Author: MP News Group

THE second Rosebud Hospital Summer Appeal raised $63,000 for the emergency department – some of it from the efforts of volunteers who braved the wind and rain while doing intersection collections at Rye, Rosebud and Dromana. As well, peninsula businesses, clubs, groups and community members hosted events and made donations to the appeal which brought in more than triple the amount raised last year. The final tally was announced by Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp at an afternoon tea to thank volunteers and donors on 23 March. Rosebud Emergency Department nurse unit manager Kim Rogers said doctors and nurses were…

A SEAFORD motorbike rider who allegedly sped away from Somerville highway patrol came to an embarrassing halt when his chain came off causing him to roll to a stop. He then fell off. Police said they attempted to intercept the bike in Brunel Road just before 2am, Monday 16 April, when they noticed blue tape on the number plate. The rider sped off, allegedly reaching 148kph in the 60kph zone, before the chain came off and began sparking on the road. The bike rolled to a stop and the 29-year-old rider fell off. Police found him to be disqualified from…

DETECTIVES are hoping to speak to a man, pictured, after a car was allegedly broken into at an oval on Edward Street, Somerville, about 5-6pm, Thursday 12 April. Personal items were stolen, including a bank card which was later used at a nearby supermarket. Anyone with information is urged to call Mornington Peninsula CIU 5978 1400 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 24 April 2018

AFTER playing catch up to Padua Secondary College at the Southern Independent Schools swimming carnivals for the past 28 years, Flinders Christian College finally emerged victorious in Division A last week. “It was a fantastic achievement and our swimming squad has worked so hard for this great achievement,” marketing head Monica Wulff said. Placings and overall points were: Flinders 739.5, Padua 714, St Francis Xavier 610, Woodleigh 568.5, Cornish 533 and Berwick 251. Flinders College staff and coaches couldn’t hide their excitement at the win, jumping and cartwheeling into the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre pool – and spreading their…

A SORRENTO author says her first novel has received more than 70,000 e-book downloads. The Bay of Shadows, by Samantha Wood, is set in a rambling house in a small Australian beach town where Elena Jameson is recovering from her recent divorce. To her delight, she is offered the opportunity to foster a little boy, Daniel, whose mother is dead and whose violent father is in rehab. Elena and Daniel explore the beautiful bay and wild bushland, and form a strong bond. But, in what the author describes as a “gothic tale of love and loss, bravery and hope”, Daniel’s…

THE launch of a book about long-time Flinders identity Christie Johnstone will be a feature of local RSL activities in the lead-up to Anzac Day (25 April) at Flinders. The 98-year-old farmer was born in the cottage Mantonville, built circa 1870, which still stands in a crumbled form behind his current house. He is a descendant of the Tuck family, who were some of the original settlers in the area. Mr Johnstone was a stretcher bearer in War World II, most notably in the Battle of Alamein, and later in New Guinea. Each year he takes part in the Flinders…

WHAT starts as just another boring day for George quickly turns into a marvellous experiment of epic proportions! Cleverly adapted from the much-loved book by Roald Dahl, George’s Marvellous Medicine bounds off the page in a spectacular live show for the whole family. On a good day, George can’t stand his Grandma. She complains all the time, she’s mean and she smells funny. On this particular day, Grandma is much more annoying than usual and George has had enough. “George – make me a cup of tea! George  – rub my feet! George  – stop growing!” Ugh. Wanting to put…

DOGS of all ages, breeds, shapes and sizes will be the centre of attention at Mt Eliza Rotary Club’s third Bark in the Park Dog Expo on Sunday 22 April. This event will be held 10am-2pm in John Butler Reserve, Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza. A series of “fun” competitions will follow the official opening by Cr Rosie Clark. The 16 competitions include best trick, “waggiest” tail, best dog hair style, most alike dog and owner and best golden oldie. Dogs can be entered into more than one competition. The expo will also include market stalls specialising in pet products,…

A NURSING home planned at Mt Martha would help avoid trauma and problems caused when elderly people are forced to move away from their families and community. “In many cases elderly couples are separated by quite some distance when one spouse requires nursing home care offsite while the remaining spouse resides at home within [the adjacent] Koorootang or Martha’s Point [retirement villages]”, Angela Pollard said when speaking on behalf of the family which owns the land on which the nursing home is planned. “It will provide a pathway to those residents requiring the next level of care and ensure that…

A DEDICATION ceremony on Anzac Day in Hastings will honour the life and service of a man who fought in both world wars. Lieutenant George Mawby (or Morby) Ingram was a carpenter before joining the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in World War I and saw service in New Guinea. During World War II, he served with the Royal Australian Engineers, was appointed captain and went on to receive the Victoria Cross, Military Medal, service medals for the two world wars, and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. After the war, he worked as a…

BATTLING his demons since he was 12 years old Nik Shepheard has used public speaking and kiteboarding to lift him past his dark times and now wants to help others do the same. Shepheard is hoping to raise $1 million for the beyond blue depression and anxiety support service by circumnavigating Australia on a kiteboard and will launch his venture on Saturday 21 April at the Mt Martha Lifesaving Club. Shepheard said he has been living and breathing kiteboarding for 18 years and has spent the past five years preparing for his circumnavigation attempt. “The idea has come about through…

PARKS Victoria is inviting feedback on three designs versions of “eco sleeper pods” being displayed at Point Nepean National Park. The pods are seen as being suitable for overnight or short-stay accommodation. Parks wants visitors to comment on the design, amenity, accessibility and visual impact of the pods. The pilot pods include styles with and without kitchens and bathrooms, as well as fully self-sufficient “off grid” models with electricity and water. The pods will be at Point Nepean until July and can be seen from 10.30am – 2.30pm Thursday to Monday until 30 April. The pods have been designed by…

WRITER and actor Kate Mulvany has written a play based on a book that takes its readers out of this world. Mulvany attributes the award-winning Masquerade by Kit Williams with helping her recover from a bout of childhood sickness. “Within a few words my mind exploded, my imagination went crazy be-cause I was on that adventure with Jack on his way across the universe, and I think that book helped me get better,” Mulvany says. “I always kept the book Masquerade by my side, my entire life. Then a few years ago I decided I wanted to turn that book…

POLICE are searching for a woman following a series of deceptions at Hastings on Saturday 16 December. At about 2.50pm, the woman used an allegedly stolen credit card to buy several bottles of alcohol at a Church Street liquor store. The stolen card was later used at two other businesses, mainly to buy cigarettes – with three purchases totalling $138 made within 10 minutes. The woman is described as being Caucasian, about 20 years old, with a slim build and straight long brown hair. She was wearing a burgundy t-shirt, dark blue pants and slip-on shoes. Anyone with information can…

MODEL aircraft of all types, sizes and styles will take off in the Western Port Model Aircraft Club’s Wings over Western Port open day, Sunday 15 April. The club’s inaugural open day is the airfield at 360 The Esplanade, Crib Point. Gates will be open to the public 10am-4pm. Members fly model helicopters, jets, civilian and military type aircraft “all based on the real thing and sounding just as good”, secretary Stephen Gray said. The club, founded in the early 1990s, has a membership of about 100 and a diverse range of age groups and experience levels – with some…

THE Peninsula Sharks have officially become affiliated with Gridiron Victoria after a year and a half of pushing for a gridiron team on the Mornington Peninsula. The Sharks were awarded their chance to join the league on Wednesday 21 March and are set to take up the opportunity with their Men’s senior side when the season kicks off in June. Peninsula Sharks president Garry Smith said the club was ecstatic when they heard the news and are excited to get underway. “I have always been upfront with everyone at the club and everyone knew that there was the possibility that…

A MORNINGTON man was charged with reckless conduct endangering life, travelling at a dangerous speed and failing to stop when directed to do so by police after his Holden utility was clocked at 210kph on Peninsula Link, Frankston, 1.30am, Wednesday 28 March. The man, 28, was arrested next day and bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. His car was impounded. Somerville Highway Patrol crews say they are regularly seizing vehicles for speeding and hooning, especially at night. They said the Peninsula Link control room had alerted them to be on the lookout for a car…

PUPILS from Benton Junior College took a creative approach when submitting their ideas for the future of The Briars. The grade 4 pupils took their pens, and in some cases paintbrushes, to detail what they’d like to see long-term at the historic Mt Martha property. They were responding to a call from Mornington Peninsula Shire for community feedback and ideas to assist in the development of a master plan for The Briars, with the mayor Cr Bryan Payne saying it would look 10-15 years into the future. “The plan will articulate how the natural, cultural and heritage values of The…

A REDESIGNED wave protection system along the seaward side of Mornington pier will – hopefully, this time – better protect it from storm damage. Workmen were last week drilling 120 holes for supports and using a crane to attach a steel frame, while divers were down below cleaning up the seabed and removing previously damaged steel frames and debris. Parks Victoria engineers said the original waler – a type of brace that attaches the wave screens to the pier – would be replaced with a larger, stronger version, with the wave screens bolted through the panels for additional strength. A…

EFFORTS to shape an “age-friendly” Mornington Peninsula have seen the former chair of the Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders Jeanette Lane being asked to spread the word to other parts of Victoria. Her success in engaging with older members of the community on the peninsula led to Ms Lane being invited to attend the Central Highlands Elder Abuse Prevention Project launch in Ballarat to speak on the committee’s programs and outreach. Ms Lane presented a 30-minute program with Gary Ferguson from Seniors Rights Victoria to help the central region start its first elder abuse program. PACE was established in May…

A man drowned off Ranelagh Beach Mt Eliza this afternoon (Sunday 8 April). It is believed the man had been snorkling at the time. A witness said they heard the man shouting out but thought he was calling a friend on the beach. When they looked back they saw the person in the water but not moving, they rushed from the cliff top down some stairs to render assistance. A rescue boat was launched from Ranelagh Club and the man was brought to shore. He was unable to be revived. Police, Ambulance and SES attended. It is believed a number…

THE YMCA’s Buxton Camp at Shoreham, which ran from 1925 to the early 1970s, was a place to relax for many boys having their first experience of nature: camping in the bush at the seaside. A feature of camp life after the war included services at the outdoor Cyril Young Open Air Memorial Chapel, which commemorated Cyril and Ivan Young, brothers and airmen who were killed in the war. Services at the chapel, sometimes at night and illuminated by flaming torches, were integral to the camp’s philosophy of emphasising a balance between mind, body and spirit. Now called Buxton Reserve,…

“Alice, you have mail. From Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.” Yes Alice Meyer, your long awaited card from The Queen has arrived to congratulate you on reaching the monumental milestone of 100 birthdays on 12 March. Alice, many years ago, promised her family that she intended “to be around long enough to receive a birthday card from The Queen”. And it has finally happened. Alice’s birthday was a great opportunity for her ever increasing family to enjoy a truly happy family reunion, to be able to share this special occasion and to celebrate with Alice. In December 1945, Welsh born…

PENINSULA Boxer Tyla McDonald has been crowned Australian champion for the second year running defeating usual rival and 2016 national champion Tameriah Barney-Sandy on Sunday 25 March. Tyla, 15, took out the junior under-54kgs national championships and was the only female Victorian boxer to claim back-to-back championships at the Australian Underage Titles in Perth. On top of the national crown, Tyla was part of the Junior Girls Team of the Year award, alongside fellow Victorian junior boxers, Dakotah Keane and Millicent Woods. Peninsula Boxing head coach Marcos Amado said the final was a highly competitive fight and was extremely proud…

DIVISION TWO IF the opening quarter was any indication of what was in store for Rye in 2018, fans would have been battling to hold back the grins. In the only match for the weekend in Division Two, the Demons smashed Dromana in the first quarter 5.5 (35) to 1.1 (7) leaving the Tigers bedazzled. But Dromana, who had the advantage of being on home turf, were not prepared to tuck their tails and give up, and pushed back hard during the second quarter to be only 11 points down at the long break. The battle continued in the third…

DIVISION ONE THE newly configured Division One of the MPNFL started with gusto on Friday 30 March and the first round threw up some very close finishes. Of the four games played by Saturday night, three of them had ten points or less in them at the final sirens. Meeting on Good Friday, Frankston Bombers and Mt Eliza kicked off the season. Mount Eliza jumped out the of the blocks and kicked four goals to one in the opening term, leaving Frankston Bombers stunned and set for a struggle. The stage was set though, and the Bombers trailed all day,…

Chocolate Starfish – regarded as one of Australia’s best live bands of the 90s boasting two Top 10 albums and six Top 50 singles – has released their first full-length album in twenty years. SPIDERfeatures ten piping-hot, brand-spanking- new tracks. It’s classic rock ‘n’ roll and Chocolate Starfish at the top of their game. And what a game it is. Chocolate Starfish powered on to the Australian music scene in the early 1990s and quickly secured themselves a space as an influential force with their cover of Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’, original hit ‘Mountain’ and perennial favourite ‘Four Letter…

When 5-year-old Dot gets lost in the bush, she is rescued by a kangaroo who gives her magic ‘berries of understanding’ that allow her to follow the languages of all the animals and insects around her. With this new gift, Dot and Kangaroo set out on an action-packed adventure to return her home – an adventure that changes the way she sees the Australian bush and her place within it forever. But how long before this unique native wildlife disappears as humans encroach on their habitat? Creature invites you to enter the magical world of the Australian bush to explore…