In safe hands: An excited Nelson is comforted by owner Medha Murtagh below, and, below left, a member of the Dandenong high angle rescue crew abseils down the Mount Martha cliff. Pictures: Supplied
Road across Frankston-Dandenong Road, 12.30pm, Wednesday 29 July. The 64-year-old told police he “wanted to get through the intersection quickly as the lights were changing”. His car was impounded for a month with a $1390 release fee and he will be summonsed to appear at court for excessive speed.
Making the break
Vacuum, phone go A DYSON vacuum cleaner, cash, and a Samsung S10 mobile phone with a total value of $1400 were stolen from a house at Capel Sound, overnight 20 June. Detectives from Somerville CIU said the offenders cut the fly wire off a screen door to access the house in Flamingo Road.
DESPITE warnings to stay at home, white and fluffy offenders Ginger and Izzy made a dash from their home at Rye before coming to the attention of police tasked with quarantine enforcement. Izzy was quickly apprehended, but co-offender Ginger proved to be more elusive and made a run for it before being collared. The pair went home in the back of a divvy van. With neither party providing a satisfactory reason for being out, and not wearing masks, things were looking grim. However, after taking into account their unblemished records, leniency prevailed. The West Highland terriers were sentenced to a bath and a sevenday suspension of treats.
Cyclist killed at Shoreham A CYCLIST died when her bike collided with a car at Shoreham yesterday (Monday 3 August). Police were called to the scene on Frankston-Flinders Road about 10.10am. The woman was reportedly riding south just past Point Leo Road when the incident occurred. The driver of the car, a 61-year-old Mont Albert woman, was assisting police with their inquiries. Anyone who saw the collision, or who has dash-cam footage or any other information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Cyclist down A CYCLIST was knocked down by a car on the corner of Nepean Highway and Eliza Terrace, Mount Eliza, at midday on Sunday 2 August.
Lifesavers win awards
The man, 40, of Carnegie, was taken by ambulance to The Alfred Hospital with a shoulder injury. Sergeant Jeremy Michau, of Mornington police, said the Mt Eliza man driving the car was charged with failing to give way and handed a $289 penalty notice.
PORTSEA Surf Life Saving Club won the Beaurepaire Shield and was named 2020 Marsh Club of the Year at Life Saving Victoria’s Awards of Excellence evening last week. Now in their 17th year, the awards celebrate the achievements and contributions by lifesaving volunteers as part of LSV’s mission to prevent drowning deaths and aquatic injury in Victoria. The Portsea club also took home Youth Team of the Year and Masters Team of the Year. Rhys Cole, of Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club, was awarded the John Wishart Memorial Medal as the Microflite Lifesaver of the Year for his contribution to lifesaving. Over the past year he also won the Gary Tierney Foundation Award and Club Captains Award. Cole is also the first member of his club to be qualified as a crewman on the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Life Saving Victoria president Paul James ASM praised all nominees and winners for their efforts, acknowledging their willingness to help in a year that had brought unique challenges. “In these extraordinary times, it is so important to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of all our volunteers, staff and members of the broader aquatic community,” he said. “It is their ongoing commitment that keeps Victoria’s many beaches, pools and waterways safe.”
Subaru taken A 2008 silver Subaru Impreza was stolen from the driveway of a property at Mount Martha, overnight 19 July. Detectives from Somerville CIU said the keys to the car were last seen inside the Pardella Place house two days before. The car’s registration is WNF104. THE scene on Sunday at Mount Eliza where a cyclist was hit by a car in Nepean Highway. Picture: Ian Button
Lights fine TRYING to beat the lights proved costly for a Sandhurst man last week. Somerville Highway Patrol police clocked the man driving at 110kph from Wedge Road into Boundary
Six-month reprieve for Centrelink Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has welcomed the six-month extension given to the operation of the Mornington Centrelink office, but wants the arrangement to be permanent. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said news the Centrelink/Medicare service centre in Main Street would remain open until March next year would “come as a relief to the many local residents who use the service”. “This is a crucial support for our community and to close it in the middle of a pandemic would have been disastrous,” Cr Hearn said.
“Having that extra six months will ease concerns about the inadequacy of the new agency service that has been set up to replace the centre.” Dunkley Labor MP Peta Murphy said the federal government’s decision to close the Mornington Centrelink office run by 16 staff and replace it with a single desk staffed for 15 hours a week at the Mornington Post Office was “ludicrous”. “Before the recession and pandemic, over 800 people visited Mornington services centre every week,” she said. “The fight to protect Mornington Centrelink and Medicare is far from over. Together we will support each other to get through the current cri-
sis and then refocus to ensure that this community gets the service it deserves.” Flinders MP Greg Hunt said he was pleased that Services Australia was keeping the service centre open “to support locals through COVID-19”. “Many Australians are doing it tough right now, and locals on the Mornington Peninsula are no different,” Mr Hunt said. “I know that so many families are deeply distressed by the return to stage three restrictions and for those that need assistance, the service centre will be there to support them through this pandemic.” Cr Hearn said the peninsula had suffered one of the heaviest hits to
employment in the state due to the coronavirus pandemic, with close to 6000 job losses, a 21 per cent fall in gross regional product (compared with 6.9 per cent for Australia) and an 11 per cent drop in employment opportunities. “We fear the economic and social impacts of this period will go well beyond March,” he said. “We will continue to advocate for Services Australia to permanently reinstate the Mornington Centrelink office.” The Frankston, Rosebud and Hastings service centres remain open. The Mornington service centre is open 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday.
WITH job losses predicted to continue during the spiralling coronavirus pandemic, demands on Mornington Centrelink are only expected to increase. The latest restrictions on travel would also make it difficult to access Centrelink offices at Rosebud, Hastings or Frankston.
Advertisement
BIKE PATHS - WALKING TRAILS - EQUESTRIAN TRAILS: Where are they? •
Ratepayers in Baxter, Somerville, Pearcedale, Tyabb & surrounds are tired of waiting! Why hold up the Somerville to Baxter & Baxter to Mornington pedestrian/bike paths? Complete the Peninsula Link
•
Somerville Coastal Trail is an outstanding ratepayer initiative and ready to go! How many other local community proposals are simply gathering dust at the Shire?
•
Plans exist, money is available, and the need is urgent, so why the delay? The Shire must get priorities right and promptly deliver essential services to ratepayers.
Motorists, pedestrians, daily walkers, cyclists, and horse riders all deserve top priority. A life-changing pandemic demands safe facilities for healthy outdoor activities across all ages.
IF YOU WANT CHANGE, VOTE STEFAN BORZECKI FOR WATSONS WARD www.stefanborzecki.com Authorised by Stefan S Borzecki 2 Lumeah Road Somerville Vic 3912
Western Port News 5 August 2020
PAGE 7