A KOALA tree planting project on the Mornington Peninsula will run until the end of October. The project, being run by Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation, will focus on Somers with a smaller project at Dromana in the Arthurs Seat State Park. “We are aiming to plant in excess of 15,000 native trees and shrubs to help safeguard koala habitat,” president Dirk Jansen said. “We will also have plenty of trees to give away to other residents in key koala areas on the peninsula.” Mr Jansen said koalas and other wildlife on the peninsula were declining due mainly to habitat loss…
Author: Stephen Taylor
NEWLY-elected Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Susan Bissinger has floated the idea of sea baths as being the ideal solution to restore the eroded Portsea front beach. Cr Bissinger says building sea baths similar to those along the NSW south coast would end the need for costly sandbags. The loss of sand at the once-fabled beach since the 2009 bay dredging is like an open sore and the substitute sandbags – replaced and repaired at a cost so far of $2.5 million – are at best a stop-gap measure that limits cliff erosion but will not restore the sand. Cr Bissinger…
DOZENS of trees were knocked down and havoc caused on the roads when south to-south-easterly winds of more than 100kph lashed the Mornington Peninsula overnight Wednesday 9 June. SES and CFA crews worked non-stop to help residents with water and tree damage to their properties and to clear fallen trees. United Energy said by early Thursday morning crews were working to restore power to 8615 homes and businesses after the “extreme weather which caused extensive damage to the electricity network”. “Severe winds, with sustained wind gusts from 11pm to 3am of more than 100kph, have brought down trees and branches…
FORMER Commonwealth Games archer Dawn Nelson-Furnell is on target to prove age is no barrier in sport at the Australian Masters Games in Perth in October. The 56-year-old of Crib Point, has done things differently than most after “retiring” to have a daughter in 1984 and then, aged 42, reigniting her passion for archery and picking up her bow again in 2006. Despite those around her saying she was “too old” she powered on and has experienced great success ever since. Within a year of resuming, Nelson-Furnell was chosen to represent Australia at various world field championships and world cups.…
A HASTINGS cafe proprietor was targeted by online trolls last week for simply doing the right thing. Pitstop Cafe’s Jenny Sok, who has run the Frankston-Flinders Road eatery for five years, was trolled on social media after asking a customer to put on a face mask before entering her business one day last week. The customer told her he was not wearing a mask for medical reasons and refused to comply before leaving the shop and posting complaints about the incident on the Reignite Democracy Australia Facebook page. Other anti-maskers followed up with negative reviews and criticised her business for…
A MORNINGTON man is in the running to become Australia’s Local Hero in the Community Achievement Awards for Regional Victoria. The awards are linked to the Australian of The Year Awards with nominations closing on 31 July. Self-employed builder Wayne Hinton has been nominated by his wife Alina for the Southside Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Community Hero Award which acknowledges those making a significant contribution at a local level in regional and rural Victoria. The award recognises those “many selfless people who, through their actions, have positively impacted the lives of others and their community”. Mr Hinton, who is best…
THE Mornington Peninsula’s army of small building, renovation and construction businesses are breathing easier after the state government last week relaxed work restrictions. Despite the lockdown, the businesses were given the go ahead to do outdoor building and maintenance works on occupied homes, as opposed to those under construction. This work was not permitted under earlier, tougher lockdown rules. Master Builders Victoria CEO Rebecca Casson said the work covered the renovations by peninsula-based small businesses providing kitchen and bathroom redesign and replacement, pool installations, decking, painting, landscaping, solar panel installation, and garden maintenance. Ms Casson was speaking after the extension…
VISITORS and locals on the southern Mornington Peninsula appear to be taking a relaxed approach to the rules around COVID-19 safety. A Portsea resident complained that people there, and in Sorrento, were treating the area as a “get-out-of-jail-free card” by congregating in groups, chatting face-to-face, and ignoring mask rules. “All you need to do is drive and walk around and have a look,” he said. “It is an absolute joke with nobody wearing masks outdoors in any capacity, and gathering at the coffee shops every day, especially the one at Portsea pier from 8.45-10am. “Point Nepean National Park is being…
THE need to refocus efforts on preventing drowning towards older people has been highlighted by the 2008-2020 Australian Water Safety Strategy study. This comes as the so-called baby boomers continue to make up an increasing proportion of Australia’s population, with the Mornington Peninsula having the second highest proportion of older residents in the state. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health study found that the introduction of pool fencing legislation and associated enforcement had helped reduce drownings, especially among children, as had legislation requiring boaters to wear life jackets. Drownings in Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales…
THREE offenders wearing balaclavas pulled a door off its hinges before robbing Crib Point Cellars of $30,000 in cigarettes and alcohol. Somerville detectives said the men used a stolen “small black car” in the 4.30am raid on the Stony Point Road business on Thursday 27 May. Devastated proprietors Danny and Terri Bemelen, who have had the business for seven years, said they had “just stocked up” on cigarettes. “It’s amazing how quickly they go up,” Mr Bemelen said. “One packet can cost $50.” The couple were “completely blown away” by the generosity of customers and well-wishers contributing through a GoFundMe…
MOTOR sport runs in the blood of the Davison family, of Flinders. Three generations have made their names hurtling around various race tracks over the past 70 years, with the family last month honoured for its service to motor sport at Australia’s longest-running event, Historic Winton. They were awarded the Firth Motors Family Trophy for their “significant contribution” to Winton, and to motorsport in general over 45 years, Saturday and Sunday 22-23 May. Richard Davison, 67, the son of four time Australian Grand Prix winner Lex, said it was “always wonderful to be recognised” in one’s chosen sport. Enthusiasts will…
THE Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) is unlikely to grant Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s plea to ban the taking of spider crabs from May to July. The council wrote to Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne seeking the spatial ban to protect the crabs during their annual aggregation off Rye and Blairgowrie. Copies of the request were forwarded to Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, as well as peninsula federal and state MPs. Although it was unclear last week whether the authority had received the request, the VFA’s Dallas D’Silva told The News there were “lots of crabs for…
THE Volunteer Marine Rescue Service’s 40th anniversary awards night last week commended the thousands of marine rescues the service has performed since it began in 1980. The gathering of Mornington and Hastings VMR members at The Royal Hotel, Saturday 22 May, was also a chance to honour the operational and support volunteers that make all of the search and rescues possible. It was to have been celebrated last year, however, due to COVID-19 was delayed until this year. The service was grateful that Sue Darbyshire and her family could attend to be part of the celebration and hand out awards…
OVER the next six weeks, Mornington Peninsula motorists will see blue and white signs in danger areas highlighting reasons to drive safely, such as: Because we need to protect our wildlife. The signs are part of a campaign by the Transport Accident Commission to curb road trauma and serious accidents. In the past five years, 37 people have died on peninsula roads, with another four deaths so far this year. The peninsula is the second local government area to pilot the TAC program, Drive Safely Because, which highlights local reasons to drive safely and lead to a safer community. The…
ENVIRONMENTAL activist Josie Jones, of Rye, got into more than the spirit of things when she removed 5738 northern Pacific starfish from off McCrae beach last week. “It was a great feeling to remove the pests from Port Phillip,” Ms Jones said after the clean-up, Sunday 23 May. “I worked out that it was nearly a wheelie bin-full and I needed someone to help me push my bin to the kerb.” The northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) is described at marinepests.gov.au as a large, aggressive predator of native species, including oysters, mussels and scallops. Ms Jones believes the starfish are…
MORNINGTON roads campaigner Ken McBride says members of the community would be “surprised and disappointed” to learn that there are no immediate plans to have Mornington-Tyabb Road widened and upgraded and even less chance of improving Bungower Road. Mornington-Tyabb Road – an arterial road – is managed by the Department of Transport while Bungower Road is managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Both are busy at all times of the day and especially in peak periods. (“Wrong turn on narrow roads” The News 27/7/20). Mr McBride, who has a background in local government roads management and planning, said the shire…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is not allocating enough resources to cope with demand for services from population growth, according to the lobby group Committee for Mornington Peninsula. The group’s assessment of the council’s proposed 2021-22 budget acknowledges that the shire’s our community, our connectivity, our prosperity and our wellbeing strategy is “synergetic with [our] strategic objectives in addressing disadvantage, improving accessibility, land for livelihoods and lifelong learning”. The committee welcomed the council’s $10 million COVID-19 recovery package, particularly $2.2 million to fast track capital works for infrastructure and community connections; $2 million for business support, community recovery, events, youth and…
BLAIRGOWRIE Community Garden is thriving and so is the interest of members who visit to enjoy its serenity and natural beauty and also share in its bounty. The garden was the idea of nearby resident Anne van Veen, who believed there was demand for a community garden in Blairgowrie. In August 2018 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council leased the group two unused tennis courts and the pavilion at Stringer Reserve. Garden designer Fiona Brockhoff prepared a master plan and became a “generous supporter”. Since then, the tennis courts have been transformed into garden beds with an array of produce, including strawberries,…
THE long-awaited landscape strategy and concept plan for the Rye foreshore was approved last week, but not before being changed to make it more acceptable to councillors. Deputy mayor Cr Sarah Race, whose Nepean Ward includes Rye, successfully added that a car park be retained west of the pier and that the rock wall be included in the promenade design to maintain the historical alliance with Napier Street, or its materials be used elsewhere in the redevelopment. Also in her amendments were that all-abilities play equipment be included, with a path connecting the Scout Hall car park and playground; the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has withdrawn a $400 fine issued to a dog walker for not having their dog under effective control near cyclists at Hastings. Dog walkers had complained that rangers were policing the local law and pointing to a sign which says dogs must be leashed within five metres of paths used by cyclists. The dog walkers claim it is unreasonable to expect them to be able to control especially big, effervescent and lively dogs in the off-leash park, near the corner Marine Parade and Cool Store Road. Jack-Russell-fox-terrier-cross owner Dee Holicka, of Hastings said people were “furious”…
A DOYEN of Melbourne’s food scene, Hermann Schneider, who died on 6 May aged 86, of lymphoma, had long-standing links to the Mornington Peninsula. He was a partner at Delgany Country House Hotel, Portsea, 1987-1994, and ran the restaurant at Arthurs Seat from 1994, which closed when structural problems forced the chairlift to close in 2003. Schneider came to Melbourne in 1956 aged 20 as a chef for the Swiss team at the Melbourne Olympics. He stayed on, met and married Faye, and they opened Two Faces restaurant in South Yarra in 1960. Faye died in 2007. His funeral was…
MORNINGTON Yacht Club’s James Jackson and crew Harrison Chapman, of Royal Brighton Yacht Club, won the delayed 420 National Sailing Championships on Sydney Harbour, 9-13 April. Their victory gives Mornington Yacht Club its 35th National Title in 75 years. The 420 Nationals are one of the few national championships to be held this year after a difficult 16 months of COVID-19 restrictions. James and Harrison sailed in a wide range of conditions – from large swells inside Sydney Heads against inconsistent light winds, to 30 knot westerlies, and then typical sea-breezes. The pair had to use all their sailing skills…
VOLUNTEER Marine Rescue Mornington will farewell one of its longest serving and most dedicated members when Timothy Warner hangs up his wet weather gear this week. The 73-year-old spent 41 years serving the community, often on wet, cold nights and in raging seas, always regarding it as “an honour” to help protect those in danger on Port Phillip. Mr Warner joined VMR Mornington (formerly Mornington Community Bay Rescue Service) in 1980 and has been involved in “several thousand rescues” in that time. An interest in the service began when he was “10 or 11”.“I was riding my bike with a…
NOT many people claim to have broken three “world records” in their chosen sport, but pro-skateboarder Nick Buchanan does. Buchanan says he set his first two records in 2003. “I set the world record for the longest distance ridden on a skateboard in a night: from Port Melbourne to Mornington, a distance of 70 kilometres in nine hours,” he said. “I also covered the longest distance on a skateboard in a day over the same route in 10 hours, with both records lasting 10 years.” Buchanan says he set his third world record last year for the “most kilometres ridden…
A “PERFECT storm” of bushfires, industry cutbacks, COVID, people working from home, and government incentives for new home building and renovations have led to a shortage of structural timber affecting the Victorian building industry. The dearth of supply across the Mornington Peninsula has meant many timber yards are finding it hard to source stock for their trade customers. There are concerns the shortage, leading to delays, will generate a “ripple effect” affecting the jobs of electricians, carpenters, joiners and others involved in home building. Adding to the “storm” are rises in global freight charges and strong demand for timber in…
MOTHER’S Day is not supposed to be disappointing, but that’s how Carmel Cuthbertson of Hastings felt when she discovered her mobility scooter had been stolen overnight, Sunday 9 May. The Pride three-wheeler, which is also Ms Cuthbertson’s pride and joy, is red with grey tyres. It has a basket on the front and carrier bag behind. Husband Ian said the thieves had somehow opened a bike lock on the gate from Elizabeth Street. “We heard the dogs barking late at night but didn’t think anything of it,” he said. “When I went out in the morning I noticed the gate…
A WOMAN with a “wealth of experience in trade, investment, tourism and systems of government, and an authentic passion for the Mornington Peninsula as a local resident” has replaced former federal Liberal cabinet minister Bruce Billson on the Committee for Mornington Peninsula. Zoe McKenzie, who joins the management committee, is principal of Trade and Investment Advisory, a company which advises clients on market expansion into Australia or on current or future free trade agreements. The Committee for Mornington Peninsula describes itself as an “independent, member-based organisation committed to leading and influencing long-term outcomes and contributing to our strategic objectives for…
TALKS on a merger between two of the Mornington Peninsula’s most prestigious golf clubs are back on track after stalling last month. Sorrento Golf Club captain David Paranthoiene, in a letter to members on 20 April, had said discussions were “paused” after Portsea Gold Club revised its position on previously agreed principles and expectations on how the merger would proceed. “It is the committee’s opinion that these changes may not be palatable for Sorrento members and [we] have … [decided] to seek clarification on these revised aspects of the merger proposal,” Mr Paranthoiene said. “These changes have the potential to…
A MORNINGTON resident described as a “very fit lady who is completely independent” is about to turn 100. Norwegian-born Olga Viken, who will reach the milestone on 19 May, is well regarded by her many friends and has no shortage of admirers. Indeed, her native country’s former Consul General Tomm Paulsen describes her as the “wonder woman from Mornington”. “In my 45 years in business and 22 years as Consul General in Melbourne and Victoria, I have met a number of royals, dignitaries and famous people from all over the world,” Mr Paulsen said. “I have rarely been more impressed…
KUNYUNG Primary School students have put on an art display to show their gratitude to the “wonderful frontline workers” at Frankston Hospital. Art teacher Arlene Drummond had earlier invited the “hospital heroes” from the emergency department, ICU and the COVID ward to send in head-and-shoulders photos of themselves. Grade 1-2 students then discussed how artists can express their feelings and ideas through their art. The hospital’s medical staff featured in the portraits visited the school last week to see the show and voice their appreciation. “We decided to draw a portrait of a hospital hero and the students had to…