THE Friends of Fusion gala dinner at Peninsula Community Theatre on Saturday 15 May raised $21,000. The theme this year was: “It takes a village” which is about coming together as a community, business and communication manager Caitlin Swanton said. “The idea is that we are better when we work together. The village is everyone having a unique place. No one person or organisation is better than another. We all have intrinsic value.” Fusion is a Christian youth and community organisation, headquartered on the peninsula at Mount Martha, which those involved say emerged as a response to socially-at-risk young people…
Author: MP News Group
WHEN life gives you lemons, make lemonade – that’s the motto Mornington’s Julie Cowley has chosen to live her life by. It came about when her husband, Mark, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 54. The cancer returned six years later and has spread throughout his body. Ms Cowley is showing her support for Mark, and to all men impacted by prostate cancer, by joining the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s Sit-Up 45 challenge. She is doing 45 sit-ups a day during Men’s Health Week (14-20 June) to raise money to support the 45 men diagnosed with the disease each…
FORMER Liberal Leader John Hewson and former Independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan will join forces this Saturday (19 June) in a free online forum to support the launch of Voices of Mornington Peninsula. The organisation aims to find a candidate to stand as an independent against sitting Liberal Flinders MP, Greg Hunt. Voices of Mornington Peninsula (VMP) is a not-for-profit organisation whose members “believe in the strength of community to effect positive change and, like many, are tired if the inaction of party politics and seek true independent representation at all political levels”. “Voices of Mornington Peninsula is an…
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision in Moorooduc this morning. It’s understood a Mazda sedan collided head-on with a Ford utility at the intersection of Stumpy Gully and Mornington-Tyabb roads about 5.55am. The front passenger of the utility, a 56-year-old Tyabb man, sadly died at the scene. The driver, an 18-year-old man also from Tyabb, was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The sole occupant of the sedan, a 20-year-old Mornington woman, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating the incident and ask anyone with dashcam footage to…
Householders are being urged to prepare for potential power outages with strong winds expected to hit Melbourne’s south-east and the Mornington Peninsula tonight and into tomorrow. Weather forecasts are predicting wind extreme gusts approaching 100km/h in the United Energy network area, with the worst of the weather expected to hit overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. United Energy’s Emergency Duty Manager George Tziokas said UE and its partners work year-round to ensure the network is as safe and reliable as possible, but extreme weather can cause blackouts. “Strong winds and extreme weather can knock over trees and blow other debris…
AN open amphitheatre, artefacts and art display area, an area for elders, a “welcome and yarning area” and a base for cultural tourism are included in a conceptual plan for Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association’s headquarters at Hastings. The Gathering Place, in Pound Road, is where members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community meet to explore identity and cultural heritage. However, with the Mornington Peninsula regarded as one of the fastest growing Aboriginal areas in Victoria, with a 34 per cent increase, especially in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under 30, more space is needed. Mornington Peninsula…
TWO Southern Peninsula Sharks junior basketballers represented Victoria Country against the best athletes at the under-18 Australian Junior Championships at Werribee in late May. Southern Peninsula Basketball Association general manager Ben White said Darcy Jones, in his second stint in the white uniform, came “ready to prove a point from day one as a leader in the young team”. Corey Hastings debuted for Victorian Country in bottom age this year after also being selected in under-16s state team in 2020 when the nationals was cancelled due to COVID-19. “Jones kicked off the week with a stunning 31 points, knocking down…
THE $37 million Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud will be open to the public on Friday 25 June. To celebrate the opening, Mornington Peninsula Shire and operator Belgravia Leisure will hold a community open day of activities, Sunday 4 July. Those attending will see what Yawa has to offer, such as its 50-metre indoor pool, group fitness activities, such as yoga, Pilates, body pump, spin classes, and Elements Eatery cafe. The new centre in Besgrove Street has a 50-metre indoor pool, learn-to-swim pool, warm water program pool, spa, sauna, and steam room. Other features are multi-purpose rooms for health and…
WINTER is here, and Mornington Peninsula firefighters are urging residents to check and service fireplaces, chimneys, fireboxes and flues. Last year, Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to 192 chimney fires – with 104 in the coldest months. “Chimney fires can quickly turn into house fires so the few minutes spent now could be one of the most important fire safety actions you take this season,” CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said. He urged households with open fire places to have chimneys professionally cleaned annually to avoid the build-up of creosote – a highly flammable black tar-like…
A FAST-THINKING protective service officer saved property and possibly lives by fighting a bin fire on her way home last week. The fire outside a house in North Road, Langwarrin, 2am, Tuesday 1 June, quickly spread to a fence and was said to be “rapidly growing in size” when off-duty PSO Christine Burns saw it. The fire is similar to fires in five wheelie bins at Rosebud in the early hours of Wednesday, 26 May. (“Bins on fire” The News 1/6/21). Police there were concerned the fires, in Besgrove and Hinton streets, and Eastbourne Road, could damage cars parked nearby.…
AN elderly woman was lucky to escape serious injury when her car drove over the cliff after a two-car collision on the Esplanade, Mount Martha, last week. The woman, 89, of Mount Martha, was able to push open the door of her Lexus sedan and crawl 15 metres back up to the road, 11.30am, Friday 4 June. The woman’s car went over the cliff after colliding with a Mercedes sedan being driven by a 77-year-old woman, also of Mount Martha, near Park Road. They were the only occupants. Neither woman was injured but both were taken by ambulance to hospital…
THIRTY years ago, 24 Mornington Peninsula artists decided to open an art gallery, with enthusiasm easily exceeding experience. Now, The Guild Art Gallery, Tyabb, run by its member artists as a collective, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The gallery sells framed and unframed paintings by many award-winning artists. They are of various subject matters and different styles. As the artists oversee the gallery, the paintings are said to be “reasonably priced”. The gallery is at the rear of Tyabb Packing House Antique Centre in The Village. It is open 10am-5pm, Thursday to Sunday and public holidays. Entry is free. First…
LAST week’s state budget had the “glaring omission” of not including any money to extend the metropolitan train line beyond Frankston. “The federal budget on 11 May retained $225 million for the rail extension – and an additional $19 million for Frankston station car parking – but the Victorian budget was silent on how to address public transport connectivity to and through Frankston, an Infrastructure Australia-listed problem of national significance,” Ginevra Hosking, CEO of the Committee for Greater Frankston, said. Ms Hosking’s committee will brief Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors in August about the electrification and extension of the railway, possibly…
SEVERAL government agencies are running a combined operation to stop firewood being collected illegally from parks, forests and reserves. Operation Hollows is designed to protect wildlife habitat from the impacts of illegal wood removal. Firewood should only be collected from designated areas during the two collection seasons, as trees and fallen wood outside these areas are crucial habitats for native wildlife, including birds, animals and reptiles. The ongoing operation also targets people selling illegal firewood. The maximum penalty for people caught illegally destroying habitat trees is $8261 plus potential seizure of equipment, including vehicles and chainsaws and/or one year in…
THE lives of residents are being put at risk because of an “ambulance crisis” on the Mornington Peninsula, says Hastings MP Neale Burgess. “While our paramedics are doing everything they can to provide their life saving services in the fastest time possible, the state government is letting them and Victorians down badly,” he said. “The latest quarterly performance data from Ambulance Victoria shows ambulance wait times are the highest they’ve been since the Andrews government came to power.” The figures from Ambulance Victoria show 71 per cent of the 2669 callouts on the peninsula were responded to in 13 minutes…
ZOE the Giant Spider Crab had a big day out on Monday 24 May, meeting up with the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and Crs Susan Bissinger and Sarah Race. Along with the rest of their Mornington Peninsula Shire Council colleagues, the councillors want an exclusion zone around piers to prevent fishing for spider crabs, from May to July. The decision rests with the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Members of Save Our Spidercrabs (SOS) thanked the council for its support in working to protect the coming aggregations of spider crabs, with Zoe (SOS committee member Zoe McKenzie) offering hugs all round. Four…
POLICE say a man referred to as “The Penguin” climbed over the gate into the candy bar at Hoyts Cinemas Frankston and stole four bottles of alcohol, 5.45am, Saturday 22 May. He is described as Caucasian, mid-late 30s, medium build, wearing a camouflage hoodie, long pants and dark coloured shoes. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Senior Constable Brendan Fontana, of Frankston CIU, 9784 5535 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 1 June 2021
A MORNINGTON man has been charged with theft after police recovered allegedly stolen garden ornaments in his possession. The Mornington police night shift van found the man, 51, in the early hours of Tuesday 25 May with ornaments they believe came from across the Mornington area. The man was arrested and bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. Police are yet to identify the owners of some of the ornaments. Anyone who believes they have had items stolen is urged to contact property officer Paula O’Brien, 5970 4900, Monday-Friday. First published in the Southern Peninsula…
A MAN who entered the art room at Bayside Christian College last month allegedly stole two Apple Mac computers and photography equipment. Police say the man slid open an unlocked window at the school in Langwarrin South, 8-8.30pm, Monday 5 April. He then covered the alarm sensor in two rooms to avoid detection. The offender is Caucasian, mid-late 30s, medium build, light brown short hair with receding hairline, wearing a navy blue t-shirt, dark coloured pants and riding a bike. He removed his t-shirt during the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Senior Constable Brendan Fontana, of…
A MAN was shot in the leg at Rosebud last week. Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating the incident on Jetty Road, 9.10pm, Wednesday 26 May. A 38-year-old Rosebud man was airlifted to hospital with what police described as “serious non-life-threatening injuries”. A crime scene was established and detectives had the area in Jetty Road cordoned off on Thursday. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or make a report at crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 1 June 2021
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is investigating whether more planning controls are needed to protect the environmental values of the Balcombe Estuary Reserves. The estuary is one of the peninsula’s major waterways and regarded as a significant natural asset. The reserves are rich in biodiversity and offer picnic tables, playgrounds, fishing platforms and walking tracks and boardwalk alongside Balcombe Creek, extending from the bay to Nepean Highway and on to The Briars. Other recreation facilities include tennis courts, cricket and football ovals, pistol club, and bowls club, as well as Mount Martha Pre-School and maternal and child health centre. The shire is…
SIX Mornington Youth Club gymnasts are on the Gold Coast representing Victoria at the Australian Gymnastic Championships, 13-26 May. Jordan Liang, Phoenix Petrovic, Jackson Findlay, Tom Hall and Will Shurey are competing in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics and Haylee Whitehead in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. The club’s Sarah Waterland and Ben Pocklington are coaches for the event. The club’s gymnasts, competing in national level 7 through to senior level, are eligible for selection onto state teams representing Victoria at national events. They compete at several trial events in March and April where the best are chosen to represent the state. COVID…
ABOUT 200 school students, parents and supporters at Mornington joined others across Australia in the first national school strike since COVID-19, Friday 21 May. Meeting at Mornington Park they demanded the federal government stop financing gas and coal projects, and instead invest in clean, renewable energy, secure jobs and “implement First Nations’ solutions to protect Country”. The strike was organised by the School Strike 4 Climate network to push the federal government to protect climate, land and water, and create new jobs by growing Australia’s renewable energy sector and “stop throwing money at gas”. Speakers included year 6 students Adele,…
THE federal government says it will provide immediate financial assistance to women who “make the brave decision to leave a violent relationship”. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the money would support women on the Mornington Peninsula to leave difficult and violent relationships. “The Escaping Violence Payment will provide vital financial support for women and children … to escape family and domestic violence,” Mr Hunt said. “[It] includes a cash payment of up to $1500 and the remaining $3500 in goods and services as well as wrap-around support from a community service provider to support these women in making this brave…
ARTISTS from around Australia have been asked to create artworks and murals as part of a Mornington Peninsula Shire anti-graffiti project. To be created by qualified visual artists or art collectives, the chosen artworks will tell “meaningful stories” about the peninsula on the one hand and act as a deterrent to graffiti vandals on the other. They will be displayed at two sites in Rosebud which are known as graffiti hotspots. The strategy has worked at locations previously defaced by vandals, with “little or no” graffiti since the “official” murals were painted. Artists are being invited to submit concepts through…
DROMANA and Langwarrin CFA brigades are among the first in Australia to receive cutting-edge, battery operated road rescue equipment. The three new tools include a cutter, spreader and hydraulic ram. They are battery operated and don’t require an external power source as well as being waterproof allowing greater access to road crash victims, including in drains and waterways. The tools costing $214,000 were funded by the Transport Accident Commission and the CFA. The two brigades are among the CFA’s 21 Road Crash Rescue Principal Providers across the state with specialised equipment to perform rescues. Last year the CFA responded to…
MANY of us give our unwanted clothing a new life by donating it to op-shops, giving it to a friend or selling it on a social media. However, not all items can be given a new life, with a stubborn stain or a tear meaning they are rendered unusable. This results in each of us sending an average 23kg of textiles to landfill annually, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is the same with some smaller electronics, such as faulty electronic toothbrushes or a hair dryer that stopped working a year or two ago. That’s why…
THE rainbow flag was flown at Mornington Peninsula Shire offices to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Monday 17 May. The gesture was a show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTIQA+) residents, community, friends, family and colleagues. The mayor Despi O’Connor and Crs Sarah Race, Lisa Dixon, David Gill, Anthony Marsh, Kerri McCafferty and Paul Mercurio, as well as shire staff and members of the community, gathered in front of the Hastings office to mark the occasion and raise the flag together. A shire statement said: “As an organisation, we…
MCCRAE lighthouse turned orange last week as a tribute to SES volunteers who turn out in their signature orange uniforms to help the community day and night in all kinds of weather. Wear Orange Wednesday, celebrated with the assistance of McCrae Lions, Wednesday 19 May, honoured the SES’s essential role come storms, floods, search-and-rescues and at serious road crashes. Sorrento SES unit’s Margaret Davis said members spent an average 150 hours on operational time over 12 months plus training and activities. Training was one night a week with extra time spent with chainsaws or working at heights. “All members have…
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