NEWS DESK
Talent rises to top
Jail for hit-run teen
A TEENAGER on probation over car thefts, aggravated burglaries and a police pursuit when he rammed a car in Governor Rd, Mordialloc, killing mother-of-two, was last week sentenced to two years 10 months in youth detention. The now-16-year-old was speeding in a stolen BMW X5 sedan and using social media when he crossed onto the wrong side of the busy road, 7.30am, Monday 9 November, and struck the Ford being driven by Amanda Matheson, 47, of Carrum Downs. She died later at The Alfred hospital. The BMW four-wheel-drive had allegedly been stolen from Doncaster the previous Wednesday and used in a violent Frankston South carjacking three days earlier when a shotgun was allegedly pointed at a motorist. The children’s court was told the Patterson Lakes youth was iceaffected at the time of the collision and “didn’t appear distressed” before leaving the scene, near Spray Av. He was later arrested at the Chelsea Heights McDonald’s. The youth pleaded guilty to nine charges, including dangerous driving causing death, failing to assist at a serious accident, and car theft.
THE region’s best singers, dancers and musicians took to the stage this month for the final of the Kingston’s Got Talent competition at Kingston City Hall in Moorabbin. Band Lash 78, featuring sisters Lauren and Sheridan Harvey on acoustic guitar and vocals, won the major prize for their impressive performance and won a $1000 Westfield gift voucher. Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said the competition showcases, celebrates and develops talented Kingston performers. “These young performers put on a terrific show for the audience and should be incredibly proud of their efforts,” Cr Bearsley said. “The quality was incredible and I’m sure we will be hearing great things as they further grow and develop.” n Other winners of Kingston’s Got Talent were: Best Dance Performance: 15-year-old Tina Pyrcz Additional Prize: 19-year-old hip-hop dancer Jay Adams Runners Up: 10-year-old signer Andy B, 16-year-old percussive guitarist Ethan King and all-female jazz group Infusion.
Noise annoys
On song: Lash 78, above, won this year’s Kington’s Got Talent competition in a strong field of contenders. Pictures: Frank Amato
‘No dummies’ in council elections DUMMY council candidates will find it tougher to run at council elections next month after an 11th-hour state legislative change banned postal ‘how to vote’ cards ahead of next month’s council elections. ‘Dummies’ have no intention of winning ward elections to represent their community but instead put their name up to funnel preferences to legitimate candidates, often in agreement with candidates seeking election. Such preferences can get council candidates over the line if they do not win enough votes in their own right. “The armies of dummy candidates
lining up to run in this year’s council elections will have to think again,” state Liberal opposition planning spokesman David Davis said. “Removing how-to-vote cards from the postal pack will mean stooge and dummy candidates running to harvest votes and preference them to a lead candidate will face bigger obstacles.” All votes for the 22 October election will be made by post. While candidates cannot include ‘how to vote’ information in official Victorian Electoral Commission ballot packs mailed to voters they can still include preferences information
in advertisements and election material letterboxed or handed out to voters. Twenty-one candidates competed for nine Frankston councillor spots, representing three wards, at the 2012 council election. Crs Geoff Gledhill (Central Ward) was elected partly due to preferences last time around after not finishing in the top three on first preferences. Victorian Electoral Commission figures show just under 71 per cent of 38,939 enrolled voters actually voted in 2012 and 5.34 per cent lodged informal votes that were not counted. A staggering fifty-two candidates
nominated to run for nine councillor spots in 2012. Twenty-eight ran in Central Ward where Crs Rosemary West, Ron Brownlees and Geoff Gledhill were elected last time around. Candidates for Kingston Council can register with the VEC from Thursday 15 September and nominations close at noon on Tuesday 20 September. Ballot packs will be mailed to voters on Tuesday 4 October-Thursday 6 October and voting closes 6pm on Friday 21 October. See vec.vic.gov.au or call 131 832 for further information. Neil Walker
A PATTERSON Lakes man “irate at the noise” made by a construction worker on a property at the corner of Riverside West and Wetland Dr, allegedly jumped the fence and assaulted him, Tuesday 6 September. The 35-year-old, who has been bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court in November, took umbrage at the noise of a concrete saw before throwing stones at the worker. He then allegedly jumped the fence and punched the man several times before the worker managed to throw him to the ground and run inside the unit and lock the door. The offender then allegedly threw a brick through a double glazed window which also damaged a plaster wall. Police later said the man admitted to smoking cannabis before the incident.
Rates switch comp SIGNING up to receive future rates notices by email could be a way to win an iPad mini. Five of the tablets are up for grabs with winners to be randomly selected from anyone registering with Kingston Council before 30 September for email rates notices. Register to receive rates notices by email at kingston.vic.gov.au/rates
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 14 September 2016
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