INFORMATION panels at Red Hill Station Reserve tell the story of the area which has become a hub for families, walkers, and bike and horse riders. The panels were put up by Manton and Stony Creeks Landcare Group and Red Hill Community Association. Historical information came from the Shire’s Bittern – Red Hill Railway Conservation Management Plan 2014 with old photos provided by the Dromana and District Historical Society. The park was opened in January last year after a large number of wilding Monterey pines and woody weeds were removed and the area was revegetated with 2000 indigenous plants. It…
Author: MP News Group
A HASTINGS man will be charged with failing to stop and render assistance after his car collided with a pedestrian in Coolstore Rd, Hastings 6.55pm, Monday 17 April 2017. Sergeant Peter Martin, of Somerville Highway Patrol, said the man, 30, claimed he swerved to avoid a dog just before the incident. The victim, 23, of Langwarrin, suffered life threatening injuries when he was struck, just east of Wallace Drive. He was flown to The Alfred hospital with life-threatening injuries and was in a critical condition on Tuesday. The driver attended Hastings police station soon afterwards and alerted police. Investigators were…
THE state government says banning dogs from the coastal Mornington Peninsula National Park has already proved its worth in protecting the endangered hooded plover. Parks Victoria says eight chicks survived the most recent breeding season compared with one two seasons ago. The controversial dog ban was put in place along the 42 kilometre coastline in November 2016 to protect the hooded plover and its habitat. Banning dogs has also enabled Parks Victoria to extend fox control programs to help protect the 32 other fauna species of conservation significance that also inhabit the park. Parks Victoria is undertaking regular targeted patrols…
THE refurbished Annie Sage Community Centre includes three community meeting spaces, kitchen, two child and family health consulting rooms, office and toilet and storage space. The refurbishment included replacing the roof, and adding a new facade and entry porch. This project received $270,000 from the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, $496,000 from Mornington Peninsula Shire and $75,000 from Somerville Community House. The centre at 21 Blacks Camp Rd, Somerville, is the new home of the Somerville Community House after the burning down of Somerville Recreation Centre. It houses the shire’s maternal and child health team, which provides services to about…
RESIDENTS of Peninsula Parklands, Hastings are preparing to commemorate Anzac Day even though age may be wearying some of them. There are 340 residents at the High St retirement village and last year some of them found it physically hard to attend the town’s official Anzac Day march and ceremonies. This year they will be at a ceremony in their own community hall, which is also being used to exhibit a display of wartime memorabilia, including medals and a set of World War I cavalry spurs worn by a soldier from Somerville. Background music from the wartime era will help…
SPANISH classical guitarist Matthew Fagan and pianist Isaac Mouskovias will perform classical music at its emotive and technical best at 3pm, Sunday 30 April, at St Johns Church, 23 King St, Flinders. The 10-string classical guitar and concert piano will feature arrangements by Vivaldi, Rodrigo’s Guitar Concierto de Aranjuez and Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Also featuring is Mouskovias baritone voice in Celtic and English folk songs arranged for the Spanish guitar and voice, including the Water is Wide, Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, She Moved Through the Fair and more. The classical, flamenco and Celtic program will be performed with passion, renewed vigour…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie WHILE Mornington has been forced to call off the Josh Hine deal Skye United was welcoming the arrival of English recruit Jacob Scotte-Hatherly. Skye United officials greeted the 22-year-old midfielder at Melbourne Airport last Wednesday night and are excited about what he could bring to the State 3 South-East side. Scotte-Hatherly’s last club was Bovey Tracey AFC in Division 1 East of the South West Peninsula League and the attacking midfielder from Newton Abbot in South Devon has won two player-of-the-match awards in just nine appearances this season after joining the club in late December. He…
By Ben Triandafillou PENINSULA Boxing has been rewarded with two gold medals after a flawless performance at the 2017 Australian Boxing Championships in South Australia on April 8. Peninsula Boxing went undefeated at the national championships with the Victorian representatives Tyla McDonald and Jason Whateley triumphing in their respected divisions. Tyla McDonald, 13, added to her impressive record defeating last year’s national champion, Tameriah Barney-Sandy, in the final round of the ‘Schoolgirls Division’. Jason Whateley, showed his class at the Elite World Games breezing through the opening rounds of the 91kg division and earning gold, defeating fellow Victorian, Adrian Paoletti,…
THERE will be 13 Anzac Day marches and services on the Mornington Peninsula. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the day is a time for “reflection, thankfulness and remembrance of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli”. “While Anzac Day has always been a huge day of national pride, each year reignites the community’s dedication to remembering the sacrifice so many have made for our country. “We will remember not only the original Anzacs who served at Gallipoli, but commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women.” Anzac Day program: Balnarring 9.30am service at Balnarring Village Shopping Centre.…
THE speed limit on Melbourne Rd between Iolanda St, Rye, and Heather Av, Sorrento, was cut from 80kph to 70kph on Wednesday 5 April. Temporary electronic signs will be displayed on Melbourne Rd to alert motorists. Early last year, Mornington Peninsula Shire became the first council in Australia to become a Towards Zero Municipality, the shire’s web page says. “One of the first initiatives of this commitment was addressing community group concerns about road safety on Melbourne Rd. “A community survey completed in late 2016 received mixed feedback, however a comprehensive assessment of the numerous crashes and use of Melbourne…
MAXIM Wood, 79, of Blairgowrie was the oldest person to participate in this year’s 100 kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker fundraising event. The event saw teams of four walking and running for 48 hours or less through the Dandenong and Yarra Valley ranges. Teams raised at least $1400 to participate and Melbourne teams raised $2.2 million for Oxfam’s work tackling poverty in communities around the world. Teams raised an average $3548. This year’s event Mr Wood’s tenth trailwalk and saw his team – Eulers Bridge, with teammates, son Miguel Wood, Fiona Morrison and Jacinta Little – in 31 hours and 48 minutes.…
POETRY readings are sure to attract literary buffs to a McCrae cafe. Poets’ Corner organisers Heather Forbes McKeon, a former head of drama at Frankston High School, and Ian Coffey, a former literature teacher at Padua, say verse and fellowship will be on offer at the readings at Blue Bay Cafe, McCrae, on the last Sunday of the month. “Verse has been the vehicle for human experience for centuries,” Ms Forbes McKeon said. “People have expressed their elation, mirth, grief, pain, insight, bewilderment, wonder and anger in poetry through the ages and our world is richer for it.” Poet’s Corner…
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate Shane I’Anson wanted on warrant. The 40-year-old is wanted in relation to numerous offences including theft, burglary and trespass. He is described as Caucasian, 200cm tall, thin build with green eyes, ginger/blonde short wavy hair and is unshaven. I’Anson is known to frequent the Mornington area. Investigators have released an image of I’Anson in the hope someone may have information on his current whereabouts. Anyone who sights I’Anson or has information about his current whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at…
Police have charged a woman following an alleged hit run collision in Main Ridge last week. It is believed a car travelling east on Shands Road collided with a cyclist on Friday 7 April about 6pm. The 27-year-old male cyclist was taken to hospital with critical injuries. The driver of the car, a 69-year-old woman, left the scene but was arrested by police a short time later. The woman was taken to a nearby police station where she returned a reading of 0.174% on an evidentiary breath test. She has been charged with negligently causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing…
JUNIOR football league executives are being trained to spot youngsters with mental health problems. The focus on mental health is part of the first aid training being given at every club in the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. Course participants will learn about adolescent development; the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health problems in young people; where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness; what sort of help has been shown to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation. “The hope is to equip each…
By Ben Triandafillou THE gap between the Port Phillip Heads is one of the most dangerous stretches of open water in Australia but keen swimmers have been crossing the opening since 1971. The swimmers must take into account the giant container ships, the vast variety of marine life and the detrimental tides when navigating their way from Point Lonsdale to Point Nepean. The ‘Rip Swim’ is now in its fourth season of organising group swims across the bay with a recent crossing on Sunday 26 February. Swimmers of all age groups have attempted and successfully completed the daring venture across…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie Peninsula Strikers have pulled off the transfer coup of the season by clinching the signature of Scottish star Ryan Stevenson. The 32-year-old attacking midfielder or striker has played over 400 games as a professional in Scotland and England and will fly to Melbourne as soon as his visa and international clearance are arranged. The Centenary Park outfit is hopeful that Stevenson will arrive this week and be the first of a number of clutch signings it hopes to make in the next fortnight. Among them is former Bentleigh Greens junior Emmanuel Brima, 18, who has been…
Lee Kernaghan is one of the undisputable all-time greats of Australian country. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of Lee’s amazing career and the release of his first chart-busting hit, Boys From The Bush. The iconic song was the first of many number one singles from the classic album The Outback Club, which went on to achieve double platinum certification, win a swag of awards and redefine contemporary Australian country music along the way. Since the release of his mega hit Boys From The Bush, Lee has notched up 34 number one hits on the Australian country music…
VETERAN journalist and singer Barry Morris feels as though he grew up with singer Frank Sinatra. “His music has been a background musical score to my life,” Morris, a former jazz writer and sub-editor with Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph, said this week. Two years ago, he and his wife Jill moved to Mt Martha to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Born in 1941, Morris says he became aware of The Voice when Sinatra was recording hit after hit for radio, well before the advent of television. “It was his years with Capitol Records from 1952 to 1962 that…
McCRAE Lighthouse burst into a sea of light last Sunday 2 April to mark World Autism Day. Organised by Bianca Appleford from Light Up Autism Foundation, over 300 people gathered to witness the illuminating of the lighthouse. “This was a great team effort,” said Mrs Appleford. “I’d like to thank McCrae and District Lions Club, Bendigo Bank (Rye, Rosebud and Dromana), Dromana Fire Brigade and Sorrento SES, and all our supporters that come out on the night.” Light Up Autism Foundation was founded five years ago by Mrs Appleford after she saw first hand the need for assistance programs in…
WORK has begun on a $1.56 million coastal path and seawall at the Eastern Sister headland connecting Sullivan Bay to Camerons Bight, Sorrento. Initially the focus will be on fencing the construction site and diverting pedestrians around it, with project signs detailing the works. The headland is at the northern end of Camerons Bight and the southern end of Sullivan Bay. At the top of the cliff is the Collins Settlement Historic site, Victoria’s first official settlement, dating back to 1803. It includes graves, asphalt pathways, monuments and look-outs. The project will provide pedestrian access around the headland along a…
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating a serious assault in Rosebud West yesterday (4 April) evening. It is believed a car containing an unknown number of people arrived at a property in the vicinity of Kingfisher Road, Rosebud West about 7pm. A dispute arose in the street between two parties, which resulted in one man receiving serious injuries, including lacerations and severed fingers. The injured man was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition and is yet to be spoken to by police. A second man attended a medical clinic in Rosebud with a wound…
ARTIST and author Peter Strickland, who along with his wife Kathie has put together a series of books on indigenous plants, said the Mornington Peninsula had to decide whether it was going to be just a playground for Melbourne or an entity in its own right. “We face lots of problems regarding population expansion, such as farmland, hotels and resorts and transport versus virgin bush,” he said. “We have got to be more self-centred and do what suits us, such as deciding whether we want to develop the port of Hastings or have Western Port as a relaxation area.” Mr…
A HASTINGS resident was taken to Frankston Hospital after allegedly being shot in the arm by an air rifle, 6.30pm, Saturday 1 April. The 34-year-old, who was reported to ambulance officers as being near the Wallaroo general store when the incident happened, later told police he recalled hearing a shot but could not remember where. X-rays at the hospital could find no pellet, just graze marks. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 4 April 2017
A P-PLATE driver was flown by Air Ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital after a car crash on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington, 10.30pm, Monday 27 March. The man, 19, of Mt Eliza, was with two friends in a small sedan when it lost control and skidded backwards into a tree near Dunns Rd. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay, of Mornington police, said the man was freed by ambulance officers and stabilised. Mornington Fire Brigade and Frankston SES crews assisted in the rescue. First published in the Mornington News – 4 April 2017
THE Bays Hospital, Mornington, is looking for volunteer drivers to help patients get to hospital. “While family and friends transport most patients to and from medical appointments, some have to rely on public transport, have limited mobility or are too unwell to drive themselves,” nursing director Anita Woods said. “Our two patient transport vehicles, both donated by Bernie Taylor of the Grand Hotel Mornington, are enabling nursing staff to be increasingly mobile and reach patients in the community to provide better care.” Ms Woods said the vehicles enables the hospital’s prostate cancer specialist nurse and breast care nurse to counsel…
COLLECTING and sorting goods for sale has been keeping members of Mt Eliza Rotary Club busy for weeks. The culmination of their efforts to raise money for community projects comes this Saturday (8 April) with the club’s annual garage sale. It will be the seventh year the club has sold goods donated by households from across the Mornington Peninsula and some Melbourne suburbs. The first part of the operation involved collecting the donated goods and then sorting and storing. Items come from families moving house, down-sizing or parting with possessions they no longer require. Categories of goods include artworks, books,…
RESTORATION work will begin next month (May) on some sections of the exterior of Mt Martha House. The heritage listed Federation Queen Anne style building dates back to 1891 when it was known as the Martha Hotel. Built of timber, it sits on a high point of land opposite the beach at the corner of the Esplanade and Dominion Rd, Mt Martha, where it is sometimes subjected to severe weather conditions. Mornington Peninsula Shire says it is awaiting approval from Heritage Victoria to spend about $100,000 on exterior restoration works to the community centre. However, Heritage Victoria says delays have…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie GUS Macleod will coach his 400th league game for Langwarrin on Saturday when his side squares up to South Springvale at Warner Reserve. A constant throughout Macleod’s tenure has been the presence of assistant coach and close friend Neil Collyer. They are in their 19th season at Lawton Park and oversee a heavily revamped senior squad attempting to win its first title since 2004. Manchester-born central defender George Whiteoak, 21, arrives from the UK this week and becomes the 11th newcomer to this year’s senior squad. He is a friend of 23-year-old central defender Kieron Kenny…
HOT rods, classics, pin ups and trade stalls, fender benders, DJ Jeff and the Rockin’ Daddies will feature at the Rosebud Rock ‘n’ Rods Festival, 10am-5pm, Sunday 9 April. The ninth annual event is at Eastbourne Primary School, Allambi Av, Rosebud. Entry is $10, with those under 12 free and display car drivers free. All profits from the event go to Rosebud Hospital. Details: 0408 583 727. The event is held in conjunction with the Rock ‘n’ roll with Jump ‘n’ Jive plus DJ Jeff, from 7.30pm until late, Saturday 8 April, at Eastbourne Primary School stadium. The cost is…