NEWS DESK
Police seek Retiring chief reflects on life on the beat community feedback
Police plea: Frankston Police are seeking advice from the community about local issues. Picture: Supplied
FRANKSTON Police are calling on residents to complete a survey to help assist them understand the issues worrying the community. The joint partnership is being undertaken alongside the Carrum Downs Police, Department of Justice, Victoria Police, Neighbourhood Watch, the Crime Statistics Agency, and Crime Stoppers. The survey will be available via an electronic version online, or in physical copy at sites around Frankston. These include the foyer of the Frankston and Carrum Downs Police Station, as well as local shopping centres and council centres. The survey can be found by scanning the QR code below or visiting engage.vic.gov.au/communitysafetynetworks/frankston-city-community-safety-network
RETIRING Mornington police senior sergeant Neil Aubert well remembers perhaps the most dangerous incident in his 46-year career. In 1989, the then senior constable was among nine Cheltenham police sent to evict a group of Hells Angels from the Southside Six hotel in Moorabbin when a brawl erupted and he was stabbed in the stomach. “A rock ‘n roll band was playing to about 1000 people and we went in to remove a group of Hells Angels after reports they had glassed a bouncer,” Mr Aubert said. “We confronted them at their tables and asked them to leave. The next thing I knew a fight had started and I had been stabbed.” At a time when there was scant emphasis on a policeman’s mental health, the wounded constable was comforted mostly by his fellow officers while recovering in hospital – until a call came through from former Chief Commissioner Mick Miller who took the time to check on his welfare. “That was a big call to take,” said Mr Aubert, who started as a 17-year-old cadet at the old St Kilda Road police depot in 1972. His 46-year career saw him posted to many stations, including Springvale and Frankston. When he retired last month, Mr Aubert was a senior sergeant and officer-in-charge of Mornington police station, making him possibly the last permanent officer-in-charge of a Victorian station under the current senior police staffing arrangements. His long-term appointment brought a sense of stability to the station which had had 25 different senior sergeants over the previous two years. “They had been relievers who offered no real guidance and who didn’t really get to know their people,” he said. “I had to focus on where I thought policing was going in the district and find out about the community I was working in. “I have a passion for emergency management and got to know the people at the local CFA, SES and ambulance services and built up a rap-
port with them. “The time taken to plan, prepare and equip the crews for emergency management operations has paid off, with valuable contributions made at bushfires at Hastings in 2015 and Crib Point in 2017. “Fires have caused a lot of concern but, thankfully, we haven’t lost anyone. “We are in a better place now. We have got a lot better in the way we do things.” Mr Aubert’s experience in emergency management, especially in helping community’s deal with the tragedies of the 1983 Ash Wednesday and 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, had put him in good stead. “The Ash Wednesday fires, in particular, were awful,” he said, referring to a time when homeowners could elect to stay and fight to protect their properties rather than leave. “I remember calling around to people’s places before the fire struck and advising them to go, and then going around afterwards and recovering their bodies. It puts you on edge.” Other emergencies he looks back on include helping at petrol tanker rollovers and worrying about moving injured people, while thinking the rig could explode. He was also involved with the spate of shootings by members of the notorious Painters and Dockers Union in South Melbourne in the early 1970s. “I’ve been to 10 or 12 shootings,” Mr Aubert said. “It was not uncommon at that time to go to a shooting a week.” That violent scene is a long way physically and mentally from the beat at Mornington. “This is a good community but there is still a lot going on, such as the night club scene and who comes to town and what they bring with them,” he said. “When I started it was a little village, but now it has grown up. The people are good and it is such a pleasant place to be.” Steve Taylor
Frankston council piles on promise praise Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON mayor Colin Hampton has heaped praise on Frankston candidate Michael Lamb for promising a Liberal Nationals government would pay for council projects at Oliver’s Hill and Centenary Park. A “safe boat refuge” at Oliver’s Hill to help rehome the Coast Guard and a multipurpose $30 million centre at Centenary Park for tennis and gymnastics are two of council’s “Future Frankston” projects, a plan designed to highlight council’s priorities in the
hope of securing government backing. Cr Hampton called Mr Lamb’s election promise of $8.05 million towards Centenary Park a “fantastic win for the local community and sports in the region”. The mayor also called Mr Lamb’s $8 million commitment to the Oliver’s Hill project a “fantastic win for ensuring our bay is safe” and a “positive outcome”. The compliments were posted on Frankston Council’s official Facebook page and in a news release. The recent string of posts praising the state opposition’s commitments follow a post in which council praised Labor for promising to improve park-
ing at Frankston station. The post failed to mention a similar commitment for multi-storey parking made by Mr Lamb two weeks earlier. The public praise for the Labor election commitment came under fire from Dunkley MP, Liberal Chris Crewther, as well as Liberal state candidates Donna Bauer (Carrum) and Mr Lamb. Mr Crewther wrote on council’s Facebook page: “I believe council is meant to be there working independently in the best interests of the community. But I will when council communications show clear political party bias, and when they fail to acknowledge federal government contributions to
projects.” Since then, council has been continuing to post statements praising election commitments from both state Liberal and state Labor parties. CEO Dennis Hovenden said council is supposed to remain independent of party affiliation while the state government is in caretaker mode before an election. To remain apolitical, council voted on 1 October to write to local MPs and candidates reminding them not to erect election material on council land. (“Warning given on erection of election signs” The Times 8/10/18) The City of Kingston Facebook page
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE CARNIVAL RIDES
11am-3pm BOTH days
...Don’t miss securing that wanted property
SHOW DAY ADMISSI
✓ Immediate access to Bond & Rent ✓ Move into that property now ✓ Fast prompt assistance ✓ Easy terms and conditions ✓ No upfront fees and charges ✓ Pre approval before finding a property ✓ We can assist with transfer of bonds between properties
NEw ATTRACTION
EpIC DARREN appearing
PAGE 8
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
www.ticketebo.com.au
DANDENONG SHOWGROUNDS
Country’s COMING
Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong
www.mpnews.com.au
HOURS: SAt FRom 9Am (PAviLionS CLoSe 8.30Pm) Sun 9Am to 4Pm O TOWN
T
WASTE WISE EVENT
2-4 Chelsea Rd, Chelsea VIC 3196 Fax: 03 9776 2929 Email: info@bondassist.com.au
www.bondassist.com.au
Did you know... you can view our papers online
BOTH DAYS
WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BOND AND RENT
✆1300 554 470
ON PRICES
$10 Adults $5 Child 6-16yrs FREE Child under 5 (2 adults & 4 child) Family Ticket $30 Tickets available on line
has made no posts in the past month about election commitments from candidates in the municipality. Frankston mayor Cr Colin Hampton has been a long time Labor party member, while his deputy mayor Michael O’Reilly is a member of the Liberals. Cr Steve Toms was previously a member of the Labor party, but a clash with Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke led to his membership being cancelled. No commitment has yet been made by Labor for the project at Oliver’s Hill. Environmentalists such as the Frankston Beach Association fear the project might cause a loss of sand on the beach.
www.dandyshow.com.au
Fireworks Saturday 9pm: Please make sure your pets are secure; Animals, Carnival Rides, Showbags, Art & Craft display, Food, Live music/entertainment
24 October 2018