Balnarring Picnic Racing Club
NEWS DESK
Christmas Meeting
The Balnarring Picnic Racing Club will be holding their Christmas meeting on Saturday December 5. This is the meeting where many companies and family groups attend and have their staff & family Christmas parties in the beautiful grounds of the racecourse. Much work goes into preparing the grounds and course for the day and the following is just a small insight into what occurs before the racing commences. Michael Binney is a Vice President of the club and as track manager his race day commences well before the crowds arrive.
Good cheer: Resident Pauline Tanti gets some Christmas cheer from Santa, Tony Lupone, a resident’s son.
Toy run makes Santa’s job easier BONBEACH Aged Care residents know that age is no barrier to sharing in the spirit of Christmas. On Saturday, they invited the wider community to donate toys and food for needy children, which were picked-up and delivered by two tricyclists and eight motorcyclists. The gathering enjoyed a sausage sizzle, Christmas festivities and activities for the children. Facility manager Jasmine Gunaratnam said the toy run was an important part of the calendar, encouraging residents to participate in community events. “Our focus is on ability, not age,” she said. “Our residents have a generous spirit and we look for ways to empower them and to continue to be a part of our local community.
“We want residents to feel more than just included in the community, we want them to feel that they are the community.” The toys, gifts and food travelled to Rosebud Secondary College as part of a major toy run. Donations were divided between Southern Peninsula Food for All, Rosebud Salvation Army, Society of St Vincent de Paul, and Mornington and Westernport Community Support, Hastings. “The toy run was a wonderful opportunity for residents to share in the spirit of giving and help the needy have a better Christmas this year,” Ms Gunaratnam said. The 70 bed aged care facility is at 440 Station St, Bonbeach.
It is around six o clock in the morning at the Balnarring racecourse. As the light starts to lengthen over the racecourse, a lone horse gallops around the track with a former jockey on the horses back. Having a horse gallop over the racecourse on the morning of the race meeting is a requirement of Racing Victoria. As the track manager my role is to get feedback from the rider as to what condition the track is in. After the gallop is completed, and over the preceding two days prior to the meeting some ninety readings have to be taken from given points around the track. These readings are taken with a device called the “Penetrometer.” Armed with all of the above information I then make an assessment of what rating the track shall be for the days racing. Once I have made my assessment of the track rating, I send that information to Racing Australia who must receive it by 7am. Every race club that race that day must comply with the regulations regarding track ratings. The reason that the readings have to be submitted by 7am is for trainers to assess whether any horses they have racing that day will handle the track conditions. If they a trainer decides that the track condition may not suit there horse or its chance of winning, they can scratch the horse. But they the trainer is also bound by the rule that states, if they do not scratch the horses prior to 7.30 am they may incur a fine. This article gives you a look behind the scenes of what has to be done to conduct a race meeting. In the next article I shall take you behind the scenes again. Michael Binney, Track Manager
More arrests over carjacking Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au MORE arrests follow the alleged carjacking of a 2008 Ford XR6 sedan in Bartlett St, Frankston South, 2.40am, Friday 6 November. A Keysborough youth, 17, and Springvale South man, 21, were charged last week. Earlier, a 15 year old, of Patterson Lakes, was arrested and charged with car theft, as well as serious driving offences. The pair was allegedly among a group of up to five men in a stolen BMW X5 which rammed the car, being driven by a 20-year-old man, and then threatened him with a shotgun and a handgun before stealing it. The group then drove off in the two cars, with the BMW involved in a fatal collision, Monday 9 November, in Mordialloc. The Keysborough youth was arrested at his home, Tuesday, and charged with armed robbery, assault and theft of motor cars. He was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Children’s Court on 11 December. The 21 year old was charged with armed robbery, assault, three counts of theft of motor car, possess drug of dependence and other related offences. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today (Monday). Both were arrested by Frankston Embona taskforce detectives and the Dog Squad. The Ford, with original registration plates SAM 95, has not been recovered. The pair is among several people police would like to talk to in relation to a spate of recent crimes and car thefts, Detective Senior Constable Marty O’Brien, of the Embona Armed Robbery Task Force, said. Another teenager, 18, of Endeavour Hills, was
arrested the previous week at a house in Gweno Av, Frankston, over the carjacking and theft of the BMW – stolen from a house in Doncaster earlier in the month – and charged with similar offences. Both are suspected of being members of the Apex gang, whose members have been involved in crime sprees throughout the south-eastern suburbs. Police bemoan the “enormous number of offences” being committed by various crime gangs – not just Apex. They say recent arrests have “upset the momentum” but that other gang members will probably “step up” to fill the void. “I am glad we have interrupted them; we have made big inroads on the local front,” Detective O’Brien said. The rise and prominence of youth crime gangs, perhaps with as many as 60 members often linked through cultural ties, is weighing heavily on police. “They gather along tribal and cultural lines but they don’t respect their real culture,” Detective O’Brien said. “A number of intervention programs have been attempted but these have failed to curb their criminal activities. “I plead with the parents of these youths to scrutinise their behaviour and associations.” The joining of Maori and Sudanese gangs on crime sprees over the past 12 months is of special concern. So is the apparent realisation, especially by Islander gangs, that they can use their physical size and weight to intimidate local youths. “We are getting to the stage where local youths won’t walk down the streets of Frankston anymore because they fear trouble,” Detective O’Brien said.
Bumper Christmas Meeting Saturday,5th 5thDecember Saturday 2015 Saturday, 2015 Come and enjoy an exciting days racing. Bookmakers & TAB on an course. Fulldays catering Come and enjoy exciting racing.facilities Bookincluding bar. Rides activites the children. makers & TAB on&course. Fullfor catering facilities including bar. Rides & activites for the children. Gates open 9.30am
Balnarring Racecourse,
Emu Plains Reserve, Coolart Road, Balnarring
The Flemington of the Picnics Adults: $10 Children (U 18) Free: Pensioner Concessions Gates Open 9.30am
www.balnarringraces.com Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 December 2015
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