Author: Cameron McCullough

A van erupted into flames after a collision on Nepean Highway, Mt Eliza, this evening. Emergency services hurried to the scene after reports of an accident, leaking fuel and and then a fire were received about 5pm tonight. Traffic was thrown into chaos with reports that south-bound traffic banked back to Olivers Hill. Initially, emergency services considered airlifting an elderly man, but he was eventually conveyed by ambulance to The Alfred with back injuries.

IT was just an early morning bike ride to start the day on Friday 6 March. But when Luke Matthews’ was hit by a concrete truck as he was riding along Beleura Hill Rd, Mornington, a frantic battle for life began. Mr Matthews was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to The Alfred. The 34-year-old Mt Eliza man was operated on for head and facial injuries, including the removal of part of his skull to relieve swelling on his brain. Family friend Rowena Beach told The News at the time that doctors were only giving Mr Matthews a 50…

A seven-year-old Girl Guide has been reunited with a family brooch after losing it at the Mornington Anzac ceremony. The 65-year-old brooch holds great sentimental value as it belonged to her great grandmother who passed away very recently. She had worn it as a sign of respect for the day. After it was discovered to have fallen off, a frantic search failed to locate the brooch. On Sunday, Mornington Tadpole Unit Guide Leader, Michelle Dawson, turned to the media for help. After posting it up on Mornington Peninsula News Group’s Facebook page last night, the post reached over 25,000 people. Ms…

The Anzac ceremony at Mornington Memorial Park was a big event for a seven-year-old Girl Guide. Not only did she lay a wreath, but she was wearing a family brooch with great sentimental value. After the wreath laying, and moving among the crowd, the brooch that was pinned to her sash came loose and fell onto the ground. A frantic search was made to find the brooch, but to no avail. Now the Mornington Tadpole Unit Guide Leader, Michelle Dawson, is asking for anyone at the service to recall if they may have seen the brooch, or possibly picked it…

THE Gallipoli Campaign has long been regarded as being the birth of our  nation; the moment the newly Federated Australia proved itself worthy to stand on its own two feet in the dominion of the British Empire. The campaign is also noted for its military blundering; for bad decision making by British generals, sending our troops often to certain death facing insurmountable odds. Indeed, the campaign’s military miscalculations began well before the first Australian soldier set foot on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Turkey, part of the once great but now weakened Ottoman Empire, had been a…

Neville Thompster looks forward to Easter every year, and it’s not because of chocolate. “Ever since I’ve been knee-high to a grasshopper, I’ve never been able to get enough of hot cross buns” said Mr Thomster. Available only in the run up to Easter, he looks forward to a couple of weeks of bliss when he can munch on the spiced fruit buns. Now Mr Thompster is calling on consumer protection laws to be tightened after disaster struck at a recent trip to the supermarket. “I was in a hurry, I admit. I grabbed a pack of hot cross buns…

It is rumoured that India’s Taj Mahal committee of management are preparing to serve the shire with a “cease and desist” notice over the shire’s touted plans to build a replica of the famous Taj Mahal on the peninsula. First touted in The News (“$56m for shire ‘Taj Mahal’” – 24th February 2015), the article stated that the shire were looking at a number of options for housing shire staff into the future, including a “56 million dollar ‘Taj Mahal’ option”. It is believed that the write contains the following demands: That the shire cease and desist from building the…

Furious opposition is being mounted to the rumour that the Formula One Grand Prix is leaving Albert Park, and heading to Mornington. The news surfaced over the last 48 hours after it is believed that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone was seen in Mornington during the Melbourne Grand Prix weekend. “I’m pretty sure it was him”, said local real estate agent Xavier Thurmiester. “He had an ice cream pizza at DOC before heading off in the direction of Beaches to dance the night away. It is believed that local property developer and teeth whitening proponent, Nigel Necker, is behind the…

LAST week’s visit by the cruise ship Pacific Pearl was a shot in the arm for Mornington Peninsula traders and local tourist operators. The P&O liner carrying 1800 passengers docked at Mornington for the second time in a month – this time on a four-day, one-stop visit before returning to Sydney. Mornington chamber of commerce spokeswoman Kim Rowe said a younger demographic made the passengers more independent. “The average age was about 59 or younger and there were buck’s parties on board, girls on girls’ trips – it was a real contrast to last time,” she said. “A lot said…

AN early morning bike ride on Friday 6 March has left a father of three young children fighting for his life. Luke Matthews, 34, from Mount Eliza, was riding along Beleura Hill Road in Mornington at about 6.45am when he was hit by a concrete truck travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Matthews was knocked off his bike and suffered severe life threatening head injuries. The truck driver, a 57-year-old male, from Woodleigh Vale, has co-operated with police investigations. Mr Matthews, who works for ANZ Bank, moved to Mt Eliza from Mentone in 2008 for the open space that Mount…

Compiled by Melissa Walsh THE appointment of Mr C.W. Grant, of Mornington Junction as a J.P. has been gazetted. *** Mr J. Hall, storekeeper at Seymour, visited Frankston last weekend and purchased a building allotment in this locality. *** MESSRS Brody and Mason held their usual monthly market at Somerville on Wednesday last, when there was a fair yarding. *** MR E. Quiggin, one of Shepparton’s leading ironmongers, is at present spending a few weeks holiday at Frankston House. *** THE Shire of Frankston and Hastings are calling for tenders in this issue, returnable on Wednesday next, for sheeting, etc…

THE friends of Mr G. Griffith, of Somerville, will be pleased to learn that he is so far recovered from a severe attack of bronchitis that he is able to return home, after being in a hospital in Melbourne for a fortnight. *** A VERY enjoyable evening was arranged by two very young ladies, Miss Doreen Dove, and Miss Sydney Levine, at Frankston House, on Wednesday evening, January 27th, in aid of the Patriotic Fund. This example could be followed by others. A splendid programme was given, including songs, party songs, recitations and dances. These young ladies are to be…

By Cameron McCullough The entrance to Port Phillip is considered to hold some of the most treacherous waters in the world. The Rip, as it is known, has a large tidal flow through a relatively narrow channel from the bay to Bass Strait, and a high rocky seabed. The waters surrounding The Rip are synonymous with wild water and treacherous rocky outcrops that have claimed many ships since the 1830s when Melbourne was settled by Europeans. One such ship, the Sierra Nevada, was an iron ship of 1523 gross tons. Built at Southampton in 1877, it was 71 metres…

THE family of murdered Hastings jeweller Dermot O’Toole have spoken of their devastation over the 27 year sentence handed to his killer, Gavin Perry. Minutes before, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth handed down the sentence requiring Perry to serve a minimum of 23 years before being eligible for parole. Ferocious weather had delayed the arrival of Perry in court. When he was finally led in, the 27-year-old was wearing a shabby blue shirt and pink striped tie, slightly askew. He could not make eye contact with members of the O’Toole family or their supporters, as they were obscured by a…

Compiled by Cameron McCullough THE War. At the last meeting of the Frankston and Hastings shire council, the acting president (Cr Plowman) on the suggestion of Cr Ritchie, spoke with reference to the great crisis in Europe. He said most people recognised the extreme gravity of the situation. The crisis was most grave, and at the present juncture one did not know what might occur. In land battles there could be some sort of prediction, and if a serious disaster occurred to the British fleet, we may have war at our very doors. It behoved them all to be resolute,…

On Saturday 12 July, a large crowd braved the winter wet to attend a dedication ceremony in honour of Dermot O’Toole. It was a year to the day since his murder, but Bridget, Trent, Christian and Dale O’Toole stepped out in front of a big crowd to remember their husband and father. A laneway and memorial bench were named in his honour. The rain didn’t abate, and reference was made to the weather being more reflective of Dermot’s country of birth. Crowded in tight the crowd, many dressed in green, listened to speeches about Dermot’s murder and the profound effect…

IT is nearly a year since 64-year-old Dermot O’Toole was killed in his jewellery store on High St, Hastings. As sentencing approaches for the man who has pleaded guilty to Mr O’Toole’s murder, his widow Bridget O’Toole has broken her silence about the events of that horrific day on 12 July, the profound effect it has had on her family, and her views on the justice system that allowed it to happen. At midday last Sunday, the lounge room of her home was filled with reporters and television cameramen, as Bridget sat – supported by her three adult sons –…

Police have labelled rumours that a man has been trying to “lure” kids near Benton Junior College in Mornington as “a classic case of Chinese whispers”. A Facebook post dated 28 May claimed: “The police were at school today warning teachers and parents that there has been a man approaching and trying to lure kids with him by approaching them playing in the street and from their front fences. He was last seen in Marriott Dve wearing a Muppets T-shirt and a hat, however they don’t yet know his age. Please share with other mums on the peninsula.” The…

FROM her first memory, Gina Poulos was taught to give. A migrant family from Cyprus, she recalls there always being people at their house, and those people never leaving empty handed. “When we arrived in Australia, we settled in Traralgon. I always remember my parents being very generous people and they taught us to always give people whatever we had” said Mrs Poulos. Her father eventually owned rental properties in the area. Sometimes the people renting the houses had fallen on hard times, so when they came around to pay the rent, the family made sure they never left empty…

The News interviewed Tommy Hafey in October last year. The interview, entitled “Hafey: I love people” is reprinted below in memory of a great and gracious man. By Andrew Kelly In the world of AFL Football, there are not many bigger names in the game than Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey. The man dubbed T-shirt Tommy by the great commentator Lou Richards, has coached at four VFL-AFL Clubs, is one of five coaches to have coached more than 500 games in the history of the game, has coached teams to 10 grand finals and four premierships and has had 18 former…

RUMOURS are swirling that Mornington Peninsula Shire has been engaged in a legal battle of mountainous proportions after a lawsuit was lodged over breach of trademark regarding the use of the name “Mount Eliza”. The legal documents were lodged by the highly litigious International Mountain Trademark Protection Coun­cil (IMTPC). The documents demanded the immediate renaming of Mount Eliza and the payment of years of compensation for breach of trademark. The IMTPC, based in Geneva, Switzerland, consists of representatives of some of the largest mountains in the world including Mount Everest in Nepal, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Fuji in Japan…

MEMBERS of the Frankston Choral Society are notified that the next rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, 17th June instead of Monday. *** RUMOUR has it that a local company proposes to open a skating rink at Frankston, and are now negotiating for suitable premises for the venture. *** MESSRS Alex. Scott & Co. will hold their next monthly market at Bittern on Monday next, 15th June, when a good yarding of stock will be brought forward. *** AN auction sale of freehold pro- perty, furniture, etc., will be, held at “Kananook“ Melbourne Road Frank- ston, by Messrs Brody and…

SLEEP is a wonderful thing. It provides time to relax and recharge and escape the everyday grind. But with morning comes reality, and for Hannah Swinnerton, that reality has been one of sheer terror. Getting up each day was difficult because she knew what awaited her at school: heartless, relentless and terrifying bullying. Hannah can’t recall exactly when it started; in her mind it was a constant. For her entire school life, Hannah was bullied. From prep to year 12, Hannah would head off to a certainty no child should ever have to face. Everything suffered. Her grades, as she…

THE weather was terrible– low cloud and driving rain. Marc Perdu and Christian Tiriault, pilots of Spirit of Nouméa, discussed turning back to Adelaide, but they had an appointment to keep. Besides, anyone willing to circumnavigate Australia in a tiny plane isn’t lacking in a sense of adventure. This wasn’t the first expedition undertaken by the New Caledonian men. In 2011, they flew from Paris to Nouméa and in 2012 flew the same route in reverse. This year, it was Australia, with an expedition from Nouméa, counter-clockwise around Australia, and then back home again. “We had clear and sunny weather…

THE letter to the editor in Western Port News (29/5/13) caught the eye of Eve Dellar straight away. The road mentioned is painfully familiar and the topic of the letter even more so. “Today I received a speeding ticket for doing 64km/h in a 60 zone,” the letter began. “The camera that detected me was set up in Stony Point Rd, Crib Point, at 5am on a Monday morning. As anyone who has travelled along the section of Stony Point Rd near Symonds St knows, the road is more than twice the width of many roads, it is straight, flat and I…

The strange rumblings and vibrations that have been experienced by Arthurs Seat residents for the last 20 months seemed to defy all logical explanations. Then came the random opening of garage doors that residents put down to electrical impulses being emitted by passing ships. Only now is Mornington Peninsula News Group able to reveal the real cause of these seemingly bizarre incidents; secret underground earthworks as a team of workers rebuilds Arthurs Seat’s historical chairlift…. underground. Leading engineer on the project, Gary Bufkin, explains: “The chairlift is an emotional issue in these parts. We wanted to be able to recreate…