POINT Nepean Men’s Shed members are using their woodworking skills to make 100 shelter and nesting boxes for wildlife impacted by bushfires in Gippsland. In the picture, above, men’s shed president John Stevenson and members Laurie Oliver and Leigh Norrie add final details to the boxes which were the last of a batch going to Kalimna West, inland from Lakes Entrance. The bushfire recovery program aims to help the animals in their long-term recovery. Birdlife Australia provided a design template, Studio57F1 provided the boxes in kit form, Bunnings Rosebud provided the paint and the Men’s Shed provided the hardware as…
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A WOMAN described as a “national treasure” has celebrated her 100th birthday at Somerville Community House. Marjorie Darling Ward was surrounded by family, friends and the Mornington Peninsula’s writing community to celebrate her birthday, career and contribution to the arts, Saturday 10 July. “Of course, Marjorie is more than just a writer,” Rob Clarke Mornington Peninsula Writers said. “She is, or has been, a wife, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She’s also been a one-time working partner on three country newspapers, hotelier, Riverina farmer, real estate agent, and so much more beside.” Ms Ward has written fiction, non-fiction, poetry and…
A MOUNT Eliza children’s book illustrator is playing a role in helping children overcome the ordeals they experienced during the East Gippsland region’s terrifying 2019-20 bushfires. The Heroes of Black Summer picture book tells the stories of the “heroes” who helped protect them and, through this, aims to help children process the trauma without suffering stress, anxiety or depression. Karen Erasmus, who has lived in Mount Eliza for 15 years, drew 16 full-page illustrations in the book which was written by Kylie Miller and Craig Sheather and published by Australian Geographic. It was published with a One Good Community Wellbeing…
FLYERS Swimming Club members will be, well, flying after coaching by dual Olympian Samantha Purvis. Purvis, who lives in Mornington, has been appointed primary swim coach at the club, which is based at the Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud. A free community celebration will mark the opening of the aquatic centre, 11am-4pm, Sunday 18 July. Purvis will take up her role full time from this month and will be the point of contact for families living on the peninsula who wish to be involved in squad training and competitive swimming. With more than 25 years coaching experience at a state and…
THE wonders of the natural world were the focus at Flinders last week when environmentalist Sir David Attenborough stepped in to bat for Victoria’s marine emblem: the weedy sea dragon. The legendary eco-warrior joined members of the Flinders Community Association in their quest to save the threatened 180-metre section of the old timber pier whose demolition, the locals fear, will threaten the endangered creature’s survival (“Heritage pier faces partial demolition” The News 23/3/21). Reportedly more than 15,000 people have signed an online petition urging the state government to repair the Western Port pier’s damaged piles, with the support of a…
THE opening of the long-awaited community shed at Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association last week will provide a space for year round, weather-proof activities for everyone who comes to visit. The new space includes a kitchen, toilet and shower, and a large open area suitable for cultural programs and tours, as well as public events. The shed, which was opened Thursday 1 July, was initially paid for by the now-Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Gandel Philanthropy and Erica Foundation, Mornington Peninsula Shire and public donations. The Aboriginal Gathering Place in Pound Road, Hastings has grown over the past seven years.…
THE Big Y art installation at the entrance to YMCA Camp Manyung was unveiled last week. The artwork, shown for the first time on Tuesday 29 June, was painted by Eamon Rogers and Brianna Webster from the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, Hastings. “The Big Y is one of many ways that Camp Manyung has demonstrated its commitment to working alongside our Aboriginal community here on the peninsula and always uplifting Aboriginal history, culture, and connection,” the camp’s manager Jim Boyle said. “This mural is a story depicting the beautiful lands in which Camp Manyung is located and the tremendous work…
NOMINATIONS are being sought for the Mornington Peninsula Shire and National Trust 2021 Heritage Awards. The shire and the trust’s Mornington Peninsula branch are behind the awards which recognise projects and people who have demonstrated excellence in preservation, restoration and reuse of heritage places on the peninsula. While the word heritage conjures images of built forms, the scope of the awards goes further to cover landscape, cemeteries, wetlands, interpretive signage, and people who have contributed to the longevity of heritage. Heritage includes public and private places, buildings, gardens and objects, which organisers say are an important part of our culture…
By Joseph Misuraca A RETIRED surgeon used his time in Victoria’s lockdowns to paint birds – all 270 of them. David Freedman, 76, of Mount Martha, has included 240 of the paintings in a book, Australia’s Birds, which he co-wrote with stepbrother Richard Steele. The 2019-20 bushfires forced a variety of birds to flock to Melbourne’s fringes, including Mr Freedman’s property in Mount Martha. “Some eastern rosellas started nesting in a bird box for the first time,” he said. This prompted him to begin painting birds in June last year. With all these paintings completed, he developed the idea of…
AN ice bucket challenge proved a hit for Beleura Junior Football Club players last week after they had to cancel the much-anticipated dunk tank. The club, which plays at Dallas Brooks Park, Mornington, raised around $4500 from the sale of beanies and Sock it 2 MND socks, with all Beleura players wearing the socks for their matches. More than $1700 was raised in donations to the ice bucket challenges. All Beleura coaches took part, as well as a “couple of good sports from the opposition”. Mount Martha Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank was a major sponsor. Guests on the…
By Joseph Misuraca A MOUNT Eliza couple are working on a new statewide health initiative to track and improve children’s wellbeing. Dr Jolyon Ford, 51, and his wife, Jo Ford, 49, are working at Peninsula Health on ‘GenV’. The program is designed to track Victorian babies born between 2020-2022. Its goal, according to the GenV website, is to achieve “a better approach to child health, development and wellbeing in Victoria”. It’s a voluntary program, and one of the largest of its kind. The research study is being carried out by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at the Royal Children’s Hospital.…
THE Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud will open to the public on Friday 9 July. The later opening came about after Victoria went into its fourth lockdown earlier this month meaning the Friday 25 June opening target was not viable. Construction continued under the restrictions, but access to the centre was limited and put a halt to essential training. Belgravia Leisure was not able to host new staff on site to undertake swim teacher, lifeguard and emergency management training. To be able to open, all staff must be trained, qualified and, importantly, be familiar with the centre. With restrictions easing,…
THE Bays Aged Care has opened a $20 million redevelopment at Hastings expanding its capacity from 75 to 90 places. The centre, in Victoria Street, offers private and government-funded respite care, memory support and dementia care, a new Dialysis unit for related treatments, extra rooms for sole occupancy and couples, and improved dining and lounge areas with fireplaces, terraces, and courtyards. The home was completed last year, however, celebrations had to be put on hold until now. “With aged care in focus at the moment, it is with great pride that we show the community our state-of-the-art home,” The Bays…
EIGHT Mornington Peninsula residents were named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, Monday 14 June. They received Medals of the Order of Australia in the General Division as announced by the Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC (Retd). Sarnia Birch MOUNT Martha’s Sarnia Birch says Australia owes a debt of gratitude to its volunteers. “To be recognised for service to veterans and their families as a volunteer is an honour,” she said. “I have been greatly blessed in my life and one way of giving back is to help others.” The former lawyer has served Legacy Australia in a variety of senior…
A TRANSPORT Accident Commission sign on Eramosa Road East, near the Somerville Primary School, spells out the real reasons to drive safely. The signs are part of a campaign by the commission to curb road trauma and reduce the number of serious accidents. In the past five years, 37 people have died on peninsula roads, with 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 leading to a safer community. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 22 June…
McCRAE lighthouse will be lit up in yellow on Tuesday 29 June to raise public awareness of the condition known as scleroderma. The lighthouse will shine bright to generate support and to raise funds to support the 6000 people impacted by scleroderma and raise funds for research into fighting it. The Lions Club of McCrae is supporting the Shine Like a Sunflower campaign against the chronic condition that causes thickening and hardening of the body’s connective tissue. Louise Inglese, of Mornington, was diagnosed in February 2016 by her gastroenterologist. “The diagnosis came as a huge shock as I had never…
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…
THE Friends of Fusion gala dinner at Peninsula Community Theatre on Saturday 15 May raised $21,000. The theme this year was: “It takes a village” which is about coming together as a community, business and communication manager Caitlin Swanton said. “The idea is that we are better when we work together. The village is everyone having a unique place. No one person or organisation is better than another. We all have intrinsic value.” Fusion is a Christian youth and community organisation, headquartered on the peninsula at Mount Martha, which those involved say emerged as a response to socially-at-risk young people…
WHEN life gives you lemons, make lemonade – that’s the motto Mornington’s Julie Cowley has chosen to live her life by. It came about when her husband, Mark, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 54. The cancer returned six years later and has spread throughout his body. Ms Cowley is showing her support for Mark, and to all men impacted by prostate cancer, by joining the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s Sit-Up 45 challenge. She is doing 45 sit-ups a day during Men’s Health Week (14-20 June) to raise money to support the 45 men diagnosed with the disease each…
FORMER Liberal Leader John Hewson and former Independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan will join forces this Saturday (19 June) in a free online forum to support the launch of Voices of Mornington Peninsula. The organisation aims to find a candidate to stand as an independent against sitting Liberal Flinders MP, Greg Hunt. Voices of Mornington Peninsula (VMP) is a not-for-profit organisation whose members “believe in the strength of community to effect positive change and, like many, are tired if the inaction of party politics and seek true independent representation at all political levels”. “Voices of Mornington Peninsula is an…
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 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 $37 million Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud will be open to the public on Friday 25 June. To celebrate the opening, Mornington Peninsula Shire and operator Belgravia Leisure will hold a community open day of activities, Sunday 4 July. Those attending will see what Yawa has to offer, such as its 50-metre indoor pool, group fitness activities, such as yoga, Pilates, body pump, spin classes, and Elements Eatery cafe. The new centre in Besgrove Street has a 50-metre indoor pool, learn-to-swim pool, warm water program pool, spa, sauna, and steam room. Other features are multi-purpose rooms for health and…
THIRTY years ago, 24 Mornington Peninsula artists decided to open an art gallery, with enthusiasm easily exceeding experience. Now, The Guild Art Gallery, Tyabb, run by its member artists as a collective, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The gallery sells framed and unframed paintings by many award-winning artists. They are of various subject matters and different styles. As the artists oversee the gallery, the paintings are said to be “reasonably priced”. The gallery is at the rear of Tyabb Packing House Antique Centre in The Village. It is open 10am-5pm, Thursday to Sunday and public holidays. Entry is free. First…
ZOE the Giant Spider Crab had a big day out on Monday 24 May, meeting up with the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and Crs Susan Bissinger and Sarah Race. Along with the rest of their Mornington Peninsula Shire Council colleagues, the councillors want an exclusion zone around piers to prevent fishing for spider crabs, from May to July. The decision rests with the Victorian Fisheries Authority. Members of Save Our Spidercrabs (SOS) thanked the council for its support in working to protect the coming aggregations of spider crabs, with Zoe (SOS committee member Zoe McKenzie) offering hugs all round. Four…
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 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…
SIX Mornington Youth Club gymnasts are on the Gold Coast representing Victoria at the Australian Gymnastic Championships, 13-26 May. Jordan Liang, Phoenix Petrovic, Jackson Findlay, Tom Hall and Will Shurey are competing in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics and Haylee Whitehead in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. The club’s Sarah Waterland and Ben Pocklington are coaches for the event. The club’s gymnasts, competing in national level 7 through to senior level, are eligible for selection onto state teams representing Victoria at national events. They compete at several trial events in March and April where the best are chosen to represent the state. COVID…
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 rainbow flag was flown at Mornington Peninsula Shire offices to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Monday 17 May. The gesture was a show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTIQA+) residents, community, friends, family and colleagues. The mayor Despi O’Connor and Crs Sarah Race, Lisa Dixon, David Gill, Anthony Marsh, Kerri McCafferty and Paul Mercurio, as well as shire staff and members of the community, gathered in front of the Hastings office to mark the occasion and raise the flag together. A shire statement said: “As an organisation, we…