NEWS DESK
Diaries to record barking nuisance NOISE diaries are part of the investigations undertaken by Mornington Peninsula Shire rangers when investigating complaints about barking dogs. At Hastings, “barking dog diaries” have been sent to four signatories of a petition complaining about a dog “at a specific address”. The report to councillors attending their first meeting for 2018 on Tuesday 31 January by ranger Alarna DeAraugo said residents “advise that the dog barks continuously when the owner leaves the property and continues until the owner returns”. “The problem has been addressed multiple times with the owner directly to no avail,” Ms DeAraugo said. There was “bad history” between the petitioners and the dog’s owner, who had fitted the dog with a barking dog collar, which appeared to have reduced the barking “from nuisance to annoying”. Across the peninsula at Mt Eliza, seven people signed a letter about another barking dog which had been previously reported to council and “dealt with by shire officers”. “The situation has again deteriorated and despite contact with the owner of the animal, the situation has not improved,” senior shire ranger Sharlene Stacey-Penrod said. The rangers are continuing to investigate both cases.
Disrespecful: Vandals have defaced the murals in honour of Dermot O’Toole. Picture: Peter McCullough
Place for a village MCCRAE shopping centre has been transformed into a village. The transformation resulted from a petition containing “approximately” 157 signatures asking Mornington Peninsula Shire to change road signs from alerting motorists to their imminent arrival at McCrae Shopping Centre to McCrae Village. Traffic and road safety officer Digby Smith said the new signs had been agreed to after the traffic and transport team “had discussions with the lead petitioner”. As a result the shire arranged for the new “corporate signage” for “McCrae Village” on Point Nepean Rd at the intersections of Coburn Av and at Eddystone St.
Red Cross meets THE Sorrento/Portsea/Rye Red Cross Unit will hold its next meeting at 1.30pm Thursday 8 February at Sorrento Community Centre, Morce Av, Sorrento. A two-course summer lunch at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron at midday Friday 23 February will cost $50. Lindy Wong, of Eden Gardens, Mt Eliza, will speak about the Mornington Peninsula’s climate and its effects on gardens. Call Lynda Mercer 0427 887 072. New members welcome. Call Marilyn Cunnington on 0414 991 186.
O’Toole Walk vandalism “disappointing” THE family of murdered Hastings jeweller, Dermot O’Toole, have expressed disappointment at the vandalism of the walk named in his honour. O’Toole Walk is decorated with a mural, carved leprechaun, clover plaques, and a bench dedicated to the Hastings resident and trader who was murdered in his High Street store in July 2013. The mural has been defaced in recent days, and a plaque ripped from the wall. “The recent vandalism of O’Toole Walk is extremely disrespectful not just to our family, but to the whole community and to all those that volunteered their time to create this walkway”, said Dermot’s son, Trent O’Toole. The walkway was unveiled in 2015 on the second anniversary of the
murder, and was a project supported by the Western Port Chamber of Commerce and Industry and shire. Mr O’Toole, 64, was stabbed by Gavin Perry, 27, after the parolee attacked his wife, Bridget O’Toole, and threw her into a glass cabinet before attempting to rob them. When her husband rushed into the store to defend her Perry turned on him and they struggled. Perry knocked him down and then aimed the killer blows with a 20cm carving knife. Perry was jailed for 27 years for the murder and two armed robberies on businesses in Cranbourne. The O’Toole family have been vocal advocates for tougher sentencing and reforms to the parole system that allowed Mr Perry to be on the street after being released on parole. Vice-president of the Western Port Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Natalie Petersen, said in a statement to The News that “it is so disappointing. The young people who do this damage don’t understand the significance of the work and what it means to the family and the community.” Mr O’Toole was posthumously awarded the Star of Courage medal on 17 November last year for his effort that probably saved the life of his wife. The award was presented to Mrs O’Toole, by the Governor Linda Dessau at Government House, on behalf of her murdered husband. Despite the family’s disappointment, Dermot’s son, Trent, remained positive. “Graffiti washes away. But O’Toole Walk will continue to be an uplifting walkway for our family to visit and where the community can remember their funny little Irishman.”
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