UNSEASONABLY hot weather and north winds over the weekend had everyone alert for fires in the Western Port region. The sight of a large grass fire in Boes Rd, Tyabb, between Graydens and Mornington-Tyabb roads, Sunday, prompted several calls from residents to Tyabb and Hastings CFA brigades, but the controlled burn was deemed safe by fire crews. Some were worried that the fire was unsupervised; others that it was out of control. Others called in simply to check that nothing was amiss. An appreciative Tyabb captain Stephen Birkinshaw said the fire “looked a bit larger than it was” but did…
Author: MP News Group
ATA AllStar Artists proudly presents the ultimate concert event of the year, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the legendary Frank Sinatra. 2015 marks a special year as the most loved entertainer of all time Frank Sinatra will be celebrated worldwide with a series of commemorative centennial concert events. Direct from the USA, the concert stars The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, appearing for the first time ever in Australia…the band that made Frank Sinatra a star! The concert under Music Director Terry Myers features one of America’s finest singers from the Frank Sinatra Songbook, Bryan Anthony along with…
One of Australia’s most respected and sublime recording artists, Katie Noonan, has released her latest album, ‘Transmutant’, and is heading off on a national tour that kicks off in Mornington. An ethereal body of work, it introduces audiences to Katie Noonan’s Vanguard, bringing Katie back to the band environment where she started her career as an 18 year old, a backdrop where she acknowledges, she feels most comfortable. Fans received an initial taste of ‘Transmutant’ from a teaser single earlier in the year, a haunting track called ‘Peace is My Drug’. The album takes in a lot of sonic terrain,…
By MELISSA HODGE PENINSULA Op shops will combine with performing artists to bring local stories centre stage later this month. The Southern Peninsula Arts Centre in Rosebud will come alive with pop-up Op shops, theatre, workshops and conversations, 30 October-1 November. Cosy spaces will be created to share cake and hear stories by Evelyn Krape before participants immerse themselves in the craft of autobiographical poetry with Andrea Louise Thomas and sing from the heart with Colleen Rees. “Op shops are such an integral part of our community,” theatre manager Anthea Mackenzie said. “We loved the idea of working with them…
MT MARTHA mum Libby Turnbull is at her wit’s end having lost an heirloom blanket made by her great grandmother, and is seeking public help in finding it. “My great grandmother knitted the blanket for me when I was born and the last time I remember seeing it was in Mornington shopping centre,” Mrs Turnbull said. “The blanket is very sentimental to my family. Mum wrapped me in it when I came home from hospital and I have used it for my two baby girls as well.” The knitted lavender blanket has a cream trim around the edge. “I realised…
FRANKSTON Council has urged people to report anyone illegally riding a monkey bike on public roads or footpaths in the wake of the death of 34-year-old mother of two Andrea Lehane after a collision at Carrum Downs Shopping Centre last Wednesday. “This will affect so many lives. Our hearts go out to her friends and family through this difficult time,” Frankston mayor Cr Sandra Mayer said. Frankston Council resolved to change its local law in October 2007 to ban monkey bikes on public roads and increase police powers to impound unregistered motor vehicles. “Prior to the decision, these unregistered motor…
A HASTINGS market day will help raise funds for Impact for Women, an organisation that aims to make a difference for women in crisis. Organiser Jenny Scott said around 30 stallholders would add to the event, which will have face painting for the kids and raffles throughout the day. “International fashion designer Henry Roth will assist on the afternoon, Tyabb Scouts will be cooking, plus we will be running a live auction to help raise money for the cause,” Ms Scott said. The market will be opened by Impact for Women founder Kathy Kaplan OAM. She launched the idea in…
SOMERS Primary School will be transformed into a magical arena of children’s activities, music, food and market stalls for the Somers Arts Fair, Sunday 25 October. A dedicated exhibition space will be filled with artworks by collectable and emerging artists who, each year, create art exclusively for the fair’s art auction. Organisers say the fair is the only event of its kind on the peninsula to combine the festivity of a fair with an exhibition and auction of rich and diverse art. It will run 10am-5pm with the art auction 2pm, at Somers Primary School, 87 Camp Hill Rd, Somers.…
A FENCE made from recycled and reclaimed timber? What a good idea! That’s what Rye resident Lisa Hart thought as she and her family nailed on the eclectic range of palings. Their new front fence was taking shape and they were proud of it – despite its rather “individual” appearance. Lisa even sought help from her friends on Facebook: “Hi all, we are currently building some new fences from recycled or reclaimed timber, and we need more palings. Anything will do; it doesn’t have to be fence palings, and it can be painted or unpainted – the more character the…
BURN off restrictions on properties less than 1500 square metres will be eased throughout October to allow residents to burn off for fire prevention purposes. For the whole of the month, open air burning will be allowed on land less than 1500 square metres, but only 9am-4pm, Fridays and Saturdays, provided that: No more than one cubic metre of vegetation is burnt at any one time, the fire is not within 10 metres of a neighbour’s house, and the general fire safety provisions are followed at all times. Open air burning is prohibited on properties smaller than 1500 square metres…
THE exhibition described as the “irreverent and playful rabble-rouser of the Archibald’s” the Salon des Refusés” is coming to Victoria – and Mornington – for the first time. The exhibition showcases what’s described as “the ones that got away” – meaning those artworks that were not granted a showing in the famous Archibald Prize. They include a prized selection of the “humorous, innovative, mad, bad and dangerous entries that were too fabulous to resist”, say Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery organisers, who take delight in hosting the only showing in Victoria. The works, torn from obscurity, include portraits of Robert Forster,…
THE federal government will give Mornington Peninsula Shire almost $6.5 million from its Financial Assistance Grant Program for 2015-16. The amount is part of $39 million for councils partly or wholly in the federal electorate of Flinders, held by environment minister Greg Hunt, who announced the funds in a statement last week. City of Casey receives the lion’s share of the money with $17.31 million for its 283,000 residents. Cardinia Shire gets $9.89 million for its population of 87,000 and Bass Coast $5.49 million for its 30,000 with Mornington Peninsula Shire receiving $6.43 million for its 150,000 people. The government…
A DINNER at the Mornington Golf Club was a fun way for Mornington Lodge members to celebrate 125 years of service to the community. The lodge has been part of the town since 1890 – with Freemasons raising $30,000-$40,000 each year for charitable projects. A major project launched at the dinner is one close to all their hearts: a plan to raise $125,000 to help stamp out family violence. A driving force behind the project was special guest at the dinner: Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, whose campaign for compulsory reporting of child abuse cases has generated a lasting…
BEACHGOERS are being reminded not to open any containers washed up on Mornington Peninsula beaches. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority warned toxic canisters in the Torres Strait, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. The unlabelled silver canisters contain a rat poison known as aluminium phosphide. When a canister is opened, powder reacts with moisture in the air to release highly toxic phosphine gas which is a danger to humans. While there have been no reported cases in Victoria and currents make it likely these containers will not find their way to Port Phillip Bay it is a reminder for all…
FEW 81-year-olds are as active as Lois Dennington. Still working full time in Mornington, the octogenarian is set to represent Victoria in five swimming events at the Australian Masters Games. She started competitive swimming after her youngest child left home in 1984 – now she has won so many medals she’s lost track but is hoping to bring home more gold. “I’m competing in five events: three backstroke and two freestyle.” Ms Dennington holds the Victorian records for the 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke in the 80-84-year-old category. A key factor in keeping her social and active is regularly…
MT Martha Junior Football Club is the first junior sporting club to sign on to the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Smoke Free Charter. President Warren Davies said the club hoped other sporting clubs will follow their lead and sign the charter. “It’s been really well received at the club. Even the smokers think it’s a good initiative; they don’t want their kids to become smokers either, so they’re happy to be involved.” By signing the charter, the club has made a public commitment to reduce the number of people who smoke and to protect people from the damaging effects of secondhand…
TWO snorkelers were rescued by the Police Air Wing Saturday afternoon after being stuck in an inlet near Tasman Drive, Rye. The Frankston couple were with a Richmond man – all aged 23 – when the woman was dumped by a large wave about 5pm. This inflamed an asthmatic condition causing her distress and she and the man managed to swim to an isolated inlet to shelter in a cave. The receding tide left them high and dry – but unable to get to safety. Senior Sergeant Steve Duffee, of Rosebud police, said their friend managed to scale the cliff while…
SOMERS Residents’ Association (SRA) has issued a written explanation to correct “misinformation” about its role in Mornington Peninsula’s Shire’s footpath plan for the village. SRA president Kingsley Culley said much of the “misinformation” being circulated came “from people who did not even live in Somers”. Property owners are being billed for 50 per cent of the cost if the project goes ahead. He said the misinformation included suggestions that the SRA was putting its weight behind the project, that the 14-member committee was promoting it and that the association had misled residents. “We have at all times consulted with residents…
THE involvement of secondary college students in managing the environmental health of a creek draining into Western Port has attracted the interest of Chinese water quality experts. Somerville Secondary College, the first school to sign up to the Western Port Biosphere’s water stewardship program, last Friday hosted a group from Jiangsu Province, north of Shanghai, led by Dr Zhu Donglin from Jiangsu Engineering Consulting and Dr Zhou Fengqi from Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Biosphere executive officer Cecelia Witton said the visit was “a fabulous opportunity to showcase the work the school already has underway in protecting their waterway [Watson…
Two brothers have had their cars impounded after one was caught over the limit doing a burnout and the other unlicensed in Mornington. Mornington police were patrolling Main Street when they heard the sound of screeching tyres about 1am Sunday morning. A Mercedes sedan was found to be doing a burn-out and the air filled with smoke. The members intercepted the car and found a 24-year-old learner driving with his mum in the car. The Mornington man returned a positive breath test however refused to accompany police back to the police station for an evidentiary breath test. He was arrested…
THE summit picnic area atop Arthurs Seat and the car park at the bottom will be closed for about 15 months during the construction of the gondola ride, Parks Victoria stated last week. Parks Victoria regional director Chris Hardman said “works to build Melbourne’s newest major tourism attraction” would start in the week beginning Monday 5 October when fences would be erected around the construction site after the spring school holidays. “The picnic area alongside Purves and Arthurs Seat roads will be fenced off for the duration of the construction period,” he said. “Safety fencing is there to protect contractor…
THE tragic disappearance of NSW toddler William Tyrrell one year ago last week was commemorated by walks in caring communities around the world. In Mornington, about 100 people walked from the Mornington fire brigade, along Main St to Mornington Community Contact, Albert St, to raise awareness of the boy’s disappearance from his grandmother’s yard in Kendall, northern NSW, on 12 September last year. Other walks were held across Australia, Thailand, Ireland and NZ as part of the National Walk for William Campaign. Mornington Community Contact’s Stephanie Jones organised the walk and held a sausage sizzle “get together” afterwards. “We want…
YOUNG football star Perry Lewis-Smith has won swags of league and club awards after a sterling footy season. The Mornington Secondary College 2014 Sportsman of the Year played well throughout the South East Football League season, helping Parkmore Junior Football Club under-17s win this year’s flag. As captain, Lewis-Smith gathered 44 disposals, kicked three goals and had six goal assists in the grand final and was judged best on ground – an award he also won in 2011. Two nights later, he polled 27 votes to win the South East Junior Football League’s best-and-fairest award. Lewis-Smith previously was named Mornington…
TOPSAIL schooner Enterprize sailed gracefully into Mornington on Friday in the first of a series of summer visits. The ship is a replica of the vessel that brought the first white settlers to what became Melbourne in 1835. The original ship was built in Hobart in 1830 by William Harvey and William Pender as part of the early coastal trading fleets of southern Australia. At that time most bulk cargo was transported by sea. The new Enterprize gives passengers an opportunity to experience life on board a 19th century sailing ship. These include hour-long sails to eight-day voyages, with visits…
THE Balnarring Freemasons Lodge has given $5000 to help Western Port Community Centre to help families through short term crises. The lodge’s master Ron Harrison handed over a cheque to the centre’s Alison Smyrk on Friday 11 September during its monthly meeting at Balnarring Hall. The community centre at Hastings, is a not for profit service essentially offering emergency relief and support for those who find themselves in short term crisis. Mornington Peninsula Shire provides the centre’s premises and is a major source of income. Funding for emergency relief comes from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous…
STUDENTS from Rosebud Secondary College have used dance to illustrate the tragedies of the Holocaust. They performed “One Of Us” during the annual Wakakirri story-dance challenge at Frankston Arts Centre where students create seven-minute pieces incorporating dance, drama, costume, lighting, set, music and song. The college’s dance piece followed the story of two Jewish sisters being torn apart by the Holocaust, the state-sponsored persecution and killing of millions of Jews by German’s Nazi regime and its collaborators. Leaders and choreographers of the college’s Wakakirri piece, Sophie Armstrong and Alexandra Dellaportas, said they hoped highlighting the importance of talking about history…
THIRTEEN soldiers from the Sorrento area lost their lives at Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I and an amateur historian from Blairgowrie will head off later this year to place crosses on the graves of five of those 13 killed in action in France and Belgium. Peter Munro has been researching the lives of the “13 Sorrento boys” who died on foreign fields and only six have known graves. The other seven are commemorated on memorial walls at Lone Pine, Villers-Bretonneux, The Menin Gate and Fromelles. Five of the six graves are in the Somme and Flanders…
A NEW York-based philanthropic fund is helping finance a new employment skills program to help up to140 locally unemployed young people in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The unveiling on Friday of the new Brotherhood of St Laurence program, Creating Futures for Youth, coincided with the release of figures showing youth unemployment in the area was nearly 20 per cent. The program – funded for 12 months by the New York-based Citi Foundation – offers career guidance, work placements and job search training from the Brotherhood’s Frankston headquarters, the High St Centre. The program, which will reach out to local…
A BIG crowd turned out on 5 – 6 September for the second running of the Mornington Running Festival, incorporating the Mornington Health & Lifestyle Expo. Over 1300 participated in the run and over 5000 people visited the Health and Lifestyle Expo over the weekend. In it’s first year last year, the event saw just over 400 competitors participate. In just 12 months, the event has grown three-fold, with runners participating over four race distances. “It was a huge effort, and fantastic to see a boutique local event receiving so much support from the local community as well as the…
ACTORS Ella Cannon and Brooke Satchwell say they are thrilled with their roles in the mock-reality show Footballer Wants a Wife. Described as a parody of The Bachelor Australia 2015 it premiered at the Astor Theatre, East St Kilda, Monday last week, and was released online the same evening. It is accessible via the Bendid youtube channel and is claimed to be Australia’s biggest-ever web series. The first three episodes are online and the final three will be released today (Tuesday). The live premiere attracted 700 people to watch celebrity appearances on the red carpet. Cannon, who attended Woodleigh School,…