NEWS DESK
Zen approach brings tearful return Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au ONLINE shaming of shoplifters is the way to go for small retailers upset by frequent stock losses. That’s the message gleaned by Zen Living proprietor Annie Zaicz who, fed up with almost-weekly shoplifts, installed CCTV cameras in her Main St, Mornington, store and watched and waited for results. They were not long in coming: a woman in her mid-30s pushing a child in a pram was filmed rummaging among the stock and stuffing a $200 dress and a $199 handbag inside the pram’s luggage rack. A furious Ms Zaicz was determined to track the culprit down. She posted the footage online and declared, “I hope you are not too ashamed to have your picture on Facebook. If you don’t bring my stock back immediately you can expect a knock on your door.” That did it. The woman, with a reported Czech or Russian accent, was at the shop next morning “bawling her eyes out and pleading forgiveness”, Mrs Zaicz said. “She was saying she didn’t know why she did it and was sorry. But she knew exactly what she was doing and I’m not the least bit sympathetic. “I put it on Facebook because I am sick of it. I used to take a USB stick to the police once a week but they don’t really know what to do with it, and the process of finding and charging offenders is more than it’s worth.” Mrs Zaicz said the majority of online readers “liked” the story – with
some commenting that the woman’s $900 pram meant “she couldn’t be too badly off”. Zen Living paid $5000 for cameras and security tags – amounts probably out of reach of most of Mornington’s
small boutiques. Some may have false cameras with no ability to record events. Mornington Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Vallas was cautious about recommending the retailer’s actions.
“My concern is that they might get it wrong and be open to the laws of libel and slander,” he said. “There could be action taken against them by some people on those grounds.”
Caught in the act: Zen Living proprietor Annie Zaicz used CCTV images to track the offender down online. Picture: Yanni
Soccer women go in search of coaches THE new Women’s National Premier League soccer consortium Southern United is interviewing prospective coaches and plans to announce appointees soon. Its policy is that, if a male candidate is successful, then the best female candidate will be offered an assistantcoaching role. The consortium represents one of the largest catchment areas in Victoria. It is an amalgam of Casey Comets, Mornington, Langwarrin, Seaford United and Peninsula Strikers juniors. The interim board consists of
Michael Woodward (Strikers and exlocal zone representative), Rob Harrington (Strikers), Rosemary Meeds (Mornington), Dawn Stone (Casey Comets), Stuart McLeod (Casey Comets), James Honey (Langwarrin) and Willie Lynn (Seaford United). Board elections are expected to be held in November, with the format still to be decided. Southern United will play its home games on a rotating basis at Casey Comets, Mornington and Langwarrin as they fulfil the match-day venue criteria. Training will be shared among the other consortium members.
“This is the first time so many different clubs in the local area have come together to form the one club,” organiser Craig MacKenzie said. “There is great expectation throughout the Casey, Frankston and peninsula areas that it can hit the ground running in 2016 and make an immediate impact.” Southern United trial dates and venues for Southern area Under-13, 15 and 18 girls’ teams will be held 10am-noon, Saturday 24 October, Lawton Park, Barrett’s Rd, Langwarrin.
Get united behind soccer team SOUTHERN United Football Club has been awarded one of eight new Women’s National Premier League licences for next season. It will soon hold trials for under-13, under-15 and under-18 players from all over the Mornington Peninsula, with successful players called back for a second round. Southern area trials will be held at Langwarrin Soccer Club, Barretts Rd, Langwarrin South, 10am-noon, Saturday 24 October. South East Area trials will be held 6.30-8.30pm, Tuesday 20 October and Thursday 22 October, at Casey Comets Soccer Club, O’Tooles Rd, Cranbourne. Club treasurer Rosemary Meads sees it as an “historic event for the peninsula as it was the first time female soccer players wishing to play at an elite level – state and national – can train and play locally. Traditionally they have had to travel 45 minutes to over an hour to play with a club of this level.”
LETTERS Right of passage
Roundabout wrong
As a pet owner, I empathise with the anguish of a hurt animal, however as a cyclist I feel the letter (‘Ring the bell’, The Times 12/10/15) lacked vital information to enable a balanced opinion. The path in Karingal referred to is surely the Peninsula Link path as this is often frequented by “Lycra-clad” cyclists and is the only shared thoroughfare in the area. I also feel that had your pet been leashed, this would have been a strongly argued point in your piece and certainly an avoidable accident. I also question how the cyclist managed to get back on her bike and ride off if she didn’t stop to begin with. This track is a shared path for all, but does not extend to off-leash dogs being exercised. There are designated areas for this (which can be found on the Frankston Council website) and it is an offence that often causes issues. Calling the cyclist careless is possibly correct as we didn’t bear witness, however, allowing an animal to carelessly roam a very busy shared path is equally (if not more) irresponsible. Mark Williams, Carrum Downs
In response to the letter from the Bruce and Jane MacDonald (‘Roundabout support’, The Times 13/10/15) about the proposed roundabouts in Wooralla Drive, Mt Eliza, I would offer the following: Firstly, I am in full agreement about the need to slow traffic – particularly down the hill towards the 80 kph zone – it’s just that a roundabout is not the only option. We certainly don’t have any roundabouts in Tower Rd, except for the overplanted one at the top of the hill, which is absolutely necessary and appropriate given the number of intersecting roads. What we have in Tower Rd are two “slow points” which are effective traffic calming devices. If the aim is to slow the traffic down the hill, surely the installation of chicanes, slow points or even speed humps would be more effective and certainly save hundreds of thousands of our dollars. This could be done anywhere between the top of the hill and Maughan Rd. Roundabouts are an excellent solution when properly placed as they allow traffic from intersecting roads a reasonable and equitable chance to enter the flow. This is clearly evi-
PAGE 14 Frankston Times 19 October 2015
dent at the Moorooduc Road/Wooralla Drive intersection. I would question whether there is a reasonable case for this at both Wooralla Drive sites? In addition, the gradient and sheer drop at the Brighton Crescent site will be a serious and therefore expensive engineering challenge using money that may be better allocated within the shire. Secondly, I have still been unable to find any corroborated evidence of fatalities at either intersection. This is not to say there have been no accidents on that road, just none at the proposed roundabout sites. I am willing to be corrected on this on seeing some actual data. Greg Dixon, Mt Eliza
PM’s praise The new Prime Minister [Malcolm Turnbull] must surely be joking. Praising Tony Abbott as a great prime minister at the NSW Liberal Party love in. Love his sense of humour. Next, he will be telling us that Joe Hockey was the best treasurer Australia has ever had. Is Malcolm trying to turn the bull? Denise Hassett, Mt Martha
Helper thanked I write to thank the kind lady who stopped, assisted and drove my daughter to the Rosebud hospital following a collision among a peloton (group) of Round the Bay riders, of which my daughter was one, at the corner of Carmichael St and Point Nepean Rd on Sunday 11 October. Inquiries the next day at the hospital revealed no details of this wonderful lady, to whom I am very grateful. Fortunately, my daughter sustained only minor injuries. Incidentally, some riders in other mishaps were admitted to this hospital with far worse injuries. I would appreciate being able to thank this kind lady personally for her concern and kindness to my daughter so, if she reads this, or if anyone knows who she is, please call me on 5985 9537. Peter Longmire, Rye Letters to the editor can be sent to The Times, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@baysidenews.com.au Letters should be kept to a maximum 300 words and include name, address and contact phone number for verification purposes.