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.
Cr. Wells: The Tennis Club can take their choice.
Cr. Gray: Some people talk about establishing markets on the old cricket ground, so that would not be a good place for a tennis court.
Cr. Oates said the old cricket ground had been offered to the tennis people after the letter from the Lands Department had been received withdrawing the offer of three acres for the High School.
The letter referred to was from the Under Secretary for Lands, in reference to the proposed High School on old cricket ground, Frankston, stating that as the Education Department was not prepared to accept an area of less than 30 acres for High School purposes, the offer by the Minister of Lands of 3 acres of the reserve for building site, with a limited use of the balance of the area for sports purposes, was now withdrawn.
Cr. Gray asked what had been done in connection with the alternative site offered to the Education Department?
Cr. Mason said he had written asking for the Education Department’s reply re the land on the other side of Hastings Road, but no reply had been received.
Cr. Gray said the decision of the recent public meeting was that if the Department declined to accept the alternate site a referendum should be taken on the question of giving the old cricket ground.
That decision of the people should be given effect to.
It was resolved that the High School committee be requested to at once write the Education Department asking for a definite reply regarding the alternate site.
The report of the sub-committee was not received. On the other hand there was no comment on the action of the Frankston councillors in offering the High School site to the tennis club.
It would be strange indeed if the people of Frankston calmly view the passing of this land without a strenuous kick.
Cr. Oates contended that the proper site for the High School is the land referred to as the alternate site, beyond the Hastings Road.
The Education Department has undertaken to give Frankston a High School if the old cricket reserve is made available. If this land is not given freely, Frankston will not get its school.
Now then, what are the people of Frankston going to do about it?
The “Standard’s” advice is to take a referendum of the people immediately. Convince the Minister of Lands that the great majority of the people are prepared to give the old cricket reserve and then if Mr. Oman still contends that Mr. Joseph McComb is the sort of “citizen” who requires “protection,” let the question be taken to Parliament.
As Cr. Gray stated on Friday: “If one man in the community can prevent progress in the face of the rest of the people it is time the law was amended”.
Have the people of Frankston got a kick left, or are they going to quietly submit to the loss of their High School?
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WHAT might have been a disastrous fire near Frankston was prevented by the prompt action of Mr. James Bradbury of The Fernery.
He saw a cigarette thrown into the grass from a passing motor car, but running to the spot with a portable spray pump he subdued the flames.
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MANY Melbourne people will recall, and always with great respect, the name of the late Hon. James Campbell – one of Victoria’s most respected citizens in the early eighties – and who then occupied the position of Postmaster-General for Victoria.
It is over thirty years ago that Mr. Campbell, upon returning from a world tour gave a public lecture in the Melbourne Town Hall.
Mr. Campbell said that after his many travels he was convinced that Australia was destined to be the most valuable part of the British Empire.
Sydney might be regarded as the “Washington”, but Melbourne owing to its central position and equable climate, must in the future be the New York of Australia.
He dwelt upon the extensive water frontages around Port Phillip Bay, and so close to the city, but particularly referred to the finest stretch of bathing beach in the world, namely, that portion for ten miles length between Mordialloc and Frankston, where the sand is as sugar and the water as clear as gin.
Mr. Campbell was enthusiastic when he predicted what a great asset this safe bathing area would be to the future generation.
He spoke more truly than he knew, but at that time could not anticipate the advantages of the creation of a faultless roadway brought into existence by the motor car, and also the benefits arising from fast electric trains, water service and electric light.
All these advantages are within reach of the family, who, for moderate means, can enjoy a seaside home within 20 miles of Melbourne.
We understand that on Saturday, the 20th of January, the Beach Estate in to be sold by public auction at Carrum, in allotments having a frontage of sixty feet each to the main Nepean Road, and also to the beach.
As this property lies immediately north of the Patterson River, with its outlet to the sea at Carrum, the public have long waited for this subdivision.
The future value of these lots must be very great.
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TYABB NOTES: The erection of two danger sign posts on the Melbourne Road, near the intersection with the Mornington Road, removes a long-felt want.
This should help to avert accidents, as previously some motor cars and motor cycles used to travel over the Mornington Road crossing at an alarming rate.
Under the former existing conditions there would have been a dangerous accident sooner or later.
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ELECTRIC LIGHT MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. D. J. Quartermain (manager electric light) reported at last Friday’s. Council meeting as follows:
For the month of December I have completed 26 new installations in the Henley system for the sum of £201/0/6, also connected 46 new consumers to the supply.
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DISASTER befell Francis George Luttgens, boatman, of Mordialloc, when he put out to sea in heavy weather yesterday afternoon in his motor boat.
He was alone in the boat.
After leaving the shelter of the breakwater at the mouth of Mordialloc Creek, the boat ran into the full force of a strong wind, and was buffeted by heavy waves.
Before Luttgens could run to shelter his boat was picked up by an exceptionally violent sea and thrown against the side of the pier facing the breakwater.
Luttgens managed to regain control of the boat, but the heavy swell carried the anchor overboard.
His plight was watched by several spectators on the pier, who were horrified at seeing Luttgens overbalance and fall overboard whilst he was attempting to recover the anchor, the boat being struck by another big wave.
This wave carried Luttgens away from the boat, and he was unable to reach it again.
A life-belt kept on the pier was thrown to him, but he failed to grasp it, and was washed under.
Boats put out to his assistance, but he was swept away before they could reach him.
His body was recovered an hour later floating a mile and a half from the pier.
It was brought to the City Morgue last night.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 10 & 12 Jan 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 10 January 2023
