Toorak College parent tests positive for coronavirus. Cricket season ends early. Footy season start delayed. Council to carry on the business of local government, with meetings going online. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Twenty-seven new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 121. The new cases include 14 men and 13 women, with people aged from late teens to early seventies. The Department of Health and Human Services is continuing to investigate all new cases. At the present time, there are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in…
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AFL South East has made the call to postpone the start of the season for local football leagues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mornington Peninsula Nepean and South East Women’s leagues have been postponed until 1 June. For junior players the Frankston and Districts, South East, and Mornington Peninsula leagues have also been delayed until 1 June. The postponement also applies to the Auskick and umpiring programs. In addition to the cancellation of games, AFL South East has also put a ban on training and practice matches with immediate effect. An AFL South East statement read that “due to…
THE Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association board has voted to cancel local cricket competitions in response to the coronavirus crisis. Grand Finals in senior MPCA competitions were set to take place next weekend, but will not go ahead. The association has not yet decided whether premierships will be awarded for the 2019/2020 season. MPCA president Steven Morone said “we understand this is extremely disappointing for all clubs that have made it into the finals after a long season.” “The decision has not been taken lightly and has been one of considerable discussion and angst for the board,” he said. “This decision…
Late last night the Principal of Toorak College, Mrs Kristy Kendall, sent an email out to parents informing them that a parent at the school had received a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. The email, sent at 11.22pm, stated “Just over an hour ago, I received a phone call from a parent in our community who has received a positive test for COVID-19. She is currently self-isolating at home and doing well. Her child was absent from school this week, however, was in attendance last week. While our student is currently well, they are being monitored closely at home. I ask…
Mornington Peninsula schools start to shut up shop, but it’s not all fun and games for the kids. Frankston Arts Centre to close for a month. How to talk to your kids about coronavirus – an expert’s guide. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Twenty-three new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 94. The new cases include 11 men and 12 women, with people aged from early twenties to mid-sixties. Sixty-three of Victoria’s confirmed cases were acquired overseas or through close contact with known, confirmed cases of COVID-19,…
UPDATE: Toorak College parent tests positive to COVID-19. School to close its campus at the end of the day today (Wednesday). Read more: *** At least two schools have announced they will be closing their physical campuses due to COVID-19, but it won’t be all fun and games for the students, as both schools move to an “online learning” mode. Toorak College’s Principal, Mrs Kristy Kendall, announced in a communication to parents on Monday (16 March) the school had “made the decision to use the final week of Term 1 to implement a remote and online learning program”. This will…
THE show will not go on at the Frankston Arts Centre. The centre will close for nearly a month, from 16 March to 13 April, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. A statement put out by the Frankston Arts Centre on 16 March read that “in line with the latest advice from the Australian federal and Victorian governments on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, Frankston Arts Centre will be temporarily closed from Monday 16 March through until Monday 13 April.” “The venue closure means that all scheduled performances and events from Monday 16 March to Monday 13…
OLD habits die hard, but kissing babies and shaking hands may become a lost art for politicians. The advent of COVID-19 is seeing a rewriting of the rules when it comes to greetings. Bodily contact is out, and keeping “social distance” is in. News that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tested positive for novel corona-virus three days after attending a Cabinet meeting in Sydney on Tuesday 10 March, turned apprehensive eyes towards his ministerial colleagues. Had they been infected? The Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quick to say he wouldn’t be tested and had every intention of going to Saturday’s…
The Mornington Peninsula Shire has announced the temporary closure of shire facilities “until further notice” due to COVID-19. In a statement from the shire released Monday 16 March, they announced: “Following today’s declaration by the Victorian government of a State of Emergency in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the Mornington Peninsula Shire has made the following decisions to ensure the safety of our community.” “To protect our community, particularly those who are more vulnerable, and do our part to flatten the curve of this pandemic, we are postponing, cancelling or modifying delivery of non-essential services, programs, events and activities.” The…
Mornington Peninsula libraries, gallery, leisure centres and tourist information to close. Mornington Cup to go ahead without members of the public. Local footy faces a ‘delayed start’. A polio survivor talks about surviving, and suffering, through an epidemic. Key facts from today’s announcement by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton Fourteen new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 71. The new cases include nine men and five women, with ages ranging from their teens to 60s. Seven of the new confirmed cases were acquired overseas or through close…
THE Mornington Peninsula Nepean, South East Women’s, Frankston and District Junior, and Mornington Peninsula Junior football leagues face delayed starts to their seasons due to COVID-19 concerns. AFL South East, which oversees the leagues, issued a statement on 16 March outlining the measures they are taking to prevent the spread of the virus. “AFLSE will take advice from the AFL and AFL Victoria in relation to preparations for the start of the season. Key operational staff are currently working on different scenarios on how the season may look in the case of an expected delayed commencement to the 2020 season,”…
The Mornington Cup will continue on Saturday, but without patrons in attendance. The decision is in line with the Victorian State of Emergency declaration calling for the cancelling of mass gatherings above 500 people. “At this point in time all racing at Melbourne Racing Club venues will continue to proceed without spectators, owners and people deemed to be non-essential to the operation of a race day for the foreseeable future. This includes Mornington Cup this weekend,” said the chairman of Melbourne Racing Club, Peter Le Grand. “Members who have pre-purchased tickets or hospitality packages for events cancelled or closed to…
WITH daily media reports of the increasing number of people around the world diagnosed with COVID19, irrational hoarding and profiteering, I am cast back to my childhood and epidemics of a virus that closed schools, swimming pools and cinemas around the world. In 1946, my family was quarantined after I was diagnosed with infantile paralysis, or poliomyelitis. My parents never spoke about how they were treated in that small Gippsland market town (you don’t talk about the war) and I don’t remember, but many suffered greatly. Neighbours crossed the road to avoid the infected; people became prisoners in their own…
FEARS of the spread of COVID-19 saw the cancellation of last Saturday’s (14 March) beach day being held at Point Leo by the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch. Branch president John Bowers said proceeding with the event which was expected to draw several hundred disabled surfers and hundreds of volunteers “may have compromised too many people”. “It was a really hard decision to make,” Mr Bowers said. “There are a lot of people who like to attend, and we enjoy doing it, but it was in the best interest of all to cancel it in case anyone was immunocompromised.…
Baby kissing and handshakes are out of style. Radio station RPPFM goes to emergency broadcasting. IBAC hearings closed to the public. Mornington Centrelink protest on hold. Hands-off way needed to win votes News that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tested positive for novel coronavirus three days after attending a Cabinet meeting in Sydney on Tuesday 10 March, turned apprehensive eyes towards his ministerial colleagues, including the Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt. Read the article here. RPPFM to suspend regular broadcasting due to virus Mornington Peninsula based community broadcaster, RPPFM, have announced they will suspend regular broadcasting from 9am…
OLD habits die hard, but kissing babies and shaking hands may become a lost art for politicians. The advent of COVID-19 is seeing a rewriting of the rules when it comes to greetings. Bodily contact is out, and keeping a social distance is in. News that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tested positive for novel coronavirus three days after attending a Cabinet meeting in Sydney on Tuesday 10 March, turned apprehensive eyes towards his ministerial colleagues. Had they been infected? The Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quick to say he wouldn’t be tested and had every intention of going to…
PUBLIC hearings being undertaken by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into allegations of serious corrupt conduct concerning planning decisions at Casey Council, will be closed to the public because of COVID-19. The commissioner for IBAC, The Honourable Robert Redlich QC, has taken the decision to bar the public from tomorrow (Monday 16 March) “as a precautionary measure in consideration of public health”. The public can freely watch the hearings online as they are streamed each day on the IBAC website www.ibac.vic.gov.au. Transcripts will continue to be shared on the website. The hearings are being held at the Fair Work…
Mornington Peninsula based community broadcaster, RPPFM, have announced they will suspend regular broadcasting from 9am tomorrow (Monday 16 March) in response to Coronavirus. “With the escalating COVID-19 threat, and its likely arrival on the Mornington Peninsula, the Leadership Group had no option but to exercise its right to guarantee the health and safety of its members,” said the president of RPPFM, Peter Susovich. “Many of our volunteers are in the vulnerable COVID-19 cohort and under the circumstances, until the threat is lifted, it is better to be safe. All programming will therefore stream remotely through our newly installed online system.…
Organisers have called off next Wednesday’s rally to stop the closure of the Mornington Centrelink and Medibank offices because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The rally was scheduled to be held outside the Centrelink offices in Main Street but an update issued by Mornington Community Information and Support Centre last Friday (13 March) stated: “Unfortunately, due to concerns about the Coronavirus, we have cancelled the public rally planned for Wednesday”. A petition on change.org to “Stop the closure of Mornington Centrelink Office” was by Saturday morning nearing the required 2500 signatures.
To all our readers, I’d like to assure you Mornington Peninsula News Group is dedicated to keeping readers informed during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. We will continue to publish our weekly community newspapers to keep you up-to-date with what is going on in our wonderful part of the world. We’ll also continue to keep you informed via our website and social media. We have set up a dedicated email address for COVID-19 due to the fast-changing nature of the virus and the need to provide current information. If you have something newsworthy regarding COVID-19, email us on: covid-19@mpnews.com.au There…
SHOPS will be allowed to accept overnight deliveries of essential items as Mornington Peninsula Shire ramps up efforts to tackle the effects of the coronavirus. CEO John Baker said the shire was determined to “work with the retail sector to ensure supply by providing temporary exemptions from current planning permit conditions and local laws restrictions”. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) had by Friday afternoon spread to 90 countries and territories, including China. Of the 98,370 confirmed cases, 80,667 were in mainland China, 105 in Hong Kong, and 10 in Macau. Of the 3383 recorded deaths, 3043 were in China, 148…