Author: MP News Group

REMEMBRANCE Day came into its own this year when 200 St Joseph’s Primary School children and their parents laid a wreath at the Crib Point cenotaph. Crib Point RSL president John Ord welcomed them, saying Anzac Day had always been popular with the children, while attendances on Remembrance Day were usually small. Attendances are now better balanced. “This year St Joseph’s decided to move their service to the cenotaph to commemorate the achievements of Defence personnel in conflicts around the world to protect our freedom as we know it today,” Mr Ord said. “Wreaths were also laid by the RSL…

THE ability to provide a quick refuelling stop to police search-and-rescue helicopters proved the worth of the new heliport at Tyabb Airport last week. The chopper had been tracking a driver over the Mornington Peninsula whose erratic behaviour had caused motorists to alert police when crews received the search-and-rescue call. Instead of having to return to its base and lose precious time refuelling, the chopper dropped in to Tyabb for a top-up, saving it 60 minutes. The length of the mission to Gippsland required maximum endurance – meaning one officer had to be dropped at Tyabb so more fuel could…

Enter your short film in the Cobs Peninsula Film Festival and you could win a share in up to $30K of cash and prizes and have your work seen by Industry heavyweights! 20 short listed films will be judged live on Saturday February 10, 2018 by top industry professionals with the winner taking out $5K in cash, second place $2.5K cash and third place scoring $1250 cash. Organisers are encouraging budding filmmakers to enter the Woodleigh School Emerging Filmmaker Award (open to any Australian student under 18 years of age) to be in the running for $500 cash as well…

Sea N Sound Festival will be making its way to Frankston on Saturday 18 November, aiming to create a boutique blend of coastal lifestyle and culture with great focus on the best live music, local food and Australian craft beer. Held at Frankston Park; overlooking the magnificent vista of Port Phillip Bay, Sea n Sound Festival is shaping up to be the biggest contemporary event to hit Frankston, with a line up that will bring the sound of nostalgia to anyone’s ear. Aussie favourites Jebediah headline the inaugural Sea N Sound Frankston, joined by New Zealand grunge rock legends SHIHAD,…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn THE State Elections were held on Thursday and resulted in the defeat of the Ministrial Party. A feature of the results is the success achieved by candidates standing in the interests of the Farmers’ Union. There was very little excitement in the Mornington electorate. Mr Downward (the old member) was opposed by Mr R. M. Anderson. *** GNR. H. M. Goodwin, second son of M. M. E. Goodwin, Cranbourne Rd Frankston, has been officially reported wounded. At present the nature of the wound is not known. Two of his brothers are also at the front, one…

“The Voice of the Peninsula”, community radio station RPP FM, has opened its first pop-up studio, away from its Mornington base, at Frankston’s Bayside Shopping Centre. RPP FM’s new studio shop front at Balmoral Walk hit the airwaves for the first time last Friday (10 November). “Local radio depends on local people. RPP FM encourages people to get involved and for local businesses to utilise the station’s broadcast and production facilities when it comes to promoting their services,” RPP FM station manager Brendon Telfer said. “The reach of the station encapsulates the entire Mornington Peninsula and is also heard across…

THE Mornington Peninsula Regional Group of the Order of Australia Association held its 2017 Annual Schools Award ceremony at Beleura House and Garden, Mornington, on Friday the 10th of November. The afternoon was jointly hosted by Mr. Brian Stahl OAM JP, Chairman of the Regional Group, and Mr. Anthony Knight OAM, Director of Beleura House and Garden, and attended by some 50 members and guests. Following a viewing of the Dame Nellie Melba rose in bloom, members and guests were escorted through the extensive gardens before entering the auditorium for the prize presentation and piano recital. The Schools Award  is…

AN electrical fire which started in power lines caused $30,000 damage to an elevated holiday house at Rye, 8pm, Monday 6 November. A neighbour said she smelled smoke in Michael St and saw sparks coming from wires leading to the house. It spread to the eaves and inside the roof cavity. Rye CFA Lieutenant Eddie Matt said crews from Rye, Sorrento and Rosebud had the blaze under control in 15 minutes. “The ceiling was dropping and the couch was set alight and we did well to pull the fire up,” he said. First published in the Southern Peninsula News -…

POLICE breath-tested about 14,000 drivers in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire council areas over the Melbourne Cup long weekend with 28 being found to be either drink-or-drug driving. Another 315 traffic offences were detected, but only two serious injury collisions were recorded, which police said was pleasing “considering the amount of traffic that flowed through the area”. A 46-year-old Mt Eliza woman was allegedly driving at 107 kph in a 80kph zone when Somerville Highway Patrol intercepted her on Nepean Highway, Mornington, 2am, Wednesday 8 November. She blew 0.117 per cent and lost her licence on-the-spot for 11 months…

TWO open studio weekends will be held on the Peninsula Studio Trail where visitors can meet the artists, find out what inspires them and learn about the creative process. Opening times are 10am-5pm, 18-19 and 25-26 November. Peninsula Studio Trail comprises a diverse group of artists specialising in a range of mediums, including ceramics, painting, drawing, sculpture, jewellery, mixed media, textiles and printmaking. They are happy to discuss their techniques and inspiration with visitors. Organisers say the visits are a great opportunity to buy works directly from the artists in time for Christmas. Details: Visit peninsulastudiotrail.org or contact Bryan Baldwin…

JEWELLERY artist Katrina Newman, of McCrae, has returned from a Canadian Wilderness Artists Residency saying it was “an experience like no other”. “I was surrounded by creative people and the voyage on the Yukon River was inspiring,” she said. “I felt I had found my place and came to feel at home among 11 Canadian artists as we explored the Yukon Territory in a canoe.” Arriving at Whitehorse, capital of the northwest Yukon territory, Newman met up with her trip coordinator, guides, and other artists in the group of two men and 10 women. They spent a week preparing for…

MORNINGTON Peninsula residents are being offered access to new, free, mental health support services as part of a federal government $11 million funding package across south-east Melbourne. The services cover accessible psychological interventions (APIs) to support those with mild/moderate mental health conditions, and Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) services to support those with severe/complex mental illness. The API services include counselling which can be delivered in individual, family or group settings, and the MHICC services include clinical nursing services, family support and liaison, care co-ordination and improving access to psychiatrist and psychological care. The services, starting on 1 December,…

THREE phone towers will be built at Tuerong, Tuerong West and Main Ridge West. They will offer “consistent mobile coverage to more than 200 premises that previously had poor or no mobile services”, according to innovation and digital economy minister Philip Dalidakis. The towers are among 25 to be built throughout regional Victoria providing 5000 households and businesses with new or improved mobile coverage in a partnership between Optus and the state government. “Telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for the growth, liveability and safety of regional Victorian households and businesses, and more will be connected than ever before,” Mr Dalidakis said.…

THERE’S been lots of excitement on the Hastings foreshore these past few Sunday mornings … It’s being caused by participants in the yacht club’s sailing program for participants aged 8-14 years. This season, 14 young enthusiasts are learning the ropes in the club’s six Sparrow dinghies. The sailing school, now in its fourth season, runs over six weekends. It teaches sailors everything they need to compete: from what various parts of the boat are called, tacking and gybing, knot tying, weather and tides, navigational marks and everyone’s favourite – capsizing. Afterwards the participants enjoy something to eat and a debrief…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn THE following cases were disposed of at the Frankston Court of Petty Sessions on Monday last, before Mr Cohen, P.M, and Messrs Williams, Oates, Grant and Mc Lean. McGrath was charged with having neglected to send his child to school the required number of days and was fined 2s.    M. Parker for a similar offence was fined 5s. A. E. Ryan was fined 4s in each case for non-vaccination of two children. John Knight was charged by John. E. Jones (shire secretary) with carting pine logs over roads in the centre Riding on dates within…

ENVIRONMENTAL group BERG Mt Martha is celebrating what it regards as a “vital step”, in conjunction with Mornington Peninsula Shire, in preserving the Balcombe Estuary reserve. The group has drawn up a case for an environmental significance overlay (ESO) which it says will give greater protection to the 76 hectares. Over the past 18 months the group has been preparing documents and meeting with shire officers to outline the need for the overlay. The shire’s backing was announced at the group’s recent annual meeting, but members were told there was “still a long way to go before the state government…

DRONES will be the focus of a state government push to protect marine life in Port Phillip Bay. This comes as Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning officers begin marine mammal patrols to make sure members of the public keep their distance – especially those flying drones. “We’re increasingly noticing more drones appearing on populated beaches,” DELWP wildlife officer Suriya Vij said. “While drones don’t have large motors, many marine mammals are sensitive to noise, and buzzing from their motors can distress them. “There’s also the potential for amateur operators to unintentionally strike the animals. “Though it may be…

LAND and sea searches for a 78-year-old fisherman who went missing off rocks at Blairgowrie ocean beach, Sunday 29 October, were being scaled down late last week. Police and emergency service crews appear to hold little hope for Wantirna man Yik Sua Hong who was last seen fishing off rocks at one of his regular fishing spots at noon. A surfer told police deteriorating weather conditions were generating huge seas when he saw the man stand on the rocks. He was possibly swept into the sea. Extensive searches by the Air Wing and Parks Victoria earlier in the week proved…

ROSEBUD Secondary College students Campbell Robbins and Bailey Corbett are among 20 state secondary school students sharing in $100,000 in Marrung Education Scholarship Awards. Campbell, who is hoping to become a park ranger and Bailey a fashion designer, received two-year scholarships valued at $5000. The grants are going to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander government school students to “help them thrive in the final years of their secondary education”. More than 160 students have shared in over $820,000 in scholarships since 2009. Students recognised have demonstrated potential in their chosen careers, strong academic results and involvement in their Aboriginal community.…

A celebration of all things Cars, Music and Fashion! WITH Rosebud’s long history as a great place to enjoy summer beach holidays, what better place to revive the fun filled 50’s & 60’s lifestyle? This rock and roll festival, called Foreshore RockFest, will run over three days, 17th – 19th November, and will involve seventeen different events involving music, dance, movies, car and vintage shopping all based in Rosebud and Dromana Drive In. Fun starts on Friday evening with Rock’n’Bowls, at Rosebud Bowls Club,a car cruise along the back beaches of the Peninsula plus a dance at Rosebud Primary School…

TWO men were arrested after allegedly attempting a ram raid on a Dromana service station early Friday morning. Somerville Highway Patrol police spotted the pair after they allegedly reversed their Ford sedan through the doors of the Pt Nepean Road servo about 1am. A 24-year-old and a 20-year-old, both of Seaford, were arrested inside the 7-Eleven store. An attendant was not injured. The men were charged with armed robbery. They faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Friday morning and were remanded to reappear at the same court at a later date. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 7 November 2017

SOUTHERN Peninsula Food for All is seeking public help in reaching its $55,000 target. So far raised the group has raised $3850 but they have news of some big donations in the offing. Last year they provided 522 Christmas hampers and gave toys to 572 children. Hampers and toys will be distributed again this year to those in need. Collection bins for non-perishable goods are at Woolworths Rosebud, Rosebud West and Rye, Coles Rosebud and McCrae, and Ritchies Dromana. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductable. They can be sent to Food for All, PO Box 440, Rosebud…

PENINSULA Health has got a tick of approval for its role in improving health outcomes for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community. The healthcare provider — manager of Frankston Hospital, Rosebud Hospital, The Mornington Centre and Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Centre — won the ‘Supporting LGBTI health’ category at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. “Being the first full public health service in Australia to achieve the Rainbow Tick is a significant achievement,” Peninsula Health acting CEO David Anderson said. “I thank all our staff who put so much effort into this project which will dramatically improve the…

MOONLIT Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park has won the Premier’s Sustainability Award for Environmental Protection 2017 for its orange-bellied parrot Breeding for Recovery program. Park director and founder Michael Johnson said he was “thrilled and honoured to win”. He said the sanctuary, in Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale, would continue to breed the parrots “until there is a viable wild population again saved from extinction”. “We have committed to run our program for at least the next 10 years,” he said. The first release of three birds from Moonlit Sanctuary and five from Zoos Victoria was held on Tuesday 24 October and two…

THREE youth forums to be held over the next six months will ask peninsula young people what they think needs to be done to combat issues such as anxiety, depression, bullying, suicide, family violence and body image. The aim is to give young people a say in creating the solutions many think are desperately needed. The forums are being held by not-for-profit group Youth Out Loud, which has been running resilience and leadership programs in schools in Australia, South East Asia and Africa for 25 years. Youth Out Loud founder Steve Brunskill says the best chance of success is to…

ALTHOUGH seriously injured, with abdominal and back injuries and being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital last week, a Crib Point woman was still able to respond to her critics on social media. Rhiiannon Hewitt, 21, was considered lucky to be alive after being ejected from her car when it struck a Stony Point Rd power pole at about 60kph – snapping it into pieces – 9am, Tuesday 24 October. Her Holden Commodore, which rolled in the collision, looked to be a write off. Countering criticism she should have been wearing a seatbelt, Ms Hewitt replied: “It was a mistake not…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn “PLEASE keep on sending us all the cigarettes you can”, was the message received the other day from a commanding officer at the front by the Over-Seas Club Southern Club Tobacco Fund. “I write this on behalf of all the men under my command,” he continued, “and I can safely say that every other would write you the same thing, in the meantime, please accept my sincere thanks for the case of Australian made cigarettes. They are a boon and a blessing.” *** IT has been officially reported through the Red Cross Bureau that Pte Arnold…

The fiercest line up of Aussie rockers will be heading to the peninsula to play the best of AC/DC! Whole Lotta Rosie is going to electrify crowds as they tear up the stage belting out the classic AC/DC hits that spans an almost 45 year career for the iconic Australian rockers. The line-up for Whole Lotta Rosie features musicians from Australia’s most iconic rock bands The Screaming Jets and The Angels including Paul Woseen (The Screaming Jets), James Morley (The Angels), Dave Stevens (Son of Bon Scott), Gregg Aldridge, Kevin Hunt and Rohan Moran (formerly of Back in Black) and…

COMEDIAN Austen Tayshus will perform live at the Rye Hotel as part of his 30th anniversary National Australiana tour, Friday 10 November. The gravelly voiced showman has performed more than 10,000 shows since the release of his 1983 comedy single Australiana written by Billy Birmingham. The iconic release draws its humour from puns using the names of places and animals, such as “… my mate Boomer rang”; “… do you wanna game of Euchre, Lyptus?” and “… how much can a koala bear?” He has also produced films, documentaries and records, mostly dealing with social issues, and performed on TV’s Live and Kicking. In 2012,…

SIX rewards of $1 million will be paid for information leading to convictions in the murders of six women whose bodies were found in Frankston and Tynong North in 1980-81. The rewards are part of Operation Lyndhurst and are the largest ever offered in Victoria. They relate to the disappearance and murder of six women – two from Frankston and four from other suburbs – between May 1980 and October 1981.  On 30 May 1980, Allison Rooke, 59, was seen leaving her home in Hannah St, Frankston North, 11am, intending to catch a bus to the shops. Her body was…