NEWS DESK
Frankston Santa will be ‘sadly missed’ LOCAL lights fitter Tony Hansen, the man known for fitting Frankston’s’ giant Christmas tree with its lights each year, has passed away. Mr Hansen had recently caught the eye of many excited Christmas celebrators by donning a Santa suit while rigging the lights on the giant Christmas tree on Davey Street (“Lights festival turns 21”, The Times, 12/11/18). He had been doing the job for nearly two decades. “A few years ago I acquired a Santa suit. Each year I put the jolly costume on to delight the young kids who walk by on their way to school,” Mr Hansen said before Christmas. Frankston mayor Michael O’Reilly said “it is with sadness that I acknowledge the passing of our long-standing Christmas tree arborist, Tony Hansen. Tony had assisted with the rigging of the Christmas lights on Frankston’s famous Norfolk Pine since 2000 and it was the job he most looked forward to every year. “It was always wonderful to have him as part of our Christmas Festival team. On behalf of Frankston City Council, I would like to offer my condolences to Tony’s family and friends during this difficult time. Thank you for igniting the Christmas spirit in us all. You’ll be sadly missed.”
Igniting the Christmas spirit: Tony Hansen would dress up as Santa to light up Frankston’s Christmas tree. Picture: Supplied
Call for volunteers at DSAMP surf day THE first Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula event for 2019 will be held at Point Leo on Saturday 12 January. Registration for volunteers wanting to help at the event opens at 9.30am and closes at 11.30am, with a briefing on the beach at 10.30. Volunteers must complete a registration form (available at the DSAMP website or at the beach on the day). Land based activities for volunteers include helping with the barbecue, delivering snacks, taking photographs and transferring wheelchairs. Details: disabledsurfers.org/vic/ morning-peninsula-branch
No ratepayer money for ‘unnecessary’ works Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to get started on “bay trail” works between Mentone Life Saving Club and Rennison Street, Parkdale. Kingston Council approved a $3.4 million budget for the next phase
of the project, which is designed to “provide a safe off-road cycling and walking path next to the foreshore.” “After 25 years of talk, Kingston is 100 per cent committed to finally build the Bay Trail path filling in a significant missing section between Port Melbourne and Seaford. This will give young and inexperienced
cyclists an alternative to riding along busy Beach Road,” Kingston mayor Cr Georgina Oxley. “Our plan meets all VicRoads and Australian safety standards, is supported by Bicycle Network Victoria as safe for cyclists and provides plenty of parking while protecting the most environmentally significant
areas of vegetation.” Council also said they will not use ratepayer money to fund “unnecessary resurfacing works requested by VicRoads” along the bay trail. Kingston Council has resolved to “look at alternative road treatments, such as the one used on Beach Road in the neighbouring municipality of
Bayside.” “Kingston was asked to foot the bill to re-sheet the surface of Beach Road, however we don’t believe this is fair or the most appropriate use of rate payers’ money, when there is a cost-effective and safe alternative treatment which has been proven to work,” said Cr Oxley.
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Frankston Times 8 January 2019
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