A WOMAN died when a Ford station wagon collided head-on with a Nissan Pathfinder on Baxter-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale, 5.30pm, Saturday 27 June. The woman was a passenger in the station wagon which was being driven by an 81-year-old Frankston man who was later airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 39-year-old Rye man driving the Pathfinder was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives said the station wagon may have been speeding and that it was seen veering onto the wrong side of the road prior to the collision. They ask witnesses or anyone with dash-cam…
Author: MP News Group
MAN of many facets – secondary school teacher, sports psychologist, author, artist, and these days, “muso” – Robert Klaas Kalma says he will use all his skills as a busker at Mornington’s Wednesday market. Kalma, 80, who lives with his wife Sue at Mount Martha, has in recent years overcome prostate cancer and a major heart attack. However, he is not deterred by these setbacks and sees music as an “opportunity towards making a full recovery”. After joining the ProBuskers and playing for audiences around the Mornington Peninsula, Mr Kalma saw a bigger picture: “I wanted to do more after…
HASTINGS police are seeking help in identifying a man, above, who allegedly stole liquor from a Church Street bottle shop. The man was seen taking a $110 bottle of scotch and hiding it under his jumper, 3.50pm, Friday 12 June. When challenged, the man denied the theft and left the store. However, a review of the store’s CCTV confirmed staff suspicions. The man is described as Caucasian, late teens, 170cm tall with a slim build. Anyone who recognises the man or has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery is set to reopen to celebrate its 50th anniversary with an exhibition that follows the development and growth of its collection, 1 July-22 November. The upcoming FIFTY exhibition features about 100 artworks of significance. They include eX de Medici’s Red (Colony) 2000, Arthur Boyd’s iconic Mt Martha from Rosebud Beach 1938, Lisa Roet’s giant primate finger Orang-utan Index 2001-03 and Locust Jones’ epic Geronimo 2011. Founded in 1969 by Alan McCulloch, the-then Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre acquired its first artwork in 1970. Its collection has grown to include more than 1800 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures.…
SOUTHERN Peninsula Rescue Squad former president and current committee member Eileen Murray was awarded an Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours. Ms Murray was honoured for her service and commitment to Marine Search and Rescue Victoria, and to the safety of her community, over the past 18 years. Ms Murray was president of the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad for 14 years up to 2019 and “led it through a range of improvements which has resulted in it being one of the leading marine rescue operations in Australia”. Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad secretary Denis Baguley AM said…
THE theft of two sets of expensive timber gates from properties at Mount Martha and Main Ridge has prompted Red Hill Country Gates proprietor Gabby Goodon to warn customers to be on the lookout for the thieves. She said a set of $6000 timber gates was stolen from the entry to a Forrest Drive property 1am, 25 May, and a $2500 set was stolen from a Main Creek Road property, about the same time, 10 June. “I’ve emailed people to warn them,” Ms Goodon said. “I want to get it out there. I want people to keep an eye out.”…
POLICE would like to hear from anyone who saw a white Nissan Patrol four-wheel-drive tradie’s ute overtake other cars outside Dromana Primary School, 8.50am, Wednesday 9 June, at the intersection of McCulloch and Ligar streets. Police in an unmarked black Volkswagen station wagon activated their lights and siren and intercepted the ute just past the McCulloch Street crossing which they say may have caught people’s attention. The intersection was said to have been busy at the time. Anyone who saw anything is asked to contact Leading Senior Constable Rob Dukes (VP34284) at Somerville Highway Patrol, call 59781368, or email your…
SORRENTO Portsea RSL sub-branch’s bushfire dinner and auction in February raised $28,500 as the final event in a fundraising campaign beginning when the fires started in early January. But rather than donate the money to one of the many larger funds operating at the time, Sorrento Portsea RSL president John Prentice said the committee decided on a different tack. “We wanted to select a community cause that was badly affected by the fires and where a financial contribution would make a real difference,” he said. Four months later the committee agreed to share the money equally among six small East…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire libraries at Mornington, Rosebud, Somerville and Hastings are open but with controls on numbers allowed inside after COVID-19 restrictions were eased on Monday (22 June). Libraries will continue to run at reduced hours until 4 July when hours are expected to return to normal. All public programs, including Storytime, will continue online “for the time being”. Safety measures are in place with a concierge at the door to track numbers and to record visitors’ details. Hand sanitiser will be available and extra cleaning of all high-touch surfaces, computers and self-serve checkouts, will be done. The Mobile Library…
By Danielle Collis AS experts are calling for federal government action plan to strengthen Australia’s weak environment laws, Mornington Peninsula residents Lorinda Hartley and Theresa Jenson have formed a new climate action group. Mornington Peninsula Australian Conservation Foundation founder Theresa Jenson said the condition of the environment is concerning for the peninsula community. “A lot of governments are trying very hard to deal with the environment, it’s just about trying to get our voice across too,” Ms Jenson said. The group is part of the Australian Conservation Foundation, a nationwide network which aims to protect Australia’s environment. Co-founder Lorina Hartley…
KEEN cricketers are being invited to pursue their passion with others at Mornington Peninsula Veterans’ Cricket Club. In the lead up to the season practice sessions for the over 60s team are held at Saxon Sports, Frankston, on days and times to be advised. New member Neville Smith is also keen to recruit players aged 50 and over to start up an over 50s team this summer. He said he was “welcomed with open arms” at the club and is keen to extend the courtesy to other new members. “Training has been exhilarating in the outdoors doing something we love,”…
By Molly Haines IT’S A Blaze has just done a great thing. Well a brilliant thing, broken Cranbourne’s 520 metre track record in his second career start. Previously held by Pop The Cork, the track record now stands at 29.541sec. Amazingly, this wasn’t the first time It’s A Blaze has broken the track record. He first did so unofficially in May during a clearance trial to use blinkers, stopping the clock in a time of 29.578sec. “It wasn’t a surprise he broke the track record because he can run, but you never expect a track record,” trainer Kel Greenough said…
CAMERAS are now providing live coverage of boat ramps at Stony Point and Corinella. The ramp cam images are refreshed every five minutes on Maritime Safety Victoria’s Boating Vic trip preparation website and app. The website also includes weather details and safety advice. “We know that many Victorian boaters love to check boat ramp cameras before heading out – now users of Stony Point and Corinella boat ramps can access these images at the same time as local weather details, for a clearer picture of what to expect,” maritime safety director Cameron Toy said. “With all this information at their…
A NEW, larger shed being built for Western Port Men’s Shed in Sudholz Street, Bittern, will allow members more scope to help schools, charity groups and residents with projects and repairs. The kitchen and social area will allow members to learn cooking skills – especially important for those living alone – as well as being able to mix in a social atmosphere. Members are keen to pass on their skills and help new members with their projects or with community projects. Women’s weekly woodworking classes are held through Crib Point Community House. President and treasurer Colin Prowd said the shed…
A “notorious bottleneck” on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway is closer to being removed with $3.5 million from the federal government. The money, part of a 2019 election commitment, will go to the state government for the planning and development of a business case for the upgrades, to include grade separation and duplication of the freeway to Boneo Road, pedestrian upgrades and a flyover at Jetty Road, Rosebud, and sound barriers between Rosebud and Dromana. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said residents of Rosebud and the southern Peninsula had waited for years for improved traffic flow at the intersection of Jetty Road…
Story and picture by Barry Irving RYE resident Barney Cain celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends, Saturday 6 June. Mr Cain, third from left at right, was born in 1920 at the home built by his grandfather Michael Cain as the first of seven children for Owen and Ethel Cain (nee Hill). He is the great-grandson of Owen Cain, one of the early settlers of Rye. After attending Boneo and Rye and then St Joseph’s (Sorrento) primary schools he moved up to St Joseph’s Christian Brothers at South Melbourne until 1935. He says he enjoyed his time…
By Danielle Collis A MT MARTHA restaurant has prepared more than 1000 meals for Mornington Community Information and Support Centre to deliver to people and families in need. Volpino owner David Weill said a customer who donated $1000 had wanted to help keep the restaurant in business during the coronavirus emergency while also helping the broader community. Mr Weill contacted the Mornington Peninsula Foundation about the customer’s plan and was put in touch with the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre. The centre’s general manager Stuart Davis-Meehan said due to coronavirus restrictions the centre had replaced its face-to-face meal program…
THIRTEEN drivers were each fined $289 for driving past a police vehicle with flashing lights at more than 40kph, Thursday 28 May. Somerville Highway Patrol officers conducted Operation Safe-Mate as a result of being “thoroughly fed up with motorists whizzing past at speed while [we are] standing on the side of the road”. They say the issue was highlighted by the quadruple police fatality on the Eastern Freeway in April. Officers patrolled the Mornington Peninsula Freeway between Moorooduc and Rosebud, targeting speeding and general traffic offences while enforcing the passing emergency vehicle at 40kph rule which was introduced in July…
A MAN who allegedly drove at a police officer in Mornington was later pepper sprayed and arrested in dramatic fashion at Mount Martha. Police said they saw a car driving on the wrong side of the road and through the roundabout at the intersection of Main and Barkly streets, Monday night, 1 June. They pulled the driver over but when they approached his car he “took off again with one officer only just avoiding being struck”. The 50-year-old was intercepted by another police unit at Mount Martha but he allegedly refused to turn off his car’s engine. Police said they…
THE Planning Minister Richard Wynne says the exhibition of power company AGL’s environmental effects statement on its proposed gas import terminal at Crib Point will last 40 days, 10 days longer than usual. He says the extra time will ensure the exhibition and inquiry is conducted fairly during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Wynne’s directive was dated 1 June. After the exhibition, a public inquiry will be held to consider the project and its environmental effects. If required, the inquiry’s proceedings may take place by videoconference. Community group Save Westernport said Mr Wynne’s decision was “inconsistent with state government extensions of…
PRIVATE pool and spa owners on the Mornington Peninsula now have until 1 November to register them with council. The five-month extension from the original 1 June deadline has been granted because of the impacts of coronavirus on families and council staff workloads. The safety measures are being introduced to reduce the number of drownings of children under five. Over the past 20 years 27 youngsters have drowned in private pools and spas in Victoria. The coroner reportedly found that, in at least 20 of these cases, a non-compliant safety barrier was likely to have played a role in their…
By Barry Morris THE leader of the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place in Hastings has spoken out against Aboriginal deaths in custody following the death of African American man George Floyd in Minneapolis, US. “Black lives matter here too,” Willum Warrain’s executive officer Peter Aldenhoven said. The shocking vision of George Floyd’s death that precipitated race riots across America paralleled that of the Aboriginal teenager slammed face first by a policeman into a Sydney footpath last Tuesday, Mr Aldenhoven said. Aboriginal people did not need reminding that 432 Indigenous Australians had died in custody since the Royal Commission into Deaths…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire services will gradually reopen during June with further easing of coronavirus restrictions. The shire is following state government guidance by taking a staged approach with “necessary modifications … to keep our community safe and the pandemic curve flat”. Services will operate with shorter opening hours and limits on numbers and time spent at the service. The shire says its priority is to keep the community safe, and only services that can maintain physical distancing guidelines and numbers limits will open “at this stage”. Updates about further changes to shire services will follow the state government’s announcement of…
PENINSULA virtual pub has teamed up with the Mornington Peninsula music network to present the Soda virtual festival, a Facebook live stream event, Sunday 14 June. Peninsula virtual pub has been running Friday night live music since April to raise awareness and money for the peninsula’s live music community. Publican Garry Gosling said the industry needed “more help than ever as it continued to face hardship and struggles due to limited event capacities surrounding COVID-19”. He said Soda – to stream from 2pm – aimed to support live music and those whose livelihoods depended on the industry. It will present…
MCCRAE Lighthouse will receive $1 million for urgent conservation works under the state government’s Living Heritage Program. The landmark, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register, needs repairs as a result of its age and the harsh conditions it has endured over the past 137 years. The works will repair or replace the lighthouse’s gutters, windows, balcony and copper dome and will also include sandblasting and repainting of the riveted iron structure. Reportedly the state’s tallest at 31 metres and an essential Port Phillip navigation aid, McCrae Lighthouse was built in Birmingham in 1874 and shipped to McCrae in 1883.…
STAFF and doctors at The Bays Hospital in Mornington wore their crazy socks “loudly and proudly” on Friday 5 June. The aim of the colourful display was to bring attention to the challenges faced by doctors and the disproportionately high suicide rates in the medical profession. Cardiologist Dr Geoffrey Toogood, a long-time advocate for mental health, came up with the idea of Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day to raise awareness of mental health problems among health professionals. Dr Mark Savage, of the hospital’s intensive care unit, said: “As members of a caring profession, healthcare professionals strive to provide the very…
WESTERN Port Secondary College students embraced the brave new world of remote flexible learning during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Years 11 and 12 VCE and VCAL students, who returned to school last week, had direct instruction with subject teachers as a class to ensure a continuity of learning over the past seven weeks. “We tried to keep the structure of the timetable similar for students while working in an achievable and sustainable way during remote learning,” principal Chris Quinn said. Lessons were held on the Microsoft Teams platform with students logging in for lesson plans at 9am each day with their…
IN May two residents who live at Village Glen were widely celebrated as they enjoyed their centurion birthdays. What an amazing achievement, even COVID19 couldn’t dampen the social distancing celebrations that were had! Col turned 100 on the 8th of May and has a wonderful story to tell alongside his beautiful wife Joy. Col fought for Australia in the Navy in the Second World War and on his return, he started his life with Joy. He has had many and varied passions over the years including working as a motor mechanic for his father, a chicken farmer, building his family…
IT seemed as though the Mornington Peninsula became active again last Tuesday with the state government further easing COVID-19 restrictions. Playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gym equipment and park equipment, such as furniture and barbecues, were reopened for up to 10 people, with the number expanding to 20 from 11.59pm on Sunday. Libraries, youth centres and other community facilities were given the go ahead to open with 20 people in a single area that complies with social distancing rules; men’s sheds and arts and crafts classes can resume; entertainment and cultural venues, such as galleries, museums, drive-in cinemas and historic sites…
A MAN allegedly stole two bottles of alcohol from a Hastings bottle shop, 9.30pm, Friday 15 May. Police said he walked out of the bottle shop on Church Street without making any attempt to pay for them. The man is described as being in his late 20s, of medium height and weight, with short, dark hair and wearing a tan hoodie, black skinny jeans, white shoes and carrying a black bag. Anyone with information is urged to contact Hastings police 5970 7800 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Southern…