NEWS DESK Heritage awards NOMINATIONS for the annual Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards close on 14 August. The awards program, started in 2011, is a joint project of Mornington Peninsula Shire and the peninsula branch of the National Trust. Winners will be announced on Friday 22 September. Categories include “Creative Reuse of a Heritage Place”, “Restoration of a Heritage Place”, “Excellence in Interpretive Signage”, “Specialist Heritage Trade Skills “, and “Sustainability and/or Greening of a Heritage Place”. Nomination forms are available online from mornpen.vic.gov.au/heritageawards or by calling the National Trust on 0407 099 855 or the shire on 5950 1841 or 5950 1729.
Paving the way BUSINESSES and community groups are coming together to make Sages Cottage, Baxter, more accessible for people of all abilities. Wallara, a community based service provider which runs the cottage, is offering supporters an opportunity to buy one of 30 bricks to be included in a path. Bricks costing $500 will carry the logo (or tagline) of the group or organisation donating, and will have a contrasting colour to others to give it prominence. Smaller, personalised bricks are also available so donors can cement theirs or a loved one’s name into the historic pathway. For more information or to buy a brick, contact Karen Scholey 0418 537 711 or see kscholey@wallara. com.au
Medals show family ties to hall Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au “A SURVIVOR” is how Alan Scoble describes his late-grandfather Handley Scoble, who enlisted for World War I at the Frankston Mechanics’ Institute in early 1917 and then joined the other troops for a rousing send-off from the hall steps. Mr Scoble was at the hall last week for the War Heritage Roadshow, to which many Frankston families brought items of service and wartime memorabilia that shaped the story of Australia’s war effort and our local community’s contribution. At the roadshow, conservators and historians explained the significance of the various medals and memorabilia and advised on their care, cleaning and preservation. Mr Scoble, 63, and his father, Harry, 85, brought along Handley’s City of Frankston medal – nicknamed the “Bob” medal – as well as his British War medal and Victory medal to show the experts. The mechanics’ hall has played a big part in the family’s past. It was from there that Handley’s brigade marched to the station amid rousing cheers from a patriotic crowd. The trained at the Broadmeadows and Royal Park Army camps and, later, after they were deemed battle ready, boarded the troop ship Ballarat at Station Pier for the voyage “into hell”. On reaching the English Channel on 25 April 1917 – Anzac Day – the ship was torpedoed by a German sub-
Dad’s army: Alan Scoble and his father Harry with grandfather Handley Scoble’s war medals which have links to the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall. Picture: Gary Sissons
marine off Wolf Rock. Fortunately, she sank slowly, giving all 1752 diggers on board time to leave the ship and be ferried to England. One was Hanley Scoble, then 24, who fought at the fiercely contested Flanders and Ypres districts of Belgium as a machine gunner and managed to survive and serve out the war. Grandson Alan – who was 21 when his grandfather died in 1976 – recalls hearing stories of his wartime exploits, such as the captain of the stricken troop ship calling out: “Don’t rush boys, we have plenty of time” as they took to the life boats – and then managing
to “retrieve” the skipper’s binoculars from the bridge before making his way aboard. Later, while manning his machine gun in battle, he told of being all but buried alive by debris when a large enemy shell exploded nearby. After the war, Handley Scoble returned to Frankston for a celebratory homecoming at the same mechanics’ hall. There, he was presented with the City of Frankston medal – nicknamed the “Bob’s” medal – to go with his British War medal and Victory medal. “The Frankston medal – like those presented to returning troops by many
municipalities – was intended as a mark of thanks by local residents,” Alan said. “I thought the medals may be significant because I knew my grandfather enlisted at Frankston. “His name is also at the Frankston cenotaph and at the RSL in Cranbourne Rd.” Handley Scoble joined his brother, Arthur, on their pig farm near Frankston South and became so well established that Scoble St and Handley Ct are named after him. He died aged 83 in 1976.
Young leaders tackle pollution plight BANYAN Reserve wetlands in Carrum Downs was just the place for 100 young “marine ambassadors” to see and smell the tonnes of rubbish emptied from a gross pollution trap last week. The pupils – from St Macartans, Mornington, Kunyung, Mt Eliza and Woodlands, Frankston – investigated the trap which is designed to stop stormwater pollutants from being washed down from streets and entering Port Phillip Bay. The wetlands are described by Dolphin Research Institute executive director Jeff Weir as a world-class example of how to treat stormwater pollution. “Litter traps capture the larger pollution,” he said. “The ponds let sedi-
ment settle and the plant life takes up many of the soluble pollutants. “In moderate rains, the water will be quite clean by the time it leaves this site and flows into the bay via Kananook Creek. “In big storms, it overflows and everything goes into the bay. Most drains don’t have these systems and empty directly into the creeks and rivers that flow to our bays. “Treatment systems help when they are present, but the best solution is to stop things getting into drains in the first place.” The ambassadors’ experience was part of the Dolphin Research Institute’s ‘I sea, I care’ School Ambassador Program. The pupils are trained as peer edu-
cators who go back to their schools to share their experiences. The goal is to reduce pollutants entering drains and, ultimately, threatening our marine environment. “The institute is concerned about the link between water quality in the bay and the health of our dolphins,” Mr Weir said. “If it’s not safe for us to swim in our bay after rain, then it’s also not safe for our dolphins either. “We need to do much better.” The DRI is currently working on a major dolphin health study funded by the federal government.
Waste not; want not: Pupils tour the Banyan Reserve wetlands last week. Picture: Supplied
WHAT’S ON AT NEPTOURS *CROWN CASINO – MONTHLY* Casino’s bus program with a great BUFFET lunch (all) $35.
THE BODYGUARD
Wed 11 Oct (a) $130 (p/s) $120
PENIN NS SU ULLA A FEBRUARY 2017
Living & visiting on the Mornington
GIPPSLAND Only p/p over the age of 18 permitted. GARDEN & HOME EXPO LAST THURSDAY EACH MTH
Pick up your copy in shops and cafes across the Peninsula or visit our website peninsulaessence.com.au
Phone: 5981 1277
www.neptours.com.au PAGE 8 Frankston Times 7 August 2017
Living & visiting
on the Morningto
n Peninsula
Equine Angel • Hello Hannie • Lantasia • Kenny Brunner: Straight Outta Compton • Madeline Makes Her Mark • Healing The Soul • Foxy Lady • The Heart Of A Boxer • Breaking The Street Art Stigma • Must Try Dishes • Sorrento Mansion For Sale
• Picture Perfect Purple Vet Keeping Blue Blood Racing On Track • Sandcastles To Build • Photography For A Cure Nathan loves Ricky Martin • Its Hip To Be Square • Style File And Portia As Neighbours Food Glorious Food • What Next For Warrawee? • Imagine Ellen
ON
Wed 24 Jan 2018 (a) $130 (p/s) $120
...Don’t miss securing that wanted prope property p rty
PENIN NSULA APRIL 2017
LIVING & VISITING
DREAM LOVER
Peninsula Essence is a FREE magazine bringing you the best the Peninsula KDV WR RNjHU
LIVING & VISITING ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Tue 10 Oct (a) $85 (p/s) $75 (c) $60
THE MORNINGTON PENI
MELBOURNE ZOO
ALADDIN
Wed 10 Jan 2018 (matinee) (a) $140 (p/s) $130
FREE
Living & visiting on the Mornington Peninsula
Sun 15 Oct $70 p/p
LIVING & VISITING ON
Tue 2FW - All $30
MARCH 2017
ESSENCE APRIL 2017
QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET
Peninsula
SULA NS PENINSU PENINSULA
(numbers permitting)
FREE
New Life For Church • Guardian Angel Of The Animals • Feature: Health, On The Record • Wellness, Beauty Peninsula • The Art Of Travelling Bringing The Magic • Coranderrk • Paella Photos Touch To Morley’s Passion • Focus On Safety Beach • All In The Family
FREE
Immediate access to Bond & Rent nt 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 off bonds between properties
WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH S TO IMMEDIATE ACCESS BOND AND RENT T
1300 554 470 2-4 Chelsea Rd, Chelsea VIC 3196 Fax: 03 9776 2929 Email: info@bondassist.com.au
www.bondassist.com.au