MCCRAE cafe proprietor Sam Keck got the wake-up call he dreaded, 3am, Friday morning. It was the milkman telling him his Merchant and Maker cafe, in Point Nepean Rd, had been broken into. Racing down he found the front door had been jemmied open for the thief to gain entry and steal a “substantial amount” of money from the till and more from the jemmied safe. Also gone was the cafe’s tips jar containing money earmarked for Ugandan charity the Cup that Counts, which contributes to the African country’s community development. The cafe also donates 20 cents from each cup…
Author: MP News Group
Police are calling on road users to take extra care on the roads with sun glare being investigated as the possible cause of a collision in Mornington this morning. A male cyclist was travelling north on the Nepean Highway about 8am when he was struck from behind by a motorist near the intersection with Belleura Road. The injured cyclist has been taken to hospital while the male driver of the car was physically uninjured. The driver told police that he couldn’t see the cyclist due to sun glare on the road. Members of the Somerville Highway Patrol are investigating the…
A DROMANA man was taken to Frankston hospital after crashing his car into a power pole beside the Moorooduc Hwy, Frankston South, 2.52am, Friday 24 June. Senior Constable Evan Humber, of Frankston police, said the man, 28, appeared to have lost control of his red Ford sedan on a bend near Harrow Hill Ct, clipping the gutter and “becoming airborne for 20 metres”. The car came to rest chassis deep in an embankment. It was said to be a write-off. Acting Senior Sergeant John Anderson, of Mornington Peninsula Highway Patrol, said police were awaiting results of blood samples taken at…
Police have charged a man following the alleged theft of a CFA donation box from a service station in Baxter last month. The man allegedly attended the Peninsula Link service station and walked off with the donation box which contained an amount of cash on Sunday 15 May about 4.25am. A 40-year-old Mornington man has been charged with theft, prohibited person possess a firearm, burglary, fail to answer bail, traffic-related offences, intentionally cause injury and other assault-related offences. He has been remanded to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 14 July.
A MORNINGTON family has created a modern, industrial-style art gallery and studio space aimed at supporting creative talent. Black Spot Gallery & Studios in Milgate Drive, has been opened by Allan and Lynne Stynes and their sons Cameron and Travis, after two years’ planning and research into the local art scene. “Our youngest son Cam has always had a great flair and interest in many aspects of art,” Mrs Stynes said. “His works have been on exhibition at many different shows and he has always loved the idea of having a studio or gallery to display his work. “Allan has…
For four decades Aussie comedian Col Elliott has been making crowds across the country laugh and now brings his special brand of humor to the Mornington Peninsula with Col’s Final (Fair Dinkum) Farewell Tour. As part of a generation of Australian standup comedians, along with Rodney Rude and Kevin “Bloody” Wilson, Elliott portrays the larrikin image with plenty of fart gags and casual politically incorrect jokes with characters like the failed kamikaze pilot, a Pakistani Elvis impersonator, and an Italian ambassador named Guisseppe Lasagne. The 67 year old funny man is performing at The Grand in Mornington on July 7…
“COMMUNITY-DRIVEN” transport options and more affordable housing are two of the goals in a 20-year vision to address the needs of young people on the Mornington Peninsula. The George Hicks Foundation’s inaugural Mornington Peninsula Philanthropic Summit last month was attended by community service providers, local government, businesses and philanthropic organisations, and was facilitated pro-bono by Right Lane Consulting. The summit formulated a long-term vision for the peninsula that would see more emergency accommodation for families, a youth hub, mental health support for young people, and greater coordination between young people and community service providers. The summit also looked at how…
COSTUMES, make-up and props formed the basis of a colourful protest outside the Hastings office of Flinders MP Greg Hunt. The piece of street theatre organised by Environment Victoria and enacted by members of community groups in Mr Hunt’s electorate, revolved around what they claim is a missing piece of Liberal Party policy: a policy for the environment. A search of the Liberal party’s website reveals that “issue 14” of the party’s “plan” is a document titled Protecting our Environment, which lists its accomplishments as protecting the Great Barrier Reef; tackling climate change; supporting “on-ground” environmental projects; protecting threatened species…
AN “exceptionally well preserved” Aboriginal hearth has been found at Point Nepean National Park. The presence of heat retaining stones in the hearth makes it very unusual, and the only one like it found in the Port Phillip region, experts say. Representatives of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Bunurong Land and Sea Association Traditional Owner groups, staff from Aboriginal Victoria and Parks Victoria, recently gathered to assess the site. Samples were taken for radiocarbon dating and significant fragments kept for analysis, which Bunurong Land Council general manager Dan Turnbull says will reveal more about the area’s rich cultural…
SOUTHERN Port Phillip Bay anglers are invited to hear the “Big Fisherman” Rex Hunt and fisheries experts discuss the removal of commercial net fishing and the health of key bay species. They will be speaking at a conference, 5.30-9pm, Friday 12 August, at the Altona Theatre. “We’re keen to share the latest findings from our work in the bay and outline the substantial progress made this year in removing 33 of 43 commercial netters – the flagship commitment in the State Government’s $46 million Target One Million plan,” Fisheries Victoria executive director Travis Dowling said. “Presentations from experts will cover…
A PARTIALLY-restored 1976 VW Beetle was among items stolen from 10 storage units in Barkly St, Mornington, last week. The car, valued at $15,000, was later recovered undamaged behind a Mornington take away. Detective Senior Constable Ben Watson, of Somerville CIU, said thieves either cut padlocks or forced open doors to the units overnight Sunday 19 June. Detective Watson said another a Porsche 911 was left behind in the raids in which a video camera, TV, electric bicycle and tools were taken. Adjoining unit holder Ryan Henderson said the thieves broke into his unit but unsuccessfully tried to open five…
MEMBERS of the public can find out more about Ramadan – Islam’s holiest month – by attending a meal served after sunset on Sunday 3 July. The sunset meal is a tradition of breaking a fast and will be served as a buffet by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Victoria. The community has a mosque at Langwarrin but the meal is being served at the Uniting Church in Frankston. Those attending will get the chance to speak with mosque members and find out more about Islam. The Interfaith Iftar Dinner, 4.30pm Sunday 3 July, will be held at the…
A large pine tree fell over the Nepean Highway between Mt Eliza Way and Old Mornington Rd this afternoon. Three cars were damaged but luckily nobody was hurt. The driver of a van who was delivering magazines was very lucky. One of the branches smashed the passenger side windscreen and a large branch went through the van into the rear compartment. Traffic was diverted as Nepean Highway was closed until the tree could be cleared.
BUSES will replace trains on the Stony Point line between Stony Point and Frankston, Saturday 25 June to Sunday 31 July. Customers are advised to allow an extra 15 minutes travel time. The line closure is a result of level crossings being removed at North Rd, Ormond, McKinnon Rd, McKinnon, and Centre Rd, Bentleigh, on the Frankston line. The works prevent Stony Point line trains being taken to Southern Cross station for maintenance, effectively putting them out of action. V/Line provides two Sprinter cars for the Stony Point line out of a pool of 21 Sprinters. As part of the…
THE man at the centre of the Rye siege last December has been jailed for three years. Colin Wade Gower, 69, of Rye, held his estranged wife, and a co-worker, hostage for seven hours in a Point Nepean Rd cafe, causing mayhem for weekend shoppers. He was armed with two low-calibre hand guns. Angry traders later said they missed out on thousands of dollars in trade after specialist tactical police shut their shops and cordoned off the area. Gower pleaded guilty in the County Court to five charges. The court was told he repeatedly threatened to kill his wife –…
A REVISED framework for controlling the use and number of gaming machines and minimising harm to the community on the Mornington Peninsula was adopted by council on Monday. A report by the social planning and development department revealed $79,400,240 was lost through the 821 poker machines in the shire during 2014/2015, with the daily loss rate being $217,535. The report found that although gambling is recognised as a “legitimate leisure and entertainment activity”, it acknowledged the potential for financial and social harm. The new Responsible Electronic Gaming Machine policy aims to encourage responsible gaming by guiding council’s decisions on the…
AFTER years of frustration it seems the calls for better mobile phone reception at Red Hill and Shoreham have finally been heard. Flinders MP Greg Hunt is “delighted” that money needed to improve telecommunications in the two areas will be available if the Coalition government is re-elected at the 2 July federal poll. Mr Hunt, who holds Flinders for the Liberals with a more than 11 per cent margin, is competing against five other candidates: Yvonne gentle (Rise Up Australia Party), Shane Lewis (independent), Willisa Hogarth (The Greens), Carolyn Gleixner (Labor) and Ben Wild (Animal Justice Party). Mr Hunt said…
BLAIRGOWRIE Miss World entrant Nicolette Holt is one of 10 delegates selected to represent Victoria at the state final in Melbourne on 6 July. Charity work is integral to the Miss World ethos and part of her brief is to volunteer her time and fundraise for a good cause. Nicolette has chosen children’s charity Variety which aims to improve the lives of sick, disadvantaged and disabled children. To raise funds she has organised health and wellness event – Yoga 4 Variety – at Flinders Yacht Club, 10am-1pm, Sunday 26 June. The event will begin with an hour’s yoga class conducted…
A MORNINGTON man is in jail following what police describe as a “landmark” child exploitation case. The 57-year-old was arrested after Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team detectives raided his home in September. The case is the first to be presented before a Victorian court relating to charges of producing child exploitation material outside Australia. Acting Sergeant Paul Turner, of the police media unit, said the case highlighted the high level of investigative expertise of the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team who target child sexual exploitation offences internationally. The arrest ended a year-long investigation into the man’s production and possession of…
Words and pictures: Sheree Marris, aquatic scientist and raconteur FORGET the epic aggregations of wildebeest you’ve seen on documentaries, the Mornington Peninsula has something far more spectacular on its front doorstep. To see it, you’ll need to ditch the binoculars and grab a mask, snorkel and wetsuit because it’s in the waters of Port Phillip. Around this time every year as the waters cool, hundreds of thousands of giant spider crabs make their way up onto the sandy shallows along the southern shores of the bay. As the name suggests these crabs are impressive in size, with a body measuring over…
AN exclusive fundraising event is coming to Frankston. Nationally acclaimed Opera Singer Lucy Nicolson, along with performances by Can-Can dancers will entertain guests as part of ‘Bastille Day’ – a fundraising dinner to raise funds for our clients with autism to fulfil their dreams of going on a camp. “Bastille Day is a fundraising dinner like no other,” says CEO, Kath Ferry from SASI – Statewide Autistic Services Inc. “Ms Nicolson will be performing arias from Carmen and La Boehme, Edith Piaff, and modern Broadway numbers from Phantom of the Opera. There will also be an exciting can-can floorshow.” The…
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie IT’S official. Rosebud Heart now sits proudly on top of State 5 South and is hot favourite to take out its first ever championship in just its second year of competition. For the past few weeks Scott Morrison’s men have been the only side in the league with a perfect record but playing less games than arch rival Baxter forced Heart to wait before claiming top-dog status. Saturday’s 3-1 away win over Chelsea did the trick (as Baxter had a bye) with master predator Dave Greening scoring twice and setting up Luca Biancardi in the 87th…
FORMER Bitten boy and now plumber, gym owner and boxer Kane Watts admits to being “a little bit nervous” in the lead up to his cruiser weight fight against boxing legend Danny Green. It’s not every day one gets to fight an icon of Australian sport in front of a big crowd at Hisense Arena. “I’ve rarely fought anyone of that magnitude,” Watts said Thursday as he prepared for a day on the tools. “But I am confident I’ll be a match for him.” The former Australian cruiser weight title holder, who has relinquished his belt for the chance to…
TWO men and a woman allegedly attempted to steal a car in Andrews Place, Mornington, and, when challenged, one man pulled out a gun at 8.30am Wednesday 8 June. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Drake said the trio, driving a white Magna sedan, had called a tow truck to retrieve the car, possibly as a way of recovering a debt. When the victim ran out to remonstrate there was a brief argument before one of the would-be thieves produced a gun. No shots were fired. Police were called and the two men drove off, leaving the woman behind. A brief pursuit…
A MAN threw rocks through 10 windows in Mt Eliza and Mornington in the early hours of Wednesday 8 June. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Drake, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said witnesses saw a man damaging houses and businesses, including windows at Mornington Golf Club. A wallet and credit card were stolen from a car in Canadian Bay Rd where several cars were later found damaged. A resident said he heard what he thought was an alarm and ran out to see a car parked beside his own. He challenged the driver, who quickly sped away. Anyone with information is asked…
THE judges presented 21 trophies to wineries from the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and even Italy at last week’s International Cool Climate Wine Show at Mornington Racing Club. Of the 400-odd entries, 80 came from the peninsula and, of the 21 trophy awards, seven went to peninsula wineries. Two successful peninsula wineries were Elgee Park and Tucks Ridge estates, which won inaugural perpetual trophies: Elgee Park for its Family Reserve Chardonnay 2015 and Tucks Ridge for its Buckle Pinot Noir 2013 wine. In her show comments, chief judge and master of wine Meg Brodtmann praised…
THE state government may be facing anti-sky rail protests but it is happy to welcome a SkyBus to Frankston. SkyBus has taken over the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne Airport shuttle route. It offers free travel to children, online ticketing and smartphone ticket access. The cost is $38 one way. The service takes in Frankston, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Dromana, and Rosebud. SkyBus director Adam Begg, who says he was “born and raised in Frankston”, said the operator was delighted to be expanding on its existing routes. “I understand the importance of easy, convenient and value-for-money services from the outer…
CRIB POINT FNC By Jared Newton CRIB Point’s season continued in pretty familiar circumstances in an 84 point loss to Rosebud at Crib Point. The Pies were pretty competitive early but fell away badly as Rosebud piled on 12 goals to 2 in the second half. Positives were pretty thin for the Pies on Saturday as it was a really flat performance. Zack Condick gave a lot up forward and Tyler Wilton was a real positive in the ruck after Zak Dekleuver went off injured but aside from that it was a dirty, dirty day for the Pies and one…
HASTINGS FNC ON Saturday the Hastings Football/Netball club travelled to Rye in what was going to be a very testing encounter against a fired up Rye FNC. They had been ridiculed by the one and only Toe Punt, so our club knew we had to be on our game. Unfortunately after quarter time the senior boys were unable to play the type of football required. We ended up going down by five goals on a wet miserable day. The shining light for the day was our Under 19s who are going from strength to strength recording their second win on…
RYE Historical Society has completed repairs at the Old Schoolhouse, and up-graded its displays inside its small museum. As well as using its own funds, support has come from Rye Primary School, Southern Peninsula Community Fund, Bendigo Bank, Mornington Peninsula Shire (through grants), Lions Club of Rye, and Rotary Club of Rosebud/Rye. The society paid for the exterior painting of the Old Schoolhouse – the second oldest public building in Rye. “We are very proud of the fact that we have, over three years, preserved this schoolhouse, for many years to come,” secretary Pauline Powell said. “Built in 1923…