Author: Cameron McCullough

THERE was a busy scene at the Frankston railway station last Wednesday morning when Frankston and district residents entrained for Melbourne to advise the Minister of Lands of the result of the recent High School referendum, and to request him to transfer the old cricket ground to the Education Department for High School purposes. Ultimately between 60 and 70 enthusiasts squeezed themselves into the Minister’s room and stood three deep around the table. The Hon. A. Downward introduced the deputation. The large attendance he said, indicated that the question was a live one in Frankston. He has read in “The…

THE absence of the Minister of Lands from the city last week made it impossible for the Hon. Alfred Downward to arrange a date for the reception of a deputation of Frankston ratepayers on the High School site question. Mr. Downward wired the Shire Secretary to this effect on Wednesday last, but ratepayers were not satisfied that all was being done that could be done to fix a date with the Minister. A deputation consisting of Messrs Lind, Pratt, and Ward waited on councillors on Friday night last and expressed anxiety lest the matter should be allowed to drag on…

THE race meeting held by the Mornington Racing Club on Tuesday, in glorious weather, was decidedly successful, and the Hastings Memorial Hall will benefit considerably. There was a large attendance and everything went with a swing throughout. The President (Mr. T. Ritchie) and secretary (Mr. H. Downward) spared no efforts to make the meeting successful in every way. The racing opened with the Maiden Plate, with Kuarangi declining the engagement, Paragon and Sir Blankney were made hot favorites. Dolly Varden, handled by ‘Tich’ Wilson, of King Ingoda fame, got the best of the start, but she was beaten into third…

WHILE driving a motor car over a level crossing at Moorooduc on February 8, Mrs. Ellen Firth, of Somerville, became suddenly afraid that she would be run down by an approaching train. She leaped from the car, and was struck by the engine, death being instantaneous. The line is straight at Moorooduc, and a clear view can be obtained. At the inquest held at the Morgue yesterday, Dr. Cole, the City Coroner, returned a finding of accidental death. He said no blame was attachable to the crew of the train. William Grady, driver of the express train from Mornington, said…

ON January 4th last the Council of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings passed a resolution to the effect that the Council’s High School Committee immediately write to the Education Department asking for a definite decision as to whether the alternate site would be accepted for a High School in lieu of the old cricket reserve. This letter did not leave Frankston till January 17, when Mr. John E. Jones, the Shire Secretary, at the suggestion of the “Standard” representative, kindly undertook to ask on behalf of the school committee and write to the Department himself. On Thursday last, as…

AT today’s Council meeting of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, the Secretary of the Musicians’ Association, Melbourne, wrote asking permission to hold a picnic in the Frankston Park on Sunday. The applicant pointed out that owing to the members of this Association being employed continuously in the theatres and other places of amusement it was impossible to hold the annual outing on any day but Sunday. A guarantee was given that only members with their families would be present, and that everything would be conducted to the satisfaction of the Council. Cr. May: There is a principle concerned here.…

A SPECIAL meeting of the Frankston Soldiers’ Memorial Committee was held at the Shire Hall on Tuesday night for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the Frankston branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. When the meeting started the members of committee present were: Messrs. P. Wheeler, J. E. Jones, Mark Brody, A. Hill, W. Crawford Young, H. Morrison, and the hon. secretary, Lieut.-Col. Lazarus. Mr. Wheeler was voted to the chair. The deputation from the soldiers’ branch consisted of Messrs. R. Gray, D. Dodd, and J. L. Pratt, and they were invited to state their ease. Mr. R. Gray…

One person has died following a three-vehicle collision in Somerville on 16 January. It’s believed two cars and a truck collided on Frankston-Flinders Road just after 3.30pm. One of the cars was pushed into a tree, the yet to be formally identified female driver has died at the scene. The male truck driver was taken to hospital for observation and is assisting police with their enquiries. No one else was injured. The exact cause of the collision is yet to be determined at this stage. Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime…

ONE day last week, Cr. W. Armstrong, president of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, noticed a man removing firewood, apparently without authority, from the foreshore at Seaford. In his capacity as foreshore bailiff, it is Cr. Armstrong’s duty to keep an eye open to detect, and if possible, prevent illegal happenings on the foreshore. The man he had under suspicion last week evidently repeated the open eye and took prompt measures to close it. Cr. Armstrong approached the fellow and made a few pertinent inquiries, and then it is alleged that the man struck him, causing painful injury to…

SUPPORTERS of the High School movement received an unpleasant shock at the Council meeting last Friday when Cr. Oates announced that he with Crs. Mason and Wells, acting as a sub-committee, had offered the Frankston Tennis Club the choice of two sites for new courts – one being in the park and the other on the site suggested for a High School in the old cricket reserve. Cr. McCulloch: You are quite satisfied that the High School has been lost? Cr. Gray contended that the top end of the park was an ideal spot for tennis, croquet and bowling green.…

The run to Christmas is a frantic time, but one organisation is surprising people with a gift to bring a smile. “The Business of Smiles” have raised tens of thousands of dollars and embarked on a pre-Christmas blitz of Frankston with bright yellow socks with smiley faces on them. Scott Carson, the co-founder of “The Business of Smiles” explains “We have spoken to thousands of people over the last couple of weeks”. “The socks are really a tool. A tool to connect with people’s hearts. “It’s a way to thank people for doing their best in life”. The socks are…

FRANKSTON, in common with other towns throughout Australia, refused to get excited on Saturday last over the Federal elections. The return of the Commonwealth Treasurer, Capt. S. M. Bruce, for the Flinders electorate, was regarded by his friends as a certainty, and as there was no visible sign of activity on the part of the opposition the conclusion arrived at was that almost everybody was voting for the retiring member. Very many electors, not only in Frankston, but, throughout the electorate, did not record their votes. Many voters argued: “Oh, Bruce is safe enough; he can do without my vote,”…

AT the Frankston Police Court on Monday, before the Police Magistrate and Messrs. Williams, Grant and Armstrong, J.sP., five young men who described themselves as campers, were charged by Constable Nolan with using indecent language. The defendants gave the names of Ballantyne, May, Tyrrell, Williams, Ryan and Hyde. Constable Nolan related the circumstances. The defendants, he said, were more or less drunk and were creating a disturbance on the main road near the Carrum station, at about 1 o’clock a.m. on 19th November. The PM.: How do you know they all used the language ? Constable Nolan said he had…

SOMETHING of a sensation was caused at a cricket match, played between Langwarrin and Frankston teams on Saturday afternoon, on the military reserve at Langwarrin. When the Frankston men were fielding a bull visited the ground. After surveying the game from the edge of the reserve for a minute or so and making suspicious eyes at one of the fieldsmen, H. Legge, the animal rushed out to the wicket. The players scattered in all directions, and took refuge behind and up trees. The bull sniffed at the stumps at one end of the wicket, and then knocked off the bails.…

ON Sunday last a party of eight motored from Williamstown to spend the afternoon at Frankston. Whilst here the party had dinner in picnic style, and partook of tinned fish or meats, with the result that the whole party suffered severely from ptomaine poisoning. One young lady was particularly ill, but under medical treatment they recovered and were permitted to return home during the cool of the evening. *** A HEAVY horse, attached to a heavy dray, that backs over a cutting sixty feet deep, and on reaching the bottom calmly walks away with some of the broken harness still…

Emergency services are currently responding to an industrial accident at Frankston Hospital. It is understood a drilling crane being utilised in the current Frankston Hospital redevelopment has toppled onto the building. Information provided to The News indicates the damaged part of the building is the 2W mental health ward. Part of the hospital has been evacuated. Statement from Peninsula Health At approximately 10am this morning, a piling rig fell on the Frankston Hospital redevelopment site, onto the nearby Mental Health Building. All patients, staff and site workers are safe and accounted for. There are no reported injuries. Police and emergency…

THE second meeting of the Frankston Beach Carnival Committee was held last Tuesday night at 8 o’clock in the Shire Hall. A large number attended and the sub-committee reports were very favorable. The Carnival will comprise aquatic and beach sports, bathers’ parade, yachting regatta, stalls, refreshments, side shows, bands, procession of decorated cars, a tennis tournament and donkeys on the beach. The masque ball will be a fitting end to these Boxing Day festivities, and will culminate in a confetti battle. The dance is to be held on the tennis courts, which are to be especially prepared for the occasion.…

THE Armistice ceremony was very solemnly conducted at the Frankston school on Friday. Nice wreaths were sent by Betty James, Thelma Bean, Norah Grose and Vida Johns. These emblems helped to create the right atmosphere. The children assembled round the flag, and after the saluting ceremony short addresses were given by Mr. Watkins and Lieut-Colonel Lazarus. The “Stand Fast” was sounded and on the stroke of eleven, with bowed heads, and directed thoughts, a wonderful silence was kept for two minutes, broken at last by the clear notes of the “Last Post.” Then all quietly, and in subdued mood, marched…

AT last week’s council meeting State Rivers and Water Supply Commission wrote re providing a water supply scheme for the town of Hastings, stating that owing to distance of town from Naval Base water main, and the scattered nature of the area proposed to be served, there would be difficulty in providing the desired supply. In view of limited revenue derivable the commission feels the proposed deputation should be postponed. Cr. Jones said Somerville was more scattered than Hastings, and the statements in the letter was not in accordance with facts. The Engineer said that no Government body treated the…

IN a reply to Mr. Prendergast, leader, of the Opposition, Mr. MacPherson, State Treasurer, stated that he had been approached by representatives from a certain fruitgrowing district supporting over 2000 growers. Their request was for monetary assistance to help them organise the sale of their produce. He had made enquiries and found that out of the 2000 growers only 150 of these were willing to help themselves by joining and supporting the growers’ organisation. The district was not the Peninsula, but growers in this part of the country could well take the lesson to heart. There are three Associations –Somerville,…

WHEN Mr. A. Taylor, of the Pier Hotel, took up his residence in Frankston about 12 months ago, he stated that he could not live in a town that did not posses a bowling green. As the Frankston people did not make a further move to procure a green after their rebuff in connection with the foreshore proposition, Mr. Taylor proceeded to make a bowling green of his own. He selected an attractive spot at the rear of the Pier Hotel, and yesterday witnessed the opening of as pretty a little green as one would wish to see. Before coming…

MESSRS. A. L. Stevens and H. Eastwood, of Pratt’s Stores, had an exciting experience on Friday afternoon last. They decided to clean out the grain shed; soon after moving a few bags of wheat they disturbed a rat, who was having afternoon tea in its hole. There was a rush to arms; “Steve” drawing first blood. The fun then started; the whole rat family appeared looking for their lost relative. The heroes, with trousers well tucked in their boot tops, armed with axes and pitchforks, attacked in force doing great slaughter. The din and roar of the battle attracted a…

AT 3.15 on Sunday afternoon Archbishop Mannix arrived by car at Hastings. His arrival was the signal for a cheer by the children attending the Catholic School. He went straight to the Convent of the Sisters of St. Josephs and there performed the ceremony for which he had come from town – that of blessing the new building. The ceremony over, His Grace ascended to a platform erected between the Convent and the school accompanied by Father O’Hagan, Dean Carey and several other clergy. Father O’Hagan, in outlining the reason for the visit of His Grace, Archbishop Mannix, said that…

AT yesterday’s Council meeting the Shire Secretary (Mr. John E. Jones) read the following telegram from the Minister of Lands in connection with the High School movement:– “Minister of Lands will visit Frankston tomorrow (Wednesday), arriving cricket reserve 11 o’clock, and desires meet one representative Shire and Mr. McComb for opposition.” (Dated, September 19). Cr Gray asked if the report which appeared in “The Standard” regarding the recent visit was correct, as he noticed that other names were given of people present besides those mentioned in “The. Standard.” Cr. Mason said he was shown the telegram in question, and when…

Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged two men following a stand-off with police in Mornington yesterday. A 25-year-old man has been charged with aggravated burglary, home invasion, intentionally cause injury, false imprisonment, make threats to kill and intentionally cause injury. The Mornington man has been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today. The second man, a 42-year-old from Mornington, has been charged with false imprisonment and intentionally cause injury. He has been held over and will appear before Frankston Magistrates’ Court today. The charges follow an incident in Main Street Mornington where it is alleged the two…

Two men have been arrested in Mornington this afternoon following an alleged home invasion and serious assault. Mornington Crime Investigation Unit detectives attended an address on Main Street to arrest the men around 10am. Both men were inside the unit at the time and refused to come out. It is believed one of the men then allegedly threatened the other with a knife and refused to let him leave the property. The Critical Incident Response Unit and Special Operations Group were called in to assist local police at the scene. Main Street was closed to traffic between Nepean Highway and…

A VERY successful meeting of the newly-formed Frankston District Cycling Club was held last night when it was decided to hold the first road race on Saturday, October 21, over a course of 15 miles, on the Cranbourne Road, starting from Wheeler’s corner and finishing at about the cricket ground site. Entries close on October 14, at “The Standard” office; entry fee, 2/-. Three place prizes and a prize for the fastest time unplaced will be awarded. Mr. Beeson, the League handicapper, again attended and submitted a set of rules which were adopted in their entirety. Several city firms have…

FRANKSTON’S attitude in connection with the High School movement is somewhat puzzling to outsiders, and last Wednesday’s developments will not help to make the position clearer. The general result does not redound to the credit of the district, although it is manifestly unfair that the great bulk of the people should bear the odium attaching to the unfortunate bickerings and petty squabbles have been associated with this great question. Very few people consent to be classed as anti-High Schoolites, but it is rather significant that ranged on the side of those oppose the granting of the old cricket ground as…

MR. Essex A. D. Bond, of the new Frankston firm of auctioneer’s, Bond & Baxter, having arrived at the conclusion that Frankston wants a new picture theatre, has also come to the further momentous decision that he is the man to supply that want. These two important points being fully considered, Mr. Bond is not allowing the grass to grow under his feet. Yesterday the “Standard” representative was afforded the opportunity of inspecting the plans of the new building, drawn by the city architect, Mr. J. L. Armstrong. On Wednesday Mr. Armstrong visited Frankston with the contractor, Mr. F. Freneham,…

FAVOURED by bright, sunny, weather, a large crowd of football lovers attended at the Somerville oval last Saturday to witness the final struggle for the supremacy of the Peninsula Second Football Association pennant, between Tyabb (minor premiers) and Moorooduc. The spectators had the pleasure of seeing a real, good, friendly game. Tyabb were always in the ascendancy during the first three quarters. A plucky, and wonderful recovery by Moorooduc in the final term, in which the minor premier failed to score, proved a fitting termination to an almost perfect game, and when the final bell tingled, Tyabb were favored with…