Peninsula Essence Summer 2015/16

SUMMER 2015/16

FREE

PENINSULA Living & visiting on the Mornington Peninsula

For The Love Of Nature • Saxophone Success • All Things Winged And Wonderful • Agapanthus • Putting The Glam Into Camping • Style File • A Ferry Good Life • Lights, Camera, Action • Cruden Farm • Terminus-Flinders Hotel • Passion For Cooking • Focus On Flinders

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Summer 2015/2016

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16/09/2015 1:37 pm

contents 6 Mornington Peninsula Events 8 Window Shopping Products you are sure to love.

12 For The Love Of Nature

When Jacqui Bansgrove picks up her treasured Hasselblad or Pentax 35mm camera she knows it’s going to be a good day.

15 Theatre Of Dreams

A place where the young can explore their creativity through improvisation.

23 Saxaphone Success

At age 24, peninsula resident Arin Grigg is taking the music world by storm.

Writers: Melissa Walsh, Peter McCullough, Cameron McCullough, Andrew Dixon, Debra Mar. Creative Director: Maria Mirabella Photography: Yanni, Jarryd Bravo Publisher: Cameron McCullough Advertising: Ricky Thompson, 0425 867 578 or ricky@mpnews.com.au Marilyn Saville, 0409 403 336 or marilyn@mpnews.com.au General enquiries: essence@mpnews.com.au Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931 Phone: 5973 6424 www.peninsulaessence.com.au /peninsulaessence

26 All Things Winged And Wonderful

It’s time to look up to the sky again as the Tyabb Air Show is ready to return in 2016..

31 Attractive Survivors

Keith Platt takes a close look at agapanthus; a plant equally loved and hated.

34 Life On The Water

Peninsula Essence photographer, Yanni, gives us a glimpse into our obsession with life on the water.

40 Limbo - Up Close At Spiegel Zent

Spiegel Zent is back in Sorrento, and is set for one hell of a show.

44 Tom Ripon - Meshing Art With Nature

Wonderous wire animalia will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

50 A Little Bit Of Hollywood Comes To Rosebud

Peninsula Short Film Fest is back in 2016, and will be bigger than ever.

57 Wine Passion Leads To Portsea Treasure

Tim Elphick has mixed with international winemakers, mingled with Masters of Wine and has an incredible passion for life and travel.

61 Lights, Camera, Action

When you’ve been in the television industry for as long as Ray Punjer, there sure are some tales to tell.

66 Putting The Glam Into Camping

Glamping experiences that showcase the Mornington Peninsula from a fun, new perspective.

All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor.

Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Peninsula Essence is produced quarterly. 30,000 copies (mix of home delivery and bulk dropped at an extensive network of outlets across the peninsula).

71 This Is Your Life

Arthur Higgins now enjoys a relaxing lifestyle away from cameras, mikes and makeup.

Debra Mar asks, “Was the ride worth it?”

75 Style File

Summer fashion on the peninsula.

83 Gentle Giants Of The Paddock

Clydesdales are the gentle giants of the paddocks, from the fields of Scotland, standing about 18 hands, with feathers about their hooves.

86 The Fight Of His Life

Bittern boxer, Kane Watts, knows what it takes to be a professional boxer.

94 A Ferry Good Life

Melissa Walsh takes a ride on Searoad Ferry’s “The Queenscliff” with Master Gus Rogers and his trusty sidekick, Skipper.

99 Cruden Farm - The Heart And Soul

The spirit of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch lives on in every flower and blade of grass live at Cruden Farm.

110 Sorrento’s Moonahs Have Seen Many Changes Cover Photo: Sunset over the rocks at Mount Martha Phtoto: Yanni

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Trees that began their lives soon after Europeans began regularly sailing through The Heads into Port Phillip.

114 Passion For Cooking - Respect For Food

Flinders Hotel head chef Giuseppe Pisciotta is passionate about cuisine and inspired by his Italian upbringing.

122 A Narrow Escape For Doctor Peacock

Tyabb landowner, Doctor Samuel Peacock, narrowly escpaed the hangman’s noose after being found guilty of a young woman’s murder.

128 Focus on Flinders

A glimpse at Flinders… things to do, what to see and local facts.

Summer 2015/2016

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Summer 2015/2016

DELIVERY, SET UP AND REMOVAL*

Events

mornington peninsula

FRANKSTON WATERFRONT FESTIVAL

CRUDEN FARM OPEN DAYS Thursday 10 & Friday 11 Dec, 2015 Garden tour commences at 10am. Or wander the gardens at your leisure.

Bookings required.

60 Cranbourne Rd (enter from Cranhaven Rd), Langwarrin. 9789 1676 crudenfarm.com.au

TELESCOPIC VIEWING NIGHTS

Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 Jan 2016 Enjoy live music and free interactive activities. Indulge in great food, wine, beer and cider.

7N Pier Promenade, Frankston Waterfront.1300 322 322 frankston.vic.gov.au

First Friday each month in Dec, Jan & Feb Come and join the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society The Briars, Nepean Highway, Mt. Martha. 0419 253 252 mpas.asn.au

LIMBO UP CLOSE AT THE SPIEGELZELT

ROSEBUD AUSTRALIA DAY FUN RUN

PENINSULA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Dec 8, 2015 – Jan 25, 2016 The record breaking, award winning show LIMBO, makes its Sorrento debut as part of the Spiegelzelt Summer Season.

Three Palms Restaurant 154 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento.

Book at 136 100 ticketmaster.com.au spiegelzelt.co

Tuesday Jan 26, 2016 10km run from Safety Beach to Rosebud 5.3km Run/Walk from Dromana Visitor Information Centre to Rosebud. Aerobics warm ups 15 minutes before start times.

Pam 0429 435 863 or Nicole 0407 546 533 ausdayfunrun.com.au

Saturday Feb 6, 2016.

The Peninsula Short Film Fest (PSFF) event held on the first Saturday in Feb. Village Green, Rosebud. peninsulashortfilmfest.com.au

Design for Life.

Your local Miele agent 1263 Pt Nepean Road, Rosebud • Ph: 5986 5544 Summer 2015/2016

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window shopping

products from our advertisers we are sure you will love.

Stand Out Piece Looking for something different or a unique gift?

Shop Around The Corner 94 Young St, Frankston Ph 0416 923 517 www.shopwithlove.com.au

Covered With Umbrellas Kibu has the Peninsula Covered.

From small beach to giant cafe 5x5m umbrellas Kibu Indoor and outdoor furniture 2/1Colchester Road, Rosebud Ph 5986 6778 kibuimports@gmail.com

Step Out In Style Summer is a great time to complement your wardrobe with new shoes and matching handbag.

Bayside Shoe Warehouse 103 Railway Parade, Seaford Ph 9785 1887 www.baysideshoewarehouse.com.au

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Summer 2015/2016

The New Jaguar XE Priced from $65,990, the new Jaguar XE is ready to rule the road.

Call Brighton Jaguar on (03) 9595 9999 to arrange a test drive.

Brighton Jaguar 227 Nepean Highway, Gardenvale Phone: (03) 9595 9999 www.brightonjaguar.com.au

THE PENINSULA’S AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

Mitsubishi Electric Signature Series

1263 Pt Nepean Road, Rosebud • Ph: 5986 5544 Summer 2015/2016

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HANDMADE AFGHANI RUGS Specialising in all types of handmade rugs, silver and gemstone jewellery, hand painted Turkish ceramics and Indian decorative pieces.

EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF HANDMADE RUGS

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146 Main Street, Mornington

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www.harugs.com.au

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Summer 2015/2016

WE WASH & REPAIR RUGS

NEW CONTAINERS ARRIVING REGULARLY Kibu has the Peninsula

covered with umbrellas From small beach umbrellas to our giant cafe 5x5m umbrella Most of our umbrella’s come with spare parts.

OPEN 7 DAYS INDOOR/OUTDOOR FURNITURE ■ HOMEWARES ■ GIFTWARE ■ TABLES ■ CHAIRS ■ LOUNGES ■ BAR TABLES AND STOOLS ■ SUN LOUNGES ■ MARKET UMBRELLAS ■ CUSHIONS, LAMPS, ARTWORKS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE ■ MASSIVE RANGE OF RATTAN ■

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Come in and visit us today to view some of our new stock or find us on

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Summer 2015/2016

For The Love Of Nature

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

W

hen Jacqui Bansgrove picks up her treasured Hasselblad or Pentax 35mm camera she knows it’s going to be a good day. For the tall, bubbly 33-year-old this is the time when she feels the most at peace.

When you look around Jacqui’s beachside St Andrews house, you sense you are with a true artist; there’s not a hint of pretence about her. She doesn’t want to make money from her photography, she just wants to learn, and experience. And she is determined to stick to the medium of film, with roll upon roll of it taking up space in her fridge.

As we talk, the young artist is just about to head out on a road trip to the north coast, and is in the middle of packing up her trusty sky blue kombi “Sonny”, for the trip of a lifetime.

“Since I was a teenager, my family travelled. We moved from Rye

when I was 17 to the red desert sands of Alice Springs, and that’s where I found my love of photography. The extreme of colour, weather and lifestyle was inspiring and I loved the isolation and the freedom to be myself completely,” says Jacqui, who still longs for her solitude. “Those early years in central Australia have all led to my passion for photography.”

Moving back to the peninsula, Jacqui found new places to photograph, seeing the area through totally fresh eyes.

“There was new meaning in photographing the natural environment thanks to the drastic change from desert to beach.”

For Jacqui, searching for photos in and among nature becomes an adventure. “When the weather is at its wildest and I am hunting for the perfect shot or the sun just about to rise, I feel alive,” says Jacqui. “Photographing nature is my way of sharing how I see the natural world. I am in awe of the constant colour changes and continued next page...

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the way our moods seem to flow with the weather. The emotions I find from these moments are central to what I aim to evoke for my audience.”

For Jacqui, moving to central Australia turned out to be a lifechanging experience, for she now works with remote communities, helping with health issues, and following in her mother’s footsteps.

“Mum and I work with the remote communities so that gives me a lot of flexibility to do my photography. It’s the perfect blend of both worlds, and lets me do things like this road trip,” says Jacqui.

With a creative mind, Jacqui is always looking at different ways of presenting her film photography, and experiments with film and Polaroid, leaving them in different atmospheres to see what the outcome is.

Regardless, Jacqui says her favorite photo is still one she took at an old abandoned Alice Springs drive-in.

“I had been there a couple of times but this time the light was perfect and there was a chair set up perfectly next to the old speaker pole, facing the screen. It’s still my favourite to this day as it represents what I was feeling at the time, and the history of the place,” says Jacqui.

Whether it’s the red sands of central Australia, or the expansive waters of the Mornington Peninsula, you can guarantee that, quietly and reverently, Jacqueline Bansgrove will be found with her trusty 35mm camera and the serenity it brings.

You can see some of Jacqui’s photos on display at Sound Bar, Peninsula Hot Springs, and The Potter’s Garden Bed & Breakfast – Rye. | info@jacquelinebransgrove.com Phone 0418 821 740 fb: Jacqueline Bransgrove Photography

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Summer 2015/2016

THEATRE OF

DREAMS

By Debra Mar Photos: Yanni

A

n ensemble of enthusiastic young contemporaries consider themselves fortunate to be part of an establishment where they can explore their creativity through improvisation. This would not be possible without Artistic Director, Carole Patullo, Southern Peninsula Arts Coordinator at the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Jo Ridgeway and a team of extraordinary individuals.

The Dreamhouse Theatre Company in Rosebud is privileged to use SPAC (Southern Peninsula Arts Centre) to hold improvisation and drama workshops for teens aged between 12 – 17 years. They also perform various plays and a production during the year. continued next page... continued next page...

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Born in 2009, Dreamhouse was set up from a Shire Community Renewal Project to engage young people in the Rosebud West area, particularly those who didn’t have access to the arts. An extraordinary writer on the peninsula, Jemma Leusogi gave the Theatre Company its name. It’s a non-profit organization run by parents and volunteers who continuously work to raise funds.

Professional actress and Dreamhouse ‘Artist in Residence’, Carole Patullo and her support and confidant Jo Ridgeway, work together as facilitators and mentors to bring out the best in these budding actors by having fun, fostering spontaneity, skill development and collaboration.

The two free-spirited, inspiring and unpretentious women provide a safe and secure environment. “We offer a newly devised work platform that is central to young people realising their creative ideas. It is a unique experience that’s offered through the direction of Carole and improvisation,” Jo said. “I heard she is one of the best in the business!”

Carole, who lives on the peninsula is a well-known, accomplished actress whose work includes TV dramas (ABC’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Winners and Losers). She springs from an independent theatre background and doesn’t necessarily pursue traditional types of theatre work for Dreamhouse. “That’s our point of difference in a fun sort of a way,” Carole says.

She co-wrote a play called Button that was included on the 2013 VCE drama list and was recently performed in Rosebud. She was born and raised in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and found her way to Rusden University (now Deakin University) to complete a B.ED in Drama/English. “Dad used to drive me miles to take part in a theatre group as a teen so I’ve loved it most of my life.”

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Summer 2015/2016

VISION

SHAPE

CREATE

Phone: 1300 21 21 22 1/10 Dalkeith Dve, DROMANA info@aluminiumapps.com.au www.aluminiumapps.com.au

facebook.com/AluminiumApplicationsVictoria Summer 2015/2016

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Carole explained, “Dreamhouse gives voice to young people’s ideas in an artistic way through theatre.” Jo added, “Teenagers want to experiment and explore their creative side and learn more about themselves which helps them find their place in the world.”

Both Jo & Carole agreed that it’s a non-judgmental environment it’s creates a place to grow for those who may not have an interest in sport, have a vibrant inner world, or simply just want to join a theatre company and have fun.

Carole proudly admits she is a hoarder. “I see purpose in most things, I get quite attached to ‘things.’ There was a suggestion she might possibility be a collector rather than a hoarder, “maybe, most things do get used in the end, especially in theatre!”

People make me happy,” Carole smiles. “I generally have a happy disposition – I’m a dispositional optimist.” She has two children she adores.

Carole & Jo aren’t dissimilar in their outlook on life. Carole is a forward thinker about environmental issues believing many people are ignorant about climate change. “The lack of leadership and pro-activeness towards the environment is disturbing. Everyday is a ticking time bomb.” Carole also believes there is a lack of recognition for what older members of the community can offer.

“My family make me extremely happy,” says Jo. “Beauty and happiness really does come from within, it’s really something that can affect an entire room. I’m a big believer of mediation too.”

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Jo has four gorgeous kids and smashes the idea that Virgo’s are neat!

The Dreamhouse ensemble recently performed a play called ‘Tales from the Arabian Nights’ that was held at SPAC and deemed a success. As feedback the young actors shared a list of their affirmations and experiences which included ‘I feel free; I feel life is good; I feel honoured, celebrated and proud; I feel my mind is open; I feel part of a team; a sense of achievement and I learned to be flexible.’ This is a reflection of Carole & Jo’s commitment and leadership qualities.

It’s about bringing young people’s creative worlds together and giving them permission to be ‘whole’.

Carole runs improvisation and drama workshops at the Dreamhouse Theatre Company weekly for a small fee, specifically for teenagers who want to explore their creativity and develop skills in theatre.

Open to all young people on the peninsula in Years 7-11. You can also be part of the Company for a $25 annual membership. For more information visit dreamhousetheatrecompanyvictoria/facebook.com or email dhtheatreco@gmail.com Jo Ridgeway 0488 337 253

SUPPORT LOCAL THEATRE, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PENINSULA WILL PRODUCE ITS NEXT STAR!

Summer 2015/2016

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O P E N 7 DAY S @ 7A M 2 COLCHESTER RD, ROSEBUD PHONE 03 5981 2520 WWW.BLUEMINI.COM.AU

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Summer 2015/2016

Welcome to Blue Mini; the newest retro cafe & eatery thats fast becoming a peninsula favourite.

Open year round for all day breakfast, great “dibella” coffee & delicious lunches made with fresh locally sourced produce.

Local artists & creatives works blend with a vintage range of quirky giftware in the “emporium”. The perfect space for events, special occasion or just a casual drop in.

See you soon.

Summer 2015/2016

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Summer 2015/2016

SPECIALISED SPRAY EQUIPMENT

USED EQUIPMENT

SAXOPHONE SUCCESS

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

F

or many, the saxophone has been the ultimate sound of jazz, since Adolphe Sax invented it back in 1841. The haunting sounds of the woodwind brass instrument inspired Mornington’s Arin Grigg as a child when he first heard a gentleman by the name of Dan Higgins play the sax on a John Williams score.

and Rich Perry. It was fantastic,” says Grigg, who still lives at his family home on the Mornington Peninsula.

“It was then that I fell in love with the saxophone,” says 24-year-old Grigg.

“I started learning the saxophone at Mornington Secondary College from year 7 and would lug it home with me for the first couple of years and drive the teachers mad practicing constantly at lunch time.”

“I know it’s difficult to master but it’s one of those instruments that you can produce amazing sound with, but it takes a long time to get that sound,” says Grigg. “It’s interesting because I’ve known a lot of people who have gone through the process of formal education but haven’t quite got it. That’s one thing I found very humbling when one of my mentors, Ian Oldstein said I had a natural musicality and I think that is important to being successful too.”

That was 11 years ago and since then Arin has a list of musical credits to his name, having performed at local and international jazz festivals, recorded and performed in New York City with Grammy winners Jeff Coffin, Rich Perry, Tony Moreno and Ben Allison, and recently recording with Kate Ceberano and the orchestra as a soloist.

“The whole thing kicked off pretty quickly from the time I took up the sax, and started working with Westernport Regional Band and with a lot of mentoring, I started to get high profile work and by 2011 was part of the world premiere production of Grease 2. Last year I was over in New York studying at NY University, and recorded with Ben Allison, Tony Moreno

Although admitting the sax is a tough instrument to learn, this young jazz musician gives master classes at Mornington Secondary College and says there is no better sound, which makes it worth persevering.

Since picking up a sax over a decade ago, Grigg now earns his living as a professional musician, composing one day and performing the next.

“The first paid gig I did was in year 8 and I was already employed by other high schools to play in their bands. Now I work full time at it, and have just finished my Bachelor of Music at Monash University,” says Grigg, who did a summer program at NY Uni during his degree. continued next page...

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“Through that New York course we were given an ensemble to produce and a whole album in one week. I loved it and got high marks. My dad came with me and attended one of the performances we did, and Tony Moreno came up to him and said I was one of the finest saxophone players to go through Monash. It was fantastic.”

A far cry from practicing in the lunch room at high school, Grigg has three albums being released this year and is hoping to continue his studies at Berkley College of Music in Boston.

“The album’s coming out next year are Kate Ceberano with Monash, Nyilipidgi Monash Art Ensemble, Hyjinx, a Monash student funk/pop group, and a duo album with Australian icon Paul Grabowskey in the works,” says Grigg. “I have no idea how I got here but I know one thing’s for sure you have to have a lot of drive. It’s a very tough industry, there’s so much supply and very little demand for gigs so you have to be really good.”

For a young guy who has already been taught by members of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in LA and The Village Vanguard Orchestra in NYC, performed with Buddy Rich trumpeter, John Hoffman, Tony Gould, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Mike Knock, George Garzone and Ed Partyka in Melbourne, and been highly praised by world renowned players including George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Rich Perry, Ralph Lamana, Andrew Sterman, Tony Moreno, the future is looking bright.

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SCHOLARSHIPS for entry into Years 5 & 7 2017 • TESTING: Saturday 13 February 2016 • APPLY NOW: www.woodleigh.vic.edu.au MINIMBAH CAMPUS: 3yo ECC - Y6 PENBANK CAMPUS: 3yo ECC - Y6 WOODLEIGH CAMPUS: Year 7 - 12

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Summer 2015/2016

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ALL THINGS WINGED AND WONDERFUL

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

I

t’s time to look up to the sky again as the Tyabb Air Show is ready to return in 2016.

The show will also include nail-biting performances from the aerobatic champs, who really do defy the laws of nature.

Presented by the Peninsula Aero Club, the Air Show is a magnificent display of all things winged and wonderful.

Winged Warriors will present yesteryear’s battle wagons. They’ll be put through their paces, to thrill and to remind us of how it used to be. Some of them are very rare, so rare that they are the only ones in existence. They’re not museum pieces, but the real deal. They’ll all be flying.

On the ground a static display of antique aircraft from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s will be featured. These will also be accompanied by a bevy of classic cars from the same period, all of them in their own segregated display area.

As always, there will be a mixture of the old and the new as well as a few surprises.

Be moved by the sounds of Rolls Royce Merlins, the enormous Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial of the Corsair and get the flutters when a Vietnam era Bell Huey helicopter beats a path to the airfield.

The A.D.F. will show off some of their latest technology, both on the ground and in the air, and there’ll be assets from both the Air Force and Navy.

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Mercedes-Benz will be there with a very fast car to challenge one of the fast planes, and a fabulous display of their latest in personal transport.

It all adds up to a fantastic day at Tyabb, confirming our place as the most amazing airport in the country.

The 2016 Tyabb Air Show will be held on Sunday 13 March.

Summer 2015/2016

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HAVE YOU DISCOVERED FRANKSTON AUCTION MART YET?

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Call in and be surprised with our range & prices

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www.frankstonauctionmart.com.au

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Summer 2015/2016

Mornington

EN

WE’RE OP

LFRAIDTAYES

Peninsula Homemaker Centre, Cnr Nepean Highway & Bungower Road, Mornington VIC, 3931 (03) 5973 6333 Summer 2015/2016

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For more information please contact 1300 850 600 or 5950 1000 www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

NEW YEAR’S EVE | 2015 - 2016

NO ENTERTAINMENT NO NONSENSE

Mornington Peninsula Shire is continuing to take a ‘No Entertainment - No Nonsense’ approach for the upcoming New Year’s Eve on the peninsula, working in partnership with a community-based steering committee, police and residents to reduce the negative impact of celebrations in the area.

There are no organised public events or activities on the Mornington Peninsula on New Year’s Eve. Venues operating on New Year’s Eve will only be accessible by people who have pre-purchased tickets.

People are reminded to be extremely vigilant of fires: and particularly fire-safe on the peninsula. More information about fire safety can be found at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or www.depi.vic.gov.au

Alcohol bans apply from December 30 to midnight 1 January 2016. Possession of sealed and unsealed containers of liquor in public places is prohibited (unless sealed containers are being transported from point-of-sale to vehicle or private residence for consumption). Possession of any glass container while in a public place is prohibited.

The Rye Carnival will be closed on New Year’s Eve (day and night).

CAR PARK CLOSED

Bus Service - Portsea to Safety Beach A free, one - way bus service will operate from Portsea to Safety Beach. *For route information please visit www.mornpen.vic.gov.au Security will be onboard at all times.

No camping is permitted in any public park or reserves.

There are no public displays of fireworks on New Year’s Eve. A person must not possess or discharge fireworks (fines apply).

The Rye Pier car park will be closed from approximately 4.00pm on New Year’s Eve (or at Police discretion). Minor road closures are expected in Rye from 11pm - 1am.

000

EMERGENCY

In the event of an emergency call 000.

Discharge of flares is prohibited except in cases of an emergency.

Have a safe New Year Mornington Peninsula Shire working in collaboration with Victoria Police

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ATTRACTIVE SURVIVOURS Words and photos by Keith Platt

I

f they weren’t so attractive they would have ben ripped out years ago.

Agapanthus survive in my garden solely because of the colour of their flowers.

OK, so the leaves are also a deep green, winter and summer.

Apart from the aesthetics, agapanthus are a pest, despite the name deriving from the Greek for “love flower”).

agapanthus being adopted as some sort of highly prized regional flower emblem on the Mornington Peninsula.

Their attractive topsides hide tenacious roots that prevent any other plants gaining a foothold.

Driveways and nature strips are filled with them.

If not headed before they go to seed, the agas will quickly colonise the street.

Their up to 60 centimetre long leaves provide shelter for snails and, although the flowers are a source of food for honeyeaters (wattlebirds break agapanthus stems near season’s end) and bees, the plants take up space that could be allotted to less invasive species.

But it’s the flowers that win. A shade of blue that to my eyes can be classed as cobalt.

A colour only rivalled within certain storm clouds, and then only fleetingly.

The flowers actually come in a variety of shades between white and purple, but it’s the deep blue for my money.

If you do a bit of clearing cars pull up and their occupants ask if they can take away your cast-offs.

Although declared an environmental weed by the shire, there is at least one

None of these negatives have stopped

continued next page...

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nursery that does brisk business in supplying agapanthus in a variety of colours (the number of species recognised by various authorities varies from six to 10; cultivars and hybrids are numbered in the hundreds).

Another one of the many attractive plants that survive purely on their looks rather than usefulness is the banana passionfruit, or passion flower.

Its fruit, as such, is meagre, but its flowers look like something from outer space.

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Viewed up close, there’s no reason why they couldn’t be passed off as a multi-levelled space station.

Again, this plant is invasive (maybe the alien-like flowers are a giveaway here) and clambers and climbs across any competition.

The bees and honeyeaters seek it out but, once again, the space it occupies in the garden could be devoted to a less invasive, more productive plant.

However, it appears the passion flower does have some uses, often turning up as an ingredient in herbal remedies for its calming, sleep inducing and muscle spasm relieving effects.

The odd shaped flowers are seen by some as having elements of Christian symbolism, such as the pointed leaves representing the Holy Lance; tendrils being the whips used on Christ; 10 petals, 10 faithful apostles; and the flower’s radial filaments the crown of thorns.

In keeping with this Christian theme Spaniards know the passion flower as espina de Cristo (Christ’s thorn), the Germans Christus-Krone (Christ’s crown), Christus-Strauss (Christ’s bouquet) and Dorn-Krone (crown of thorns).

In Israel and Greece the flower is seen as a clock, but in India returns to religion because of its Krishna blue and circular layout.

But when you these vines weaving their way to the upper branches of flowering trees or its tendrils creeping up through the lawn, you just know this is an evasive invader. And when it flowers, there’s the alien proof.

Shop 2, 13 Boneo Rd, Rosebud (Opposite Rosebud Plaza) | Phone: 5986 1400 Summer 2015/2016

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LIFE ON THE WATER

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Summer 2015/2016

GIFTS | FASHION | DECOR exclusive to Jardinerie Down the lane

Rear 138 Main St, Mornington (next to Comm Bank) INSTORE | ONLINE | SOCIAL

Join me on Instragram @hellojardinerie Get social on Facebook jardineriesocialite

Summer 2015/2016

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Summer 2015/2016

With a fascination for all things to do with our beautiful peninsula, Peninsula Essence Photographer, Yanni, has spent the better part of 20 years capturing the ever-changing coastline, including wonderful watercrafts.

“My fascination for boats has resulted in a large variety of watercraft photos from our peninsula’s two bodies of water, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay,” says Yanni. “During summer these bays fill up with a colourful collection of watercraft of all shapes and sizes.”

Summer 2015/2016

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Summer 2015/2016

SAT 12th & SUN 13th MARCH 2016 11AM - 5PM

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Summer 2015/2016

LIMBO UP CLOSE AT

SPIEGEL ZELT

By Melissa Walsh

S

piegel Zelt at Three Palms has returned to Sorrento with theatrical producer and restaurateur James McPherson promising an exotic and breath-taking experience once again.

“We were delighted to bring the grand old Belgian Spiegeltent to Sorrento once again after a fabulous debut last year, and promise to continue providing international, star-studded entertainment to our marvellous seaside town,” said James.

Limbo Up Close will whisk audiences into an exotic and magical netherworld of mind-blowing contortion, breath-taking acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts, all up close and personal.

“The extremely talented artists make the Spiegeltent come alive with cabaret, music, burlesque, dancers and singers. This international cast has travelled from all corners of the world including Montreal, France, USA and Australia to have you spellbound,” said James. “I first saw the performance about 12 months ago and decided then and there to bring it to Sorrento. As our Spiegeltent is one of the smallest original tents, seating 130, we had to adjust the show to a more intimate venue and it has worked out better than we could have expected.”

Limbo Up Close has been passionately created and co-produced by Strut & Fret, with director and company founder, Scott Maidment creating many award winning productions which include Limbo, Cantina, Tom Tom Crew, Feasting on Flesh and The Secret Death of Salvador Dali. continued next page...

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“Performing the international show in the smaller Spiegeltent creates a personal and intimate experience between the performers and the audience. Limbo is the catholic expression for the place between heaven and hell, and our message is that heaven can wait when you enter into the mystery and luxury of the Spiegeltent,” said James. “You will be transformed with sword swallowers, Chinese pole masters, aerialists, some amazing dance and an incredible music score by composer, Sxip Shirey. It features cabaret, burlesque and an outstanding cast of musicians, acrobats and singers.”

Limbo Up Close opens December 8 at the Spiegeltent, 154 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento – next to Claret & Co @ Three Palms. Tickets available now @www.ticketmaster.com.au Phone: 136 100 and also at the Box Office Spiegel Zelt. www.spiegelzelt.co

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Summer 2015/2016

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TOM RIPON

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Summer 2015/2016

Sales followed, but the better he got at using the wire, the more disappointed he was when he covered it up with papier-mâché.

“I found the material to be quite malleable and could sculpt great form with the galvanized grid mesh.”

Next came colour, and the discovery of bright and intense colours, lifting the sculptures into a new dimension.

“I had a giraffe in wire ready for papier-mâché but spontaneously I suggested we spray paint it fluro, put it and other works under UV light, mount a mirror ball underneath and have them glowing and spinning.

And away we went.”

A

spectacular menagerie of sculpture by the extraordinary Tom Ripon will be heading to Stillwater at Crittenden this summer.

Meander through a kaleidoscope of animals wandering, grazing and lounging lakeside.

Brimming with character and personality, this is an exhibition of wondrous delight for audiences young, old and everyone in between.

This wonderous wire animalia will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

Tom Ripon started making frames from chicken wire for papier-mâché sculpture. When he was about 15 or 16, he made his first wire sheep.

“I remember being quite shocked that I could actually do it. Chicken wire is awful to use so I scouted around for a better medium. Back then, I lived near Victoria Market where I could buy the same type of wire by the metre that I still use today.”

He covered the sheep with real wool by melting wax to stick over the papier-mâché.

“The grey wire is great in certain contexts but can be hard to see. I wanted the sculptures to be as big and loud as they possibly could.

Fluro was perfect.”

Tim’s inspiration primarily arose from his love of animals.

“There is so much nowadays going on with animals as far as David Attenborough, and National Geographic shows but back in the late 70’s there were only National Geographic magazines.”

“If you wanted a picture of a zebra you had to go to a library and get about five or six books to find different views of zebras. Even with specialized books one needed to scour to find pictures. Nowadays google any animal and you will find thousands of pictures.”

“It’s always the big animals. I love the fact that I can make big things out of this wire, getting the structure right so they stand up and don’t crash under their own weight.”

Tom’s work has been shown in unconventional places like nightclubs and festivals. continued next page...

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45

“This is because of the fun element of my work that people respond to, I can place my work almost anywhere.”

“I love that I can move my work around and have a bit of a joke with my work, which is probably not a very arty thing to do.”

Tom believes in the power of art in influencing people aswell, “I recently saw Banksy’s Dismal World. It is very appealing to use your profile to get a group of people together and have something decent to say about the world and not have it run by people who own galleries.”

“If you want to make something, you want people to see it, and as many people as possible.”

Tom’s work has been sought after for high profile commissions with organisations like the NGV and Melbourne Museum.

“It’s funny because the commissions for high profile were always on a commercial basis. It’s never been on an arty basis. I was living in Thornbury and needed somewhere to store the works. My backyard was taken up with my kids playing footy so I put them in the front yard and all of a sudden it was interest from the public that sparked me off.”

Maybe there is something in that.

Creatures of a Wire World is at Stillwater at Crittenden, 25 Harrisons Road, Dromana.

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A little bit of Hollywood comes to Rosebud

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Summer 2015/2016

Photos: Yanni

T

he Peninsula Short Film Fest (PSFF) is an annual event held in Rosebud with the aim of fostering the Australian film industry through hosting an annual short film festival where filmmakers of any level are encouraged to submit a film of up to eight minutes in length. These films are then shortlisted to 12 which are screened on the night and judged live by a panel of celebrities and industry professionals – all competing for prizemoney.

The Festival, now in its fifth year, is held on the first Saturday in February and this year (2015) attracted a crowd of more than 3,500 people to the Village Green in Rosebud.

The Festival is supported by the cream of Australian talent – Russell Crowe, Sam Worthington and Nash Edgerton to name a few.

Everybody has heard of “That Sugar Film”; it is the highestgrossing Australian documentary of all time and has played in cinemas all over the world. Well this year, as a special guest of PSFF, Damon Gameau, the film`s writer, director and star will be on the judging panel. Damon has also appeared in Underbelly, Balibo, Charlies Country and Love my way.

Festival director Steve Bastoni said 2016 is going to be a bumper year. “We have an awesome judging panel lined up. We’re thrilled to have Damon Gameau join us. He’s an accomplished actor and director– he won the Tropfest final in 2011. Joining Damon on the judging panel will be the usual cream of Australian talent, including resident PSFF judge and award winning Actor Lachy Hulme.” continued next page...

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“We’ve secured the biggest and best screen in Australia for the event, its 80 square metres and has a 6mml pixel pitch plus Postall Studios will deliver Cinema quality sound” said Steve.

The Woodleigh Emerging Filmmaker Prize ($500) is gaining strong interest this year with entries already flowing in.

2015 has seen massive growth for PSFF with year–round workshops taking place around Victoria. PSFF have workshops running this November and December at Frankston Arts Centre - Animation and Short Film for Everyone.

Get filming and enter now. The plan is the same - 12 short-listed films judged live on the night by a panel of celebrities with the winner taking out $5,000 in cash, second place $2,500 cash and the National Australia Bank third place winning $1,250 cash.

There are plenty more prizes with awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography. Entries are open until Friday December 18, 2015. Films must not be more than 8 minutes. The entry fee is $33, and entries are accepted from both Australia and overseas.

Save the date - Peninsula Short Film Fest: Saturday February 6, 2016, Village Green, Rosebud, FREE ENTRY. For entry details, to book a workshop or for more information, visit www.peninsulashortfilmfest.com.au.

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Summer 2015/2016

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Jarryd Bravo

S

ince 1968 people have come from all around the state to visit the wonderful world of treasures at Frankston Auction Mart. For the past five years that tradition has continued with owners, Michaela Duthil and David Wilson having taken over the helm, continuing to supply a huge range of quality new and used furniture, vintage and antiques.

“David worked for the previous owner for 10 years. After leaving for a short while, he came back and eventually decided to buy the business,” says Michaela. “We have a mixture of new and used furniture, antique, vintage, Australian made; everything including wardrobes. We buy the new furniture from suppliers and people bring in their second hand furniture and accessories if they are downsizing or just want to sell. We get new stock in at least twice a week so you can always count on finding new pieces and new treasures.”

chairs, bar stools, side boards, display cabinets, desks, and even whitegoods,” says Michaela. “The only changes we have made is to add more stock and make the shop easier to navigate.”

Still going strong after more than 40 years, do yourself a favour and head down to Frankston Auction Mart. You never know what treasures you might find.

Frankston Auction Mart is open Monday to Saturday at 42-54 New Street, Frankston. Phone 9783 9613. www.frankstonauctionmart.com.au

At Frankston Auction Mart there are seven factories full of new, used, antique, vintage and retro furniture and is a great way to furnish your house on a budget, or find that perfect antique piece you have been looking for.

“All sorts of different people buy from us as we have modern, antique, retro, Danish deluxe, book cases, pantries, drawers, Australian made pine, melamine, with dining tables, lounge suites,

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Summer 2015/2016

WINE PASSION LEADS TO PORTSEA TREASURE

By Debra Mar Photos: Yanni

H

e has mixed with international winemakers, mingled with Masters of Wine and has an incredible passion for life and travel. Debra Mar pursues the winemaker who produces premium vintages at the unique terroir vineyard on the peninsula.

You could be situated anywhere in the world - under a Tuscan sun, meandering along a country road in Burgundy or sitting among vines in Bordeaux. But the sound of the odd blowfly and twill of a magpie’s morning song transports you to Australia; an estate in Portsea to be exact.

Portsea Estate is one of the newest boutique vineyards to establish itself on the Mornington Peninsula. It is camouflaged by surrounding homes and holiday houses built on gentle undulating terrain. The vineyard is owned by Australian film producer, writer and vigneron Warwick Ross and is worked by principal winemaker and viticulturist Tim Elphick.

Tim courteously leads us to aged ‘paint-splinted’ wooden benches under a Moonah tree with the morning sun dabbled on our faces. We have a clear vista of vine plantings and sheds that house machinery and wine barrels. A solid pile of seasalted grey wood from the old Sorrento Pier lies in the background and Willow, an 18 month white Swisse Shepherd entertains us with her pink squeaky ball and lively antics.

Tim comfortably uses winemaker’s terms such as best crush, benchmark varietals, calcareous sandy soils, full structured red, natural acidity and big tannins. He has a welcoming and engaging manner complemented by a placid laid-back nature. In his early 40’s, Tim has the best of both worlds. He works full time, spending two nights in Sorrento and the remaining time commuting back and forth from Richmond where he lives with his Greek-Australian wife Jeri and their young daughter Kalypso. Tim and Jeri married in a Greek Orthodox Church on a Greek Island.

Growing up in the small community of Gooseberry Hill, just out of Perth, Tim studied horticulture and worked as a landscape gardener. He wanted to escape the isolation of Perth and thus travelled for two years as a free-spirited young man in his early 20’s.

He returned to Perth and shortly afterwards moved to Melbourne in 2000. To further his knowledge and technique he studied ‘Winegrowing’ at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

Asked what age his taste for wine started, he said, “I enjoyed wine in my early twenties but not in a sophisticated way. I had no ambition at that point to be a winemaker; I sort of fell in to it.”

The entry point of Tim’s winemaking journey began at TarraWarra Estate in the Yarra Valley, then moved to Yarra Ridge continued next page...

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and Domaine Chandon. His initial exposure to the Mornington Peninsula wine region was through Paringa Estate in Red Hill working alongside a master of winemakers, Lindsay McCall, for five years. “It was phenomenal working along Lindsay, a meticulous operator who consistently produces good wines.”

All fruit from Portsea Estate was taken to Paringa for bottling back then.

That’s when Tim met Warwick who asked him to come across to Portsea Estate and build a boutique winery. “I jumped at the opportunity to take on principal winemaker,” he said barely containing his enthusiasm.

The Ross family acquired the Portsea Estate property in the early 1960s. Some of the land was purchased from the Baillieu family. It’s hard to believe the area was used for cattle grazing then as it now shares its boundaries with residential blocks and holiday makers. Warwick loves his wines, especially Bordeaux and Burgundian varietals, so decided to plant vines in the late 1990s.

Portsea Estate covers eight acres of neatly-rowed Chardonnay and Pinot wines which are benchmark varietals on the Peninsula. “The soil and site of Portsea Estate (described as “terroir”) is unique to the peninsula, being free draining calcareous sand with a bedrock of extensive limestone ridges. This makes it the perfect site for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – a great choice by Warwick in deciding to plant a vineyard,” says Tim. In addition, olive trees are grown and harvested on the property for Portsea Estate Olive Oil and a new vineyard will be planted this summer.

The history of the land on which Portsea Estate stretches dates back to the 1800’s when the first settlers arrived. The plot where Chardonnay grapes now grow and flourish was an old limestone quarry. Limestone taken from the quarry helped build the Continental Hotel, Sorrento Hotel & Whitehall Guest House.

Tim believes he is blessed, mixing with ‘wine royalty’ and international Masters of Wine (sharing anything from a Rothschild to Chateau Margaux), and Chinese businessmen in Beijing & Shanghai who have a desire for the best wines in the world. “Being invited by Warwick and his wife Margot to the premiere screening of the movie ‘Red Obsession’ in Bordeaux was incredible,” says Tim. “The other highlight of the trip was visits and tastings, wonderfully organized by Master of Wine Andrew Caillard. This included an incredible tasting at Chateau Margaux with winemaker Paul Pontallier,” he concluded.

Tim’s extensive CV extends to Northern Italy’s Barolo region, describing it as “Probably one of the most important vintage experience that really drew me into the industry.” He also has had a hand in making vintages in Languedoc-Roussillon, France.

With a concern for the environment, Tim runs Portsea Estate organically, using no synthetic fungicides or pesticides. He is very ‘hands on’ with a passion for boutique style wines. “It’s rewarding to do everything from start to finish.”

He doesn’t measure his time at Portsea Estate in years, rather in the number of vintages he produces. Starting in 2010 he is now into his 5th vintage. He is proud of the many awards he has won for his ‘Stonecutters Block’ Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

A newcomer to the range is Portsea Estate Rosé which will hit the market this summer. “It has a light Billecarte-Salmon blush with a province style to it. It’s quite savoury, some delicate fruit but not real fruit driven and has interesting earthly characteristics - great summer drinking,” claims Tim. In Tim’s mind, a great winemaker has to bring passion. He explained, “I think the attribute of being a respected winemaker is producing consistent vintage after vintage, no matter what mother nature dishes up, maintaining a creative edge and a deep inner belief. At the boutique end of the scale you have to enjoy getting your hands dirty! I feel blessed to be working for such a supportive family who love getting involved in every step of the process.”

Tim loves spending time with his family including Willow, swimming and paddle boarding on the bay to chill out. And you can’t go past asking a winemaker what the best hangover cure is? Tim rattled off in one breath, “The usual, drink plenty of water before bed and in the morning. If I’m near the sea, definitely a good swim and body surf works for me followed by a bacon, eggs and tomato breakfast.”

Visit Tim and Willow by appointment at 185 Hotham Road (entrance via 7 Pembroke Place), Portsea. Ph: 5984 3774. W: portseaestate.com

DETERMINED TO RIDE HIS BIKE AGAIN I’m Mauricio Munoz from Aspendale. I’m the proud father of 3 fantastic kids whom you’ll ever meet (Imogen 21, Lex 18 and Rhen 16), I’ve been married to Michelle for over 20 years. Everything in our lives was going as good as anyone could have wished for; our kids were doing well at school and behaving like responsible young adults. We had finally started renovating our home, life was sweet! However, on a relatively warm evening in July 2013, my whole life was turned upside down in a space of a few seconds.

I was involved in a horrific accident that has led to countless surgeries, a stint in ICU for 12 days, 15 weeks in the Royal Melbourne Hospital followed by ongoing rehabilitation.

In a careless act, I was struck by a truck at 80km/hr whilst cycling home from work. At that point the doctors and surgeons predicted that my survival rate was minimal. Having shattered my pelvis, severed my renal artery (leading me to be bleeding out rapidly), severed several arteries to my kidney, broken my sternum, 6 ribs, a compound fracture to left ankle, a fractured left lower tibia, a fractured eye socket and broken teeth, they decided an induced coma was the only option.

In December 2013, I was transferred to St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital as an outpatient and introduced to Senior Physiotherapist Brigitte, whom I owe so much to and give much credit for helping me get to where I am today. I’ll never forget the day I met Brigitte. She was just everything I expected from a Health Professional and MORE! Brigitte treated me with humility and as a friend instead of a number. As a true professional, from the get go we discussed the recovery program and set ‘realistic’ goals.

The first 12 months of rehabilitation treatment consisted of two sessions a week Hydrotherapy (the warm water was so welcoming to my aching bones and muscles), balancing exercises, walking between the ‘ballerina’ bars, joint movement manipulation, muscle strengthening (upper and lower body), occupational therapy, hip and core strengthening and remedial massage.

As I became stronger and mobile, Brigitte introduced me to Jorgen, another Senior Physiotherapist, to ensure my recovery process stepped up another notch!

The biggest challenge I found through my recovery was that I was impatient and I did not think the rehabilitation process would take so long. Two years on and I’ve been able to reach milestones no one thought was possible. Brigitte, Jorgen and everyone at St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital were so supportive and their care was second to none.

I have permanent nerve damage to both of my legs from the knees down but I’m fortunate to be alive. I’m walking not like before but none the less, mobile and the fact that I have little to no feeling in my feet and still able to walk is an incredible miracle. I suffer every day from significant amounts of pain and I still struggle to comprehend how anyone could hit another human being and fail to stop at the scene. However, I’m determined to move on and every time I feel down, I remember Brigitte’s voice in my head asking me, ‘Do you want to get on with life?’ The answer has always been YES!!

In recognition to all the help I’ve received in the past 2 and half years and in desperately trying to reach closure, I’ve decided to embark on a challenge of a life time. I’m back on the bike and training to ride from

Mauricio in 2013 after his accident Melbourne to Adelaide in January 2016 to promote road safety awareness (Amy Gillett Foundation - A Meter Matters campaign) and raise money for Royal Melbourne Hospital without whom I may not be here today. If you would like to donate to Mauricio’s ride, please go to: www.gofundme.com/zf3ju2kd REFERRALS: All referrals can be sent to: St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital 255-265 Cranbourne Road, Frankston 3199

Want to get back to doing what you love?

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, S T H G I L , A R E M A C N O I T AC

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

H

e directed Hey Hey It’s Saturday for 20 years, was the lead cameraman for Graham Kennedy, and Bert Newton, set up the Today Show, directed The Panel, and Deal or No Deal, invented the WWF slow motion replay, and has rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.

When you’ve been in the television industry for as long as Ray Punjer, there sure are some tales to tell. Peninsula Essence writer, Melissa Walsh, sits down with the Australian director and producer to get an insight into life behind the scenes on the small screen.

“How did you start out in the television industry?

I was around 15 and one of my mates who worked at Channel 9 said they were looking for another office boy.

Mum bought me a pair of long pants and took me to the interview with the manager of the Channel 9 network and I got the job. It was a whole new world to me as I had never been out of my backyard so to speak.

Back in those days there were no emails so everything was hand written memos typed by the secretaries which I had to deliver. I also ran around with the fan mail to the stars and put it in their pigeon holes. continued next page...

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As a director I’ve always believed in a live ad lib situation.

You need to let the mind flow with anybody and just let in happen; you can’t construct it live on air and there were a lot of restrictions put in place sadly.

I think ultimately the downfall was the fact the Melbourne ratings always propped it up, and it was not supported as much by the other network stations in other states. The bottom line is, like anything, it had a use-by date. Still, we had great longevity. Not many programs last as long as 20 years.

As a director, what was it like dealing with egotistical personalities?

How did you progress so far in the industry?

After I did that for three months, I got a promotion into staging, doing props and scenery and setting up the shows.

The studios were running for 24 hours, seven days a week in those days, and I learnt about production, camera, directors lighting, and audio. I loved it and felt like I had fallen into my niche.

After staging I went into production which is the next step to becoming a producer. I worked very hard to become a good cameraman and became one of Graham Kennedy’s personal cameraman, working in camera and production on In Melbourne Tonight.

When did you become a director?

In 1974 I was asked if I would like to become a director and jumped at the opportunity. When you are doing your training as you go through production, management would be impressed if you were creative or had a good sense of music, but particularly if you had quick reflexes, as it was all live to air.

What was it like working on Hey Hey it’s Saturday?

With Hey Hey being the longest running show, I started off as the director when it was a cartoon morning show around 1975. It was all fun and games, young people, no rules, you just did it. We went on air and did three hours, then to a pub and have a lunch. It was fun but obviously as time went on there was a product there so we nurtured it and developed it and years later it almost went off the air but became a night time program instead.

How did the night-time Hey Hey come about?

As Hey Hey developed they put in live music with Molly Meldrum promoting rock and roll bands that were touring or had new releases. It started evolving with people like John Blackman who is a very clever broadcaster and brilliant at ad lib, a total professional, and Ernie Carroll, the voice of Ossie Ostrich, was incredibly talented. Daryl Somers, Ernie Carroll and Gavin Disney packaged the show to the network as it was in danger of being cancelled, and the rest is history. We continued on for many years.

Why do you think the show finished?

Over the 20 years it became less fun. It became very big and as time went on people changed. It became more of a challenge with a big clash of egos.

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If a situation occurred where a celebrity and I had a conflict, I would say this is the way we are going to do it. Actors and television personalities must have respect for their director and producer. Many years ago I did something for Charlton Heston where I had to ask him to do a take two. He’s a big man and he came up put his arm around me and said “Ray you’re the first director that’s ever asked me to do a take two but I’d be happy to do it for you.”

What did you do after all those years on Hey Hey? I finished with the show in 1995 but it didn’t really worry me as there were other opportunities coming up. I was approached

by Working Dog productions to direct a show they were looking at doing, and was very interested as Working Dog put the Midas touch on everything they do. I sat around with Jane, Rob, Tom, Santo, and Michael the executive producer and they quizzed me on video type set up and how I did Hey Hey its Saturday. They wanted to do The Panel and be able to introduce a lot of replays and ad lib moments along with a news and current affair type show. I ended up doing The Panel for the next five years and it was great.

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Also during that time, Crown Casino started and Steve Vizard’s company had the contract to do the video production. I was employed by artists services to set it up and teach them marketing through their in-house television system, which was great.

What do you like about the peninsula?

What did you do after The Panel finished?

I keep myself active, play a lot of golf, do professional caddy work with the professional golfers, am involved with the Safety Beach Golf Club, and love the National and St Andrews beach, and The Dunes.

I was at a loose end and looking for something else to do and rang a friend, Dennis, in Sydney, who was working on a project.

He said to go off and play golf for a few months, and then I’ll let you know if it’s going ahead. That was for Channel Seven and before I knew it we were starting Deal or No Deal. I helped set it up with the even network and did that for four years.

Do you enjoy teaching your skills and passing down your knowledge to people starting out in the industry?

Yes I had a few interesting years with channel 31 training their camera operators, production and kids giving them a helping hand and showing them the shortest possible way to get from a to b. It was great helping and sharing my experience with them, doing training but also working on the programs, riding shot gun over someone’s shoulder.

There’s quite a few guys on the peninsula that used to work in TV and we catch up but I like the clean fresh air of the peninsula after living in Richmond for many years.

What is life like now?

What’s your handicap?

I play off 8 which is pretty good I reckon. I have been playing golf since about 1990.

What have you learnt along the years?

The key thing I’ve learnt is to never give up. If you have a passion about something then pursue it. I’ve learnt a great deal from entertainers and the people who have worked in the background of TV, especially to not follow trends but create them. It’s difficult these days but if you put your heart and soul into things it will definitely happen for you.

What stands out the most in such an illustrious career?

I would say the years I did The Panel with Working Dog. Working with one of the most respected production units of Australia was extremely satisfying and very professional.

Going back over the years it’s all been fantastic. World Series Cricket was fun. Kerry Packer would come out to the cricket and stick his head into the “OB” van where I was directing and say “How’s it going son?” I would say “All good Mr Packer”, and then he’d say “Righto.”

You’ve worked with thousands of stars over the years; can you name a couple of other interesting people and stories?

When the Beatles came out to Australia they did a show at Festival Hall and I was doing the camera that was on the stage. If you recall they were standing on the hotel balcony and there was a sea of people and I was standing with them up there. After the show the next day, we all went back to the Channel Nine boardroom and had a couple of beers and who would’ve thought what was going to happen with the Beatles.

I also became friends with Sammy Davis Jnr. Every time he came to Australia, I worked with him and he would bring me out to the audience and introduce me. He gave me his phone number and my wife and I rang him in Vegas and went down to see his show. He was half way through his gig and pointed out Barbara Streisand and then said “I’ve got a good friend from Australia” here and the spotlight came on me. He pulled me up on stage and we had a chat. After that everyone in Vegas knew he I was.

I remember one time also taking Tom Jones home to have a cup of tea with mum and dad because they loved him.

They couldn’t believe it.

When did you move to the Mornington Peninsula?

I officially moved here about three years ago but am very familiar with it as I’ve always come here to play golf. I joined the National Golf Club in 1992.

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Happy Glamper provides unique glamping experiences that showcase the Mornington Peninsula from a fun, new perspective.

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PUTTING THE GLAM INTO CAMPING

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Jarryd Bravo

W

ith the summer season upon us, it’s time to think all things holiday. Instead of setting up that old tent or caravan, Melissa Walsh discovers there’s a whole new craze out there called “GLAMPING”.

Comfy queen-sized beds with electric blankets, fairy lights, candles, bar fridges, rugs and books are not words you would normally associate with camping but Happy Glamper offers all this and more on your glamping holiday.

Waking up in the morning in a luxurious setting gives glampers the perfect blend of nature and comfort and explains why the whole glamping phenomena is going wild.

Happy Glamper started when Rye girl, Jessie Curtis-Griffiths, and husband Scott, decided to buy an Airstream.

“We used the Airstream for events and promotions but decided it would be ideal for weekend and holiday hire, and it has taken off from there,” says Jessie.

That was two years ago and now the couple have made this their full time business, with Scott doing a lot of the manual labour and Jessie marketing and organising bookings, as well as décor.

Working together is not a problem for the young couple, who actually met at work several years ago.

“We have pretty much always worked together, so this is no different,” says the mother of two .

“Now when we go on family holidays we go in style in the Airstream or tent,” she says with a laugh. continued next page...

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Happy Glamper provides unique glamping experiences that showcase the Mornington Peninsula from a new fun perspective, whether in the bell tent, lotus belle tent, Peggy Sue Airstream or Miss Myrtle vintage caravan.

“Become immersed in the peninsula’s raw beauty, bond with loved ones and celebrate your love of individualism while sleeping under canvas or in a vintage Airstream, caravan or Kombi. We’ll do all of the work so you have more time to make memories,” says Jessie, who is all about promoting an experience, not just a holiday.

“Glamping is something you do, it’s the entire experience of slowing down, being in nature while enjoying little luxuries that make us feel special,” she says. “Choose your own peninsula location, whether it’s by the beach or your own private land, and Happy Glamper will set up your glamping experience before you arrive. We will tow our vintage Airstream to your site or pitch a bell tent or Lotus Belle tent for you, prepare a fresh bed and furnish your oasis with beautiful books/magazines, colourful mats, cushions, board games, and chairs.” www.happyglamper.com.au

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Photo: Milk Photography

Mornington Peninsula News Group graphic designer and photographer, Jarryd Bravo and his girlfriend Kristy Martin, were lucky enough to stay in one of Happy Glamper’s fabulous Lotus Belle tents and had this to say:

“Glamping is something you do, it’s the entire experience of slowing down, being in nature while enjoying little luxuries that make us feel special.”

“We stayed down at Point Leo in the Lotus Belle and it was really nice camping without having to set everything up, and lying in the luxurious tent listening to the sound of the waves.

It was different to normal camping because you relax a lot more and don’t have to worry about all the stuff that goes with camping – the setting up, the getting everything organised, putting up tents, organising bedding, it’s all done for you. It’s the best of both worlds.”

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Leisure * PLeasure * ConfLiCt

11 DEC – 28 FEB includes iconic australian artworks

Jeffrey Smart, Surfers Bondi, 1963 (detail), oil on board, Private Collection, Courtesy the Estate of Jeffrey Smart

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www.mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

Arthur Higgins

By Debra Mar Photos: Yanni

T

here have been many changes in TV and radio in the six decades when he started work as an office boy. He has since retired as one of the memorable voices and characters in the media industry. Debra Mar tracked the man who lives a relaxing lifestyle away from cameras, mikes and makeup and asked, “Was the ride worth it?”

You could say Arthur’s story is somewhat clichéd alongside other legend’s stories where life starts on the bottom rung but there aren’t too many who do it with honesty and integrity like Arthur.

Referred to as ‘The Big Daddy’ of radio & TV, announcer, broadcaster and sports presenter Arthur Higgins now prefers to spend time with his 14 year old white and brown Maltese x Shih Tzu “Lily” and close friends over a glass of good red. Even though I’d only seen Arthur on TV news and vaguely remembered him on radio, I felt that I knew this altruistic, decorous, cheerful bloke.

As early as he can remember the noise of air raid sirens were commonplace during his childhood. Nazi planes flew overhead wanting to bomb the huge gasworks in Chester where the family lived. “I didn’t see my father much in the first six years of my life because he was sent to the Shetland Islands with the British Army,” Arthur said.

Known as ‘Artie’ to his friends, he has retired to the Mornington Peninsula maintaining that unmistakable rich timbre-trained voice with low-pitched baritone notes that doesn’t exist in radio or television these days.

“As a child I listened to a UK ‘pirate radio’ station that played commercials, not like the BBC which was totally boring. They played good music,” he said. “Then the family moved to Australia.”

Conceived in India and born in northern England to British parents who were raised aristocratically in India, Arthur was the eldest of three brothers.

continued next page...

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“A PET HATE OF MINE IS SOCIAL MEDIA. I WON’T GO NEAR IT.” Working as an office boy at McWhirters, (now the Myer store in Brisbane), he said, “I remember being asked to take an account to radio 4BH down the road. I walked in the front door, up a flight of stairs, straight to the reception desk where a receptionist called Anne Cameron greeted me. I asked her if they had any vacancies for a panel operator.” Arthur continued laughing, “I didn’t even know what a panel was, I’d only heard the term.”

Before Arthur knew it, he got the job as an office boy at 4BH because there were no panel operator vacancies at that time. After a couple of weeks he started training as a radio broadcaster.

He did a stint on country radio and returned to the city to work at 4BC. “We worked with vinyl records, then cassettes and CDs.” He then moved to television.

One of his first memorable TV experiences at Channel 9 Brisbane was the moon landing in 1969. “I’ll never forget it – I had to sit there and monitor it just incase anything went wrong. We lost the picture so I had to take over and talk about the exciting event, live.”

Arthur’s next move was the breakfast show at 2GB where he bumped in to Peter Harvey. He said in that famous rhythmic voice only “Peter Harvey…Canberra” can do, “Arthur, what are you going to do with your future,” “Come to Canberra - everyone knows what’s going on in Canberra!” And he did.

He then went to GTV9 Melbourne. “I stayed there for 14 years and ended up back on Melbourne radio and that’s where it all played out until my retirement.” He finished his long career working for Vision Australia but when they decided to take on volunteers he scoffed, “You know I don’t work for nothing!”

As newsreader for Channel 9, Arthur covered some of the most exciting memorable world sporting events including four Summer Olympic Games from 1984 - 1996, and remembers the highlight from the 1988 Seoul Games when Ben Johnson was disqualified for doping. “I got the scoop from a Canadian journalist I knew who had insight into the story and broke the news to John Blackman on 3UZ breakfast.”

He also covered the 1983 Americas Cup from Rhode Island and called six of the Sydney to Hobart yacht races, sailing in five of them.

“In 1980 I called the Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe match at Wimbledon with that unforgettable tie-breaker that lasted 20 minutes. I also commentated the Melbourne Storm rugby games.”

He jokingly said, “I left television in 1987, because my face was starting to scare little children, and went back to radio.”

“When I worked at 3AW I read the news at breakfast with presenters John Blackman and Bruce Mansfield (Uncle Roy). They

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would say the funniest things and then I had to read the news.”

Agreeing humour is different now, he pointed out, “It can be obscenely smutty these days!”

Asked what is missing in radio and TV, Arthur explained, ”There is a lot of warmth missing; the presenters don’t connect with their audience like they used to. Back in the 60’s presenters played a lot of music with little talking. Nowadays, it’s more talk, little music. There were strict standards and swearing was forbidden. “I only swore on radio once by mistake when I introduced a performer as Bloody Begman instead of Buddy Bregman,” he said with fond memories.

“But it wasn’t like Graham Kennedy’s famous ‘crow call!”

“When the Twin Towers news broke I was employed by 3UZ. I jumped in the car and drove to the newsroom, switched on everything and started to cover the news live as it unfolded. I watched CNN live and placed the mike in front of the TV speakers to broadcast interviews.”

Life hasn’t been all roses for Arthur. “In 2000,” he said, “I was sacked from 3AK after returning from a fishing holiday in Port Douglas with John Farnham. There was no valid excuse. I had a contract but that means nothing when they want you out.”

With social media out of control and YouTube in overdrive, our smartphones have become cameras and videos and recording devices. The public represents a new style of journalism, reporting their news stories as it happens. “That’s how news has changed since I was behind the mike; it’s immediate. These days broadcasts stay with breaking news rather than going to a news break.”

Ironically Arthur stated, “A pet hate of mine is social media. I won’t go near it.” He doesn’t even have a radio in the house!

Jetsetting around the work to report on news, he did find time to marry and have three children. He now has six grandchildren. His son did not follow in his footsteps; he told his dad he’d rather go and mow someone’s lawn than be on television! “Maybe one of my grandchildren will,” he said with a hopeful grin.

Arthur has advice for young people who want to get in to media “Go for it – it’s a terrific life. I had 57 years of it and enjoyed every single second. I miss it terribly since I retired. I’d love to be back on air again. It’s a wonderful, wonderful occupation,” he said.

Times have changed dramatically in radio & TV since Artie was in his prime. From well-trained polished voices rounding off vowels, to a more relaxed, casual way of delivering news and entertainment.

Happy days Arthur Higgins – you’re a legend!

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Style File SUMMER FASHION ON THE PENINSULA

Why drive all the way to town when the best in summer beachwear is right here in Mornington.

Swimwear Galore have all the latest brands and styles for women, men and children, as well as accessories, sunscreen and towels.

Check out the latest summer style right here on our own doorstep.

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Previous page: Swimwear Galore Seafolly Deja Blue bikini, Seafolly Laceworks kaftan Model Maria The Rocks Push lobster trunks, Bambury pink towel Model Sam This Page The Rocks Push lobster trunks

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GENTLE GIANTS OF THE PADDOCKS

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

T

hey’re the gentle giants of the paddocks, from the fields of Scotland, standing about 18 hands, with feathers about their hooves. These are the Clydesdales and no two people know more about them than Mathy and Ron Hyder.

The couple who own Moonrise Farm have devoted their lives to horses and these strong, amiable animals couldn’t be in better hands.

Ron has been around horses all his life; his grandfather was in the Light Horse in WW1, and the family has had an on-going interest in Clydesdales. For Mathy, whose family had draught horses, it was also in the blood, so when the couple got together it was only natural to pursue their equine interests.

“When we first started going out we would go on long rides around Hallam,” says Ron, who has now been married to Mathy

for 27 years. “Mathy had just come over from Holland and was interested in purchasing a horse. She ended up buying this run down old thing in very bad condition. As time went on we bought more horses and agisted them in Warrandyte which is where we first lived.”

A sojourn to the peninsula soon saw the pair wanting to find the perfect place for their growing brood of horses.

“We found Moonrise Farm in 1998, and it was literally just a house in the middle of a paddock. Now we have four Clydesdales, four dogs, two cats, chickens and two cockatoos, and we love it,” says Mathy.

Looking after four Clydesdales is a full time job, although the couple also both work in the nursing field. continued next page...

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“We get home from work, feed the horses, play with them and groom them depending on what we have coming up,” says the couple of their award-winning horses.

As we wander out to the stables, you can see these gentle giants are like overgrown kids, and watching Mathy and Ron fuss over them is heartwarming.

Jose, the stallion, they tell us, needs to be kept separate from the three mares, except for 19-month-old Calamity, who is too young for him to be bothered with.

“Jose is five years old, 18 hands, 1000 kgs and a big sook,” says Ron with a laugh. “He loves playing in the paddock, kicking the balls and throwing his bucket.”

This is unusual for a stallion, we discover, as they are usually full on and can be aggressive.

Calamity is so named because of how she came into the world.

“She was born at 1am, popped out quickly and within an hour was up and walking. In the pitch black of the stable, her mother Lexie couldn’t find her and all pandemonium broke loose with the horses whinnying and dogs barking. It was then we decided to call her Calamity.”

Less than a year later, little Calamity won champion filly at the Royal Melbourne Show, winning eight events in total.

Then of course there’s two other mares, Jada and Lexie both with their own distinct personalities.

Lexie is a little standoffish and loves a pat. Jada is special as she’s the foal of Diva, the couples much-loved, award-winning

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Clydesdale, who died suddenly a couple of years ago.

“We had just weaned Jada when Diva died unexpectedly one night.

She was the foundation mare for Moonrise Farm,” says the couple of the loss of this treasured family member.

“We put our heart and soul into the horses because we want to,” explains Mathy. “I do it because I love them and it relaxes me. There’s nothing like getting home from work and just hanging out with them.”

For Ron, they are like dolphins, with that lovely contagious calm.

“Even the dogs get on well with them. We get home and Indii, our Jack Russell, is snuggled up to Jose in the paddock. One false move and Jose could squash him but they have this trust,” says Ron. Visiting this lovely couple at Moonrise Farm, we learn that when the Clydesdales gallop you can feel the ground moving, that when they are getting ready for show they have to be fed three times a day, that they are notorious for having trouble giving birth, that a foal has to suckle within two hours of being born, and to give their feathers a blow waved look they cover them in fine saw dust after washing.

More than anything we see first-hand the special bond that takes place between people like Mathy and Ron and these proud and noble creatures, their four-legged family.

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THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Marty’s Knockout Photography

H

e’s six foot one, weighing 200 pounds and has recently won the Australian Cruiserweight title. Bittern boxer, Kane Watts, knows what it takes to be a professional boxer and talks to Melissa Walsh about the mental and physical challenges of boxing.

night before at this dodgy pub in Footscray, in front of a pack of people,” says Watts. “I fought against Jarrod Boyle who was a six foot seven monster and the fight was a draw which was a good effort for my debut.”

I started out as a kid when dad used to take me to taekwondo, and then moved onto kick boxing at the Somerville Martial Arts when I was 14,” says Watts, whose fighting name is Sugar Kane. “My dad was training there and I used to go with him for fitness in between footy seasons.”

“I wasn’t the greatest with my legs so I started training in boxing with veteran boxing trainer, the late Johnny Hoyne in Carrum,” says Watts who had 12 amateur fights with 10 wins and two losses.

“I did amateur boxing for a couple of years then met a mate of mine, Julian Holland, who was a Commonwealth Champion, and started training with his old trainer, Ray Giles in St Kilda.”

Watts played for Hastings and Mornington Football Club during his younger days and, in a serendipitous turn of events, his Mornington fitness coach was a kickboxing trainer.

“I ended up doing a lot of training with him and started doing some sparring,” says 33-year-old Watts. “About ten years ago I decided to give footy a break and have a go at kick boxing. My grandfather used to be a boxer years ago. They called him the Springvale Kid, and I planned to have my first fight before he passed away.”

Watts did have his first fight a month before his grandfather passed and while he couldn’t be there, his pride was always known.

“My first fight was in Sunshine and I have to admit it was a pretty daunting experience having to drive over there and weigh in the

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After another kickboxing fight in Thailand, Watts decided to try his hand at boxing.

For his first pro boxing fight, Watts then flew to Darwin where he took on a local guy, Torres Straight Islander Gary Armstrong, and had a win.

“Its always tough when you’re fighting on the other guys home soil so I was rapt with the win,” says Watt, who admits the boxing life can be a bit of a roller coaster. “I had a couple of years there when I only had one fight, I fractured my eye socket in training a week before I was meant to fight, and broke my hand in the third round of the Australian title two years ago.”

Watts is talking about his fight against the highly rated Daniel Ammann back in April 2013.

“BEING STRONG MENTALLY IS SOMETHING MUM AND DAD HAVE INSTILLED IN ME GROWING UP.” “That fight went a full ten rounds, but I didn’t tell my trainer that I had broken my hand in the third round. I just wanted to push on and get through it,” says Watts of the adrenalin that keeps him going.

“Being a fighter is a huge mental battle. Leading into fights, one minute you’re confident, the next you doubt yourself. There’s a feeling of nervousness before you step in but as soon as you get under the ropes, it’s business as usual,” he says.

For the man described as the gentleman of boxing, Watts says that his attitude is something that was installed in him from his parents.

“Being strong mentally is something mum and dad have instilled in me growing up,” says Watts who had to put that to the test on the day of his last title fight.

“That was an up and down day because my grandmother passed away that morning but I still got through it,” he says of a journey that has been fraught with highs and lows.

While Watts’s longest fight was the 10 round Australian title in 2013, his shortest fight lasted merely 40 seconds.

“I fought a guy from Argentina last year and the fight got stopped after 40 seconds when I knocked him out,” he says.

When it comes to advice for up and coming boxers, Watts says the message is clear.

“Never go into a fight angry and with an ego or it will work against you. It is more like a chess game where you have to out-think the other person rather than with aggression. That’s something I have learnt from Ray Giles, who has been a mentor. And it follows me through to work life as well, looking at everything with a different perspective.”

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AFerry

Good Life

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By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

I

t’s a clear sunny morning when we meet down at the Sorrento Pier to board Searoad’s original Sorrento Ferry, “The Queenscliff”. Master Gus Rogers and his trusty sidekick, Skipper, meet us at the ferry entrance as all the cars are guided on board. Skipper, who was born at the Queenscliff ferry terminal, wears a little “security” coat the girls in the office made her, and is a real hit with the tourists, with Gus bringing her out on most crossings.

As we board the 60 metre long, three storey high, 22 year old vessel, the way the crew direct the cars seems effortless, loading them all in 15 minutes between berths.

“To load and unload up to 75 cars and 500 passengers in such a short time is an extraordinary effort. When it’s busy everyone gets in and helps,” says Gus, and you can tell straight away it’s a real team environment on the Sorrento Ferry.

Up on the bridge, Skipper has her own seat next to Master Gus, and seems rather at home living a life at sea. Six foot, tattooed Gus explains that getting the ferry out of the Sorrento Pier is quite easy but we have to slow down within a few minutes as it’s low tide and only one metre between the floor of the ocean and the keel.

As we start gaining pace again, past Lindsay’s beach and incredible Sorrento properties on the cliff face, two ships are coming up behind us. continued next page...

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“We always give way to ships so have to slow down again,” explains Gus, pointing out the rig tender and brand new helicopter landing ship quickly catching up behind us. “The rig will be going out to Bass Strait no doubt to one of the refineries, and the other is a brand new helicopter landing ship, HMAS Adelaide. Over the equipment, we hear the pilots talking to the launch and Gus explains all vessels are in constant communication.

After the two ships pass, we are on our way, and have only lost a small amount of time.

“The average crossing from Sorrento to Queenscliff is 40 minutes, travelling at six knots most of the way,” says Gus, who started out as a Ferry Captain on this same ferry 26 years ago.

“We do 12 crossings at this time of the year and 14 in the summer time, and now have three ferries.”

For Gus, his day starts at 5am, up for brekkie with Skip and then on board by 6am, working seven day rosters.

“I’m a bit of a boat nut and actually love the water. Skip and I go out on the kayak on our days off and she even has a life jacket,” says Gus, who also owned a 40 foot yacht, and began his ocean career as a navy diver.

“I was in the navy for many years before I started on the ferry, and then worked for the Harbour Trust as a diver. When the ferries

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came to Queenscliff I applied for a job and got it,” says Gus, an original ferry driver.

Gus explains that they never have a chance to get bored because there’s always something happening.

“If the breeze is over 40 knots then it starts getting interesting and a little difficult to berth at Queenscliff, which is very open to a lot of wind,” says Gus. “We’ve bounced off the posts a couple of times but this ferry was built for the bay so it’s no problem.”

And it’s not unusual to see dolphins swimming at the bow; Gus makes sure he slows down so the passengers can see them.

“We try to make the passengers experience as much fun as possible and they love seeing the dolphins. This year we also had two killer whale sightings which were incredible.”

They have even picked up stray surfers and divers along the way.

“We sometimes have to rescue surfers or jetski riders who are stranded and even rescued a couple of divers from Pope’s Eye one time. Their dive boat had left them behind,” says Gus with a laugh.

Although a total professionl now, Gus admits the first time he drove the ferry was a bit daunting.

“In those days there was a lot of sand so we had only a small area to manoeuvre the ferry. Sorrento is great but Queenscliff can be

a daunting place. It took me a few weeks to get used to the conditions there,” says Gus, who has clearly got it down pat now as we berth smoothly on the other side of the bay.

On the bridge, Gus’s second in command, Steve Lock works his way around the room, checking equipment and keeping an eye out. Chief engineer, Peter Lumpreiksas, sticks his head in and tells us to come and check out the engine room when we dock.

A marine engineer all his life, Peter has worked on the ferries for two years, and makes sure the engines run smoothly. It’s a loud area down in the engine room where ear muffs are an essential part of everyday working procedure.

“It’s a great life working on the ferry,” says the man who previously had to travel away from home for work. “Now I can do my shifts and spend the rest of my time surfing at the backbeach in Rye.” Back on deck, the team including Master Gus are all out there guiding the new group of cars and passengers onto the ferry. We meet Gus upstairs for another smooth exit from Queenscliff and head back home to Sorrento.

“It’s a clear run and a good day for it,” says Gus, who will have 10 more crossings after this one.

Looking back at Gus on the bridge with the wide open sea all around him, blue skies and smooth sailing, you can’t help think there could be worse places to call your office.

If you want to know more about Searoad Ferries visit their website searoad.com.au

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Cruden Farm

THE HEART AND SOUL

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By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

W

alking around Cruden Farm with manager and gardener, John Christie, the spirit of Dame Elisabeth lives on in every flower and blade of grass, as the loyal and passionate staff continues to pay homage to the work of the late philanthropist.

John has been with Cruden Farm for five years, overseeing the 54-acre property and the handful of staff that put their heart and soul into their work every day.

“It is an absolute privilege to be here on this magnificent farm with wonderful people like Michael Morrison, Dame Elisabeth’s head gardener for more than 40 years. I remember the first day I started here, I was taken around and learnt the language of the garden,” says John.

John, who called himself a horticultural novice, was talking about his tour with number two gardener, Michael; Dame Elisabeth was number one.

“I was keen to learn as much as I could about Cruden Farm and started on a beautiful autumn day. Michael and I were walking through the garden and at one stage he turned to one of the lemon trees that wasn’t doing too well and said ‘We need to have a word’ with this one. Immediately my ears pricked up and he then said to another tree ‘We need to have a serious word’. I was

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soon to learn that the garden had a language all of its own, and it has fascinated me to this day,” says John who now understands the conversations Dame Elisabeth encouraged within the garden.

In Cruden language, to ‘have a word’ means the plant needed a prune, and to ‘have a serious word’, meant it needed more serious measures. To ‘give a plant a tickle’ means to pull it into line like a rebellious teenager, and ‘living on memory’ means that a plant is struggling and not looking well.

“There are so many other verbal gems I have learnt since. A plant has ‘gone home’ means that it has died, and plants that are not resilient ‘don’t stand by you’. It is a wonderful way that we keep understanding the garden is alive. Dame Elisabeth used to call plants that are gaudy and not subtle as ‘show offs’ and would plant them further away from the main garden edges,” says John, explaining that the language created not only a sense of fun and relationship within the garden, but also affected the act of gardening itself.

“I learnt very quickly that a garden is not simply an assemblage of plants, but a cultural construct that is the result of human decision making and effort. By creating a garden, by immersing oneself in a garden, one forms a relationship with it,” says John.

As we wander around the garden, it is easy to understand how this philosophy has transformed the property into a magical and inspirational piece of landscape, a secret garden in the middle of continued next page...

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a suburban area. From the moment you drive into the property, the avenue of ghost gums greets you like they are welcoming an old friend home. The magnificent white homestead that Dame Elisabeth and her husband called home for many years grandly watches over the property in all directions.

“Keith Murdoch bought the property for his new bride, Elisabeth when she was 19 but then it was only a cottage and he went to work refurbishing and renovating to make it more grand. The funny thing is Dame Elisabeth didn’t know he was going to have these enormous columns built at the front of the home and never really liked them so decided to create a garden around them to offset the gaudiness of the building. She had always loved gardens and land and worked on creating more balance between the house and the garden,” explains John with a laugh. “She planted the spotted gums to echo the columns on the façade.”

John explains how Dame Elisabeth always had an enquiring mind, wanting to learn, and passing on knowledge and wisdom which is expressed in her garden.

“I have learnt that gardens atrophy and die if they don’t have people in them, so we have events like open days and opera in the roses to breathe new life into the garden.”

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“Cruden Farm is a legacy of Dame Elisabeth and her 83 year intimacy with her beloved farm.”

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With the benefit of learning from Michael’s experience and passion, John has been able to witness first hand the relationship a person can develop with a garden.

“Michael insists on hand mowing the main lawns. We have a ride-on mower but he wants to go across the lawns himself in order to get the best lines and see what’s going on up close with the grass,” says John of Dame Elisabeth’s gardening partner for over four decades.

Despite its scale, the gardens are intimate and personal, with John guiding us through the individual gardens, full of roses, herbs and vegetables, the stables, farm land, and of course the walled garden.

“The summer time is when the walled garden bursts into colour.

The Edna Walling garden was built in the 1920s but Dame Elisabeth altered it somewhat in the late 1940s when she installed two perennial borders with bursts of colour in a changing scene from blues, greens and whites to mauves, pinks and yellows in the summer.”

Amongst this magical outdoor garden room small sculptures are dotted, with a stunning bust of the late Dame Elisabeth herself, as if she is watching over her precious flowers.

After her husband died in 1952, Dame Elisabeth managed the whole garden on her own for the next 19 years, when Michael

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Morrison started casually helping her out. From that time, John explains, the greatest of gardening partnerships was born.

“Michael tends to be shy and is happiest when he is working in the gardens. He takes his time tending to the lawns and the plants and cares for the garden like it’s an old friend,” says John, who clearly understands how invaluable and irreplaceable Dame Elisabeth’s right hand man is to the spirit of Cruden Farm, where he and ‘the boss’ used to ride around in her electric buggy, designing and planting, looking to the future of this thriving suburban farm.

“Some of the changes that Dame Elisabeth and Michael talked about are still being instigated to this day,” says John, as we wander through the picking garden where the roses are in full bloom and the vegetables are all handpicked in the same tradition as Dame Elisabeth used to do. “Dame Elisabeth would regularly leave the property with her car full of pickings to take to hospitals and venues around the area.”

As we wander past the walled garden and towards the stables, everything remains beautiful in this stunning farm space. There are no horses here now but the moss laden roofing and antique timbers of the stables still hold the memory of the family’s beloved horses, and John says one day Cruden may see horses there again.

“Like anything, it is not out of the question to have horses here again,

“The summer time is when the walled garden bursts into colour.” but for now we just appreciate the beauty of these magnificent stables, in this working farm setting,” says John.

Whether it’s the picking garden, the stables, the magnificent woodland area, the lake or working farmyard, the presence of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch can be felt in every corner of Cruden Farm.

John says you can tell a garden that has an involved owner, and that explains why the strength and character of Cruden Farm is a legacy of Dame Elisabeth and her 83 year intimacy with her beloved farm.

“She had a steady, strong hand capable of hard work and guided by a clear vision that has its reward in a garden that gives back, not only to the owner, but to the casual visitor; a garden that allows you to walk the paths and draw inspiration, respite, strength and calm.”

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SORRENTO’S MOONAHS HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES Words and photos by Keith Platt

I

f left to their own devices, moonah trees generally grow in a woodland, part of a community that will include other coastal species such as tea tree, wirilda, and beard-heath.

At Sorrento Park the moonahs are remnant examples of what once was.

As survivors they are a reminder of the past. The largest ones would have been growing soon after Europeans began regularly sailing through The Heads into Port Phillip.

If these trees could talk, their tales would be fascinating, encompassing the arrival of the Europeans and the lives of Aborigines who roamed what was later to be named the Mornington Peninsula.

Today, Sorrento Park is a manicured garden, with expansive lawns, garden beds, bitumen paths, barbecues, a children’s adventure playground and a rotunda.

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One of the paths follows the clifftop, overlooking Sorrento pier in one direction and a succession of privately owned jetties stretching back toward Point King in the other. The beaches near the jetties are open to the public but are relatively exclusive because access is limited.

The park has been a drawcard and a haven for families since the 1870s. An 1876 brochure described it as “A government reserve planted with English trees”. Its attractions included a bowling green, croquet lawn and gardens, and walks “laid out in great taste”.

The garden facing the bay “is a most charming promenade upon a summer’s evening and a delightful spot for picnic parties”.

By 1917 the park’s trees were providing shade in summer for thousands of picnickers and visitors. It also had “a splendid” 130-yard (120-metre) running track; a circular, banked track for cyclists and runners; open-air dance floor; “commodious refreshments rooms and parcels office”; and dressing rooms.

Until the start of the World War II many visitors travelled by steamer from Melbourne. It was “a favourite destination” and “used extensively for annual trade picnics by the tradespeople from Melbourne”.

The park fell into disrepair during the war, especially with the demise of the bay steamers in 1940.

Mornington Peninsula Shire now manages the park, with the emphasis on passive recreation (except at the children’s adventure park).

Its trees still provide summer shade, and the barbecues and undulating lawns are ideal for picnics.

If the moonahs could talk, these latest developments would no doubt be added to the store of knowledge that saw the individual trees spared the woodsman’s axe.

Perhaps they survived because the heat from burning moonah logs is not as high as that of the casuarinas, which were felled to feed lime kilns used to make cement for fast-growing Melbourne.

Estimated to be up to 200 years old, the moonahs would have infrequently seen Aborigines during their seasonal visits to the area.

Increasingly, Europeans would have made their way through the woodlands, possibly initially seeking wandering stock and later clearing the way for the park. continued next page...

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If not preserved, the land would undoubtedly have been subdivided, eventually providing some of the most expensive clifftop real estate in Australia. Record prices are regularly set for properties sold in the narrow, exclusive strip between Sorrento and Portsea.

The peninsula’s most extensive stands of moonah woodlands still exist within nearby Point Nepean National Park, which for years was occupied under the protective management of the Defence Department.

The first European settlement in Port Phillip is a couple of kilometres down the road from Sorrento Park toward Blairgowrie.

A short-lived attempt led by Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins saw officers, a marine detachment, free settlers and 301 convicts arrive on 10 October 1803.

It was a convict settlement established in a hurry to gain a foothold and dissuade French explorers who were sailing the waters of southern Australia. However, after failing to find quantities of fresh water and arable land, the settlement was abandoned and almost everyone was shipped to Tasmania.

Collins’ group was at Sorrento for just seven months and left behind the bodies of 30 people who died as well as 21 convicts who managed to escape (including William Buckley, who famously lived with the Wathaurung people before again making contact with Europeans in 1835 and, months later, receiving a pardon).

The moonahs that would bear witness to all of this now appear to sit uncomfortably, like tokens, alongside trees brought here from Europe. The moonahs are the exotics, although it is their imported neighbours that should bear the tag.

Instead of being surrounded by undergrowth that would provide cover for small animals and reptiles, they sit starkly in manicured lawn.

While some of the trees in the park have plaques, including a pine cultivated from the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli, the moonahs display barcodes. They’ve been recorded on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s database of significant trees. Infrastructure

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maintenance manager Niall McDonagh says barcodes on trees record such details as species, useful life expectancy and tree health (based on a visual inspection by an arborist).

Mr McDonagh said the size of moonahs in Sorrento Park suggested they were more than 150 years old and were remnants of what was there before the park was built.

On the face of it, the years do not appear to have been kind to the moonahs with their bent boughs, twisted trunks and holes that look like gaping sores. A couple of trees have boughs supported by struts resembling crutches. However, gnarled, bent and twisted is their natural condition.

The Europeans trees are much more refined. Mostly symmetrical, they stand tall and very green in comparison.

A couple of shrubs at the park’s main entrance (corner Hotham and Point Nepean Roads) have been shaped to resemble lollipops.

Metres away, on a rise overlooking the main barbecue and picnic area, is a small section almost entirely devoted to moonahs. All their trunks lean., their branches twisted and tangled.

But the moonahs, when all is considered, are thriving. They’re much older than the introduced Europeans and, if they could talk, would no doubt be more valuable than our recorded history.

Rather than merely repeating stories that have been relayed with the difficulty of language, lapses of memory, preconceptions and emotions, they would have borne witness to events.

Now, instead of square-riggers, sightseers on the park’s clifftop walk see the cross-bay ferries, passenger liners and container ships heading for the Port of Melbourne. There’s a launching ramp for small boats overlooking pleasure craft at anchor.

Historical flora maps show an unbroken wide band of moonah woodland spread right across the southern peninsula to Cape Schanck. They were common throughout Victoria. With a still shrinking distribution area they are now mainly found on the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas. A total area of less than 10

per cent of its original distribution remains in Victoria (reduced to less than nine per cent on the Mornington Peninsula).

Moonahs are considered to be in danger of extinction.

They are credited with providing stability to sand dunes, something that is tipped to become more vital as the climate changes.

Moonah woodlands provide cover and rich pickings for foraging animals and insects, although the singular examples at Sorrento Park, surrounded by carefully tended lawn, are really only useful to birds and bats. The odd possum might make a foray into the canopy, but seeking refuge there invariably means making a dangerous dash across open ground.

Animals that would have lived in Sorrento’s moonah woodlands include the long-nosed bandicoot, southern forest bat, black wallaby, and reptiles such as the tree dragon, White’s skink, southern grass skink, white-footed dunnart, and various snakes.

Those days have gone, but it can be rewarding to take the time to seek out the moonahs at Sorrento Park and marvel at how long they have survived and what stories they could tell. If only they could talk.

Sorrento Park, 3423 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento (Melway map 157 B6).

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Passion For Cooking , R

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“MY BEST MEMORIES ARE AT HOME WHEN MY NONA AND MUM WOULD SHOW ME HOW TO MAKE PASTA, AND EATING FOOD WAS A TIME WHEN EVERYONE WOULD COME TOGETHER AND ENJOY EACH OTHER’S COMPANY.”

By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni

W

ith another chefs hat awarded to Terminus for the fourth consecutive year, Flinders Hotel head chef Giuseppe Pisciotta takes it all in his stride, remaining passionate about cuisine and inspired by his Italian upbringing.

Although a far cry from southern Italy, Giuseppe has continued his family tradition of cooking right here on the Mornington Peninsula, after coming to Australia for a holiday five years ago, and deciding to stay.

Born in 1981 in a small town called Mazara Del Valla, in the region of Palermo, Sicily, Giuseppe grew up surrounded by food with his mum and Nona teaching him how to make pasta, and quickly becoming the biggest influence in his life.

“I did my apprenticeships in local restaurants in Italy, as by that stage the family had moved to Milan. My most memorable time was at Camp di Cent Pertigh, a famous restaurant in a 16th century farmhouse, between Milan and Como,” says Giuseppe.

“My best memories are at home when my Nona and mum would show me how to make pasta, and eating food was a time when everyone would come together and enjoy each other’s company,” says Giuseppe. “It made me want to be a chef and gave me a strong passion for cooking, and sharing this experience with other people.

It all started when I was three years old. My Nona just loved food and her thing was to keep all the family together around the table.

I will never forget the smell of the sauces in the morning and the fresh baked bread. Nona would call me at 6am and my cousins and I would make bread with her.”

Learning to cook with his family, and growing vegetables and meat on the farm, combined with classic Italian training was the best education, young Giuseppe could have asked for, but he still dreamed of working further afield and loved watching other chefs create and learning from them.

“I worked in Michelin star restaurants and was able to learn from famous executive chefs like Carlo Cracco and Claudio Sadler, and when I came to Melbourne, worked at Caffe é Cuccina, Caffe Baci and Atlantic restaurant at Crown Casino, and Piazza San Marco as a business partner.” continued next page...

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These days, 34-year-old Giuseppe calls the peninsula his home, and has settled into the relaxed lifestyle beautifully.

“I start my days going for a run along the beach or taking my two dogs for a walk, and love working in Flinders,” says the chef who has been working at the hotel for two years, and become an integral factor behind the success of Terminus, embracing his role as head chef and continuing to inspire his team with creative culinary flare.

“We have a great kitchen garden and we all love going out and foraging for fresh produce to cook the day’s meals with. It is important to have respect for all the ingredients we work with, from the fruit and vegetables to the meat which a farmer has had to nurture,” says Giuseppe explaining that it is about honoring the produce as well as being able to cook. ”To be a good chef takes a lot of dedication, patience and love of food. If you cook at a restaurant, or at home, you cook to make someone like it. What you cook has to be something that you would like yourself and you must cook with passion.”

For the Italian chef this means recreating his heritage as much as possible and paying homage to his Nona using the basic elements that she taught him to use.

“My favorite item on the menu is the handmade ravioli which is my Nona’s recipe. I just change the way it is presented but I have kept it in my heart for a long time since I was a child,” he says.

Giuseppe explains that most of the dishes have some Italian background, fused with Australian and modern European influences.

The unique dining experience at Terminus takes you on a journey of the senses with a strong influence on seasonal produce and some all year round favorites.

“We are preparing for the summer menu now and have aged duck which is very popular in Australia with Italian radicchio, roast onion pieces and crumble made out of pancetta and duck livers. The scallops and seafood is very popular too, as is our marinated salmon with sesame crust, and we use Australian and local ingredients as much as possible. Being in Flinders, the seafood is amazing with baby red mullet, and calamari locally caught,” says Giuseppe, who has taken himself off to the pier to catch calamari on the odd occasion, albeit unsuccessfully.

Regardless of what Giuseppe is cooking, he insists the most important thing is to have respect for everything you put on the plate.

“My secret to success is love and passion for food, and respect for every item on the plate. It has all been through a journey and other people have had to work hard to make it happen, whether its beef, chicken or vegetables, you must have respect for the people who have grown and touched the food. The meat on the plate has to be respected. It was once alive, eating grass and drinking just like us.

I try to teach that to my boys in the kitchen, respect for food and passion for cooking. My Nona taught me that.”

Flinders Hotel Terminus Phone 5989 0201.www.flindershotel.com.au

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Mornington

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LFRAIDTAYES

Peninsula Homemaker Centre, Cnr Nepean Highway & Bungower Road, Mornington VIC, 3931 (03) 5973 6333 Summer 2015/2016

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Recipe KING SALMON, BLACK SESAME, ZUCCHINI AND ANCIENT GRAIN INGREDIENTS 4PORTIONS 4 fillet King Salmon 1 jar Salmon Caviar 60g Black rice 60g Spelt 60g Pearl Barley 60g Red Quinoa 1 Yellow capsicum 1 Red Capsicum 1 leek 1 bunch chives 1 lime 4 Zucchini extra virgine olive oil

PICKLE VINEGARD 200g rice vinegard 200g water 100g sugar 1 cinemon stick 2 star anice 1 bay leafe CURED SALT 400g sea salt 300g sugar 2 cinamon sticks 3 Bay leaf 1 tbs red peppercorn

1 tbs hibiscus flowers 4 garlic clove 1/2 bunch lemon thyme 2 lime zest 4 leafe wild fennel 3 sticks dill RASBERRY PUREE 1 punet Rasberry 1 tsp sugar 1 lime juice

continued next page...

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1. Portion salmon into squares and then cover with raspberry puree, lemon juice, sugar and salt. Leave in the fridge for two hours.

2. Shave zucchini and leave on the side.

3. Pickle – Add water and vinegar to sugar and bring to the boil, put in spices and leave to cool down until pickle is room temperature.

4. With left over zucchini, use a bit of oil and one clove of garlic, two leaves of basil and make zucchini pesto.

5. Lightly wash the salmon under cold water and dry properly. Leave on the side.

6. Dress the plate with zucchini, then cook the salmon and grain mix.

7. Sauté the capsicum and vegetables in olive oil. Mix with the grain; season with lime juice, olive oil and a bit of chives.

GPO HOTEL MORNINGTON PENINSULA

8. Cook the salmon on the side where the skin is supposed to be in black sesame seeds in a warm pan with a teaspoon of olive oil. Cook for two to three minutes till the seeds become crunchy. Turn it to the other side for about 30 seconds and remove from heat.

9. Rest salmon on a plate for about five minutes.

10. Plate zucchini, olive oil, and a couple of spoons of grain, zucchini pesto and then put salmon on top.

Terminus – Flinders Hotel Corner Cook and Wood Streets, Flinders Phone 5989 0201. www.flindershotel.com.au

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Upcoming entertainment and current menus at www.thegpo.com.au 1003 POINT NEPEAN RD, ROSEBUD 5982 3200 Summer 2015/2016

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Dishes

must try

King Salmon, Black Sesame, Zucchini and ancient grain

Slow cooked Pork Belly, Corn, Crackling Praline, Pork Caramel and Mustard Cress

Cone Bay Barramundi fillet - Pan roasted with kipfler potatoes, celeriac remoulade, surf clams, dill and caper compound butter sauce

Terminus – Flinders Hotel

Brooklands of Mornington

Corner Cook and Wood Streets, Flinders Phone 5989 0201. www.flindershotel.com.au

99 Tanti Avenue, Mornington Phone 5973 9200. www.brooklandsofmornington.com.au

Roasted Pumpkin Salad with apple, radicchio, buckwheat, walnuts, tahini dressing.

Calamari lightly fried tossed in lemon pepper served with a chilli and kaffir lime aioli.

GPO Eskimo Pie, chocolate parfait, almond biscuit and meringue.

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Counting House

Rose GPO

1003 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Phone 5982 3200. www.rosegpo.com.au

787 Esplanade, Mornington Phone 5975 2055. www.countinghouse.com.au

1003 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Phone 5982 3200. www.rosegpo.com.au

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Rose GPO 1003 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Phone 5982 3200. www.rosegpo.com.au

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Summer 2015/2016

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A NARROW ESCAPE FOR DR. PEACOCK

By Peter McCullough

Peacock Road can be found in Tyabb. It used to be called “Peacock Lane” before its status was upgraded. “Lane” is probably more appropriate for it is a short dusty track which peters out at a double gate into open paddocks. On the right hand side is the former Tyabb Coolstore, now the home of Tyabb Packing House Antiques; on the left is the former All Saints Anglican church and Parish Hall, now The Hungry Peacock family restaurant, then a few factories, including the former Tyabb Cannery, and two old houses.

But why “Peacock” Road? It was in fact named after Doctor Samuel Knox Peacock who not only owned a large area of land in Tyabb but was also the proprietor of a hospital in East Melbourne which specialized in illegal operations for young women. His “trade” led to him being charged just over a century ago with the murder of a young woman named Mary Davies, and it was only after three greatly publicized trials that he was eventually found not guilty.

Early Life.

Although born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1839 Dr. Peacock gained his medical qualifications at Glasgow University and at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. In August, 1872 he arrived in Melbourne via Adelaide and then practised in Bundoora for two years before moving to Fitzroy where he lived and had a surgery at 120 Johnston Street. In 1900 he started to practise in East Melbourne where he built Eastbourne House on the corner of Wellington Parade and Simpson Street in 1902. It was used as a residence and as a hospital solely for female patients.

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The Alleged Crime.

On 31 August, 1911 The Argus shocked its readers with the headlines “Charge of Murder-Young Woman Missing-Doctor Arrested.” Dr. Samuel Peacock was charged with “...having between 16 August and 29 August wilfully and feloniously killed or murdered Mary Margaret Davies, 27 years of age.” It was alleged that Dr. Peacock performed an abortion on Mary, that she died as a result, and that he disposed of her body. The main witness for the Crown was 21 year old Clifford Poke who boarded with the Davies family and who was described as being “...responsible for her condition.”

After receiving the report of Mary’s disappearance from Mr. Poke, police looked for the body at Eastbourne House. They took up the floor boards, they ripped out wall panelling, and they dug up the sewerage pipes. They found nothing.

Running a hospital exclusively for women must have been a profitable occupation for, apart from Eastbourne House, Dr. Peacock owned land at Cheltenham (now part of Sandringham Golf Course), Mordialloc, Neerim South, Cranbourne, Buln Buln, and Tyabb.

All were subject to police searches. However the main focus of the police was a farm of 260 acres owned by Dr. Peacock at Carrum, part of which is now the practice fairway of the Patterson River Country Club. An extensive search was conducted by police, trackers, dogs, and forty local volunteers. Even the nearby Patterson River was dragged with grappling irons with no result. There was a flurry of excitement when a pile of sand 30 cm. high and about 100 cm. in diameter was found, suggesting that something was buried there.

After digging, the anticipated feeling of triumph dissipated when the

carcass of a skinned horse was found! In the end only two items were found in the remains of a fire: some personal items (a metal clip from a purse, metal buttons and a safety pin) and a tooth plate. At the first trial it was acknowledged that the personal items could have belonged to anyone, and the Ballarat dentist who had fitted a dental plate to Mary Davies some eight years before stated that this was a different plate.

The Trials.

Dr Peacock’s first trial took place before the Chief Justice, Sir John Madden, over eight days in October, 1911 and, largely on the evidence of Clifford Poke, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. The Full Bench of the Supreme Court heard an appeal during November, 1911 and dismissed it. Dr. Peacock then appealed to the High Court which heard the appeal in November/December, 1911.

It allowed the appeal and ordered a retrial.

On 20,21 and 22 February, 1912 the second trial took place but the jury was unable to arrive at a unanimous decision and was dismissed.

Only three days later (which included a weekend)the third trial commenced. After three days of evidence and four and a half hours of consideration, the jury returned a “Not Guilty” verdict and Dr. Peacock was acquitted. In this third trial the counsel for the defence was able to further discredit the evidence of Clifford Poke and this, together with the continued absence of a body, made the difference.

Remarkably, the period between the date when Mary Davies entered Dr. Peacock’s hospital and the conclusion of all these hearings was less than eight months.

Dr. Peacock was reported, without any show of emotion, to have slipped from the dock and quietly greeted several friends. While no demonstration followed the acquittal, The Argus reported that there was animated conversation in the corridor amongst groups of men and women who had been present in the court during the day, suggesting that some people were surprised by the verdict.

Far Left: Peacock Road, Tyabb, as it is today.

Above: Doctor Samuel Knox Peacock Below Left: Eastbourne House, in East Melbourne.

Below Right: Article from The Argus, 31st of August 1911.

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Right: Modern day Tyabb, showing the extent of Doctor Peacock’s holdings.

The Press.

Needless to say, the press had a field day, not only at the expense of Dr. Peacock but also Clifford Poke who, it was revealed, fled his native Tasmania leaving a young lady in a similar predicament to that of Mary Davies. Reporters swarmed to Carrum in large numbers and, although the search was unsuccessful, The Age stated that the excitement was at “white heat.”

Samuel Peacock might have been in his seventies and under enormous pressure, but he wasn’t going to let the press have it all their own way. In September, 1911, about a week after he was charged with murder, he brought contempt of court proceedings against the editors and publishers of The Age, The Argus and The Herald. The nature of the contempts had been the publication of statements made by potential witnesses about peripheral matters, followed by comments by the newspapers that went much further than the statements and inferred that Mary had gone to Dr. Peacock’s hospital and died as a result of an abortion, and that Dr. Peacock had secretly disposed of her body. In reality the newspapers were jumping to conclusions, and there was a risk that those conclusions might influence any members of the public who read the newspapers and then become members of the jury.

Most of the editors and publishers were found guilty which led to appeals to the High Court. After awaiting the outcome of the third trial the High Court dismissed the appeals in March, 1912 and ordered the newspapers to pay Dr. Peacock’s costs of the contempt proceedings.

After the trials.

Dr. Peacock continued to practise at Eastbourne House until about 1919 when he would have been 80 years old. He died at Kew, a resident of “Ivy Grange”, a Rest Home in Princess Street, and was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery on 27 July, 1936. He was 97 and the cause of death was listed as senility and heart failure.

His wife, Jane Hughes, had pre-deceased him. There were no children by the marriage. Eastbourne House still remains intact-classified by the National Trust!

The Tyabb Connection.

Although it would be inaccurate to claim Dr. Peacock as a resident, he became a keen supporter of local activities after he purchased land in Tyabb around 1891. His brother became an early manager and by 1903 the doctor held 760 acres. This extended in an irregular fashion west from Peacock Lane (Road) towards Jones Road and then in a northerly direction beyond the present Seaview Road. His holding south of the Mornington-Tyabb Road was even more extensive and on this large farm he carried 3000 sheep, 50 head of cattle and grew crops of vegetables. There was a blacksmith’s shop, storerooms, an up-to-date piggery, fourteen stall stables and other buildings, including a six room residence.

After meeting in the Tyabb Public Hall following its construction in 1899,and also attending services in the Upper Tyabb School (No.

3139), the Tyabb Anglicans , represented by Messrs. Woodhouse and Mair, met with Dr. Peacock in 1911 to secure some land for a church. Dr. Peacock agreed to sell a half-acre allotment on the corner of Peacock Lane (Road) for 25 pounds for the building of “All Saints” which opened in April, 1914.

That sale was the forerunner to a large public auction of Dr. Peacock’s holdings, held in Tyabb in February, 1912. It must have been a busy time for the doctor as the second and third trials would have been in progress.

The approximate area of land available on auction day is shown on the attached modern day map. At the time land was opening up along the railway line to meet the demands of Western Port when the future naval depot opened. Accordingly, all the allotments on the southern side of the Mornington-Tyabb Road, particularly those close to the railway line, found a ready market on auction day, with the larger tracts of land attracting later buyers. Although the citizens of Tyabb no longer regarded Dr. Peacock as one of their own after his “Open Up Tyabb” auction, he still held some land there for more than another decade.

Acknowledgement:I am indebted to local historian Valda Cole who first acquainted me with the story of Dr. Peacock and who provided much of the information relating to his Tyabb links. I am particularly grateful for the map which Valda painstakingly compiled from documents collected relating to Dr. Peacock’s land during the writing of her “Western Port Pioneers and Preachers” in the 1970’s. Co-incidentally, Valda and her husband Harry lived for many years in Seaview Road, very close to Dr. Peacock’s domain.

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Puzzle Corner ACROSS 1. Diver’s breathing tube 6. Connective tissues 11. Emotionally empty 15. Public profile 16. Tropical vine 17. Wither 18. Disgustingly 21. New York/Ontario falls 22. Linked to the web 23. Mistreat (3-3) 24. Crazy 28. Resound 30. Dark blue 32. Goes out of date 35. Striped cat 37. Sing-along entertainment 38. Brazilian dance 40. US president, ... Lincoln 43. Truncate 45. Carnival, ... Gras 47. Pungent bulb 48. Tagging 52. Tearful gasp 53. Reminders 56. Straighten (rope) 58. Itchy rash 60. Purgative 61. Actress, ... Streep 62. Taunting 64. Soak (up) 65. Cremation vessel 67. Flags 69. Separate 72. Immobility 75. Russia’s ... Mountains 77. Measure of length 78. Decorates (cake) 79. Flying saucers (1,1,2) 81. Feeling of unease 83. Portable light 84. Ground porridge flakes 86. Bawled 87. Body sacs 90. Computer input device (1,1-3) 92. Astronaut, ... Armstrong 93. Alice In Wonderland star, ...

Bonham Carter 95. Floating frozen sheet (3,4) 96. Nuisance 98. Hut 99. Nominated 100. Cite author 101. Famous UK school 102. Baghdad is there

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103. Cordon ... cookery 104. American air force (1,1,1,1) 106. Data 110. Urge to action 113. Virile man 115. Philippines capital 116. Partial refunds 117. Rubber 118. Snip 119. Distant scene 122. Swarms 125. Snares 126. Worried 127. Immature insects 129. Harness 130. Narrow valley 131. Cambodia’s neighbour 132. Ancient harp 133. Mediterranean volcano 134. Captivate 137. Laconic 138. Looked upon 142. Catch glimpse of 143. Amateur 145. Aquaplane (5-3) 146. Pseudonym, ... plume (3,2) 149. Arose (from) 151. Faces up to 152. Engraves 154. Terrestrial 156. Poetic term for pasture 157. Pendant shapes 159. Musical pace 161. Showery 163. Revolutionary 168. Andes nation 171. Fables 172. Snagging 176. Native animals 177. Exhumes (4,2) 180. Parsley or sage 181. Sure-fire thing 183. Lowest 187. Daffodil colour 188. Violet antiseptic 190. Titillating material 191. Guarantee 192. Bridge over gorge 193. Welsh vegetables 194. Master of Ceremonies 195. Daytime show 196. Cut into three 197. Acupuncture spikes

Summer 2015/2016

DOWN 1. Seaweed-wrapped snack 2. Hideous monsters 3. Actor, ... Spacey 4. Inflatable mattress 5. Fleshy ear part (3,4) 6. African republic, Sierra ...

7. Mooring weight 8. Weather feature (2,4) 9. Deviously 10. Japanese warrior 11. Dog, Great ...

12. Ethiopia’s Addis ...

13. Approaches 14. College supervisors 19. At your ... & call 20. Exist 25. End of pen 26. Conscious 27. Likely touchdown time (1,1,1) 29. Cluster of bananas 31. Similar 32. Scientist’s workplace 33. Diva, ... donna 34. Cardiac monitor (1,1,1) 36. Desire to succeed 39. Underground room 40. Competently 41. Egotist 42. Updated 44. No trouble 46. Tiny island 47. Follow directives 49. Betray secret 50. Abandon 51. Fisherman’s jumper 53. Hopping marsupial 54. Volley of bullets 55. English garden county 57. Jolt 59. Hold tightly 63. Screeches harshly 66. Diabetes preparation 67. Coated with gold 68. Spruce up 70. Scornful cry 71. Lavishly 73. Exempt from, ... to 74. Subtle difference 76. Stimulant drug 80. Former site of London’s press (5,6) 82. Swindle 85. Slugs 88. Cruel people

89. Crooner, Frank ...

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Flinders

Flinders is a town south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located on the Mornington Peninsula at the point where Western Port meets Bass Strait. Its local government area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

Established in 1854 Population: 860 (2011 census)

FLINDERS FACTS A number of historical buildings exist within the town, complemented by several antique shops, the Flinders Fine Art Gallery and the popular Flinders Bakehouse Cafe.

Attractions along the coast include Bass Park which provides spectacular views down to the Flinders Jetty and across Western Port, as well as being home to a monument dedicated to George Bass and Matthew Flinders who were the first explorers in the area.

The Flinders Golf Course is situated above the cliffs and ocean beaches to the south, overlooking the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary and bordering the Mornington Peninsula National Park. To the west of Flinders, just off Boneo Road, is The Blowhole which includes walking tracks along the rocky coastline and over huge bluestone boulders.

Around 12 kilometres west of Flinders is the small community of Cape Schanck, known for its golf courses and the historic lighthouse situated at the rocky southernmost tip of the peninsula.

Set off on the 100-kilometre Mornington Peninsula Walk, or the shorter Two

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Bays Walking Track or Coastal Walk components for peaceful inlets, wild ocean coastlines, tranquil bush and native animals. Stay closer to home and traverse bluestone boulders to the ocean on the Flinders Blowhole Walk and follow the trail from Cape Schanck to Bushrangers Bay through fern gullies and eucalypt woodland.

Browse the tiny township’s preserved streetscape, passing under quaint verandahs to the historic general store and post office. Shop up a storm in the antique stores and crafty corners.

Gorge at Mornington Peninsula Chocolates. Savour gourmet breakfasts without pretension at nearby Merricks General Store, and dine at the renowned Flinders Hotel Discover the peninsula’s rugged side where Bass Strait and Western Port Bay meet around Flinders and Cape Schanck. Swap between the safe bay beaches and the crashing waves at Flinders Ocean Beach Fill a bottle with the air at Cape Schanck, which is bottled by CSIRO scientists after gale-force winds blow uncontaminated air directly from the Antarctic.

COFFEE SAFARI Fresh brewed coffee is a must have for weekends away and Flinders coffee is second to none with great coffee haunts around the town.

Here are a few to check out when head down to this beautiful end of the world.

FLINDERS BAKEHOUSE CAFÉ 60 Cook St, Flinders The Flinders Bakehouse Café sits on the site of the original Bakery in Flinders, with excellent coffee and snacks, it is a mustsee place when you visit Flinders.

PIER PROVEDORE FLINDERS 38B Cook St, Flinders Lovely cafe with delicious coffee for all tastes. Indoor and outdoor seating great for all weather, with a fabulous alfresco area at the back with lots of tables and toys to occupy the kids. Excellent breakfast menu and gourmet foods.

FLINDERS VILLAGE CAFÉ 49 Cook St, Flinders With friendly staff, great atmosphere, and great coffee and food, Flinders Village Café is a place you will go back to time and time again.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA CHOCOLATES 5 Cook St, Flinders Mornington Peninsula Chocolates is a blissful blend of exquisite flavours and textures, ideal with a lovely coffee. Lovingly hand-crafted daily on the Flinders premises, enjoy a sumptuous chocolate created using only the finest local and imported ingredients with a rich enjoyable coffee.

Explore the Cape Schanck Lightstation in Mornington Peninsula National Park, encountering kangaroos, swamp wallabies, possums and bats. Take the boardwalk out to the beach and rock platform and return for a night of ship-spotting and sleeping in the old limestone Keeper’s Cottage.

The town was named by George Bass after his friend, the explorer and British naval officer Matthew Flinders. Settlement commenced in 1854 and many pioneers and settlers are buried at the Flinders cemetery.

Flinders Post Office opened on 7 March 1863 as the population grew

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On the southern side of West Head, the ocean breaks over the basalt rocks of Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary at Flinders ocean beach.

Mushroom Reef hosts one of Victoria’s best intertidal and subtidal rock platform reefs, popular for beachcombing, recreational diving, snorkelling, and surfing. Several accommodation options exist, including B&Bs and hotel-motel style accommodation. Shopping and a mobile library are also available to tourists and residents.

Flinders was the original home of Flinders Bread, available throughout Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. The company’s operations are now based in Dandenong, but the bread is still available locally.

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The Royal Australian Navy operate a weapons training facility and gunnery on West Head, with public access to this area being restricted.

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Features of the town include the Flinders Golf Club, a picturesque golf course built on a cliff top, a recreation reserve, a small yacht club, and a 250 metres (820 ft) long pier out from the protected beach, sheltered from the waters of Bass Strait by West Head. This area is popular for sailing, fishing, and other watersports.

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Janine Harrison,

the key to all your real estate needs on the Mornington Peninsula this Summer Call Janine today for personalised service and professional real estate advice.

Janine offers free market appraisals, with an extensive knowledge and passion for Mt Eliza and surrounding areas.

Contact Janine on 0487 000 666 or 9787 0028 janine@ufirstrealestate.com.au to start your campaign!

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The Mornington Peninsula was the home of the Boonwarrung people for perhaps 40,000 years, and areas near Flinders have indigenous cultural significance. Last year Flinders celebrated its 150th Birthday as 2014 marks the time a century and a half ago when the first land sales took place here.

While the original guesthouses and tearooms have sadly gone, the air is still clean and pure and Flinders offers alternative places to stay, a variety of attractions, and the pleasures of this coastal settlement (and the Mornington Peninsula generally) drawing many visitors each year.

With its magnificent coastline, exquisite wineries, fine dining and a wealth of nearby leisure activities, the Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia’s most desirable coastal locations. Enjoy truly privileged living at the brand new exclusive Miramar seaside residences.

Each thoughtfully planned apartment is designed to draw in the natural light and sunshine. The earthy colour scape and beautiful timber oak flooring offer a warm and comforting atmosphere. Superior quality joinery, porcelain splash-backs and Miele appliances combine durability with aesthetic appeal to make day-to-day living a breeze.

All residents have access to the private rooftop terrace. This fully concealed space is perfect for enjoying the sea breeze in solitude, whilst the leisure areas and barbeque facilities are also ideal for entertaining family and friends.

Easily personalised with two colour palettes, a natural selection of materials has been used to complement the seaside location. These superb apartments are an entertainer’s delight.

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