SOCCER A UNIQUE end-of-season trip took place recently with participants from various Australian states ranging in age from men in their 20s to octogenarians. It was the annual Monkey, Rat and Missing Pals Tour held in Moama during Victoria Derby weekend and this year it attracted a record number of attendees, 98 in all. The event’s origins date back more than three decades and it originally was an end-of-season getaway for members and supporters of Langwarrin soccer club. Former Langwarrin assistant coach Neil Collyer took on the task of event organiser 13 years ago and gave the trip a makeover…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
CRICKET PROVINCIAL A MASSIVE 132 run opening stand between Aiden McKenna and Thomas Matson has put Long Island in a strong position against Old Peninsula. McKenna and Matson batted for most of the day. McKenna scored 70 from 161 deliveries, and Matson scored 92 from 199. A late knock of 33 from 29 by Chris Hay helped Long Island reach a final total of 6/260 from their 80 overs. Play restarts at Ballam Park this Saturday. At Pat Rollo Reserve, Sorrento will have to fight hard to defend their total. Sorrento are taking on Pines in two-day action. The Sharks…
ALTHOUGH counting continues and the winner won’t be announced until December, the rainbow lorikeet is leading the field when comes to being the most commonly spotted bird. BirdLife Australia received more than 100,000 lists accounting for more than 3.6 million birds seen during last month’s week-long bird count. Preliminary analysis of the lists, which featured more than 658 bird species showed rainbow lorikeets leading the flock with more than 420,000 sightings. The colourful parrots were ahead of noisy miners (220,000) and magpies (154,000). “The enthusiasm with which Australians have taken to the Aussie Bird Count has been outstanding,” BirdLife Australia’s…
Shire’s less than perfect approach to road repairs How come the Romans, with no qualified engineers, could build roads that last 2000 years and are still going strong? [Mornington Peninsula Shire Council] can’t even fill a pothole that lasts one day. I watched a team of four, including one woman, fill a pothole the other day. Three stood around, doing nothing. One tossed a bit of hot mix in the hole then flipped the spade over and whacked it in once and then they all drove away. Elizabeth Drive in Rosebud is shocking. [The council] had a repair team in…
THE Mornington Peninsula and Frankston are two of the nine-member South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) to adopt a new blueprint to change the way climate impacts are managed south east of Melbourne. Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who attended the official launch of the strategy at the SECCCA annual leaders’ breakfast on Wednesday 8 November, said the Victorian government was “decarbonising at the fastest rate in the country to get us to net-zero by 2045”. D’Ambrosio’s speech was followed by a panel discussion featuring John Bradley, secretary of the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Tom…
A BOY was so inspired by a luxury car, a Rolls Royce, on the esplanade at Dromana in 1914 that it led to him becoming America’s most celebrated motor car illustrator. A new book The Larger Than Life of Melbourne Brindle being launched at Dromana Primary School on Friday traces Ewart Melbourne Brindle’s career after seeing that Rolls Royce on the esplanade. Arthur and Grace Brindle settled in Dromana in 1905 with their young family and built Sunnyside, not far from the school which the children attended. A renowned decorator and artist Arthur sailed to America to work on the…
PHOTOGRAPHERS can find inspiration anywhere and at any time. Last week was no exception, with Adam Richmond looking up and seeing some ominous looking clouds over the beach at Dromana. The mammatus clouds can sometimes signal the arrival of an extreme weather system. They are composed of ice and can extend for hundreds of kilometres. Although not rare, mammatus clouds are eye catching and are also known as bubble, marshmallow or cotton ball clouds. Meanwhile, staff photographer Yanni is known as a storm chaser, alert to storm reports, especially electrical storms. He has already published one book of storm shots,…
VOLUNTEERS from Sunshine Reserve conservation group and Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group have been spreading the word about the need to control weeds. The groups set up a Saturday morning stall at Mount Martha shops to show what weeds can look like and talk to passersby about the dangers they pose to the peninsula’s bushland areas. With an estimated 30 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula’s indigenous vegetation remaining, privately owned bushland, national parks and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council-owned parks and reserves are vital to the survival of native flora and fauna. One wildlife corridor is Sunshine Reserve in Mount Martha,…
POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fight at a gathering in Mount Martha on 14 October. It is alleged a fight broke out when a group of males who arrived at the gathering at about 10.30pm were told to leave. One of the victims, a 19-year-old male was taken to hospital, where he required surgery for his injuries. Anyone with information, who has CCTV of the incident, mobile phone video recorded footage, or who may have witness the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au First published…
NEW efforts are being made to force the state government to abandon its commitment to having hydrogen produced from brown coal in the Latrobe Valley to be shipped from Western Port to Japan. Opponents say the amount of CO2 released by the process raises doubts over Victoria being able to meet its emissions target reductions of 75-80 per cent by 2035; net zero by 2045. Using hydrogen in Japanese vehicles will help that country cut its emissions but add to Australia’s. A debate scheduled in state parliament’s Legislative Council this week over the fate of the brown coal to hydrogen…
THE 35-member Peninsula Studio Trail is getting longer with the addition of several new members who will be opening their studios to the public later this month. This year’s two weekends of open days follow the annual exhibition at Mornington last month (September) by PST artists. Now operating for 14 years, the artist-run PST is a not-for-profit organisation supporting and promoting the work of artists living and working on the Mornington Peninsula. New additions to the group include photographer Nathan “Natti” Miller, of Rye; previous Archibald Prize finalist and Salon De Refuse winner and winner of People’s Choice in this…
RSPCA Victoria has announced its Mornington Peninsula vet clinic is operating at “full capacity” after expanding its Pearcedale site. The clinic has a team of veterinarians, of which four out of five live on the peninsula, including Dr Victoria Collins, a vet for the past seven years. Collins said she relished the variety in her work as an RSPCA veterinarian, and while she enjoyed working with all species, including “pocket pets” like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice and ferrets, she tried to avoid snakes as much as possible. “I love seeing the positive impact we make on the lives of…
THE founding president of Balnarring Men’s Probus Club in 1985, Dr Eric Kings, OBE, celebrated his 100th birthday with fellow club members on his birthday 27 October. Kings, who now lives in Somers, enjoyed his day with club members meeting at Balnarring Bowls Club and one of the club’s members, Bernie Poll, a retired pastrycook, baked a beautiful cake for Eric to enjoy. Kings, who grew up in Richmond, had a long career as a dentist in the city and at least one club member recalls being treated by him. As well as providing a guiding hand to the club,…
CONCERN over a parcel of Crown land being allegedly incorporated into a privately-owned beachside block in Mount Martha has prompted Mornington MP Chris Crewther to ask for state government intervention. Crewther, who is acting on complaints from a neighbour, said he believed the issue of land encroachment could set a precedent and was potentially causing a financial loss to Mornington Peninsula Shire ratepayers. The case involves the owner of a house on the Esplanade who has added three stone retaining walls, a stone letter box, stone edging, landscaping and an extensive paved area for parking to 277 square metres of…
Decorate Main Street to ‘cheer up’ Christmas It’s almost Christmas, so please can Mornington Peninsula Shire Council make an effort this year? Most people head down Main Street, Mornington at holiday time. We are the gateway to the peninsula, can we please have some cheer with lights in the trees and cheerful, bright decorations down Main Street [and] getting rid of the awful Happy Holiday signs hanging from lamp posts that do nothing to cheer us up. Another suggestion would be to plant brightly coloured flowers around every roundabout. How good would that make us all feel when driving down…
DROMANA Secondary College students have teamed up with the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Mornington group to raise awareness of the need to protect threatened animals and habitats. ACF’s Dr Jodi Vermaas said the Mornington group was championing the southern brown bandicoot through an art project, and believed involving young people was one of the ways to get people to think of threatened species and how strong laws and enforcement are needed to protect them. “I approached the school and the school’s head of arts, Jyoti Funston, agreed that this project would fit with their curriculum and is open to all students…
THE Food For All Christmas Appeal is in full swing as the charity seeks donations to help its support within the community. The volunteer-run charity is calling on businesses and residents on the Mornington Peninsula to give generously, with the need for support increasing and Christmas often being the hardest time of the year for those in need. The Southern Peninsula Food For All began in 1991 and this year has delivered more than 4000 food parcels with pantry staples, fresh fruit and vegetables and tinned food. At Christmas it provides toys for children who may not otherwise receive a…
NOBODY was more surprised and elated than 36-year-old Gemma Maini from Mount Eliza when she was the first woman runner to cross the line in the Melbourne Marathon on 15 October. Not only was Maini a new mum, having given birth to son Ollie less than 12 months ago, but it was her first official marathon. The coach and secondary teacher, who has determination, good training practices, and a naturally athletic stamina on her side, beat the competition by close to five minutes. “I’m still pinching myself; it was an amazing race; a big challenge but an amazing experience,” she…
IN 2019 and at just 44, Shelley Christie had a headache and kept dropping what she was holding in her left hand. Not feeling well, she sat on her bed talking at their Mount Martha home to her husband Craig, who was finding it difficult to understand her speech and noticed her face had “dropped”. It was pretty obvious to them by then that something serious was happening. Medical tests followed quickly, and it was confirmed that Shelley had suffered a stroke, something she had not expected to hear and something that has made her look at her own mortality…
SURFBOARDS and an assortment of vehicles used to chase the often elusive waves drew hundreds of onlookers to this year’s Vintage Surf Day at Pt Leo. Mingling in the crowd and swapping surf tales were surfers of all ages, including some that could be classed as pioneers in what is now regarded as a respectable industry. Surfboard maker Paul Trigger, of Trigger Bros Surfboards, said the vintage day was always “a great opportunity to renew acquaintances from yesteryear”. Notables at this year’s event included George Rice, 89, Tui Wordley, 88, Clem, Rod Sly, Garth McIntyre and Rob Lippiatt. Serving up…
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…
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…