Month: October 2018

THE Frankston Progress Association, at its last monthly meeting decided to organise funds for a memorial in Frankston to the late Sir John Madden. If sufficient funds are received it is proposed to erect a large brick pavilion in the Frankston Park, at a cost of about £3000. The president is personally supervising and organising the collecting of donations, which, it is hoped, will come from all parts of Australia. Over his own signature the president personally addressed and directed a total of 2000 letters to friends of the late Chief Justice. The following is a copy of the letter…

THE architects behind the $80 million redevelopment of Sorrento’s renaissance-inspired Continental Hotel say they want to recreate the charms of the “marvellous Melbourne” boom period of when it was built. Six Degrees Architects will aim to complete the public bar and bistro, fine-dining restaurant and champagne bar in September 2019. This will be followed one year later by a “world-class” hotel, wellness centre, cafe and wine bar, day spa and gym, events and function rooms. The National Trust-listed Ocean Beach Road hotel, built in 1875 by the “Father of Sorrento”, comedian, actor, entrepreneur and politician George Coppin, is said to…

Running for the train will take on a whole new meaning next month when the steam train K163 competes for speed against a group of children. Mt Eliza Rotary Club, Mornington Railway and Peninsula Health have again teamed up to run the Kids’ Fun Run with K163 to raise money for Frankston Hospital’s paediatric ward and special care unit. “I think the Kids Fun Run with K163 is a very important event because the paediatric and special care units are here to provide world-class care for children and families in our local community,” Peninsula Health’s clinical director of paediatrics Dr…

Although they may be several hours’ drive away from the nearest forest, motorists heading south along Nepean Highway, Mt Eliza last week witnessed part of the protests aimed at getting the premier Daniel Andrews to stop logging in Victoria’s native forests. The walkway over the highway near Mt Eliza Way and Wooralla Drive – traditionally used to proclaim anniversaries and birthdays – was used as a platform for banners calling on the Premier to “Save our Forest Dan” and “Protect our Wildlife”. The walkway was also used recently by groups opposed to AGL importing gas through Crib Point. The politicisation…

Entries from interstate will be among the 850 works exhibited at next year’s Mornington Art Show. One of the feature artists at the show will be Kathy Van E and the art show judge is Lyn Mellady, who will also exhibit some of her work. One of the show’s organisers, John Renowden, said the Mornington Art Show “remains as the biggest and best quality art show on the Mornington Peninsula and one of the best in Victoria, according to the comments of various show judges and submitting artists”. Being held by Mornington Rotary Club for the 47th year, the show…

MELBOURNE’S Spring Racing Carnival means more to Lorraine Reeves than thundering hooves and two dollar place bets. The Mt Martha fashion designer is gearing up for her first Fashions on the Field contest at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day after being named as a top 10 finalist in the Emerging Designer Award category. Ms Reeves says she wanted to be a designer since she was a teenager but didn’t have the opportunity to study fashion when she finished school. “However, I have been a dressmaker my whole life and, even without formal study and being mostly self-taught, I have made…

A FENCE stopping access to The Pillars rock jumping platforms at Mt Martha is to be built before summer. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the situation at The Pillars “is out of control and the only option is to close it off permanently”. The shire will also declare a 200 metre exclusion zone for boats and water craft out from the cliff face. The move seemingly defies directions from the government in 2016 not to build a fence. The latest decision to build a fence followed legal advice which stressed the shire could be “liable” if someone…

Builders and owners have paid tens of thousands of dollars in fines and costs in a crackdown on building regulations by Mornington Peninsula Shire. With 15 more prosecutions underway, the seven successful actions taken by the shire since May have involved: The construction of retaining walls with no building permit at Mt Martha: Owner fined $22,500 with costs of $20,000. Alterations to dwelling and bungalow at Rye with no building permit: Builder fined $25,000 plus costs. Construction of garage and carport with no building permit at Rye: Owner fined $15,000 plus costs Construction of basement and dwelling additions with no…

MORNINGTON Peninsula detectives were last week searching for five of seven cars stolen from Jeff Wignall Ford, Hastings, 2.20am, Tuesday 9 October. Company spokesman David Christianson said burglars smashed a door to the dealership in Frankston-Flinders Road and stole keys to the cars. Four were new and three used cars. The keys also allowed the offenders to remove security bollards out front to make their getaway. The burglars used one of the stolen cars, a Subaru Outback, to rob a K-Mart store in Hall Road, Carrum Downs, at 1.50am next day. Two men reportedly used a crowbar to steal three…

A MAN with “extensive local government experience in the UK combined with commercial expertise developed as lead partner at both Ernst and Young and KPMG in the UK and Australia” is Mornington Peninsula Shire’s new CEO. John Baker was last week named to succeed Carl Cowie who left Friday 30 August after almost four years at the helm to take up the vacant CEO’s position at Nillumbik, in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. The new CEO will pocket a yearly $380,000 over his four-year term with annual salary reviews. Likewise, his performance will be reviewed annually by the council…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is seeking expressions of interest to turn a former tip into a solar energy plant. The proposed plant at 119 Truemans Road, Capel Sound would use banks of solar panels to generate electricity to be bought by the shire, or sold back to the grid and used to power thousands of homes in surrounding suburbs. The winning tenderer would build, own and run the plant for 25 years, with possible options for a longer term. However, the capital-free solar generation and battery farm EoI campaign, which closed Monday 8 October, may have unintentionally excluded the company which…

A THREE-DAY walk to “touch base” with every police station on the Mornington Peninsula is Superintendent Adrian White’s way of getting an important message across to his staff. He wants to encourage police to reflect on and, hopefully, initiate discussions with support groups or seek help to prevent their suffering ongoing mental illness or harm. Superintendent White was planning to cover the 100 kilometres over three days – Friday 12 October to Sunday 14 October – from Carrum Downs police station to Sorrento police station to raise awareness of mental health issues that he says are “increasing among our current…

Mornington Peninsula Shire has employed two investigators and two prosecutors in a crackdown on illegal buildings. Seven owners or builders have been prosecuted in the past five months and a further 15 cases are already listed with the Magistrates Court or are under investigation. The investigators and prosecutors make up a “compliance arm” in the shire’s statutory building unit. The team is responsible for the investigation, enforcement and prosecution of breaches of the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018. The court has imposed fines of up to $25,000 for works done without a building permit as well as…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will spend $1.74 million over the next six months preparing the site for the $43.5 million Rosebud Aquatic Centre. The council chose one of six tenders for preliminary works on the Besgrove Street site. Infrastructure project manager Elliott Reid said the work included constructing a 380-space car park, exposed aggregate footpaths, pram ramps, concrete kerb and channel, vegetation removal, line marking, signs, electrical connections, lighting and landscaping. Drainage works include a “water sensitive urban design”. The council has supported a “fast-tracked approach” to finish the aquatic centre by September 2020. Public support for the 50-metre pool was…

National under-16 long jump champion Aiden Hinson on Saturday made the first jump on Western Port Little Athletics Club’s new long jump track to open the season. The club member took to the air after Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Kate Roper and Flinders MP Greg Hunt cut the ribbon to declare the runway open. Mr Hunt also tried the jump and was quickly followed by club member, Kayla Trezise. The new track – step up from the old asphalt runway – was paid for by the the shire, the federal government and Western Port Secondary College. “Aiden has shown how…

Police are investigating after a dog was attacked and left with serious slash injuries at Capel Sound last month. The incident happened on Point Nepean Road just before midnight on 29 September. A witness told police that he saw two men attacking the dog, Bear, after it had been involved in a fight with their dog. The witness said that following the fight, one of the men put their dog into their car before both men were involved in attacking Bear with a sharp instrument. Police are appealing for anyone with information or any householders who may have CCTV footage…

PENINSULA MOOROODUC have posted an impressive total against Crib Point to claim the first win of their season. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Moorooduc openers Ben Williams and Thilana Rajakaruna got things off to a perfect start. Williams has particularly impressive, notching up seven fours and two massive sixes on his way to a total of 78 before being dismissed. Rajakaruna hit nine fours of his own, as his side flew to a total of 6/209 from their 40 overs. Crib Point posted a respectable total in response, but an impressive bowling performance by Reece Cordeaux…

SOCCER SKYE United, Baxter, Peninsula Strikers and Southern United have announced their senior coaches for the 2019 season. Skye appointed former Langwarrin midfielder Phil McGuinness last weekend. Peninsula Strikers announced last Wednesday that former Frankston Pines and recent Knox City coach Danny Verdun was taking over and the following day Baxter announced that George Hughes had been appointed as head coach. Southern United announced the appointment of Washington Castillo as senior coach last Friday. McGuinness is a former Skye player and assistant coach who joined the club after playing with Langwarrin and coaching the reserves at Lawton Park to the…

FREEDMAN Racing’s star sprinters, Shoals and Santa Ana Lane, are right on target for the $13 million The Everest after running the quinella in the Group Two Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday 29 October. Santa Ana Lane (first) and Shoals (second) left several Everest competitors in their wake, including last year’s Everest winner Redzel, after scorching the turf to run a track record of 1.07.45s. Mornington-based trainer Anthony Freedman said it will just be about keeping them at their peak for the feature event on Saturday 13 October. “They are easy horses to travel and both have done a…

PENINSULA Boxers, Rueben Higgins and Bailey Seabourne, have walked away with two dominant victories at the Reggio Calabria Club on Sunday 16 September. Seabourne made it a winning return to the sport after having more than two years out of the ring. In his first time fighting as an elite boxer and under his new head coach Marcos Amado, Seabourne rose two weight divisions and easily accounted for his opposition, giving him a standing eight count before claiming the victory via technical knockout in the final round. Peninsula Boxing head coach Marcos Amado said it was great to see Seabourne…

MR and Mrs J. Scott and family deplore the sad loss of their dearly beloved little son and brother, the late Raymond John Scott who died at his parents residence Somerville, on the 25th September 1918, aged four years and three months. He died of heart failure after being a long and patient little sufferer of five months, although so ill he was so keen and bright until nearly the last. He leaves behind him his sorrowing parents, four sisters and a brother to mourn his very sad end. The funeral arrangements are in the hands of Mr Hector Gamble…

THE Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is excited to bring its finest players, and a gorgeous repertoire, to Frankston Arts Centre for a wondrous evening of classical music. Celebrate Beethoven’s gleaming diamond of the chamber repertory in this special program which also features works by Ravel and Richard Strauss, highlighting the strength of the orchestra’s strings, woodwind and brass. The program will feature Richard Strauss’ Hasenöhrl Till Eulenspiegel (einmal anders), Ravel’s Duo for violin and cello and Beethoven’s Septet. Enjoy an evening of classical music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, November 3, at 8pm. There will also be a pre-show…

Removing a small bridge over Hearn Creek on Mt Martha South Beach has stopped beach boxes being undermined, but is presenting a new hazard for pedestrians. Those accessing the beach across the creek must walk over concrete covered with slippery weed. After rain, the creek is too wide to step over and, under certain conditions, the flows create what can only be described as quicksand where the creek enters the sea. Two main access points across the creek to the southern section of the beach are then effectively closed or compromised. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s project delivery manager Derek Rotter, said…

Young athletes and soccer players were at Civic Reserve, Mornington on Friday to officially signal the beginning of a $3 million revitalisation project. Works have been underway for several weeks on the redevelopment of the home of Mornington Little Aths and the Mt Martha Soccer Club. Work is expected to be completed by October 2019. The athletics track is costing $2 million while $1 million has been allocated to soccer. The money, which comes from Mornington Peninsula Shire and the federal government, capped a week of pledges made to sports clubs in the lead up to the 24 November state…

GREEN waste can be dumped for free at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transfer stations on 19, 20 and 21 October. The stations are at Truemans Road Rye, McKirdys Road Tyabb, and Watt Road Mornington. Opening hours are 8am-4pm Friday and 8am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Residents or ratepayers may dispose of waste using residential vehicles and trailers, with no commercial vehicles or commercial green waste accepted. Green waste includes all types of garden waste and untreated timber. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s licence with a current address or current rates notice, will be requested. Residents can opt-in to receive a…

BOOMERANG bag volunteers on the southern peninsula played host to the originators of the recyclable cloth bag movement at a breakfast at the Cooee cafe, Capel Sound, last week. Founders Tania Potts and Jordyn de Boer, as well as Anthony Hill, of Plastic Pollution Solutions, came from Queensland to meet and acknowledge the work of their southern counterparts in making the bags and spreading the word. “They came to meet us because we have such great Boomerang bag support here on the peninsula,” Seawinds Capel Sound Boomerang bag coordinator Val Rowe said. “It was a meeting for all of the…

DEDICATED cyclist Graeme Rocke has a plan for a safe, easily accessible and environmentally responsible bike and foot path between the Peninsula Link Trail at Moorooduc with the Southern Peninsula Trail at Safety Beach. Mr Rocke, 61, of Mornington, wants a commitment from political candidates to finance the project, either before November’s state election or next year’s federal election. He says the path will make use of existing infrastructure where possible. A year will be needed for planning and two years for construction. A member of three cycling groups, Mr Rocke said he considered four potential routes “all having many…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is increasing its pressure for recycled waste water from the Eastern Treatment Plant made available for firefighting and agriculture. With a state election on 24 November the shire wants the major political parties to take a bipartisan approach and agree to lay a pipeline to pump recycled water to Arthurs Seat from Dromana. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the water could be gravity fed to fire hydrants strategically placed on the main ridge and in coastal villages for “quick filling points for trucks in a fire emergency – instead of [existing] isolated tanks which may…

HART Marine staff treated their newest creation with kid gloves as it was driven slowly down Main Street, Mornington for its launching at the public club boat ramp last week. The 15.6 metre fibreglass Queensland police boat will operate out of Hervey Bay. Its French ORC Pantocarene design wave-piercing hull is powered by two MTU Series 60 engines producing 615kw of power at 2300 rpm. The ORC hull is said to provide fast and fuel efficient running, combined with excellent sea-keeping. Fuel capacity is 3500 litres. The vessel sleeps four people and is fitted with Garmin navigational aids. This is…

THE Victorian Seniors Festival got off to a flying start with a Get Active Expo at YMCA Camp Manyung last week. Pam Platter, above, was just one of the seniors took the opportunity to get active on the giant swing and ropes courses, while enjoying other activities and stalls. The festival aims to celebrate the lives of seniors and arrange activities that normally would not be available. The YMCA program encourages seniors to not let their age restrict them and get active in the great outdoors. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 9 October 2018