NEWS DESK
Attackers set girl’s hair on fire Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au A HORRIFYING attack on a schoolgirl has resulted in a group of youngsters aged 12-14 appearing before a children’s court charged with armed robbery and assault. Police said the youngsters had lured the girl, 15, to the Frankston skate park on the pretext of being her friend. There they allegedly punched and kicked her on the face and body and set fire to her hair with a cigarette lighter.
Three of the group appeared in court on Monday where one was bailed and two – a 12 year-old Seaford boy and 13-year-old Langwarrin boy – were remanded in custody. Four others were bailed by police to appear at a later date. The attack – at 9pm, Friday 5 August – occurred only hours after a Langwarrin boy was bailed on other matters. The shocked girl received a fractured right hand in the targeted attack as well as swelling and bruising to her face and body and singed hair. Detective Senior Constable Ryan
Collins, of Frankston CIU, said a Frankston North boy aged 14, Skye boy, 14, Seaford boy, 12, Frankston boy, 14, two Frankston North girls, 14, and two Langwarrin boys, 13, enticed the girl to the skate park, in Cranbourne Rd, at 9pm. Things allegedly turned ugly when one of the boys began throwing chocolate pieces at the girl, and refused to stop when asked. One of the girls then allegedly punched the girl in the face and a boy allegedly kicked her in the face and body. While the girl was on the ground a boy allegedly stole her bag and mo-
Big smash, big grab
bile phone while another allegedly used a cigarette lighter to set her hair on fire. The girl managed to run home and tell her parents who called police. She was taken to Frankston Hospital for treatment. Senior Constable Collins said all members of the group were later charged with assault and armed robbery. He said other charges and arrests were pending. He is appealing for anyone with information to call Frankston CIU, 9784 5555.
New York beckons for tuneful duo MORNINGTON Peninsula Chorale members Gabrielle Dole and daughter Anna Jones can’t wait to hit the high notes in New York on the group’s first overseas trip next year. The chorale’s invitation came about after they performed Sir Karl Jenkin’s Armed Man at Frankston Arts Centre at last year’s Anzac Day centenary celebrations. In the “Big Apple” in January, 50 members of the group will perform with choristers from around the world at the Distinguished Concert Singers International at the Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall. The family has a long background in music and performing. Gabrielle Dole (nee Bradley) was born in Brighton in the 1940s, the eldest of five children to Jack and Leonie Bradley. In the 1950s Gay, as she was known, encouraged sisters Suzie and Pauline to sing together in harmony with the help of an old wooden frame piano. They sang on radio talent shows and early TV talent quests. In the 1960s they toured with the Tivoli as backing singers in an Ice Follies revue and later settled in Sydney where they were back-up singers for Festival Records behind various pop singers, including Col Joy and Johnny O’Keefe. They also secured a regular spot on Johnny O’Keefe’s Sing, Sing, Sing show on channel 7. In the late 1960s, after Pauline left the group, they brought in little sister Leonie before working on the ABC variety show Start a Living in Melbourne. Gabrielle then married and moved to live in country Victoria. Suzie and Leonie sang in a concert tour of Vietnam for nine months. Anna, Gabrielle’s second daughter, showed an early talent for singing, even singing before she could talk. At that time the family was living in Ethiopia and her first language was Amahaic. Anna went to the same school, Star of the Sea, as her mother and older sister Simone. There, she studied music and sang in the special choir and was chosen for lead parts in school musicals. She also sang in the Australian Children’s Choir and later the Faversham Singers. “Often people ask where musical talent comes from,” Anna said. “On the Bradley side, Jack’s first cousins were all
RAM raiders used a four-wheel-drive to bullock their way through the front doors of into Karingal Hub shopping centre early Wednesday before driving down the main thoroughfare and crashing into a jewellery store. Detective Jason Hamilton-Smith, of Frankston CIU, said the male offenders, in a stolen Isuzu, lined up the front of Prouds Jewellers and smashed through the door frame and shutters and inside before stealing a large quantity of jewellery. The exact amount was being assessed late Thursday. He said the three offenders caused a “massive amount of damage” before driving out again. CCTV footage shows the men with their faces covered. Prouds would not comment.
Heroes and Heroines FRANKSTON Symphony Orchestra and Mornington Peninsula Chorale present An Afternoon at the Proms, Heroes and Heroines, 2.30pm, Saturday 21 August at Frankston Arts Centre, Davey St, Frankston. To book call the arts centre, 9784 1060. Adults $25, PSSU $22, 14 years and under $12.
Shutting Gate on crime OPERATION Gateway has been a big success for Frankston police over the past two weekends. Officers from various units staged a highly visible, as well as covert, presence along mains roads linking Dandenong and Frankston on the weekends 29, 30 and 31 July and 5, 6 and 7 August. Sergeant Phillip Hulley said they arrested nine people for drug offences, five for theft of cars or theft from cars, one for assault, seven for outstanding warrants, four for robbery, three for weapons offences, one for being drunk, four for drinkdriving, five for drug-driving, 15 for traffic matters, 23 for penalty notices and four for vehicle defects.
Burns ahead
Live act: Gabrielle Dole and daughter Anna Jones will sing in New York as members of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale.
classical musicians. “Among them was renowned violinist Desmond Bradley. Nanna (Leonie’s) first cousin was a member of the Parker Sisters who sang on radio and were popular during World War II. Gabrielle was always sent to stay with them when Nanna was having another baby. “Jack and his family were all competent singers in the Irish tradition. The same applies to Dad’s (Dole) family. “In those days all families sang. It’s so different these days – especially when you hear footballers trying to sing.” Member Jennie Boux said the chorale was seek-
ing funding from government at all levels, and exploring other avenues of fundraising “to help us reach New York”. Senior member Judi McKee said the trip would be a wonderful experience. “It’s a really exciting time for the choir,” she said. “We will benefit from singing in such a wonderful location and walking in the footsteps of famous names at such as illustrious venue.” The chorale began in 1979. Its 93 members perform an oratorio and proms concert with Frankston Symphony Orchestra each year, as well as a Christmas concert. Its director is Tom Buchanan. Stephen Taylor
PLANNED burns are being held in the Frankston area over the next two years. Burns will be held at Derinya Drive, Frankston South, in 2016-17, over 2-8.9 hectares. Fuel reduction burns this year and next are 7.8 hectares at Warrawee Circuit Track, Frankston North. Notifications for planned burns can be received by email or SMS from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning by registering at delwp.vic.gov.au/pbns online.
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T: 03 5988 2047 www.moonahlinks.com.au Frankston Times
15 August 2016
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