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,…
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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…
MCCRAE lighthouse turned orange last week as a tribute to SES volunteers who turn out in their signature orange uniforms to help the community day and night in all kinds of weather. Wear Orange Wednesday, celebrated with the assistance of McCrae Lions, Wednesday 19 May, honoured the SES’s essential role come storms, floods, search-and-rescues and at serious road crashes. Sorrento SES unit’s Margaret Davis said members spent an average 150 hours on operational time over 12 months plus training and activities. Training was one night a week with extra time spent with chainsaws or working at heights. “All members have…
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…
TWO entries from the Mornington Peninsula are finalists in the search by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council to find the state’s top tourist towns. Online voting ends 27 May, although voters wanting to physically visit the entries will have trouble finding one of the peninsula’s “towns”. There is no mistaking Dromana, which is easily found between Safety Beach and McCrae, but the other entry, Fingal, is not so obvious. There is no town named Fingal on the peninsula and a search of the internet will show a Fingal village in Tasmania and Fingal Head (commonly known as Fingal) in NSW.…
THE coronavirus pandemic may have put a firm brake on international travel for many people, but it has had no effect on the flights of migratory birds. The birds continued their annual hazardous 25,000 kilometre round trips from the northern to the southern hemisphere. Western Port and Port Phillip bays are the favoured destinations for many species and more than 300 artists have contributed to an exhibition that highlights the tenuous existence faced by these intrepid international travellers. A family day was held at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington last weekend for World Migratory Bird Day and The Overwintering Project-Westernport…
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…
IT seemed that former Australian chess champion Doug Hamilton appeared to be everywhere at once when playing simultaneous exhibition matches against Mount Martha Chess Club members last week. Unfazed by the challenge, Hamilton was able to analyse the situation and gauge his next move as he went seamlessly from game to game. About 10 regular players took on the challenge at the Mount Martha House Community Centre, Monday 3 May. Chess club members challenge each other to games and enjoy quality social time on Monday afternoons. The friendly club welcomes players of all ages and strengths. First published in the…
CHILDREN frolicking in playgrounds in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Nepal and soon the Philippines can thank an initiative by Rotary clubs, including Mount Martha, for their equipment. The project, called Rotary Overseas Recycled Playgrounds, sends old, redundant playgrounds overseas when they are no longer wanted and destined for landfill, providing a newfound world of fun for children in the Third World who often do not have even a swing or slide to enjoy. On Saturday 1 May the Rotarians loaded playgrounds from Alameda Avenue, Mornington, Barber Reserve, Somerville, Robertson Reserve, Balnarring and Iluka Road, Tyabb, into containers.…
STUDENTS at Mornington Park Primary School helped choose bike riding routes to school at a workshop run by the Bicycle Network. The Ride2School ActivePaths program area ages signed routes to schools that help children and parents ride on easy and direct paths and trails. The routes are designed by students, local councils and the Ride2School team. More than 30 students from Mornington Park Primary attended the workshop on Thursday 29 April, providing information about the routes they take to school and streets they prefer to ride a bike on. “Many students and parents want to ride to school, however they…