Author: Liz Bell

TEN years ago, Luke Cooper was having trouble finding a convenient and affordable way to dispose of old mattresses when he was struck with the realisation there was a gap in the market that he could fill. But even better than filling a need, was the fact that he could create a business that was actually good for the environment by keeping tonnes of components out of landfill every year. It was a slow and costly process to build his dream, but 10 years later the former mattress salesman’s mattress and furniture recycling company Bedrecycle is one of the Mornington…

BAXTER Men’s Shed volunteers have been waiting seven months to get back to helping the community and supporting member’s wellbeing and mental health. The men’s shed had been operating successfully for around eight years until a fire destroyed the workshop in Baxter-Tooradin Road in December. Despite being insured and having had contact with insurance assessors and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers, the men’s shed remains in limbo. Shed president Bill Wood says there were about 80 members at the time of the fire, but that numbers had dropped since COVID restrictions and then its forced closure. He said members were…

ELECTRONIC permits issued during a nine-month paid parking trial will be linked to individual licence plates to prevent them being shared. The plan to charge visitors to the Mornington Peninsula for parking in foreshore areas has sparked a hostile reaction from many residents, despite other Port Phillip bayside councils already having paid parking in place. While the trial will begin in summer and run for at least six months, the shire says it will use feedback and results to decide whether to make it permanent. The shire has allocated $1.16 million over two budgets to pay for the paid parking…

A MORNINGTON Peninsula father who says his 13-year-old daughter was “physically and verbally” bullied at school is encouraging parents with concerns about schools to make a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s state education system. The man alleges most of the bullying incidents occurred last year at Rosebud Secondary College, and that the school’s “poor” response showed there was a culture of not taking bullying seriously and “victim blaming”. “As a parent I don’t believe the school has fulfilled its legal responsibility to provide a safe learning environment,” he said. The parent claims his daughter had been physically and…

A SIX-month paid parking trial will be extended across all Mornington Peninsula foreshore areas if it is considered “successful”. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has allocated more than $1 million over two annual budgets for the trial to be run in three popular tourist spots. Despite paid parking being the norm across all other bayside councils, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is being criticised over its plans to charge $6.20 an hour for timed parking at three locations next summer. The plan has been slammed by people who live, work and holiday in the shire, with claims it will cripple businesses and…

IT’S well recognised that hands-on learning is one of the best ways to interest students in their education, so it’s no surprise that the coastal school program at Sorrento Primary School is such a big hit. All foundation (prep) students at the school spend one day each week at Point Nepean National Park as part of a program of discovery, exploration and learning. Principal Elaine Lesiuk said the program, a natural progression from the “bush and beach” program run by Sorrento Preschool, had cross curriculum relevance and helped students develop a sense of identity and connectedness to the natural environment.…

THERE may not be a lot of cost-of-living relief in the state budget for Mornington Peninsula residents but depending on which side of the political spectrum you’re on it’s not all bad news. Hastings Labor MP Paul Mercurio was busy last week making announcements about infrastructure and service improvements, particularly for boating and transport. Apart from Wednesday’s promise of a cross-peninsula bus service, the budget provided $271,000 to replace the northern pontoon at Hastings boat ramp, $100,000 for Community House Network Southern Region, $1 million each for Somers and Somerville primary schools for basketball court covers, $900,000 to upgrade the…

A HASTINGS to Mornington bus service is one step closer after the state government announced an extra $36.4 million in this year’s budget to improve bus services in growth areas. Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio were in Hastings on Wednesday to announce that planning is underway for the cross-peninsula bus link. No details have been released on when work might start on the bus route. There are currently no direct bus connections linking Hastings to Mornington, with trips requiring lengthy travel via Frankston. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last year used the results of a community…

IN a world where colours come to life and imagination takes flight, there exists a mastery that can transform mere air into whimsical wonders. Welcome to the realm of balloon art, where skilled hands and fertile minds twist and shape the ordinary into the extraordinary. It may seem like child’s play, but this is an art form that requires mental and physical dexterity and more than a little imagination, as Mornington couple Tammie and Trevor Timmers can attest. The couple, currently battling it out on Channel 7’s Blow Up Australia to vie for the crown of national champions, has been…

A TEAM of fit and somewhat ambitious men from Peninsula Kung Fu are limbering up for the 2023 Push Up Challenge. The men are aiming to complete 3144 push-ups each over 23 days in June to raise money for suicide prevention and awareness of men’s mental health. The targeted number of push-ups is how many Australian lives were lost to suicide in 2021 – and helps shine a light on the prevalence of male suicide across the country. Peninsula Kung Fu’s Sarah Hanna said participants will get together each Friday during the challenge for a few sets of push-ups. “We…

A MOUNT Eliza homeowner who found out she was not covered for theft by cleaners is urging people to check their policies before letting workers into the home. The woman – who did not want to be named – recently discovered jewellery worth about $50,000 was missing from her house and, after checking security footage, was shocked to see that two agency cleaners working together were responsible. But when the woman tried to make a claim through her insurer, she discovered a clause that invalidates claims if the theft is perpetrated by a person “invited into the home”. After alerting…

THE Chatty Cafe movement is gaining momentum on the Mornington Peninsula, helping people connect with others over a cuppa and combatting the “loneliness epidemic”. Under the umbrella of the Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia, the charity encourages hospitality venues across the peninsula, such as cafes, restaurants, clubs, pubs, community centres, libraries, churches, schools, aged-care residences, retirement villages, neighbourhood houses, pubs, hotels, clubs, wine bars and art galleries to provide a shared Chatty table where people can sit if they are happy to talk to other customers. Peninsula coordinator Jacky Howgate said May was a good time to warm up over a…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is investigating the positioning of dozens of signs along the path through Mornington Park on Sunday by anti-vax protesters. People out enjoying the weather could not avoid walking past the confronting signs while a small group of anti vaxxers remained in the park to talk to onlookers. The signs purportedly tell the stories of people who have had adverse vaccine reactions and claim that people are being “conned”. One woman who took photos of the silent protest said she felt the signs were “misleading” and should not have been placed in a public space. “I didn’t believe…

MORNINGTON busker Robert Klaas Kalma is making a bid for national fame. Kalma, who busks most Sundays in Main Street to raise money for charity, has become a familiar face to many Mornington Peninsula shoppers and visitors over the past four years. The 83-year-old didn’t take up music until he was 70, without ever having a lesson, but is now confident enough to vie for the top prize in the Australian National Busking Championships open mic jam. He is heading to northern Victoria for the Rutherglen heats on 13 May, with the winners invited to perform for the title of…

DUST, noise, blocked traffic and even private fences being pulled down are among the complaints stemming from a large residential subdivision in Mount Eliza. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is urging people who have concerns about the subdivision works at 19-43 Wooralla Drive to contact them, as it investigates claims about noise and refers dust complaints to the Environment Protection Authority. The eight-hectare block opposite Peninsula Grammar is being developed into around 34 blocks of between 875 to 2651square metres. One nearby resident, who did not want to be named, said the vegetation removal and other associated subdivision work had been…

THE Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group has teamed with other volunteer organisations across Victoria to ramp up protection and advocacy for dwindling koala populations. The new Koala Alliance Victoria is made up of organisations and individuals involved with koala welfare, including groups on the peninsula, Gippsland and western Victoria. Belinda Eden from MPKC said koalas on the peninsula faced many threats, including starvation due to tree loss. “On the Mornington Peninsula, a koala is likely to die from starvation as her trees are cut down due to lax planning laws. As a direct result, she then experiences stress-induced illness, often…

HUNDREDS of high-quality fake identification cards have been seized from young people in Mornington over the past 12 months as police crackdown on underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. Acting Sergeant Daniel Patten, who monitors liquor licensing in the Mornington area, said easy online access to fake IDs was contributing to the problem of underage drinking and, in turn, violence. “There is clearly a link between alcohol and violence in high-traffic areas like Main Street and so we are focussing our attention on working with young people and trying to stop the drinking,” he said. Patten said fake Western Australian driving…

THE saying “Only in Sorrento…” is quickly becoming a national catchphrase, after some traders suggested the town should secede from Mornington Peninsula Shire. Apparently fed up with being “ignored” by the council, some traders have been pushing for Sorrento to break away from the shire with a realignment of municipal boundaries. A few are wearing The Republic of Sorrento t-shirts in a tongue-in-cheek gesture highlighting their alienation from the current council. The disgruntled businesses, upset over the council’s decision to allow a fresh fish food truck on the foreshore, have whipped up the secession frenzy in some parts of the…

FOR bicycle restorer Tim Hrambo, a recent vintage bike restoration brought with it an unexpected twist that has left him feeling humbled and curious. Hrambo had “rescued” an old, rusty bicycle from the tip seven months ago and while scraping off some paint was fascinated to discover the clearly printed name Len Sloman. He could also see that the bike – thought to be around 60 years old – had been sold from a Blackburn bike shop, making Hrambo curious to know if he could return it to the original owner or at least discover its history. After posting on…

CREATIVITY and imagination play a big part in the life of 27-year-old Owen McCaffrey and his use of his artistic talents to communicate and share ideas. McCaffrey, of Blairgowrie, is autistic and has limited language skills, but when it comes to telling a story in pictures he shines. His first animation, Owen, Friends, Family and Imaginary Friends, was applauded by 180 guests when shown on Friday at Rosebud Cinema. The animation, written and drawn by McCaffrey and brought to life with the help of a professional animator, showcases his amazing drawing skills and his simplistic yet clever messages about the…

A BONEO couple whose elderly parents were living in a unit at the back of their property are appealing to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to halt a “heartless” plan to demolish their home. Louise and David Cairns live in a house on 3.2 hectares in Browns Road and moved their dependent parents to a small unit behind the house in 2018 after the building was plumbed, wired and connected to sewerage. Ms Cairns said she and her husband were shocked when they received a council building order “out of the blue” and were told their parents, aged 82 and…

THERE was a mix of emotions in Sorrento last week as the lights dimmed for the final time as the town’s cinema, also known as the Athenaeum, screened its final film. New owners, the DeGroup are applying to the state government to demolish part of the heritage building and redevelop it as shops. Head of the group, Colin Delutis, paid an estimated $11 million for the Peninsula Cinemas Sorrento in 2022, including surrounding structures. The property is believed to have been offered for sale only twice in the past 75 years, with the last time being 2017 when it was…

STATE government departments have been accused of “digging in their heels” when it comes to moving hundreds of kangaroos trapped on a private property at Cape Schanck. The authorised government body – Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action – has still not approved a “soft herding” plan to remove up to 600 kangaroos trapped from the property. Wildlife groups say that the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and the Conservation Regulator have failed to act despite being aware of the animals’ situation worsening since being trapped inside fencing in 2021. Three one-way gates were installed last year…

MORNINGTON Peninsula mother-of-three and business woman Julie Fisher ‘s heart-warming and honest book From the Heart of Mums is an emotional glimpse into living with disability. Fisher, whose son Darcy has Down syndrome, is passionate about raising awareness to increase inclusion and acceptance for people who live with a disability. “When you enter the world of disability with your child or anyone you care for, it can be a scary time of the unknown,” she said. “Your idea of what life was going to be like suddenly changes in an instant.” Fisher said that from the moment of discovering a…

WHEN Mornington woman Sandra Franks had difficulty getting up from her chair when she was in her mid-60s, she initially just thought age was creeping up on her. “I had no push in my knees and was struggling to bear weight when trying to stand, so eventually I went to my doctor, who was baffled and sent me to a specialist,” she said. After getting no answers from the first specialist, Franks sought a second opinion and underwent a muscle biopsy that led to her diagnosis. While it was a shock to discover she had myositis, an incurable and progressive…

LANDCARE volunteers, officials and the community came together to mark the completion of stage one of the Balnarring to Bay biolink on Wednesday, 12 April. The project involved transforming 2.5 kilometres of degraded land to create a biolink along a natural drainage line from the centre of Balnarring to the mouth of Merricks Creek, Somers. Stage one started four years ago with a community consultation at Balnarring Hall, followed by a planting and regeneration project involving the replacement of 240 Monterey pine trees with 2500 indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses. An all-weather public access path has been built for walkers…

A SMASH-and-grab crime spree across Mount Eliza, Mornington and Mount Martha has shocked residents and businesses, and prompted calls for increased CCTV and police patrols on the peninsula. About one dozen businesses were robbed between 2am and 4am on Monday 17 April, with many staff and owners arriving to work to find windows and doors smashed and cash stolen. Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives believe the crimes are linked, with cafes, milk bars, beauty salons, a clothing store and laundromat targeted. It is believed two people known to police were captured on CCTV cameras at some of the break-ins,…

CAPEL Sound teenager Kobi-Lee Dyer is an inspiration to her family and friends, and it’s not hard to understand why. The 17-year-old is autistic and non-verbal but has not let that get in the way of achievement and success. She has been competing in athletics since she was eight and has achieved outstanding results, including winning gold in Brisbane last year at the inaugural Vitus Oceania Asia Games in the 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump events. Dyer has now been selected to compete in France in June in the Virtus Global Games – the most prestigious athletic competition for…

THREE sculpture parks – McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Langwarrin, Pt Leo Estate, Merricks and Montalto Winery, Red Hill South – will collectively celebrate International Sculpture Day on Saturday 29 April. The three open air spaces contain collections that unite sculpture and nature. McClelland director Lisa Byrne said the Mornington Peninsula was home to the largest collections of sculptures in Australia. “This collaboration is an experience not to be missed … at McClelland we champion the value of diversity within Australian culture through a specific focus on sculpture and its connection to the environment,” she said. “We are committed to…

MCCRAE residents say the “visual gateway” to the southern Mornington Peninsula will be ruined if a phone tower is built at the corner of Lonsdale Street and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. Bayview Road resident Alan Hanley is upset that residents only received notification of the proposal from Mornington Peninsula Shire after 5 April, with paperwork stating the advertising period started 5 April and the application would be decided after 19 April. Hanley said the 27.5-metre tower planned for land next to the freeway’s on-ramp would be visible from homes and would be the first thing travellers would see. “Why would…