NEWS DESK
Bike project a ‘safe link’ to Mornington Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A PROPOSED bike path linking Mornington Tourist Railway at Moorooduc with Civic Reserve at Mornington would be ideal for walking and running as well as cycling – all healthy pastimes in an increasingly frenetic world. Backers of the aptly named Mornington Safelink want support for their project which they say is “shovel ready”. “Most of the work has been done – it just requires lots of public encouragement to get up and going,” proponent Graeme Rocke said. Backers of the path see it is a logical extension of the PenLink trail that now ends at Moorooduc. The aim is to link Mornington’s shops, schools, sports fields, residential areas and commercial precincts and provide active and healthy recreation options. Cross-over points on Bungower and Mornington-Tyabb roads will give school children and the elderly or disabled extra safety. “The peninsula is growing, both in young families and an ageing population,” Mr Rocke said. “We experience an extraordinary number of visitors every year. “Obesity rates are rising, and the technology age is having an impact, particularly in school children. Roads are busier than ever, often reaching capacity during the day, and this makes them unsafe for any road user other than a vehicle. “Frustration levels are rising. Mental health is having its highest impact
Look at the ancients
Easy ride: A map of the proposed Mornington Safelink path from Moorooduc to Mornington. Picture: Supplied
on society ever.” To ease these issues communities need to be more connected, Mr Rocke said. “People need to be able to move between areas safely to catch up for a walk, teach the kids how to ride a bike, or walk the dog. Community groups need to be able to operate in a safe environment.” Mr Rocke said the obvious benefits of cycling were fitness and improved health. “The benefits go well beyond the fitness of the individual,” he said. “Riding bikes is now a family activity and covers all age groups. Off-road pathways have made cycling for families a regular weekend ‘must do’.”
Advances in technology over the past 10 years had seen the sales of electric bikes soar. More people can participate and be part of the bikeriding community. “The feeling of wellbeing from riding bikes lifts people emotionally,” he said. “Riding in groups builds social inclusion within the community. “Bike riders are a friendly lot: when we stop for a coffee or drink at the top of a hill inevitably we talk to other riders about the journey we have been on, which extends beyond the track or trail of the day to sharing life stories. “If you want fitness, health and wellbeing and like meeting new peo-
THE start of the 2018 Arthurs Seat Challenge. Picture: Paula Creek
Run aims for road safety PLANS are well underway for this year’s 6.7 kilometre fun run or walk Arthurs Seat Challenge, from Rosebud to Seawinds Gardens at the top of Arthurs Seat. This event promotes and raise money for the Fit to Drive road safety program provided free to Mornington Peninsula and Frankston secondary schools. Fit to Drive focuses on personal safety, responsibility, and strategies to make young people use
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Mornington News
27 August 2019
the roads safely. Running since 2001, the Fit to Drive program has been aimed to reducing road trauma by changing attitudes and behaviours of young drivers and passengers. BlueScope Western Port has supported the Arthurs Seat Challenge since its start in 2002, and sponsorship coordinator, Amanda Burston, said the Fit to Drive program was “directly aligned with our company’s core values of keeping people safe and supporting our local community.” “It’s been remarkable to see the growth, expan-
ple, then bike riding on our community paths is your must-do activity.” Mornington Peninsula Shire has in-principle support from Melbourne Water, Vic Track, Cultural Heritage for the proposed path which will feature ecological vegetation coups, made up of quality regrowth vegetation from when the original railway was developed in the late 1800s. The project engineering has been completed, drawings done and an economic impact assessment completed. One objective is to make the community path an education path linking The Briars, Mt Martha.
sion and significant reduction in young driver fatalities and accidents across the peninsula,” Ms Burston said. The challenge relies on support from sponsors, businesses, community groups, schools, and the public to run the annual race. Major partners are BlueScope Western Port, Mornington Peninsula News Group, Your Community Bank Rye/Dromana/Rosebud, and Spicy Web. This year’s Arthurs Seat Challenge is on Sunday 10 November, starting at 8.30am from near the corner of Jetty Road and Point Nepean Road, Rosebud. Registrations available from 7 am at Rosebud Primary School or online at www. arthursseatchallenge.com.au. There will be stalls, entertainment and presentations at Seawinds Gardens until 11.30am.
Stars on the runway MARRIED at First Sight star Melissa Walsh, model and social media influencer Foxy JOJO, and guest singer and speaker Amelia Stubbs, will help to raise money and awareness of gy-
CHRISTOPHER Bradley will talk on The Magnificence of Persia – The Art of Isfahan, Shiraz and Ancient, at the next meeting of the Mornington Peninsula Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society, Friday 6 September. Bradley, pictured, will examine the site of the pre-Islamic period of Persepolis, and explore the calligraphy, geometrical patterns and Islamic architecture – all of which reached unparalleled heights in the 17th century in highly decorated palaces and mosques in Isfahan. The lecture will also discuss the role of the respected poets in keeping the Persian language and traditions alive. Hour-long ADFAS lectures are held at the Peninsula Community Theatre in Wilsons Road, Mornington, 5.30pm on a Friday evening. They are followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the lecturer and fellow members. The first visit is free. Book through secretary Glad Hungerford 9787 2092. For membership details contact Vicky Davison 0407 810 877.
naecological cancer research next month. Founder of Fashion POP Boutique Melissa Day will run the event at Manhattan In Mornington, Thursday 5 September. Every day in Australia 17 women are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer: five will die. Only 43 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will be alive five years from diagnosis compared to more than 90 per cent of those diagnosed with breast cancer. “The wonderful Save the Box campaign raises funds to get women living with gynaecological cancers on to vital clinical trials to save or extend their lives,” Ms Day said. For every purchase made on the Fashion POP website Ms Day will make a donation to Save the Box. Ticket sales for the event and money raised made through a silent auction will also go to Save the Box. Manhattan In Mornington is at 55 Barkly Street, Mornington. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com.au/e/fashioninto-power-tickets-63617638068.