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
All a flutter over flag protocol On a recent visit to Sorrento we were astonished to see the Victorian flag at the top of the mast in the shopping centre with the Australian and Aboriginal flags relegated to two lower jackstaffs (pictured right). Flag etiquette as defined in the Flags Act 1953 clearly defines how flags should be shown when flagstaffs are not of equal height, with the order of precedence is from highest to lowest. “The Australian national flag takes precedence in Australia over all other flags when it is flown in company with other flags” (and therefore should be flown from the highest to lowest). “Thereafter, when flown in the community the order of precedence, where applicable, of flags is: national flag of other nations, state and territory flags … the Australian Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait islander flag in either order; Defence ensigns, ensigns and pennants of local government; Commonwealth, state and territory agencies; and finally non-government organisation.” I note that outside the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council offices in Mornington, where the flags are all the same height, the order of precedence of the flags is correct as defined in the Flags Act. As clearly the way flags are flown at Sorrento is wrong and in fact illegal, it is either a mistake made by someone who is not aware of the order of precedence, or some woke council person trying to infer that Victoria is more important than the Commonwealth as a whole. Darryl Chambers, Mount Martha
Pre-existing worry My husband is 84 and in good health after a recent successful hip replacement, although this was followed by a deep vein thrombosis. He has been actively, but unsuccessfully, trying to get the Pfizer vaccine rather than the Astra Zeneca because he has a 20-year history of deep and superficial vein thrombosis. He also has a family history of blood clot death and his mother died from a stroke.
service like electricity. You cannot have such a service being a market place. To put things into perspective, most Victorian solar farms are around 50 to 100Mw each, maximum output, daytime only. Little old Loy Yang B power station at Traralgon, has under its roof, two coal fired generators, each one generating over 500Mw of constant power, 24 hours a day, 7/365 if required. One Australian aluminium smelter uses 1000Mw of power constantly, all day and all night; iron or steel production is proportional, 24/7. We desperately need other heavy, and light, industries. Run-off batteries? Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
If he has the Astra Zeneca and dies from a clot, would I be told that it would have been caused by a pre-existing condition? Would I be told the same if he catches the virus and dies from it? How many other older voters, and their families, are out there in the same predicament? Perhaps we should get together. Val Kent, Mornington
COVID ignorance No offence to our Premier Danny (Andrews), but let’s be honest. New boy [Nepean Labor MP] Chris Brayne would be wise to look for another career after the next election: Lockdown 6. We live with so many arrogant people at this time, indeed ignorant. [federal Labor leader Anthony] Albanese’s suggestion of $300 to be vaccinated sounds silly but, listening to the wall if ignorance locally, it’s perhaps a good idea: The RSL, two unvaccinated tradies, lots to say on self-importance, one with a wife and child, oblivious to the COVID-19 risk factor. Their logic of never anything down here? I tried, but brick walls don’t listen. Cliff Ellen, Rye
Cut pays for parity
Solar unsettling With regard to the proposed 240 megawatt battery installation at Tyabb, I couldn’t help seeing it from another angle (“Battery plan to ‘stabilise’ power supply” The News 27/7/21). Effectively, it is soaking up all of that rooftop solar panel power generated during the day, peaking at around noon, that is not wanted because nobody is at home or, if they are, there is little electricity used. The battery [owner] buys this unwanted electricity at a dirt cheap price, then sells it back to the same suckers five hours later at a much higher price. Yes, at the same time it is stabilising the grid, the instability being caused by an excess of solar panels. Most of our remote solar farms should be fitted with even bigger batteries for similar reasons, but are not because the cost is prohibitive,
Picture: Yanni
uneconomic. The Tyabb battery will be, I believe, of 240Mw DC capacity which will manufacture about 200Mw AC back into the grid for two hours at maximum capacity, worst case scenario. All of this mish-mash of private investments, profiteering, kindergarten engineering, part time generators all over the place, is a disastrous way to run an essential
As we re-enter what is now our COVID-normal in Victoria, we must spare yet another thought for all the small businesses which have gone under, and those which have survived so far, but are on the brink of failure. How much produce will go to waste this week after restaurants and cafes are given three hours’ notice that they will be closed for a week? The simplest way of bringing more understanding to those who are wreaking such havoc is to cut all Victorian public service salaries by 50 per cent for the duration of the lockdown. To those who say that’s not fair, public servants are not to blame, I say nor are the small business owners, and many are losing all their income and then some. The money saved could then be paid to those businesses to cover their wastage. We might even start to believe our chief jailer when he says, “We are all in this together”. Jack Wheeler, Mornington
100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK...
Returned Soldiers Hold Smoke Social Compiled by Cameron McCullough A MOST successful smoke social was given to its members on Saturday night, 23rd July, by the Hastings Branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia. After the toast of The King had been honored, the President, Mr Russell, in proposing the League, made it clear to those present, the great advantages to be derived by its members from the organisation if they would only stick together, attend the meetings regularly, and keep at heart the welfare and progress of the League, which should not be judged by what it bad been, but by what they could make it. It was in their hands entirely, and in the future they ought to be able to reply to the query as to whether they were in “this Lodge, or that Society” by proudly saying “No, but we belong to the Returned Soldiers’ League.” Several toasts of varying importance were honored, interspersed by items of songs and recitations, ably rendered by Messrs Bryant, Josephs, Armstrong, McInerney and Haddock. Instrumental music was volunteered by Messrs Campbell, Broadley and Carey. An outstanding event was the presentation to Mr J. Campbell, retiring secretary, by the branch, of a solid gold League medal, in recognition of his willing and efficient work during the past eighteen months. The secretary, Mr MacRae, reminded all present of the branch meeting, held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month, and urgently requested
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Frankston Times
that all returned men keep those evenings free in order to take part in transacting the business of the branch. Messrs Goodwin and Bickley, in whose hands the catering arrangements had been left, were accorded a cordial vote of thanks for the splendid way in which they carried out their work. A most enjoyable and memorable reunion was brought to a close shortly after 11 o’clock. The next event of social interest will probably take the form of a musical evening and dance, which the close and steadfast ally of the Returned Soldier – the general public – will be asked to support. *** MISS McFarlane, who has been appointed to take charge of the Hume Creek State School, was, prior to her departure, entertained at a social by members of St Paul’s, and was presented with a wallet and £13 in notes. She has been succeeded at Frankston by Miss Cunningham. *** MR Mark Brody reports that the following rainfall has been registered at Frankston:—June, 1.69 points; July, 3.56; total for past 7 months, 16.41. It may be mentioned that the tides are the highest since 1893. The past week is believed to have been the coldest since 1899. Over 100 points fell at Hastings on Wednesday last. *** THE death is announced of Mr Mark Young, who for many years was identified with the Frankston district. He came to Victoria in 1858, and,
10 August 2021
with the exception of a short residence in New Zealand, spent his early days in Ballarat. In 1878, he removed to Melbourne, and thence to the Mornington Peninsula, where he displayed great interest and initiative in all public matters. The late Mr Young, who was then licensee of the Pier Hotel, was for many years an active member of the Dandenong, Mornington and Frankston shire councils. *** THE claim made by Miss Florence Oswin and Mrs Robb, of Cowes, and others, against Frank Jeffrey, Kent, England, for £40,000, relative to an alleged breach of contract regarding the sale of certain lands at Bittern, Balnarring, and the Naval Base, has been referred to the Full Court. It was stated that 873 lots were sold for £33,255. *** LIEUT Ray Parer started on his flight around Australia on Wednesday last, but, flying through hail at Macedon, he met with an accident, and had to be conveyed to Mount St Evens Hospital for treatment. Lieut Parer began his flight against the advice of the Commonwealth Meteorologist, Mr Hunt. *** TOMORROW’S umpires will be: Frankston v Dromana, Hunting; Naval Base v Somerville, Hughes; Mornington v Hastings, Bickford. *** AT the last Euchre Party and Dance conducted by the Frankston II’s Football Club the prize winners were: Ladies, Mrs George Dugan; Gents,
Mr Les Hughes; Boobies, Miss Lily Gamble and Mr Sam Wells. The next euchre party takes place next Thursday night. *** A BURGLAR, caught by Mr Claude Bannister, of Westernport, was sentenced to three months imprisonment in Melbourne during the week. *** THE claim made by Henry Wallace, of Porepunkah, against the Orchard Planters Association for the recovery of £240 for blocks on Warrenda Estate, Crib Point, on the grounds of misrepresentation, was heard in the County Court by Judge Wasley, who reserved his decision. *** THE caveat lodged by Mr James Caughey in reference to his father’s will has been withdrawn on £112 being advanced to defray his costs. The case concerned property at Westernport, valued at £1900, which the late James Caughey left to two of his children, without recognition of the rest of the family. *** SPEAKING at the annual meeting of the Nature Photographer’s Club, Mr Jones, of the Department of Agriculture, deprecated the destruction of wattles and orchids in the Frankston district. He said that through the thoughtlessness of orchid hunters, who did not merely pluck the flower, but pulled up the tuber from which it grew and from which the root of the next year’s flower would spring, Victoria was in danger of losing many rare and beautiful orchid varieties.
*** YET another Hastings orchardist steppes into the advance line and replaced waggon and horse team with and up-to-date motor vehicle. Cr Chas Jones annihilates time and space in most care free fashion. Recently he left home on Thursday morning with his motor van full of produce. He delivered its cargo at the Melbourne market, and was back at Somerville at 10.30am the same day, ready to wrestle with the weighty problems of municipal government. Cr Jones and his colleague, Cr H. E. Unthank are now both well provided with means of speedy transit, and should be enthusiastic witnesses in support of the gospel of good roads – and more roads. *** A MOST successful and enjoyable meeting of the Frankston Progress Association was held last week, when after the transaction of routine business, including a report by Cr Wells re railway and other matters. Mr P. Wheeler entertained members with his “Talk about Fiji.” Keen interest was taken in the descriptive story connected with Mr Wheeler’s recent visit to the Islands in question and additional point was given a well told narrative by the display of many curios collected by the speaker during his tour. It is intended to ask Mr Wheeler to repeat his highly interesting lecturette at an early date. *** From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 5 August 1921