IN a post-COVID world where many people are searching for meaning and purpose, one organisation is reaching out to offer a way to fill the void. The volunteer-based CFA is always seeking new volunteers to help it continue its mission of helping the community, responding to emergencies and supporting other services in times of community need. Mornington Fire Brigade is currently on a recruitment drive after its volunteer numbers have since 2016 dropped from around 80 to 30. Captain Michael Licciardo said the sense of satisfaction volunteers got from helping the community and being involved in something bigger than themselves…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
VETS for Compassion, a not-for-profit organisation of vets and assistants, spent more than a week trying catch a skinny and wheezy ginger cat hanging around a factory at Hastings. After many attempts, the crew was finally able to capture the scared and hungry cat, which was treated by the vets and is now in care with Forever Friends Animal Rescue until it is ready for adoption. The animal, which was suffering from a respiratory illness, had been hiding under machinery, coming out from time to time at workers – almost asking for help. Vets for Compassion is a registered charity…
THE state government has announced that a terminal to assemble offshore wind turbines will be built at Hastings while at the same time saying there will be “a thorough environment effects statement (EES) process” before the project progresses. In a statement issued on Sunday (10 September) the government says the terminal will be built at the Old Tyabb Reclamation Area and be equipped “for the receival, assembly and installation of offshore wind foundations, towers and turbines as a multi-user facility, with new berths, heavy duty pavements and major supporting infrastructure”. Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Ports and Freight…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is looking to strengthen planning controls around advertising signage following residents and councillors’ concerns about large, brightly lit neon signs in Mornington. A report presented to council on 8 September called for “strategic work” to tighten its planning policy in a bid to provide “better guidance” on major promotion signs. Cr Anthony Marsh pushed for the policy review after council lost a fight at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ban a large, electronic sign in Nepean Highway, Mornington, with the tribunal finding that the sign adhered to all current policies. First published in the…
By Hugh Fraser* A DIVIDED and dysfunctional Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has voted down a motion by Cr David Gill to restore the right of councillors to transparently question council officers during public council meetings. Gill was right to bring this issue to the attention of council and the community. In a democratic, functional and responsible council, his motion ought to have succeeded. The democratic right of councillors to question council officers and senior management in council meetings is an essential council and transparent process. It assists in making a CEO, shire officers and management accountable to council and the…
LOCAL laws officers have started patrols at Shoreham Foreshore one week after the death a wallaby joey at Shoreham foreshore whose mother was apparently chased by dogs on Sunday 3 September. The death prompted an outcry from residents and the Shoreham Foreshore Reserve Committee, which is calling for greater awareness of the risk unleashed dogs pose to wildlife. The dead joey was found in the foreshore reserve on the Monday morning, following an incident on Sunday night in which it is believed barking dogs chased the mother and caused it to eject or lose her joey. Management committee chair Toby…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a call that would have allowed officers to be questioned in public about the contents and possible consequences of their reports. The bid by Cr David Gill to clear the way for the public questioning of officers was defeated last week on the casting vote of the mayor, Cr Steve Holland. With one councillor absent, the vote was tied five all and Holland, in line with accepted procedure, used his extra vote as meeting chairperson to retain the status quo, which prevents the officers being questioned at public council meetings. In the lead up…
Carrum Downs artist Jaq Grantford has been named as the Archibald Prize 2023 ‘People’s Choice’ winner for her winning portrait of former Playschool presenter and beloved Australian personality Noni Hazlehurst. This month, the highly anticipated Archibald Prize 2023 opens at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery – the only Victorian destination for this popular event. Thousands of art lovers and curious cultural adventurers will head to Mornington to see the 57 portraits hanging side-by-side, including Jaq’s now famous portrait and this year’s winning work of Montaigne by Julia Gutman. Portraits have always intrigued the viewer: the eyeline, the position of the…
The Voice: Residents look to councillors for leadership I attended the 5 September public meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting with the expectation that councillors would debate whether they should support a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum. I was deeply shocked and disappointed that questions regarding the referendum were dismissed, with the CEO advising that council would not be taking a position on this matter. Local councils play a pivotal role in representing and reflecting the sentiments of their community. The shire has previously shown its support for Indigenous rights and reconciliation in its Reconciliation Action Plan, so…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is calling for nominations for its 2024 Australia Day awards. Nominations of a friend, family member or colleague in the categories of Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year until Friday 17 November if they have made an outstanding contribution to the community. Last year’s Citizen of the Year was Jack Van Der Zwart, in recognition of his work caring for foster children, cooking for the homeless in Rosebud and providing meals for the needy. There is also an opportunity to recognise events, through the category of community event of the year. The…
THE St Andrews Beach Brewery is on the market, with agents calling it a “significant coastal land-banking” opportunity and say they expect interest from throughout Australia. The former horse training centre once owned by the Freeman brothers is on 37.2 hectares and includes a wholesale business as well as restaurant and bar. The property is being offered for sale and expressions of interest are being sought by J L L Hotels and Hospitality’s Will Connolly, Peter Harper and Lachlan Persley. Formerly known as Markdel, the Fingal property was redefined in 2017 to create a hospitality venue and on-site brewery. It…
A SPRING cold front caused havoc across the Mornington Peninsula overnight Thursday (8 September) and into Friday (9 September), bringing rain and strong winds, as well as general misery for football fans ahead of the AFL finals. Gale force winds downed trees and dislodged anything not tied down as blasts swept across the southeast and the peninsula over Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued wind warnings for Western Port and Port Phillip, but for some boat owners they came too late. The extreme weather also saw emergency service volunteers, and CFA and SES teams clearing trees…
ARTISTS who regularly open their studios along the Peninsula Studio Trail are holding their annual combined art exhibition at Mornington. The annual studio trail started 15 years ago and includes about 30 artists working in a variety of mediums, including painting, textiles, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture. New works will be displayed at this month’s exhibition and visitors will have a chance to meet and speak with the artists. The exhibition is being held at The Studio, 91 Wilson’s Road, Mornington. Tickets to the opening night on Friday 22 September are $15 a person and include food and wine and entertainment…
RISING food bills, vet bills and the surrender of dogs and cats “adopted” during the COVID pandemic have created a “sad situation”, according to Rosy Fischer. Fischer, of Mornington, has compiled a list of pet organisations that may help pet owners who are struggling to keep their pets. “Many people are surrendering their pets with most shelters and rescue groups overwhelmed with pets,” she said. “I regularly see people posting online pets for rehoming and asking for pet food, or assistance with vet bills. “Financial constraints due to increased costs of living, vet fees, lack of pet friendly rentals, COVID…
THE removal of at least five trees at Tyabb Primary School has left some residents distraught at the loss of a piece of the area’s heritage. Contractors for the Department of Education removed the trees from the school yard, including English oak, Norfolk pine and desert ash. Former student Alden Collins said he was devastated to see that the Norfolk Island pine gifted to the school by Harriet Benton, a sewing mistress for the school and part of an early pioneering family, had been razed. The tree was planted with Benton’s class in 1908 as she was leaving to go…
WARNINGS to use only wildlife-friendly baits for rats and mice have been issued after at least six birds of prey, including tawny frogmouths, owls and goshawks have been found dead on the southern Mornington Peninsula. The birds did not show any signs of injury and all except one were dead when discovered. Peninsula marine advocate and researcher Kent Stannard said birds of prey dying from baits was a long-standing issue in the area, but mainly on the back beach and national park. Stannard said he recently found several dead birds near the Whitecliffs foreshore camping ground and suspected they may…
WELFARE services say it is “time to act” on homelessness, with the Peninsula Voice adding its views with a report “Working together on the homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula”. Peninsula Voice president Peter Orton said the community had “watched the growing homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula damage lives”. “It’s a complex issue, so it’s vital that our community understands the drivers behind this crisis and how broadly it impacts us, so we can work together on local solutions,” he said. Orton said that to support the issued, Peninsula Voice had held three events aimed at taking a “deeper…
A DECISION to change courses has paid off for Leela Subramaniam who has been named Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Victorian Training Awards. The former Chisholm Institute student was studying a double degree in commerce and law before switching to cooking. After completing a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery at Chisholm’s Mornington Peninsula campus, Subramaniam now works as a full-time junior sous-chef at Flinders Hotel, Flinders. As well as the training awards win she was named Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Chisholm Education Awards and was the Victorian winner and national bronze medallist at the 2022…
THE Fair Work Ombudsman has started legal action against a Boneo celery farm – one of Australia’s largest celery producers – alleging it underpaid three visa holders $91,907 across one year. The FWO says it investigated A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd after receiving requests for assistance from three farmhands who alleged they had not been paid during extended periods of their employment. It is alleged that Lamattina underpaid the farmhands between February 2020 and February 2021. One of the farmhands was allegedly underpaid more than $37,000 while the other two were each underpaid more than $27,000, respectively.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council’s community animal shelter and pound will desex dogs and cats for pet owners over 60. Under the new initiative, Seniors Card holders who have a dog or cat registered with the shire can get their pets desexed for free. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the program would enhance the wellbeing of both pets and their owners, but also aimed to encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce the number of stray animals. Holland said the community animal shelter and pound had been caring for animals for more than 30 years, and understood the role pets play…
HAVING a new baby is supposed to be one of the most joyous times of a mother’s life, but for 29-year-old Taylor Johnston it was marred by a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Just one week after giving birth to her daughter Billie earlier this year, Johnston, of Rye, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and now faces an uncertain future and the trauma of having to spend time apart from her baby for treatment. Her husband Jesse, a senior footballer at Rye Football Netball Club, said the family was trying to stay positive, which had been helped by community support.…
SORRENTO Cricket Club is focussing on child safety in the lead up to National Child Protection Week (3-9 September) and is raising awareness of how sports clubs can help. Child safety officer Ella McConnell said the club’s leadership team had implemented the Victorian Child Safe Standards and improved safeguarding practices and culture over the past 12 months. “At Sorrento Cricket Club we are committed to promoting child safety awareness and protecting our children and young people on the peninsula from harm and abuse,” she said. “With National Child Protection Week approaching, it is the perfect time to raise awareness and…
A LITERARY event especially for poetry enthusiasts is being held from 2pm on Sunday 10 September at the Rosebud Country Club Bowls Club. The Poets Corner event will bring together poets and spoken word artists from across the Mornington Peninsula and elsewhere. Poets Corner, a community organisation dedicated to poetry and spoken word arts, has been operating on the peninsula since 2017. The organisation adapted and continued its activities through virtual platforms during the COVID pandemic and is now returning to in-person events. The bowls club meeting will feature academic, storyteller, and counter-narrative poet Dr Denise Chapman, who is known…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has come to the aid of Rye Repair Cafe with a $10,000 climate action grant. The volunteer-run service operates out of Rye Community House on the first Sunday of each month, offering help to anyone who has something to mend or repair. By repairing household items, the group is taking on the war on waste one item at a time. Manager of Rye Community House, Marg D’Arcy, said the Repair Cafe dwindled during the pandemic and needed a financial boost to get it back up and running. “This grant has enabled us to establish a repair…
THE volunteer-run Mornington Tourist Railway has been given three carriages from Vline and is looking for suggestions about how to best use them. Owen Paden said the 22.86 metres long carriages, known as the N set, included an economy seating carriage (BN) with 88 seats, an economy class carriage (BRN) with a buffet seating 67 passengers, and first-class carriage (CAN) with a guard compartment seating 52 passengers. Paden said the carriages were originally broken down into classes, but all seats were now considered “premium class”. “These N set carriages began operation on 5 October 1981 and were built at the…
MOUNT Martha tennis courts are in line for a major revamp, with reconstruction work about to begin. The courts on the Esplanade near Mount Martha Community House, are in poor condition and will be brought up to Tennis Australia club competition standards. Mornington Peninsula Shire said work starting this week will include improving court surfaces, lighting, fencing and adding a booking system. The shire is contributing $878,417 to the works, the state government $300,000 and Mount Martha Tennis Club $80,000. The courts are expected to be finished by end of February 2024. The tennis club, the biggest on the peninsula,…
A FISHING competition in honour of Jamerson Ross, who died on 8 October last year in a hit-and-run incident in Hastings, will be held from the 6 to 8 October in conjunction with the Western Port Angling Club. Jamerson (known as Jammo) was a 23-year-old working in the marine electrical business Australian Integrated Marine when he died. His mother Chantelle Ross said her son was a hard-working young man who also worked on weekends to save money. When not working hard was outdoors following his passion for fishing. Jamerson had extensive fishing knowledge and experience in running and competing in…
MORNINGTON Peninsula hospitality venues are being urged to be plastic free in support of a litter and waste-free summer. The Boomerang Alliance program Plastic Free Mornington Peninsula is inviting food businesses and events to commit to lowering their carbon footprint while reducing packaging costs over the next six to 12 months. Mornington Peninsula facilitator Birte Moliere said much of the waste in the hospitality sector could be avoided by using alternatives and going plastic free. “Through our One.Change Campaign, people are being encouraged to start with one simple step – reusable takeaways. In particular, making the switch to reusable cups,…
SHIREEN Hammond says her life went to the dogs, literally, following a breast cancer diagnosis around nine years ago, months of chemotherapy and seemingly endless hospital visits. The award-winning photographer from Tootgarook was known for capturing the emotion and beauty of families and weddings but was forced to consider another way to continue her artistry, and dogs were it. “When I came out of hospital in 2015, I needed a project to heal as I had no strength and couldn’t shoot my 30 weddings that year at eight to 12 hours a shoot,” she said. “Our beautiful border collie Mariah…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has strengthened its stand against the commercial harvesting of kangaroos on the peninsula. At the 8 August council meeting councillors agreed to write to the state government to demand the banning of commercial kangaroo harvesting on the peninsula “by using the background information supplied to alert our community of the issues and to further inform the state government of the urgent need to protect the viability of kangaroos on the peninsula”. Cr David Gill said there was an “urgent need to protect the viability of kangaroos on the peninsula”. Gill’s motion followed a council decision on…