MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery is holding four exhibitions of works by women artists from across Australia. Know My Name: Australian Women Artists is a National Gallery of Australia touring exhibition which will make the first stop of a two-year tour in Mornington. The exhibition features more than 60 works by 56 female artists including Margaret Preston, Janet-Cumbrae Stewart and Emily Kam Kngwarray. Brisbane-based Natalya Hughes recreates The Interior – an immersive installation at MPRG, transforming the space and combining sculptural seating, patterned soft furnishings and collectors’ pieces around a hand-painted mural. Known for her book sculptures and woodcarvings, Kylie Stillman’s…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors want Indigenous names for the 11 new municipal wards being created on the peninsula by the Victorian Electoral Commission. A majority of the shire’s 11 councillors last week agreed to ask the Local Government Minister Melissa Horne to “implement” and a local government municipal panel to “consider” Boon Wurrung language place names for the wards. Councillors at the Tuesday 31 October public meeting agreed to “seek advice” about Boon Wurrung ward names from the Bunurong Land Council. The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is locked in a legal dispute with the Boon Wurrung Land and Sea…
But the force will be with you – on patrol COUNTER hours at police stations in Mornington and Hastings will be reduced due to statewide staff shortages and a plan to “focus on the frontline”. In a move announced late on Friday 3 November, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner regional operations Neil Paterson said Victoria Police would temporarily reduce reception counter hours at 43 stations across the state. Counter hours at Mornington will be reduced from 24 hours to 16 from Sunday to Wednesday and remain 24 hours the rest of the week. At Hastings, a 24-hour manned station, counter hours…
FRESH doubts have been expressed over the future of $225 million set aside for the stalled train line extension from Frankston to Baxter. The money for the extension was committed by the previous Coalition federal government and later supported by then opposition leader Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the 2018 election. The cost to electrify and duplicate the Stony Point line to Baxter was quoted at up to $1.5 billion in a business case completed before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the planned extension has failed to progress any further than a business case and the state government has…
ALTHOUGH its influence and interests are national and International, Clean Ocean Foundation remains a part of the Flinders community, where it started more than 20 years ago. “The Flinders community supported us in our first 10 years of campaigning and now we’re giving back,” president Pete Smith said when announcing the foundation would sponsor Flinders Cricket Club’s women’s team.” The foundation is also hoping the wider community of the Mornington Peninsula will get behind its continuing efforts to finally clean up the sewage outfall at Gunnamatta (“Taxpayers’ cash ‘pours into the ocean’” The News 29/8/22). Successful in its early campaign…
THE Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League will launch a women’s division in 2024. The establishment of the MPFNL’s women’s football league was announced last week. The league’s creation was approved by a majority of the MPFNL’s member clubs. A statement from the MPFNL read that the creation of the new league would help football grow. “The MPFNL Board & AFL South East administration are hopeful this will see further growth of other MPFNL clubs participating in this competition in 2024 and beyond. The MPFNL has a proud football history dating back to 1908 through various competition iterations and in 2024…
FOLLOWING the huge success of the inaugural Heritage Motor show in 2022, the Rotary Club of Sorrento is once again hosting the event at the historic Point Nepean Quarantine Station on Sunday 5 November from 10am – 2pm. A perfect activity and venue for the family over the Melbourne Cup “long” weekend. Last year’s event attracted 400 cars and in excess of 2000 patrons, this year is already strongly supported by local entries and interest from interstate. Information and entry for exhibits is on the website www.pointnepeanmotorshow.com.au. Entries will be accepted online up until Wednesday 1 November and late entries…
THE “witch of Rye” returns this Halloween to haunt the streets for a spectacular 10th Halloween celebration. Karren Fleming, of Rye, transforms into a fan-favourite witch to bring Halloween magic to the southern peninsula, in readiness for the Tuesday 31 October’s trick or treating. District nurse Fleming, a mother of four and grandparent to 12 grandchildren, has been weaving her magic as the witch of Rye for 10 years. With a background in the local theatre scene and a love for portraying the witch character in the renowned Wicked musical, Fleming has become a beloved icon in the community. Last…
Council’s ‘discriminatory’ choice of flags to fly Our Mornington Peninsula Shire offices and council should remain apolitical and not promote any legislation that our government promotes (“Councillor to undergo ‘development training’” The News 24/10/23). Why is it that this shire bows down to the government of this day on many issues and particularly with the LGBTQIA+ agenda? Let’s celebrate diversity and inclusion, shall we? Why not fly a flag with a fish celebrating Christians? They are a minority. Or why not a People with Disability flag or an aged flag? Or why not design a flag for the homeless? Since…
A SELF-confessed latecomer to hiking, Red Hill artist Michael Leeworthy managed to turn the restrictions of COVID-19 into positives: publishing three books on walking around the Mornington Peninsula. Weaving narratives derived from his own observations and research Leeworthy has colourfully illustrated each book with his own paintings, many featuring creatures that can be encountered on the various trails. “What started as something to do during COVID-19 became a true labour of love. Having so many walking trails at my front door was a blessing,” Leeworthy said. “When we were allowed to go further than five kilometres, I took the opportunity…
THE click, pop and hum of a PA system starting up is soon joined by the sound of guitars tuning, drumbeats and scales on trumpet and saxophone. General chit-chat about the week just past melds with microphone checks. A basic 12-bar blues line on bass guitar is soon joined by a rhythmic drum backbeat and then guitar chords. Soon the room is filled with music and then laughter, friendly banter and eager chatter. These are the sounds of the Headmasters Apprentices, a pop band of eight school principals and assistant principals from the Frankston area and the Mornington Peninsula. Some…
RYE foreshore has again been given official approval for Schoolies Week celebrations. Hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the week-long “schoolies hub” will run from Saturday 25 November to Friday 1 December The shire says the hub will provide a place for schoolies to dance the night away in a supportive and age-appropriate environment. Each night will feature a different line-up of local DJs and party themes. Support teams, including the shire’s youth services team, DanceWize and Red Frog volunteers, will also attend. Peninsula Schoolies 2023 tickets cost $50 for a week-long pass that gives entry to the schoolies hub…
ROSEBUD based charity Clothes4U is taking the stress out of looking professional on a budget, providing students and people looking for work with quality clothes at low or no cost. Prices are low, but quality is not. There are suits, race day wear and hats, dresses, designer brands and clothes for most occasions. Charity president Tina Donahue said buying new clothes that were suitable for employment situations was sometimes out of reach for students or people looking to join the workforce. Donahue said clients who come to Clothes4U were given a one-on-one consultation, taking into account their body shape, likes…
DETECTIVES have made a fresh appeal to try to identify a woman’s body found on the beach at Sorrento 57 years ago. A digitally generated image has been released of the unknown woman, along with a photograph of a woman believed to be linked to her. The woman’s body was discovered floating in the water off Sorrento beach on the evening of 25 February 1966. She is described as being between 65 and 70 years old, about 164cm tall, with a slight build. She had grey hair, no teeth, brown eyes with a blue periphery in her iris, and a…
THE Archibald Prize 2023 Regional Tour at Mornington is winding up for its last day on 5 November, but it has created long lasting memories for at least one family. Mornington grandmother Monica Hughes has turned the portrait exhibition into a family tradition that has so far spanned three generations. “Every year for the past 10 years that it has been on we go as an extended family to wherever it is being held, and we have our very own competition to try and enhance the experience for the young ones,” she said. “It all started a decade ago when…
THE Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group is preparing for the 2024 stage of its biolink project and is keen to hear from landholders from Cerberus to Tyabb who would like to take part. The project, now in its fourth year, aims to help the peninsula’s koalas by strengthening existing indigenous vegetation in the region. So far, the group has planted more than 70,000 plants, with 25,000 planned for 2024. President Dirk Jansen said the main reason for the decline in koala numbers on the peninsula was the loss of indigenous vegetation, and one of the keys to improving that was…
A MOOROODUC land owner living in green wedge zoning is calling for stronger enforcement of protections following the allegedly illegal development of a neighbouring property. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council acknowledged it is looking into the alleged non-compliance of use and development of the land at a property in Males Road, but was unable to comment because the investigation is underway. Moorooduc resident Susan Bell accused the council of being a “toothless tiger” after being told by the council it was “working with” the neighbouring land owner and it could take 12 months to resolve. Bell said she believed the…
FIVE councillors and 99 objectors have failed to convince Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to reject a planning application to erect a temporary religious marquee on green wedge land in Pearcedale. In a close vote at last Tuesday’s (17 October) meeting, six of the 11 councillors agreed with principal planner Ersi Ni’s recommendation to allow the remedial Hindu pooja ceremony to purify the land at 1915 Hastings-Dandenong Road, where the applicants want to build the largest Hindu temple in Australia. That separate planning application is due to be heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in February. Nine objectors to…
WESTERN Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation and OzFish Unlimited have formed a partnership to “build awareness of the reserve’s environmental significance and encourage behaviours that will protect its marine ecosystems for future generations”. The partnership between the not for profit OzFish will extend the biosphere foundation’s reach beyond its resident communities and deliver important environmental information and advice to millions of boating enthusiasts and recreational fishers who annually visit the reserve, according to biosphere CEO Mel Barker. She said the organisations shared similar values, “founded on a shared vision to ensure local communities and visitors are well informed and equipped to…
SUMMER may be just around the corner, but users of Sunnyside Beach North, Mount Eliza fear they are being left out in the cold by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The beach is renowned for being the only one on Port Phillip where public nudity is legal, but the shire has been accused of ignoring safety in making the beach difficult to access and is about to introduce paid parking. Sunnyside, an isolated beach between Mount Eliza and Mornington, is one of three peninsula foreshore parking areas chosen for this summer’s paid parking trial (“Permanent paid parking to depend on trial…
ENCOURAGING subdivisions, removing red tape and amending planning guidelines to incentivise housing construction have been suggested by a Mornington Peninsula charity to ease the housing and homelessness crisis. Peninsula Voice, which describes itself as a social platform for community learning, has compiled a comprehensive report on homelessness to raise awareness and foster an “all community” approach to solving the problem. A social movement with no political or religious affiliations, the charity is distributing the document to politicians, charities and housing groups while calling for “urgent” action. Convenor Peter Orton said that while there was a lot of good work being…
ANGRY car owners out of pocket thousands of dollars are demanding compensation after their engines were damaged by contaminated diesel fuel at a Hastings service station. Several vehicle owners have told The News that their vehicles either stopped working or malfunctioned after buying fuel in the past two weeks from the United petrol station at 1996 Frankston-Flinders Road. The petrol station franchisee Ram Vidiyala has acknowledged there was a water contamination and that the outlet had shut down the diesel pumps as soon as he was made aware until repairs are made. Vidiyala said he had received the first report…
Water needed to flush away dog urine at shops Mount Martha village has several eateries/coffee establishments. One seems to be very popular, with patrons eating food, and their dogs filling the tables and footpath – a very pleasant scene. However, there are the shop’s corners and a post holding up the roof and the dog owners let their dogs urinate in these areas. The stench of dog urine running down the shop corners and along the footpath with people having to walk through this, is disgusting, while food is served. Some dogs are on their owner’s laps, with the dogs…
Words and pictures by Barry Irving RYE RSL was the venue for the annual dinner and presentation night for 100 Rye CFA members and guests on Saturday 14 October. Hosted by Paul Biaguerra, the evening featured the presentation of a framed certificate to Rye captain Eddy Matt by assistant chief fire officer Jamie Hansen, recognising the 75 years of the brigade’s service to the Rye community. A life membership medal was presented to former captain Glenn Diamond, who was a member for 20 years after joining in 2003 as a firefighter and becoming deputy group officer from 2021 to 2022.…
MERRICKS author Megan Rogers is not wasting time when it comes to telling stories, having signed a two-book deal for her novel The Anatomy of Tears. Rogers’ book is about Simone Wells, a psychologist who specialises in the language of pain, and whose own life falls apart due to her own pain. Wells escapes by taking a job in a country town needing a pain specialist, where she learns the stories of the locals, and realises there is more than one mystery to be solved. At the same time Wells questions herself and fears she is far from the woman…
MOUNT Martha resident and Cure Cancer fundraiser David Sutherland ran 10 kilometres on Sunday 15 October as part of the Melbourne Marathon Festival, and has already raised more than $2000, beating his $1500 target. Originally from Hamilton, 69-year-old Sutherland grew up on a farm with a brother and sister and now, as a father of four and grandfather of four himself, understands the importance of family and friends. Sadly, four important people in Sutherland’s life are now undergoing treatment for cancer, which is why he decided to raise money for Cure Cancer. “Right now, one of my amazing nieces, Heidi,…
SURFING has a history and the Vintage Surf Day being held at Pt Leo is much more than being “about a bunch of antiquated surfboards”, according to Paul Trigger. Trigger, of Trigger Bros. Surfboards, says the day provides a chance to “meet the people that created and rode” those surfboards. George Rice, one of the biggest surfboard manufacturers in the 1960s will be attending along with an early team rider Gail Couper, winner of 10 Easter Bells women’s titles. “There will be mind blowing surfboard collections from as early as the 1950s through to signed surfboards ridden by the professionals.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has assured residents not to be concerned if they come across asset inspectors using cameras to film the streets. During a month-long assessment of the shire’s 690km network of footpaths, contractors will ride small quad bike-style vehicles with cameras attached, travelling at walking pace. The cameras are filming the footpath structure only and will not record any commercial, residential or private property. The assessment is expected to be completed by mid to late November. The findings from the assessments will give the council information about the condition of footpaths to help it maintain the network of…
THE Victorian Electoral Commission is reviewing the electoral structure of Mornington Peninsula Shire and is seeking feedback from the community. The municipality is being reviewed by an electoral representation advisory panel, supported by the VEC, who will consider the appropriate number of councillors and wards, ward boundary locations and ward names. The panel will propose models for the council’s structure in a preliminary report, and the community will be able to give feedback. The preliminary report has been released and response submissions for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council review will open on Wednesday 25 October and close at 5pm on…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor Susan Bissinger says she is “not a pariah or a bully” but was last week about to start personal development training at ratepayers’ expense. She says the training was ordered by the mayor Cr Steve Holland after two mediation sessions involving him and CEO John Baker. “The first one with him [Holland} worked out well, but the second one not so good.” She said Baker had since barred her from directly contacting council staff, with the exception of a select few senior officers. This was something she found “very strange, as members of the public can…