Author: Cameron McCullough

WHEN Charlie O’Brien appeared at the Frankston court two weeks ago on a charge of drunkenness, he promised the Bench that he would shake the dust of Frankston from off his feet, and make for fresh fields and pastures new if given “one more chance.’’ The Court took him at his word, but Charlie failed to keep his part of the contract. Last Monday morning he faced the magistrates again. He was unshaven and generally presented a most unkempt appearance. He was charged with vagrancy. Senior Constable Cullane said accused was arrested on Saturday night near the Frankston railway station.…

THE Point Nepean Road is becoming notorious for the number of motor smashes and mishaps occurring on it lately.  Another one of these distressing accidents happened at Seaford on Sunday afternoon. At about 4pm, Mr. Fred Shenfield was returning on his motor cycle to his home at Seaford with his father, Mr. L. J. Shenfield, who was in the side car. When nearly opposite “Fernlea”, the cycle suddenly swerved and crashed into a stout electric light pole with a sickening force. Mr. Shenfield, senr., was pinned under the body of the heavy cycle, and considerable difficulty was experienced in extricating…

LAST Monday evening, Thomas Lyons, motor car driver, called at the Frankston police station and told Senior-Constable Cullaine a sensational story of how he lost his motor car. He said he was driving for Vickery’s garage, Melbourne. When at the top of the hill the car stopped and he walked to the back to examine it. Suddenly the car began to move, and before Lyons could reach the brakes, it was careering backwards down the hill. Swerving, it dashed over the steepest part of the cliff, and fell into the sea. The car was badly damaged. Its framework was buckled…

THE Rev. C. Angwin, of the Mordialloc Methodist church. (late of Frankston) had a thrilling experience and most miraculous escape on Sunday night last on the Point Nepean Road, between Chelsea and Edithvale, at about 6.40, when riding his bicycle to take the evening service at Edithvale. He was run down by a motor car, the occupants of which were young men. He was lifted from his seat, thrown on the guard of the motor car wheel, projected on the road, and after being whirled from one side of the road to the other he regained his feet, feeling dazed,…

ANZAC Day was observed as a closed holiday in Frankston last Wednesday by many of the business people. It was noteworthy that all returned soldiers closed their shops during the whole day. It is difficult to realise why the full significance of the day should appeal less to John Citizen than to the man who offered his all for the freedom of his country. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon a commemorative service was held under the arch at the Honor Avenue. The attendance was not as large as in former years, due no doubt to lack of proper organisation.…

OVER twelve months ago representatives from various organisations in Frankston met and formed a committee to raise funds for the general improvement of the Frankston Park. Subscription lists were issued and the district canvassed, but the response in cash was not encouraging, less than £20 being collected. Last night the committee met again primarily with the idea of considering a letter from Mr. R. Coxall, secretary of the Frankston Football Club, asking for improvements to be made in the direction of providing dressing rooms, etc. Mr. W. Lind: Have you decided where the new dressing shed is to be erected?…

IN his 1962 speech at Rice University, John F Kennedy laid down the reasoning for his country’s effort to go to the moon before the decade was out. He stated “man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred”. The quest for knowledge of the vast universe is at the edge of science’s understanding, even 60 years after Kennedy’s famous speech. And it is as true now, as it was then, that the next generation are set to take us further into this great unknown, still determined and undeterred. On Saturday 1 April, 26 Year…

IT started with a simple phone call. A person wanting to book their “guests” into Pt Leo Estate’s fine dining restaurant, Laura. Nothing that would alert the venue’s general manager, Roger Lancia, that anything was out of the ordinary. Until it was mentioned that before these “guests” could visit, a team would need to attend to inspect the property. The inspection happened and the team loved what they saw. It would be a perfect place for their “guests” to come for lunch and a wander in the sculpture park. “Still no names had been mentioned at this point, but I…

THERE was a notable gathering at Mt. Eliza last Saturday afternoon to take part in the ceremony of opening the new public hall, erected by the residents, largely as the result of voluntary labor. The Prime Minister, with Mrs. Bruce, whose home, “Ormiston,” is within a mile or two of the new building, arrived shortly after 3 o’clock, and were received by the president of the hall committee, Cr. Dudley Detmold, Major Geoff Grice (vice-president), and Cr. J. R. M. Walker (hon. sec.). The attendance numbered between 200 and 300 people, and included many city visitors, as well as residents…

AT the close of last year the school children were promised “the best of picnics and sports,” as a reward for a good year’s work and especially for their success in gaining merit and qualifying certificates, and right well was the promise honored, for last Thursday will long be remembered as a day of days. This fine result was due to perfect organisation by the staff, and a hard-working committee of ladies of exceptional ability, backed up by generous donations from the parents and child-loving friends. The contest, began at 10 o’clock and continued through the day with breaks at…

It was a one-man mission, but Nigel Dalkus has made it happen. And soon you too will be sporting the fruits of his labour. The new M-Plate, exclusively for Mornington Peninsula residents. “It hit me one day when I was in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Peninsula Link. How do I know if the guy in the BMW X-5 next to me is a corporate type from a suburb I’ve never heard of clogging up our roads, or just a local battler taking his kid to Auskick?” “The solution? A plate for your car letting everyone know you’re from the Mornington Peninsula!”…

AN intrepid group of year eight students from Peninsula Grammar have embarked on an exchange adventure to Malaysia. The eleven students will spend eight days abroad, visiting cultural and tourist sites in Kuala Lumpur, and attending classes at the school’s Peninsula International School in the city. “This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience the sights and sounds of Malaysia”, said Muriel Bakker, the school’s Community Engagement Manager. “Not only will they be there as tourists, but also as students, taking part in the structured classes of the existing students at the Malaysia campus of the school.…

Four brothers, John Francis Skinner, William Lindsay Skinner, Mark Skinner and Daniel Skinner were charged with offensive behaviour at Frankston on the 19th inst. Senior-Constable Cullane conducted the prosecution and Mr. H. Shelton appeared for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Albert Shannon, grocer, gave evidence to the effect that at about 5.30pm on the day in question he saw the four defendants fighting amongst themselves near Wheeler’s chemist’s shop, in Playne Street, Frankston. One man was knocked down and while he was down one of the others kicked him. The men continued fighting on towards the new picture theatre.…

AT a meeting convened by the Progress Association 18 months ago it was stated that sly-grog selling had become quite a business in the district, most of the liquor being brought from Mordialloc and Frankston, which were well supplied with hotels. Supplies were also brought by persons spending the week-end in Chelsea, and made a good profit out of illicit selling on Sundays. The result had been that Chelsea was known as “the bottle merchants’ paradise.” At this meeting a committee was formed, with Mr. A. Roberts as secretary, to take steps to suppress the sly-grog evil in the district.…

YESTERDAY afternoon another meeting of Frankston residents was held in the Methodist Sunday school to receive reports in connection with the movement inaugurated to oppose a liquor booth license at the Frankston sports on Easter Monday. There was a good attendance and Mrs. Twining was voted to the chair. Mrs. Goodwin, hon secretary, stated that the services of Mr. Utber (Messrs. Hunt & Utber) had been retained to conduct the case for the opposition before the Licensing Court. Opposing petitions were now in circulation and were being largely signed. Mr. Barrett, of the central organisation in Melbourne, had visited Frankston…

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…