FIRE which damaged the Somerville Salvos store in Eramosa Road last week is believed to have started in bundles of donated goods piled up outside. The items were in a lane between the Salvos shop and a tobacconist. Somerville CFA members put out the blaze which was hot enough to cause two windows at the rear of the shop to blow out. The shop also suffered water damage. CFA crews worked hard to prevent the fire spreading to other shops. Police described the cause of the blaze as suspicious. Investigations are continuing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime…
Author: MP News Group
A 34-YEAR-OLD Somerville woman who tested positive to methamphetamines while driving her three young children to school on Tuesday morning 18 September had to leave the car and walk her children to school. Suspecting that the message “might not have sunk in”, Somerville Highway Patrol police sat off the same spot before school the next day (Wednesday) and saw someone come out of the house twice to look up and down the street. Police believe they may have been spotted because, a short time later, a taxi arrived to collect the children. To check that the Don’t-Drug-Drive message had sunk…
A LITTLE girl ran into her mother’s bedroom at their home in Seaford and told her a man was in the house who “shouldn’t be there”, 4.15am, Wednesday 26 September. The woman told police she confronted the man who turned and calmly walked off along Seaford Road. Police arrived with the Dog Squad who arrested a Mt Martha man, 46, nearby. He was allegedly found with items from the house, including a handbag and keys. He may have entered through an unlocked internal door from the garage. Detective Senior Constable Peter Morris, of Frankston CIU, said the man was facing…
By Barry Morris Illustrator and children’s author Terry Denton stepped out as the new patron of environment group BERG Mt Martha last week to teach youngsters aspects of the art of drawing. On a crisp, autumn day, in a marquee at the old campground at Balcombe Estuary, the illustrator of the Treehouse series of books had the children thinking about the estuary’s birds and animals before committing them to paper. The old master conducted two 45-minute workshops – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – for children aged seven to 14. Before and after each workshop, Denton signed…
Water birds, calm on top and paddling madly underneath, appear happy and healthy in the clear water of two small lakes at Civic Reserve, Mornington. Bobbing around in small wind-driven waves, the birds pass two fountains installed by Mornington Peninsula Shire to aerate the water. Eighteen months ago the lake presented a different picture. Hundreds of birds died in and around the lake from bacteria-produced toxins. The four aerators appear to have done the trick, with Australian Wildlife Protection Council members reporting on the hatching and survival of many birds at the lakes. On Thursday last a variety of water…
SILVIE Paladino and David Hobson are seen together when they appear on Carols by Candlelight each year but are seldom seen performing in their own show together. They will perform classical hits from musicals theatre and their stellar careers at Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 13 October, 2pm and 7.30pm. Silvie has performed throughout Australia, Asia and London’s West End. Her first theatrical role was Eponine in the Australasian tour of Les Misérables. She was then invited to perform the same role in the London production. Her other performances include lead roles inCats, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!, The King &…
POISONOUS fumes from an LPG heater are being blamed for the deaths of a man and his pets asleep in a campervan at Rye last week. The man, 57, was living in the van behind a friend’s house in Sydney Street with his kelpie dog and pet bird. The friend told police he had spoken to the man about the need for proper ventilation if he was using the heater in the days leading up to his death. However, all were found dead when he checked on them, 10.30am, Monday 24 September. Leading Senior Constable Brendan Richardson, of Dromana police,…
By Barry Morris Emerging artists at Chisholm Institute, Frankston are showing off their talents and their works by mounting an exhibition at Frankston Arts Centre. The exhibition, called Drawing on Nature, features the work of eight artists who are completing their Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts – Fine Art at the institute. It includes painting, sculpture, photography and crafted work with more than 60 exhibits of eight artists on display. The students organised the exhibition themselves, with support from the arts centre. Exhibits will be on display in the Upper Curved Wall space from 11 October until 5 January. Entry…
HUNDREDS of police, residents and well-wishers attended the police Remembrance Day ceremony at Rosebud RSL, Eastbourne Road, Rosebud, Thursday 27 September. Leading Senior Constable Ian Huxtable, below, was among the many uniformed police at the commemoration. The event held for the Southern Metro Region Division 4 Southern Peninsula/Frankston commemorated the 2Oth anniversary of the murders of Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rod Miller in 1998. Pictures: Yanni First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 2 October 2018
A $15,000 grant to Cerberus Cottage will enable it to deliver courses, gatherings, events and services for Australian Defence Force families. The money for the HMAS Cerberus-based centre is part of $1.4 million provided by the federal government for not-for-profit organisations to deliver community programs for Defence families. “The family support funding will enable [us] to provide a multitude of programs, including our youth connection program, fire safety program, cooking and budget courses, AUSLAN, swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, coffee mornings, playgroups and group fitness training just to name a few,” coordinator Julie Prentice said. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the…
CRIME Statistics Agency figures released last week show a 6.5 per cent drop in crime on the Mornington Peninsula in the 12 months to June. Local Area Commander Inspector Janene Denton said while there was “still a lot of work to be done, it is positive to see the number of recorded offences on the peninsula area has started to decrease”. “Thanks to the hard work of local police we’ve seen significant decreases in aggravated burglaries (25.3 per cent) and residential burglaries (18.8 per cent),” she said. “We know this type of offending has been a real concern for the…
A POLICE car responding to an “urgent job” last week collided with another car injuring an elderly woman. Both cars sustained significant damage. The Mornington-based Ford Territory police vehicle was travelling along Nepean Highway at the Bungower Road intersection when it ran into the woman’s car as it turned onto Nepean Highway, noon, Wednesday 19 September. Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Cooke, of Mornington police, said the patrol car, with “lights flashing and siren sounding”, had slowed as it entered the intersection. “The middle and right-hand-lane traffic had stopped but the elderly driver, in her 80s, may not have seen the…
RAMSAY House, at Rendlesham Avenue, Mt Eliza, has won this year’s Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards in the category: Restoration of a Heritage Place. The house was designed and built by Roy Grounds in 1937 as a family holiday house on the cliff overlooking Ranelagh Beach. The small cottage is one of the few remaining early houses built at Ranelagh. The restoration was overseen by his daughter, Victoria Grounds. Roy Grounds also designed the round house at the bottom of Olivers Hill at Frankston South; the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 1959–68; and the Arts Centre Melbourne, also…
A SPATE of barbecue fires has prompted the CFA to urge Mornington Peninsula residents to “look before you cook”. Mornington station officer Geoff Barker said spring weather had prompted residents to get out and fire up their barbecues – without being aware of gas leaks which have caused fires. “One resident was lucky to escape with just singed hairs after a gas leak ignited by barbecue flames caused a gas cylinder to catch fire in their alfresco area,” officer Barker said. “Firefighters were on the scene within four minutes. They cooled and protected the cylinder prior to closing the valve…
MORNINGTON father-of-three Ian Thompson felt his head go “cloudy”, couldn’t think straight and became disoriented; to make matters worse, he began to lose his vision. Although the 64-year-old did not know it at the time, he was having a stroke. “After meeting other stroke survivors I feel lucky, as if I had dodged a bullet,” he said last week. “Thankfully, the staff at Frankston Hospital’s emergency department recognised the signs and responded so quickly.” The stroke hit while he was working on his arrows at Frankston Archery Club. “I was using this new solvent to repair the arrows and it’s…
WHEN generations come together, good things happen. That’s the message being learned through a social program at CraigCare Mornington in which youngsters from the Pelican Child Care Early Learning Centre visit the elderly residents to talk, read and sing. “Each week the children spend time with residents playing, reading stories, singing and making arts and crafts together,” manager Sarah Mitchel said. “This brings great joy to both the children and the residents and they look forward to it each week.” The youngsters absorb traditions and wisdom, while developing respect and empathy. At the same time, the elderly residents expand their…
THE policeman killed when hit by a car during a memorial motorcycle ride in Gippsland last week was serving at Somerville. Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Kostiuk, 59, was a member of the Mornington Peninsula family violence unit based in Eramosa Road West. He died when his motorbike collided with a car on the Princes Highway, near Orbost, Friday 14 September. The driver of the car, Jesse Reid, 21, of Botanic Ridge, later appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court charged with culpable driving and dangerous driving causing death. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court…
A NUMBER plate recognition camera, pictured, set up in Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington scanned 2506 sets of plates, 10.30am-1.30pm, Monday 17 September. The operation, run by Mornington and Somerville highway police, detected plates which were unregistered or stolen, as well as registered owners who are unlicensed or required to have alcohol interlock devices fitted. It also advises if the vehicle, or owner, is linked to outstanding sheriff’s fines. Nine drivers were fined for unlicensed or unregistered driving and two will be summonsed to appear at court for driving while suspended. Acting Sergeant Sarah Blackmore, of Mornington police, was pleased with the…
FOUR Mornington Peninsula cyclists will ride 1200km in Western Australia next month to raise $5000 for road safety programs for peninsula school children. Hayden Fenn, 35, of Frankston South, Scott Lovegreen, 43, of Mt Martha, Rhys Buzza, 42, of Mt Martha and Gregory Pratt, 48, of Mornington, plan to take 90 hours to complete the Perth-Albany-Perth ride, 1-4 October, organised by Audax Australia Cycling Club. The men are using the ride to prepare for the world-famous Paris-Brest-Paris epic next year. Fifteen peninsula students from 13 schools met up with The White Bike Foundation founder Chris Savage last week to wish…
A $130 MILLION upgrade of South East Water’s Boneo water recycling plant will connect another 16,000 Mornington Peninsula properties to the Peninsula ECO scheme. The reticulated pressure sewer network is replacing septic tanks and mini-treatment plants which cause groundwater and waterway pollution on the southern peninsula. South East Water last week described the works upgrade as “pretty significant”. It will aim to provide for low-energy nutrient removal and energy recovery processes to achieve emissions targets of 45 per cent by 2025. It is expected 160 jobs and 10 apprenticeships will be created for the design, build operation and maintenance of…
REPRESENTATIVES of power company AGL on Saturday were met with chants and informed questions about their employer’s plans to moor a floating gas conversion plant at Crib Point. The 300 metre long floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) – if allowed to operate at Crib Point – will use seawater to turn imported liquefied natural gas back into gas before being piped to Pakenham. Save Westernport member Rod Knowles said “emotions were running high” at the AGL-arranged information session held at the RW Stone Pavilion, Somers. “The drop-in session was seen by AGL as an opportunity to explain to the…
THE Escape from Antarctica exhibition being shown by the Hastings-Western Port Historical Society focuses on the life and work of British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, right, whose expedition to Antarctica turned out to be one of the greatest survival stories of all time. More than 100 years ago, Shackleton set out on a bold plan to cross the frozen continent from coast to coast via the South Pole. His quest was steeped in the grand traditions of the British Empire and the glories that would come to the first to achieve the epic feat. With his ship trapped in the…
THEY might be among the most common animals in our backyards, but they are also among the least seen. Microbat expert Dr Casey Visintin will reveal much about these flying animals during a talk at the Australian Garden Auditorium, Cranbourne Gardens. Microbats are among the most common animals in our backyards and in bushland. They come out at night to feed on insects. Children are much more likely to hear their high-pitched squeaks at night than adults. Microbats use echo-location (sonar) to navigate and hunt and consume huge numbers of insects each night, including mosquitoes and other pest insects. Through…
RED Hill artist Jennifer Riddle has been voted by exhibition visitors as the winner of the Mercury People’s Choice Award in the 2018 Hadley’s Art Prize, with her depiction of a Red Hill garden cloaked in mist. The $5000 prize was a welcome surprise to Riddle, who visited the exhibition during its opening in July when local artist Neil Haddon took out the $100,000 landscape prize with his War of the Worlds inspired artwork. The Hadley is considered to be the world’s richest landscape art prize. Riddle, who was also the recipient of the People’s Choice Award for the Glover…
AN experienced Pt Leo surfer paddled out to rescue a teenage girl stranded in choppy and gusty conditions last week. Hastings police Sergeant John Cannon said the girl, 18, got into trouble on her board at popular Suicide break just north of the Pt Leo Lifesaving Club, 12.45pm, Tuesday 11 September. She had been surfing with a friend when they got into difficulties in the strong north wind and current and was exhausted. With conditions deteriorating, her companion managed to paddle ashore and alert authorities. The girl was unable to follow him. First Constable Daniel Crisp, of Hastings police, said…
A WOMAN on the run after she and her male friend crashed a stolen car on the Frankston Freeway last week ran across eight lanes of traffic to escape police causing two cars to collide. Detective Senior Constable Ryan Collins, of Frankston CIU, said the couple was driving a stolen Nissan Pulsar towards Carrum Downs when they left the road and ran into a fence. Both jumped out and ran off towards the Eastlink turnoff, with other motorists reporting the incident to triple zero. Police set up a cordon to corral them but the woman, 31, allegedly ran off and…
A FREE community expo during Anti-Poverty Week (14-20 October) offers “support and hope to anyone experiencing hardship”. The expo will raise awareness and address issues around housing affordability and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Housing Network is holding several activities during the week and is encouraging community groups and service organisations to help highlight the issues surrounding poverty and hardship. The expo will enable those on low incomes and Centrelink payments to learn more about services that can easily and affordably be accessed. It will offer giveaways, information and low cost products, including food, dental health checks, haircuts,…
Police are appealing for information following a suspicious house fire in Blairgowrie this month. The blaze broke out about 5.30pm on Father’s Day, 2 September, completely destroying the Fawkner Avenue home. No one was inside the house at the time. The fire has since been deemed suspicious. Investigators are hoping to speak to anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour leading up to the fire, particularly around Fawkner Avenue, Langdon Avenue, Hughes Road and Point Nepean Road. They are also keen to speak to anyone who may have dash cam footage between the hours of 5pm and 6.30pm. Anyone…
A PERFORMANCE space, market space, and nature-based play area, is being built at Balnarring to encourage outdoor recreation activities while residents make friends with other visitors. The first sod for the works at the Civic Court Reserve was turned Friday 31 August. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne joined Cr David Gill, MP Daniel Mulino, Balnarring Bendigo Bank chair Heather Goddard and members of Balnarring Village Common Community Group on a rather wet day. Also on hand were teachers and pupils from Balnarring Preschool who often use the vacant reserve for outdoor play and activities. The $640,000 project includes $290,000 from…
THE former Russian fighter plane that crashed in Gippsland last week killing the pilot was previously owned by a member of Peninsula Aero Club, Tyabb. The single engine Yakovlev Yak-9UM fighter crashed near Moe, Friday 7 September. The pilot’s name had not been released yesterday (Monday). Long-time Tyabb resident Jim Wickham sold the plane to its new owners, based at the LaTrobe Valley Airport, near Traralgon, late last year and it flew east in February. Classic Aviation News reported that the Yak-9 was the only example of the type in Australia. It was built in Russia in 2004. First published…