Southern Peninsula News 27th August 2025

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Southern Peninsula

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Jobs lost in major shire restructure Fundraiser

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

MAJOR job cuts have been announced at Mornington Peninsula

Shire as the new CEO, Mark Stoermer, enacted a plan to change the operational structure of the organisation.

A statement issued by the shire on

Thursday (21/8) stated “The restructure will result in up to 48 redundancies with redeployment opportunities identified for many of these staff members. Impacted staff are being provided with support.”

Stoermer told The News “The organisation is going through a challenging time. We are going to lose some good people. We want to be as open and transparent as possible and

treat those people with respect”.

At the heart of the change is the introduction of a structure with two shire directors, decreased from the previous four director model that will see some of the shire’s current directors leave. Also abolished is the chief financial officer position.

A “communities directorate” and a “projects and assets directorate” will report to the CEO, while an “execu-

tive manager – peninsula planning” and a “chief of staff” will also report directly to Stoermer.

Challenges facing the shire include a state government-imposed rate cap, fast rising costs for services provision and staffing, and cost-shifting, particularly from the state government. Last year, the combination of these factors were flagged as issues that would see the shire moving

Daniel Laing’s garage was broken into in the middle of the night on 12 August as he slept. The car and wheelcahir were recovered, but the car is a write-off and the chair badly damaged and in need of repair.

Despite the trauma, he said he’s been overwhelmed by the community support saying he was truly grateful.

towards a “precarious financial position” over the next five years if nothing was done (Financial crisis looms for shire, The News 22/10/24).

“In May, council endorsed the operating expenses component of the 2025/26 budget. This included a reduction in employee expenses of $5m and service efficiencies of a further $5m,” said Stoermer.

Continued Page 8

COMMUNITY fundraiser has been launched after heartless thieves stole a disabled man’s car along with his wheelchair in Capel Sound, leaving him without vital mobility.
See ‘Community rallies after disabled man’s car, wheelchair stolen’ - Page 9
Picture: Yanni

Journalists: Brodie Cowburn, Brendan Rees Ph: 5974 9000. Email: team@mpnews.com.au

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Council endorses healthier living plan

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has endorsed its Public Health and Wellbeing Plan over the next four years, setting a vision for a healthier and more connected community.

The plan, adopted by councillors at their 12 August meeting, outlines clear priorities to improve health, safety, and quality of life for residents on the peninsula.

Its top five priorities include mental health and wellbeing, addressing family violence and inequality, supporting active living, and reducing the harmful impacts of alcohol, other drugs, and gambling.

Others are health and wellbeing impacts of climate change, housing and homelessness, and community safety.

A community snapshot of data in the plan showed the peninsula’s population stood at 175,153 which was expected to grow to 192,617 by 2046. The median age was 48 with the average household size being 2.38 persons.

The plan was shaped by more than 2000 community members and stakeholders who contributed feedback during public consultation earlier this year.

According to the plan, 15 percent of adults on the peninsula have sought professional assistance for a mental health problem in the last 12 months, compared to 19 percent Victoria wide.

Just over 20 percent have experienced loneliness with 9.9 percent having a mental health condition includ-

ing depression and anxiety. However, overall, 79.4 percent of residents have a high level of life satisfaction with mental health and wellbeing.

The plan also points to the residents having the “right to live safely, feel valued and respected, and be free from all forms of violence and inequality”.

Local councils are legislatively required to address the drivers of family violence under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic).

The plan stated there were 2281 police-recorded family violence incidents from 2023-24 on the peninsula – an increase of 24.6 percent on the year prior with 74 percent of affected family members being women.

The plan outlines several strategies including implementing and supporting evidence-based family violence prevention and gender equality initiatives and events.

With climate change strategies, the plan aims to “increase resilience and preparedness of community to proactively adapt to the health and wellbeing impacts of climate change” as well as “effectively prepare and respond to local emergency events and extreme climate conditions”.

At the same shire meeting, councillors also endorsed the Council Plan 2025-29, which outlines its community vision.

Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said both plans were “about delivering tangible outcomes, deploying resources where they have the greatest impact, supporting local projects and making the Mornington Peninsula an even better place to live, work and play”.

“Thank you to everyone who shared

their ideas, experiences and priorities. You have helped create a balanced, community-driven roadmap for the future,” he said.

All councillors supported the Public Health and Wellbeing Plan except Cr David Gill who expressed concern the mayor’s message did not mention climate change, despite “the outstanding threat to our health and well-being in the future”.

“I wonder how the mayor might address this omission after this draft,” he said.

He also noted the council no longer operated under a climate emergency declaration after it was ditched earlier this year.

“We have the removal of important funding and no climate change plan or vision,” Gill said.

“We know just recently that there is a plan to adjust this. Too little, too late – that’s how I sum that up.”

Marsh commended the plan, saying “I’m not going to respond to the comments about my message, people can read that and make up their own mind, but I think it’s a balance across the community”.

“We need to acknowledge that this plan is well beyond just climate. It looks at people’s health and wellbeing in many different capacities and areas across the peninsula,” he said, adding the plan “doesn’t limit us from doing things throughout the next four years to try to deliver on some of these goals”.

The council will partner with external stakeholders to deliver the plan to allow sharing of resources and responsibilities.

Downsize to low-maintenance retirement living

location. Our renovated community centre offers a welcoming, sunlit space where residents can connect with a friendly face, and it is just minutes from Safety Beach, cafés, shopping precincts and more. Choose from 1 and 2-bedroom villas and enjoy the flexibility to add services like meals as needed, for peace of mind now and into the future.

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Canberra trip sparks conflict

FRANKSTON’S mayor says he still plans on attending an advocacy trip to Canberra despite being disinvited by one of the organisers last week. The trip to Canberra, scheduled for 25-26 August, has been facilitated by the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. Last week mayor Cr Kris Bolam publicly expressed concerns about council’s ties to the advocacy group, and said he was “uncomfortable” about the planned trip. (Committee’s Canberra trip ‘uncomfortable’ - mayor, The News 19/8/25).

Early last week Bolam was disinvited from the Canberra trip by the committee, but he still intends to go. He said “I do not, and will not, take direction from what is essentially a lobbyist organisation.”

Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula CEO Josh Sinclair has defended the trip, which will also be attended by Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, and Shire CEO Mark Stoermer. He said the goal is to “present a joint approach to regional advocacy on projects and opportunities for federal government to support and invest in across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.”

Sinclair said that attendees would be “discussing the federal government’s commitment to $50m for Nepean Highway/Overton Rd, opportunities for the federal government to invest in housing projects in Frankston’s activity centre, the National Centre for Healthy Ageing based on Frankston Hospital, infrastructure improvements across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, housing and homelessness”, and “improvements to Rosebud Hospital”.

“The [Frankston] mayor chaired a meeting re-

cently to extend the committee’s membership by three years and double the membership fee that council contributes. We thank him for his strong leadership and ongoing, unwavering support of the committee’s work in seeking to influence a better peninsula,” Sinclair said.

Council’s membership with the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula was extended as part of council’s 2025/2026 budget - the budget was unanimously passed by council-

lors with an agreement to pay $15,000 per year for three years for membership.

Bolam said “the city council may choose to reassess its financial support for organisations funded by ratepayers at any stage.”

“Special interests have a presence in political processes across all levels of government, both here and abroad.

“This is not unique to Frankston, but it is a matter of genuine concern and we need to be vigilant.

In particular, we must be cognizant when lobby groups seek to influence the direction of democratically elected governments,” Bolam said.

“Outfits such as the Committee for Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are guided by the interests of their paid membership, whereas local governments like Frankston City Council are accountable to their broader communities. As such, our respective missions are distinctly different.”

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula CEO Josh Sinclair, and Frankston City mayor Cr Kris Bolam. Pictures: Yanni, Gary Sissons and Supplied

Driver’s fury over pothole damage to car

A FRUSTRATED motorist is expected to face at least an $8000 damage bill after his high-end car struck a nasty pothole along an arterial road in Boneo on 18 August.

Bradley Carter was shocked to discover his whole rear tyre was severely punctured and the wheel rim badly damaged on his pride-and-joy Bentley car after he hit a pothole at a bend on Boneo Rd near the Patterson Rd turnoff while travelling at the 80kph speed limit.

The Aspendale resident was driving home after playing golf at Cape Schanck when he lost control and swerved to the other side of the road after the pothole appeared out of nowhere.

“There was a massive bang … I pulled over and it completely destroyed the whole thing (rear wheel),” he said.

“It’s bloody dangerous. Had there been a truck coming the other way, it would have been interesting.”

Carter estimated the size of the pothole to be about 40cm wide – about the size of a standard dining chair seat. He said the damage was expected to cost thousands as his mechanic assessed the repairs, which may also include the car’s suspension.

Boneo Rd is a key route on the Mornington Peninsula region connecting Flinders to Rosebud with locals repeatedly reporting issues with road maintenance.

BRADLEY Carter’s car wheel was significantly damaged after hitting a pothole in Boneo.

Last December residents at the time had identified more than 40 large potholes, road edge defects and other deterioration over a 4km section of Boneo Rd that were a “serious safety hazard for all” (Urgent safety calls grow for Boneo Rd, The News 04/12/24).

Carter said he was hoping to seek compensation for repairs from the transport department, but noted it wasn’t just about money but on the principle of safety and accountability.

“It needs to be addressed. My car is irrelevant. It’s not about that. I mean, there are expensive cars on these roads

and cheaper cars. But the reason why I probably didn’t completely lose control was the fact that I was in a quality vehicle,” he said.

He said Boneo Road was a very narrow road “so you’re within a cat’s whisker at the best of times of oncoming traffic”.

“We’re all paying taxes and we’re all being told not to speed and all these kinds of things. I’m doing the speed limit and I’ve nearly killed myself. “It’s not on. VicRoads has to do something about it.”

The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.

Picture: Gary Sissons

Eagle plans scaled back but community still concerned

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

PLANS for a $25m redevelopment of Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) has been tweaked including scrapping a pedestrian bridge from the summit, but critics say the changes don’t go far enough.

A revision of the masterplan’s design follows project planners meeting community groups and local representatives to gather a range of perspectives.

The plans, announced last September, include upgrading facilities, attractions and the natural green space to “diversify the types of experiences offered to tourists”.

Such is its scale, the planned redevelopment has been deemed a “project of significance” under Victorian planning provisions and is currently being reviewed by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) as part of the Request for Information (RFI) stage.

This phase has seen the DTP seek further information to thoroughly assess ASE’s proposed masterplan against stringent criteria including improved traffic management, bushfire mitigation, erosion prevention, wildlife protection, and environmental sustainability.

But advocates for Arthurs Seat, including the Save Our Seat community group, have strongly opposed the plans from the beginning, saying the state park was in “grave danger” if the plans went ahead, and that the proposed “roller-coaster-style luge” was inappropriate.

ASE CEO Matthew Mulkearns however said the upgraded vision was aimed at delivering “a world-class, sustainable precinct celebrating the natural wonders of the Mornington Peninsula”.

“We have been mindful that the local community is one of the project’s most important stakeholders,” he said.

In a statement released this month, ASE said, “the RFI process and a variety of constructive suggestions for the ongoing improvement of the upgrade project have been incorporated into the masterplan’s reworked design”. Among the changes, which have been submitted to the DTP for consideration, include replacing a proposed restaurant on the upper level of the summit station with an expansion of the existing café within the existing leasehold.

The observation tower’s design is now a stand-alone building with a slimmer form but with a height increase to 34 metres to allow for unobstructed view lines but “designed to be harmonious with the landscape”.

Its viewing platform would be smaller, reducing the number of visitors it can accommodate from 74 to 55.

The previously proposed pedestrian bridge at the summit station over Arthurs Seat Rd has now been removed “to address authority management and community concerns and preserve view lines along Arthurs Seat Rd”.

A proposed luge track has also been shortened from 2360 metres to 1440 metres to

ensure that six of the eight initially targeted trees will now be kept.

“The luge design was further modified to avoid areas designated as no-build zones, as well as historic landslide scars, drainage paths, and sensitive ecological areas,” a summary report from ASE said.

The luge platform at the summit station has also been redesigned “to sit within the natural slope of the landscape”.

Furthermore, indigenous landscaping has been put forward including following Tree Protection Zones, a staged seeding and planting proposal along the gondola and luge corridor, which would result in planting more than 25 plant species.

But Save Our Seat spokesperson Kylie Greer remained unconvinced, arguing the revised plans are even “more invasive” than before.

She said ASE was merely “dressing up changes, such as scrapping a pedestrian bridge and summit restaurant, while concealing new elements deep within its website”.

“One such addition is a luge bridge at the point where the luge/roller coaster crosses a sharp hairpin bend on Arthurs Seat Rd,” Greer said.

“This bridge is a disastrous addition. It would be an eyesore and completely undermines the claim that the luge will be a ‘light touch’. Its location, so close to a blind hairpin bend on a busy scenic road, also raises huge safety concerns. The potential for driver distraction is massive.”

Greer noted that while the luge track had been shortened, it now had three helices, or elevated loops, instead of one in the original plans, which “would create a far greater visual impact as well as adding to the landslide and erosion risk, given the greater bulk of the loops”.

She also said its group members were concerned about an “obtrusive” acoustic fence adjacent to Nestle Court and Arthurs Hotel.

“The Eagle previously claimed the luge would meet accepted noise levels. If that’s true, why the acoustic fence? It’s just another blight on the landscape and another barrier to wildlife.”

Greer said if the planners were “serious about community concerns, they’d start by scrapping the luge altogether”.

She also questioned the business logic underpinning the redevelopment, saying if “they can drop the restaurant so easily, it raises real doubts about the business plan behind this project”.

“Do they actually know what they’re doing? Remember, this is the same company that went into administration in 2020.”

Mulkearns said the ASE had engaged with community groups and local representatives since the proposal was revealed last year “to understand the range of perspectives on the masterplan design”.

“This includes regular meetings of the Local Community

Group, which was set up to further engage local stakeholders and ensure

the project’s inclusivity and success,” he said.

“Through the process of engaging with the community, Arthurs Seat Eagle has sought to incorporate a variety of constructive suggestions for the upgrade project’s ongoing improvement, including redesigning the luge track and observation tower so that these proposed introductions are in even greater harmony with the existing environment.”

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said, “the council will form its position once the plans are released for formal consultation, but it’s encouraging to see the Eagle engaging with the community”.

Following a community backlash over the project last year, councillors voted unanimously to move a motion at their 18 December meeting for Marsh to write to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny “expressing council and resident concern with the proposed development”.

The motion also sought a one-on-one meeting with Kilkenny, but the invitation is understood to have been declined.

Earlier this year, the mayor said that he hoped the revised plans would “strike the right balance” for tourism and recreation on the peninsula.

AN artist’s impression of the proposed Arthurs Seat Eagle upgrade. Picture: Supplied

Peninsula Memo

August 2025

Boost for our visitor economy

Council has endorsed a new Visitor Economy Partnership for our thriving tourism industry and the thousands of jobs and businesses it supports. In 2024, the Peninsula attracted 7.9 million visitors, contributing $1.8 billion to the local economy.

Tourism directly supports over 5,000 local jobs and contributes almost $1 billion in direct economic output from tourism-related industries. The Mornington Peninsula Visitor Economy Partnership will strengthen our local tourism sector through a $200,000 annual investment from Council. This funding will support a collaborative effort to build a sustainable, thriving visitor economy.

Mayor Anthony Marsh said: “Joining the Visitor Economy Partnership ensures we can continue supporting local jobs, working closely with industry and shaping the future of tourism in our region.” mornpen.vic.gov.au/vep

• Visionary artwork

See Bruce Nauman’s ‘The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths’ at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

• Local heroes

We’re on the lookout for nominations for our annual community awards. mornpen.vic.gov.au/ausdayawards

• Book this in!

In celebration of Library and Information Week, those aged 16 years and over are invited to participate in Mornington Peninsula Shire Library’s Bookmark Design Competition. library.mornpen.vic.gov.au

From domestic animal management to local playgrounds, road maintenance and much more, we’re keen to get your valued input.

We know our community cares deeply about Shire projects and the decisions that shape them. That’s why we gather community input through online and in-person engagement. All feedback is then collated and presented to Council for decision-making.

When we engage, we tap into local knowledge, lived experience and diverse perspectives. This leads to better informed policies, services that meets real needs and stronger trust between Council and the community. shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au

• Grants now open

The Shire’s Community Investment Funding program supports local organisations by funding programs, events and festivals that are inclusive, creative and enhance community wellbeing. mornpen.vic.gov.au/grants

• Tourism newsletter

Do you work for a tourism business on the Peninsula? Stay informed with our monthly Tourism Industry Newsletter. mornpen.vic.gov.au/ti-news

• Charity cruise

The Mayoral Mayday Cruise is all about good food, great music and unforgettable company - raising funds for local community groups. maydaycruise.com.au Reminders

Best golf fun by par at Mount Martha

Indoor. Immersive. Seriously addictive. Who cares about the weather?

That’s just scratching the surface of what you’ll get with Mount Martha Public Golf Course’s new golf simulators. This isn’t just for the pros. It is golf meets gaming, the perfect hangout spot and it’s made for everyone. Yes, even the kids! Why you’ll love it:

• Play legendary courses from around the world –no passport needed.

• Dodge the weather with indoor, climate-controlled comfort.

• Book a lesson with Kom, our PGA pro, and actually see your swing improve. Track every swing with pinpoint accuracy.

• Throw a party.

Whether you’re chasing a personal best, hosting a family showdown or just looking for something fun to do

– this is your new go-to. mtmarthapublicgc.com.au

Seniors Festival: ‘Connect, Create and Celebrate’

Our much-loved Seniors Festival, part of Victoria’s statewide celebration returns this October.

The festival invites residents aged 55 plus to ‘Connect, Create and Celebrate’ through a lively and inclusive program of free and low cost events across the Peninsula’s coast, townships and hinterland. With more than 90 events on offer, there’ll be something for everyone to explore.

Highlights include the launch of the new outdoor Exercise Parks for Seniors in Mount Martha, 7 October and Hastings Foreshore, 10 October. mornpen.vic.gov.au/seniorsfestival

What we’re delivering

New playground

The new Hillview Reserve playground at Dromana provides endless fun for the young and young at heart. The playground incorporates parkour, rock climbing and our favourite, the musical drums!

The Shire developed and delivered the project, which was jointly funded with a $2.6 million grant through the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund. The playground is part of the larger upgrade, which also includes a new car park

Trail works

Work on the Somerville to Baxter Trail is proceeding well. The path will extend from Eramosa Rd, Somerville, through to Golf Links Rd, Baxter, where the existing trail ends.

Works from Frankston-Flinders Rd to Golf Links Rd have been progressing steadily with asphalting, fencing and line marking now complete.

Works have begun on the southern section (south of FrankstonFlinders) heading north from Eramosa Rd, Somerville. mornpen.vic.gov.au/pentrailupdate

Local events

August

28 STEAM Code Club, Hastings

29 Author Talk, Mornington

29 Film Club, Rosebud

29 August Art Attack, Crib Point

31 Voices of Light, Mount Eliza

September

04 Social Book Club, Rosebud

06 Community Market, Red Hill

06 Peninsula Harvest, Mount Martha

08 Baby Sleep Session, Mornington

10 Guided Birdwatching, Tuerong

11 Jewellery Workshop, Mornington

12 Composting, Sorrento

20 Learn to Crochet, Mornington

21 Enchanted Market, Mount Martha

23 Imagine Live, Flinders

24 YA Writing Workshop, Mornington

25 Collage, Cards Workshop, Rosebud

27 Market, Point Nepean Portsea

Information is correct at time of printing. mornpen.vic.gov.au/events

Website mornpen.vic.gov.au

Call us 1300 850 600 Facebook mornpenshire

ourpeninsula Sign up for mornpen.vic.gov.au/ e-news peninsulabuzz

New shire staff structure won’t affect the delivery of services - Mayor

Continued from Page 1

“The budget identified the need for the shire to take action to ensure that we remain financially sustainable and able to meet the current and future needs of our community.

“I want to make it very clear that the redundancies reflect the abolition of job positions, and are not a reflection of the people in those roles.”

Stoermer told The News that there are no more pending redundancies, but the shire will still continue the review of service efficiencies.

Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, who has been incorrectly reported as being behind the job losses told The News , “This was an abso-

lutely necessary process”.

“With rates capped and costs continuing to rise, council has had to make responsible decisions to keep the organisation sustainable.

Independent advice confirmed that change was possible and necessary, and the CEO is leading a careful process to achieve that.

“Most of the changes are in the upper levels of the organisation. These changes won’t affect the delivery of services but will free up funds to be invested directly back into the community. This is an important step that ensures a stronger return for our residents.”

It is believed the new organisation structure for the shire will be finalised by mid-September.

Urgent Care Clinic confirmed for Somerville

THE federal Labor government has reconfirmed it commitment to build a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Somerville, despite a call for tenders indicating a preference for the clinic to be located in Hastings.

The South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network invited accredited general practices to submit tenders for the establishment of four new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics including one on the “Mornington Peninsula – with a preference for Hastings”.

During the campaign, Foreign Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong joined Labor candidate for Flinders, Sarah Race, to announce the Somerville-based clinic would begin operating in the 2025/26 financial year “providing bulk billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week, for extended hours, and with no appointment needed” (Labor will open a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Somerville, The News 11/3/25).

The call for tenders indicating a preference for Hastings as the location was at odds with that commitment.

Zoe McKenzie, MP for Flinders, broke the news on social media on Friday (22/8) stating “I welcome much-needed investment in our area, including the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic an-

nounced in the March budget”.

“But when governments make big promises, locals deserve to see them delivered where and how they were pledged, or at the very least, to be consulted before any major change.”

The apparent breaking of an election commitment by the federal Labor government attracted a swift condemnation from Somerville residents and businesses.

“The federal government seem to be backflipping on a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Somerville and seeking tenders with a focus on Hastings,” said the secretary of the Somerville Business Group Inc, David Livingstone.

“Surely the town with the larger population reach and lesser number of clinics deserves to have this federal government commitment honoured as soon as possible.”

By Friday afternoon (22/8), The News had received confirmation from the office of the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler MP, reiterating the plan to establish an Urgent Care Clinic in Somerville. A relief, no doubt, to Somerville residents and traders, and to Race who had put her name to the pledge during the campaign.

“I’m thrilled to see that Labor is delivering a significant healthcare investment into the Mornington Peninsula, especially Western Port. With a growing population and so many young families – it’ll be priceless to have free, local, walk-in health care,” said Race.

New homes for women and children

SEVENTEEN new homes will be built in Mornington and Hastings to support women and children, as the region battles a worsening housing and homelessness crisis.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire has partnered with housing agencies YWCA Australia and Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) to deliver the social housing through the provision and lease of five parcels of council own land valued at more than $3m.

The housing and development will be funded by Homes Victoria under the state government’s $6.3b Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund.

As reported by The News earlier this month, the Mornington Peninsula now has the highest number of people sleeping rough out of any local government area in Victoria – including City of Melbourne (Peninsula records state’s highest homelessness numbers, The News 12/8/25).

In 2024–25, more than 948 people sought support through independently funded homelessness services across the peninsula.

In a statement announcing the housing build, the shire said, “the Mornington Peninsula is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the lack of housing availability and affordability, with women and children often being the hardest hit”.

It also noted that numbers registered for housing on the Victorian housing register “continue to grow at an alarming rate”.

The council said those experiencing homelessness had been compounded by high numbers

of short-term holiday rentals, increasing rents, a severe shortage of crisis housing, house and unit prices rising rapidly and high demand for limited funding and food relief support.

Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said a partnership was a “great example of how a multi-agency and government partnership can deliver important tangible outcomes for our local community”.

“There is much more to be done however, and we welcome ongoing investment and partners to address the urgent need,” he said.

“I’m so pleased to be able to announce and say thanks for this joint initiative following this month’s Homelessness Week activities. The national theme of ‘Homelessness Action Now’ aligns strongly with the work already underway on the peninsula.”

YWCA Australia Group CEO Michelle Phillips said as a national women’s housing specialist, they too were proud to be a part the project. “Our gender responsive design guidelines will inform the design and build of these homes, keeping the unique housing needs of women at the centre,” she said.

WPI CEO Roberta Buchanan said, “we are looking forward to working with our partners to deliver much needed new homes on the Mornington Peninsula for women and children who are experiencing chronic housing insecurity”.

“Secure, affordable and appropriate homes provide a foundation for happier and healthier lives,” she said.

Community rallies after disabled man’s car, wheelchair stolen

A COMMUNITY fundraiser has been launched after heartless thieves stole a disabled man’s car along with his wheelchair in Capel Sound, leaving him without vital mobility.

Daniel Laing, 39, was asleep when four intruders broke into his garage before stealing his Holden Berlina station wagon about 1.15am on 12 August.

The car had special hand controls installed to help him drive with a wheelchair that he uses for work sitting in the front passenger’s seat.

It is a massive blow for the disability advocate who can no longer get to work or appointments.

Although his car was found a few hours later in Hastings, it was badly damaged, including its windows smashed while his wheelchair was found dumped on the side of the road in Capel Sound, which will now need significant repairs.

The hand controls, which give him the ability to drive, were cut out of the car and dumped in Capel Sound, which he said were now useless.

To make matters worse, his insurance company has deemed the car a write-off, with his policy covering only its market value, meaning the payout would be roughly half of what it will cost to replace the car.

“I can’t just buy another car and off I go. I have to get it modified so it’s incredibly distressing,” he said, adding he had been feeling anxious

at night since the break-in.

“It’s just disgusting how they can leave my wheelchair on the side of the road and my hand controls.”

Laing was born with spina bifida and is dedicated to raising awareness as well as working for a Mornington

Peninsula disability provider where he organises disability seminars, visiting schools, businesses and community groups.

Laing, who can use another wheelchair that he had in his home, said he could not fathom how “completely

disrespectful” people could act.

Despite the trauma, he said he’s been overwhelmed by the community support saying he was truly grateful.

A GoFundMe, established with the help of Mornington MP Chris

Crewther and community member Finn Mackay, has been launched to help Laing get around in a wheelchair-friendly taxi or other transport means, which has so far raised an incredible $11,195.

“I just want to say everyone’s just been so amazing and incredible. I can’t thank them enough. I feel very supported,” Laing said.

Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating.

A police spokesperson said the stolen car was found blocking the intersection of Frankston-Flinders and Hodgins roads in Hastings just before 5am on the morning of the theft.

“The car, which was unoccupied and had broken windows, was towed from the scene for forensic examination,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dashcam footage or has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic. com.au.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/donate-tohelp-daniel-drive-again

DANIEL Laing at his Capel Sound home. Picture: Yanni

Heart-stopping moment with life-saving response

A QUIET night at home turned into a life-or-death emergency for Mornington Peninsula man Alan when he suddenly collapsed from a cardiac arrest in February.

In a moment of courage, his wife of 33 years, Anita, sprung into action –immediately calling Triple Zero (000) and beginning CPR.

Luckily for Alan and his family, their neighbour Shannon, had the GoodSAM app on her phone and was notified about Alan’s critical condition.

Shannon and her two children, Jackson and Charlie, rushed next door, took over CPR and shocked Alan three times with an automated external defibrillator (AED) that was in their family car.

This was the first time Shannon, an off-duty paramedic, had been able to respond to a GoodSAM alert since she downloaded the app in 2018.

A paramedic of 24 years, Shannon said she was glad she was in the right place at the right time.

“It was fantastic to see Alan with no deficits and riding his bike past my house a couple of weeks later. It could have been a very different outcome for him.

“You don’t need to be a paramedic to help save a life – any adult can download the GoodSAM app and help people in cardiac arrest in those critical minutes before paramedics arrive.

“It was amazing for my kids to be involved and learn what happened. My daughter Charlie is studying to be a nurse, so she was a great help,” she said.

A combined effort between Shannon and the on-duty paramedics managed to restart Alan’s heart so it could beat on its own again.

Ambulance Victoria paramedics arrived 10 minutes after Anita’s call for help, before taking Alan to Frankston Hospital for follow up care.

“I was in complete shock – there weren’t any warning signs. One minute we were talking, next minute Alan was making strange noises and I

realised there was something wrong,” Anita said.

“I was given instructions over the phone to start CPR and the next thing I knew Shannon appeared and took over, which was brilliant. The paramedics and firefighters arrived shortly after that.

“Alan is almost back to normal life and we welcomed our second grandchild just after he got out of hospital. We are incredibly grateful to Shannon

and to everyone who helped.

“The stars aligned.”

You don’t have to be first-aid qualified or have a medical background to help save a life. To be a GoodSAM responder, you just need to be willing and able to do hands-only CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone.

Minutes matter in cardiac arrests, so when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramed-

ics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.

Ambulance Victoria’s 2023/24 Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR) Annual Report highlighted that Victoria has Australia’s best cardiac arrest survival rate and the third best in the world. For more information, and to register with GoodSAM, please visit: www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/goodsam

Crime team turns tide for troubled teens

VICTORIA Police’s Somerville Crime Reduction Team (CRT) is seeing results, with two high-risk teen brothers now back on track thanks to targeted intervention.

The brothers were previously known to police with a significant criminal history but that has changed since the CRT got involved.

“Through constant contact with the boys, their family, and external support services, their offending has come to a halt, removing their need for police intervention,” Victoria Police said on its Eyewatch Mornington Peninsula Service Area Facebook page.

Senior Constable Amy Holden called the boys’ mother to share that “they’ve turned a corner”.

CRTs were launched in 2004 across Melbourne and Geelong, targeting serious and often young offenders with the aim of stopping the offending and connecting them to tailored support services.

“We operate with the intention of giving these offenders pathways away from crime, but we have no hesitation in arresting them if they offend,” said Acting Sergeant Trent Delaney, who leads the Somerville CRT covering the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas. He said the need to build strong relationships extended beyond just the offender with regular contact with parents and family members being just as important, to ensure the good work continues at home.

In its first six months, Somerville CRT has been successful in helping several high-risk youths find a new direction including returning to school and gaining employment.

Holden said they hoped to replicate the outcomes across the region.

“It makes me so proud of the work that we do,” she said.

CHARLIE, Shannon and Alan. Picture: Supplied
SENIOR Constable Amy Holden and Acting Sergeant Trent Delaney. Picture: Supplied

Community to take charge of Somers foreshore – but with limited funding

THE state government is set to establish a new committee to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve amid growing unrest over the reserve’s deteriorating condition – but it appears it won’t come with any funding.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) recently called for expressions of interest for positions to establish a new committee of management (COM) to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve, with an aim to have members appointed in the coming months.

The announcement follows mounting pressure from the Somers Residents Association (SRA) which earlier this year called for the reinstatement of a community committee to manage the reserve following concerns the land had been left in a state of neglect with overgrown vegetation and poor maintenance of public facilities (Somers Foreshore Reserve neglect sparks community push, The News 01/08/25).

A DEECA spokesperson said the new positions would “provide an opportunity for suitably qualified and experienced community members to contribute to management of this important coastal reserve”.

The reserve sits on Crown Land and is currently managed by DEECA.

However, there were hopes the new committee would come with the funding needed to reverse years of neglect, but it appeared management

responsibilities would be transferred without financial backing.

When asked by The News in July whether the COM would be fully funded, DEECA said, “the committee of management can generate revenue on the reserve as well as apply for grants available through Victorian government programs”.

The absence of government funding, if this was to occur, has raised serious questions about how the committee would function – and whether the full financial burden would fall on the community.

The Somers Foreshore Reserve,

which is prized for its biodiversity, beach access, and scenic value, has no dedicated camping or caravan areas for which it can generate revenue.

As reported by The News, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said DEECA had been seeking to “enter into a funding agreement” to carry out work at Somers Foreshore Reserve, “however the shire is not in a position to deliver works on behalf of DEECA”.

“It is not the shire’s role to complete works on behalf of others in areas where we don’t have management responsibilities,” he said.

Helping Hands celebrates official launch

HELPING Hands Somerville, a food pantry dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing food insecurity, has celebrated its official launch.

The event on 22 August, held at the pantry’s facility at U1/21 Worwong Ave, Somerville, marked a milestone for the grassroots initiative, which began on 7 July as a small community effort.

The charity is run by a small group of volunteers including its president Anne Raukawa, retired caterer Gail Jackson, and retired teacher Deb Agar, who met earlier this year over coffee to start a “simple local pantry”.

In its first week they helped around 30 families and are now supporting more than 120 families every week.

The charity gathered for an official launch with Mornington Peninsula Shire Beek Beek councillor Kate Roper cutting a ribbon, while also acknowledging all their generous benefac-

tors and enthusiastic volunteers.

“Our mission is to alleviate hunger and improve food security by providing nutritious, free food assistance to those in need. Through the pantry, rescued and donated food is shared sustainably, respectfully, and without stigma,” Raukawa said.

She said they were grateful for the Somerville Community House Inc and also for the shire’s support and extended their thanks to the many individuals, community groups and partners “who have stood with us from the very beginning”.

Donations of non-perishable items, especially meat, dairy products, and eggs are welcome.

Monetary donations are also welcome, but contact Helping Hands for banking details.

The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am – 2.30pm. Phone: 0493 463 326. Email: helpinghands3912@gmail.com

Areas in need of attention are extensive weed growth, revegetation works, and community facilities and path infrastructure.

Cr David Gill told The News while he was pleased to see the government finally establishing a COM and “bringing it back into the hands of the community”, he was disappointed that volunteers would have to rely on grants which were never guaranteed.

“I hope they will at least give them a seeding (financial) start. As far as I know they would be starting from scratch,” he said.

“In my opinion, we suffer from

SOMERS residents pictured earlier this year after pushing to have a community committee returned to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve.

that system around Victoria. We have 10 percent of Victoria’s coastline on the Mornington Peninsula, and we suffer because the foreshore is for all Victorians.

“Some committees of management have the ability to raise funds because they may have a camping area or caravan park on the foreshore; a lot of things have to be done – it’s environmental, its trails, its tourism for all Victorians.”

But Gill said state grants were becoming harder to obtain.

“It’s diminishing and it’s always been diminishing, the amount of available funds for grants.

“We can’t say there’s no funding; it’s just a diminishing pool. It’s very difficult.

“It doesn’t mean they can’t organise working bees but as we know there’s a lot of things volunteers are not allowed to do that includes safety, and health and wellbeing things such as working near cliffs where you need professionals.”

The Somers Residents Association has been actively encouraging residents to submit an expression of interest for the COM. Applications closed 25 August.

Chasing Change, in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire, invite the community to come together for World Suicide Prevention Day to connect, reflect & remember the lives of those lost to suicide

From 9am, get a coffee and a bite to eat, enjoy live music and activities, grab a ribbon, and visit the information and merchandise stalls.

At 10am formalities will commence including guest speakers, a memorial roll call, and then a short walk around the park, including the tying of ribbons to the fence.

To register a name of a loved one lost to suicide to be read as part of the memorial roll call, please scan the QR code to visit the event page.

Picture: Yanni
VOLUNTEERS at Helping Hands join Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Kate Roper in celebrating their launch. Picture: Gary Sissons

L2P thanks volunteers after 15 years on the road

THE Transport Accident Commis-

sion’s L2P learner driver mentor program has celebrated 15 years of steering young drivers toward safer futures on the Mornington Peninsula.

A special celebratory lunch was held at Safety Beach Sailing Club on 21 August, recognising the dedicated volunteers and community partners who have helped guide hundreds of young people aged 16 to 21 toward achieving their driver’s licence.

Designed for learners without access to a supervising driver or vehicle, the L2P program has paired 1200 young drivers with fully licenced trained volunteer mentors since the program began on the peninsula to help them reach the required 120 hours of driver experience to achieve their probationary licence.

The program is funded by the TAC, administered by the Department of Transport and Planning and delivered by the shire.

Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, formerly a TAC L2P mentor, said the shire was proud to celebrate the anniversary but noted “the real credit goes to our volunteer mentors”.

“Their generosity has helped young people gain not just their licence, but the freedom, confidence and opportunities that come with it,” he said.

The lunch event saw the mayor gather alongside with Cr Cam Williams and Cr Andrea Allen, TAC L2P mentors, young people who

A SPECIAL event was held at Safety Beach to celebrate the 15-year milestone of the TAC’s L2P program on the peninsula.

have benefited from the program, representatives from the TAC and L2P programs at other municipalities and the Community Bank Mt Martha, which has provided vital sponsorship for the peninsula L2P program.

Mentor driver Anneke Fortyn said it was a fantastic program with amazing support from the shire.

She said the 120 hour requirement was a big commitment, adding: “I

learn from these young people as much as they learn from me.”

Maxine, who received her P plates through the program, praised its positive impact.

“If it was not for my mentors I don’t think I would have been able to get my P plates,” she said.

TAC CEO Tracey Slatter said they were proud to notch up the 15-year milestone on the peninsula which

was providing a vital role for young people to become safe and confident probationary drivers.

“Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, learner drivers from all backgrounds have access to invaluable driving practice that helps to reduce crashes and save lives,” she said.

“This 15-year milestone is a testament to their commitment and the

importance of continuing to support the next generation to become safe drivers in our community.”

There are currently 48 mentor drivers, but the shire is always looking for more people, particularly those who can commit one to two hours a week.

For more information: mornpen. vic.gov.au/l2p

CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY 7 th September

Make Father’s Day unforgettable

THIS Father’s Day, skip the socks and ties and give Dad something he’ll really love, an experience to remember. Frankston Arts Centre has an incredible line-up of live entertainment that makes the perfect gift for dads of all kinds. If he loves a good laugh, treat him to Luke McGregor: Okay, Wow on 4 October. Known for his warm, awkward humour and razor-sharp wit, Luke co-created and starred in the hit ABC comedy Rosehaven, and has had audiences in stitches on Thank God You’re Here and Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee. In 2024, he even teamed up with his mum for the ultimate adventure on The Amazing Race Australia! His new stand-up show promises plenty of laughs, relatable stories and Luke’s signature self-deprecating charm, the perfect night out for dads who appreciate a good chuckle.

For the music lovers, there’s a stellar line-up of tribute shows celebrating some of the biggest names in rock and pop. The Wilbury Legends take the stage with their brilliant six-piece band on 16 October, paying homage to George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. Then on 7 November, The Beatnix: The Beatles Rebooted deliver an authentic and energetic tribute to the Fab Four. From the psychedelic sounds of Strawberry Fields to the haunting beauty of Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby. You will believe the Beatles have actually truly been rebooted!

If Dad’s a fan of golden oldies, The Roy Orbison Story on 14 November will tug at the heartstrings with hits like Oh, Pretty Woman, in a brilliant theatrical portrayal of the man, his music, his voice, and his life, starring Mark Shelley. For something truly nostalgic, California Dreamin’: The Laurel Canyon Story on 21 November captures the iconic

Unforgettable expeiences for dad at the FAC. Picture: supplied

sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s from The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds and more. Looking for more? The Billy Joel Story: Pianoman Edition on 6 December celebrates the timeless hits of one of music’s greatest songwriters. Or surprise him with a festive twist! A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland on 17 December is a dazzling dance and music extravaganza that the whole family can enjoy together. Ripper Rock: The Denim

& Lace 50th Anniversary Christmas Special on 19 December promises a rockin’ good time celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the release of Marty Rhone’s 1975 megahit Denim & Lace For families, PLOS’s spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz will enchant audiences from 31 December to 10 January. And for the ultimate gift that keeps the rhythm going into the new year, One More Night of… Phil Collins on 21 February 2026 delivers all the hits in one unforgettable night. Not sure which show he’d love most? A Frankston Arts Centre gift card is the perfect solution; easy to purchase online or through the Box Office, it gives Dad the freedom to choose his own night out. Give the gift of live entertainment this Father’s Day, because the best memories aren’t found in a box, they’re made together. Visit thefac.com.au or call 03 9784 1060 to book.

Picture: Yanni

Social housing needed on the peninsula

I am a retired public servant who was with what is now DFFH. A project I initiated a few years before Covid looks to be replicated (Agencies unite to fix Main St public housing troubles, The News 5/8/25).

My project, which was multi-partnered with the department (Housing Manager Frankston) , the Salvation Army, the Community Support Centre, Mi Health, Bolton Clarke, WAYSS, VicPol, Mornington Peninsula Shire and others was very successful.

Monthly meetings identified issues and encouraged the partner agencies to take action. DFFH purchased a barbeque. Monthly estate barbeques and coffee cart (funded and hosted by one of the agencies on rotation) addressed tenant support and engagement needs and significantly decreased anti-social behaviour on this small estate.

Sadly, all the wonderful work the agencies and the tenants undertook ceased when Covid struck. It was disappointing to see the project come to an abrupt end.

The only way to fix any community needs is in partnership, regardless of the issue. The Main Street small estate is an excellent location for social housing, and we definitely need more social housing on the Mornington Peninsula. It was distressing to read in the following week’s newspaper that the peninsula “records states highest homelessness numbers”. Social housing is the answer and the peninsula historically has had very low housing stock, but for some this housing needs to come with “wrap

around” services and supports for the benefit of the tenants and good outcomes.

An appropriate level of funding of local services needs to be part of all actions to address housing need and housing issues in our area.

Given the current focus on housing shortage, non-affordability and the lack of crisis housing on the Mornington Peninsula let’s hope all of these issues will be addressed in the upcoming expected housing expansion in Australia.

Susan Blackburn, Mornington

Names are important

Since 1975 the world has been warming 0.2C per decade. We are still adding warming emissions. The situation is, dare I say it, an emergency.

Actually, my council, Darebin, was the first government body on the planet to “declare” a climate emergency. I feel that, even two councils later, with a very different council, this preparedness to look the difficult truth in the face, might mean we get better decisions, and useful, practical programs, especially for the most vulnerable residents, who, as we saw during Covid, are often not well looked after by larger jurisdictions.

Like your Hawthorn correspondent, (Climate reversal, Letters 19/8/25) I find it disappointing that a tiny majority of Mornington Peninsula councillors oppose calling the climate emergency by its name.

The backers of not naming the emergency, while protesting that “it’s not denial”, are prac-

Mornington Peninsula Shire seeks new members to join Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders (PACE).

PACE is a community advisory committee whose purpose is to advocate, advise and make recommendations to Council on creating age friendly communities for older people on the Peninsula.

ticing what is now called “soft climate denial”, the practice of failing to translate “acceptance” into appropriate action - such as naming the situation honestly.

Naming things helps us understand. Why wouldn’t you do it?

Lesley Walker, Northcote

Ditched plan

It is good to see that the council- inspired “climate emergency” on the peninsula, regarded by most as a joke, has been ditched (Councillor flags new climate plan after “emergency ditched, The News 19/8/25).

By all means debate grandiose plans and have good intentions but realise that things like net zero emissions by a particular year are naive silliness, unachievable, at best a crooked accountants trickery.

Why, the very best way to substantially reduce carbon emissions is to get rid of the millions of tourists and their cars which saturate the peninsula with carbon dioxide and other pollutants every year.

Council needs to spend a lot of money on mitigating the effects of the changing climate, like storm damage and repair and better storm water drainage.

But council, and others, must realise that planetary warming has happened before, in recent history.

Around the years 1000 to about 1300 the earth was apparently warmer than now, followed by a long very cold snap until 1850 when it naturally started to warm again.

I believe there is no “normal” temperature and variations in the output of the sun causes temperature changes and carbon dioxide changes on earth.

All plant life would benefit from a little more CO2 right now.

Council, with limited funds including my hard earned rates dollars, must be very practical and disciplined in how they spend it.

There are pressing, desperate needs on the peninsula, constituting an emergency, right now.

People are unable to hold, or get, a job because they are sleeping in their car, parked anywhere, no shower, no toilet, can’t cook anything.

Homeless mothers and children living in a car, parked anywhere.

The list is long.

Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington

Flying the flag

It is satisfying to read that our council has made yet another decision that conforms with community expectations in it’s revision of the rules for flying the flag. There has only ever been one flag that unites us and that is the official Australian flag be it either on a blue or red background.

The other intrusions that we never asked for have only served to divide us.

The work of local community groups Repower, and Flinders Zero Carbon Community, helping residents to make the switch, is to be celebrated.

The Council must get behind them if it is genuine about climate action.

John Godfrey, Cape Paterson

Wrong path

How wonderful to see the historic shire offices in Dromana, preserved and re-purposed as a community facility.

They are constantly utilised by our community as a meeting place, every week hosting clubs and organisations for us all.

And the building is still preserved, recognisable as the offices I visited over fifty years ago.

They are listed on the Mornington Peninsula Heritage Overlay, prepared and published by our Council back in 1992.

So, how disappointing to see our council, recognising that path repairs are necessary, decide to install a modern concrete path.

This path laughs at the heritage overlay, and clashes dismally with the brick paths adjoining, that serve the balance of the site.

Civic pride and history have clearly played no part in this decision. This is a tragic mistake, that destroys the historic ambience of the site.

A shameful decision, that could have been avoided with just a little competent consideration.

Mike Wilton, Safety Beach

Cutting Costs

Got my “Propaganda Peninsula Wide” the other day in my letter box. Fortunately it was the day the bins were emptied so I only had to walk five steps to bin it.

The shire in its Trumpian wisdom is going to fire people in the spirit of cost reduction. Doubt that the bloated department that produces Peninsula Wide will suffer much.

They continue to publish it, costing an estimated $2.5m when all costs are included with support staff, functions and other overheads are allocated properly. Would love to debate this one but it is impossible to get full disclosure data on the costs.

It’s a lot of money to spend so the councillors and officers can blow their own trumpet.

The non-resident paid parking with a potential raw income of $62,268,540 is looking better and better. An issue I am willing to debate being as the shires estimates do not even consider the number of days non-resident cars are on the peninsula.

Like in the USA, We are getting what we voted for!

It is time for the councillors to stop picking the low hanging fruit and get to the root problems. Have to wonder if they are financially competent to do the job?

Do something! Get off your backside and contact your councillor and tell them it is not on. Silence is consent.

in making the Peninsula a place

PACE membership criteria:

• Be over 50 years of age

• Live full-time or part-time on the Peninsula

• Have an interest in ageing well.

How to submit your interest

Submit the form before 8 September. Visit our website or scan the QR code. mornpen.vic.gov.au/PACE-EOI25

Hard copy forms are available upon request at our Customer Service Centres.

Questions? Contact the Shire: 5950 1733 positiveageing@mornpen.vic.gov.au

If the supporters of these other flags are so serious about their concerns for the welfare of the people that they represent, then let them go and spend time in some outback aboriginal community and provide some practical help rather than lecturing the rest of us of our so called obligations to these over-funded organizations.

Barry Rumpf, McCrae

Community electrification

Greg Holland, chair of the Peninsula Climate Alliance, is right – the Mornington Peninsula Climate Resilience Plan is flawed because it does not have emissions reduction, particularly community emissions reduction, at its heart (Councillor flags new climate plan after ‘emergency’ ditched, The News 21/8/25).

And to be successful, climate plans need community input and community ownership.

Building on the Shire’s 2018 Climate Change Community Engagement Strategy, the 2020 Climate Emergency Plan had it in spades and even won the Cities Power Partnership Award in the Ambition category in 2021.

It’s clear by looking at the publicly available Ironbark Sustainability Snapshot tool at tinyurl.com/MPEmissions that electrification is the key to reducing the shire’s community emissions.

Replacing gas hot water and space heating with heat pumps, installing solar panels and switching to EVs will have the greatest effect.

Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach

23 Bayview Avenue, Rosebud .

On 1,343 sqm approx. in bushlike surrounds, this ‘better than new’ 5 bedroom + study 3.5 bathroom contemporary sensation is designed for inter-generational living and a love for entertaining. Metres to the Waterfall Gully shops, this energy efficient home has 3 distinct living zones – one for grandparents, one for entertaining overlooking the beautiful heated pool; and one for private family living upstairs, plus undercover parking for 4.

belleproperty.com

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Brand new taking in the breathtaking bay With only views of the trees between you and the Eastern Lighthouse at McCrae Beach, this spectacular new 3 bedroom 2 bathroom Hamptons style sensation is the entertainer for all seasons. Nestled in the hills near Arthurs Seat, this beautiful home has huge picture windows, 2 north facing living zones, an impressive kitchen, 3 decks and 1,696sqm approx. of garden to create the ultimate sanctuary.

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HOME ESSENTIALS

Welcoming laid-back entertaining thanks to a series of interconnecting decks, the spacious layout brings families together across two dedicated living zones, an open meals area, and a centralised kitchen with high-grade appliances, stone benchtops, and sensational storage options. The glow of a gas fireplace beautifully complements the richness of engineered timber floors and soaring ceiling heights, creating an

ambience that remains enchanting even in the cooler months.

Positioned at the rear for optimal seclusion, the stylish three-bedroom, one-bathroom layout offers a solid foundation for families to grow, while preliminary plans for a master ensuite provides an enticing future option to add value and convenience. Featuring ducted heating and cooling,

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custom window furnishings throughout, feature pendant lighting, custom barn doors, an alarm system, and double carport, enjoy the luxury of high quality craftsmanship with the beauty of beachside living.

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The Guide

TOP PICKS OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

FRIDAY THE GOOD SHIP MURDER

SBS, 7.30pm

Sun, fun and presumably an unlimited drinks package –it’s no surprise that the luxury cruise ship setting of this cosy crime series provides a rather fertile hunting ground for a pair of pickpockets in tonight’s episode. Relieving no less than 20 passengers of their precious possessions, the enterprising duo then sell the loot on to an associate in Alexandria. Former-cop-turned-cabaret singer Jack (Shayne Ward, pictured left) is tasked with tracking down the thieves, but soon has a murder investigation on his hands when one of the bandits is killed.

MOVIE: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S CROOKED HOUSE

SBS WORLD MOVIES, 6.25pm, PG (2017)

This dark-tinged Agatha Christie whodunnit is a solid entry in the overstuffed murder-mystery genre, and this adaptation (co-written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes) has enough intrigue and twists to satisfy devotees of the queen of crime. A wealthy tycoon (Gino Picciano) is poisoned at his estate, and a detective (Max Irons) is invited to solve the crime, only to discover that suspects lurk in every corner. It co-stars Glenn Close (pictured right).

Thursday, August 28

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

MONDAY

ROBSON

GREEN’S WEEKEND ESCAPES

SBS, 7.30pm

Grantchester star Robson Green (pictured right) may not have a typical nine-to-five job, but the British actor staunchly believes in the power of a weekend. In tonight’s return, Green invites his on-screen wife, Kacey Ainsworth, for a staycation in his beloved North East England, where the pair take a bracing cold-water swim in the River Tyne.

SUNDAY

MOVIE: PHANTOM THREAD

SBS WORLD MOVIES, 8.30pm (2017)

Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson reunites with his There Will be Blood star Daniel Day-Lewis (pictured left) for another masterpiece: an absorbing and at-times chilling study of a brilliant London dressmaker. The creations of Reynolds Woodcock (Day-Lewis) are the toast of 1950s London, though their designer’s charming exterior hides a cold and controlling man. Reynolds’ meticulously ordered life is disrupted when he falls for strong-willed waitress Alma (Vicky Krieps). With both determined to be the dominant one in their turbulent relationship, the outcome is both unexpected and oddly tender. Day-Lewis is formidable as usual, matched by a spellbinding Krieps. It’s an exquisite piece of cinematic craftsmanship.

SEVEN (7)

NINE (9) 6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 10.30 Back Roads. (R) 11.00 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R) 11.35 Nigella Bites. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Silent Witness. (Ma, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 2.55 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

7.30. 8.00 Back Roads: Harvey, WA. 8.30 Grand Designs New Zealand. (Return, PG) Hosted by Tom Webster.

The Family Next Door. (Mls, R) Isabelle’s investigation zones in on Lulu.

ABC Late News. 10.25 The Business. (R) 10.40 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 11.30 Parliament Question Time. 12.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Morning Programs. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.15 Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out. (R) 11.05 America’s Great Trails. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces. (PGav, R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. 3.25 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 5. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Australian Road Trips. (PG)

8.25 National Parks From Above: Ireland. Showcases the beauty of Ireland from the skies.

9.20 Snowpiercer. (MA15+sv) Melanie stages the trial of the Snowpiercer killer.

10.15 SBS World News Late.

10.45 Dopesick. (MA15+ad, R) 11.55 Blue Lights. (Malsv, R) 1.55 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (PGa, R) 3.55 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (R) 4.25 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (PG, R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Secrets Of A Marine’s Wife. (2021, Mav, R) Sadie Calvano. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Legends Game For Prostate Cancer. Victoria v The All-Stars.

10.00 Kick Ons. A preview of the upcoming AFL matches.

10.30 What The Killer Did Next: Megan Newton. (Mav, R) Hosted by Philip Glenister.

11.30 Autopsy USA: Chris Benoit. (MA15+adv, R) A look at the death of Chris Benoit.

12.30 Life. (Madv, R)

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning.

The Block. (PGl, R)

Space Invaders. (PGl, R)

Pointless. (PG)

Tipping Point. (PG)

9News Afternoon.

Tipping Point Australia.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 RBT. (Mdl)

8.30 Emergency. (Mlm, R) Doctors fear a cyclist has life-changing injuries.

9.30 RPA. (PGm, R) A man is in need of a liver transplant.

10.30 Chicago Med. (MA15+am)

11.20 9News Late.

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa)

TEN (10)

Robson Green prepares for more Weekend Escapes

Friday, August 29

6.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Sophie Thomson visits a cooling urban oasis.

8.30 Professor T. (Ma) Professor T is embroiled in a hostage situation, and tries unconventional negotiating tactics.

9.15 Hard Quiz. (PGs, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.

9.45 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R) Hosted by Shaun Micallef. 10.20 ABC Late News.

10.40 Austin. (PG, R)

11.10 Silent Witness. (Mav, R)

12.10 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Good Ship Murder. (PGv) 8.25 24 Hours That Changed The World: Japan’s Surrender. Looks at the war in the Pacific. 9.20 Lost Treasures Of Egypt: Pyramid Palace. (Premiere) 10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Catch Me A Killer. (Malsv) 11.35 Pray For Blood. (MA15+av, R) 1.30 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (Mav, R) 3.30 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (PGa, R) 4.25 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS

(31) 6am Children’s Programs. 11.55 Thomas And Friends. 12.55pm Mecha Builders. 2.15 Thomas And Friends. 2.40 Pop Paper City. 3.00 Play School. 4.05 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.25 Mecha Builders. 5.20 Thomas And Friends. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 7.30 Good Game Spawn Point. 8.00 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 8.30 MythBusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Johanna Griggs explores Wynnum and Manly. 8.30 MOVIE: Downton Abbey. (2019, PGa, R) The Crawley family deals with all the drama of a visit by King George V and Queen Mary. Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville.

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.25 Touching Evil. (MA15+av)

1.25 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

6am

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 26. Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters. From AAMI Park, Melbourne. 9.55 Golden Point. A wrap-up of the Melbourne Storm versus Sydney Roosters match, with news and analysis.

10.45 MOVIE: Rush Hour 2. (2001, Mlsv, R) Two detectives investigate a double murder. Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker. 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) A couple disagree on whether to leave Coburg North. 8.30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Ml, R)

Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard. Continued. (2009, PG) 7.30 The Movie Show. 8.05 Francis: Pray For Me. (2015, PG, Spanish) 10.00 Triangle Of Sadness. (2022, M) 12.35pm Argo. (2012, M) 3.00

The Personal History Of David Copperfield. (2019, PG) 5.10 The Movie Show. 5.45 The Man Who Knew Too Little. (1997, PG) 7.30 Chino. (1973, M) 9.20 The Sweeney. (2012, MA15+) 11.25 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 7.50 Motown Magic. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 10.00 Guardians Of The Wild. 11.00 Going Places. 12.10pm Nothing Compares: Sinead O’Connor. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. 7.30 MOVIE: Charlotte’s Web. (2006, PG) 9.20 MOVIE: Boomerang. (1992, M) 11.20 Late Programs. NITV (34)

Saturday, August 30

TV (2)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Beyond Paradise. (Ma, R) 1.30 Professor T. (Ma, R) 2.15 All Creatures Great And Small. (PG, R) 3.00 Great Southern Landscapes. (Final, PG, R) 3.30 Killer Whale: Australia’s Megapod. (R) 4.30 Would I Lie To You? (R) 5.00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery. (PG, R) 5.30 Landline. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 7. Highlights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 Blue Water Safari. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 2002 World Cup: Seven Games From Glory. (Premiere) 4.20 Plat Du Tour. (R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 7. Highlights. 5.30 SBS50. (R) 5.35 Hitler: A Life In Pictures. (PGa, R)

6.00 Australian Story: Small Wonders – Eden Tiny House Project. (R) Takes a look at an offer made for a tiny home.

6.30 Back Roads: Harvey, WA. (R) Lisa Millar visits the town of Harvey, WA.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Beyond Paradise. (PGa, R) Humphrey investigates a strange case.

8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) Barnaby and Winter investigate when a killer strikes during a murder mystery weekend.

10.00 The Family Next Door. (Mls, R) Isabelle’s investigation zones in on Lulu.

10.55 I, Jack Wright. (Mlv, R) 11.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys. (Premiere) 8.30 Leonardo Da Vinci: Painter–God Pt 2. (PGadn) Da Vinci pours his knowledge into a portrait. 9.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy: London. (R)

10.20 Great Australian Walks. (PGa, R) 11.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Ma, R) 2.35 SBS50. (PG, R) 2.40 Australia With Julia Bradbury. (R) 3.40 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (PGaw, R) 4.10 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Caulfield Spring Opener and ClubsNSW West Metro San Domenico Stakes Day. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Great Outdoors. (PG) The team enjoys the Pacific Island of Palau. 7.30 MOVIE: Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. (2017, PGlsv, R) Four teenagers become trapped in a jungle-based video game as the playable characters. Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson. 10.00 MOVIE: Jumanji: The Next Level. (2019, PGlv, R) A group of friends re-enters a video game. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart. 12.30 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv, R) 1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Drive TV: Launch Pad. (PG) 12.30 Space Invaders. (PGl, R) 1.30 My Way. (R) 1.35 The Block. (PGl, R)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 26. North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos.

9.30 Soccer. English Premier League. Matchweek 3. Chelsea v Fulham.

11.30 Law & Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av, R)

12.30 Australia’s Top Ten Of Everything. (PG, R)

1.30 The Garden Gurus. (R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Rugby Union. Women’s Rugby World Cup. Pool A. USA v Aust. From York Community Stadium, York, England.

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. Sisters are desperate to sell their childhood home.

8.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) The low blood sugar levels of a 23-year-old type-1 diabetic have led to a dangerous seizure.

9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows.

10.30 Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service. (PGl, R)

11.30 FBI: International. (Masv, R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

5.00 Hour Of Power.

Sunday, August 31

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 Australian Service In The Malayan Emergency: 75th Anniversary. 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 David Attenborough’s Galapagos. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs New Zealand. (PG, R) 4.10 Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Pacific. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.

6.00 First Communion. (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Austin. (PG) Austin appears on a controversial podcast.

8.00 The Family Next Door. (Ml) Fran struggles with her husband’s depression.

8.50 I, Jack Wright. (Mlv) The Wrights recover from Jack’s bombshell will.

9.35 MOVIE: BMX Bandits. (1983, PG, R) BMX riders become mixed up with bank robbers. Nicole Kidman, David Argue.

11.05 Take 5 With Zan Rowe. (Final, Ml, R) 11.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R) 3.30 The Art Of... (Malns) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 8. Highlights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 Blue Water Safari. (Ma, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 8. Highlights. 5.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 5.35 Hitler: A Life In Pictures. (PGa, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Titanic: Our Secret History. (PGa)

8.25 Titanic In Colour. (R) Charts the history of the RMS Titanic

9.20 Monster: The Mystery Of Loch Ness: The Birth Of A Monster. (R) Explores the mystery of the Loch Ness monster.

10.20 The U.S. And The Holocaust. (Mav, R)

12.50 Surviving An American Concentration Camp. (Ma, R) 1.55 Miscarriage And Me. (Mal, R) 2.45 Australia With Julia Bradbury. (PG, R) 3.45 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (PGa, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 APAC Weekly.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3.30pm Superworm. 3.55 Odd Squad. 4.20 Millie Magnificent. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 The Snail And The Whale. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.30 Paddington. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show. 7.35 The Mysterious Benedict Society. 8.25 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.10 Abbott Elementary. 9.50 Speechless. 10.10 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Behind Behani. (PGal, R) 1.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 3. Collingwood v Melbourne. 3.00 Football. AFL Women’s. Round 3. Fremantle v North Melbourne. From Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Perth. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Voice. (PGal) Hosted by Sonia Kruger.

8.25 7NEWS Spotlight.

9.30 24 Hours In Police Custody: Left For Dead. (Madl, R) Follows officers of England’s Cambridgeshire Constabulary as they investigate a suspicious death.

10.30 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous: The Kimberley Killer. (Mav, R)

11.30 HMP Styal: Women Behind Bars. (MA15+av, R)

12.45 Jamestown. (MA15+av)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Rugby

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 The Block. (PGl) The teams find out who wins $10,000.

8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.40 9News Late.

10.10 Footy Furnace. (Mlv) A look at the latest round of the AFL.

11.10 The First 48: Inside The Tape Special #9. (MA15+a, R)

12.05 The Gulf. (Madlsv, R)

1.00 Our State On A Plate. (Return)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Fishing Australia. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Survivor: Australia V The World. (PGl) Fourteen returning contestants head to Samoa. 8.30 Watson. (Ma) The team helps a woman whose memory resets every three minutes as Watson struggles with auditory hallucinations and questions whether someone is behind his current decline. 9.30 FBI. (Mv, R) When a bombing at a local restaurant leaves several injured or dead, the team races to apprehend the suspect. 11.30 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am

Programs. 2pm Jeopardy! 4.05 WorldWatch. 4.35

PBS Washington Week. 5.00 Kars & Stars. 5.50 Alone Sweden. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.25

Cursed Gold: A Shipwreck Scandal. 9.20 Great Australian Road Trips. 10.20 Rock Legends: Elton John. 10.50 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 9. 1.50am Alone: The Skills Challenge. 2.15 Letterkenny. 4.00 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

8. St Mary’s v Darwin Buffaloes. Replay. 2.40 Stable: The Boxing Game. 3.40 Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. 7.30 Extraordinary Animals. 8.30 Camels And The Pitjantjara. 9.25 MOVIE: Along Came A Spider. (2001, MA15+) 11.15 Late Programs.

Manganinnie. Continued. (1980, PG) 6.50 Agatha Christie’s Crooked House. (2017, PG) 9.00 The Man Who Knew Too Little. (1997, PG) 10.45 The Perfect Dinner. (2022, M, Italian, Neapolitan, English) 12.40pm Nowhere Special. (2020, M) 2.30 Whina. (2022, PG, Maori, English) 4.30 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PG) 6.15 Lucky You. (2007, PG) 8.30 Phantom Thread. (2017) 11.00 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.20pm Football. NTFL. Men’s. Under 18s. Round

Monday, September 1

9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Teenage Boss. (R) 10.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 2.55 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. 8.00 Australian Story. 8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program. 9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Paul Barry. 9.35 Planet America. 10.05 ABC Late

Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

7TWO (72)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Harry’s Practice. 10.30 Escape To The Country. 1.30pm The Real Seachange. 2.00 Harry’s Practice. 2.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 3.00 Your Money & Your Life. 3.30 Animal Rescue. 4.00 Escape To The Country. 7.00 Greatest Escapes To The Country. 7.45 Mrs Brown’s Boys. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Manhunt: The Night Stalker. 11.30 Late Programs.

9GEM (92)

6am Morning Programs.

1.45pm Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 9. Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bulldogs. 3.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 26. Dolphins v Gold Coast Titans. 6.00 Rugby League. NRL Women’s Premiership. Round 9. Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels. 8.00 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: The Sentinel. (2006, M) 10.45 Late Programs.

6am Children’s Programs. 8.00 Allo! Allo! 9.00 Soccer. English Premier League. Matchweek 3. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton. 11.00 Tennis. US Open. Day 7 Late. 3pm Big Rigz Of Oz. (Premiere) 3.30 Project Impossible. 4.30 Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience. 5.30 MOVIE: Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past. (2009, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: We’re The Millers. (2013, M) 9.35 MOVIE: Horrible Bosses. (2011, MA15+) 11.35 Late Programs. 6am Sydney Marathon. Coverage of the Sydney Marathon. 10.00 Counting Cars. 10.30

6.00 Morning Programs. 8.30 WorldWatch. 10.15 Susan Calman’s Grand Week By The Sea. (R) 11.05 Scotland: Ocean Nation. (Premiere) 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 World’s Most Scenic River Journeys. (R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. (PG) 3.25 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 9. Highlights.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (Return) 8.35 Abandoned Railways From Above: Scotland. (PG, R)

9.30 Moulin Rouge: Yes We Can-Can! (Mn, R)

10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Classified. (Malsv) 11.50 Tokyo Vice. (Malsv, R) 1.50 Blackport. (Mls, R) 2.45 World’s Most Amazing Festivals. (PGa, R) 3.20 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (R) 4.15 J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (PG, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.25 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Theo stands his ground. 7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (Return, PGal) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. 9.20 The Rookie. (Mav) Ahead of Nune’s return home, Nolan looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler.

10.20 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.20 S.W.A.T. (Mv) Yakuza assassins descend on LA.

12.20 Hooten & The Lady. (Mav)

1.20 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.30 Young Sheldon. (PGa, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams work on their rumpus rooms.

8.45 Footy Classified. (Ml) A team of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

9.45 Players. (Ml) A look at all the AFL news.

10.45 9News Late.

11.15 Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip: Queen Of Gems. (PGlv)

12.10 100% Footy. (M)

1.05 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today. 6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 Survivor: Australia V The World. (PGl) Fourteen returning contestants head to Samoa. 8.40 Have You Been Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 Aaron Chen Comedy Special. (PGal, R) Aaron Chen performs stand-up comedy. 10.40 10’s Late News. 11.05 10 News+. (R)

That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Music Videos That Defined The 2000s. 9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. 10.10 Big Backyard Quiz. 11.10 Forged In Fire. 12.50am Where Are You Really From? 1.20 PEN15. 3.20 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.15pm Thomas And Friends. 2.40 Pop Paper City. 3.00 Play School. 4.10 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.25 Mecha Builders. 5.20 Mojo Swoptops. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Dr Ann’s Secret Lives. 8.40 Contraption Masters. 9.25 The Crystal Maze. 10.15 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Anton Chekhov’s The Duel. Continued. (2010, PG) 7.25 The Movie Show. 7.55 Lucky You. (2007, PG) 10.15 Kompromat. (2022, M, French, Russian) 12.35pm Hive. (2021, M, Albanian) 2.10 Manganinnie. (1980, PG) 3.50 Where Is Anne Frank. (2021, PG) 5.40 Finding You. (2020, PG) 7.55 The Unknown Country. (2022, PG) 9.30 Parallel Mothers. (2021, M, Spanish) 11.45 Late Programs.

Tuesday, September 2

ABC (2)

6.00 News. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Australian Story. (R) 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.00 First Communion. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 I, Jack Wright. (Mlv, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.05 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 9.05 Short History Of The English Garden. (R) 10.05 Susan Calman’s Grand Week By The Sea. (PG, R) 10.55 Scotland: Ocean Nation. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 World’s Most Scenic River Journeys. (R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. (PG) 3.25 Plat Du Tour. (PG, R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Every Family Has A Secret. (PGa, R) 5.05

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

Correspondent. International affairs program.

8.30 Inside Our Minds: Inside Our ADHD Minds. (Premiere, PG) Chris Packham meets two people with ADHD. 10.30 Mental Wealth. (PGa) 11.20 ABC Late News. 11.35 The Business. (R) 11.50 Four Corners. (R) 12.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.55 Hawke: The Larrikin And The Leader. (MA15+l, R) 1.55 Parliament Question Time. 2.50 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys: Brest To St Brieuc/ Rennes To Mont Saint-Michel. (PG)

8.30 Insight. Explores the way young people are embracing spirituality.

9.30 Dateline: India’s Virginity Test. An investigation into virginity “tests”.

10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Secret World Of Snacks. (PGas, R)

11.25 The Cranes Call. (Premiere, Malv)

1.05 New York Super Airport. (R) 3.55 World’s Most Amazing Festivals. (R) 4.30

J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.15pm Thomas And Friends. 2.40 Pop Paper City. 3.00 Play School. 4.10 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.25 Mecha Builders. 5.20 Mojo Swoptops. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.40 Deadly 60. 9.10 Expedition With Steve Backshall. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs.

6.40

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6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Dana gains more insight on her man.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGal) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.

9.05 Grosse Pointe Garden Society. (Premiere, M) Four members of a suburban garden club find their lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and a shared secret.

10.05 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.05 Tik Tok: Murders Gone Viral: The Mother And Daughter Killers. (Mav, R)

12.05 Fairly Legal. (Mav, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

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6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams struggle to finish their spa rooms.

8.40 Paramedics. (Mlm) Aaron and Laura rush to a young mother who is bleeding heavily from cervical cancer.

9.40 Footy Classified. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 La Brea. (Mav, R)

12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Let’s Eat With George. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

(10)

6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 Survivor: Australia V The World. (PGl) Fourteen returning contestants head to Samoa. 8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take a look at the week that was. 9.40 FBI: Most Wanted. (Return, MA15+a) The team investigates a string of gruesome killings. 10.40 10’s Late News. 11.05 10 News+. (R) 12.05 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am The

6am Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar

7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Hoarders. 10.20 The Day The Rock Star Died. 10.50 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 10. 1.50am Bamay. 2.10 Dark Side Of The 2000s. 3.50 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

Movie Show. 6.35 Whina. (2022, PG, Maori, English) 8.40 The Unknown Country. (2022, PG) 10.20 Phantom Thread. (2017) 12.55pm Today We Fix The World. (2022, M, Spanish) 3.00 The Movie Show. 3.35 Anton Chekhov’s The Duel. (2010, PG) 5.25 Mr Blake At Your Service! (2023, PG, French) 7.30 The Big Short. (2015, M) 9.55 Official Competition. (2021, M, Spanish) Midnight Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Karla Grant Presents. 11.30 MOVIE: In The Zone. (2018, PG) 2pm Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.45 Ocean Parks. 7.35 Ice Vikings. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding Australia. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Hunting Aotearoa. 10.30 MOVIE: The Dark Horse. (2014, M) 12.40am Late Programs. NITV (34)

Wednesday, September 3

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 11.05 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.05 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Highlights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.05 Susan Calman’s Grand Week By The Sea. (PG, R) 10.55 Scotland: Ocean Nation. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour. La Vuelta. Stage 10. Highlights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.35 Motorbike Cops. (PGl, R) 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (l, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 James May: Our Man In India. (Return) 8.30 DNA Journey: John Bishop And Hugh Bonneville. (Ml) Hugh Bonneville and John Bishop go on a road trip.

9.35 Smilla’s Sense Of Snow. (M) Smilla and Tork confront a chilling truth.

10.40 SBS World News Late.

11.10 COBRA. (Return, Mal)

R) 11.45 Parliament Question Time. 12.45 Grand Designs. (R) 1.35 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 2.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

12.00 Vigil. (Mav, R) 2.15 World’s Most Amazing Festivals. (PGaw, R) 2.50 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (PGaw, R) 3.45 Hugh’s Wild West. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGa) Sonny and Eden manage cyclone Remi.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGal) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.

9.10 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL.

10.10 Unfiltered. (PGa) Hosted by Hamish McLachlan.

10.55 Why Ships Crash. (PGa, R) A look at the Suez Canal blockage. 12.15 Imposters. (Madlv, R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.00 Paramedics. (Mlm, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 The Block. (PGl) A team wins a $260,000 caravan.

8.40 Clarkson’s Farm: Healing. (Ml) Jeremy Clarkson takes on multiple projects.

9.50 The Grand Tour. (Ml) The boys take a trip to Mozambique.

11.10 9News Late.

11.40 Damian Lewis: Spy Wars. (Mv, R) 12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.20 Garden Gurus Moments. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGa) Graeme heads to the outback to help a DJ. 8.30 Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service. (PGal) Gordon Ramsay investigates a barbecue joint with an overwhelmed and inexperienced owner. 9.30

PUZZLE ZONE

ACROSS

1. Fine display

7. Internally

8. As a result

10. German cabbage dish

12. Body preserver

14. Solid

16. Gated canal section

17. Overly precise 20. Field glasses

Gush

Offal

Sacred poem DOWN

For some time

Curved lines

AM, ... meridiem

Songbirds

Perfectionists

Method

Too soon

Vulgar comment

THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

13. December 31, New Year’s

15. Scalp strands 16. Hit ball high 18. Tribal convention 19. Atlantic or Pacific

Recline lazily

Mineral springs

It’s Official! I Am Out of Touch

DO you ever feel like you missed a meeting?

Or that everyone knows something that you don’t and that you’re mere moments away from having hoards of strangers turn and point at you while laughing maniacally? Do you find yourself scratching your head and any other body part that might be readily available at the time because you’ve no idea what others are talking about?

Congratulations - you may be out of touch.

I have always considered myself to be ‘in touch’. This is something I achieved by watching the news, reading the newspaper and maintaining a general interest in world affairs. I cultivated an interest in the arts by carefully clipping out the EON FM singles and albums chart from the paper before memorizing the various chart positions, taking special care to note the big moves up or down. I read a lot of books, collected rocks and made sure to either leave my room or stick my head out the window at least twice a day. It has all been for nought.

For despite my best efforts, I have come to learn that none of these things is considered valuable anymore. News involves reporting of the facts, and ‘the facts’ have been subjected to a hostile takeover by opinion. And by ‘opinion’, I’m not referring to a point of view but an orange-faced, high volume, steam-roller of words blasted out in anger. It’s the kind of pointless noise that causes flocks of birds to suddenly take fright and fly away and fearful parents to cover the eyes of their children.

There’s no better example, perhaps, than the Bloviator In Chief who, I feel, has done more than anyone to devalue the value of truth. There’s no agreed set of facts from which we can all work. Evidence is optional. Everything’s up for grabs. Anything’s disputable. Nothing, it seems, is certain.

Music was once all consuming. The bands you liked and the singers you worshipped defined who you were as a person. You wrote their names on your pencil case so the world knew who, precisely,

it was dealing with. Not anymore. Now I regularly encounter people who say things like ‘I’m not really that into music’. I find this staggering. I fear that today’s students write the names of podcasters and influencers on their pencil cases, declaring their allegiance to people who simply don’t deserve it.

Realising that I was out of touch was something of a revelation. It came as all the young people in my life gawked at me, open mouthed in astonishment, when I said I had no idea who or, indeed,

what ‘JoJo Siwa’ is. The answer, according to Wikipedia, is that JoJo Siwa is a ‘singer, dancer, actress and media personality.’ It was ironic that I hadn’t heard of her, given that I have the very same description on my résumé. Then I was then forced to listen to the song ‘Karma’, an event for which my ears are yet to forgive me. Indeed, while listening to ‘Karma’ I could not help but think that I was experiencing some act of karmic retribution for a past sin like the time I put twenty cent pieces on top of the Coonara woodfire

See page 31 for solutions.

heater and invited my youngest brother to help himself. This is where it gets confusing.

The kids also thought the song was bad, but they referenced it constantly, singing it everywhere from the kitchen table to the front door and back again. They seemed to both revel in making fun of her while simultaneously being fans. There’s a duality to their fandom that I just can’t get. It’s both devotional and critical at the same time. Things have changed.

Then there’s YouTube in general. When I was a kid, every night followed a strict pattern – news at six followed by A Current Affair with a Sale of the Century chaser. I’m not sure the kids I know are aware that free to air television even exists. Everything is streamed, mostly from YouTube. And this content comes not from trained professionals but from something called ‘YouTubers’. Oftentimes, the videos these YouTubers post involve them either playing video games or making fun of something or someone else. I find it largely insufferable. Falling out of touch is not something that’s happened all at once but, rather, forms part of a long, slow downward trajectory. I could try and resist by having a full-blown midlife crisis but, instead, I feel more inclined to surrender. I am out of touch and proud of it. So, if you see me, don’t start talking about your favourite influencer unless you’re prepared to have me stare back at you blankly as though you were talking gibberish. Which you probably are. Don’t expect anything more than a shrug of the shoulders and, possibly, a cavernous yawn when you mention what’s trending on TikTok right now. I just don’t care. At least when Darryl Hall and John Oates were out of touch, they had a great song and a massive drumkit to console themselves. I simply have to accept it. And I do. I still like to watch the news. And, sometimes, I watch free to air television. And I still love music, JoJo Siwa excepted. stuart@stuartmccullough.com

Ranelagh at Frankston - First meeting

Compiled by Cameron McCullough

THE first general meeting of the new Ranelagh Club at Frankston (Mornington Road) was held last week in the lounge at Scott’s. Hotel, Melbourne, for the purpose of directing the incorporation of the club under the provisions of the Companies Acts.

As indicative of the intended spirit of this club, afternoon tea was served at the same time as the business of the meetings was being conducted.

Brigadier-General Blamey was in the chair. It was decided that at the present stage no appointment would be made to the offices of patron, president or vice-presidents, but that such be left in the hands of the committee.

The following were elected to be the first committee: G. S. Anderson, Dr. W. L. Armstrong, S. B. Bagley, E. L. G. Creswell, A. C. Dredge, W. J. Foster, Dr. B. Foster, R. G. Menzies, Dr. N. Morris, J. W. McComas, P. M. Newton, P. W. Powell, P. Sandral, J. E. Taylor and K. Tolhurst; hon. secretary, W. McC, Howitt; hon. treas., W. J. Daish.

It was explained that the golf links are complete except for the bunkering, and it is expected to be playable before the end of the year; that 13 grass tennis courts are under construction, and nearing completion, and that the guest house may be expected to be in commission for the coming season.

Some riding hacks and about a dozen ponies had already been sent to the club. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission was at present engaged in laying a water main into Rannoch Avenue.

Several houses were in course of

construction, and many members had signified their intention of commencing building within the next month or so. It was announced that over 200 members have been already enrolled.

***

AT the invitation of Mr. and Mrs W. S. McCarthy, of the Bay View Hotel, the Frankston Football Club was entertained at a dinner on Tuesday evening last.

A good number of the members of the club accepted the invitation, and had a most enjoyable time.

The dinner was beautifully laid out, and served in the hostess’s best style, the colors of the club being prominent.

The guests were given a musical treat by tunes from the gramophone, while enjoying the good things provided at the supper table.

After the guests had satisfied the wants of the inner-man, a number of toasts were proposed and enthusiastically responded to, including the “President of the Club” (Cr. McCulloch); “Secretary” (Mr. J. Broomhead); “Treasurer” (Mr. C. Willox); “The Association,” “Kindred Clubs,” “Host and Hostess,” “The Waitresses,” and “The Press.”

During the evening a gold medal was presented to Max Croft, one of the young players of the season, who had shown marked improvement in his play as the season advanced.

Mr. Broomhead, the secretary of the club, announced that the promise given to the players earlier in the year of giving them a trip at the end of the season, had not been overlooked, and it only remained for them to decide the locality where they would like to

go. It was eventually carried that a trip round the peninsula would prove the most enjoyable. It was therefore decided to carry out the wishes of the majority, the date to be fixed later on.

Auld Lang Syne was then sung in good old-fashioned style, and the company dispersed, after having one of the most enjoyable evenings on record.

***

Flinders Federal Electorate – The Prime Minister’s Tour

Early in September the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce, P.C.) will visit a number of important centres in his own electorate, paying special attention to the districts of Koo-wee-rup and Wonthaggi.

On Monday, 7th September, Mr. Bruce will motor from Frankston to Koo-wee-rup, spending some little time on route at Pearcedale, where he will meet the local residents.

Early in the afternoon he will address a public meeting at this great industrial centre.

Next day the Prime Minister will spend some hours meeting the electors in and around the town. In the afternoon he proceeds to Glen Alvie, and subsequently to Loch, where he will address a public meeting and spend the night.

On Wednesday, 9th September, the Prime Minister will return to Melbourne.

The public meetings at Koo-weerup, Wonthaggi, Glen Alvie, and Loch have been so arranged as to enable the largest possible number of electors, not only to hear the Prime Minister,

but to become personally acquainted with their distinguished member in the House of Representatives.

***

Death Of Mr Sam Pearce

By the death of Mr. Sam Pearce

there passed away a very brilliant young horticulturist. Well versed in every branch of his calling, his opinions were always listened to with interest and respect.

He was a very reliable guide on market values, and an expert judge of quality, a keen buyer and a conscientious salesman to his clients. Having maintained a connection between producer and consumer for many years, his place will be hard to fill.

He passed away at the early age of 36 years, and to him may well be applied the old Grecian proverb: “They whom the gods love die young.”

Some years ago he married a daughter of that fine old Yeoman, Mr. William Hatch. He leaves a widow and two young girls about the school age. ***

SOMERVILLE

The Somerville Dramatic Club gave another of their world-famous three act farces on Tuesday night, when, before a crowded house, “Her Gloves” was staged.

As usual the ability of numerous artists was of a high quality.

The performance of Mr. Frank Maslen being extremely creditable.

The new additions to the Dramatic Club’s ranks made very creditable first appearances.

The attendance was estimated at between 200 and 250, and all appeared satisfied and pleased with the perfor-

mance. The whole staging reflects great credit on the stage manager and secretary, Mr. J. Nairn.

A short dance until midnight was held, and greatly enjoyed by the young people.

***

Personal

The numerous friends of Mr. Jas. Grice, of “Moondah,” Frankston, will regret to learn that for the last ten days he has been seriously ill. He is an inmate of a private hospital in Melbourne.

Frankston Football Club has always been supported by a very strong ladies’ committee.

Perhaps the club among its many fair enthusiasts possesses no more consistent worker than Mrs. Flo Benson.

At the annual ball on Friday night last Mrs. Benson gave valuable assistance.

Owing to an oversight her name was omitted from the list of ladies named as contributing to the success of the evening.

Mr. Peter Patroni, late proprietor of the Pier Hotel, Frankston, left Australia some months ago on a world tour. He writes to the editor of “The Standard” from Rome, stating that having travelled all over Italy, he now intends visiting Switzerland, France and England.

He hopes soon to return to Australia, and wishes to be kindly remembered to all his Frankston friends.

***

From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 28 August 1925

Kangaroos pounce as Tigers miss out on finals

MPFNL

MEN’S DIV ONE

DROMANA have missed finals by percentage after a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Pines on Saturday.

With other results going their way, Dromana only needed to avoid defeat to lock up their finals spot. The Tigers hosted Pines at Dromana Recreation Reserve.

After the Tigers got out to an early lead, Pines struck back and took an 11 point lead into the half time break. The Pythons stretched their lead to 31 by three-quarter-time.

Dromana fought for their lives in the final term, with their finals chances dwindling. The Tigers nearly pulled off a miracle, but just ran out of time.

Dromana was defeated by Pines 15.15 (105) to 16.14 (110). The loss saw Dromana finish sixth.

Cameron Olden did the damage for Pines, booting eight goals in a best-onground display.

The result was a blessing for Mt Eliza, who finished fifth despite a final round defeat to ladder leaders Rosebud. Rosebud beat Mt Eliza 12.11 (83) to 6.17 (53).

Red Hill has had a difficult year, but finished the season on a high note with a thrilling win over Sorrento.

Both sides were evenly matched all day, with the lead swinging back and forth. Sorrento took a one goal lead into the final term.

Two late goals and a behind saw Red Hill sneak ahead in the dying stages. They held on to beat the Sharks 13.9 (87) to 13.8 (86).

Joshua Mold, Patrick MacDonald, Daniel Frampton, Tynan Bressan, and Connor Eardley were Red Hill’s best.

Frankston YCW has momentum on their side after a 30 point win over Edithvale-Aspendale, on Saturday. Langwarrin locked up their finals spot with a comfortable 49 point win over Mornington.

Frankston YCW, in a repeat of this week’s match up, will play EdithvaleAspendale in the qualifying final at RJ Rowley Reserve on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon, Langwarrin plays Mt Eliza in the elimination final at Olympic Park Rosebud.

MEN’S DIV TWO

DEVON Meadows have earned their way through to the next round of finals after a comfortable win over Pearcedale.

Devon Meadows had plenty of chances in the first quarter, but failed to convert them. They went into the first break level.

After the quarter-time break, Devon Meadows piled on eight goals. They held on to their lead for the rest of the day, eventually claiming a 47 point win 13.3 (81) to 18.20 (128).

Luke Daniel put in a great shift for Pearcedale, kicking six goals. James Frawley kicked four goals for Devon Meadows, and Arnold Kirby kicked three in a fantastic display.

Devon Meadows will play Frankston Bombers on Saturday, with the winner

FRANKSTON YCW were too strong for EdithvaleAspendale. They will now meet them again in the first week of finals next week. Picture: Craig Barrett

moving on to the Grand Final. Crib Point Recreation Reserve will host the battle.

Pearcedale will have a chance at redemption on Sunday in the semifinal. They will play Somerville, who scored a thrilling come-from-behind win over Chelsea in the elimination final.

Chelsea looked comfortable at halftime, leading by five goals. Somerville chipped away at the lead, but still trailed by three goals at three-quartertime.

The momentum continued in the final term, with Somerville sneaking ahead. The lead swung back to Chelsea, but two late goals sealed the result for the Eagles.

Somerville moved onto the next round of finals with a stunning 10.13 (73) to 11.15 (81) win.

NEXT WEEK’S GAMES

DIVISION ONE MENS

Saturday 30 August, 2.15pm: Qualifying Final

Frankston YCW v EdithvaleAspendale - RJ Rowley Reserve

Sunday 31 August, 2.15pm: Elimination Final

Langwarrin v Mt Eliza - Olympic Park Rosebud

DIVISION TWO MENS

Saturday 30 August, 2.15pm: Semi Final 2

Frankston Bombers v Devon Meadows - Crib Point Recreation Reserve

Sunday 31 August, 2.15pm: Semi Final 1

Pearcedale v SomervilleBaxter Park

LANGWARRIN locked in an MPFNL men’s Division One finals berth after a win over Mornington. Picture: Paul Churcher

Surfing siblings take on best at Australian Shortboard Titles

RYE teen siblings Lucas and Sara Hickson are set for a thrilling showdown as they represent Victoria to take out national glory at the Australian Shortboard Titles in NSW this week.

It will be a big occasion for the pair as they seek to qualify for the World

Surfing Championships and a place in the Australian National Surfing Team named The Irukandjis.

The event will be held at Wollongong in NSW on the south coastline, from August 26 – 31.

Lucas, 19, and Sara, 17, are feeling pumped about the week ahead.

“It’s my third time doing this com-

petition and I’m excited to represent the Victorian team,” Sara said.

“Hopefully the waves are firing, and I get to make a few heats surfing against some of the best females in the country.”

Lucas said he was “really excited” to travel up the coast.

“It’s a great chance to compete

against some great surfers and push myself. I’m also looking forward to the warmer weather and getting into some warm water for a change - it always makes the whole experience more enjoyable,” he said.

“Pretty keen to also catch up with mates and just have some fun surfs before the event.”

The pair were crowned the 2025 Open State Champion after winning the final round of the

from all

We have been fighting for the residents of the Mornington Peninsula for nearly two decades. We aim to bring the best coverage possible to inform and connect your community. We ask for your support to continue producing weekly newspapers to keep quality local news alive!

Victorian Open Titles on Phillip Island. The Shortboard Titles will also see champions
six states named in the over 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
RYE teen siblings Sara Hickson (left) and Lucas Hickson (right) will compete in the Australian Shortboard Titles in NSW.
Pictures: Supplied
MORNINGTON Pirates had a come from behind win in their A1 Semi Final on Sunday against cross-town rivals Pakenham Pumas. The final score at CB Wilson Reserve was 14 to 4. Matt Hardie was superb on the mount with 5 strikeouts, 7 hits and 4 runs. Next week the Pirates are away and need to get over the Cheltenham Rustlers at Kingston Heath Reserve in the Preliminary to win a crack at hot favourites Dandenong in the Grand Final.
Pictures: Craig Barrett

Second spot down to the wire

SOCCER

MOUNT Eliza and Seaford United have two games left to try and hold on to their State 5 status.

The top two teams in their league will remain in State 5 under the pending league restructure and just one point separates these local rivals as the season draws to an enthralling climax.

Morwell-based Fortuna 60 won the league last weekend and although

Mount Eliza holds the whip hand in second spot it is looking anxiously over its shoulder after losing 3-0 at home to Seaford on Saturday.

The visitors were the more clinical side and two goals in two minutes in the first half had Mount Eliza on the back foot.

Seaford captain Conor Mcfall whipped over a cross to the back post in the 33rd minute with Blake Hicks steaming in and he headed past home team keeper Luke Armao.

It was 2-0 in the 35th minute after a spectacular run down the right by Zain Ahmad whose low cross was tapped into a gaping net by Dylan Waugh.

Mount Eliza had a chance to get back into the game when awarded a penalty for a shirt pull but Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks was up to the task making a fine save.

Seaford was reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Backy Barakzoi was shown a second yellow card and Mount Eliza defender Riley Van Zanden was shown a straight red late in the match following a reckless challenge.

Mount Eliza pushed hard in the second half but couldn’t break down a resolute Seaford defence and the game was put to bed in the 81st minute after a Matt Davies strike deflected into the air and Luke Murray’s acrobatic header found the back of the net.

Mount Eliza’s last two games are away from home against Endeavour Hills Fire and Keysborough. Seaford’s remaining fixtures are away to Aspendale and home to Cleeland United.

Paul Williams’ side will be confident of taking maximum points from teams condemned to a double drop into a new State 7 next season.

In the other State 5 game last weekend Aspendale went down 1-0 away to Cleeland United on Friday night due to Ollie Clark’s own goal in the second half.

In recent seasons Aspendale has been on an uphill trajectory finishing sixth in 2023 and third last year but is now certain to line-up in State 7 next year along with another local in Mount Martha.

Meanwhile the curtain fell on the VPL1 season on Sunday with Langwarrin signing off with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of visitors North Sunshine Eagles.

North Sunshine had much more to play for as Langy had already avoided relegation while its opponent had to win to give itself a chance at a promotion play-off spot.

Brad Blumenthal scored for the local side who finished the season in 10th spot.

In State 1 Mornington’s promotion push no longer is in its own hands after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bayside Argonauts at Dallas Brooks Park.

In the 62nd minute Bayside keeper

Lewis Cotsopoulos dropped the ball under challenge from Matt Hennessey and Kieran Dover was on hand to tuck away from close range.

Eight minutes later the visitors responded through Oliver Chadwick when the home side didn’t deal with a corner.

Both teams struggled to deal with a poor pitch and in the final analysis a draw was a fair result.

In State 2 Peninsula Strikers got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-1 away win over Doncaster Rovers.

Strikers controlled this game for the most part against a Doncaster team

Sudoku and crossword solutions

that faced relegation with anything less than a win.

Strikers took the lead in the 38th minute after Jaiden Madafferi’s cross was cleared into the path of Stevie Elliott who rifled a half-volley into the roof of the net from 25 metres.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 after Matt Harrington played in Campbell Steedman who slotted into the bottom corner.

Strikers missed a golden chance to make it 3-0 after Steedman headed wide just after half-time and Doncaster clawed one back from a corner with 20 minutes to go.

But the home team’s hopes ended in injury time after Riley Anderton played through substitute Joel Bowen who hammered a left-foot volley over the keeper into the top corner.

Skye United kept the pressure on Strikers when it held on for an important 3-2 win on the weekend at home to Bentleigh United Cobras.

Skye took the lead after just six minutes when a long Marcus Collier throw caught the visitors napping and Elliott Craig motored down the wing and squared the ball to Varmah Mgoneh who tapped in from close range.

Skye dominated proceedings for the remainder of the half but couldn’t extend the lead.

In the 54th minute Mgoneh turned

provider when his corner found the head of Daniel Attard to make it 2-0.

Just four minutes later the hosts were cruising when Mgoneh got his second as his free-kick sailed past the Cobras’ custodian and went in off the post.

But true to form Skye couldn’t coast to victory.

Skye’s Arash Sadegh saw red in the 69th minute after picking up a second yellow and the visitors made the home team pay.

Goals to Erik Lambropolous and Nicholas Tsamis made for a nervy last 15 minutes but the 10 men held on.

Skye has the opportunity to momentarily move into second spot on Thursday night when it hosts North Caulfield.

The big news in State 4 is Baxter climbing to sixth just two points behind fifth-placed Rosebud.

A top six finish will secure State 4 status in the looming league restructure.

Baxter’s 5-1 win over bottom team Frankston Pines last weekend combined with Somerville Eagles losing 2-1 away to champion elect Endeavour United allowed Billy Armour’s men to leapfrog their neighbour.

Saturday’s success for Baxter was spearheaded by Jai Power’s hat-trick with Keegan Myatt and substitute Nicholas Whelan also on target.

Shuki Sharifi scored for Pines.

Pines forfeited the reserves game at half-time as players were required for the senior matchday squad.

All the goals in Somerville’s loss were in the first half.

Endeavour United took an early lead but parity was restored when Alessio Izzo converted from the spot.

Joao Bosco Halle scored the winner right on half-time and has put Somerville in a precarious position as it tries to retain its league status.

Somerville hosts Baxter on Saturday in a season-defining derby that is sure to attract a good crowd to Westernport Secondary College.

Rosebud lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday evening.

The home side had the best opportunities early with Barney Johnson and Connor Wharton having chances to put Rosebud ahead.

It took until the 32nd minute for Chelsea to break the deadlock with a goal of the season contender from Daniel Vella from outside the box.

Chelsea went further ahead three minutes later with Rosebud down to 10 men as Charlie Gunning was receiving treatment on the sideline.

An unfortunate own goal from Rosebud central defender Billy Painting gave the visitors a two-cushion they never relinquished.

NEXT WEEKEND

Thursday, 28 August, 8.30pm

Skye Utd v North Caulfield, Skye Recreation Reserve

Saturday, 30 August, 3pm

Mornington v Old Scotch, Dallas Brooks Park

Knox City v Peninsula Strikers, Egan Lee Reserve

Somerville Eagles v Baxter, Westernport Secondary College

Chelsea v Monash University, Edithvale Recreation Reserve

Rosebud v Sandown Lions, Olympic Park

Mentone v Frankston Pines, Mentone Grammar Playing Fields

Aspendale v Seaford Utd, Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground

Fortuna 60 v Mount Martha, Crinigan Road South Reserve

Endeavour Hills Fire v Mount Eliza, Power Reserve

Race is on: Seaford United striker Dylan Waugh (right) tries to run down the ball as Mount Eliza keeper Luke Armao clears on Saturday. Picture: Darryl Kennedy

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