A man has died after his vehicle lost control and rolled in Mornington overnight. Police believe the vehicle, which was travelling south on Nepean Highway, lost control near Webber Street and struck two light poles before it rolled about 12.15am. The male driver, believed aged in his 20s, was ejected from the vehicle and sadly died at the scene. Nepean Highway was closed between Strachans and Bentons Roads, both north and south bound, while police processed and rehabilitated the scene. Police are investigating whether speed was a factor in the crash. A report will also be prepared for consideration of…
Author: MP News Group
THE third and final stage of the Bentons Road upgrade at Moorooduc – one of the Mornington Peninsula’s busiest east-west roads – will be completed soon. The final stage is designed to improve the section from Moorooduc Highway to Derril Road and follows the widening of Loders Road, and construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Bentons and Derril roads. Mornington Peninsula Shire is doing the work as part of the federal government’s Roads to Recovery program. Stage three will include widening the existing road, laying new, and upgrading existing, drains, installing crash barriers and upgrading the intersection of…
FLINDERS Golf Club’s youngest member has won one of the club’s oldest trophies. Harry Tiesdell-Smith, 14, earlier this month competed against 75 golfers to take out the 82nd Warrant Officers Cup with a par score of six-up. Since joining the club aged 10, Tiesdell-Smith has played off a handicap of 11. The 36-hole Warrant Officers Cup is held on the first Saturday of January each year and is conducted as a “par” competition over two full rounds, separated by a 45-minute break for lunch. Originally known as the Naval Challenge Cup, the trophy was presented to the club in 1939…
EMERGING ocean water swimmer Jesse Coulson blitzed the field to claim his first victory in the 1.5km Blazer Portsea Swim Classic on the weekend. Coulson, 20, of Williamstown, sprinted home to win in 15 minutes and 51 seconds. “I’m stoked to win it. I was hoping for a podium finish, but this is pretty amazing,” Coulson said. Thomas Hay took silver in 16.06 and Josh Doherty claimed bronze in 16.21. First over the line in the Women’s 1.5km Classic was 19-year-old Dominique Hart. The science student claimed the double, winning the 2.5km Gold race earlier in the day. “It was…
THE blue-banded bee has buzzed its way to top spot in a poll to find a mascot to represent the Mornington Peninsula’s Gardens for Wildlife program. The brightly coloured bee, pictured, gets its name from the striking turquoise bands running across its fluffy gold and white body. This little creature is a big help in the veggie garden, performing a particular type of pollination known as buzz pollination, or sonication, in which it holds onto the flower and shakes its body rapidly. Certain plants, including tomatoes, will only release their pollen when buzzed in this way. The blue-banded bee…
HUNDREDS of volunteers and surfers will have to wait until March to find out if the next scheduled Disables Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula beach day will go ahead. The 16 January event was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions. The Point Leo Foreshore Committee told the DSAMP that it was against any events being held at the beach during the month. The DSAMP said the March event will go ahead “should this be feasible considering the state of the environment at that point”. “Obviously, nobody wants to hear this as the decision. We only want surfers in the water and for…
THE Frankston Dolphins Football Club has a new president. Board member David Friend has been appointed to the role. He takes over from club-champion Peter Geddes, who finished up in December. Mr Geddes oversaw the club during a period of renewed optimism for the Dolphins. He was part of the team that worked to reinstate the club to the VFL after it was booted out of the competition in 2016, and took over as president in 2017. In 2020 the club announced that it was able to pay off its debt after going into voluntary administration in August 2016 owing…
PENINSULA Health has welcomed 39 medical interns who have wasted no time learning the ropes in preparation for their one-year placements. The doctors will immerse themselves into the day-to-day life of caring for patients and working alongside medical and healthcare staff during their rotations across Frankston and Rosebud hospitals and other Peninsula Health sites. A small number of interns will also rotate throughout the year in the emergency department at Warragul Hospital. As part of their week-long orientation, the new doctors stepped into the simulation centre to refresh their basic life-support training. Peninsula Health Medical Workforce Unit director Mr Andrew…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is extending its range of community and business grants to “support our community in the recovery phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic. To be launched next week, the grants will be available to eligible business associations, bushland and foreshore friends groups, Landcare groups, not-for-profit organisations, community groups and “creatives” (individuals, organisations and groups). The grants follow help to peninsula businesses in which the shire offered rent relief, waived outdoor trading fees, launched a Funding Finder website and Support Local campaign, as well as extended outdoor dining areas for food businesses. “I encourage anyone in our community looking…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Despi O’Connor took to the streets last week to promote responsible recycling. She staffed a pop-up stall at Rosebud on Wednesday 13 January and again at Mornington the next day to encourage residents to fill in a shire survey which asked what they think needs to be done to encourage everyone to recycle correctly and to put only suitable items in the bin. The survey finished on Sunday and the results will start to be collated this week as part of the shire’s draft waste contamination policy. “As a community we need to get better…
BOATERS and paddlers are being urged to practice getting back on their craft so they will be better prepared to save themselves this summer. Maritime Safety Victoria acting director Gareth Johnson says he expects a surge of water activity as boaters and paddlers make the most of free time from the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. “With increased activity comes the possibility of increased incidents, injuries and fatalities,” he said. “In 2018-19 there were 717 incidents in Port Phillip (excluding Corio) and 219 in Western Port and we don’t want to see those numbers increase. “Our critical safety message for boaters…
A MAN who was kicked in the head during an unprovoked attack at Devilbend reservoir was last week at home and confined to bed for months after being treated for a broken neck at The Alfred hospital. The 19-year-old was walking back to the car park after swimming with friends at the reservoir, off Graydens Road, Tuerong, when they came across a group of 10 youths sunbathing by the water’s edge. One of the youths threw a rock at the victim, of East Bentleigh, narrowly missing him. The offender then walked up and after a brief exchange of words, punched…
A POLICEMAN stripped to his underwear to rescue a woman after she was left her stranded on a boat anchored off Capel Sound after an alleged attempted alcohol raid. Police were called to reports of two intoxicated people swimming out to a boat moored 200 metres offshore, 7.30pm, Thursday 14 January. It is alleged the pair ransacked the boat looking for alcohol but then, after coming up empty-handed, the man swam back to the beach. The 46-year-old Rosebud woman, deciding she was too drunk to make it back to shore, stayed aboard. After being told the woman had been seen…
Police impounded a P-plater’s vehicle after he was allegedly detected travelling at 215km/h in Dromana early this morning. Somerville Highway Patrol members were conducting speed checks in the north-bound lanes of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway when the sound of a speeding vehicle approaching south-bound caught their attention shortly after midnight. Officers clocked the Volkswagen Golf GTI allegedly travelling at more than double the 100km/h speed limit. The driver, an 18-year-old man from Mill Park, offered no explanation for the excessive speed. His vehicle has been impounded for 30 days and he is expected to be charged on summons with speeding.…
Mornington Peninsula Shire has collaborated with NBN Co and six Aboriginal groups on a project to wrap 16 NBN street cabinets, or nodes, in art. The project promotes the relationship between the shire and the traditional owners through its arts and culture and reconciliation action plans. The mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said the pieces “beautify the streetscapes and give the First People living on, or visiting the peninsula, visibility as they see their culture proudly on display”. “Art is what shapes us,” she said. “It takes us on a journey of discovery and is an important part of our everyday…
TWO Mornington police officers jumped in to rescue an unconscious man and a woman struggling into the water off The Pillars cliff jumping spot at Mount Martha 3.40pm, Wednesday 23 December. A passer-by had called 000 to report the man unconscious in the water and his partner struggling to bring him ashore. The man, 33, of unknown address, and the woman, 43, of Pakenham – reportedly “skinny dipping” – were battling a heavy swell and strong currents when Constables Jarryd Buntine and Douglas Smith plunged in to rescue them and then drag them over rocks to a small beach. The…
WATER Police issued about 20 infringements to boaties and jet-ski riders during Operation Southend in the lead-up to Christmas. The operation ran Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 December and aimed to curb dangerous behaviour and prevent serious marine incidents from Mount Martha to Sorrento. Despite fewer craft being out on the water because of the poor weather, police said they were “concerned to see more than 20 vessels receive fines for speeding and not wearing lifejackets”, among other offences. Water Police Sergeant Dave McHenry said: “Overall we saw good behaviour from a lot of boaties and PWC users. That said,…
SOUTHERN Peninsula Basketball Association has teamed up with Sorrento Community Centre to make the sport more accessible to players and to upgrade the community centre’s basketball facilities. “Domestic games and programs will be run out of the one court at Sorrento,” association general manager Ben White said. “Initially this will see the addition of this court to our Saturday domestic competition, which will act as the home court for a number of Sorrento and Rye games.” The long distances between some venues was a catalyst for the agreement. “Currently some participants have to make an 80-minute round trip if they…
ROSEBUD Fire Rescue senior station officer Neil Schlipalius blamed illegal fireworks for a “good proportion” of the nine fires reported on New Year’s Eve. At one fire, near the entrance to Rosebud Country Club, in Lockhart Drive, the brigade found boxes containing hundreds of illegal commercial grade fireworks ready for letting off and later destroyed them. “I’ve never seen so many,” Mr Schlipalius said. “And these aren’t just kids letting them off, they are all age groups with access to money to buy them because they are not cheap.” Fireworks are also regularly being let off on the Esplanade, Safety…
PORTSEA Surf Life Saving Club has put 600 Nippers through their paces at the back beach and at the Point Nepean Quarantine Station. The Nippers program, the largest of its kind in the state, introduces children aged 6-13 to lifesaving and water safety skills. The nipper’s last week participated in water and beach activities aimed at providing them with the skills to be confident and proficient in the surf. Activities included beach sprinting, beach flags, swimming, surf wading, board paddling and surf safety theory. “It’s wonderful to see so many youngsters learn vital surf safety lessons and develop their surf…
SEVEN high achievers have cemented their places in Mornington Secondary College’s Dreamcatcher program run over the past 15 years. The year 12 students, who all achieved 90-plus ATARs, now await their tertiary offers later this month. Deputy principal Jim Pappas said the Dreamcatcher program was geared for students who choose to aim for 90-plus ATARs. “The students are selected based on their previous academic achievements and work with a teacher-mentor during their final year,” he said. “Over these years, our 90-plus achievers have been Dreamcatchers with this year being no exception.” First published in the Mornington News – 12 January…
SILVERS Circus will start its next tour at Mornington with the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular, from Wednesday 6 January. This 90-minute show features Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie, Super Grover and Big Bird as they find their place in the circus – from clowns to daredevils. The show was developed for the tour and includes the original Sesame Street voices recorded in New York. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au/artist/837678 First published in the Mornington News – 22 December 2020
By Tony Duboudin THREE members of Balnarring Men’s Probus Clubs book group came up with a novel idea to keep minds occupied during the pandemic lockdown – a short story writing competition. The original idea was the brainchild of Bernie Gittins who was then joined by Peter Gerdsen and Dan Hourigan to form an organising group to suggest to club members that might be interested in contributing to a short story competition. The contest would not only keep club members in contact but provide a diversional activity while stuck indoors. It was agreed to have two sections: One up to…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s aim of introducing an effective recycling policy is being hampered by apathy, experts say. Some residents are unsure of what can and can’t be recycled, while others couldn’t care less what goes into their bin as long as they get rid of it. As a result, contaminated recycling rates on the peninsula are 5 per cent higher than the state average. Birte Molier, of Waste Wise Peninsula, supports the shire’s efforts to introduce a three-strike process. “If residents continue to deliberately and significantly contaminate their recycling bin, they will receive official notices or warnings and eventually get…
TWO new speed cameras on the Peninsula Link freeway are zooming in on north and south-bound traffic. The cameras, on the Ballarto Road bridge, are instantaneous and point-to-point fixed speed cameras. Also, in the lead up to the cameras being installed, drivers on the freeway were being monitored by specialist cameras designed to detect mobile phone use and “dangerous driving activities”. The cameras in the three-month study, which assessed 200,000 drivers and identified 4000 possible offences in their first four weeks “on the job”, were not set up to fine drivers so no infringements will be issued. Early results showed…
FORMER Continental Hotel developer Julian Gerner is believed to be facing serious drink-driving charges. The Sorrento restaurateur reportedly crashed into a pole in Sorrento on Sunday 13 December before leaving the scene. A police spokesperson said: “It’s believed the driver of a Range Rover travelling south along Hotham Road lost control at the roundabout at the intersection of Melbourne Road about 11pm. “The driver … allegedly fled the scene prior to police attendance.” The spokesperson said police later attended a Sorrento residence where the 47-year-old driver underwent a preliminary breath test. “The man accompanied officers to a nearby police station…
SPEEDING boats and jet skis being driven too close to other vessels and swimmers from Mount Martha to Sorrento have alarmed Water Police. They warn that due to an “increase in dangerous behaviour and, in some cases, serious marine incidents” they will have a “highly visible presence” on Port Phillip towards year’s end. As part of Operation Southend last weekend the Water Police as well as Mornington Peninsula police were out enforcing water safety on boat ramps and beaches, focusing on “compliance with water safety rules to reduce the number of marine incidents and collisions caused by unsafe behaviour”. Police…
A CLOSE encounter with a koala has prompted a plea for drivers to watch out for the ungainly-on-the-ground tree dwellers. Sheree Stewart contacted The News to warn that a koala had been on the road between McCrae and Mornington during the morning of Friday 12 December. “They are an endangered species and I’m not sure if he got away, but people need to be aware on the highway that this is happening and that perhaps we should look at animal-proof fencing to protect the shire’s wildlife from 100 kilometre and hour speeding vehicles. “Western Australia uses animal-proof fencing and wildlife…
MORNINGTON Peninsula musicians are emerging from an COVID-enforced break from performing before live audiences. They were not always quiet during this year’s lockdowns, but most agree that streaming live over the internet is not the same as receiving feedback from an audience. One of the live music venues set to go with a series of concerts is the Pig and Whistle Tavern at main Ridge. Music was again being played late last month when the tavern hosted a private entertainment industry networking event ahead of a series of live shows leading into Christmas and for the following 12 months. The…
PHOTOGRAPHS at the entrance to the new Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud will reflect its connection to the waters surrounding the Mornington Peninsula. Hastings photographer Matt Burgess was chosen for the job after an expressions of interest process in November. His works will be at the Rosebud pool from March for 12 months. “Yawa means‘to swim’ in the local Indigenous language and the new aquatic centre draws inspiration from the waterways surrounding the peninsula,” the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said. Growing up on the mid-north coast of NSW, Burgess started surfing at a young age, joined the Australian Army at 17…