over Mt Eliza at Frankston Park. The game got off to a great start for Sorrento, as Shannon Gladman opened the scoring with an impressive banana kick. Mt Eliza quickly replied though, as last weeks seven goal superstar Jordan Moncrieff snagged an early goal. Mt Eliza went behind early but fought back in the second term, as an unlikely bounce saw the ball fall into the lap of Moncrieff, who put the Redlegs within two points. The Sharks soon fell behind, and…
DIVISION TWO DROMANA have held Red Hill at bay to claim the 2018 MPNFL Division Two premiership at Frankston Park. The Tigers lost just two games for the entire year, with both their defeats coming at the hands of Red Hill. The Hillmen have improved in leaps and bounds this season under coach Jamie Mollo, and having defeated Dromana just two weeks earlier in their first final they entered the Grand Final full of confidence. Red Hill’s quest to claim their first premiership since 1990 hit a snag early, when Rheede Hopgood was struck down before the match with a…
LANCE Corporal Lyle Holland late driver for the Peninsula Motor Garage Pty Ltd Frankston has been wounded (second occasion) in France. *** MESSRS T. R. B. Morton and Son report, having leased, through J. L. Parkes, one of their auctioneers, Mrs Boag’s property at Dromana, for a term of years. *** A FOOTBALL match between Frankston and Hastings will be played at Frankston today. Last Saturday Mordialloc visited Frankston, and after an interesting game, won by 2 points. *** AN order has been made by the Executive Council providing that all butchers’ shops within the shire of Frankston and Hastings…
THE cause of a house fire at Blairgowrie, Sunday 2 September, is being investigated by police. No one was at the two-storey brick house in Fawkner Avenue when the blaze broke out at 5.30pm. However, police want to identify two-three men in their 20s seen earlier trying to put out the flames before CFA crews arrived. One was wearing a red track suit. Firefighters from Sorrento, Rye and Rosebud worked hard to control the blaze. Anyone knowing the men or who assisted with the house fire is asked to call Detective Sergeant John Coburn, at Mornington Peninsula CIU, 5978 1431.…
A DESIRE to give something back to the community after she retired prompted occupational therapist Pamela Farrington to start the Mt Martha creative group Painting with Parkinson’s. Now, however, she realises the benefits run both ways: “All the members are my friends and I value them so much that I am the one who feels blessed.” Ms Farrington has been running PWP for eight years “to give people with Parkinson’s a fun, creative outlet with others who are dealing with various symptoms of the neurological disease”. “We start off with simple, seated exercise which has been found to stimulate neural…
SUSTAINABLE House Day will be celebrated at the Eco Living Display Centre at The Briars, 10am-4pm, Sunday 16 September. The day provides an opportunity for those interested in sustainability to observe all the features of leading “green” homes and experience how they are environmentally friendly, cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in. The centre features a range of energy-saving practices, including solar power with battery back-up, lighting, heat pumps for water/heating, ventilation, insulation, window covering and glazing. It also has greywater recycling, water tanks, flow restrictors on taps and shower heads, and water-efficient appliances. The garden has been…