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…
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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…
MORNINGTON’S Jaksen Daddo, pictured, must have thought he had the weight of the world on his shoulders while training for Sunday’s Mother’s Day Classic and raising money for breast cancer research. The 26-year-old, who has been competing in strongman events and powerlifting for five years, was training hard outside the Mornington athletics track last Sunday. He was on a mission to carry 100 kilograms over the 10 kilometres as part of his fundraising activities. By mid-last week he had raised about $4000. Daddo is doing the challenge to support mate James Beischer, whose mum is going through breast cancer. He…
THE Australasian 12-hole Hickory Cup played at The Valley Golf Club, Safety Beach, last week celebrated the best of golf using the equipment the game grew up on. About 40 players teed off with old fashioned hickory clubs or replicas in the 12-hole format on Friday 30 April for prize money of $1000, with professionals encouraged to compete. One of the top players was Dave Good, of Mornington, a previous winner of the Australian Senior Order of Merit, who has played professionally in Europe. The event was replicated on courses in Queensland, Sydney, Adelaide, and New Zealand, as well as…
BREE-ANNE Pagonis, of Somerville, has won the Luminary Tech Visionary Award in the 2021 Victorian Young Achiever Awards. The award recognises her “vision in creating an accessible platform that enhances food experiences for women”. Ms Pagonis co-founded WIRL (Wellness in Real Life), a social enterprise that holds workshops and cooking classes, provides online tools, offers corporate programs, virtual masterclasses and coaching, school courses and keynote speaking. WIRL is creating an app that aims to help women create beneficial behaviours, such as mindful eating, takes the emphasis away from worrying about calories or weight loss, into a more intuitive style of…
IN stark contrast to last year, crowds started arriving before dawn to attend Anzac Day ceremonies across the Mornington Peninsula. The Dawn services were followed later in the morning by marches and ceremonies like this one at Mornington, at Hastings, Rosebud and Rye. Pictures by Yanni, Gary Sissons and Barry Irving. First published in the Mornington News – 27 April 2021
THERE is no shortage of descriptions or writings about the perceived benefits of humans interacting or moving about within nature, or the great outdoors. The term biophilia is used to describe the hypothesis that humans have an innate tendency to connect with nature, including other living creatures. Diversional therapist Michelle Lowe has no doubts about these benefits and says she sees the positive effects on visitors to her “social and emotional wellbeing centre” in Balnarring. Visitors can stroll around the 2.6 hectare property, which has trees and flowers for the picking. Its paddocks can be very peaceful and calming. But…
JIMMY’S Youth Wellbeing Sanctuary nearing completion at Rosebud is designed around the concept of “physiological architecture”, where tranquility and stillness arouse “positive emotional responses” in its clients. A central courtyard and bay views at the site in Point Nepean Road are calming, while the timber deck winding its way up to the front door and internal garden adds to a sense of wellbeing and openness. Jimmy’s Foundation is a registered charity which came about through the determination of Sarah Darling whose 33-year-old son Jimmy died in 2014. It is being managed and fostered by YMCA Peninsula Youth Services which has…
ROSEBUD Girl Guide Liesel Male was presented with her Queen’s Guide Award at a ceremony at the Rosebud Guide Hall, Jetty Road, Saturday 17 April. Leisel, who is also a Bentleigh Ranger Guide, received the highest award from Assistant State Commissioner Deb Abbs. This follows on from a Bravery Award she received at Government House in February last year. Girl Guides Mornington Peninsula District manager Heather Barton said from the time Liesel started at Rosebud she had “systematically set herself the many new and varied goals and challenges, all the while making a significant contribution to the life of Rosebud…
TWO Junior International Federation Tennis Tournaments are being held at Mornington Tennis Club this week and next. They are the Victorian Junior Clay Court International and the Gallipoli Youth Cup. The clay court qualifying matches were held last weekend (17 and 18 April) with the main draw being played all this week until Friday (23 April). The Gallipoli Youth Cup qualifying matches are on Saturday 24-Sunday 25 April with the main draw from Monday 26-Friday 30 April. Players from Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and Korea are competing in singles and doubles matches. The boy’s field is led by Corban…
THREE mates who grew up together and attended the same schools on the Mornington Peninsula have combined their passion for the media and product placement with their own witty podcasts. Kyle Wright, Trent Reardon and Daniel Gray over the past eight years have used their own production company, Bacon Squash, to make movies and provide web content with the help of mates Nick Hollowood and Johnathon Cadd. Their latest film An Australian werewolf in Melbourne’ premiered last weekend. “Basically, what gave us the idea to do the podcast was to create something where we can promote local businesses and what…
AN appetite for self-inflicted punishment appears to have no boundaries when it comes to mountain bike riding. Steep, winding trails, peppered with rocks and tree roots that quickly turn into slippery, muddy slides are more drawcard than deterrent. Recent years have seen an ever increasing number of mountain bikers descend (literally) from near the heights of Arthurs Seat State Park to Boundary Road, Dromana along a series of graded trails. Some riders make their own, slow-paced way up the steep hill while others carry their bikes to the park entrance off Arthurs Seat Road on car racks or aboard a…
WORKS by 76 contemporary artists come together in Holding Ground, an online art exhibition and fundraiser being held to stop the proposed expansion of a contentious granite quarry at Arthurs Seat. Charitable organisation the Ross Trust, and the company it owns, Hillview Quarries, plan to dig the quarry on the north face of Arthurs Seat which would destroy remnant old-growth bushland that is home to koalas and 27 threatened or endangered species. The 23 April-14 May Holding Ground exhibition curated by Penelope Gebhardt features a selection of Mornington Peninsula-based, Melbourne and interstate artists working across sculpture, painting, drawing, jewellery, ceramics,…
TWELVE Mornington Peninsula towns will host Anzac Day services on Sunday 25 April 2021. This year marks the 106th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing in Turkey. Mornington Peninsula Shire has issued a news release urging “our community to commemorate Anzac Day safely” by following COVID-safe guidelines at the various dawn services, marches and remembrance services. The dawn service and march in Melbourne will be live-streamed from 5.40am at shrine.org.au The peninsula’s Anzac Day program: Crib Point: March 10.40am; Crib Point RSL service 11am. Dromana: dawn service 6.15am Peninsula Club; march 9.15am, service 9.45am, Dromana Cenotaph. Flinders: service 10am Flinders…
MORE than 20 young Aboriginals were at the YMCA’s Camp Manyung, Mount Eliza last week to “reconnect with culture and country, as well as develop life-long physical skills”. The camp and Sport and Recreation Victoria joined forces with the Hastings-based Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association to provide the activities as well as teaching them about the yidaki (didgeridoo), jewellery crafts and boomerang throwing. The cost of the camp is part of a $300,000 federal government grant for active recreation programs for young Aboriginal people. “As an industry leader in recreation, the YMCA is excited to be partnering with Willum Warrain Aboriginal…
A BRONZE statue has been unveiled at Point Nepean National Park to commemorate former graduates of the Portsea officer cadet school who died during active service. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions the 18 March unveiling by former graduates Major General David J McLachlan AO and Lieutenant Colonel Robin A McBride, was broadcast online. Of the 22 names on the statue’s plaque fixed to a granite base, 15 lost their lives in south Vietnam, four in the Philippines, two in Malaysia and one on the Thai-Laos border. The statue faces the former parade ground close to Badcoe Hall, named after…
WORK is nearing completion inside the Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud, with pool tiling finished and a floating pool (boom) installed for the 50 metre pool to be divided into two. The play area has three slides, water cannons and a tipping bucket. The steam room and sauna will be completed, and equipment added to the gym over the next few weeks. Early May has been set as the new completion target date with the centre opened to the public before the end of the month. Belgravia Leisure, which manages the centre, is recruiting swimming teachers and qualified fitness experts to…
THE art of self-parody works for Ben Ross. One of his first pitches for a commercial job was a caricature of himself doing some yoga poses. He didn’t get the job, but the character he drew, Bennie, became an inspiration that continued to evolve while Ross subsequently surfed in Mexico. “My vision really came alive. The soft palettes you see on my work today are all Mexican inspired: soft pastels, white beaches, blue and pink skies. Mexico was a true Inspiration,” Ross says. Now back on the Mornington Peninsula, the self-taught artist is two years into a graphics career and…
IT was a labour of love that spanned 27 years. Margaret Crittenden’s collection of clippings and cuttings from all sources documenting the growth of the Mornington Peninsula wine industry from its embryonic state to the powerhouse it is today. Eventually the collection became too important to preside in simple scrap books, and the Crittenden family had each page photographed and assembled into “The Big Red Book”. And after Margaret’s death in November, the Crittenden’s recognised the importance of her work in documenting this important industry. “We only produced six of these books,” said Garry Crittenden. “We felt it was essential…
A FEMALE-only pink patrol was looking out for the safety of swimmers and other beach users at Point Leo on Saturday (27 March). The Point Leo patrol was one of 10 across the state celebrating female leadership in lifesaving for International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s History Month. According to, the special Pink Patrols were among 10 hosted across Victoria this month. “Pink Patrols are made up of all female personnel or female-led patrols and symbolise how integral women are in lifesaving,” Life Saving Victoria membership and leadership development director Angela Malan said. “Their goal is to build female operational…
THE state government has knocked back power company AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point. Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the project, which also included a 55 kilometre gas pipeline to Pakenham, was refused because of the “unacceptable effects” it would have on Western Port’s environment. In a statement on Tuesday 30 March Mr Wynne said his decision was based on a review of AGL’s environmental effects statement, which attracted more than 6000 submissions and encouraged protests either organised by or attended by community group Save Westernport, Environment Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire and the state Opposition. “It’s…
INTER-SCHOOL teacher visits are connecting Japanese programs at Mornington schools. The language link between schools help teachers gain a greater understanding of other schools’ Japanese lessons, as well as observe students’ progress as they pass through secondary school. Benton Junior College teachers Paul Seaman and Adele Jones observed Japanese programs at two other schools on their professional practice day, Friday 12 March. Ms Jones said they were welcomed by past Benton students when they visited Mornington Secondary College. “In order to strengthen our program at Benton and gain a greater understanding of what happens in high school Japanese lessons, Mornington…
A TABLE tennis player in the hunt for a berth at this year’s Tokyo Olympics is the new club ambassador and high performance coach at Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association. Heming Hu, who represented Australia at the 2016 Brazil Olympics, and the 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, complements the association’s in-house coaching team. Heming was the 2019 Australian men’s singles champion, the 2018/19 men’s Oceania Cup singles champion and reached a world ranking high of 67. Asked why he has partnered with the Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association, Heming, a secondary school teacher, said: “I want to…
WATCHING the main 50-metre pool at the Yawa Aquatic Centre slowly being filled with water was a highlight for Nepean MP Chris Brayne as he toured the centre earlier this month. Mr Brayne and Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO John Baker were shown over the $37 million complex in Besgrove Street by the shire’s project manager David Hampton. The community hub is expected to attract about 400,000 visits a year to its gym, group fitness and learn-to-swim classes, cafe and wellness suites. An aqua play area has three slides and a splash pad and a boom to allow the pool to…
WESTERNPORT Tourism, which runs the visitor information centre at the Old Fish Shed at Hastings pier, is looking for volunteers to help visitors. Manager Del Skinner said while Westernport Tourism had been around for decades, interest had been “waxing and waning”. “[The service] was re-invigorated in about 2012 with a number of interested businesses,” Ms Skinner said. “The main focus now is to run the visitor information centre.” Ms Skinner praised the work of Lisa Dixon, now a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor, who had been “tireless in helping to establish the VIC”. “When we gained the lease to The Fish…