VICROADS will be undertaking a range of maintenance activities all over the Mornington Peninsula from now as it prepares for the coming bushfire season. More than $550,000 will be spent on removing dead and dangerous trees, cutting low branches over roads and reducing fuel until the end of the year. This work will include fence-to-fence grass mowing on all rural arterial roads to cut the large amounts of fuel generated by a wet winter, and to ease the risk of a fire spreading from road reserves to adjacent land. Maintenance work along Balnarring Rd will begin this week. VicRoads regional…
Author: MP News Group
FIREFIGHTERS will be assisting paramedics at Frankston, Rosebud and Patterson River after the launch of an initiative to boost emergency responses to heart attack calls. The three stations are among five to receive the new Emergency Medical Response (EMR) program, which will also operate at Pakenham and Traralgon. Data from Ambulance Victoria shows the number of Victorians suffering heart attacks increased to a ten-year high last year. Firefighters at the five fire stations will now be dispatched to respond to triple zero calls for heart attack and non-breathing patients at the same time as paramedics. CFA and Ambulance Victoria trialled…
By Barry Irving IT was a sensational finish to a stellar season for Rosebud Heart. With 18 wins from 18 home-and-away games the team had reason to believe that they could go all the way and win the state championship. But, in their way were RMIT FC – the champions of State North 5. In a sensational final, Heart’s Daniel Hodge scored the opening goal before RMIT equalised, making the scores one-all at full time. This was the closest to losing a game the Heart’s had been all season. The players regrouped and, in the penalty shootout, both teams went…
By Barry Irving FORMER SAS Warrant Officer, 68-year-old Laurie “Truck” Sams, holder of the Star of Courage medal, has embarked on an epic cycling journey called The Long Ride Home. And one of his stops will be the Southern Peninsula. Mr Sams is cycling through six countries to support Australian Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations veterans of wars in Vietnam, Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He started at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi at 11am, Thursday 12 May, and plans to complete the 10,000km ride on the 51st anniversary of the 10,000-day Vietnam War. Crossing the bay by Sea…
The Rye Football and Netball club will be at Bunnings Warehouse Rosebud from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm on Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October selling tickets in their $40,000 “Your Choice” Raffle. Helping sell the tickets will be Hagan Rice from this year’s House Rules on Channel 7, and Brady Egan from the Foxtel’s show, The Recruit. Both of the guys play senior football at Rye and will be available to have a chat and a selfie from 11.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday the 8th. Come down meet the guys, purchase a ticket and be in the draw to win the first prize…
WHEN the women of ancient Greece stage a sex strike for peace, sparks fly and the comedy “pops-up” everywhere in Lysistrata, a bawdy anti-war comedy by the playwright Aristophanes. The play kept audiences laughing, and squirming, for 2500 years. Lysistrata is a comic account of a woman’s mission to end the Peloponnesian War. She convinces other women to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands as a means of forcing them to negotiate a peace treaty. The play will be held 8pm, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 October, at McClelland College Performing Arts Centre, 26 Alexander Cr, Karingal (enter off…
THREE men have been charged after being caught at Number 16 Beach, Rye, with 169 abalone. Fisheries officers who stopped the men at 11pm on Thursday 23 September found the abalone in their four-wheel drive. “The men, aged 32, 36 and 40 from Malvern, Mt Waverley and Vermont South, were not deterred from fishing in what were cold, rough and windy conditions,” acting director of fisheries education and enforcement, Brooke Hall, said. The men will be charged on summons with taking a commercial quantity of abalone during the closed season; taking abalone from the protected intertidal zone; taking and possessing…
Thieves forced the back door of a Dromana house and stole an iPad and a PlayStation sometime between 28 September-1 October. The Lombardy Av house was ransacked while the owners were away. Police said the offenders apparently stayed at the house, “taking their time, opening cans of food and bathing”. Anyone with any information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 4 October 2016
A BITTERN man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into a Bittern house and stealing items valued at $3000, 1.30pm, Friday 30 September. Mornington Peninsula CIU detectives said the owner of the house, in Frankston-Flinders Rd, returned home to find the house ransacked and the TV set missing. She saw a man standing in the front garden beside bags of goods and called Triple 000. Police later charged a man, 35, with burglary. He will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a date to be fixed. Anyone with any information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published…
FUNCTIONS and events, including morning melodies, breakfast, dinner dance and silent auctions, have helped Lifestyle Community’s Homeowners Committee, Hastings, raise $4656 for two blood testing machines for Frankston Hospital’s oncology day unit. On top of this, the Lifestyle Communities village management, through a foundation set up after a founding director died of cancer, matched this amount to give a combined total of $9330. The cheque presentation on Thursday 29 September at Lifestyle Communities, High St, Hastings, was attended by the Lifestyle committee and management, and representatives of Peninsula Health. “During their treatment, patients regularly need to have their blood tested,”…
FRENCH Island’s koalas are about to get a helping hand from Parks Victoria and government land and environment officers. Over the next six weeks, vets and support staff will be catching koalas, assessing their health, and treating up to 400 females with a contraceptive implant to help stabilise the local population. Thirty healthy koalas will be moved from the island to Tallarook, 100km north of Melbourne, to test the area’s suitability for more translocations. “French Island’s koalas are currently in good health but, without intervention, their over-abundance will affect their welfare, ruin trees and destroy native habitat,” Department of Environment,…
POLICE are calling on people to report stolen mobile phones to their telecommunications provider and ensure the phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is blocked. Almost 13,700 mobile phones were stolen in Victoria last year. Crime squad detective inspector Wayne Newman said phone thefts could be eventually reduced if more people activated the IMEI blocking function and offenders realised the phone could not be used. “We also encourage buyers of second-hand phones to request proof of ownership and perform an IMEI check on the handset before making a purchase,” he said. IMEI blocking is a free service which can be…
Aria Hall of Fame inductee, #1 selling Platinum artist, King of Pop, Australian Icon are just a few phrases commonly used when describing Aussie legend Russell Morris. Shooting to fame in the middle 60’s with Somebody’s Image, Russell had a string of hits including Hush and the Bob Dylan classic Baby Blue. In 1969 he and producer Molly Meldrum released “The Real Thing”, Australia’s only true psychedelic #1 hit and a song that is played regularly on commercial radio to this day. Following that, Russell penned breakthrough hits such as; Sweet Sweet Love, Wings of an Eagle, Rachel, Part 3…
Australia’s favourite psych rock sisters Stonefield are hitting the road on a massive national headline tour that will stop in at The Grand Hotel, Mornington on 27 October. Coinciding with their massive tour, the band have released a new single, ‘Love’. In contrast to most of the record, where the writing process began with the vocal as the guiding light, ‘Love’ was written with quite a different approach, taking shape from a stripped back jam between lead guitarist Hannah, Sarah (keys) and Holly (bass). The sisters were rocking out in their lounge room in country Victoria, and brought to life…
ANIMAL lovers of all ages are invited to this year’s Blessing of the Animals Service at St George’s Anglican Church, Red Hill. The service at 4pm, Saturday 8 October, marks the feast day of St Francis who died in 1226 and was well known for his love of all creatures. It is regarded as a celebration of the environment and all living creatures and is an opportunity to acknowledge their importance in our lives. “Members of the Community may remember last year’s service which was a wonderful, happy gathering of adults, children, and their pets,” organiser Jennifer Atkins said. “They…
FISHING By Paul Pingiaro WELL it’s fair to say Melbourne’s spring weather has been very typical. Four season in one day seems to be the norm at the moment, however when the weather gods shine the fishing has been quite good and the good news is it’s only going to get much better. This time of year the majority of anglers focus on snapper. While the large schools of fish are still a few weeks away, it’s very promising to see some great early catches. Anglers fishing off the Rocks at Mt Martha, Mornington and Brighton are catching some nice…
CRIB Point is celebrating the 100th birthday of the original school building with a free Family Fun Day, 10am-2pm, Sunday 16 October. Former teachers of the Park Rd school will be returning to reminisce and catch up with each other and past students. Construction began on the first purpose-built school in Crib Point in 1915 and classes ran 1916-84 when it moved to Milne St. The building was saved from demolition in 1985 by the then Flinders Federal MP Peter Reith and then State MP Robin Cooper. It is now the home of the Crib Point Community House, and the…
HMAS Cerberus will hold an open day, Sunday 23 October, to mark the end of Navy Week. Those attending can bring a picnic, buy lunch from one of the food stalls, including an army field kitchen. Activities will include military fly pasts, air force hot air balloon team, army vehicles, navy helicopters, fast roping from helicopters, federation guard precision drill displays food stalls, bands from all three services, vintage cars, and children’s activities. The base’s steam truck will also make an appearance. Teams of sailors will compete to “rescue” a shipmate from the far side of a “river”. Entry off…
PENINSULA Over 60 cricketers are padding up for the season opener next month with three new teams bringing the competition total to 22. Peninsula players come from Frankston and all over the Mornington Peninsula to the oval at Grayden’s Rd, Tuerong. They play midweek and Sunday one-day matches comprising a 40-over innings. The game is designed for players of all abilities and new players are welcome. Some have played all their lives while others may not have played for 20-40 years. The common thread is a love of cricket and being part of a team keeping fit while enjoying the…
THE driver and passenger of a van needed hospital treatment after being hit from behind by a large truck on Peninsula Link, 8.45am, Saturday. The force of the impact stove in the front of the truck with the airbag possibly saving the driver from serious injury, Leading Senior Constable Darren Myers, of Carrum Downs Highway Patrol, said. The truck driver, who may not have noticed banked-up traffic ahead, hit the back of the cleaning service van, pushing it into the back of a small, fully loaded, passenger bus, all heading south on the freeway, between Robinsons and Golf Links roads,…
TWO four-wheel-drives were used in a ram-raid attack on Peninsula Homemaker Centre, early Saturday 24 September, and a large amount of cash stolen. Possibly four men used a stolen Nissan Patrol to try to pull out a bollard from the front of the centre, 3.40am, but only managed to bend it. They then managed to position the vehicle so it could ram through a door into the centre, and used a large grinder to cut free an ATM. The second vehicle was called upon to pull free the first when it became wedged between the bollard and the wall. The…
A 47-year-old Crib Point man has been arrested and charged following an alleged aggravated burglary at a house in Verdun Court, Crib Point, Saturday 17 September. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the charges also included burglary and common law assault of a woman at the property. The man faced a bail justice week and was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, 9 December. Anyone with information is urged to call Mornington Peninsula CIU, 5978 1300. First published in the Western Port News – 27 September 2016
PERFORMING arts are used as a platform for young people’s health, sense of inclusion and feelings of wellbeing by members of Artzmartz, based at Mornington. The group is part of Smart Communities which believes in creating communities where children and young people are valued, respected and heard. It fosters projects designed by and for young people, which provide a platform for community connection and skill development, feelings of belonging and sense of purpose and control in life. “Our young people have enormous potential and, as an organisation, we hope to provide many opportunities for them to hold onto their optimism…
CAMP Manyung, Mt Eliza, is running programs to encourage seniors to get active in the outdoors. The YMCA camp’s outdoor adventure program includes sea-kayaking, archery, high ropes and bike riding will launch on Friday 7 October at 25/35 Sunnyside Rd, Mt Eliza, and then run every month until April. The program will include challenges based on group members’ interests, as well as the weather. “We’re excited to be launching something that can make a difference to our community’s health and bring people together,” manager Maree Feutrill said. “Research shows that, as people get older, their participation in sports and recreation…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie ROSEBUD Heart cemented its claim as Victoria’s team of the year by clinching the State 5 grand final in a penalty shootout last Saturday at Murphy Reserve in Port Melbourne. The season finale presented Heart with the opportunity to continue its perfect record having won every league game in State 5 South and becoming only the third senior team in the past 54 years to achieve such a feat. Heart went into this clash with State 5 North champion RMIT as a firm favourite but the large group of travelling Heart fans soon found out that…
CENTRAL Mornington will again be the setting for art, culture, food and wine during the 21st Main Street Mornington Festival on Sunday 16 October. There will be entertainment for all ages from up-and-coming artists and well-seasoned performers, including pop, jazz, blues, and retro, to folk, country, acoustic and indie. Seasonal produce, food and a selection of wine will be available. This family-friendly event runs 11am-5pm and is organised by the volunteers of Northern Mornington Peninsula Tourism. The program is available at mainstreetfestival.com.au or on Facebook at MainStreetMorningtonFestival. First published in the Mornington News – 27 September 2016
Hastings MP Neale Burgess wants an “urgent investigation” into the failure of level crossing boom gates at Somerville. Mr Burgess says the boom gates at the Eramosa Rd crossing stayed down for hours, preventing traffic from crossing the line on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 September. “Somerville motorists had reported their frustrations with the Eramosa Rd level crossing after it was closed due to malfunctioning boom gates,” Mr Burgess said. He said there had also been reports of other faulty boom gates at level crossings on the Stony Point line over the past 12 months. . “The Minister for Public…
BURN-OFF restrictions on small Mornington Peninsula properties will be eased next month so fuel loads can be reduced before the fire season. Open air burning will be allowed 9am-4pm Fridays and Saturdays on land less than 1500 square metres – but there are conditions. No more than one cubic metre of vegetation can be burnt at any one time; the fire cannot be within 10 metres of any neighbouring dwelling and the General Fire Safety Provisions must be followed at all times. Open air burning is otherwise banned on properties less than 1500 square metres. “Residents are reminded that burn-off…
A FRANKSTON man was found drink-driving at allegedly four times the legal limit by Mornington police, Friday morning (16 September). The divisional van crew spotted the 41-year-old just after 2am in Hardy St, Mornington. He was intercepted and returned a positive breath test. When tested again at the Mornington police station the man allegedly blew 0.206 per cent. His car was impounded, his licence cancelled and he will be charged on summons with drink-driving offences. Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Lamb described the reading as “very high”. He was concerned a person “would even consider driving when that impaired”. “Fortunately, thanks…
A FAMILY pet day will be held at Mornington Yacht Club, 10am-2pm, Wednesday 21 September. Pets of all sorts are welcome – suitably restrained, of course – to enjoy a range of interesting activities and perhaps pick up a showbag. Demonstrations and activities will include a Wonderful World of Pets Show by Mt Martha Veterinary Clinic, a This is My Pet session, basic dog and obedience demonstrations, sausage sizzle and a pet parade with prizes for best dressed, most unusual, waggiest tail, longest tongue and best sit and drop. Pets can be microchipped, and a cat adoption program may also…