RYE father and daughter Jim and Anna McCauley are carving some special memories as they work alongside each other on the southern peninsula’s newest attraction – Sand Sculpting Australia presents Peter Pan. They have joined 13 other award-winning international and Australian sand sculptors as they intricately carve 3500 tonnes of sand into Peter Pan themed artworks along the wetlands and garden pathways of Boneo Maze. Jim has been involved with the sand sculpting movement on the peninsula from the beginning. In 2000 he approached the Rye Action Group with the idea of a sand sculpture exhibition and competition on the…
Author: MP News Group
VOLUNTEERS and community members at Seawinds Community Hub are keen to get the message out that the centre is “moving forward in a positive way”, having welcomed four new board members at a recent board meeting. New CEO Karen Vanderkaay confirmed last week that the atmosphere at the hub has been “really positive”. This comes after a “turbulent” period when four of the five board members resigned (“Call for new direction at Seawinds” The News 29/10/2018). At the time a petition was presented to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council signed by 78 volunteers, staff, and members of community groups unhappy with…
THE AGL Peninsula Film Festival returns to entertain the crowds on screen and stage this February, and for the first time introduces Musiqua, with live music at Hastings Foreshore. Now in its eighth year, the festival will run from February 1 – 3, 2019 and features a ticketed launch at Rosebud Cinema on the Friday Feb 1, the popular FREE short film festival at the Village Green in Rosebud on Sat Feb 2 and is expanding to include a new music festival at Hastings, Musiqua, on the Sunday Feb 3. The FREE short film festival is the highlight of the…
By Adana Hulett NESTLED in the heart of Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula is The Red Hill Bakery. A family-run store that provides freshly made breads, cakes and pies as well as salads and takeaway meals. On a Sunday afternoon there is no better place to be than listening to the sounds of trumpets and saxophones live; a tradition run by the bakery. Ray Johns is the face behind the name, owning the store alongside his wife Jill. Ray is a passionate and humble man who loves nothing more than music, bread and his beloved wooden boat. Born in Kew,…
AN elderly McCrae driver who lost control of his Toyota Landcruiser found himself perched atop the outside wire-rope barrier on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mt Martha, 11am, Thursday 15 November. The 76-year old, who was uninjured, is suspected of having a medical episode. He will undergo a medical review of his licence by VicRoads. “Are you right to drive? If in doubt, speak to your GP,” Leading Senior Constable Greg Wolfe said. First published in the Mornington News – 27 November 2018
MORNINGTON Art Show will feature leading Australian artist David Brayshaw in its 47th art show to run 18-26 January. Brayshaw is listed by the Kevin Hills Gallery in Sydney as one of Australia’s top-10 artists. A professional artist since 1982, and working in oils and mixed media, Brayshaw is well known across Australia with solo and group exhibitions. He has also exhibited in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and the US. He is renowned for his coastal, Great Barrier Reef and alpine paintings. Captivated by the sublime landscapes of Mt Kosciuszko and the Victorian Alps, his alpine paintings have featured in…
FUNDRAISING efforts by the Pesky Peddlers riding club within O’Brien Real Estate has given 10 Dromana Specialist School pupils the thrill of owning their own bikes. The Pesky Peddlers challenged themselves to ride the 210km Around the Bay last month and, with the support of other staff and their network, raised the money to buy the bikes – the children’s first. O’Brien Real Estate’s Jason Mudford said the cycling club was set up to boost “camaraderie and fitness”. “Being competitive by nature we set ourselves the challenge and thought it would be a great idea to raise money to help…
Police are appealing for information following a hit-run collision in Rye on 11 November. Investigators have been told two men left a licensed premises on Point Nepean Road about 9.20pm after being escorted out by security. The pair got into a black ute and began driving towards a ‘no exit’ area onto Point Nepean Road. A security guard tried to deter the pair from driving in the wrong direction as the car continued rolling forward. He grabbed the driver’s side of the car in an attempt to stop it, however the driver accelerated, causing the security guard to fall and…
Armed Crime Squad detectives have arrested a man following an alleged attempted aggravated burglary and firearms incident in Rosebud this morning. Police responded following reports of gunshots heard on Spray Street about 12.50am. It is understood a man allegedly attended a home and tried to force his way inside before firing a shot towards the property and driving away. A 35-year-old Rosebud man was arrested nearby and is currently assisting police with their enquiries. A 17-year-old female who was home at the time was not injured and there was no damage to the house. The investigation is ongoing. Investigators believe…
CRIB Point Community Garden, Somerville Rise Primary School and Somerville Fire Brigade are the first groups to share in the annual community grant of $5000 from Peninsula Quarries. The grants go to community groups in the Somerville, Tyabb and Mornington areas for projects supporting the environment. Crib Point Community Garden will receive $1750 for a 4000-litre water tank. This will enable environmentally responsible watering of the garden which provides fresh food for welfare groups. Somerville Rise Primary School will receive $2245 for environmental learning hub The Barn which teaches pupils about sustainability and environment issues. Somerville Fire Brigade will receive…
HASTINGS MP Neale Burgess has made clear his opposition to AGL’s plans to import gas via Crib Point with the placing of a large sign at Crib Point. With just six days to Saturday’s poll his picture adorns this large billboard on the corner of Stony Point Road and Disney Street, opposite the service station. “We appreciate Neale’s support for the Crib Point community in our battle to stop AGL’s major gas importation facility,” Save Westernport spokesperson Julia Stockigt said. “We hope that Neale also understands the fragility of the Westernport environment and opposes other port plans for Western Port,…
FOUR candidates will contest the seat of Hastings held by Liberal Neale Burgess since 2006 and re-elected in 2010 and 2014 with a 9.6 per cent margin. They are Nathan Lesslie, Greens, Simon Meyer, ALP, Neale Burgess, Liberal, and Georgia Knight, Animal Justice Party. Ms Knight is the only female candidate in the three Mornington Peninsula seats. Nathan Lesslie – Greens NATHAN lives on the Mornington Peninsula with my wife and two daughters. As a social worker in the non-profit sector he helps others to reach their potential. He believes the current system is unfair and wants to create a…
THE WESTERN Port Steelers will lead the way when it comes to mental health and wellbeing for basketballers in Victoria as they commence their new resilience project on Tuesday 11 December. Becoming the first basketball association in Victoria to implement this initiative, the Steelers will hold a “resilience project” information session that looks at building resilience within sporting clubs, schools and work places as well as opening up conversations about mental health and positive health habits. The program is targeted towards the junior basketballers, in particular the representative players due to the perceived extra pressure of competing at that level,…
SOME of the best bowlers from the Mornington Peninsula will battle it out in the Regional Triples Final on Wednesday 21 November at the Mount Eliza Bowling Club. Having made their way through the semi-finals in convincing fashion, Mt Eliza will play off against Frankston in the Men’s division while Dromana and Karingal will face off in the Women’s division. A packed crowd is anticipated to attend the final which will be played under-lights and is set to kick off at 6:00pm. Mount Eliza Bowling Club chairman, Dale Verhagen, said he was very much looking forward to seeing how Mt…
MORNINGTON detectives are investigating a suspected road rage punch-up on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, Wednesday 14 November. A Rye man driving a Holden Commodore reportedly clashed with two men in a Mercedes sedan, one of Taylors Hill and the other of Sunshine North, after they pulled over into the emergency lane opposite the Safety Beach Country Club, 6.20am. After the incident the Rye man was taken to the Frankston Hospital but was expected to be released late last week. The others were treated at the scene. The three men are believed to know each other. Police later charged the men…
POLICE are investigating a series of ram raids in a stolen car in the Somerville area. The 2004 silver Ford ute was stolen from a house in Bellary Lane, Langwarrin, 5.30am, Wednesday 7 November. A man broke into a shed and stole tools as well as the keys to the car before driving it away. The next burglary was at Woodleigh School, Frankston South, overnight Thursday 8 November when the ute was reversed into a shed door and tools stolen. The ute was then spotted in Simcox Street, Somerville, where the driver attempted two more ram raids. Both were unsuccessful.…
POLICE Dog Squad member Fargo put his nose to the ground and tracked down a 15-year-old Hastings youth after two houses were allegedly broken into at Hastings, Tuesday night 13 November. Several police units converged on the area about 1.15am after reports of break-ins and began a lengthy search. Fargo tracked the youth after he was seen disappearing into nearby bushland. Another youth was not found. After covering some distance during his “track”, and having earned a break, the Somerville Highway Patrol nightshift unit gave him a lift back to his vehicle. First published in the Mornington News – 20 November…
A SOMERVILLE man has been charged with allegedly assaulting an off-duty female paramedic in a road rage incident in Bungower Road, Thursday 1 November. The man, 21, allegedly started following the 23-year-old when she flashed her headlights at him after he “cut her off”. Police will allege that when the woman parked her car, the man approached and smashed her window and kicked her side mirror. He is then alleged to have punched her in the face and struck her with a can of deodorant. The woman, who was in uniform, suffered facial injuries, including a broken eye socket. She…
VICTORIAN Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp was the guest speaker at a dinner for local fire brigades at the Safety Beach Sailing Club, Thursday 8 November. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council hosted the event at what was Cr Bryan Payne’s last official occasion as mayor. He said the meeting provided an opportunity for councillors and staff involved in fire prevention to meet in the lead up to this year’s fire season. “The efforts and commitment of all emergency service personnel involved in protecting our community is extremely important in providing a safe environment across the Mornington Peninsula,” Cr Payne said. “Council…
FOUR candidates will contest the seat of Mornington in the state elections on Saturday 24 November. They are David Morris, Tyson Jack, David Sinclair and Ryan White. Neither Mornington nor the adjoining seat of Nepean have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Mr Morris, who took over in 2006, has a seemingly safe hold on the seat with a 26 per cent majority on a two party preferred basis. Here, The News publishes biographical details of the candidates in the order they were drawn in the ballot. David Morris…
VISITORS to Mt Martha House can tune in to podcasts to learn about the history of the former coffee palace, hotel and barracks. The 10 podcasts, which launched on Thursday 8 November, were made possible by a $5000 Mornington Peninsula Shire Placemaking grant and $1000 flexible grant to help the historical society buy a computer to catalogue its collection. “The house is such an important part of Mount Martha’s history and we’re working to share stories of the Peninsula with everyone,” the mayor Cr David Gill said. “The shire also worked with the society to produce the trail signage, including…
RED Hill Ward’s Cr David Gill has succeeded Cr Bryan Payne as mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire for 2018-19. He was elected at the annual council meeting on Monday 12 November. Briars Ward’s Cr Rosie Clark was elected as his deputy mayor. Cr Gill in his acceptance speech said it was a “privilege” to be appointed and thanked his councillor colleagues for their confidence and support. “The Mornington Peninsula is such a beautiful and unique part of Victoria,” he said. “My focus will be on continuing council’s strong advocacy on Green Wedge preservation and planning issues to ensure the unique…
IF it’s a case of horses for courses then Cruza is on the right track … He is proving his worth at the shire’s animal shelter in Watt Road by keeping the grass in the paddocks down. The gentle giant, who was rescued by the RSPCA after being found suffering from “extreme malnutrition”, was taken to the pound several months ago. Environment Protection manager John Rankine said Cruza was being housed under the shire’s Lost Livestock Register – the same as for cats and dogs. “Cruza the horse has been a great experience for the shelter and our rangers,” Mr…
TWO Mornington Peninsula artists have teamed up to open a pop-up gallery at Red Hill. Potter Sandi Faulkner and contemporary gold and silversmith Katrina Newman will be available over two weeks to talk about their work and welcome visitors to shop 1/1016 Mornington-Flinders Road. After art school Faulkner, with almost 5O years’ pottery experience, trained under Viennese master potter Franz Kukowetz, of Terra Nigra. She was a production potter and teacher at the old Chelsea pottery in London. From her studio at Mt Martha she makes small batches and individual pieces using ash from the Outback and peninsula vegetation in…
THE Arthurs Seat Challenge on Sunday 11 November promoted the profile of the Fit to Drive program and to raise funds for it to continue. The number of entrants in the annual 6.7km fun run and walk was greater than expected at nearly 1300. Organisers said the cool weather was perfect for those who rose to the challenge of walking or running from near Rosebud Primary School to the top of Arthurs Seat and finishing at Seawinds Gardens. The first-time male winner was Jake Stevens with a time of 0.27.35. The female winner was reigning champion Bec Rosel, in 0.30.07.…
FIVE candidates will contest the Victorian Lower House seat of Nepean at the 24 November state election. They are Simon Mulvany, Rodger Gully, Chris Brayne, Russell Joseph and Paul Saunders. Mr Joseph has been office manager for retiring member Martin Dixon for the past five years. Mr Dixon has held the safe Liberal seat since 2002. He has a 16 per cent margin on a two party preferred basis. Neither Nepean or the adjoining seat of Mornington have attracted any female candidates – making them two out of only six seats state-wide to be men-only. Here, The News publishes biographical…
FUTUREFISH Foundation director David Kramer last week took aim at the Liberal candidate for Nepean, Russell Joseph (pictured), saying he “seems to be sitting back disinterested in the boat ramp situation”. This comes after the foundation blasted the standard of the Mornington Peninsula’s boat ramps, saying they were a “shambles”. “Mr Joseph has a safe seat and doesn’t really need to show concern for the thousands of boat owners on the peninsula,” Mr Kramer said. “His seat in state parliament is being handed to him on a platter.” Mr Kramer said Mr Joseph had never taken an interest in camping,…
A SURVEILLANCE camera at a graffiti hot spot at Hastings is the latest tactic by Mornington Peninsula Shire to deter graffiti on the peninsula. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the camera, at the intersection of Wallaroo and Hodgins roads, Hastings, was a “joint initiative of the shire and Hastings police to reduce anti-social behaviour and address the ongoing issue of graffiti”. “It’s proving to be a very useful tool with an offender already recorded by the camera,” he said. Cerberus Ward’s Cr Kate Roper said it was a shame when public spaces were damaged by “senseless acts of vandalism”.…
WORK has started on the first stage of the 120-bed The Bays Aged Care Home at Hastings. It is part of a $20 million development expected to open in January 2020. “We are ready for this exciting state-of-the-art home to become a reality,” The Bays Healthcare Group chairman Adrian Wischer said. “Since 2017 The Bays aged care has been at full capacity as a sought after home for ageing residents. The building of the new home will enable more of our community to access our services. “Our new home will have the flexibility to provide choice for couples. It includes…
“RELENTLESS hard work and environmental activism” lay behind the Save Westernport group’s receipt of the annual Community Environment Recognition Award at Environment Victoria’s annual meeting in Melbourne recently. The aim of the award is to recognise the “achievements of remarkable community groups and individuals who have led innovative and persistent grassroots campaigns to protect places they love, often with very limited resources”. The Save Westernport group was formed in May by a group describing themselves as “passionate locals [with] grave concerns about AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal in the protected Ramsar wetlands area of Crib Point”. Many had…