MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Dial-A-Bus service is 10. Starting with three passengers – collected by the shire’s aged and disability transport team leader on her way to work – it has grown into a dial-up service to all areas of the shire servicing 520 regular passengers. It offers those aged over 60, or those of any age who have a disability (and their carer), a door-to-door transport option across the peninsula. Around 70 Dial-A-Bus passengers celebrated the service’s 10th birthday at the shire’s Rosebud office on Thursday 3 September. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the first Dial-A-Bus service began collecting…
Author: MP News Group
THE freezing waters of a Tyabb dam might not be everyone’s idea of a good hiding place, but they appealed to a man running from police on Monday. Highway patrol police identified the Hastings man, 30, in O’Neills Rd as “someone we would like to speak to”, but he ran off, overland, when approached. Sergeant Simon Noonan, of Hastings police, said the fugitive “went to ground in a dam” – until police called in the dog squad which was nearby. Without hesitation one of the dogs jumped in, swam out and seized him by the arm, and brought him back…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will soon begin erecting traffic signals at the corner of McDowell St and Jetty Rd, Rosebud. The intersection has received Black Spot funding after three serious injury crashes over the past five years. The signals and usual traffic management works will allow for safer turning movements and make it easier for pedestrians to access local shops, primary school, Centrelink office and Centro Rosebud shopping centre. But parking will be affected by VicRoads works and No-standing areas will be enforced on McDowell St from Jetty Rd to about 60 metres west of Jetty Rd. A No-standing area will…
Peninsula based rock band Munster Terrace have been performing around the traps for 30 years now, and they will be celebrating this milestone with a special show at the Rye RSL on Saturday the 12th of September. The band first formed in 1985, and their debut gig was on the 7th of May of that year (supporting The Saints on their return to Australia after some years based in the U.K). It took a year or so for the early version of “Munster” to find its’ feet, but by late 1986 the line-up was stable, and the band was a…
THERE have been countless happy campers at Mt Eliza over the past 90 years. Apart from when being used to recuperate US soldiers wounded in the Pacific campaign during World War II, the camp has provided a place to get away from it all for families and groups since 1925. The Sunnyside Rd camp site was given to the YMCA by Thomas and Alice Baker. Camp Manyung’s 90th anniversary last month and the unveiling of a historic interpretive display of the camp’s history from 1925 to the present brought back family memories for Jenny Little (nee Stevens), a camper from…
THE opening of Mt Eliza Bowling Club’s season last week with new synthetic greens and floodlights helped members showcase bowls as a sport which the whole family can play. The additions mean the club can open all year and stage twilight and evening bowls events. A highlight of the night was watching three generations of club life member John Gregson’s family – aged seven to 70 – take part in a special bowling demonstration. Gregson’s grandsons – Victorian and national representative Dylan Fisher and seven year old Jett Simmons – joined him on the green along with Jett’s father, Todd,…
THE opening of a $224,000 signalised pedestrian crossing in Bittern has made crossing Frankston-Flinders Rd a safer proposition for pedestrians. About 50 pedestrians an hour cross the road between the train station and shops, and in peak hour around 1000 vehicles an hour drive past at 60kph. “Without a pedestrian-operated crossing, local residents have been taking risks when crossing the busy road in between traffic breaks,” Eastern Victoria MP Daniel Mulino said. “Bittern residents will now be able to cross Frankston-Flinders Rd safely.” Hastings MP Neale Burgess last month called on Roads Minister Luke Donnellan “to get on with the…
TOORAK College, Mt Eliza, was in lock-down Wednesday morning after a bomb scare. Students were kept in their classrooms for “a couple of hours” while Mornington police searched the grounds. Nothing was found. Detective Sergeant Peter Drake said a man called the school to say a bomb had been left there. He did not leave his contact details and police were trying to track him down later in the day. “We did an exhaustive search of the general area but found nothing,” Detective Drake said. “We take all calls of this nature seriously.” Anyone with information is asked to call…
Two people have escaped unharmed after three armed men broke into their home in Hastings overnight. The men entered the house early on Tuesday while the occupants were sleeping. The 20-year-old male occupant of the house confronted the intruders while a female occupant called police. A shot was fired before the intruders fled. Nothing was stolen during the brazen break in, and the occupants of the house were uninjured. Police forensic experts and detectives were on the scene this morning collecting evidence and investigating the circumstances surrounding the home invasion.
THE Western Port Steelers basketball team has re-signed Division 1 women’s coach Andrew Jacobson for next year’s Big V season. Jacobson came on board before the 2015 campaign and steering the team to just missing out on finishing inside the top five. The team fell one game short of playing finals with nine wins and11 losses in its first year in Division 1. Jacobson previously coached Frankston’s SEABL teams and was head coach for 24 years of Victorian championship sides in the VJBL – from under-12s to under-20s boys and girls. “The challenge next season is to take the next…
FRENCH artist Michael Husser has left his mark on Rye’s arts and culture precinct. His two striking murals are among the works to be spawned from Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Arts and Culture precinct at Police Point Shire Park, Portsea. The Fisherman depicts seaside themes on the wall of The Rock cafe, corner Napier St and Pt Nepean Rd, Rye. Humans is on the foreshore toilet block near the lime kilns, Rye. Husser developed the concepts and drawings during his week as artist in residence at Police Point. He said The Fisherman “symbolises that part in all of us looking to…
ON the weekend of the 7 -9 of August the Australian Karate Federation held their National Championships in Adelaide. The Victorian team consisted of karate athletes from all over the state ranging in age from nine year old to over forty-five year old divisions. The Victorian team was a strong one with 12 athletes from the Mornington Ishinryu Dojo. Fourteen-year-old Jade Colver –Vella, a Padua College student, has now become a four time National Champion and two time Oceania champion. A veteran of the sport at such a young age, she won three gold medals at the competition; female cadet…
NOELS Gallery at Red Hill is about to enter a new phase after being renovated and refurbished by new owners Rebecca and Craig Davy. The couple previously owned galleries at Flinders and Sorrento and plan to hold exhibitions and artists’ demonstrations (sometimes with dinner) at Noels. Exhibitions will include paintings, glass, jewellery and ceramics. Craig Davy started painting six years ago and has won 70 awards. His new works will be on show for opening night, Saturday 5 September. To arrange an invitation to the opening email becdavy@iinet.net.au The yet-to-be-opened cafe at Noels will be open for breakfast and light…
HELP is at hand for those who feel they are drowning in mounting debt. A new website and mobile phone app launched late last month to offer free financial guidance can be the first step to put consumers back in charge of their finances. The financialfirstaid.org.au site is the brainchild of FMC Mediation and Counselling Victoria, a not-for-profit provider of federal government-funded family and community programs. The online site and app provides access to information split into three categories: ‘I need help right now’, ‘I need to understand’ and ‘I want to know more’. Easy-to-read information about how to recover from…
A Langwarrin woman has had her license suspended after allegedly drink driving in Langwarrin this evening. Officers from Frankston Highway Patrol were called to Cranbourne Road following reports of an erratic driver around 6.45pm. Police caught up with the woman when she was on her second run to the bottle shop. The woman returned a positive breath test at the scene. A subsequent evidentiary breath test furnished a reading of 0.289 per cent. The 40-year-old’s license was immediately suspended and it is expected she will be charged on summons with drink driving and traffic related offences.
Mornington Police have seized a substantial amount of cannabis plants following a warrant in Mount Eliza this morning. Investigators executed the warrant at a Wimbledon Road address around 7am. During a search of the property police located 87 mature cannabis plants and dried cannabis material with an estimated street value of $250,000. Constable Megan Zurek from Mornington Police said the warrant was a good result for the local community. “It’s a reminder to anyone in the Peninsula area thinking of cultivating or manufacturing drugs that police are continually targeting this kind of criminal behaviour,” she said. “Police will take action…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president THIS weekend saw your Hastings Blues take on the high flying Rosebud FNC at Hastings, in what loomed as the match day of the day status. But unfortunately only one side turned up to play in the senior game which resulted in a very ordinary loss on a day that started with so much hope. However all is not lost as we were able to stay inside the top five, finishing a very creditable fourth. The club is now in the fantastic position of playing senior finals for the first time in three…
ZIRKA Circus is visiting Australia as part of its World Tour. Their international artists are the best in their class! This is the first contemporary circus to be owned and operated in Australia by a woman. Owner/Manager Jeni Hou’s family has been in entertainment and circus for three generations. Zirka is circus like never before! Bringing a fresh and exciting new look to circus in Australia. You will be amazed and dazzled by the skill, beauty, and strength of the amazing international artists. This awe-inspiring show with death defying acrobatics – they have to be seen to be believed… magic,…
TWENTY-three flags are now flying at Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento as part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s A Creative Peninsula arts flag project. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said images on the flags reflect the artists’ lives on the Mornington Peninsula. “The art flags celebrate our creative and engaged communities, and feature works by six artists who call the peninsula home – and their muse,” she said. Artists whose work is on the flags are Justine McNamara, Miodrag Jankovic, Sharron Okines, Michael Leeworthy, Jennifer Ellen and Sabra Lazarus. The shire says the flags will enhance the vibrancy of the three towns,…
A PARAMEDIC working on the southern peninsula says Rosebud is “being short-changed” over its prescribed 24-hour ambulance coverage. The officer says it is unfair to residents that funding – “specifically provided to Ambulance Victoria by the state government for a second 24-hour ambulance resource in the Rosebud area – is likely never to be used” for that purpose. The concerned paramedic, who asked not to be named “to protect my job”, said the vehicle designated to provide a 24-hour ambulance service for Rosebud was often 45 kilometres away transporting patients on the northern peninsula. “When it finally is based in…
By CRAIG MACKENZIE A HISTORIC liaison between six local soccer clubs underpins the Women’s National Premier League of Victoria application by newly formed Southern United. Casey Comets, Mornington, Langwarrin, Seaford United, Skye United and Peninsula Strikers juniors have formed a consortium to back a single bid representing one of the largest catchment areas in Victoria. The consortium has formal backing from the City of Casey and City of Frankston and a verbal pledge of support from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. There were 22 applicants for Victoria’s inaugural WNPLV competition due to kick off next year with just eight applicants to…
TWO men will be charged on summons after they were allegedly caught taking abalone at Portsea on Friday 7 August. Their haul was over the catch limit and in the closed season. Fisheries officers patrolling the ocean beach at London Bridge intercepted the men just before midnight. A 42-year-old man from Cranbourne will be charged on summons with taking 49 abalone during the closed season, at night and with taking undersized abalone. He and another man are also expected to be charged on summons for allegedly obstructing fisheries officers in their duties, which carries a maximum penalty of…
A RENOWNED concert pianist and an acclaimed jazz pianist will present a masterclass followed by a concert in Frankston on 13 September, bringing a touch of musical genius to Monash University’s George Jenkins Theatre. Alan Kogosowski and Joe Chindamo are pioneering a new concept for the region in conjunction with the university – giving budding musicians a chance to learn from highly experienced professionals who have played around the world. Kogosowski is a world leading authority on the music of Chopin. Jazz pianist Chindamo is an internationally acclaimed composer. From Chopin to Chindamo is the first of Monash University’s “Masterclass…
PLAYING golf has “kept me alive”, says Mt Eliza enthusiast Ralph Godfrey, who is about to celebrate his 100th birthday. He likes nothing better than spending time each week on the course – sometimes playing three rounds with his mates at Frankston Golf Club in Golf Links Rd. “I always look forward to playing golf,” Mr Godfrey said. “I like meeting people and I’ve found that hitting a little white ball around the course for two and a half hours makes me forget any problems.” After losing his wife in 2008 he maintains he would not be alive today if…
MORNINGTON Racing Club has been given more than $2 million of state government money towards a $5m renovation of its grandstand. Once the refurbishment is finished, the club will have the “largest events centre on the peninsula”, according to Racing Minister Martin Pakula. The work includes renovating the grandstand’s ground floor “creating a new range of quality spaces for the race going public and club members on racedays”, Melbourne Racing Club CEO Brodie Arnhold said. Work is planned to be finished in time for the William Hill Peninsula Cup Day on 1 November. Mr Arnold said the “new spaces” would…
ALTHOUGH the number of snapper spawned in Port Phillip last year Was less than in previous years Fisheries Victoria executive director, Travis Dowling, says it is “nothing to be alarmed about”. Mr Dowling says “natural fluctuations” are “perfectly normal in wild fish populations”. And he does not see the drop in spawning success affecting catches in the bay. “We are fortunate that this lower spawning year follows two very successful spawning seasons for snapper, which will ensure the fishery remains productive for years to come,” Mr Dowling said. “Our scientists have undertaken these surveys of baby snapper in late March…
Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident on Frankston Flinders Road in Frankston this morning. A man believed to be aged in his 30s has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a car just after midnight. The driver of the car was not injured and is assisting police with their enquiries. Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
CRIB POINT FNC – By Jared Newton CRIB Point’s season continues as normal with another comfortable loss at the hands of Hastings. The end of the year cannot come quick enough with the final siren next Saturday being met with relief so the club can put what has been a disastrous season behind them. Crib started strongly again only for Hastings to wrestle control back in the second quarter and take control in he second half to comfortably run away with a 66 point win. Matt Wappett was best on ground and was supported well by Matt Sloper and Jayden Espenschied…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president ON Saturday the club travelled down to Crib Point for the right to retain the Ron Moncrief Shield. In a terrific game of footy both sides went toe to toe in the opening quarter with a very high standard of hard footy. But from quarter time onwards the Hastings FNC took complete control to run out very comfortable winners and enable the club to have a tilt at playing finals football. A huge congratulations to Brendan Dunne and the players on their performance on the weekend. It was very disciplined in a game…
A SUSPECTED burglar hid from police in a Rosebud foreshore toilet block on Tuesday before being arrested. The man, 26, of Rosebud, was wanted for allegedly forcing his way into the Rye home of an elderly couple, Friday 7 August, claiming he was looking for a lost dog. Police say he grabbed an 80-year-old woman by the throat and forced her back into the hallway, but fled when the woman’s husband came to her aid. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Rosebud CIU, said police spotted the man outside a Rosebud supermarket and gave chase as he cycled across Pt Nepean…