ALONG with the warmer weather, snakes are emerging from months of inactivity to search for food and a mate. Many snakes stop eating over winter and conserve energy by not moving around as much, although they may come out and bask on a warm sunny day in the middle of winter. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) last week said snakes were more visible during warmer months but were rarely a threat. “Snakes prefer to keep away from people. They rely on external sources like the sun to give them energy,” senior wildlife projects officer, Katherine Whittaker…
Author: MP News Group
MEMBERS of the Progressives of the Peninsula group have launched their Just Ask campaign as a way to “engage the disengaged, the undecideds and the No voters” before the 14 October Voice to Parliament referendum. “Our democracy relies on informed voters. Rather than push a Yes or No position, we merely provide people with information,” the group’s chair Dr Sarah Russell said after the campaign launch outside Dromana Community Market on 23 September. Members of the Progressives display If You Don’t Know, Ask Here signs and wear If You Don’t Know, Just Ask t-shirts. “Although I believe informed and compassionate…
POLICE are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage to come forward following a cyclist incident on Sunday 1 October. It is believed that about 11.10am a 70-year-old male cyclist was travelling west on Point Nepean Road in Blairgowrie, near the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, and has fallen headfirst over the handle bars of his bicycle. He sustained serious injuries. Anyone with dashcam footage or information about the incident is urged to contact Sergeant Michelle Bradley at the Rosebud Police Station on 5986 0444. First published in the Mornington News – 3 October 2023
MORNINGTON police and members of the community paid their respects to fallen colleagues on Tuesday 26 September when they took part in the second annual Angela Taylor memorial walk in Mornington. The walk, which raises money for the Blue Ribbon Foundation, commemorates the life of Constable Angela Taylor who was killed on 27 March 1986 when a car bomb exploded outside the Russell Street police complex in Melbourne. The 21-year-old Taylor, who was walking across the street, took the full force of the explosion and almost four weeks later died in hospital. She had only recently joined Victoria Police and…
U3A Mornington art show committee will hold a visual art show on Friday 13 October, to be opened by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayor Cr Steve Holland and Mornington MP Chris Crewther. Other councillors, U3A tutors, exhibiting artists and members from the art and other classes have been invited to attend. Selected pieces of art, including photographic art, will be on sale, and there will be opportunities to chat with artists and have morning or afternoon tea. The show is open 10am to 3pm on 13 and 14 October, during the National Seniors Festival, at Currawong Community Centre, Currawong Street,…
Victoria Police is promising a major crackdown on drink and drug driving over the AFL Grand Final long weekend. Operation Scoreboard, which kicks off tomorrow, will see police conducting widespread roadside alcohol and drug testing across the state. Victorians celebrating the AFL Grand Final are being warned there will be zero tolerance for drink and drug driving, and motorists should expect to be tested while out on the roads this weekend. It comes as the number of lives lost on Victorian roads has soared to a seven-year high, with 210 fatalities to date in 2023, 27 higher than the same…
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised competition concerns if the Rye Hotel is bought by the Endeavour Group, which also owns liquor retailers BWS and Dan Murphy’s. The Rye Hotel includes a hotel and adjoining independent drive-through liquor store operating under the Thirsty Camel brand. Endeavour operates BWS Rye, the other major liquor store in the area. The ACCC is concerned that the proposed acquisition would likely substantially lessen competition in the supply of takeaway liquor in the Rye area. It is believed that in July Endeavour agreed to pay long-time owner Peter Houghton around $50 million for…
A NEW cycling program that uses two-seater bicycles is helping to giving aged-care residents at Balnarring Arcare a fun and supported way to get outdoors and back into the community. Cycling Without Age is a not-for-profit group that provides a community service that connects older or less mobile people with their community by giving them free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by volunteer cyclists. The program started at Balnarring earlier this month and was clearly enjoyed by all involved, said activities coordinator Gail Perry. Perry said the program was helped by volunteers and provided safe, free and universal access to…
CARDIOLOGIST Dr Geoffrey Toogood has been announced as a winner in the 2023 Australian Mental Health Prize. Celebrating exceptional individuals who have made significant strides in the realm of mental health advocacy, the prize aims to acknowledge the invaluable work carried out by Australians in the field of mental health. The Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, presented Toogood, of Frankston South, with the Lived Experience award on Monday (25 September) during a ceremony at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Toogood has triumphed over his own periods of mental illness, emerging with an unwavering…
THE Mount Martha women took on a Yarraville side that had only conceded four goals all season to decide who would be crowned State 5 Metropolitan champions at the home of the Matilda’s. Two long range goals from Indie Jowett saw Mount Martha go in at half time 2-0 up. As expected, Yarraville came out in the second half with a point to prove and clawed a goal back in the 48th minute. Not to be denied a two goal buffer Mount Martha scored straight from kick off. Yarraville could not deal with a delightful long ball from Indie Jowett…
Shire officers’ reports should be open to scrutiny If and when [Mornington Peninsula Shire Council] officers write a report, irrespective if it highlights misconduct, waste of resources, incompetence and, if allowed constructive criticism of procedures, office mismanagement and the like, from the CEO down to lower ranks of employees, they should all be subject to scrutiny and KPI performances. These officers reports should and must be able to be questioned and face scrutiny without fear or favour in an open public meeting. As paid officers of the shire their wages are paid out of ratepayers’ funds, and indeed from CEO…
OFTEN referred to as the men’s shed on wheels, the Sorrento Bay Riders and their cycling mates from around the Mornington Peninsula are leading the charge to raise money to support the Making a Difference programs at Victoria’s The Portsea Camp. Led by philanthropist Max Beck, the riders will hit the road on Sunday 1 October for the annual Sorrento Bay Riders Portsea Camp Challenge. The 65km for 65 children charity ride around some of peninsula’s most picturesque roads aims to raise $50,000 for inclusive wellness and camping programs, which work to build confidence, promote healthy bodies, healthy minds, and…
GRAFFITI removal and building maintenance contractors are being sought by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The three-tender process is part of the council’s efforts to ensure peninsula residents and visitors enjoy “safe, clean and efficient buildings”. The council’s infrastructure maintenance services contract ends on 30 June 2024, with the council saying it is moving to working more directly with suppliers and contractors in a “shared risk” approach to the maintenance of more than 500 habitable buildings and 600 other structures like sheds, shelters and public toilets. Successful tenders will cover building maintenance across a range of services, including graffiti management. Graffiti…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has received an award for naming a boardwalk after Pauline Powell, who devoted many years to community service. The suggestion to name the boardwalk after Powell was made in August 2021 by Rye Historical Society and Rye Community Group Alliance. An existing boardwalk in Rye was subsequently named the Pauline Powell Walk and gazetted on 8 June this year. Powell’s lifetime of community service included involvement with Rye Girl Guides where she became district commissioner, Rye Community Group Alliance, Rye Historical Society, St John’s, Sorrento and St Andrews, Rye. She was also a member of the…
Tony Duboudin A NEWLY formed quartet will feature works by Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert in a concert to be presented by Somers Chamber Music Society at Saint Mark’s Anglican Church, Balnarring, at 2.30pm on Sunday 8 October. The Hakea Quartet was formed by young musicians who are embarking on their performing careers. This group of performers – Fergus Ascot, Emma Amery, Sandra Ionescu and Sara Barbagallo – are graduates of, or finalising their studies at, the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and perform regularly in youth orchestras and teach. Several have won awards and studied overseas. The Hakea Quartet’s 8 October…
VOLUNTEERS who created a new native garden for the community in Mornington are distraught over the callous destruction of the garden and theft of most of the plants. The Pine Avenue Reserve restoration project was only completed last month, with volunteers from Friends of Pine Avenue Reserve joining children from the nearby South Mornington Preschool to create a green space and a native habitat for birds and frogs. But some time over the past two weeks, someone has ripped out and removed many of the plants and left others uprooted and dying on the ground. Friends of Pine Avenue Reserve…
By Ranald Macdonald FLINDERS resident Zeta Newbound attends weekly stretching classes at the Balnarring Town Hall on Tuesdays. A former schoolteacher and physical education instructor Newbound, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 7 October, actively participates in all the exercises. She was a pennant golfer and member of the Flinders Golf Club committee. Newbound and her late husband Maxwell have two children, with her daughter following in her footsteps as a teacher. The family had a weekender in Shoreham for 30 years when living in St Kilda, before moving to Flinders in the 1950s where they built a two-storey house.…
By Liz Bell and Keith Platt MOST Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillors are remaining tight lipped about how they will vote in the upcoming Voice referendum. At the 5 September council meeting, around 30 local residents, including two indigenous elders, called on the council to support three questions given without notice – one from Marg D’Arcy and two from former Voices of Mornington Peninsula-backed independent candidate for the seat of Flinders Dr Sarah Russell. However, Russell said the CEO’s response was “dismissive” and similar to what a “spokesperson” from the council said to an ABC journalist. Russell said the residents had…
AFL MASTERS By Chris Richmond IT wasn’t the last day in September, it was the tenth; the day the Peninsula Raiders 45s men’s side secured back-to-back premierships beating the Parkdale Vultures at Roy Dore reserve, Carrum. In a rematch of last year’s game, the final score was a resounding 13.7,85 to 4.2.26 victory. The day started off poorly for the Raiders with skipper Toby Loft limping to the sidelines with a popped calf and fellow midfielder Dave “Buddy” Franklin also following suit moments later. With two of the Raiders premier on-ballers effectively out of action someone needed to step up.…
MOUNT Martha kart racer, 13-year-old Mathew Basso, has claimed another title, winning the 2023 Australasian Kart Title after competing in the KA3 junior heavy class in the Goulburn Valley. Basso competed against some of Australia’s best junior drivers and was the only driver out of all the other classes to qualify, lead, and win every single race all weekend. He was also selected as the commentator’s driver of the weekend for the 2023 Australasian Titles. Announcer Aryton Creagh, who interviewed Basso after the race, said the young driver “is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on throughout the rest of…
A RECRUITMENT drive has seen Hastings Tennis Club more than double its membership. At the beginning of 2023 Hastings had no junior teams and a about 30 members. New coach Reece Driscoll said new members and new coaching programs had breathed new life into the club. “The club now has eight junior teams, two of which are section one, two nights of after-school coaching, a junior performance squad and has signed up over 50 new members,” he said. The club employed a new coaching team at the start of term two and with that had come a new atmosphere and…
A SMOKE-free trial run by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is among the finalists in the 41st annual Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria’s Tidy Towns & Cities – Sustainability Awards. In the litter category, the Safety Beach smoke free zone specifically has been hailed a success in navigating a smoke free environment. Since the original smoke free trial in April 2021, Beach Patrol volunteers have monitored the uptake of butt bins, with findings showing a significant decrease in butt litter. Local businesses were also surveyed, with 42 per cent noticing a reduction in butt litter near their businesses. The council has…
The Voice: It’s Your Choice, Not Ours – Councillor Mar Let’s be clear why the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has not taken a position on The Voice to Parliament and the reasons why. Australian citizens will be called upon to formalize their personal position from media, print and letterbox drops and place their vote at the polling booth on 14 October 2023. The Voice to Parliament is a personal decision where democracy is playing its important role that will help shape the future for Australia. I sought my information talking to locals, Bunurong Land Council and our friends at Willum…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council will launch mental health training for small businesses next month. Together with Mornington Peninsula organisation Speak & Share the council has developed mental health workshops for small businesses with a $15000 grant from Business Victoria. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said discussions around the importance of good mental started as early as kindergarten, and for young people mental health discussions came with little stigma because it was a natural topic to talk about for them. Holland said the state government was introducing legislation around occupational health and safety regulations in a bid to recognise hazards that…
VICTORIANS opposing what they think is unsuitable property development will have a new rallying point next week after the launch of a public declaration for a “Liveable Victoria”. The declaration is the joint effort of Planning Democracy, and Green Wedges Coalition. Planning Democracy was formerly known as Planning Backlash, an umbrella group formed by veteran planning activist Mary Drost OAM in 2003. Backlash was a loose alliance of 250 community groups across Melbourne and Victoria lobbying for more democracy in local and state planning. Planning Democracy convenor Kelvin Thomson – the former federal MP for Wills with a long involvement…
A probationary licence holder was been caught more than four times over the limit in Hastings on Saturday 16 September. The Hastings van was on patrol when they notice an illegally parked car on High Street about 3.50am. Officers checked the vehicle and found a woman slumped across the front passenger seat and asleep. The 39-year-old woman, who had been driving the vehicle, was taken back to a local police station where she returned an evidentiary breath test result of 0.18. The Crib Point woman was served with an immediate suspension of her licence and had her car impounded for…
THE local answer to the Archibald Prize, the Oak Hill Archies, is set to coincide with the “real” prize coming to the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery expects up to 50,000 viewers will come to see this year’s Archibald works when exhibited there from 15 September to 5 November. The Oak Hill Archies will be at Oak Hill Gallery from Saturday 16 September. Oak Hill Gallery is a community arts centre designed to promote and develop the arts. Board member and artist Michelle Nixon said the event, which had a prize pool of $1000, had attracted some “remarkable…
THE Western Port Biosphere Reserve has retained its UNESCO status for the next decade and rebranded itself with a more contemporary logo. The two moves coincide with the state government’s “investment in marine ecosystems and blue carbon” through the foundation and the Bunurong Aboriginal Land Council. The UNESCO status renewal confirms the reserve as being south-eastern Australia’s only member among the 748-members from 134 countries in the world biosphere reserve network. The foundation’s CEO, Mel Barker, said UNESCO’s decision. Followed a “rigorous review” which also marked the Western Port Biosphere Reserve entering its third decade. “This is fantastic recognition of…
VETS for Compassion, a not-for-profit organisation of vets and assistants, spent more than a week trying catch a skinny and wheezy ginger cat hanging around a factory at Hastings. After many attempts, the crew was finally able to capture the scared and hungry cat, which was treated by the vets and is now in care with Forever Friends Animal Rescue until it is ready for adoption. The animal, which was suffering from a respiratory illness, had been hiding under machinery, coming out from time to time at workers – almost asking for help. Vets for Compassion is a registered charity…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is looking to strengthen planning controls around advertising signage following residents and councillors’ concerns about large, brightly lit neon signs in Mornington. A report presented to council on 8 September called for “strategic work” to tighten its planning policy in a bid to provide “better guidance” on major promotion signs. Cr Anthony Marsh pushed for the policy review after council lost a fight at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ban a large, electronic sign in Nepean Highway, Mornington, with the tribunal finding that the sign adhered to all current policies. First published in the…