By Despi O’Connor* THE Mornington Returned and Services League (RSL) has its first female president in Meryn Cooper. Cooper joined the Women’s Royal Australian Navy in 1981 and was based at HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point for her new recruits’ course, proudly wearing her uniform. She completed her category training on the base and as a cook was then posted to HMAS Albatross, Nowra Hill, NSW home of the Fleet Air Arm. Eighteen months later Cooper was posted to HMAS Coonawarra, in Darwin. Prior to 1985, women were not able to go to sea, so for her four years of service…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
NEWLY elected Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayor Cr Simon Brooks says he is honoured to have received the support of his fellow councillors. Brooks was appointed at last Tuesday’s (21 November) annual council meeting at Rosebud, along with deputy mayor Cr Antonella Celi. A second term councillor, Brooks first represented the Seawinds Ward from 2016 to 2020. In February this year, after losing the 2020 election, he was elected on a countback following the December 2022 resignation of Kerri McCafferty (“Brooks back in council on countback” The News 7/2/23). With a background in building and design, and five years as…
THE National Trust’s Mornington Peninsula branch is holding an auction on Sunday 3 December of paintings, drawings and prints donated by branch members and friends. Branch president Victor Sullivan said a chance remark during a gathering of members inspired the “unique fundraising idea”. “Conversation between colleagues drifted to the topic of what happens after downsizing when people retain some or even all of their much-loved art collections, but do not have wall space to hang items,” he said. “An appeal to members and friends has been hugely successful and we have gathered excellent examples of art for the auction.” He…
Police have discovered what is believed to be human remains in Port Phillip Bay as they continue to investigate a plane crash in Mount Martha on Sunday. They are believed to be the missing occupants of the plane, a 56-year-old Brunswick man and a 30-year-old Surrey Hills man. It comes after police located wreckage from the plane off the shore of Mornington on Monday evening. Water Police, Air Wing and Uniform officers have carried out extensive searches across Port Phillip Bay as part of a complex operation since the crash on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called to reports two…
MORNINGTON Peninsula four-piece indie rock band Teenage Dads has been jettisoned into the music media spotlight after winning the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA award last Wednesday. Teenage Dads was formed by self-taught musicians Jordan Finlay and Connor McLaughlin in Mount Eliza in 2015, with Angus Christie and Vincent Kinna joining the band later. They have been playing locally and toured Europe and America but have not yet hit the heights of commercial success. All that is set to change, with the band now recognised by one of the most prestigious industry awards for up-and-coming bands. Angus Christie’s father Greg…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is reconsidering its mechanical beach cleaning practices after doubts were raised about the effectiveness of the process. Rye-based environmental advocate and former Citizen of the Year Josie Jones said mechanical beach cleaning was creating more macro plastics on the beach and causing serious pollution issues. Jones has produced a report after spending months researching and collecting plastic waste from Safety Beach and Capel Sound to prove that mechanical beach cleaning does not remove all of the waste but shatters it into smaller pieces that get buried in the sand. “I have doubted the effectiveness of the…
Police have located wreckage following a plane crash in Mount Martha on Sunday afternoon. Water Police, Air Wing and Uniform officers have carried out extensive searches across Port Phillip Bay as part of a multi-agency operation. Emergency services were called to reports two small planes collided over the bay about 1.45pm on Sunday 19 November. One plane crashed into the water, the other safely landed at Essendon airport. After searching water, a large part of the body of the plane was located off the shore of Mornington. Police are working to remove the fuselage of the plane from the water,…
VISITORS are being urged to look out for hooded plovers nesting along Mornington Peninsula shorelines and help the birds by giving them plenty of space and keeping dogs away from breeding areas. Now in its third season, the Conservation Regulator’s Operation Save our Hoodies (SoHo), run in partnership with Parks Victoria and Birdlife Australia, is helping protect the threatened beach-nesting birds during their breeding season. Hooded plovers lay eggs in shallow sand scrapes and raise their chicks on beaches between August and March. They face threats from people trampling nests or scaring them into abandoning their eggs, and from dogs…
WILDLIFE groups have welcomed a proposal to remove kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula from the commercial kangaroo harvest scheme. If adopted, the changes will come into effect in 2025 and last until 2028. However, property owners will still be able to apply for permit to “control wildlife”. Public comments can be made about the Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2024-2028 until Monday 4 December. The Save Kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula (SKOMP) group hailed the peninsula kangaroo’s removal from the plan as “great news”. Kangaroos are the peninsula currently included in the Gippsland harvesting zone, which wildlife advocates say distorts…
PLANS to improve Mornington Peninsula road and rail services came to a sudden halt last week with the federal government announcing cuts of more than $300 million from infrastructure projects. The move means the cancellation of both the Jetty Road, Rosebud overpass and the electrification of the train service from Frankston to Baxter. The $225 million promised by the previous Coalition government to duplicating and electrifying the line to Baxter came nowhere near to the estimated $1.5 billion needed. Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the federal government said the infrastructure cuts included “projects that were not realistically going to be…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ immediate future is on the line with the local club scrambling to avoid being booted out of State League by Football Victoria. That’s the bleak prospect facing the men from Monterey if they can’t pay a large percentage of a five-figure debt owed to FV by the end of this month. Last week the state federation announced that many clubs “failed to meet their financial obligations in 2023, resulting in a historic level of debt … nearing $2 million.” It then delivered the bombshell news that “clubs unable or unwilling to meet their financial obligations will be…
CRICKET PROVINCIAL A MASSIVE century by Harley Peace-Stirling has secured an important win for Pines. Sorrento set Pines a target of 113 to score to win. Pines looked shaky batting on day one, and finished up at 5/51 at stumps. Pines looked much more comfortable on day two. On the back of a brilliant knock of 109 not out by Peace-Stirling, they easily surpassed their target. Some excellent bowling saw Long Island get a win over Old Peninsula last Saturday. Long Island were in a good position coming into day two – they scored 261 runs on day one. A…
EARLY on Sunday morning last while putting a prisoner into the cell at the watch-house, on a charge of drunkenness, Senior–Constable Culhane and Constable Graham were wounded, the result of revolver shots. From details to hand, it appears that the two officers mentioned had arrested a man named Hannah, a former policeman, lately stationed at Brighton, on a charge of drunkenness, and while locking him up a shot rang out. Constable Graham fell to the ground. Senior-Constable Culhane, who was turning out the light, rushed to the assistance of his fellow officer, when another shot was fired, striking the senior…
No environmental benefit in brown coal to hydrogen It is pleasing to see that the state government may be finally coming to its sense with regard to the shipping hydrogen to Japan (“MPs under pressure over hydrogen” The News 14/11/23). While shipping the clean fuel hydrogen to Japan seemed like a sensible idea, it was always flawed because of the way the hydrogen was to be made. Had the hydrogen been produce through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy then the idea had merit. However, the method chosen, converting brown coal to hydrogen was always flawed for the…
RYE residents and visitors can now enjoy a new public artwork: Ngalamba: to stop and wait a while. Produced by artists David Wood, of Bent Metal, Daniel van de Wiel, of It Stands Out and Shanai Kellett, of Maloga Art, the wall sculpture represents the story of Bunurong’s five seasons. The commission came about after Rye Community Alliance reached out to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, in consultation with Binturong elders. Both schematic and organic, the sculpture celebrates the local Bunurong people’s connection to country. Inspired by the life cycle of the leptospermum laevigatum – the coastal tea tree, an…
ZETA Newbound, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, lives independently, drives her manual car, attends events and participates in discussions regarding current topics. The president of Flinders Probus Club, Rose White, said the club had organised a surprise This is your Life Power Point presentation and a birthday lunch for Newbound following a monthly meeting at Flinders Yacht Club. “Eighty-five of us kept the secret and Zeta was amazed,” White said. The presentation traced Newbound’s life from her 7 October birth 1923 in Lewisham, England, where Australian parents were working. Her mother Meta was a professional violinist and her father,…
THE Rosebud-based four-part Southern Peninsula Choir is evolving and expanding its repertoire under the guidance of musical director Serena Carmel, who took over after the retirement to Germany last year of Antony Ransome. Under her direction the choir conducted a workshop in October as part of the Mornpen Positive Ageing Festival. The choir has a biennial scholarship that aims to promote interest in classical choral singing for young people on the Mornington Peninsula.. Winner of this year’s scholarship program was Ava De Vries, 14, who also won the encouragement award two years ago. Singing teacher Cheryl McDonald began teaching De Vries…
A CREDIT card inside a wallet stolen from motor vehicle at Safety Beach overnight on Saturday 30 September was used the following day at Woolworths, Mornington. The card was used to buy items worth $923.70 and police have released an image of a man (above) who may be able to assist with their inquiries. Anyone with information in urged to contact either the Mornington Peninsula CIU on 5978 1400, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Mornington News – 21 November 2023
POLICE numbers will still be bolstered on the Mornington Peninsula for up to four weeks during schoolies celebrations, despite crowds expected to be down this year. But with public drunkenness no longer being a criminal offence in Victoria and police now having to arrange safe options for drunken revellers, could be plenty to keep them busy. Superintendent Fiona Bock, above right, said all indications were that the peninsula would not be the top choice for school leavers this year, with many headed interstate or overseas. “But we will still have a strong police presence because our aim is to allow…
SIXTY-five truckies were intercepted on Peninsula Link and around the Mornington Peninsula on Monday (13 November) and 58 driving offences recorded in a crackdown on heavy vehicle driver behaviour. Operation Hauler involved the Somerville Highway Patrol, Victoria Police heavy vehicle unit and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator between Carrum Downs, Hastings and Rosebud and surrounding industrial estates. Senior Constable Travis Perkins from Mornington police said the peninsula had seen an increase in heavy vehicle collisions causing road trauma. This year has recorded the highest quarterly collisions involving collisions with heavy vehicles in the past five years. Already this year there…
MORNINGTON Community Support Centre has celebrated 40 years of service to the local community and paid tribute to its founders at a special event at the Main Street centre. Established as a citizen’s advice bureau, the centre evolved into the broader community-focussed Mornington Community Support Centre, providing practical and personal support for people in need. The centre’s scope ranges from a coffee and toast in the meeting room cafe to advice and help on financial matters, finding somewhere to live, or handing over groceries under its fresh food program. The inaugural centre manager, the late Helen Hendry OAM, was represented…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is reminding residents they will not have to pay for parking at foreshore car parks during summer’s paid parking trial. Visitors to foreshore car parks at Schnapper Point, Mornington Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza and Flinders pier will have to pay for parking as part of a trail. If judged successful by the shire, permanent paid parking will be introduced at other foreshore car parks. The council has said the trial is an opportunity to more fairly distribute the cost of maintaining the sites, but residents will need to apply for an e-permit to ensure their vehicles…
THE Mount Martha property Creeting Lodge, designed in 1926 by Melbourne architect Marcus Martin, will open for the first time with Open Gardens Victoria on Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 November. Named after a village in Suffolk, United Kingdom, the garden of Creeting Lodge was created in collaboration with the award-winning team at Myles Baldwin Design and blends European and Mediterranean plants. “As the gates open, you are greeted by a regal guard of towering golden cypress pines, standing tall and proud for over 150 years,” owner Paul Bonnici said. “Heritage meets botany in the most divine way, with…
TWO people, including MasterChef TV cameraman James Rose, were still missing (Monday) after a mid-air collision over Port Phillip between ex-military planes on Sunday off Mount Martha. The two-seater aircraft were reported to be conducting a formation flight over the bay when they collided. One plane plunged into the water while the second, also with two people on board, flew back to Essendon Airport. Family members of the two men in the missing aircraft waited at Mount Martha Life Saving Club Sunday night as a search and rescue mission continued about 11 kilometres offshore. It is believed the Viper S-211…
OVER the weekend of 3 and 4 November more than 40 walkers took to the streets and bushland trails of the Mornington Peninsula in a two-day White Ribbon walk that has so far raised more than $2500. The route of the inaugural walk went from Mount Eliza to Portsea and was supported by the Uniting churches of the Port Philip region and a Mornington Peninsula Shire flexi grant. Walkers covered 50 kilometres to make a stand against violence towards women. Organiser Peter Hough described the experience as “truly humbling”, as the walkers promoted their cause to residents and campers along…
MORE than 160 CFA called to the Crib Point refinery over the weekend to improve their firefighting skills ahead of a predicted “challenging summer”. The volunteers from more than 20 brigades across the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port worked through a vegetation fire simulation involving more than 30 vehicles and aircraft. “We’re getting ready for the fast-moving intense grassfires that will come as a result of the abundance of grass we are now seeing across the state,” Deputy Chief Officer South East Trevor Owen said. “The crews engaged in a range of activities, from grassfire techniques to operating bushland firefighting…
A MERGER between two drug and alcohol recovery services will combat drug and alcohol overdose deaths on the Mornington Peninsula, which are climbing back towards pre-pandemic levels. Windana drug and alcohol recovery service is merging with TaskForce Community Agency, a not-for-profit with a focus on drug and alcohol misuse, youth and family services, education and employment. Data released last Thursday (9 November) by the Victorian Coroners Court shows overdose deaths in the past decade are back to alarming levels, with 21 on the peninsula in 2013 before dropping to nine in 2019 and climbing back to 15 in 2022. In…
THE start of the much-hyped container deposit scheme on 1 November has highlighted flaws in the program and drawn criticism from environment groups and the state opposition. The state government financed scheme provides a 10-cent refund for returned eligible cans, cartons and bottles, and has been promoted as an important component of the recycling system and a way to cut litter. But by the second day of the trial, some container bins on the Mornington Peninsula were too full to receive any more due to members of the public loading them up with cans they had been saving. There have…
A SPATE of animal deaths on Mornington Peninsula roads over spring has led to renewed calls for more effective strategies to slow drivers down and keep wildlife off roads. The Save Kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula group (SKOMP) wants Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to lobby the state government and private road operator Peninsula Link to make roads safer for wildlife and drivers. Cr David Gill said exclusion fencing, wildlife corridors and more 40-kilometre speeds limits in high accident areas could save lives. “Unfortunately, the Department of Transport and private road operators don’t have policies to protect wildlife,” he said. “Unless…
DOG owners are again being reminded of the need to keep their pets on leashes or under control in public areas after a tragic end for a kangaroo thought to have been chased into the water at Dromana. Wildlife rescuers, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council rangers and police were called to the beach at Dromana beach on Thursday (9 November) morning, when a kangaroo was seen lying on the sand, drenched and clearly unwell. The area was cordoned off to give the kangaroo time to recover and stop it from jumping out onto Point Nepean Road until vets could arrive to…