PHOTOGRAPHER Kelly McDonald, above, is one of the master editors giving children in hospital a picturesque lift over Christmas. Volunteers from the The heART Project photograph the children in hospital and then digitally add a fantasy scene to the finished print. The project, which in previous years has gained widespread media attention, involved a team of 110 volunteer photographers 10 cities around the world photographing children on green screen. The finished portraits portrayed them in a magical Christmas scene with Santa. This was the first time the project has been taken overseas. “Working with kids is what makes my heart…
Author: MP News Group
SHAKESPEARE’S Much Ado About Nothing will be performed at Coolart Homestead and Wetlands 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 5 and 6 January, at the Coolart homestead, Somers. The play is Shakespeare’s humorous guide to the “battle between the sexes”, full of comic incident, bumbling security guards, squabbling brothers, and mismatched lovers. It is a mix of suspense, high drama and delightful comedy, brought to life with powerful acting and exquisite costumes. This is the 12th year OZACT has been performing at Coolart Homestead. Details: Visit ozact.com for tickets which usually sell out before the performance day. First published in the Western Port…
MORNINGTON Little Athletics Centre topped off their year with their very own junior version of the Stawell Gift, the Christmas Handicap, on Saturday 8 December. Junior athletes from under-6s through to under-16s competed in the junior (under-6 to under-8) and senior (under-9 to under-16) handicapped races over 100m at the Mornington Secondary College in hopes of claiming the annual MLAC Christmas Handicap title. The girls reigned supreme in both of the handicapped races. The Inflatable Land Junior Handicap was won by under-6s girl, Amelia Carroll, while the Gravity Zone Senior Handicap was won by under-13s girl, Madalyne Mundy. Mornington Little…
THE State Triples and Fours bowls competitions have been run and won in the past two weeks. After a re-schedule of play, the Triples were played at the Mount Eliza Bowling Club on Wednesday 5 December where Frankston and Karingal came out on top in the men’s and women’s events, respectively. The Frankston team made up of Grant Catterick (CoF), Darren Mathers (Kar) and John Curtain (CoF) defeated the host club, Mount Eliza, in the men’s final and will make their way through to the next stage at the Brighton Bowling Club. Mount Eliza Bowling Club chairman Dale Verhagen said…
DESPITE the publicity, and the pleas for parents to use common sense, every year in Australia more than 5000 children are rescued after being left alone in hot cars. In the year to the end of August, Ambulance Victoria was called to 1587 cases of people locked in cars in Victoria – the vast majority toddlers and babies. Last week, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Kidsafe Victoria launched its Kids in Cars awareness campaign at Seawinds Community Hub, Capel Sound, ahead of the annual influx of an estimated 140,000 visitors over the summer holidays. The temperature inside a parked car…
SEVEN out of 10 cars are stolen with their own keys – a statistic that’s alarming police. Crime Stoppers Victoria is urging drivers to consider how easy they are making it for thieves by leaving their keys in accessible areas of their homes. Next month, Crime Stoppers Victoria together with police, National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, Department of Justice, and Neighbourhood Watch, will begin a community awareness campaign to highlight what they call crimes of opportunity. Thieves take advantage of unlocked doors and open windows in homes and cars – especially where they can see valuables inside. Also, 70…
THE driver of a black SUV involved in a hit-run collision at Lyndhurst, Saturday 1 December, is being sought by police. Somerville Highway Patrol members said the incident followed an argument between two drivers travelling north on Dandenong-Frankston Road, Carrum Downs, heading towards Dandenong, about 5:55pm. The driver of a Volkswagen sedan turned into Glasscocks Road, Lyndhurst, where he and a passenger got out. The SUV also turned into Glasscocks Road and then drove into the other driver. The SUV, believed to be a 2001-2006 Ford Explorer, quickly left the scene and is yet to be found. The man police…
By Barry Morris Environment group BERG Mt Martha has celebrated 21 years protecting and enhancing the Balcombe Estuary by announcing it is expanding its activities around the bayside village. Speaking at an end-of-year Christmas party, president Graham Hubbard said BERG MM had completed much of the on-ground restoration work for the reserves and was now largely in a maintenance phase. “Consequently, we have taken the bold step to widen our strategic vision, to be concerned with all natural environment issues in and around Mt Martha and Balcombe Creek, such as plastic pollution and coastal erosion,” he said. “We believe that…
ALTHOUGH coronary care nurse Aida Singer turns 75 in January, she has no plans to retire. Ms Singer has just clocked up 45 years’ service with Peninsula Health and last week received a Service Milestone Award. “I love nursing and I love all the people,” says Ms Singer, an associate nurse unit manager at Frankston Hospital. Ms Singer moved to Australia from the Philippines in the 1960s after studying her Bachelor of Nursing and Science. “My father was a doctor and my sister, cousin and brother all work in health,” she said. “I was exposed to nursing growing up as…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire along with Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation and Victoria Police have again launched a summer road safety campaign for pedestrians. The nation-wide campaign now involves 39 municipalities in four states. Road safety banners and signs will be placed at tourist hotspots and main roads urging drivers to slow down and for pedestrians to take care. Signs designed to appeal to children, with phrases such as Slow Down, Kids Around and Hold my Hand will be displayed at Dromana, Rosebud and Rye. The surge in visitors during school holidays means thousands of children will be using peninsula roads over…
HEAVY rain and un-summery weather late last week was expected to further degrade water quality at peninsula beaches “for at least the next few days”, the Environment Protection Authority says. “There’s a 28 degree day forecasted for Wednesday (19 December) so EPA is encouraging people to check the water quality website before swimming and consider the local pool instead.” Thursday’s thunderstorms dumped as much as 48mm of rain in bayside areas and showers are forecast to continue this week. “These heavy rains will result in poor water quality for a number of days,” EPA marine specialist applied scientist Alison Kemp…
OFFENDERS used a Holden utility to ram their way through the front glass doors and into the K-Mart store in Victoria Street, Hastings, early Sunday 9 December. Somerville CIU detectives said two men were seen on CCTV using a crow bar to force open internal doors and enter the self-checkout area. They left empty handed. One was wearing a fluoro green tradie top and green hoody; the other a blue hoodie. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Western Port News – 12 December 2018
TWO sites are being considered for a new boat ramp in Western Port: Yaringa Road, Somerville or Stony Point. Shane Murphy, executive director of the Mornington Peninsula Marine Alliance, said a feasibility study had shown the locations were the “only two sites as having the capability of providing 200-300 car and trailer parking alongside”. The Yaringa site was south of Yaringa Marina while the Stony Point location would involve expanding the existing boat ramp. “Existing marine infrastructure around our bays needs substantial investment to improve boating safety and, most importantly, a new major ramp to cater for the strong growth…
LONG time environmental campaigner Greg Hunt has been appointed executive officer of the Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation. When announcing Mr Hunt’s appointment at the foundation’s annual general meeting, foundation chair Duncan Malcolm, that the new executive officer was “not the Flinders MP”. “It’s not Greg Hunt whose job as federal minister for health means he’s a bit busy for this job, but rather the Greg Hunt who many in the region will know as the previous executive officer of the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance,” Mr Malcolm said. “Greg brings deep knowledge of the area, broad networks and…
YOUNG up-and-coming golfers have once again come to the fore in The Dunes Medal with Blake Collyer, 21 and Grace Kim, 17 claiming this year’s honours on Friday 30 November. More than 160 competitors contested this year’s edition but it was the young guns Collyer and Kim who fired the best rounds in the club’s feature tournament. Victorian golfer Blake Collyer became the first person to claim back-to-back victories in The Dunes Medal since its establishment in 2002. The Metropolitan member handed in four solid rounds of golf and managed to be the best-of-the-best among some top talent in this…
FRANKSTON BMX club members made their way to the Victorian State BMX Championships in Warrnambool on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November. With more than 400 competitors from across Australia competing in the premier event, the Frankston BMX riders still managed to bag two state number one championship titles. On the opening day, the Frankston BMX club had riders compete for state championship glory in the sprocket class (seven and under age group), the cruiser class (wheels consisting of 24-inch) and in the retro class (pre-86’ bikes). The Frankston BMX female riders led the way for the club with Kitty…
POLICE are searching for the driver of a red Holden utility that was driven erratically on the wrong side of Dunns Road and Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington. They said the ute could have collided with oncoming vehicles. The VY or VZ model sped off along the wrong side of the road and onto Mornington-Tyabb Road towards Moorooduc Highway, 8.50pm, Friday 30 November. Police are calling on drivers travelling along Dunns Road or Mornington-Tyabb road who have dash cam images of the ute to contact Leading Senior Constable Ron Trainer, at Mornington police, on 5970 4900. First published in the Mornington News -…
FOUR motorists were fined for speeding outside Mt Erin High School, Robinsons Road, Frankston South, and two for speeding past Mornington Primary School, Tanti Avenue, last week. The drivers travelling 10-24kph over the limit were each fined $322 and lost three demerit points. Somerville Highway Patrol warns motorists that its members and council officers are keeping an eye on school zones in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas after receiving complaints about a range of incidents – mainly speeding. “Most people do the right thing, however some drivers are committing offences with little regard to the safety of children, parents…
WITH Christmas just around the corner, we’re all busy getting things ready for spending time with our families and the traditional giving of gifts that goes along with it. But spare a thought for those less fortunate, and the reality that Christmas morning may not bring the joy to children that we all enjoy. One organisation is doing its best to spread the Christmas cheer by accepting donations of new toys for distribution to families in need. “We’ve never had a greater demand”, said Mums Supporting Families in Need’s founder and president, Jodie Harris. “People out there are really struggling,…
REVAMPED Jewellery volunteers who support women and their families on the Mornington Peninsula, started the charity group at home some years ago to help disadvantaged women and children. They moved to a boutique in Carbine Way, Mornington, in February 2013, before moving again in 2016. They are now set up at Bentons Square Community Centre, Tuesdays 10am-3pm (except for school holidays). The small group of volunteers clean, repair and price jewellery ready for sale. “Over this period we have been able to support The Catherine Hamlin Foundation to assist 10 Ethiopian women have life-changing operations at a cost of $600…
SIGHTSEERS – some wearing shorts, t-shirts and thongs – were an unwelcome distraction for firefighters battling a blaze near a vacant property on the corner of Forest Drive and Hearn Road, Saturday 1 December. The fire was near the camp at the Joseph Harris Scout Park – an area rated extreme in a Mornington Peninsula Shire Council assessment of bushfire prone areas on the peninsula. Captain Travis Hutchins said the Mt Martha brigade was called to a “large column of smoke” about 5.30pm. Access was difficult for the larger vehicles and the brigade responded with several ultra-light tankers and other…
LETTERS of congratulation from the Queen, the Governor-General, Premier and Flinders MP Greg Hunt, were welcome acknowledgements to Mornington centenarian Toni Davis. The Village Glen resident celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends in the new building, Thursday 6 December, before a family dinner at Mornington Golf Club on the Saturday. Ms Davis’s son, Brian, described the arrival of the congratulatory letters as “an ongoing scenario”. “They were all beautifully done and very well presented,” he said. He paid tribute to his mother who he said was a “very capable bridge player” who had enjoyed golf in her younger…
MORNINGTON Yacht Club is hoping to attract more women into sailing with their new program, ‘Girl’s Out Sailing’. The program looks at the basics of sailing as well as behind-the-scenes aspects of a sailing club such as volunteering. Mornington Yacht Club board member, Michelle Pickford, said the five-session program is all about have a good time out on the water. “Girls Out Sailing was put together to get women and teenage girls to step out into an unreal program,” Pickford said. “It’s all about socialisation, meeting new people and learning the basic sailing skills to enjoy some time out on…
ROSEBUD Country Club junior golfer, Gracie Larsen, represented Victoria for the first time at the School Sports National Golf Championships on the Bellarine Peninsula on Monday 12 November. Despite it being her first time competing, Gracie was awarded the honour of captaining the under-12s Victorian side, along with the boy’s team captain, Bailey Goodall. Victoria ended up coming away with an overall bronze medal from the five-day championships and Gracie’s father, Tom Larsen, said the competition made them “better people, not just golfers”. “They played awesome as a team and really enjoyed themselves out there,” he said. “They had no…
AUSTRALIAN music icons, Brian Cadd and Russell Morris, have been friends for over forty years and have been touring together from time to time over the past decades and are back after a 7 year break to perform a limited amount of shows. From 1966 until his departure for America in 1975, singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer Brian Cadd was one of the most prominent musicians on the local scene. Brian moved back to Australia in 1997 where he remained for the next 20 years, still rocking and playing to huge audiences nationwide. In 2007 he was inducted into…
Welcome to the world of Kingswood. Don’t be confused by the veneer. Like the iconic Aussie car of the same name, it’s all about what’s under the hood. “We wanted to make something that would rival Abbey Road,” guitarist Alex Laska told Rolling Stone magazine in the throes of their second album, After Hours, Close to Dawn. “I know it sounds insane but if you don’t strive for that kind of thing, what are you doing? Seriously, what are you doing?” The goal posts refuse to yield on the Melbourne rock quartet’s third album, currently under construction across four studios…
THE new Rye boat ramp was officially opened on Friday with the Safety Beach Coast Guard boat being first off the ramp and into the water. The controversial extra ramp was built as part of a major upgrade, with $648,000 from Mornington Peninsula Shire and $588,000 from Transport Victoria. The mayor Cr David Gill predicted the new ramp would cut boat launching and retrieval times “from 51 minutes to 16 minutes” during the busy season. While seeing the Rye works as an “investment”, Cr Gill said an election policy announcement by the incoming Labor government should reduce the $250,000 spent…
POLICE presence at schools in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula will soon increase to issue fines to speeding drivers. A Frankston Council statement said that “due to ongoing complaints and incidents” there would be an increase in police “patrolling local school zones and issuing fines to drivers doing the wrong thing.” Frankston mayor Cr Michael O’Reilly said “keeping kids safe as they get to and from school is everyone’s responsibility.” “Reducing your speed from 60kph to 40kph to travel through a 400 metre school speed zone only adds around twelve seconds to your overall travel time. This reduction in…
By Barry Morris VOLUNTEER drivers are angry and disappointed that a woman who didn’t have cancer used a free transport service to get a lift to a Melbourne hospital for an x-ray. The woman called the Southern Peninsula Cancer Support Group, where some of the drivers are former cancer patients, and asked for a lift to and from hospital. The woman also requested that the service call her on the day of her appointment to wake her up. She then asked for the driver to take her dog to a friend’s home so that it would be looked after. Taking…
TYABB Airport will be swinging their doors open in the name of Christmas cheer on Sunday December 2. There will be a free sausage sizzle, live music and enjoyment for all the family. Gates open 10.30am with the sausage sizzle from noon. Entry is by donation of an unwrapped toy to fill a Christmas stocking for disadvantaged children on the Mornington Peninsula. Last year the Toy Run collected over 500 toys which were distributed by the charity Food for All. Antique and Warbird aircraft will be on display as well a collection of Classic and Holden Cars. Head down to…