Southern Peninsula News 16 February 2021

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Breaking camp CAMPERS were back on the road for home last Friday (12 February) ahead of the latest travel restrictions and closure of the Mornington Peninsula Shire-run foreshore reserves.

Having avoided the peak-season hordes and setting up camp after the school holidays, the campers’ visions for a quiet break were brought to a sudden halt by the latest outbreaks of COVID-19 and Friday’s 11.59pm “circuit breaker restrictions”.

Once home, the campers are limited to the same rules applying to all other Victorians, leaving home for just four reasons: permitted work/ study, essential shopping (within five kilometres of home), care or caregiving and exercise (two hours a day). Masks must be worn.

Picture: Yanni

Prayer back on agenda Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE words “Almighty God” were again recited before the most recent meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

Dropped from the list of agenda items in December, the prayer and its reference to God was resurrected on Tuesday 9 February because of moves

by Crs Antonella Celi and Hugh Fraser to ask the public for guidance.

Councillors agreed at the 8 December meeting that although still called The Prayer, the actual wording would be changed to a pledge by them to do the right thing by their community.

In short, they were told by their inhouse lawyer Amanda Sapolu that as long as what they were saying was called a prayer, there was no need to seek public consultation.

That has now changed, and the public will be asked to decide on the prayer’s future as part of a review of

SPARE - Kibu

the shire’s governance rules.

When moving that the wording of the prayer be changed, Cr Anthony Marsh said he had been "listening to voices that aren't heard; to people that are silent in our community that had a view”.

Last week, Cr Celi said the public had not been given any chance to comment re-wording the prayer “which in effect has now become a pledge”.

“Please read a dictionary, it’s not a prayer it is just a pledge or affirmation.”

She said Cr Marsh’s original motion

did not include any consideration of the principles of community engagement that she believed involved councillors carrying out their sworn statutory duties.

“It’s unfortunate that I had to move this [notice of motion to remind councillors that community consultation is foundational to local government,” Cr Celi said.

The 8 December decision had been “a botch job on the whole process by circumventing community consulta-

tion on the prayer in excluding reference to Almighty God”.

Cr Celi said the decision “didn’t go down well with our community” and had “stifled the voice of over 58.2 per cent Christians and those of faith on the Mornington Peninsula”.

She said the “very foundation” of Australia, its culture, its communities and Western world democracy was founded on these very principles and we must not forget this”.

Continued Page 10

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Healthy habits: Inigo, Isabelle Blaire, and Outdoor Education teacher Erin Andrews. Picture: Yanni

Early start to healthy eating CHILDREN at Capel Sounds educational child care centre and kinder are getting a head start to live a healthy life.

The 150 children are learning the benefits of healthy eating and oral health, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing, sun protection, safe environments and the evils of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

This comes as the centre, at Tootgarook, is recognised for its health and wellbeing efforts in Cancer Council Victoria’s Achievement Program – one of only a few state-wide to receive the accolade.

“We know that helping children establish healthy habits sets the foundation for their future health, development and wellbeing,” the Cancer

Council’s Tope Adepoyibi said.

“Capel Sounds can be proud of achieving all six health areas and knowing that it is helping to embed lifelong healthy habits for the next generation.”

The children grow and harvest vegetables from three gardens. They also enjoy being little chefs with cooking demonstrations.

Parent Catherine Glover said: “As a parent you want to give your child the best start in life. It’s a delight to see the photos and to read about the fun, healthy activities the children have been involved in. “‘Persistent Pete’, the classroom puppet, is always a big hit and it’s wonderful to know they’re learning important virtues, such as patience,

kindness and resilience, in a fun and engaging way. My daughter also really enjoys the yoga and meditation sessions that provide a ‘brain break’ during a busy day at the service.”

Service director Wendy Stoffels said: “It’s been great to see everyone enthusiastic about leading healthier lifestyles with a greater health awareness.” More children are riding or walking to kinder and having conversations about healthy eating and being sun smart.

“We’re looking forward to bringing a sustainability lens to our health and wellbeing initiatives with the new climate and health pathway,” she said.

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Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

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Online critics react to First Nations naming plan Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A MOVE to prioritise Indigenous language place names on the Mornington Peninsula was defeated at last week’s council meeting, but the shire is at pains to confirm that this does not mean it will forego its “commitment to reconciliation and to celebrating Aboriginal heritage and culture wherever possible”.

Cr David Gill moved at the 9 February meeting that the shire “make it a priority” to use Indigenous language place names at every opportunity and review opportunities to use dual names “with an aim to have every cultural heritage site recognised with an historic cultural name within two years”.

He urged the council to encourage developers to use Indigenous names and, through the planning scheme, regulations or local laws, to boost recognition of Indigenous place naming, such as the Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud.

That name – Indigenous for “to swim” – surfaced after much council toing-and-froing and a community vote on five shortlisted names (“Yawa tops public pool poll” The News 28/7/20). It was estimated at the time that the six-month delay in naming cost the shire $200,000 in officers’ time and consultants’ fees.

Cr Gill also pressed for a “rapid increase” in Indigenous language names on the Mornington Peninsula”.

Social media lit up when news of the motion aired, with some contributors mistakenly believing the push by

a “woke” council signalled an end to old, familiar place names, such as Sorrento.

Cr Antonella Celi agreed the move had “inflamed” the community and caused confusion, especially on talkback radio and Facebook. It “created a wedge” and should have been handled differently, she said.

Cr Steve Holland said he was “disappointed the motion has come to us as it did” because “it caused significant community attention and inflamed debate”. “[They] think we’re out there plucking names out of the air and renaming important places on the peninsula willy-nilly – we are not. Where there are opportunities for dual names that’s fine.”

Cr Hugh Fraser said Gunnamatta, Tootgarook, Wonga and Kangerong were all examples of Indigenous names in use on the peninsula. “It’s always been government policy that we use First People’s names,” he said.

He urged the shire to do extensive research before putting up a generic name.

The mayor Cr Despi O’Conner said: “This is about the self-determination of our Indigenous people. It’s up to them to make the decision. They need time to do it their way.

“It’s not about us saying it’s going to happen or to put a European watch on it: it is already under way. We have already started that journey.”

The mayor said she supported changing names where it was appropriate as part of an evolutionary process. “Reserves and community names have already changed with the help of

Jewell in shire’s crown: The Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud was finally given an Indigenous name after the hiring of consultants and an online poll. Picture: Yanni

the Bunurong Land Council,” she said.

Cr O’Connor told The News council would “continue to investigate opportunities to highlight Bunurong/Boon Wurrung place names in consultation with our Traditional Owners and the wider community”. “[Although it] was defeated, council is confident the sentiments outlined in Cr Gill’s motion are [already] covered

in the Reconciliation Action Plan,” she said.“We remain committed to following through with the actions outlined in [the plan], including investigating Bunurong/Boon Wurrung language for naming or dual naming throughout the shire.”

After the meeting Cr Gill said there was a need to recognise and make First Nations language place names “normal

in our society”.

“Shying away from making this front and centre along with other parts of our community’s Reconciliation Action Plan is unacceptable.

“What is right is standing up to the abusive comments that came in from the few who refuse to accept the proud place of First Nations peoples as the original custodians of this land.”

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Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

PAGE 3

NEWS DESK

Police warning over privacy POLICE are warning parents not to post photos of their children without locking down online privacy settings.

They say images of children in school uniform, their names, or place names in the background, can be used to build a profile and groom both parents and children.

The advice comes as the Australian Federal Police report regularly seizing images of children on the computers of online child sex offenders.

Commander of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation and Child Protection Operations Hilda Sirec said the back-to-school time was a timely reminder to implement safe online practices.

Commander Sirec said parents continue to take “wonderful happy snaps and post them online”. “However, we are urging parents and carers who are sharing those images to make sure they’re using secure privacy settings and only sharing images with people they know and trust.”

Photos posted online as their child begins school can reveal a lot of personal information and travel more widely than intended, she said.

Community and school social media pages featuring children are also being urged to consider the types of images being shared and who can view them.

“Some offenders go to great lengths to access children and the AFP is seeing instances of online grooming starting from the information that

parents and carers are sharing online,” Command Sirec said.

“It is more important than ever to ensure parents, carers and our young people are educated about online safety.”

More children going online during the pandemic year has also meant offenders have more opportunities to target potential victims.

Tips for parents and carers Keep your child’s personal information, including full name and age, private Ensure the background of photos or videos doesn’t give away an address or location, and don’t post your location or ‘check in’ Avoid posting photos in school uniform Only share images of children with people you know and trust Community posts should consider being a closed group with onlyapproved members and strong privacy settings in place.

If a child is in imminent danger, call 000 or visit the nearest police station.

If a child is experiencing issues online, it is essential to collect evidence, such as taking screenshots or photos of the content.

Once the evidence is collected, block and report on the app, site or platform where the issue occurred.

Online child sexual exploitation can be reported to accce.gov.au/report or to Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.

Stephen Taylor

THE eight new faces that have lifted Eastbourne Primary School’s sets of twins for seven are, from left, Jaxson, Harrison, Axel, Banjo, Jessie, Alexandra, Amalia and Arlow. Picture: Yanni

Twins adding up at Rosebud ROSEBUD’S Eastbourne Primary School has possibly set some sort of record for the number of twins among its students.

Four sets of twins started this year, bringing the school’s total to seven.

“Add these twins to the other three sets of twins across the school and you could walk around and think you were seeing doubles everywhere,”

principal Stephen Wilkinson said.

Mr Wilkinson compared being back at school to “getting back on the bike”.

“We sure came through some challenging times in 2020, but staff, students and parents adjusted well and finished last year with enthusiasm, commitment and a desire to connect with each other,” he said.

“This year promises to be a great

one. With the introduction of the Resilience Project, development of new toilets, an infusion of funds to make the physical education program even better and with greater access for students to after school sport and recreation high on the agenda.

“I look forward to even happier, healthier, academically challenged students.”

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Rosebud, Rye, Dromana, Balnarring and surrounding areas RACV is seeking “Expressions of Interest” from professional general mechanical repair businesses in the Peninsula area who are interested in providing Emergency Roadside Assistance and becoming an RACV Accredited Auto Care Centre.

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For further information and an expression of interest document please email Julie_logan@racv.com.au by 5.00pm 28/2/2021 PAGE 4

Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

Council ignores move to end kangaroo shoots Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au A LACK of scientific evidence has seen all but one of the shire’s 11 councillors decline to call for a ban on the slaughter of kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula.

Cr David Gill said kangaroo shooting should be stopped because “we don’t know how many there are and how many are being killed”.

His move failed to get the backing of even one councillor and lapsed without a vote being taken at the council’s Tuesday 9 February meeting.

Cr Gill’s motion called for a ban of kangaroos shooting “until scientific research is undertaken justifying the need for this practice and determining the long-term ramifications on our kangaroo population”.

However, his 10 council colleagues appeared to want the scientific evidence before wanting to stop the issuing of licences which property owners to kill kangaroos.

The licences are issued by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) but the information about how many kangaroos are allowed to be killed is only available through a freedom of information (FOI) application (“Fight to save peninsula’s kangaroos” The News 9/2/21).

The peninsula is included in the Gippsland region for the purposes of issuing licences.

Unofficial estimates of the number of kangaroos on the peninsula range from 1500 to 3500.

Picture: Gary Sissons Chris McEvoy, whose family runs a wedding reception business and grows grapevines on more than 40 hectares at Merricks North, saw councillors’ reactions to Cr Gill’s concerns as “a joke”.

“I would have thought there wouldn't be one Australian that doesn't like a kangaroo - we really have to change the perception they are pests,” he said.

Mr McEvoy said kangaroo habitat on the peninsula was “rapidly shrinking, and so are their numbers”.

He said scientific studies had shown kangaroos did not compete with livestock for grass, or eat crops, or destroy fences “and they only get caught in poorly maintain fences without access points or when terrorised by shooters or dogs”.

“Studies have shown a cow eats seven times more grass than a kangaroo and generally they are eating different grasses.”

Nathan Stamkos, DELWP’s conservation regulator manager, regulatory

operations Port Phillip, said the number of kangaroos available for “harvesting” varied each from region to region “based on environmental conditions, such as rainfall and the availability of food”.

The decision was made by DELWP scientists after annual aerial surveys and information such as rainfall data, the age and sex ratio of the animals and how far grey kangaroos move around the landscape, to ensure the population remains sustainable”.

The DELWP would not provide The News with details of how many kangaroos were living on the peninsula or how many were allowed to be killed each year.

“The number of kangaroos controlled through the commercial harvesting program and the ATCW system is closely monitored throughout the year to ensure it remains sustainable. Harvesting may be suspended or closed if numbers taken approach the total allocation, or other events, such as bushfires, threaten kangaroos,” Mr Stamkos said.

Before Cr Gill’s motion to ban kangaroo shooting on the peninsula lapsed through want of a seconder, he said spotlight shooters were killing kangaroos from a distance.

He knew of one farmer who said kangaroos had an impact on his property, while another had told him about a mother kangaroo and two joeys being shot.

Cr Anthony Marsh wanted to know if Cr Gill knew what “impact” a shooting ban would have, while Cr Sarah Race asked how long Cr Gill had “known about this issue”.

Cr Gill said he was a “third generation” peninsula resident and had known about kangaroos being killed “since I was a baby … it’s always been an issue”.

Cr Race then stated that Cr Gill did not have “much information to go on” and wanted to know if he had lobbied MPs or sought details through FOI. Gr Gill said her questions were “totally irrelevant”.

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PAGE 5

Police patrol

With Stephen Taylor

Guns, drugs charges after Mt Eliza raid THE arrest of three men after drugs and a loaded sawn-off rifle were allegedly found in a car at Skye led police to a Mount Eliza property where they allegedly found ammunition, steroids and what is believed to be methyl-amphetamine.

The garage on the property had also been turned into an outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) clubhouse.

Police intercepted a Kia Sportage at a service station on the Western Port Highway after noticing the men at a petrol bowser, 1.50am, Friday 12 February.

A 45-year-old Mount Eliza man, reportedly a Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang member, was charged with trafficking and drug possession, as well as being a prohibited person possessing a firearm, possessing an unregistered handgun, possessing cartridge ammunition without licence, committing an indictable offence while on bail and contravening bail conditions.

He was remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 19 February.

A 21-year-old Cranbourne East man was charged with trafficking methyl-amphetamine, possessing amphetamine and possessing an unregistered handgun.

He was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 26 November.

A 35-year-old Mornington man was released pending further inquiries.

Home grown CANNABIS plants and drug trafficking items were allegedly found at a Rye house last week.

Rosebud and other police arrested a 32-yearold woman and charged her with cultivating cannabis, trafficking a drug of dependence, possessing trafficking equipment, possessing the proceeds of crime and related charges, Thursday 4 February. She was bailed to appear at Dromana Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

“Targeting local-level and mid-tier drug crime to disrupt and dismantle networks is a fo-

cus and part of Victoria Police’s drug strategy,” Acting Sergeant Flyn Loughlin, of Rosebud police, said. “Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Victoria and all illicit drugs are major drivers of crime.”

He urged members of the Mornington Peninsula community with information on drug-related crimes to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. Personal details can remain confidential.

Fake $100 notes TRADERS and shoppers are being warned to watch out of counterfeit $100 notes, especially in Mornington.

Detective Senior Constable Jason Hocking, of Somerville CIU, said a Caucasian man, aged 30-40, unshaven and wearing a COVID-19 mask, had been passing the “high quality” notes in the town: one on 31 January, one on 3 February, five on 9 February and three on 11 February.

He said the notes had been used to buy items at Main Street shops, at the IGA Supermarket at Mount Martha, at Woolworths, Mornington, and at the Homemaker Centre on Nepean Highway.

The man, said to be adept at avoiding CCTV cameras, made multiple small purchases for, say, $5 and then collected $95 change. It is only when traders go to the bank that the ruse is discovered: the slightly oversized notes do not fit into branch money-counting machines.

Mornington Chamber of Commerce’s Alex Levy is urging traders to be vigilant, saying the notes “look slightly different to real $100 notes”.

“It’s pretty rare to have a customer paying in cash at the moment (due to COVID-19) and usually it’s for a small purchase, like $5, then they receive the change,” she said.

She told employers to let their staff to know what to look out for and warned them not to

“put yourselves at risk by accusing someone or approaching them”.

Anyone suspecting they are in possession of the fake notes is urged to contact Detective Senior Constable Harry Simpson, at Somerville CIU, 5978 1300.

Cigarettes stolen TWO thieves stole cigarettes from the Woolworths supermarket at Mornington, early Monday 8 February.

Detective Senior Sergeant Alan Paxton, of Somerville CIU, said the men with their faces covered loaded an unknown quantity of cigarettes into a shopping trolley and left through the Main Street entrance, 3.30am.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.

Cash, camera found A “SUBSTANTIAL amount” of money was found in the pocket of an item of clothing donated to a Rosebud charity last week.

Property officer Tony Paterson, of Rosebud police, said the money was waiting to be claimed by the rightful owner who would need to name the charity, the amount, and the denominations before being allowed to collect it.

Meanwhile, police are seeking the owner of a Canon EOS 1000D camera found on Dromana foreshore on 30 January.

If the owner can identify the camera either by its serial number or by the type or description of the photos police will be happy to return it.

Database checks indicated that the camera had not been reported as either lost or stolen last week.

Inquiries to Senior Constable Paterson at Rosebud police 5986 0444 (7am-3pm Monday to Friday).

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has ordered the owner of this Hastings property to clean it up. Rats scurrying inside and outside the house were filmed by a television current affairs crew. Pictures: Yanni

Clean-up order for rat-infested house Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A HASTINGS house is so rat-infested that the rodents can be seen running along inside window ledges and climbing plants in the overgrown garden.

Neighbours say the property is a health risk.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has warned it will clean the property tomorrow (Wednesday 17 February) if it has not been done by the owner.

Old clothing and newspaper are among the piles of rubbish outside the owner-occupied house.

The house, surrounded by trees and bushes, backs onto a regularly mown

PAGE 6

council reserve.

Lee-Anne McGuinness, who has lived next door for four years, said she and other neighbours had “had enough” of the problem.

“I’ve called the [Mornington Peninsula Shire council and the health department with no success and the CFA to say the property is a fire risk,” she said.

“No one wants to do anything, but we have got to clean it up.”

Ms McGuinness said her dogs and a neighbour’s cats “have got fleas from that property”.

“My fear is that if the rats run out of food they will turn on him.”

The shire last week confirmed that

Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

acting on “residents’ complaints” it had issued a notice requiring the owner to remove the rats – and the rubbish.

Follow up inspections over the next week would ensure the work was being done.

Environment protection manager John Rankine said outreach services had also been in contact with the owner to offer support through the process.

“Given the public health risk posed by the property we will arrange for the work to be done if it’s not completed within seven days,” Mr Rankine said.

“Where owners are reluctant to take action, the shire has sufficient legal authority to ensure action is taken.”

NEWS DESK Explain non-vote MORNINGTON Peninsula residents who did not to vote in last year’s council elections will be sent “please explain” notices by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

The VEC says it may send an infringement notice and a penalty of $83 to anyone who doesn’t respond to the letter, or doesn’t provide a sufficient reason for not voting.

Around 350,000 letters will be sent out statewide. The letters are due back to the VEC within 28 days.

“This notice is not a fine. It’s your chance to explain why you appear not to have voted, if this is the case. This is a question that must be asked of those who appear not to have voted,” electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said.

“Please complete and send the notice back within the 28-day timeframe so that we can consider your explanation.”

Look after life jackets A FREE clinic to teach boaters how to maintain their life jackets is coming to Hastings.

It is part of Transport Safety Victoria’s Float-Safe pilot program which began last month.

MSV recreational boating safety manager Gareth Johnson said: “If you’ve fallen into the water unexpectedly and you get yourself in trouble, having a life jacket that doesn’t inflate isn’t much good to you.

“If you own an inflatable lifejacket in Victoria, you should be performing regular checks to make sure it is going to work when you need it.

“This program is about familiarising boaters with their life jackets so that they can conduct these checks effectively.”

FloatSafe attendees will receive a $30 voucher from a retailer for a new lifejacket, service kit, or other safety equipment.

The clinic runs at Hastings 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm on Friday 12 March.

Book at wearalifejacket.transportsafety.vic. gov.au/floatsafe

Shire, Opposition unite against AGL Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE state Opposition has announced it opposes power company AGL’s plan for a gas import terminal at Crib Point.

The Opposition’s resources spokesperson Ryan Smith said the decision was based on supporting “local residents”, “serious environmental concerns” about the route of a proposed pipeline to Pakenham and because “the legally recognised indigenous traditional owner group opposes the project”.

The latest declaration follows concerns raised by the Opposition last year that the public was not being given enough time to comment on an environmental effects statement prepared by AGL for the gas import terminal (“Libs in call to delay AGL process” The News 2/6/20).

Last Monday’s statement by the Opposition quotes Hastings MP Neale Burgess: “The Victorian Liberal Nationals strongly oppose the creation of a gas import terminal at Crib Point.”

One day later, Mornington Peninsula Shire issued a news release “welcoming” the Opposition’s stand.

“With state Planning Minister Richard Wynne due to make a final decision by the end of March on whether to approve the proposal, council has joined the state Opposition’s call for the project to be rejected,” the shire stated in a news release headed “Opposition to AGL Crib Point gas project mounts”.

OPPOSITION MPs Neale Burgess and Ryan Smith announce their party’s decision to opposepower conmpany AGL’splans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point.

The two MPs stood on the steps of the Western Port Oberon Association’s headquarters to address the hastilyassembled crowd.

Picture: Supplied

The shire’s reasons for opposing the gas terminal were also in accord with those listed by the Opposition: “Council’s strong opposition to the gas project reflects widespread community concern about its potential impacts on the environment, climate change, local amenity and indigenous cultural heritage.”

It said a poll conducted on social media last August “attracted more than 2000 responses, with an overwhelming 93 per cent of respondents against the proposal”.

Community group Save Westernport said it was “heartened” by the Opposition’s “surprise announcement”.

“We’re particularly encouraged that our community’s opposition to AGL in Western Port, and the Bunurong Land Council’s views have been heard,”

Save Westernport stated.

“The overwhelming rejection of AGL’s plans has been a common response to the compelling evidence of countless unacceptable risks revealed during the recent EES hearings.”

The group wants state Opposition MPs and Flinders MP Greg Hunt “to make sure … [federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley understands the full extent of the risks of AGL's proposal”.

Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said the “Victorian Liberal Nationals have now joined a chorus of diverse groups against AGL’s project including three local councils, fishing businesses, the tourism industry, conservation groups, the traditional owners and local federal MP Greg Hunt”.

Mr Burgess has previously said he

did not believe the gas project “should ever have been considered for Crib Point, as it will just serve to once again, encourage thinking of this beautiful area as a potential location for toxic industrial development”.

The statement issued by Mr Ryan is the strongest support yet that the Opposition has given to Mr Burgess.

Mr Ryan said the state government’s moratorium on gas exploration and development had left Victoria short of supply and with rising gas prices.

“Labor’s panicked response is to support a project [at Crib Point] which completely ignores the concerns of the local community and Indigenous group, and seems to overlook its environmental impacts,” Mr Ryan said.

The Opposition’s three reasons for opposing the gas import terminal are:

n To support local residents who oppose the project at Crib Point. n There are serious environmental concerns with the proposed route which seem not to be adequately addressed. n The legally recognised indigenous traditional owner group opposes the project.

“Local opposition is evident, as shown in the public submissions received by the Department of Planning regarding the proposal, and by the local Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s forceful objections,” Mr Ryan’s news release stated.

“The Department has received over 6058 submissions about this proposal.

The overwhelming majority of those opposed it.”

He quoted Bass Coast Shire Council as saying, “the project has the potential for serious impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity of Western Port”.

He said Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation “damningly found” that construction plans for the terminal and the 56km pipeline to Pakenham “do not attempt to avoid harm and do not sufficiently minimise harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage and have not met the requirement under the Environment Effects Act 1978”.

Mr Ryan said any jobs created by the terminal “would require specific skills and likely be filled from within AGL’s existing workforce”.

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Connect with us Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

PAGE 7

NEWS DESK

Stars to shine at festival’s 10th anniversary PENINSULA Film Festival will open with the feature Don’t Tell at the Peninsula Cinemas, Rosebud, Friday 5 March.

The three-day festival was founded in 2011 by actor and Rosebud resident Steve Bastoni to give filmmakers the opportunity to have their work featured and to network with some of Australia’s leading directors, actors, and producers.

The opener Don’t Tell will include a Q&A session hosted by Australian actor Lachy Hulme and provide an opportunity for guests to mingle with festival judges.

Up to 20 shortlisted Australian filmmakers will present their films before the judges and film luminaries at Dromana Drive-in on Saturday 6 March.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the best short animation, documentary, international and the Woodleigh School Emerging Filmmaker Award.

The festival will return to Rosebud on Sunday 7 March for a filmmaking workshop sharing mental health stories via film, followed by a screening of the Australian documentary: Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra.

The judging panel includes Lachy Hulme (Offspring, Romper Stomper TV series), Michala Banas (Upper Middle Bogan, McLeod’s Daughters), Shane Jacobson (Kenny, Jack Irish, Beaconsfield) and Sullivan Stapleton (Blindspot, Strikeback and Animal Kingdom).

Sunday Lemonade, Matilda Pearl and Ovary Action will play while food will be sold by food trucks.

Peninsula Film Festival organiser Steve Bastoni and Madeleine West, left; Shane Jacobson and Lachy Hulme, below; and the Peninsula Drive In, venue for the festival “showpiece” on Saturday 6 March.

Bastoni said the festival was Victoria’s largest outdoor film festival.

“It’s a wonderful weekend of film and entertainment and we are delighted to be able to run this event in a safe format at the Dromana Drive In,” he said.

Shine Lawyers is the festival’s naming rights partner and its co-founder, Stephen Roche, wrote the book on which the opening night film Don’t Tell is based.

The film documents a child sexual

abuse survivor’s quest for justice and was made into a movie in 2017 starring Jack Thompson, Robert Taylor and Rachel Griffiths.

The R U OK? Award returns for this year’s event with the organisation’s CEO Katherine Newton saying the award “enables us to showcase the power of conversation in building meaningful connection”.

Details of the three-day program and bookings: peninsulafilmfestival. com.au

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PAGE 8

Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

Sailing Olympians: Jaime Ryan, Will Phillips, Sam Phillips and Tess Lloyd were honoured guests at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club on Australia Day. Pictures: Gary Sissons

Olympians entertain on A-day FOUR Olympic athletes, all members of the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, were part of an entertaining and inspiring Australia Day Q&A session last week.

Tess Lloyd, Jaime Ryan, Will Phillips and Sam Phillips appeared with guest speaker and Australia Sailing team coach Malcolm Page, OAM, at the club.

Page is a dual 470 Olympic gold medallist and has won multiple world titles. He is the first Australian sailor to successfully defend a gold medal at an Olympic Games – and he did so alongside two different skippers.

Australian Sailing’s Alistair Murray welcomed Page and the Olympians to the club.

The function included an Australia Day ceremony and the raising of the Australian flag. Madison Bailey sang the national anthem.

MADISON Bailey performing during Australia Day at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club.

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No shire compo for firefighters MORNINGTON Peninsula ratepayers will not have to pay $10,000 to Rye CFA because of a “muck-up” by a “junior officer”.

The CFA was told by the officer on behalf of the shire that it could not hold its annual tin rattle because of safety issues.

CFA volunteers traditionally approach motorists for donations every January at the corner of Dundas Street and Nepean Highway.

The shire, after “banning” the tin rattle, later admitted its traffic and transport team did not have the power to stop the collection (“Shire backs down on tun rattle ban” The News 1/2/21).

It said there had been a mix up, and the decision was a police matter.

But this was cold comfort to the CFA, whose captain, Glenn Diamond, said members had been looking forward to the day and the usual banter with motorists.

He said the tin rattle had been a major fundraiser for more than 10 years usually raised about $10,000 (“Tin rattle ban upset for firefighters” The News 25/1/21).

At the council’s Tuesday 9 February meeting Cr David Gill said it was necessary to “look after our volunteers … [especially those that put their lives at risk”. The loss of income meant the CFA would be unable to buy new equipment.

C Gill said the $10,000 was “on a very small scale for us to recompence what was a muck-up.

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BEACH Patrol Mount Martha and Waste Wise Mornington Peninsula are holding a community event at Mount Martha beach, 8.45-11.30am, Sunday 21 February.

It will feature a beach clean, craft activities, mini container deposit scheme, education by the Dolphin Research Institute and kids’ craft.

Prizes will be awarded and a free coffee in your BYO cup for the first 50 people to register on the day.

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“I’ve been told [by council officers that it wasn’t a muck-up - well I think it was”.

CEO John Baker confirmed that a council officer sent a letter “denying the right” for the CFA to conduct its tin rattle.

Councillors rejected Cr Gill’s motion to pay the CFA and compensate any other volunteer organisation that protected community health and safety but were unable to hold roadside collections because of COVID-19.

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Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

PAGE 9

NEWS DESK

Main Street traffic is back MAIN Street Mornington will be progressively reopened to traffic this week after being closed over the busy summer period.

Extended outdoor dining areas on the road and in car parking spaces, as well as footpath trading, began to be removed from the close of business on Sunday (14 February).

Contractors hired by Mornington Peninsula Shire will progressively remove waterfilled barriers.

Bus stops, taxis and parking will return to normal from Tuesday.

The shire said visitors and residents “enjoyed the atmosphere and vitality created by the temporary closure to traffic”.

It said traders had “embraced” the extra space for outdoor eating and sales, while customers “felt it easy to relax in a safer, less crowded environment”.

The shire said most people surveyed had given it a score of”either nine or 10 out of 10”.

“The enthusiasm and effort shown by businesses in making the best of this opportunity has been very welcome,” the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said.

“Many thousands of visitors and locals enjoyed our new-look Main Street and the additional COVID-safe outdoor dining this summer. It proved a great success in our efforts to support local businesses during the pandemic.

The shire said its survey found the public would like to see the street remain closed for longer, while many Main Street businesses wanted it reopened.

The shire said it would take further feedback from traders and residents before evaluating plans for next summer.

Stephen Taylor

Prayer returns to council

Almighty God, we humbly seek Thy blessings upon this Council.

Direct and prosper its deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory and true welfare of the people of the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

Give us the strength and courage to make wise decisions with grace and dignity. Amen The prayer (with council’s capitals) as read out at the Tuesday 9 February meeting by Cr Debra Mar

Continued from Page 1 “The feedback from the community spoke loud and clear they were not happy and taken by surprise with the removal of the reference to God from the prayer and their voices need to be heard in this debate,” Cr Celi said.

“No one is forcing anyone to say the prayer, you can choose not to, but no councillor or lobby has a right to shut down and vilify our community for being Christian or of faith with their reverse discriminative narrative and faux definition of what they believe a secular society should look like.”

Cr Fraser said that on the same night that councillors changed the prayer to a pledge they adopted a community engagement strategy that obliged them to “seek out and facilitate the participation of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision”.

He said Ms Sapolu’s “hair split-

ting advice – which an experienced lawyer will instantly recognise – was not conservative, was not sound, it was not good”.

“A prayer by definition must refer to God. That is the ordinary natural meaning of the word,” Cr Fraser said.

“This secular pledge is not a prayer and our rules have been amended without consulting with our community.”

Ms Sapolu, head of governance, said the prayer was said before last week’s meeting because Cr Fraser had lodged a notice of motion to rescind Cr Marsh’s 8 December motion to reword the prayer.

“The impact of a notice of motion to rescind is that no action can be taken to implement the resolution it seeks to rescind, until the notice of motion to rescind is decided by council. Accordingly, the former prayer was said at the meeting,” Ms Sapolu said.

Knock back for town’s 7th bottle shop Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has knocked back a bid to open another bottle shop at Hastings.

The liquor outlet, proposed for shop 4-6, 20 Victoria Street, Hastings, would have been the seventh in the town.

The planning services committee on 27 January voted in support of Cr Lisa Dixon’s motion that the proposal was an “incompatible land use that would, in conjunction with existing licenced premises, result in adverse cumulative impacts on the amenity of Hastings town centre and surrounding residential areas”. Cr Antonella Celi seconded the motion which was carried unanimously.

Cr Dixon said she “called in” the liquor store application because there were already six outlets in Hastings, two in Tyabb, one at Crib Point and one at Bittern Fields.

“While I support small business, I could not support this application due to the number of outlets

POINT of VIEW 2

1

HOW quicklythings change.

John Renowden sent in a shot of boats anchored off Mount Martha South beach along woith the comment that it was the busiest summer he’d seen “for some years” (1). Then came lockdown #3. Although the other Point of View contributions were taken before the weekend, they each reflect an absence of human activity: Betty-Anne Foster’s sunset at Gunnamatta (2); Liane Willoughby’s sunrise at Mornington (3); Gleny Slade’s lone drinker on the footpath at Rosebud (4); a sunset over Western Port observed by Bianca Felix (5); and Steve Howard’s mid-afternoon glimpse of the You Yangs across Port Phillip from Red Hill (6).

6

Readers can send and share their own pictures, with a short caption, to: pointofview@mpnews.com.au

PAGE 10

Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

3

5

4

potentially becoming 12 to service about 9500 residents,” she said.

Cr Dixon questioned whether another proposed liquor outlet “does indeed protect community amenity, health and safety”.

“The position selected for this potential outlet is also concerning: It’s between three established liquor outlets within 500 metres and alongside a mall with lighting and seating.

“Proposed hours of trading were also unreasonable compared to the existing outlets.”

Shire officers recommended the bottle shop be approved subject to appropriate permit conditions.

Victoria Police also did not oppose it.

One objection to the application had claimed it would further antagonise the “drug and alcohol problem in Hastings”; that it would lead to “property damage … by alcohol dependent persons” and would lead to alcohol and drug-related waste in the streets.

The objector said they would “like to see [an] increased police presence and alcohol-support service” in the town.

Concerns about bike path route

Front row: Nepean MP Chris Brayne, Local Government minister Shaun Leane and the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor; back row: councillors Debra Mar, David Gill, Antonella Celi, Lisa Dixon, Hugh Fraser, Sarah Race and Steve Holland. Picture: Supplied

New home for Flinders arts, activities THE soon-to-be-built Flinders Community Hub will provide a welcome new home and display space for a range of Flinders activity groups.

These include the Flinders Art Show, Arts Group, Community Association, Lions, Probus and RSL, which will all share the building with classes for older adult exercise, Pilates, yoga and other activities.

The present Flinders Civic Hall, in Cook Street, opened in 1966 and is said to be in poor condition and in need of significant improvement.

The shire last year received $2.15 million towards a new Flinders hall through the state government Growing Suburbs Fund. It will match that sum and add $200,000 to progress the

design phase giving the project a total budget of $4.5 million.

Other features are a multipurpose hall with elevated stage, storage area, and unisex change room facilities. A large terrace will provide better connections to the outdoor precinct, and two multipurpose areas will enhance a range of community programs and activities.

The building will have dual access Changing Places amenities (the first of its kind on the peninsula), and all access ramps at the entrance, inside, and throughout the precinct, and plenty of car parking.

Upgrades to the building’s services and utilities will start in April, with the main construction starting in Septem-

ber to be completed in October 2023.

The mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said: “With the amount of vital services and support being delivered for residents from the facility, we are committed to ensuring this new community hub will provide better access and is useable for many years to come.”

Cr David Gill said: “This project is a welcome improvement for the Flinders community.

“Updating the hall but keeping it in tune with village character is a great outcome. The hall will have more capacity to meet the needs of local groups.”

To stay up to date on the project progress, visit mornpen.vic.gov.au/ flinderscivichall.

ENVIRONMENTAL groups oppose plans for a shared bike path beside the Moorooduc-to-Mornington railway line.

A joint letter with 11 signatories was sent to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last month “expressing deep concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed shared bike path”.

They say the path “hosts the best remnants of significant vegetation … which are now depleted and rare in Victoria, as well as individual species which are state and federally listed as threatened”.

The shared bike and railway line trail is being promoted by Mornington Community Safelink Group and Mornington Railway Preservation Society. Safelink’s Graeme Rocke says it will connect the residential, shopping, sporting, schools and workplaces of Mornington, Mount Eliza and Mount Martha. (“Groups align for shared path” The News 27/7/20).

Along the way the two groups are planning to complete one of the Peninsula Bay Trail’s missing links: the route from Moorooduc to Mornington.

The letter writers against their plan included a detailed submission on the potentially-threatened plants. Their letter has been included as a submission in the process for identification of potential routes for the Moorooduc-toMornington section of the Bay Trail.

The council is reviewing all submissions. Groups who submitted suggestions and comments will be invited to discuss them and hear about the council’s plans and next steps.

Stephen Taylor

Recovery help GRANTS to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic are available to eligible business associations, bushland and foreshore friends groups, land-care groups, not-for-profit organisations, community groups and creatives, including individuals and organisations or groups.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire grants include quick response relief grants of $2000 which are available until funds run out.

A business association COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program of $3000 opened last week runs until 5 March.

Community Recovery Grants of $10,000 run until 26 February and Biolinks Support Grants of $10,000 opened this week and run until 5 March.

Guidelines for each program with eligibility and assessment criteria are available at mornpen.vic.gov.au/grants For a list of more than 1250 grant and funding opportunities go to mornpen.vic.gov.au/fundingfinder

Advertisement

Politics in the Park with local Labor Join local Labor members, have a chat with Chris Brayne, your local member, and enjoy a sausage sizzle.

Saturday 27th February,1.00 - 3.00 Entry by donation, sausage sizzle provided, bring your own drinks and anything else you fancy.

Local community members are welcome to attend, please contact Marg on 0409 859 046 or email darcyflinderslabor@gmail.com Authorised by Chris Ford, Australian Labor Party, (Victorian Branch). 438 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008 Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

PAGE 11

OBITUARY

Scot with love of soccer, golf and family OBITUARY

Frank McAleer 16 October 1944 – 14 January 2021 FRANK McAleer was born on 16 October 1944 in Scotland, the youngest child to parents Margaret and John. His older siblings were Margaret, Pat and John.

Frank was not overly fond of school and it was his dream to become a professional football player.

He spent every waking moment with his brother John kicking a soccer ball. It is understandable then that Frank left school as soon as he could, as he said “There’s nothing more you can teach me”.

On 7 November 1960, having just turned 16, he started a five year apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder with Babcock and Wilcox on the shipyards of the Clydeside in Glasgow; a trade that would serve Frank well throughout his life.

It was around the start of his apprenticeship that Senga and Frank first crossed paths. Senga McGinn was a great beauty and Frank was very taken with her but it wasn’t until they were a bit older and both on holidays in the Channel Islands that love truly blossomed and their fate was sealed.

They married on 5 October 1968 and the song Hey Jude was the wedding song that the two clans remember. It was a big hit at the time but synonymous with Frank and Senga wedding for all who attended.

In September 1969 they welcomed their son Gerard and in October 1971 another son Paul. Senga and Frank, as many would agree, were one of those special couples; true love, soul mates, each other’s one and only and a match made in heaven.

As Frank's working life and family life blossomed so did his football career.

He lived the dream of many, playing as a professional footballer at Greenock Morton, Clydebank, Stirling Albion, Ayr United, Shrewsbury and Barrow AFC. In fact Frank was very close to signing for Liverpool and Blackpool at his peak when he sustained a serious knee injury, ending those opportunities.

Frank was lucky enough to play at both Celtic Park and Ibrox and in front of packed stadiums.

Frank played against some of the best players in the world, including a Chelsea team with members of the 1966 England World Cup squad.

He also played against Celtic’s European Cup winning team the Lisbon Lions many times.

Happy days: Frank and Senga on their wedding day. Family fun: Frank with family holidaying in Fiji.

Pictures: Supplied

Frank shared many stories of those glory days.

Frank was often his club’s delegate in the players union partnering up with Sir Alex Ferguson at the time whom he had also played against.

He had a very strong sense of social justice and wanted to do whatever he could to improve the game and conditions for the players.

However, while Frank was having wonderful experiences in his football, Glasgow in 1977 was still a city divided on the basis of religion – Catholic and Protestant – it is even is to this day – and although Frank had excelled in his career, there was discrimination and a glass ceiling to contend with and far shores were beckoning for a man of his talent and leadership.

Football, rather than his engineering/ management life, was what ultimately drew Frank and the McAleer family to Australia.

Frank, at the twilight of his football playing career, had offers in the major leagues in the United States, South Africa and Australia.

Preston in Melbourne was the club that landed his signature.

Frank’s playing days did not last with him injuring his knee a few months after arriving.

Frank immediately moved into coaching, initially at youth level. He would go on to coach Preston in the National League, and Fawkner and

Thomastown to success in the State League.

In Melbourne the family met and connected with many other ex-pats, often from the sporting fraternity, and close bonds were formed and good times were had.

The family moved to Eltham in 1982 to be closer to high school and to enjoy the leafy surrounds that had taken Frank and Senga’s fancy.

Senga was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984 and the family decided to travel around the world, including Scotland, in 1985. A potential farewell trip for Senga but probably more a trip to fill her full of positivity and love, with fingers crossed at the time that treatment would help her.

Fortunately, it did and Senga was in remission for the following seven years.

In 1994 a secondary cancer was diagnosed and Senga battled hard for the next 18 months until her death in 1996; she was just 51 years of age.

It was a devastating time for all the family.

In 1998 Frank moved to Safety Beach, where he and Senga had purchased a holiday home many years prior on the golf course.

Frank built a home on the 14th hole where he stayed for 12 years.

Safety Beach Golf Club became a home away from home.

The club was just the tonic for

Frank. The support from his friends there was incredible through the years. The “19th hole” which moved from The Atrium to the golf club is where Frank spent much of his time bantering with his buddies and using every opportunity to remind them of the three “holes–in–one” he had on the course.

Frank was club president from 2002 to 2007. The club meant everything to Frank and although he moved house a few times, it was never far from the club and always within two kilometres so he could drive his golf cart home after a gathering with the boys at the “19th”.

He is one of only a handful of members honoured as a life member; a testament to the positive influence he had in his community and at the club.

Frank helped at the pro-shop and everyone knew the friendly Scotsman.

Franks enjoyed many trips to Merimbula with the golfing crew – with Frank always up for a sing along requiring only a “little” bit of encouragement!

Frank's golfing buddy Alan recalled Frank saying “good people attract good people” and Alan said Frank indeed was a good person.

“He was fun to be around, was a bonza bloke and well respected by all. He will be sadly missed by all the golfing lads”.

Frank would watch all types of sports on the television. He was passionate about it.

During lockdown, many sports were restricted. Racing continued unabated, so Gerard, and Paul started a “Punters Club” with Frank.

They may have not made millions, but the account was heading in the right direction. The boys will continue putting a punt on for Frank each weekend in his memory.

Frank was at heart a family man.

He absolutely adored his two boys Gerard and Paul.

He was a dad and mentor to his boys and when they came of age they became best of mates.

He was very proud of how they grew up and lived their lives. When daughters–in–law Zoe and Clare came along Frank welcomed them immediately into the family and loved them both as much as he loved his boys.

Frank also adored his four grandsons Dylan, Myles, Quinn and Archie, aged 11,10, eight and eight.

There was real spark in him whenever they were with him.

The family feel blessed that they and he got to spend as much time as they did together.

Frank loved to tell the story of the family eating out at Two Buoys Café in Dromana, with his two boys and their two boys.

He also enjoyed the word game he would play with the boys where he would ask the boys to stick their tongue on the roof of their mouth and say the name of his favourite horse “Hoof Hearted”.

In December 2017 Frank was diagnosed with cancer.

Frank's health challenged him for the past three years, but he always said he had nine lives and several left after every set back.

Frank spent the last four months of his life living with Gerard and Clare convalescing and there were lots of happy memories and great moments.

During the first week of January Frank's health deteriorated and he was taken to Frankston Private Hospital where he received the utmost care and attention from the doctors and nursing staff.

The immediate family all had an opportunity to see Frank and say their farewells.

He was strong and determined to the end and in true Frank form, doing things his way, he picked his moment and passed away on 14 January back into the loving arms of his beloved Senga.

LOGAN MARSHALL Student & Champion Swimmer

Inspiration is irresistible – you can’t force it or manufacture it. You simply have to find it, and nurture it. At Peninsula Grammar, our students continue to be guided by this teaching philosophy, because inspiring young minds is at the heart of who we are. peninsulagrammar.vic.edu.au

PAGE 12

Southern Peninsula News 17 February 2021

Southern Peninsula

property

TRACKSIDE PAGE 3

WEDNESDAY, 17th FEBRUARY 2021

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SOUTHERN PENINSULA NEWS

Page 2

ON THE COVER

INCREDIBLE TRACKSIDE POSITION FOR THE RACER IN US ALL BOASTING one of the most incredible settings imaginable, the address on this stunning 540 square metre mansion is about as exclusive as it gets. The home is one of just three properties that reside in this gated estate overlooking the Mornington Racecourse where views of champion race horses and high profile trainers passing by is a daily event. It would be heaven and earth for anyone involved in the equine industries. The block measures about 1.2 hectares with the luxurious home reflecting all the glamour and indulgence that such a unique position should afford.

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is a grand dining zone that will comfortably seat ten, and a fabulous media room, again just adds that impressive touch to ensure all bases are covered in the delivery of a truly magnificent property. Externally, the grounds provide plenty of scope to further improve the site, however what is in place will keep most families busy. Neat gravel paths loop around established trees and lawn areas up to a double garage under the roof line and there is an enormous Quaker barn with studio. Among the gardens is a playground and a brilliant outdoor undercover chess board.n

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ADDRESS: 167 Roberts Road, MORNINGTON FOR SALE: Contact Agent For Price DESCRIPTION: 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 car AGENT: Stewart Lardner 0419 539 072, Community Real Estate, 7/20-22 Ranelagh Way, Mount Eliza, 9708 8667

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Wednesday, 17th February 2021

SOUTHERN PENINSULA NEWS

Page 3

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Wednesday, 17th February 2021

SOUTHERN PENINSULA NEWS

Page 4

LETTERS

Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au

Bye, bye transparency Having reviewed the agenda for the Tuesday 9 February Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting, I was staggered that after a two-month break since the last council meeting, the agenda was not chock full of key, strategic issues that our community needs to see this new council getting stuck in to.

After all, there are myriad meaningful issues pertaining to our shire that need strong and diligent attention and decision.

But no, there were a whole bunch of process matters and then a raft of notices of motion which, by and large, either just regurgitated past decisions and issues or became a platform for the promotion of councillor self-interests.

Could it be that the shire’s CEO has taken full advantage of the “principles based” provisions of the Local Government Act 2020, as they relate to delegated powers, whereby the CEO may (substantially) act unilaterally and avoid the need to engage with or involve councillors in the decision making processes and, by its very nature, consultation with participation by the peninsula community?

Given the non-consequential nature of the items listed on this past meeting agenda, it is possible to draw this conclusion and, If this hypothesis is correct, then we - the community and ratepayers - can all say goodbye to openness, transparency and accountability in the Shire’s decision making processes.

Stuart Allen, Dromana

Stand up to abuse I am pleased that the important discussion [about using First Nations peoples’ names]was allowed to proceed [at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Tuesday 9 February meeting].

Several other matters, including discussion the future of kangaroos on the peninsula and the importance of protecting our iconic view, didn’t even receive a seconder for my motions.

I believe that there is a need to recognise and make First Nations’ language place names normal in our society.

Shying away from making this front and centre along with other parts of our community’s Reconciliation Action Plan is unacceptable.

What is right is standing up to the abusive comments that came in from the few who refuse to accept the proud place of First Nations peoples as the original custodians of this land.

David Gill, Red Hill Ward councillor

Personal attraction Fifty years ago, we had the advent of Stockholm syndrome and today, with the continuing threat of COVID-19, we seem to have irrelevance syndrome.

First to suffer from this career halting syndrome was federal Opposition leader [Labor] Anthony Albanese, closely followed by Victorian Opposition leader [Liberal] Michael “what about me” O’Brien.

Now, it looks like we have another victim in Cr David Gill. Having spent his five minutes of fame as mayor attacking beach box and aircraft owners plus any other subjects deemed “of the right’, he now finds himself in the minority group on council and it sure shows. Kangaroos, green-wedge database and, of course, place name changers, are all guaranteed to keep your name in the paper, even if you are on the wrong side of the voting bloc.

Michael G Free, Mount Martha

‘Missing’ councillors Many thanks to “Pam of Mt Eliza” who stoically phoned in on the ABC Conversation Hour last week and got a five minute plug for volunteer opponents of the 60-70 Kunyung Road suburban multi-storied retirement village being proposed on a green wedge block. The presenters realised too late that you were standing up for your rights, promoting the green wedge and trying to confront the multi-million dollar overseas property developer, and they zapped you with some crass excuse that they only wanted to discuss social housing or rental availabilities.

You did well under the circumstances, and we applaud your determination above the deafening silence heard from our three Briars Ward councillors, [mayor Despi] O’Connor, [Steve] Holland and [Anthony] Marsh. Sadly, these three remunerated representatives are doing too much

of the other and not enough of the important issues that are foremost on the plates of the ratepayers of the Kunyung Road area.

As usual it is being left to the conscientious, established home owners and non-elected members of our community to do the hard work. The Save the Sir Reggie’s Wedges, South Eastern Centre of Sustainability and the Kunyung Road Action Group are doing it for you “Pam of Mt Eliza”, but where are three missing In action Briars Ward councillors?

Ian Morrison, convenor Mt Eliza Community Alliance

Need representation Tyabb requires increased community representation on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council on community advancement and community care and welfare issues (“Dangerous path” Letters 2/2/21).

This has been an ongoing problem in our area with overgrown paths and tracks, uneven trip hazards on footpath surfaces. Our councillor has been sighted walking his dog along that path.

Two further examples of lack of community care and representation are the fatal accident recently along Jones Road, where broken branches were left on the verge of the road for weeks after the accident.

Our councillor, Paul Mercurio, was contacted and it still took a month before it was cleared and made safe for road users.

I realise Cr Mercurio is busy with his life, but surely he could be more diligent in his [Watson] ward? There is a broken tree on Jones Road opposite the Wellington Road intersection which has been lying on the gravel section of the road creating a hazard to road users for two weeks.

One of the Tyabb ratepayer committee [members] lives close by and drives past the broken tree daily; another committee member regularly jogs along Jones Road.

I see this as another unsatisfactory situation from a group representing the community.

Len Minty, Somerville

Clean start I recently had the misfortune to use the male public toilets in near the bus stop opposite Safeway in Rosebud.

To wash your hands there is only cold water, no hand dryer or paper towels and, of course, no soap dispenser or hand cleanser. To top it off there is a sign saying, “it is advisable to bring your own soap”. Seriously.

COVID-19 or not, one would think these things are necessary for normal hygiene practice.

Maybe Mornington Peninsula Shire Council should get the basics right first, instead of debating which suburbs should have an Indigenous name change.

Barry Coaker, McCrae

Clean Team praised Congratulations and thanks to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and its great Clean Team. No wonder Hastings is officially now the tidiest town in Victoria.

This year we have all struggled to be cheerful and optimistic, but it certainly helps when we admire the flowers and the tree-lined streets, relax on the waterfront reserves and see Clean Team members cheerfully working seven days a week - even shining and sanitising public rubbish bins.

Thank you, Clean Team, we really appreciate your work. Aline and Ron Burgess, Hastings

Untidiest town With Main Street, Mornington barricaded, tables scattered here and there, people mostly just wandering around, no charm, scruffy appearance, I vote Mornington the “Untidiest town of the year”.

Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington

Saving history It has been reported that the City of Moreland continues to deny developers’ permission to destroy an historic building. Well done. What a pity Mornington Peninsula Shire Council does not follow suite. We need a review of what is left of significant historic buildings within our shire.

I have been banging on for years about this subject, but deaf ears prevail.

“Treasure” on the beach: from left, Max 10, Steven 12, Mia 9, James 12, Alessia 10, Giorgia 12, Grace 8, Georgia 10 and Eric 14. Picture: Supplied

Beach ‘treasure’ What started out as a normal visit to the beach with family and friends on Australia Day turned out to be a day of fortunes, fun and adventure for nine young children from Melbourne.

When the sun began to set over Mornington Peninsula’s picturesque Safety Beach the children unearthed a wooden pirates’ treasure chest full of gold coins, silver, Venetian glass and jewellery.

Found with the treasure was the treasure map showing the exact location of the treasure, a horse track now known as Marine Drive and It seems money matters and, sadly, developers to easily get what they want.

I ask the new councillors to reflect on the importance of history in a real positive way - action is required not platitudes.

Make it your business to engage with your constitutes and act immediately before the shire is full of, in my opinion, ugly boxes with no style, with many being poorly constructed to boot.

Denise Hassett, Mount Martha

Welcome Opposition It was encouraging to hear the state Opposition oppose AGL’s [gas terminal] project at Crib Point.

No corporation should be granted a licence to pollute Western Port and reports of ballast water being dumped in the bay should be investigated

by EPA Victoria.

The recent public hearings and Inquiry into the Crib Point gas project will see the release of a report and recommendations by the end of February.

The AGL board will have a bit of reading to do before it makes a final investment decision.

I hope Viva Energy, ExxonMobil and other companies with interests around Western Port take note of the community’s concern about the health of our local environment.

Our township needs a vision for the future that promotes our natural environment, attracts visitors and creates local jobs.

Crib Point deserves better than a floating gas facility and an oil refinery wasteland.

Dale Stohr, Crib Point

Environment in danger The simple fact about the Ross Trust’s attempt to recommence quarrying in Boundary Road in Dromana is that it is attempting to destroy a huge chunk of almost pristine Mornington Peninsula habitat for indigenous plants and wildlife.

The trust plans to pump huge quantities of precious water from the old pit 24 hours a day to enable it to dig the existing hole a further 30 metres down and many hectares in all directions.

The only reason this proposal has got to the stage of an environmental effects statement is because the Planning Minister Richard Wynne took upon himself to reopen the already rejected proposal Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and brought.

This blatant political interference by a Spring Street Labor politician is a disgrace. Our local Labor [Nepean MP] Chris Braine has shown himself a very reluctant defender of the people who are vehemently opposed to this crazy idea.

reference to the area that was formerly known as Shark Bay. “This is the best thing ever,“ cried one of the kids as a crowd began to grow around the gold .

Some sceptics would have to ask would have to if it was the long lost treasure of the infamous Captain Black Beard or was it the work of some very creative parents?

Whichever, this day has given these young children something that can never be taken away from them - good old-fashioned fun and, more importantly, hope of a better future in this ever changing world we now live in.

Robert Palangio, Balwyn North The Ross Trust’s cash splash to community groups, of which many have declined, is a blatant attempt at buying off local opposition to the quarry.

Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach

Unhappy returns Here we go again. Chairman Dan [Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews] re-opens hotel quarantine, but this time it is world class, gold standard.

Except it isn’t. To use a well-worn phrase, it is deja vu all over again.

And to use another well-worn phrase, we are so, so fed up with this and our so, so hopeless leader and his so, so repetitive scare tactics.

Perhaps the Victorian Governor should get the judge from NSW who did the Crown [casino] inquiry to re-run the hotel quarantine debacle (version 1) inquiry again. I suspect she would get answers, much the same way she has got answers that seem to have avoided the Victorian gaming commission people (aka Friends of Crown). And dare we hope, the resignation that is long overdue, of Eddie Everywhere and the Crown board members.

Jack Wheeler, Mornington

Living for Labor Every year begins in February in downtown Rye, the isolation during January a necessity until the departure of our blessed holiday visitors.

Mythological optimism remains, up to a point, promises of progress towards a better world? My last year, though I’m frequently told I say this every year. Certainly, the last following politics.

Been listening to my body for years now telling me it’s time, for what? To watch television?

Hoping (expecting) a Labor victory? Seeing the backside of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, presently supporting a coalition majority of one?

With the United States back in (a form of) control, the Democrats, and with it the serious upgrade in the urgency of climate change, putting Morrison in a bind with his right wing clique, leading me (and my body) to a Labor victory sometime during the next 12 months. Albo’s [Labor leader Antony Albanese] big chance.

Sure, he’s no Whitlam, Hawke or Keating, but neither is our prime minister as strong as the experts tell us, once you list all his mistakes of the past two years, including his consistent do nothing’ approach.

Albo needs not only his jobs focus but coming in heavily (clearly) on climate change, negative gearing, capital gains and industrial relations.

On the basis of governments being shown the door rather than elected, Albo’s more than half a chance. A last year worth the wait?

Cliff Ellen, Rye

Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021

PAGE 17

100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK...

Motorcyclist accused of negligence Compiled by Cameron McCullough THERE was an extraordinary conflict of evidence in the Frankston Police Court on Monday last, when John Bell was charged with negligently driving a motor cycle.

Additional interest was given the case from the fact that the chief witness for the prosecution was a well known resident of the Peninsula named William Cooper Meldrum, who was knocked down by the motor cycle in question, and sustained injuries resulting in the loss of a leg.

The Bench was occupied by Mr. Knight, P.M., and Messrs C. G. V. Williams, C. W. Grant, and Cr W. Armstrong, J’s.P. When Mr Meldrum’s name was called, a stalwart relative carried the old gentleman from the body of the court and placed him in a chair near the witness box.

Mr Meldrum gave his age as 67, and his occupation as an orchardist at present residing at Carrum.

He said that on the 12th August last he was standing on the edge of the road at Carrum, near the railway station.

He was standing still, facing towards Melbourne, when the motor cycle struck him.

After the accident he was conveyed to the Melbourne Hospital where he remained for 15 weeks and 3 days, during which time his leg was amputated.

Cross-examined Witness did not step back when he heard the cycle approaching.

A van was standing close in to the gutter on the other side of the road.

Witness did not know Bell, the driver of the cycle, and he did not remember Bamford, giving assistance after he had been knocked down.

To the P.M.– I am certain I stood still, on the edge of the road while waiting for the train.

Frank Guy, builder, and a councillor of the Borough of Carrum, said he was standing at the door of Hacking’s store, when he saw defendant’s cycle with side-car pass; it was travelling at about 20 miles an hour.

The side car struck Meldrum who was standing on the side of the road.

The cycle was on the centre of the road, but the side car, which was affixed to the right hand side of the cycle, was on the wrong side of the road.

Witness ran to Meldrum, whose leg was broken, the bone was sticking through a tear in the trousers.

Defendant continued on for about 60 yards and witness signalled to him to return which he did after some delay.

Witness then told defendant that he had plenty of room to pass.

Cross Examined – Witness was certain the cycle was on the crown of the road and would swear the side car was affixed to the right of the cycle.

Albert Henry Hackling, retired storekeeper Carrum, said he rendered first aid to Meldrum.

He noticed that the tracks of the motor cycle went well over towards the railway fence.

Cross examined – I did not see the accident.

Louis Poulson, painter, Carrum, said he saw Meldrum standing about 3ft on

the asphalt before the accident.

He was standing quite still.

Cross-examined—I was about 70 yards distant from Meldrum.

This closed the case for the prosecution.

The defendant, John William Bell, employed as hall-keeper at the Prahran Town Hall, said he saw a van standing on the road and an old gentleman on the other side; he tried to steer his way between the two, but something went wrong with the control, the rod broke and his machine dashed off at 50 miles an hour.

The handle of the machine and the step on the right side struck Meldrum.

The side car was on the left of the machine, and the cycle was running on the crown of the road at the time.

Cross-examined – I visited two hotels on the road and had three drinks.

I have had the machine repaired since the accident. The position of the side-car was not changed. It was always on the left of the machine, which is an “Excelsior”.

James Bamford, who was the occupant of the side-car, said defendant tooted the horn on approaching Carrum station and continued doing so.

A train was just coming in.

There was a lorry standing on the side of the road and as the cycle approached Meldrum stepped back.

Bell was working at the machine as though something had gone wrong.

The side-car was on the left hand side of the cycle.

Frank Guy (recalled) said he still maintained that the side-car was on the left hand side of the cycle.

The P.M. – We find defendant guilty.

We think he was too far over on his wrong side, and the pace was too fast.

Remarking on the possibility of defendant having to bear civil damages (although a conviction was not necessary to establish civil liability) the Bench inflicted a fine of £3 with 30s costs. *** A DISASTROUS fire occurred in Hastings last Saturday, when the residence of Mr Phillips was destroyed by fire.

The origin of the fire is a mystery.

The whole of the furnishings, &c, to the value of £200, were reduced to ashes.

Mr Phillips was at Sorrento when the fire occurred. *** THE Shire of Mornington is about to issue debentures for the raising of £10,000. The date of repayment covers a period of 20 years.

The purpose for which the money is being borrowed is for the installation of an electric light and power plant at Mornington. *** A CORRESPONDENT writes: – It is rumored that some time ago a man and his three daughters, who were ailing, were recommended to take a drink of the Kananook Creek because of its “saline qualities.”

In time, he died – likewise his fair daughters.

This is what he arranged to have placed on his headstone: “Here lie I and my three daughters – all through drinking Kananook waters; if we had but stuck to Epsom Salts, we should not now be in these

vaults!”

*** REFERENCE to the Sorrento convict settlement in “The Standard” some issues ago, recalls the fact that “the wild white man,” William Buckley, whose life has formed the theme of many stories by novelists, was a convict at Sorrento.

Buckley had been transported for attempting the life of the Duke of Kent at Gibraltar.

Ignorant of the country, he and two others escaped from Sorrento, and “set out to walk to China”. But he got amongst the blacks and lived the simple life for 32 years before being discovered! *** MR and Mrs Bland Holt, of East Melbourne, motored through “our little village” a day or two ago en route for Sorrento, where they are staying with Miss Lucy Coppin at The Anchorage.

Most old-time theatre-going people doubtlessly recall the days when George Coppin and Bland Holt were the shining lights in the theatrical firmament. *** MISS Mary O’Shea, a youthful Morningtonite, was one of the most successful students at the last Melbourne University examinations, passing in English, Latin, French, history, arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry.

Miss O’Shea was prepared by the College of Our Lady of the Sea, Mornington. *** FROM the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 11 February 1921

GALLERY TALK There is only two weeks left to see the 2020 National Works on Paper the exhibition must close on Sunday 21 February.

With a long and rich history, NWOP features leading artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture. You are able to vote for your favourite work in the People’s Choice Award - the winning artist will receive $1000.

On MPRG TV you can watch a conversation with six artists featured in the 2020 National Works on Paper from all around Australia - Kath Fries (NSW), Tamika Grant-Iramu (QLD), Winsome Jobling (NT), Annika Romeyn (ACT), Robert Ewing (WA) and Robert Fielding (SA).

Speak to your agent about listing on realestateview.com.au.

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PAGE 18

Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021

Our Young at Art program for preschoolers is now being run every Tuesday morning. With the guidance of an experienced early childhood educator, participants respond to works in the current exhibition with a different hands-on creative activity every week, using materials from the take-home art materials box supplied each session.

In our online workshops for kids and adults, Nobenti Oho shows us how to

5 DEC 21 FEB

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on exhibiti

NWOP supports and promotes contemporary Australian artists working on or with paper with up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards.

make a basket with recycled materials, using weaving, coiling and twining and artist-educator Jill Anderson is inspired by the dynamic and immediate way artist Locust Jones records aspects of his life and asks you to get creative expressing your own current experiences.

Artists: Kim ANDERSON, Suzanne ARCHER, Lyn ASHBY, Peter ATKINS, Elizabeth BANFIELD, Hannah BEILHARZ, Chris BOND and Drew PETTIFER, Godwin BRADBEER, Kaye BROWN, Jane BURTON, Penelope CAIN, Marilou CHAGNAUD, Timothy COOK, Matt COYLE, Sam CRANSTOUN, Julia DAVIS and Lisa JONES, Stephen EASTAUGH, Naomi ELLER, Robert EWING, Robert FIELDING, Anna FINLAYSON, Belinda FOX, David FRAZER, Kath FRIES, Brian FUATA, Ash GARWOOD, Minna GILLIGAN, Shaun GLADWELL, Tamika GRANT-IRAMU, Katherine HATTAM, Judy HOLDING, Anna HOYLE, Clare HUMPHRIES, Winsome JOBLING, Deborah KELLY, Iluwanti KEN, Martin KING, Ilona KISS, Barbie KJAR, Jenna LEE, Dane LOVETT, Chips MACKINOLTY, Laith McGREGOR, Noel McKENNA, Roma McLAUGHLIN, Todd McMILLAN, Fiona McMONAGLE, Vera MÖLLER, Ray MONDE, Kent MORRIS, Tom O’HERN, Becc ORSZÁG, David PALLISER, Louise PARAMOR, Hubert PAREROULTJA, Riley PAYNE, Tom POLO, Patrick POUND, Linda PUNA, Cameron ROBBINS, Brian ROBINSON, Annika ROMEYN, Pip RYAN, Wendy SHARPE, Kylie STILLMAN, Jacqui STOCKDALE, Marina STROCCHI, Hiromi TANGO, Hossein VALAMANESH, Lisa WAUP, Rosie WEISS, Regina WILSON, Judith WRIGHT, Heidi YARDLEY

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You can still purchase one of our art boxes for $55 with all the materials you’ll need for one of our online workshops with master printmaker David Frazer, Wynne Prize winner Hubert Pareroultja or do a watercolour workshop with Rosie Weiss.

We hope to see you at the Gallery soon!

Danny Lacy Artistic Director Senior Curator

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THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

Making a Spectacle of Myself

By Stuart McCullough I’VE been wearing glasses for a long time. They became a necessity part way through high school and I embraced them in the hope that they might make me appear more intelligent and thoughtful. In retrospect, a more diligent approach to studying might have achieved much the same outcome. The thing about glasses is that once you start wearing them, there’s really no going back.

My first pair of glasses were roundish gold frames, the closest I could find to those worn by John Lennon in the ‘White Album’ era. They were a wholly unusual choice for a fifteen year old in the mid-eighties. They were the kind of shape that – no matter what mood you were in – made you look slightly surprised. ‘Surprised’ and ‘intelligent’ are, sadly, not the same thing. No one mistook me for a former Beatle, either; and my guitar playing remained, at best, rudimentary. Nevertheless, these were the glasses that got me through high school and well into university.

If roundish gold-rimmed glasses were an odd choice, my next pair was nothing short of baffling. For reasons that are lost to me now, I thought it was a good idea to get a pair of ‘half glasses’. These are the kind of frames over which a stern Magistrate might peer as a means of expressing incredulity towards some hapless defendant.

They most definitely did not belong on the face of a second year university student. The effect was almost immediate. Fellow students gave me

a super-wide berth. Perhaps they were concerned that I might stare at them over the rim of my glasses – fact is, they never got close enough for me to ask. My spectacles were spectacular form of self-inflected social isolation.

At a certain point, I must have tired of my half-glasses. Presumably I had

become somewhat pessimistic and concluded that my half glasses were half empty rather than half full. I aspired to something more conventional and yet striking. Either my next pair would be an expression of my personality or, alternatively, a substitute for not having a personality at all. I chose

black-rimmed glasses. The kind preferred by librarians everywhere. Presumably I had abandoned my teenage dream of being mistaken for a Beatle, preferring instead to be confused for a chartered accountant.

They were remarkably effective. To this day, complete strangers slip their tax returns under my front door in the hope that I might assist them. This, of course, gives me little chance to explain the mix up. All I can say is that those people are in for a rude surprise when the ATO comes knocking.

My eyesight is quite appalling.

Colleagues who’ve caught a fleeting glimpse of the font-size on my phone, which I have set to ‘ginormous’, have noted as much. In fact, it’s getting worse the older I become. A while ago, I thought I might be going blind. However, a visit to an optometrist managed to simultaneously reassure and insult me when I was told it was a natural part of reaching middle age. Upon being reminded of my advancing years, I failed to see the point. That said, I failed to see anything much, which was why I was visiting the optometrist in the first place.

The time had once again come for me to get my eyes tested. This involved staring at an eye chart and taking a flying guess at what the letters may be. I am concerned that – as a result of sheer chance – I might be guessing them correctly even if they appear to me as little smudges on a light bulb. If people can guess the lotto numbers then, in theory, there’s a chance – no matter how slim – that

I might be correctly identifying letters on the eye chart. What should happen is that you get some kind of score – like getting a test back with ticks and crosses - that way, I could disclose whether I stumbled upon the answer as a result of sheer, dumb luck. This time, however, the results were emphatic – it was time to update my prescription.

Grasping both the nettle and my wallet, I decided it was time for a new set of frames also. The shop assistant was incredibly young and very, very trendy. His glasses told me as much. My instructions were simple – I wanted frames that were positioned somewhere between ‘edgy’ and ‘arts administrator.’ He’s seemed to understand what I was saying.

The first pair were more like a sculpture than your routine face furniture.

Had I picked them, I’d definitely be handing out money for some kind of avant-garde experimental dance troupe. I waved them away. The next were in a style that I would describe as ‘ironic nerd’. The difference between an ‘ironic nerd’ and a regular nerd is subtle yet spectacular. Either way, they screamed ‘part-time DJ, full time barista’. They would never do.

Eventually, I settled on a pair of somewhat severe black-rimmed glasses. Kind of like my current ones but more so. Now that they’ve arrived, I can see things clearly. Glasses aren’t going to make me appear thoughtful, intelligent or like John Lennon. Ideally, they’ll make me look like, well, me. stuart@stuartmccullough.com

Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021

PAGE 19

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SOUTHERN PENINSULA NEWS

scoreboard

Schwellinger’s promotion plan SOCCER

By Craig MacKenzie TEAM formation, culture change and depth are the key elements of success according to Seaford United senior coach Peter Schwellinger.

The former Melbourne Knights, Richmond and Langwarrin goalkeeper has coached at Frankston Pines, Old Carey, Melton Phoenix and Whittlesea United and success has walked handin-hand with him in recent years.

Schwellinger took Whittlesea United from State 3 to State 1 North-West in successive seasons so he knows what it takes to climb through the leagues.

“I want to use a formation that has won promotion for me previously,” he said.

“I don’t know that I should talk about it too much but I can tell you it is pretty much a radical change from what we have been doing before.

“I also want to try and cover each position.

“That’s hard because it’s not easy to get two players for each position but to do that is a big thing for me.”

Schwellinger took over the reins at Seaford late last year and has identified a lack of discipline and commitment at State 4 level that he has addressed.

“Obviously discipline and commitment are part of your culture and they are just so important,” he said.

“You have to train and you have to turn up at the right time and to train properly.

“At our level players are often allowed to take it a bit easy but I’ve told the boys if they can’t train then don’t expect to get a spot in the team.

“It’s not like you rock up once a week and expect to play because I don’t work like that.”

So far the reaction of the players at North Seaford Reserve has been positive.

“Yes I’m pleased with the way they have reacted.

“When we played our first practice match against Hampton Park we only had a half a team but the Mount Eliza game a few days later was much, much different.

“I had more players there and their response was encouraging.

“I thought the players understood the system in the Wallace Cup and looked pretty good.

“We should have won against Skye

Schwellinger’s system: Seaford United at the 2021 Wallace Cup with senior coach Peter Schwellinger (far left back row) and assistant Andy Lancaster (far right back row). Picture: Darryl Kennedy

who scored from a corner not from open play so my defence was very hard to break down.

“Against Strikers I left out some key players and we did well.

“We won that one and it was great to see some young players from the ressies who really stepped up and I think they understood the formation and what we are trying to do.”

Schwellinger is keen to add two or three more players to his squad, perhaps a midfielder and a central defender.

“I’m pretty happy with the squad from an attacking point of view and I’m pleased to see Tom Hogan back at training.

“He’s a good player. He can play on the wing and he’s looking nippy and quite fit.”

Schwellinger also confirmed that club great Andy Lancaster will assist him this year.

Meanwhile on Tuesday last week Peninsula Strikers defeated Casey Comets 1-0 at Comets Stadium with a first-half goal from Jai Power.

Power also hit the post, Nick Simmons hit the bar and Aaran Currie should have finished from a one-onone so there were lots of positives for

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“I’m very pleased to have Max with us,” Taylor said.

“He’s worked really hard in his rehabilitation to get himself back into the game and to a similar level of fitness he had pre-injury and I’m sure he will be an integral part of our squad this season and beyond.”

In State 4 South news Baxter will host the second Steve Driver Memorial Day at Baxter Park on Saturday.

Long-serving clubman Driver lost his battle with cancer in September 2017.

An intraclub match featuring past and present club members who knew Steve kicks off at 11am followed by the reserves and seniors pre-season practice matches against Brandon Park.

At the request of the Driver family all proceeds from the day will again go to the Cancer Council.

In other State 4 news Mark Pagliarulo (Rosebud), Cal Richardson (Pines) and Carlo Cardoso have been linked to a return to Somerville Eagles.

They were part of the Eagles’ 2019 State 5 championship side but Cardoso lives in Elwood and it’s understood he was going to play locally last year before the season shutdown.

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The following evening Mornington lost 3-0 to NPL heavyweight Bentleigh Greens at Dallas Brooks Park with Braedyn Crowley (2) and Will Bower scoring.

On Thursday night Skye United lost 4-1 away to Endeavour United with Daniel Walsh scoring for the visitors.

Skye used 21 players and a lot of rotations during the match but there still were seven senior players missing so head coach Phil McGuinness and assistant Stephen Duffy are going to have to make some tough decisions in coming weeks.

The club expects a couple of new players to train shortly.

In State 3 news Frankston Pines signed Max Boulton last week.

The 23-year-old has been used in a wide midfield role during the preseason.

He’s a former Langwarrin and Phillip Island player who did an ACL during the 2019 pre-season when training with Casey Comets and has not played a league game since.

Pines head coach Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor coached Boulton at Langwarrin during the club’s inaugural NPL season in 2018.

Somerville player-coach David Greening gave a blunt response when asked if the rumour was true.

“I can’t and won’t speculate on any rumours until such time as a player has signed for Somerville Eagles,” he said.

“As a club we will be keeping things a lot more in-house and striving to do things more professionally moving forward.”

In other news Victoria’s five-day coronavirus lockdown forced Football Victoria to suspend all football activity during that period.

The FV announcement on Friday afternoon included “all organised competitions (Junior Boys’ NPL), all practice matches, club and/or player training sessions, refereeing training sessions, coaching courses, Talent ID camps and FV elite development programs.”

The federation hopes to resume all football activity at the end of the lockdown period.

In FFA Cup news Rosebud is unable to host this weekend’s home tie against Lara United and has been forced to play away.

As we went to press no venue or kick-off time had been confirmed but the clash is expected to take place on Saturday restrictions permitting.

This weekend’s scheduled FFA Cup qualifying round matches: SATURDAY: Aspendale Stingrays v Bundoora Utd (Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, pitch 2, 7.30pm), Mount Martha v East Kew (Civic Reserve, 2pm), Lara Utd v Rosebud (TBC).

This week’s scheduled friendlies: THURSDAY: Frankston Pines v Beaumaris (Monterey Reserve, 7.30pm, reserves 6.15pm pitch 2).

FRIDAY: Box Hill Utd v Mornington (Wembley Park, 7.30pm), Rosebud v Essendon Utd (Olympic Park, 7.30pm).

SATURDAY: Nunawading City v Langwarrin (Mahoney’s Reserve, 11am, U21s 1.15pm, U19s 3.15pm), Frankston Pines v Croydon (Monterey Reserve, 5pm & 7pm), Seaford Utd v East Bentleigh (North Seaford Reserve, 1pm & 3pm), Baxter v Brandon Park (Baxter Park, 1pm & 3pm), Lyndale Utd v Chelsea (Lyndale Secondary College, 1pm & 3pm), Somerville Eagles v North Melbourne Athletic (Somerville Secondary College 3pm, reserves v South Springvale U21s 1pm).

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17 February 2021

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Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021

Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021

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Southern Peninsula News

17 February 2021