SOCCER SOUTHERN United kicks off the 2019 season against one of the most cashed-up outfits in the NPLW when it hosts South Melbourne’s imposing women’s team at Monterey Reserve on Saturday. It is a massive challenge for a team that created records last season for all the wrong reasons finishing last in the elite competition with a solitary point having scored five goals and conceding 188. South Melbourne in stark contrast finished on top of the ladder and lost the Grand Final 3-1 to Bulleen. And Southern’s preparation has been far from ideal. “We go into the season with just…
Month: February 2019
SOME OF the best mountain bike racers from Victoria, interstate and overseas descended upon the Red Hill trail network on Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February. Red Hill has long been the preferred training ground for many state, national, and even world champions, but for the first time the trails were part of a tier one National Cross-Country Racing Series. Around 180 competitors lined up for rounds five and six of the Victorian Mountain Bike Championship Series with local shops and businesses also benefiting from the large numbers of hungry supporters and spectators flooding the race village. Members and…
GOLFERS from the Mornington Peninsula certainly aren’t lacking quality courses to choose from according to Golf Australia’s biennial top 100 rankings that were released on Wednesday 13 February. Golf courses on the Peninsula filled 10 per cent of the nation’s top 100 public access courses for 2019 with the list taking into account courses that are considered “pleasurable” for all golfers of every standard. The rankings were compiled over the past two years by Golf Australia editor Brendan James and a team of 32 other readers. It focussed on public access courses that offer tee times for visiting golfers, which…
MORNINGTON-based racehorse trainer Jason Warren couldn’t be any happier with his gun two-year-old Brooklyn Hustle’s return on Saturday 9 February despite finishing fifth in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) at Caulfield. Brooklyn Hustle was all the rage for the $1.5 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes on Saturday 23 February following her barnstorming last to first debut victory in December last year, but her most recent run has left some people questioning her capabilities. But, not her trainer, Jason Warren. “I thought it was a great run,” Warren said. “She ran the second fastest last 600m, 400m and 200m of…
MR Brierley, manager of the Frankston Gas and Electric Supply Works, has had a long and varied experience in his profession, but it remained to Frankston to provide him with something altogether out of the ordinary. All Tuesday night he and his staff had been endeavoring to find the cause of the block in the electric light current serving Melbourne Road and part of Frankston. He was expecting to find that a stray branch or twig was causing the damage, but the search was fruitless. It was not until daylight next morning that he found the cause of the obstruction. …
Author Fran Henke is about to publish the final chapters in her novel trilogy, A Fair Wind. However, the historical narrative so far has proved so absorbing that “I can see a fourth – I want to know what happens to the child of this third story”. If she writes another book in the Wind series – making it a quartet – Henke will have authored 23 books. But all that research into the past is in the future as Henke prepares to launch An Imperfect Calendar during next Sunday’s Hastings Festival (24 February). Her first novel in the series,…
Family and friends of Jannetje Witte went to The Bays aged care home in Hastings to celebrate her 100th birthday. Also at the afternoon tea on Tuesday 12 February were Hastings MP Neale Burgess, The Bays Healthcare Group CEO Elena Allen and other residents. Ms Witte was born in Texel, Holland where she also met her husband Tony, who died more than 20 years ago. The couple had four children, Margaret, Elizabeth, Rose and Theo, with Ms Witte working on farms to support their family during the Depression and World War II. They migrated to Australia in 1951, living in…
Mornington Peninsula Shire has been told it must immediately adopt strategies to tackle climate change. Minter Ellison special counsel Sarah Barker has told shire councillors and senior officers that climate change action and mitigation is a serious financial consideration for industries and communities across the globe. Ms Barker said strategies must immediately be integrated into all council activities to address climate change risks. She spoke on the approaches being taken by organisations worldwide, including the World Economic Forum, global banks, ratings agencies and insurance agencies to cope with its impacts. The mayor Cr David Gill said the council wanted to…
THE invasive pest phylloxera hasn’t got a foothold in the Mornington Peninsula’s estimated 1000 hectares of grape vines – yet. And that’s why the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons’ Association and Agriculture Victoria have launched a campaign to prevent it gaining a foothold. Mornington Peninsula Shire is also in the fight seeking “insider knowledge” of the presence of the pest in every nook and cranny. The phylloxera insect can devastate a commercial vineyard and is easily transmitted between vines. This occurs when infected soil or plant material is carried from infected areas, possibly on shoes or clothing. Peninsula residents are being asked…
Peninsula Surfriders’ Club begins its 2019 season this weekend with a contest site to be determined depending on the surf. Since being formed in 1974, the club has won state team events and seen its members in national teams. “With ties to the inception of the surf industry, PSC has been an integral link in the Victorian surf landscape for more than 40 years,” club president Lachy McDonald said. The 140-member club has a clubhouse on a property it owns near Gunnamatta, and “enjoys a thriving social and community scene with fundraisers, events, development camps and training programs run throughout…
Mornington Peninsula Shire’s infrastructure services manager Jessica Wingad says recycled waste from the peninsula is still going to China and other global markets. She said extra processing here was ensuring “compliance with these markets”. New recycling markets are expected to open in Victoria in the future. “While the [Chinese] policy shift hasn’t banned recycling, it has limited the level of contaminated accepted in recycling sent to China,” Ms Wingad said. “Clean, sorted recycling is still being accepted, so it is extremely important we continue to separate our waste from recycling and place only accepted recyclable items into our recycling bins,”…
AT just seven years of age, Harrison Daley is a little boy with a passion. He helps clean-up Mornington beaches and is always keen to educate beachgoers about environmental dangers posed by litter. This dedication has been recognised with Harrison being named Mornington Peninsula Shire’s first and youngest recycling ambassador and unofficial recycling champion. It’s a job he can’t do alone and the shire wants more volunteers to become recycling champions. This team of champions will support the shire’s efforts to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill. The mayor Cr David Gill said it was “more important…
TWO young women who allegedly attempted to steal clothing and a $200 beach towel from a Sorrento boutique are being sought by police. The women, pictured, selected the items and allegedly removed the security tags in the change rooms. Soon after, one attempted to distract staff while the other began walking out of the store with the clothing stuffed into a bag. An alert staff member stopped her and demanded she return the items. Both women protested their innocence but handed over the items and left the store when the staff member began calling police. It is believed the women…
A MT ELIZA woman must have been in a rush to get to the city early Friday afternoon because she allegedly drove past an unmarked police car on Eastlink, near Thompsons Road, at about 160kph. The 23-year-old was intercepted and found to have a suspended licence due to 79 demerit points as well as outstanding arrest warrants for road-traffic offences. She was arrested and left the scene in handcuffs. Her car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $979. Leading Senior Constable Greg Wolfe, of Somerville Highway Patrol, urges drivers to “slow down, drive according to the conditions…
POLICE have issued a picture of a man they believe may have smashed a car’s rear side window at McCrae and stolen a woman’s handbag possibly used her credit card to buy alcohol at a nearby supermarket, Monday 28 January. Somerville detectives said the woman parked her car on Point Nepean Road and walked to the beach at lunchtime. Later, she found her car’s window smashed and her handbag missing from the back seat. Police have released CCTV images of a man at the check-out who may be able to assist with their inquiries. Anyone recognising him is asked to…
A COUPLE arrested after a courier’s van was stolen in Mt Eliza while he was making a delivery faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 February charged with more than 60 theft-related offences. The man, 28, and woman, 27, both from the Somerville area, were found asleep in a stolen car at Black Rock, 2am, Thursday 14 February, before they allegedly rammed a police car, injuring one officer. They were apprehended in Brighton soon after while attempting to flee on foot. The driver of the StarTrack van was at the front door of a house in Boxmoor Court, 1.30pm, when…
A NEW Zealand fur seal that had been resting on the beach at Dromana last week (Seal draws crowd and ‘unwelcome’ attention” The News 12/2/19) decided to move further down the bay and hit the high spots of Blairgowrie, Thursday afternoon. But, not content with sunning himself on the sand, the big fellow shuffled across Point Nepean Road, bringing the busy thoroughfare to a halt and prompting shoppers to call police to direct traffic. Constable Garry Robinson, of Rosebud police, said he spent 45 minutes shepherding the seal across the road “with a bit of a rest in the middle”.…
Storm damage: The Jillian lies battered and broken on McCrae beach. Pictures: Supplied ONE of Rye and Rosebud’s longest-serving fishing charter operators suffered a blow last week when The Jillian was wrecked in a fierce storm. Operators Jon and Steve Dart’s Pompei-built 32 footer was washed ashore in huge waves while moored at McCrae, Saturday 9 February. Its cabin and covered area was torn off and the hull split along one side. Last week the 20-passenger boat was sitting high and dry and roped off while the brothers decided what to do with her. In an open letter to friends…
A RED Hill boy was left fighting for life late last week after the car being driven by his mother crashed head-on into another car in Red Hill South. Paramedics rushed to the horror scene on the Point Leo Road just after 4.30pm, Wednesday 13 February. The Red Hill community is rallying around the family, with the Mornington Peninsula Shire, CFA, Consolidated school, scouts and residents helping them cope in their time of need. The 11-year-old was flown to The Royal Children’s Hospital by helicopter ambulance in a critical condition with head, chest and abdominal injuries. Police said the badly…
DON’T mention gas, coal or oil to the Brooks family of Dromana. They’ve made a conscious decision to distance themselves from those passe fossil fuels and, instead, are gearing for an all-electric future. Simon, the Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor, and his wife Allison are “keen to do their bit” to reduce their carbon footprint by buying an electric car, installing electric appliances, electric heating and cooling and roof-top solar panels. “As a councillor I’ve made it a focus to become even more informed about climate change and how practical steps can be taken by everyone to reduce our carbon footprint,”…
POLICE have released images of graffiti “tags” at Somerville Secondary College in the hope they can help identify those responsible. The vandals roamed the school grounds over the summer school holidays and spray painted most buildings. Principal Chris Lloyd said the school’s buildings were defaced regularly. “It is a constant problem here and at the primary school, especially on weekends,” he said. CCTV footage sent to the police had captured vision of those responsible, but Mr Lloyd said he had not identified any current students although a “much older” former student had been recognised, he said. Clean-ups have cost the…
FAMILIES descended from the original French Island Thompsons flocked to the Tankerton Memorial Hall for a 125th reunion. More than 230 family members from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Victoria took the ferry across from Stony Point and were picked up by bus on the island, Sunday 3 February. Some came across from Corinella, with their vehicle on the barge, and planned to stay several days to catch up with family members from further afield. The day capped off 18 months of planning by organisers Joan Shepherd, Lois Airs, and Carol Lake – grandchildren of…
HASTINGS police are keeping an eye out for riders of illegal “monkey bikes”. Acting Sergeant Scott West said the mini-bikes were “becoming an issue” as they posed a danger, especially to pedestrians in public areas. “We all remember the tragedy of the woman struck and killed in Carrum Downs a few years ago and we would hate for something like that to happen again,” he said. Police are coordinating resources and gathering data to back up a campaign against monkey bike riders. The riders potentially face a raft of charges, including careless riding, riding an unregistered bike, dangerous riding, riding…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire marked World Wetlands Day (Saturday 2 February) with a boat trip in Western Port for “key decision makers across local government, industry, and environmental advocates”. The trip enabled the passengers to “explore one of the peninsula’s most internationally significant regions”. The Western Port Ramsar wetlands near Hastings is part of the United Nations (UNESCO) declared special biosphere reserve of the Western Port catchment and is one of only nine biospheres in Australia. The shire’s boat trip preceded the release this week of new research showing Western Port is increasingly vulnerable to pressures from population growth, urbanisation, run-off…
ORGANISERS of the 50th Western Port Festival at Hastings say they have knocked back potential sponsorship from AGL despite being short of money and “up in the air” over grants promised by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The festival committee is hoping to raise $200,000 through online fundraising, but by Monday had received just $1600, including $1000 from the Save Westernport group. “A unanimous vote [of the committee] was passed to not accept any AGL money,” event manager Yvens Ferraz De Camargo said, citing community concerns over the power provider’s plans to moor a floating gas import and processing terminal at…
PENINSULA A RUTHLESS performance by Long Island has seen them dismiss Main Ridge for just 70 runs in the first day of their two day clash. Main Ridge’s openers combined for just 12 runs, and their top scorer put only 16 runs on the board. After 46 overs, Main Ridge were dismissed and were left with a lot of work to do with ball in hand. Long Island came in to bat and finished at 4/97 at stumps, ensuring a first innings win. Pubudu Edirisinghe top scored for the day with 41 runs. At Eric Bell Reserve, Pines played well…
SOCCER LANGWARRIN kicks off the most anticipated season in the club’s recent history when it hosts Melbourne City at Lawton Park on Saturday at 3pm. The spotlight has shone on the local club ever since it made the surprise announcement last August that Scott Miller had been appointed head coach. Few expected the former Fulham assistant manager and Newcastle Jets boss to step down from professional to semi-professional ranks but his appointment raised the bar markedly in terms of expectations for the 2019 season. Langy has backed Miller with a host of new signings and the establishment of the club’s…
BLAIRGOWRIE boxer Jayde Mitchell returns to the ring on Saturday 30 March for the final send-off of one of Australia’s greatest boxers. The current world number nine super-middleweight boxer, Jayde Mitchell, will line-up on the undercard of his sparring partner and former world champion, Sam Soliman, who will step into the ring for the final time. In a phenomenal career spanning more than 20 years, Sam Soliman will bow out against another former world champion, Manny Siaca, at the Melbourne Pavilion. While Mitchell’s opponent is yet to be confirmed, he said to be on the final card of one his…
MORNINGTON has a new up-and-coming racehorse trainer in its midst with the former New Zealander Joe Waldron setting up base opposite the racecourse late last year. The former travelling foreman for champion New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman has been training in his own right in New Zealand for the past three seasons but decided to make the move in search of greater prize money. Along with the majority of his client base in New Zealand being from Australia, Waldron has embarked on his next chapter of his training career which now sees him own a 40 box…
FRANKSTON Australia Clay Target Club (FACTC) shooters made their way to Brisbane for the ISSF National Trap and Skeet titles on Monday 14 January. Some of Australia’s best showcased their skills and put some stellar scores on the board in what was a full field in the Trap events as well as the introduction of the Trap Mixed Teams events. FACTC landed some top shots to return home with eight National and Commonwealth title medals across the trap and skeet competitions. Commonwealth Games gold medallist and FACTC member Laetisha Scanlan led the way in the Ladies Trap qualifiers shooting a…