Author: MP News Group

A man has died after his car struck a tree at Tyabb this evening. A member of the public has come across the crash scene on Mckirdys Road shortly after 8pm. The good Samaritan has pulled the driver from the wreckage and attempted to revive him. Despite the best efforts of the passerby and emergency services, the male driver died at the scene. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Victoria Police News – Monday, 29 July 2019

THE Sleep in Your Car event at Mornington Park, Saturday 3 August, will show those participating what it’s like to be homeless. Fusion Mornington Peninsula is running the event during Homelessness Week. Recent census data shows those the number of homelessness rose 13.7 per cent in the past four years. Of the 116,427 people known to be experiencing homelessness, 42 per cent are under 25. The Sleep in Your Car event is open to those dropping in for dinner or staying the night. They can gather friends and family and sleep in their car or sleep rough in designated areas.…

TABLE tennis player Charlie Hollow, pictured, is on top of the world after winning the Australian under-11 boys’ doubles championship. Charlie, of Mt Martha, teamed with Oscar Savige, of Queensland, to win the title at Wollongong earlier this month (“Juniors focus on national success” The News 1/7/19). His sister, Georgia, 8, also played in the championships. Charlie, 10, also came fifth in the singles and fifth in the doubles. In September he will head to New Zealand to play for Australia. The children, who live in Mt Martha and attend Mt Martha Primary, train at the Mornington Table Tennis Club…

THE Saints came marching in last week to wish Benetas’ Corowa Court resident Rewa Pederson many happy returns on her 100th birthday. Players Luke Dunstan, Blake Acres, Nathan Brown, Nick Coffield and Jake Carlise came all the way from Moorabbin for the birthday afternoon tea at the Royal Hotel, Tuesday 23 July. Granddaughter Natalie Pederson said Ms Pederson, a passionate and lifelong St Kilda supporter, was thrilled by the attention and had a memorable birthday. “Footballers are extremely busy so it’s incredible that they could take the time out to be here for this amazing milestone,” she said. “The Saints…

A CARRUM Downs man riding without a licence had his motorbike impounded with a release fee of more than $1000, Friday 19 July. The bike was also found to be unroadworthy and unregistered. To “put the icing on the cake” the man, 33, was also found to be in possession of a bag of methyl-amphetamine while on bail for possession of the drug, Senior Constable Greg Wolfe said. “A tough night got worse when the rider tested positive to “meth”. He was remanded in custody at Frankston police station. Acting Sergeant Anthony Deason said: “Numerous people have been intercepted for…

A SEAFORD woman who did an illegal U-turn in front of police on Frankston-Dandenong Road was later found to be driving an unregistered car with a blood alcohol reading of 0.1 per cent, Sunday 21 July. The 38-year-old lost her licence for 10 months and the car was impounded for 30 days. After demanding police give her a ride home, she was told she “may as well start getting used to calling a taxi”. The woman’s arrest was on the final night of the police’s Operation Armada. It involved 29 mobile units patrolling Frankston, Seaford, Carrum Downs, Langwarrin and Mornington…

TWO Somerville Highway Patrol police members impounded three cars being driven by unauthorised drivers in two hours, Tuesday 23 July. At 10.38am on Peninsula Link at Baxter a 64-year-old Rosebud woman was found driving while suspended. Her VW Golf was impounded for 30 days with a release fee of $1075. At 11.54am on Frankston-Dandenong Road, Frankston North, a Frankston man, 52, was also found to be driving while suspended. His Hyundai iMax van was impounded with a release fee $1042. At 12.39pm on Fingal Drive, Frankston, a Glenorchy woman, 39, was found to be driving her Frankston mate’s unregistered car…

A WOMAN who allegedly abused Somerville Highway Patrol members after being pulled over for allegedly driving at 137kph in an 80kph zone on Frankston-Dandenong Road will be summonsed on a range of driving offences. The 32-year-old, with passenger on board, was pulled over near Forest Drive and given a preliminary breath test. When asked to come back to the station for another breath test she “became extremely abusive and walked off”, Senior Constable Greg Wolfe, said. “Her Commodore was in the process of being impounded for excessive speed – with a release fee $1042 – when she returned and continued…

A MAN who died when his car left the road and crashed into a tree at Tyabb, Thursday 24 July, was in the process of moving into a new house at Hastings. The man, in his 70s, was travelling along Frankston-Flinders Road about 2.30pm when he lost control of the car he had bought only an hour before. The man’s wife, who was following a few cars behind, reportedly did not see the incident, 200-metres south of the entrance to Padua College. Acting Sergeant Anthony Deason, of Somerville Highway Patrol, said police at the scene comforted the woman while relatives…

TUERONG rider Georgia Connolly will saddle up for a run in the women-only Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in Britain on 1 August. She is the first Australian to compete in the race for Wellbeing of Women, Britain’s leading women’s reproductive and gynaecological health charity. Connolly will turn amateur jockey for the race, held on Ladies’ Day during the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Other competitors are high-profile women from the worlds of business, sport, fashion and the media, including Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton, British model Rosie Tapner and Irish television personality Vogue Williams. The jockeys are reportedly on tough training programs…

POLICE want public help to identify a man, pictured, who put $60 worth of petrol into a dark coloured flat tray ute at a Safety Beach/Dromana service station and drove off without paying, 6.50pm, Monday 8 July. The ute was displaying false number plates. Anyone recognising the man or the ute should call Constable Robinson at Rosebud police station 5986 0444 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 23 July 2019

OFFENDERS broke into the Rosebud Soccer Club last week but only got away with cheap electrical appliances. Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Hocking, of Somerville CIU, said they dented roller doors in a bid to gain entry then used a jemmy to remove a security grill on the roof, overnight Sunday 14 July. Once inside they forced open cupboards and drawers and stole kitchen items, including cookware, frypan and sandwich maker, valued at $100. A battery charger was later found dumped near the gate into Besgrove Street. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said he was “saddened to hear the clubrooms had been…

A MOTORCYCLIST rammed a police divisional van at Rosebud last week and then rode off at high speed. Police were called to reports of the road bike being driven erratically on Pt Nepean Road, Rye, 4am, Thursday 18 July. After initially losing sight of the bike they spotted it at the Rye BP service station and tried to intercept it, but the rider rammed the side of the van and rode off along Weir Street at high speed. Police have CCTV footage of the incident. The rider is described as Caucasian and in his 20s. Anyone with information is urged…

ONE of the latest online scams involves a fraudulent Facebook messenger account using the name of Flinders MP Greg Hunt. Online fraudsters tell the victim they are in line for a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. They say the grant is a financial aid program aiming to eradicate poverty and stabilise the economy. The grant promises them “quite sizeable” sums of money on the proviso the victim clicks a link and agrees to pay processing fees, including a fund file fee, tax and clearance fee and a delivery fee. All fees are in US dollars totalling…

A NATIONAL centre for Healthy ageing will be established at Monash University’s Peninsula campus following a financial agreement between the federal government, Peninsula Health and the university. An existing building at the campus in Frankston will be extended to “accommodate staff and cutting-edge simulation environments/transformation facilities for research and education for community-based care”. Flinders MP and Health Minister, Greg Hunt, last week said the first “milestone payment” of the government’s $32 million contribution had been made. “The national centre, the first of its kind in Australia, will deliver new research and treatment programs for older people and those with addiction…

MEMBERS of the Australian Ballet were at Rosebud last Thursday showing how dance can help students learn about science, technology, engineering and maths. The ballet’s Steamdance program is based around the STEM subjects to bring dance experiences to school students. The specialist educators and professional dancers were at Our Lady of Fatima School to work with teachers during a series of workshops and performances to foster critical and creative thinking, literacy, numeracy, individual and cooperative learning and problem solving. The Australian Ballet also offers professional development training for teachers through Eduhub web resources which include interviews with creatives, downloadable resources…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill wants the state government to order a “full environmental impact assessment” before launching the contentious Buruli study program. Cr Gill says the program being run by the Department of Health and Human Services – in which large areas of the Mornington Peninsula could be chemically sprayed to combat mosquitoes – has “little regard for the environment or [its] effect on people”. “They should consult, provide information to the community and then listen hard to what has been said before taking any further action.” The mayor described the program as a “third world approach…

WESTERN Port Secondary College and Richmond Football Club on the surface seem unlikely to share many similarities. However, they both offer innovative pathways and programs to students and share similar educational values that impact on those who study there. The college students visited the football club recently to see how their program worked and watch the players train. They saw how the Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership (RISL) offers its students a dual diploma that not only develops athletic and leadership capabilities, but also has a strong focus on their character, resilience and confidence. Similarly, the college offers a variety…

THE “full legal review” into planning permits involving Tyabb airfield and businesses operating there will not be released to the public. Mornington Peninsula Shire has decided to extend the deadline for the review by a Queen’s Counsel beyond 30 June and at some stage release “a document consolidating the conditions of all current planning permits that currently apply to the Tyabb airfield”. The motion agreeing to the deadline change and to keeping the review secret appears to conflict with council’s decision on 26 March for “the outcome of the legal review … be brought back to council by the end…

CUBE 37, Frankston Arts Centre’s versatile events and exhibition space, will be hosting a number of independent theatre pieces that will leave you in awe this August. Featuring the finest performers and a variety of shows to choose from – comedy, drama or dance – step out of your comfort zone for an out-of-the-box theatre experience at Cube 37. There’s no need to travel to the inner city to get your fill of thought-provoking and entertaining new shows. It’s right here in Frankston! First up will be The Travelling Sisters – Lucy Fox, Laura Trenerry and Ell Sachs – who…

VISION Australia’s seeing eye dogs are expected to have more than 40 puppies by the end of August which may one day become a partner to someone that is blind or has low vision. Once the pups are about 15 months old they will begin formal training at Kensington but, before that, their training begins all over Victoria. Puppy development trainer Claire Crewe says the Mornington Peninsula is a good place for the puppies to begin their training. “The peninsula is a great area to be a puppy carer because it offers an array of different environments to train and…

LIBERAL MP for Mornington David Morris has accused the state Labor government of having a plan that will see beach boxes “ripped off our beaches”. While last week’s run of strong winds and waves appeared to be trying their best to undermine beach boxes at Mt Martha North, Mr Morris issued a news release saying the Draft Marine and Coast Policy report released by Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, stated that bathing boxes were “to be removed/relocated as the opportunity arises”. “This is a dramatic departure from the former Liberal Nationals government’s plans to retain bathing boxes,” Mr Morris said. “Not…

A “SIGNIFICANT” increase in alcohol-related serious injuries and fatal collisions in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula over the past 12 months has triggered a police crackdown on drink drivers. Highway patrol and general police will saturate these areas as part of Operation Armada in an effort to detect and deter impaired drivers. Operation Armada starts on Friday 19 July. Southern Metro Region Superintendent Adrian White said police would set up booze buses in strategic locations with officers conducting alcohol and drug tests “at every opportunity”. “Our intelligence is telling us that the types of people we predominantly detect for…

TWO thieves who went on a late night crime spree from Mt Martha to Portsea last week have been arrested – with one being bitten on the arm by a police dog. Detective Senior Sergeant Eddie Logonder, of Somerville CIU, said the Endeavour Hills men, aged 24 and 35, stole a Toyota Yaris from Mt Martha, 9.30pm, Sunday 7 July. Heading south, they allegedly broke into eight cars in Frimmell Way, Pt Nepean Road, Leyden Avenue and Driver Street, Portsea, and Kerferd Avenue and Rebecca Court, Sorrento, stealing cash, wallets, credit cards and a laptop before being disturbed by owners…

THERE will be no disruption to kerbside recycling collections for households on the Mornington Peninsula, despite a new ban on the shire’s waste recycler SKM Services last week. The ban came 48 hours after a fire at the company’s Laverton North site, Monday 8 July. It reportedly involved a conveyor belt surrounded by tonnes of recyclable and potentially flammable material. The mayor Cr David Gill said the shire would “continue to monitor the situation and keep in regular contact with SKM”. “Council continues to work with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group on long-term solutions, including advocacy for urgent…

A SEMINAR designed to enable parents and teachers to better recognise, manage and minimise the anxiety of their children will be held at Rosebud next month. Parenting expert, award-winning speaker and author Michael Grose and wellbeing expert and researcher Dr Jodi Richardson will host the Anxious Kids seminar at Rosebud Secondary College, 7- 9pm, Thursday 1 August. The pair are touring Australia to present their evidence-based approach to managing children’s anxiety. They will speak about tools and strategies for helping children as outlined in their book Anxious Kids. “Disturbingly, it takes 8.2 years on average between the onset of symptoms…

DISCOUNT packages at some Mornington Peninsula foreshore camping grounds have been withdrawn because of their success. The mayor Cr David Gill said the cheaper packages for pre-and post-peak times were designed to “activate” Rye and Sorrento. “This activation has occurred and, to ensure both new and return campers have equal access to camping sites along the foreshore, [the discounts] have been discontinued,” he said. “For income reasons other discounts have continued in areas [such as Rosebud] that have lesser off-peak occupancy rates.” The mayor’s comments follow complaints from regular campers at Rye and Sorrento that they are being hit with…

A NEW group is being formed to open up and improve the 15-hectare Oliver’s Creek Bushland Reserve at Tyabb. Mornington Peninsula Shire has allocated $52,000 towards the upkeep and revitalisation of the reserve. David Chalke, of the Tyabb and District Ratepayers group, said the reserve was an “under-appreciated treasure … and is the largest piece of publicly accessible bushland in the district”. “The last fauna report showed it to be home to both koalas and echidnas as well as a range of other natives. We hope to improve access to the reserve, particularly for the less than fully abled as…

THE family of a Baxter girl who died from the effects of the flu on Friday 5 July is urging others to get their flu jabs without delay. Crystal-Lee Wightley, 13, died at home after being ill with a cold, fever, body aches and a cough since Tuesday. Her mother Dymanty Fulham found her unconscious in her bed and called 000. Despite the best efforts of paramedics she could not be revived. The year 7 Mt Erin Secondary College student had been due to see a doctor later that morning. Her mother, grandmother and brothers all suffered flu-like symptoms in…

PREMIER Daniel Andrews visited Red Hill Consolidated School and chatted to staff and students before the school holidays while announcing a grant of $3.2 million allocated in the recent state budget. The grant is part of a $5.5 million package to schools in the Nepean electorate described by MP Chris Brayne as “the biggest investment in schools in … the seat’s history”. “We are optimistic the upgrading of our existing classrooms will build a whole-school climate of collaboration and excellence,” principal Leanne Marshall said. Mr Brayne said the Red Hill school continued to grow and be loved by families and…