MEN are a hot topic in Mount Martha this month, with Bentons Square Community Centre celebrating the 12 to 18 June Men’s Health Week with a new program called Voice Male. The theme of Men’s Health Week is healthy habits – focusing on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that benefit their health and wellbeing. The community centre’s Voice Male program aims to give men the opportunity to chat, socialise and listen to guest speakers in a relaxed social setting. Program coordinator Ian Easterby said the program would give men the…
Author: MP News Group
I have been made aware that Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association is concerned by my reference to them when addressing the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in my speech in parliament on 22 May (“Elders ‘misrepresented’” Letters 6/6/23). In my speech, I said: “Today, the Indigenous people of the Mornington Peninsula include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from across the nation. It makes for a warm, inclusive, wise, curious and open community with remarkable cultural leaders, like Peter Aldenhoven and Lionel Lauch, and those who embody that warmth and welcome in their every breath, like Uncle John McLean and Aunty Helen Bnads.…
Mornington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have arrested three teenagers following multiple aggravated burglaries in Mornington between 8 and 9 June. It’s alleged an offender entered a property on Nunns Road, Mornington and stole personal items about 2am on 8 June. It is also alleged the offenders reattended the Nunns Road address where an elderly female occupant was confronted and assaulted by one of the offenders before stealing her Hyundai i30 just after 11.30pm on 8 June. It’s alleged the same offenders then entered a property on Nelson Street, Mornington just after midnight on 9 June where a grey Toyota Hilux…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery warms up with some fantastic new exhibitions and programs. sea.liquid.sensation.flux.space is a large-scale solo exhibition by celebrated local artist Vera Möller. This exhibition brings together new small and large-scale works, including drawings and watercolours, collages, objects and paintings. It also features a selection of works from Möller’s studio collection. Now in its second year, the Koorie Heritage Trust’s Blak Design Program is about supporting, promoting and celebrating First Nations cultural innovation within the Victorian design sector while providing a platform for nurturing sustainable, First Nations design practices. The exhibition Layers of Blak presents the stunning work…
STUDENTS, volunteers and the community can now help protect the environment through hands-on opportunities to monitor the health of waterways and wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park. Water Minister Harriet Shing last week officially opened the South East Water Discovery Lab at the Pearcedale sanctuary. The new education centre was made possible through the support of South East Water’s annual community grants program, which has so far provided $230,000 to 50 community groups across Melbourne’s south-east. The South East Water Discovery Lab provides ongoing water quality testing to preserve the health of Langwarrin Creek, which flows through…
HASTINGS Coast Guard captain Jeremy West has etched his name in CFA history, becoming the first deputy group officer to be elected in a coast guard-brigade associated group. Joining the management team of the Western Port group, West will begin the role on Saturday, 1 July. “It’s the first time since we’ve established the Coast Guard Brigades that we’ve had representation at this level within the CFA and it’s going to be really beneficial moving forward,” West said. “I’m looking forward to bringing more of a focus to inter-agency services and showcasing the diversity of emergency situations that we respond…
AFTER successfully relaunching programs for their artist members earlier in the year, Baluk Arts in Mount Eliza is set to relaunch its public access programs. The first event will be with cultural leader Vicki Couzens as she explores the reclamation, regeneration and revitalisation of cultural knowledge and creative cultural expression in a two-hour presentation from 1pm to 3pm on 24 June. Couzens is a Keerray Wooroong Gunditjmara woman from the western Victoria and has worked in Aboriginal community affairs for more than 42 years. She is a senior knowledge holder for the Possum Skin Cloak Story and Language Reclamation and…
RED Hill South, Sorrento and Frankston are among 17 finalists competing for the 2023 Victorian Top Tourism Town award. The annual award recognises Victorian towns that provide exceptional experiences for visitors by working together with businesses, tourism operators and the community. The three award categories this year are Top Tourism Town (population above 5000), Small Tourism Town (population 1500-5000) and Tiny Tourism Town (population less than 1500). To make it to this stage, each of the towns had to demonstrate commitment to being the best destination they could be. The public now gets to vote before 5pm on 22 June…
WORK has started on the final stage of reconstructing Rye pier, with contractors renewing and upgrading the outer structure. The $3.95 million project began in 2022 with the renewal of the pier approach. The second and final phase includes a wider timber deck, solar lighting and safety handrails. The pier’s low landing will be extended to provide extra berthing space. The pier will be closed on weekdays and the first 300 metres opened on some weekends for walking, fishing and sightseeing. Boats will need to berth in an alternative location as the low landing will be unavailable until later this…
WILLUM Warrain Aboriginal Association CEO Peter Aldenhoven (pictured) is guest speaker at The Case for Yes – An afternoon of listening about the proposed national referendum, 2-4pm on Sunday 2 July at St Mark’s Uniting Church, 50 Barkly St, Mornington. The Uniting for the Voice event has been organised by St Mark’s Social Justice Network. Convenor David Price said the Rev Joy Blamires would chair the event and audience members can ask questions. It is free of change, but donations are welcome. Details: David Price, 0418 752 093 or by email. First published in the Mornington News – 6th June…
THREE people have been arrested after drugs and weapons were found at properties in Rye on Wednesday 31 May. Police from the Southern Metro Division 4 Divisional Response Unit, with assistance from Mornington Peninsula priority tasking unit and the drone unit, executed simultaneous search warrants at two Rye properties. During the searches, police located prohibited weapons, ammunition, methyl-amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine and various other drugs. Three offenders were arrested in relation to the offences and were remanded in custody until mid-June. First published in the Mornington News – 6th June 2023
Yes to Voice will not make parliament unworkable As a voter in the electorate of Flinders I was saddened and very disappointed by [Flinders MP] Zoe McKenzie’s article and her address to the Parliament in support of the No vote, although not surprised (“A risk to executive government” The News 30/5/23). Both the High Court Judge Kenneth Haynes and Professor Anne Twomey have refuted the claim that giving our First Nations people access to executive government will make our parliament unworkable. The Voice is only advisory. The power to make laws and policies lies with the government and parliament. We…
THEY might be considered “little stories”, but the bigger picture behind the words often speaks volumes. A fledgling writers’ competition is illuminating the importance of celebrating the imaginations and creativity of young writers. The first year of the local writers award section of Little Stories Big Ideas has unearthed talent that has enthralled adjudicators. First prize for local best entry in the 2023 competition went to year seven Mount Eliza Secondary Student Sophia van Zanten, 13, who wrote an insightful and moving piece to the theme of Love earning praise from the judges for her creativity and symbolism. The writers’…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Council is considering a paid parking trial along some of its busiest foreshore areas. The move at this week’s public meeting (Tuesday) is believed to have been instigated because of parking congestion over summer, and the increasing costs involved in providing tourism-related infrastructure. Ratepayers now pay $8 million a year for the maintenance of foreshore-related council infrastructure, such as car parks, public toilets and access paths. Last summer brought the issue of lack of parking to a head, with council flooded with complaints that residents were effectively blocked from parking at shopping centres, in residential streets and near…
A woman has died in hospital following a three-car collision in Tyabb earlier this month. Emergency services were called to the scene on Graydens Road to find a Mitsubishi Triton utility, a Nissan sedan and a Holden Captiva had collided about 6pm on 19 May. The driver and single occupant of the utility, a 20-year-old Crib Point man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The driver and single occupant of the Holden, a 43-year-old Baxter woman, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Nissan, a 76-year-old Hastings woman, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.…
By Peter Aldenhoven, CEO Willum Warrain Gathering Place THE 1967 referendum produced the highest ever Yes vote in support of including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the census for the first time. Up until then, the Australian government had a clearer idea of how many sheep were in the country than Aboriginal people. It was a heady achievement. Australian people voted to right a great wrong; they voted for fairness and justice for First Australians. The best version of ourselves as a nation rose to the fore. Together, we can do this again in 2023. We can make…
By Zoe McKenzie, MP for Flinders THERE are times when something very special happens in the Australian Parliament, when a debate makes us look carefully and critically at ourselves and the society in which we live. This parliamentary sitting fortnight’s focus on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been one of those moments. I have seen parliamentarians of all backgrounds bring their best selves, their love of our country, their sense of responsibility and their reflection of their communities, to the debate – for all to hear and see. If you have time, read Hansard. You will not be disappointed…
Clearing not the solution to fire protection I was surprised to read that 28 residents have called for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to potentially clear “high-value remnant vegetation” because they are concerned about fire risk (“Balancing fire risk and vegetation” The News 23/5/23). Living in rural Victoria for 30 years and fighting the Ash Wednesday fire it became obvious that no amount of clearing or burning has any effect on the advancement of fire when the wind is strong, the vegetation dry and the temperature hot. A related finding from the Bushfire Royal Commission after the 2019-20 fires was that…
A TENDER has been awarded for the redevelopment of the four courts at Mount Martha Tennis Club. The work will include new lighting, new fencing and drainage. The redeveloped courts will meet competition standards. A new system will also allow the club and the community to remotely book a court. In 2022 Mornington Peninsula Shire successfully applied to the state government and received around $300,000 towards the project. The club contributed another $80,000. “Mount Martha is an incredibly successful tennis club, they have sustained their membership for many years and it is the biggest club in the Peninsula Tennis Association,”…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have voted to grant a retrospective planning permit for three, short stay units on green wedge land at Red Hill, rejecting a council officer’s recommendation to refuse the application. Despite the “group accommodation” use being prohibited within green wedge zones the site had previously operated as a restaurant, which means a new prohibited use could be allowed if a permit was applied for within two years. Council officers disputed that the restaurant was actually operating within the two year “existing rights” timeframe. They also had concerns about the on-site management of wastewater. Applicant Simon McNamara, who…
Flat out questioning waste charge without service Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has announced a significant increase in rubbish collection charges. I live in an apartment building where the shire refuses to collect both domestic garbage and recyclables. Apparently this is because there is insufficient kerb space to accommodate the number of bins. Consequently, we have to employ a private contractor to carry out this task from our basement. This all sounds fair enough until you consider that we are still charged the full waste services charge in our rates. I understand that the charge also contributes to other services such…
SOUTH East Water has won an award for a program that can detect water leaks and save customers receiving “an unexpectedly large water bill”. The continuous flow leak detection initiative won the Customer Experience Award at the Australian Water Awards announced at last week’s Australian Water Association’s Ozwater’23 conference in Sydney. The leak detection program uses digital meter data to measure continuous flow (defined as 120 litres a day over 24-hours). Customers’ first indications of a leak are communicated clearly and promptly rather than making their presence known in the form of an unexpectedly large water bill SEW’s digital utility…
A CAST of talented performers is gearing up to perform Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom at the Frankston Arts Centre later this year. The show will be staged by PLOS Musical Productions. The cast members for the show were announced last week. The lead role of Scott Hastings will be played by Mitchell Smith. The character Fran will be played by Guada Bañez. Since returning to the stage after the COVID-19 pandemic, PLOS has staged successful productions of Chicago and The Boy From Oz. Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical will open at the Frankston Arts Centre on 28 July. For…
THE election of Fiona Reed as president of Flinders Golf Club is being seen as symbolic of significant changes occurring in golf in Australia. When she was elected for a three-year term late last year, Reed was the first woman to hold the post for almost 90 years. Celebrating its 120-year history, the club is credited with electing the first-ever woman president of a club in Australia, Helen Bowie, in 1934. Reed says she would become see the day when having women in executive positions becomes normal and without any raising of eyebrows. In the context of attracting women and…
INTERNATIONAL eyes may have been focussed on a solemn religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London on Saturday 6 May, but the coronation of King Charles III was also celebrated in a far-flung outpost of the former British empire, Portsea. On Monday 8 May a Coronation Party was held by Sorrento Portsea RSL, complete with palace approved Royal bunting, flags and pictures of King Charles and Queen Camilla. On the menu, described by the chair of the RSL committee’s community engagement and marketing arm Marg McInnes as a picnic lunch, were scotch eggs, cucumber sandwiches “and of course the ever popular…
Inquiry should be into shire officers, not the councillors There’s been much comment about the poor results for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in a local government satisfaction survey (“Shire hits all time low in satisfaction” The News 3/10/22; “Ratepayers want inquiry into shire” The News 11/4/23). The survey actually referred to the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s performance as a whole, rather than the council itself. Further, the results are historical, and most likely refer to perceptions of shire performance prior to the term of the current councillors. At the last council elections, the people clearly demonstrated their opinions of council…
A NEW music show aimed at all music lovers across the Mornington Peninsula has been launched by radio station RPPFM. The playlist is chosen and presented by self-described music die hard Ross Woodward, of Mount Eliza. The Music Box will be broadcast from 9.30pm on Tuesdays and use Woodward’s own CD collection to create the two hour show. Musicians that Woodward has met over the years include Brian Wilson and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, Colin Hay, Don Walker of Cold Chisel, Guy Pearce (who has released several albums), Vika and Linda Bull, Paul Brady, Richard Thompson, Jimmy Webb…
A SPECIAL story time is returning to Hastings Library, where children are encouraged to read aloud to a friendly and furry, four-legged friend. Mel, the new story dog, is nonjudgmental and doesn’t mind if a child stumbles over a word or two. She merely listens attentively and encourages children to continue reading with tail wags and the occasional lick. Story Dogs volunteer and Mel’s owner, Hannah Mendelson, said the presence of a calm animal allowed children to practice reading with confidence in a supportive environment, without the fear of being graded or critiqued. The accepting, loving nature of dogs gives…
Detectives from the Cybercrime Squad are investigating an increasing series of reports of rental scams where a property is falsely offered for rent using online advertisements. With the current high demand for rental properties and an increase in rental prices, the rental market is becoming increasingly competitive, and properties are harder to obtain. Subsequently, well known property websites and online marketplaces are increasingly popular for offenders to utilise and deceitfully convince victims that a property is available for rent. Generally, victims are enticed with cheap rent and persuaded to act quickly by paying a deposit to secure the property. The…
Beware if scare campaign on the Voice to Parliament There are two reasons why all Australians should fact check in relation to the referendum on the Voice to Parliament. Firstly, because the proposal for an Indigenous Voice is critically significant for the future of our nation and its people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The second reason is in order to differentiate fact from fiction, especially in the light of the confusion and fear currently being spread by a “details are being kept from us” false information scare campaign. The fact is one of transparency, that plenty of detail can be…