NEWS DESK Police patrol
with Brodie Cowburn
Cannabis seized A WOMAN has been arrested and more than 130 cannabis plants have been seized in Keysborough. Police made the arrest on the morning of 25 August, Dandenong Divisional Response Unit detectives executed a seach warrant at a Waterfront Avenue house just after 7am. Police allege that they found hydroponic cannabis crops inside the house. A 31-year-old-woman was arrested
Burglary arrests THREE people have been charged over alleged burglaries at building sites in Keysborough, Patterson Lakes, and Seaford. Police arrested two men and a woman in Doveton on 24 August, seizing a car and tools from the address as well. Police also allege that they seized further stolen property from a house in Seaford. Police also allege that offenders had evaded them on Gamble Road, Carrum Downs, on 23 August. A 34-year-old Frankston man was charged with four counts of burglary, four counts of theft, fail to stop vehicle on police request, handle stolen goods, drive in a manner dangerous, and other offences. He was remanded to appear before Frankston Magistrates Court. A 27-year-old Seaford man was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft, handle
stolen goods, and negligently deal proceeds of crime. A 21-year-old Cranbourne woman was also charged with three counts of burglary and three counts of theft. They were both bailed, and will appear at court on 3 March.
The officers made the short trip back to the station with the man to conduct a breath test. The breath test allegedly read 0.128.
offences, police say. The man’s car was impounded, and he is expected to be fined for breaching lockdown restrictions too.
‘Suspicious’ house fire POLICE are treating a house fire on Woodvale Drive, Carrum Downs, last week as suspicious. Firefighters attended the unoccupied house at around 10pm on 25 August. They had to evacuate nearby neighbours because of the size of the blaze. Firefighters managed to eventually extinguish the blaze. Investigators then moved in and have labelled the fire “suspicious”. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed anything can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic. com.au.
Police station burnouts AN alleged drunk driver was caught doing burnouts at the front of Frankston Police Station last week. Protective service officers say they spotted the driver performing a burnout outside the police station at around 7.40pm on 24 August. They quickly swooped in to arrest the man behind the wheel of the Holden Commodore station wagon.
LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Frankston faces gridlock without train extension The state government has a golden opportunity to fix Frankston’s public transport woes, its city centre street congestion and the lack of affordable parking – but only if it muscles up and adds to the 30-year infrastructure strategy released on 19 August by Infrastructure Victoria (“Buses better than extending electric train line - report” The News 24/8/21). By add we mean build the long-overdue Frankston rail extension to at least Langwarrin with commuter parking for 3000 plus cars – and new stations for the proposed “next generation” of buses to dock at. Remember, this rail project is supported by both the federal Coalition government and Labor, and already has $225 million of federal money on the table. The state government must face reality – Frankston’s station precinct barely handles the current bus traffic of 34 buses an hour in morning peak. Imagine the gridlock of five times more buses? Even if the government agrees with Infrastructure Victoria’s plan to introduce paid station parking, Mornington Peninsula commuters will still sprawl empty cars throughout Frankston’s CBD – because that’s where the line ends – rather than a purpose-built park and ride station away from our CBD. Backing away from extending the line in the next five years just kicks the can of Frankston’s public transport improvements down the road. We need buses and the rail extension; it’s not an “either or” situation. The state government is required to respond to IV’s recommendations within 12 months. This is Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke’s chance to shine a light on the bus bedlam, which
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The 30-year-old man from Cranbourne West alleged to have been driving will be charged on summons with drink driving and traffic related
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
occurs just outside his Young Street office window, and put Frankston’s rail extension firmly back on track. Ginevra Hosking, CEO Committee for Greater Frankston
Hunt ‘responsible’ It was good to read [Flinders MP] Greg Hunt in regard to the Pfizer negotiations in last week’s letters page; facts must be accurate and falsehoods most certainly are to be corrected (“Correcting the record” Letters 24/8/21). However, I am still of the belief that Mr Hunt, in his role as federal health minister, is substantially responsible for the glacial pace of the vaccination rollout in Australia, compared with the progress made by nearly all other developed nations, and the ongoing consequences which this has created. When I hear, for example, of another lockdown extension, of an increase in domestic violence, of another teen suicide, of another local business going to the wall, the first name I think of is Greg Hunt. Perhaps I am mistaken to hold Mr Hunt responsible, in which case I would appreciate him replying to correct my, possibly, muddled thinking. Jonathan Atherton, Mount Eliza
Afghanistan support Last Friday (27 August) the Afghan Marco Polo restaurant in Main Street, Mornington, put on a fundraising pick-up dinner service, with all proceeds going to an Afghanistan relief fund. It was over-committed by patrons. For those who
1 September 2021
missed out, the food was delicious. Congratulations to the restaurant for this generous work and to all those who further supported it with supplementary donations. It goes some way to help relieve the collective guilt we all feel about the shambles of a withdrawal, leaving many behind. We should all make the effort to support those local businesses that support us. John Dusting, Mornington
Timing is everything I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible work our health professionals do every day to save lives and support survivors to recover well after stroke. We know their working environment has become more challenging amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but their dedication to the 27,400 people who will experience a stroke this year, never waivers. I was heartened to see survivors of stroke and their loved ones around Australia also share their gratitude during Stroke Week (2-8 August), embracing the United By Stroke theme. However, the reality is, we can have the best doctors, nurses and allied health professionals and the most advanced treatments for stroke, but time is still the critical factor. You must get to hospital quickly to access emergency stroke treatment. After a stroke, around 1.9 million brain cells die each minute. In most cases, the faster a stroke can be diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of a good recovery. Time saved equals brain saved. I encourage the community to keep spreading the FAST acronym. Knowing its message and sharing it with your family and friends can be the first step in saving a life and avoiding ongoing disability. It may be your own life or that of someone you love. The FAST message will help you recognise the most common signs of stroke: Face, check their face. Has their mouth drooped?; Arms, can they lift both arms?; Speech, is their speech slurred? Do they understand you? Time, is critical.
If you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) straight away. A stroke can happen to anyone at any age and research tells us the number of working age people having strokes is increasing. These people are not just numbers, they are mums, dads, sons and daughters. They have jobs and families and plans for the future. Stroke is always a medical emergency. Please know what to do when stroke strikes. Think FAST and act fast at the first sign of stroke. Sharon McGowan, CEO Stroke Foundation
Check pool fencing Royal Life Saving is asking all Australians with swimming pools to use the weeks before summer to check their pool fencing to protect young children from drowning. In the past decade, more than half of all children aged 0-4 who drowned in Australia lost their lives in a backyard swimming pool. Children who drowned often gained access to the pool area through a fence or gate which had fallen into disrepair or a gate which had been deliberately propped open. We know families are under a lot of pressure with lockdowns in place in many parts of Australia. The demands of constant supervision are exhausting. But close supervision is the best way to protect a child from drowning. Our research shows any distractions, such as using mobile phones or doing household chores, while children are near water increases their risk of drowning. A pool fence in good repair can give you precious minutes when a determined toddler unexpectedly wanders off towards the pool. Almost 40 per cent of child drowning happens over the summer months which is why now is the time to get your backyard swimming pool prepared. Adults can access a free home pool safety checklist to make sure their pool area is safe and secure at royallifesaving.com.au/stay-safeactive/locations/water-safety-at-home Justin Scarr, CEO, Royal Life Saving