YAWA Aquatic Centre is the 200th Victorian aquatic centre to join Life Saving Victoria’s Watch Around Water safety campaign. The campaign aims to reinforce the message about the importance of supervising children around water: younger children should be within arm’s reach and those under 10 within sight and under active supervision. The campaign places the onus on parents and guardians and their close attention to their children is a condition of entry to the aquatic centres. Life Saving Victoria marked the occasion with a celebration at Yawa last week. Manager aquatic industry services Alek Olszewski emphasised the importance of the…
Author: MP News Group
SOUTHERN Women’s Action Network (SWAN) rallied in Mornington on Thursday 25 November in support of Safe Steps 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Mornington Peninsula 16ks in 16 days Steps for Respect. They called for an end to what they say is a “growing incidence of violence against women”. SWAN members marched along Main Street, chatting to interested bystanders, before being addressed by Cr Sarah Race in Mornington Park. Cr Race said the Walk Against Family Violence “amplified a cause that is endemic on the peninsula”. With fragmented services exacerbated by COVID, there was a “critical need for…
POLICE are urging Mornington Peninsula residents to be vigilant about fire danger, despite a wetter outlook for summer. They are gearing for the annual Operation Safeguard, which aims to deter or reduce the impact of intentional and recklessly lit fires. The most common causes of recklessly lit fires include burning off, campfires, car exhausts and machinery, use of tools such as angle grinders and welding equipment, bonfires and flares and farming machinery such as harvesters. While recklessly lit fires are considered by many to be accidental, the outcome is often the same as arson, with potential for injury, loss of…
A ROSEBUD man was seriously injured when he was attacked by a man wielding an axe, 9am, Friday 3 December. Detective Sergeant Eddie Logonder, of Somerville CIU, said the 38-year-old was found in Barry Street, Tootgarook, with wounds to his head and legs. He was taken to Frankston Hospital for treatment. No description of the attacker is available, and the victim is said to be not cooperating with police. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 7 December 2021
A ROSEBUD boy, 15, faces serious charges after a police sergeant was allegedly hit from behind during schoolies’ week celebrations on the foreshore. Police responding to a noise complaint at the Rosebud pier just after midnight, Monday 29 November, found up to 300 teenagers on the beach listening to loud music. After dispersing the crowd without incident police remained at the scene to ensure there were no further disturbances. In what they describe as an “unprovoked attack” an acting sergeant was allegedly hit from behind by the boy who was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with assaulting…
JANET McNeill last week watched as what has been described as a tsunami of cloud rolled over Mornington. “It was eerie,” she said. “I went outside at about 5pm (Thursday 2 December) and just kept taking pictures.” At first the Mornington real estate agent thought the approaching air mass could be a dust storm, then she felt a strong gust of wind and what was later described as a “shelf cloud” was overhead for about 15 minutes. “It was incredible,” she said. Meanwhile, photographer Yanni, a noted storm chaser, had a feeling something unusual was about to happen and drove…
LIKE Santa’s helpers, the Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula have been busy all year making 825 toys for charities to give to children this Christmas. The group’s president John Bayliss said the past year had been the toughest of 25 due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, . The Salvation Army’s Lynne Jones thanked the woodworkers for their donations and highlighted their “creativity and attention to detail”. She praised the team “for their gift of time and commitment”. “As you know, there is a lot of homelessness and domestic violence on the Mornington Peninsula and Salvo…
Detectives from Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit have charged a 15-year-old boy following a stabbing in Dromana last month. A 17-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after he was allegedly stabbed at an outdoor gathering on Boundary Road around 10.30pm on 13 November. Yesterday, detectives executed a search warrant in the Carrum Downs area and arrested a 15-year-old boy. The Carrum Downs boy has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury. He was remanded to appear at a children’s court on 1 December. Victoria Police News – Wednesday 1 December 2021
Detectives from Frankston Crime Investigation Unit have charged a teenager following an alleged assault on a police officer in Rosebud overnight. Police responded to reports of a noise complaint at the Rosebud Jetty just after midnight. A large crowd of up to 300 people were on the beach listening to loud music. The crowd was dispersed by officers without incident and as police remained at the scene to ensure there were no further disturbances a male Acting Sergeant was allegedly king hit from behind in what police described as an unprovoked attack. The 15-year-old from Rosebud was arrested at the…
THE 50th Anniversary Mornington Art Show will again feature two popular quality artists among the 700 or more paintings on display. Yesim Gozukara finds joy and excitement in creating bold, dynamic, expressive contemporary paintings in watercolour. Her subjects are inspired from her extensive travels within Australia and overseas. She uses the quality of watercolour pigments to create different textural effects. Yesim has been pursuing her ambition and painting with passion in her home studio based in Melbourne, while concurrently working as a senior experimental scientist for the last 30 years. Her award winning paintings have been featured in six solo…
A TEENAGE girl was assisted by police, paramedics, Hastings SES and Mornington FRV crews after falling onto rocks at Mornington pier on Saturday night, 27 November. The girl is believed to have been fishing with her carer when she fell about two metres and injured her knee and ankle, telling rescuers she “couldn’t move”. The crews rushed to the scene about 10pm concerned a rising tide may hamper rescue efforts. They spent more than an hour treating the girl on the rocks while others waited above to lift her up over the wall and into a waiting ambulance. She was…
POLICE who intercepted a tow truck being driven by a 28-year-old Balnarring man near Wodonga, 20 July, allegedly found more than 15kg of methyl-amphetamine, with a street value of up to $10 million, on board. The man, and a 36-year-old Frankston man, have been charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence. The Balnarring man has been remanded to appear at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on 15 December and the Frankston man remanded to appear at the same court on 1 July 2022. The men are among 20 arrested and seven charged with drug trafficking in a major…
ARTIST Kitt Bennett has painted a mural to celebrate the opening of Jimmy’s Youth Wellbeing Sanctuary at Rosebud. During lockdown the courtyard and front garden at 827-829 Point Nepean Road was completed and a start made on the mural on the entrance wall. The design reflects items and objects of meaning to the young people who use Jimmy’s services. They include a combination of fruit/vegetables/card games/coffee keep cups and plants to create a welcome and hint at what to expect when joining the Jimmy’s community. Yoga, reiki, acupuncture, naturopathy, and mental health first-aid courses are just some of what members…
Officers from Somerville Highway Patrol were left shaking their heads following four separate incidents involving speeding drivers on Peninsula Link over-night. The first incident occurred when a 19-year-old woman was caught travelling at an alleged 138km/hr on Peninsula Link about 9pm. The Cranbourne woman’s vehicle was not registered, and she was not displaying p plates. She was issued with infringement notices for both offences and will lose her licence for three months. At approximately 10pm, a 19-year-old Narre Warren man was the second driver to be pulled over on the same road. He was allegedly travelling at 161km/hr and his…
POLICE are seeking witnesses to a collision on Mornington-Tyabb Road, Tyabb, 2.20pm, Thursday 11 November. A truck was heading east on the road, between Coolart and Boes roads, when two cars attempted to overtake it. One of the cars lost control and rolled into the truck. The driver was later taken to hospital for assessment. Police are seeking witnesses or dash-cam footage of the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Constable Nick Lewis, of Somerville Highway Patrol, 5978 1300. First published in the Western Port News – 24 November 2021
IN what was most certainly the longest bowls tournament in living history, a composite side from the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula captured the newest blue ribbon event on the national calendar at the Karingal SkyeDome last Friday night. The rich Skyedome SuperLeague event – originally scheduled for a seven-week season when it kicked off mid-May – suffered from two lockdown interruptions – but reached its climax under the Big Top at Karingal when the Men@Work side outgunned Somerville’s Port Pirates in a hard-fought final – 27 weeks later. Rosebud stars Frank Krslovic, John Sykes and Ben Wales were…
A FIRE at a block of units in Mornington last week was brought under control within 10 minutes. FRV and CFA firefighters were on the scene at the top end of Main Street at 12.55pm – six minutes after the alarm was raised, Friday 19 November. Police and Ambulance Victoria also attended, as well as a gas and power company. Morning Peninsula Shire building surveyors were notified. There were no reports of injury. Main Street was blocked near the busy Nepean Highway corner and traffic was diverted down nearby streets. FRV crews stayed on the scene late into the afternoon…
A BIO-INFILTRATION swale is replacing a dirty old storm water drain at Rye, to become the first of its kind on the Mornington Peninsula. Friends of Rye Foreshore worked in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Chris Lyne, Jessica Wingad and Mel Burridge and contractors to weed the swale and plant about 11,000 indigenous, water tolerant plants as part of a natural filtration system. The plants will clean stormwater of pollutants as it flows through the sand dunes. Street litter will be collected via a gross pollution trap. A timber boardwalk along the swale leads to the beach. The group hopes…
SEVERE storms which lashed Sorrento and Rye camping grounds on 29 October put a dampener on an early start to the camping season. Many areas were declared unsafe to pitch a tent or park a caravan. Since then, Mornington Peninsula Shire crews have inspected trees, trimmed branches and cleared debris allowing the camping grounds to open on Friday (26 November). Inspections at McCrae and Rosebud will start soon at sections five, six and seven, before moving on to sections 11 and 12, which are said to be the “most popular camping areas during the pre-peak camping period”. The shire hopes…
BOAT and jet-ski riders will be tested for drugs this summer. Water police will conduct the tests at boat ramps, including Patterson River, Carrum until March, with the first operation this week. A preliminary oral fluid test will be conducted with a secondary sample sent to a lab for analysis, mirroring the existing system for roadside drug tests. Those found with illicit drugs in their system, such as methamphetamines, MDMA or cannabis, will have their marine licence cancelled for three months and face a fine of up to $2180. They can also be banned from driving a motor vehicle for…
DETECTIVES from Mornington Peninsula CIU say they have received a “good response” from the public after a stabbing in Dromana, Saturday night 13 November. A 17-year-old boy at a gathering on Boundary Road about 10.30pm was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition after the incident. He is still in the intensive care unit where his injuries are described as serious. Detective Senior Sergeant Eddie Logonder said the exact circumstances were still being investigated. He said no arrests had been made. Anyone who was at the gathering and has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333…
THE 916 solar panels covering the roof of the Yawa Aquatic Centre reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 406 tonnes a year and saving $100,000 in running costs is impressive. But it is water, not statistics, that is the main attraction at the new community pool in Besgrove Street, Rosebud. After a lengthy lockdown, the centre opened to the public last week and welcomed a steady stream of residents keen to take the plunge. “Yawa Aquatic Centre is a great example of how we have maximised sustainability in the design and build,” said the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor, adding that the…
A TICKETED event for school leavers who graduated in 2021 and 2020 is part of a new approach to this year’s Schoolies’ celebrations on the Mornington Peninsula. A festival-style event next weekend will feature live music, activities and food trucks in a fenced-off area on Rye foreshore. Music will play 3-11pm Saturday 27 November and 2-10pm Sunday 28 November. Every year thousands of school leavers descend on the peninsula to celebrate an end to 12 years of schooling. The long-standing tradition of flocking to the Rye foreshore has become a rite of passage for students from all over Melbourne. The…
PRESENTED as part of MPRG’s Festival of Drawing 2021, the exhibition Wall Drawings brings together eleven leading contemporary artists from across Australia, exploring the expansive nature of wall drawings and paintings, through newly commissioned wall-based works, showing 12 November – 13 March. Curated by Danny Lacy and Ellinor Pelz, featured artists create diverse spaces of intimate, vast and imagined landscapes throughout the gallery’s foyer, walls, alcoves and façade. The exhibition features work from artists: Penny Evans, Emily Floyd, Tony Garifalakis, Julia Gorman, Yuria Okamura, Jason Phu, Kerrie Poliness, Cameron Robbins, Gemma Smith,…
THE Peninsula Music festival is a music and food festival located within the natural amphitheatre and surrounds of the Briars on the Mornington Peninsula. A family-friendly event with a line-up that would rival even the most renowned music festivals, featuring some of the most celebrated names in the Australian music scene. Music legends, good vibes, food trucks, and affordable drinks. If this sounds like a great time, then the Peninsula Music Festival is definitely worth adding to your calendar this year. The December 2021 festival is a whose who of the 80 and 90’s The lineup includes: Mark Seymour, Boom…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is conferring with the Department of Transport and United Energy to have pedestrian lights activated in Bungower Road, pictured. But it’s taking a time… “This process is taking longer than anticipated due to the impacts of COVID-19 and working with various external agencies to activate the lights,” Advocacy, Communications and Engagement team leader Joanne Donelly said. Work on the lights, near St Macartans Primary School, started in March. The lights and associated works, funded and managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire, are said to have cost $400,000. It is believed the Department of Transport approved works prior to…
MORNINGTON RSL hosted a stirring Remembrance Day ceremony at Memorial Park, Thursday 11 November. Official guests, Health and Aged Care Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt, Mornington MP David Morris, the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and Cr Anthony Marsh, watched as MC Allan Vidler read the Lord’s Prayer and conducted the service before about 150 guests. Bugler Joseph Tobias played the Last Post and The Rouse, and Piper Lindsay Burgess played a lament while the names of the fallen from Australia’s two world wars and the Vietnam and Korean wars were read out by Valerie Wilson OAM. Ms Wilson has…
HASTINGS police searched a Crib Point property last week and allegedly found a sophisticated drug cultivation operation. A “substantial” quantity of plants were seized and a 51-year-old Crib Point man arrested. He is facing charges relating to the cultivation and possession of a drug of dependence. Police said an illegal electrical bypass system was a potential fire hazard. The man was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrate’s Court at a later date. Police continue to target the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 of submit a confidential report…
POLICE from the Southern Metro Divisional Response Unit and Mornington Peninsula CIU arrested a Frankston man following an investigation into drug trafficking last week. They executed search warrants at houses in Mount Martha and Frankston before arresting the 30-year-old and allegedly seizing a large quantity of methyl-amphetamine, Taser and $14,000 cash. The man appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week and was remanded to reappear at a later date. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 16 November 2021
DETECTIVES are appealing for help in finding a man who broke into two houses in Padua Drive, Mornington, last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Eddie Logonder, of Somerville CIU, said the man stole personal items and clothing in the raids, 5-6am, Saturday 6 November. Residents disturbed the offender who fled before police arrived. The Caucasian man is described as aged 25-35, 170-175cm, with short, dark hair and a slim-to-medium build. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 16 November 2021