BIKES are a great way to get around, but they can be costly. A few simple security measures can help protect bikes from thieves and make them easier to track it down if they are stolen. One way is to engrave an ID number into the frame, such as a driver’s licence number for easy recognition, such as V12345678, with the V standing for Victoria. Keep a record of the serial number somewhere safe, such as online at bddy.me/2PuSvoN. Always park your bike with a strong and secure lock, ensuring both the frame and at least one wheel are locked.…
Author: MP News Group
DETECTIVES are seeking a man, pictured, who pointed a handgun at a shop-keeper at Capel Sound, earlier this month. The attempted armed robbery occurred at a food store on Illaroo Street about 12pm, Friday 2 April. The man was last seen walking south along Boneo Road, Rosebud, about 10 minutes later. Anyone who knows him or who has more information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 20 April 2021
SUBMISSIONS to Mornington Peninsula Shire’s plans for a Recreational Mountain Bike and BMX Facilities Strategy close 31 May. The need for a strategy followed the unauthorised building of BMX jumps and courses on public land. The shire hired consultants @leisure Planners after complaints about the number of BMX tracks springing up on public land throughout the peninsula, particularly during COVID restrictions. The consultants have been told to prepare a strategy to “ensure dirt jumps, skills parks and pump tracks are in appropriate locations and designed together with the community”. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 20 April 2021
WORKS by 76 contemporary artists come together in Holding Ground, an online art exhibition and fundraiser being held to stop the proposed expansion of a contentious granite quarry at Arthurs Seat. Charitable organisation the Ross Trust, and the company it owns, Hillview Quarries, plan to dig the quarry on the north face of Arthurs Seat which would destroy remnant old-growth bushland that is home to koalas and 27 threatened or endangered species. The 23 April-14 May Holding Ground exhibition curated by Penelope Gebhardt features a selection of Mornington Peninsula-based, Melbourne and interstate artists working across sculpture, painting, drawing, jewellery, ceramics,…
AN exhibition of photos taken in Argentina is on display at the Frankston Arts Centre. Photographer Osvaldo Civetta was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He emigrated to Melbourne when he was 15. At the invitation of a friend he returned to his country of birth, where he shot photographs of Indigenous Argentinian people. He is now displaying his work at the Arts Centre as part of an exhibition titled Roots, Raices. “The exhibition was inspired through an invitation by friend and artist Jaime Torres, Argentine musician and world-renowned interpreter of charango, to visit his cultural centre in his native province…
TWELVE Mornington Peninsula towns will host Anzac Day services on Sunday 25 April 2021. This year marks the 106th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing in Turkey. Mornington Peninsula Shire has issued a news release urging “our community to commemorate Anzac Day safely” by following COVID-safe guidelines at the various dawn services, marches and remembrance services. The dawn service and march in Melbourne will be live-streamed from 5.40am at shrine.org.au The peninsula’s Anzac Day program: Crib Point: March 10.40am; Crib Point RSL service 11am. Dromana: dawn service 6.15am Peninsula Club; march 9.15am, service 9.45am, Dromana Cenotaph. Flinders: service 10am Flinders…
FIRE restrictions end this week, but the CFA is urging landowners to exercise “extreme caution” when burning off. CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the fire danger period across Victoria ended at 1am, Monday 12 April. “This marks the official end to a much milder bushfire season than the unprecedented fire season that ravaged East Gippsland and North Victoria in 2019/20,” he said. Mr Heffernan said it was still important to check local conditions on the day of any burn-off for safety’s sake. “Fires can get out of control within minutes in dry and windy conditions, and the effects can…
THE state government is spending $33.7 million on technology that can detect drivers using their mobile phones. Legislation will also be introduced to back up the methods being used to detect “distracted” drivers. A three-month trial assessed 679,438 vehicles and found that one in 42 drivers were illegally using a mobile phone while driving. The trial was conducted while stage four coronavirus restrictions were in place, leading authorities to believe the rate of offending could be higher when roads are busier and movement is not restricted. Using two portable cameras across several metropolitan and regional locations, the trial found the…
By Simon Brooks* With Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in mid-2019, and the August 2020 adoption of the climate emergency plan there is an expectation by many that the shire clearly communicates a position on some of the big energy infrastructure projects planned for our country, state and in particular within the municipality. I was privileged to be a councillor who was able to help drive these initiatives and I’m hopeful the new group of councillors will keep up the momentum with support from the shire staff and senior officers. Climate change is placing us at…
WORK is underway rebuilding the rock barricade to prevent erosion on the Safety Beach foreshore near the sailing club. The Bay Trail has been diverted around the site, with a temporary fence maintaining pedestrian access and safety. Heavy machinery will be on site for the next six weeks. The mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said Mornington Peninsula Shire was rebuilding the rock wall as “part of council’s commitment to protecting our coastal environments from the impacts of climate change”. Cr Debra Mar said the rock revetment “will help protect our foreshore for years to come”. Cr Kerri McCafferty said the work…
THE Victorian Maritime Centre museum in Crib Point now includes an exhibition dedicated to those who served on HMAS Australia 11. The exhibition was opened on Saturday 27 March by Victoria’s Chief of Navy, Commodore Greg Yorke. The exhibition includes a background painting by maritime artist Randall Wilson and a documentary by Wayne Gibbs. Two veterans that served on the ship, Petty Officer Des Shinkfield and Signalman Bruce Crowlmong, were among the 60 people at the opening. Mr Crowlmong recited a poem written by fellow crewman Alan Fenton about his wartime experiences aboard the ship. Hiram Ristrom, a coxswain who…
A BRONZE statue has been unveiled at Point Nepean National Park to commemorate former graduates of the Portsea officer cadet school who died during active service. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions the 18 March unveiling by former graduates Major General David J McLachlan AO and Lieutenant Colonel Robin A McBride, was broadcast online. Of the 22 names on the statue’s plaque fixed to a granite base, 15 lost their lives in south Vietnam, four in the Philippines, two in Malaysia and one on the Thai-Laos border. The statue faces the former parade ground close to Badcoe Hall, named after…
COMMUNITY groups and sporting clubs are being offered grants to buy such things as bottles and crockery to lessen their dependence on single-use plastics. Up to $50,000 will be distributed in $1000 to $5000 grants by Mornington Peninsula Shire to organisation’s based in buildings or spaces. “Single-use plastics are a massive problem globally and right here on the peninsula. Plastic litter doesn’t belong on our beaches, in our bays or creeks, yet we see it everywhere we go,” the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said. “As a coastal community, the protection of our bays, creeks and ocean is integral to ensuring…
THE driver of a truck delivering timber to a Dromana building site received an electric shock when the boom of the crane he was operating struck power lines about 8.20am yesterday (Monday 12 April). Co-workers at the unit site in Palmerston Avenue, near Jetty Road, heard a loud bang and rushed to help the driver aged in his 60s. They applied CPR until ambulance crews arrived. The driver was taken to The Alfred hospital. His condition was not known when The News went to press. Sergeant Wayne Wood, of Hastings police, said police were investigating the incident. It is believed…
WORK is nearing completion inside the Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud, with pool tiling finished and a floating pool (boom) installed for the 50 metre pool to be divided into two. The play area has three slides, water cannons and a tipping bucket. The steam room and sauna will be completed, and equipment added to the gym over the next few weeks. Early May has been set as the new completion target date with the centre opened to the public before the end of the month. Belgravia Leisure, which manages the centre, is recruiting swimming teachers and qualified fitness experts to…
A man has died and two others were seriously injured following a single-vehicle crash in Tootgarook early this morning.The vehicle was travelling along Point Nepean Road when it veered off the road and struck a brick fence shortly before 2am.The male driver was declared deceased at the scene.His two male passengers were airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.Police will prepare a report for the coroner.For the current provisional lives lost tally please see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety-0Victoria Police News – 10 April 2021
Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives are hoping to identify a man who produced a firearm during an attempted armed robbery in Capel Sound on Friday. The incident occurred at a food store on Illaroo Street about 12pm on 2 April. It’s believed an unknown man approached the front counter and produced a dark-coloured firearm that was concealed in his pants. The man pointed the firearm at the staff attendant and made demands for cash. The male victim then triggered an audible alarm and the offender put the firearm back in his pants before fleeing empty handed. The man was…
A BIODIVERSITY and sustainability forum being held at Flinders on Sunday 11 April will hear from a range of speakers about issues vital to the health and preservation of the Mornington Peninsula’s natural environment. Organised by the Friends of Flinders Coastline group, the forum in Flinders Hall will also provide a venue for community groups to share details about their activities with the public. Speakers at the forum are: Maxwell Campbell, president of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, will speak about how humans effect biodiversity, especially among invertebrates. A biologist and educator, Mr Campbell is a macro photographer and…
IT was a labour of love that spanned 27 years. Margaret Crittenden’s collection of clippings and cuttings from all sources documenting the growth of the Mornington Peninsula wine industry from its embryonic state to the powerhouse it is today. Eventually the collection became too important to preside in simple scrap books, and the Crittenden family had each page photographed and assembled into “The Big Red Book”. And after Margaret’s death in November, the Crittenden’s recognised the importance of her work in documenting this important industry. “We only produced six of these books,” said Garry Crittenden. “We felt it was essential…
A FEMALE-only pink patrol was looking out for the safety of swimmers and other beach users at Point Leo on Saturday (27 March). The Point Leo patrol was one of 10 across the state celebrating female leadership in lifesaving for International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s History Month. According to, the special Pink Patrols were among 10 hosted across Victoria this month. “Pink Patrols are made up of all female personnel or female-led patrols and symbolise how integral women are in lifesaving,” Life Saving Victoria membership and leadership development director Angela Malan said. “Their goal is to build female operational…
OWNERS of cats and dogs on the Mornington Peninsula must renew pet registrations by Saturday 10 April. All cats and dogs over the age of three months must also be microchipped. Services for pets provided by Mornington Peninsula Shire financed from the registration fees include: off-leash dog areas (mornpen.vic.gov.au/leashfree); the Community Animal Shelter and Pound which cares for lost pets and finds new homes for unclaimed cats and dogs (mornpen.vic.gov.au/lostpets); and rangers who respond to dog attacks and nuisance complaints. Cats must be de-sexed to be registered within the shire unless the cat and owner are a member of the…
By David Gill* I AM disappointed with the way my mostly newly-elected fellow councillors have allowed Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers to continue to dominate the budget process, despite my advocacy on transparency and accountability. The budget is prepared by management without any opportunity for the community-elected representatives to vote on its contents until the draft budget is presented. At the draft budget meeting CEO John Baker even said that it is not best practice to change the draft budget and that we should wait for the final budget declaration meeting. Unfortunately, we missed an opportunity to be transparent and…
THREE of the most recognisable artworks along the 39 kilometres of the EastLink tollway have been renovated and restored. The collection of public artworks includes 12 artworks along the tollway and shared use path. EastLink says the artworks set among 480 hectares of landscaping are “arguably [form] Australia’s largest sculpture park”. “EastLink’s much-loved art collection cost $5 million when the artworks were commissioned and acquired shortly before EastLink opened in 2008, so it’s important they are maintained properly,” The company’s corporate affairs manager Doug Spencer-Roy said. “Three of the artworks needed maintenance recently, and with renovation works now complete, they…
A road trauma survivor joined police and a forensic pathologist to share his story on video about how “one second” driving on a road changed his life, and many other lives, forever. The video, part of Victoria Police’s road safety campaign launched ahead of the Easter long weekend, includes the father of a road trauma victim telling of his grief after attending the roadside where his daughter died. Victoria Police is highlighting the long lasting impact intentional high-risk behaviour behind the wheel can have and the ripple effect on those who are left behind. On 27 May 2019, two people…
THE sporting community of Tuerong has a new home with the completion of the new RM Hooper Pavilion. The new fit-for-purpose centre has female change rooms and amenities, new kitchen and kiosk, first-aid room and additional storage space. The modern, modular assembly was a first for the shire and took only a few months to build. RM Hooper Reserve hosts 2100 footballers, soccer players and cricketers. The upgrade will allow more sports at the reserve through additional programming, as well as easing the way for female participants through more-inclusive facilities. The pavilion was built using $760,000 from the shire’s capital…
PATIENTS are growing and picking a variety of fruit and vegetables at The Mornington Centre thanks to a nearby hardware chain. Bunnings Warehouse Mornington staff dropped by recently to donate seedlings and help out in the centre’s three sensory gardens. Peninsula Health’s 90-bed geriatric evaluation and management centre in Separation Street, provides specialist medical, nursing and allied health services mainly for people with health care conditions associated with ageing, memory and thinking problems, chronic illness or disability. Working alongside the Bunnings staff, patients Allan Brilliant and Melissa Schaller turned over the soil with fresh mulch and watered the Flinders Ward…
MOUNT Martha Boulodrome is the rather grand sounding for of a 24-lane international standard petanque rink. The rink was built as a result of Mount Martha Petanque Club and Mount Martha Bowls Club joining forces to turn an old bowling green into a world-class rink which, hopefully, will attract players from all over Victoria and Australia. Mornington MP David Morris and Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Despi O’Connor threw the first boules to open the club on Friday 12 March. The following week the petanque players held their first event, The Jennifer Shaw Memorial Tournament, contested by 28 teams from…
THE Stroke Foundation wants Mornington Peninsula residents to learn how to recognise signs of a stroke and to immediately call triple zero (000) for help. The foundation uses the acronym the FAST (face arms speech and time) to highlight the signs of stroke and what to do about them. Stroke survivor Lindy Cooke, of Flinders, said stroke was always a time-critical medical emergency that needed urgent intervention. “By learning the FAST signs of stroke, you could save the life of a friend, family member or neighbour,” Ms Cooke said. Ms Cooke was born with a hole in her heart and…
THE Victorian Electoral Commission will conduct a countback of votes on Tuesday 13 April to fill the vacancy on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council caused by the resignation of Hugh Fraser. Mr Fraser was reelected last November and his position will be filled by one of five candidates who unsuccessfully stood against him in Nepean Ward (“Fraser bows out after ‘differences’ with CEO” The News 15/3/21). The five candidates in the running are Susan Bissinger, Mechelle Cheers, Mark Davis, Simon Mulvany and Gary Naughton. The VEC says the vacancy will be filled by a countback of all formal votes from the…
PUBLIC sector aged care residents and staff on the Mornington Peninsula have started receiving their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Residents at Peninsula Health’s Carinya Aged Care Centre at Capel Sound rolled up their sleeves last week, as phase 1a of the vaccine rollout is expanded across the region after beginning with frontline healthcare staff at Frankston Hospital. Carinya nurse unit manager Michelle Paine says Carinya’s staff, residents and their families are keen to receive the first of their two vaccine doses, as they see the vaccine program as an important step towards protecting themselves and each other. “The last…