Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

Chelsea • Mordialloc • Mentone

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Wednesday 2 September 2020

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Rail works ongoing Cheltenham Station’s redevelopment has officially been completed, but there is still work to be done. Plans for a new bridge at Chelsea have been revealed, and more work on an open space at Cheltenham is scheduled. See story page 3. Picture: Supplied

Council interested in leasing golf course site Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au KINGSTON councillors have expressed an interest in leasing the Kingswood site at Dingley Village to reopen the golf course.

The Dingley Village site was purchased by Australian Super in 2014 for $125 million. The original proposal for the land, to subdivide it and

build nearly 800 residential dwellings, did not proceed after Kingston Council voted to abandon the planning scheme amendment for rezoning in late 2018 (“Council tees off on golf course plans”, The News, 24/10/18).

Golf is no longer played at the site, and its future remains unclear.

At their 24 August meeting, Kingston councillors voted to write to the owners of the golf course to “ascertain any interest in leasing the Kingswood

land to the City of Kingston for the purpose of council establishing an 18 hole public golf course”.

After council receives a response from the owner, it is expected to prepare a detailed report to assess the viability of the proposal.

Cr Rosemary West said “this would be the best possible outcome to what’s been an unfortunate, badly handled, absolutely distressing, and heartbreaking process. Dingley Village residents

are losing what they call the green heart of Dingley.”

“It’s very clear that the super fund that bought this was very badly advised,” she said. “It seems to me not far beyond belief that they might decide to take a loss, they might become a good landowner and a philanthropic land owner, and keep the course and lease it to council to run.

“Council of course leased the original Kingston public golf course near

Moorabbin Airport. That was leased by council for many years, it was very successful, I think it made a couple of hundred thousand dollars a year.

“This would have to be one of the most magnificent 18 hole golf courses anywhere around. It’s practical, we have done it before, and we can do it again.”

Continued Page 2

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Golf course advocates praised Continued from Page 1 Cr Tamara Barth, who moved the motion, praised the work of local community groups who have advocated for maintaining the golf course.

“The Dingley Village Community Association have been very active in this space continuously. There’s a number of lobby groups situated in Dingley with the view that they should get better community outcomes for that space,” she said.

“Part of their advocacy is reaching out to councillors asking for intervention to see if we can help and assist

them turn that wonderful open space into something that can be enjoyed more by the community.”

Cr West said “the community of Dingley have run the most amazing campaign, the 8000 submissions we received in opposition to the development application was very telling.”

The state government published their revised guidelines for the conversion of golf course land for other purposes in June this year. After the document was released, Australian Super put out a statement that read that it would “consider the new planning

guidelines as it determines the most appropriate way to proceed with plans for the site”.

Under the new guidelines, at least 20 per cent of the land area at converted golf courses must be set aside as publicly accessible useable open space (“Golf course owners consider way forward”, The News, 8/8/20) Cr West criticised the policy calling it a “golf course land grab” that “allows people who have acquired golf courses to go over the heads of council.”

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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News

2 September 2020

Station opens but works continue CHELTENHAM Station has been officially reopened.

The old station was torn down this year as part of level crossing removal works. After two months of construction, the new station is completed.

Eight stations have been replaced or remodelled on the Frankston line as part of level crossing removal works.

Four more are still scheduled to be redeveloped too.

The new Cheltenham Station has two sets of lifts and stairs and a new forecourt and community open space.

A multi-level car park is set to be completed next year.

Frankston line trains have been running through the new rail trenches below Park and Charman roads in Cheltenham and Balcombe Road in Mentone since mid-July.

Works at the station will still continue though, with a green space linking Cheltenham’s retail precinct with the new station and Cheltenham Park still scheduled to be constructed.

Further down the line, Kingston Council has resolved to commit $750,000 to the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at Chelsea Station.

The mayor Georgina Oxley said that “council has invested $750,000 in the project to deliver a fantastic outcome for the Chelsea community that will see a new 6.8 metre wide bridge with enhanced design features including ramps, new lighting, seating, shading and landscaping.”

“Access will also be improved with both steps and DDA compliant accessible ramps on both sides

of the pedestrian bridge between Chelsea Road and The Strand. We want to make sure communities and businesses on both sides of the rail line feel connected and there is easy access to shops and other community facilities,” she said.

“The new train station along with the pedestrian bridge is the first step in the much needed revitalisation of Chelsea’s shopping centre and a major investment in the area’s future.”

Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson “we’ve transformed the Cheltenham and Mentone communities with three level crossings gone for good, and two new stations with plenty of space for the community to enjoy.”

Funds for intersection Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au PEDESTRIAN operated signals will be installed on a Carrum Downs road where a 92-year-old woman was hit and killed last year.

Frankston Council announced last week that it had secured just under $744,000 from the federal government for improvement works at McCormicks Road.

A total of $788,000 towards works on the O’Gradys Road and FrankstonDandenong Road intersection in Carrum Downs, and $198,000 towards the McClelland Road and Skye Road intersection in Langwarrin was also locked in.

Frankston mayor Sandra Mayer said “this is welcome news for commuters travelling along these roads, making the journey for hundreds of people safer and quicker.”

“Council is humbled to announce that the dangerous pedestrian crossing located on McCormicks Road in Carrum Downs, which devastatingly claimed the life of local resident Phyllis Miles in July 2019, will receive the vital safety improvements required thanks to federal government funding.

“Council has worked with local residents and the Department of Transport to implement pedestrian operated signals while replacing the refuge island which will immediately improve safety while lowering vehicle speeds.”

THE finished Cheltenham Station (above) and plans for a bridge at Chelsea Station (below).

Pictures: Supplied

ANY SYMPTOMS GET TESTED It’s important to get tested for coronavirus at the first sign of any symptom and stay home until you get your result. Getting tested means you keep yourself, your friends, family, workplace and your community safe.

It’s not over yet.

Find out where to get tested visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

PAGE 3

NEWS DESK

More hospital staff in isolation

STUDENTS at Frankston High School have started a road safety campaign to remember their classmate Dylan Briggs (pictured top row, middle, with thumbs up). Picture: Supplied

Safety campaign remembers student

BY CLAUDIA SKUBEL THE family of a Frankston High School student killed while riding his bike have joined hands with his classmates to create a road safety campaign in his memory.

Dylan Briggs, aged 14, was tragically struck and killed as he rode home from school in March earlier this year.

The “Chill Out and Look About” project was created by his family and classmates in order to improve road safety awareness for all road users.

Dylan’s classmate, Kelly Gilbert, said “the Chill Out and Look About campaign is a reminder of the importance of awareness and caution when travelling, whether by foot or behind the wheel.”

So far this year 142 lives have been

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lost on Victoria’s roads, Chill Out and Look About aims to push that number towards zero.

Frankston High School’s director of student leadership and community engagement Sarah Bahramis said “from the moment the students in the class found out that he’d been in this accident, they wanted to do something just to make sure this didn’t happen again.”

“I’m so proud of the students. It’s amazing as a teacher to watch the students be empowered, (…) to have a call to action and to really put that in place and then actually see it succeed,” she said.

“Knowing and seeing that something actually positive, we believe, has come out of this, hopefully it makes people just stop and think.”

Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News

2 September 2020

The group of high school students have been working tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to set up the initiative and begin making a difference.

Teaching resources, including interactive workshops for primary aged students, have been developed by the students to bring road safety lessons into the classroom.

Students are also advocating for the speed limit in the area Dylan was struck to be changed from 70 kmph to 60 kmph.

The campaign’s debut short film, “Dylan’s story”, has already been viewed around 20,000 times.

To learn more about the initiative or make a donation, visit the Chill Out and Look About website chilloutlookabout.org

BY LAURA GREEN MORE than 600 Frankston Hospital staff members have been sent into isolation.

A total of 618 staff members were sent into isolation after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the hospital this month. As of 29 August, 68 cases have been linked to the hospital.

The Acute Medical Surgical Unit, Surgical Short Stay Unit and the 5GN wards are temporarily closed to patient admissions while the cardiology, mental health, ICU, and maternity wards remain open.

“The safety and wellbeing of our staff, our patients and our community is our utmost priority and we are doing all we can to help slow the spread of this virus,” Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp said.

Peninsula Health have announced that it is working closely with “skilled prevention experts” to review its COVID-19 hygiene practices and

policies following the outbreak. An extension on contact tracing has been implemented, a hospital spokesperson said.

Last week the DHHS reported that 449 active COVID-19 cases are attributed to healthcare workers, about 10 per cent of which are at Frankston Hospital.

Peninsula Health confirmed testing will continue for all asymptomatic staff, which is a common precautionary measure for Australia’s hospital workers.

All patients who were discharged prior to the discovery of the outbreak were interviewed for close contact tracing to reduce the spread of coronavirus in the community.

The hospital has encouraged pregnant parents to continue coming to the hospital for care if they had any concerns about their babies, but announced admissions to the paediatrics centre are closed for now due to high demand.

Police patrol

with Brodie Cowburn

Drugs seized

Cannabis bust

DRUGS, cash, and motorcycles were seized by police last week during a raid at a Cheltenham property.

Police executed a search warrant at an address on Railway Road at around 1pm, 28 August.

Among the items they allegedly seized were cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, fireworks, cash, and two motorcycles.

A 20-year-old Cheltenham man was arrested and charged with 16 offences. They include storing unauthorised explosives, trafficking commercial quantity of drugs of dependence, and possess prohibited weapon. He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 October.

POLICE seized nearly 100 cannabis plants from a house in Clayton South last week.

A search warrant was executed at a property in Orloff Close at around 12.30pm, 28 August.

Police allege that they found a “cannabis hydroponic set-up” at the address.

Police allegedly seized more than 90 cannabis plants, and dried cannabis from the property.

They allege that the seized items had a street value of $120,000.

A 22-year-old Vietnamese woman was charged with traffick and cultivate a commercial amount of cannabis and theft of electricity. She appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a remand application on 28 August.

Picture: Gary Sissons

Dog park planned CARRUM Downs will soon be home to a new enclosed dog park.

A fenced area will be constructed in Sandfield Reserve. Council received an $87,000 grant from the state government to get started on the project.

Sandfield Reserve also features a playground, basketball court, and recently upgraded skatepark.

The fenced area for dogs will be the fifth constructed in the Frankston municipality. “This is great news for our community of dog lovers, who will soon have access to a secure space for their beloved fur family members to stretch their legs and get some fresh air,” the mayor Sandra Mayer said.

“Planning is currently underway for the new enclosed dog park, which will provide physical exercise and mental stimulation and also allow dog owners to learn to control their dog in a confined area. Preliminary project scoping and initial concept design is currently being undertaken, with community consultation seeking feedback on features of the new dog park to be underway in the coming months.”

The park is set to open in mid 2021.

JASON, Scarlett, and dog Gunner at the future home of an enclosed dog area. Picture: Supplied

OFFICIAL MEDICAL ADVICE

Don’t risk it.

Always follow the health advice.

It’s up to all of us to keep each other safe.

You must continue to practise good hygiene, physical distancing, and if you’re even slightly unwell, get tested and stay at home. Don’t risk it.

The sooner we all do it, the sooner we’ll get through it.

Have the App Visit australia.gov.au

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

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LETTERS

Preserve Koala habitat and don’t plant hedges We are lucky to live on the Mornington Peninsula with it’s national parks, native bush and wildlife but, unfortunately, not all people moving here appreciate the unique, natural beauty of our Australian bush.

It seems to me that more and more new landowners who have purchased acreage on the peninsula don’t like the native trees, bush and wildlife. Why they buy here I really don’t know.

These people seem to want their newly acquired properties to closely resemble an English manor.

The first thing they do is almost completely clear their blocks of native trees and bush, sometimes illegally. They then plant a Cypress pine hedge and rows of weedy agapanthus and mow the roadside bush at the front of their property (“Don’t bet on always keeping a hedge” The News 18/8/20).

To top it off they will then put up a two-metre or more high wildlife-proof fence. They say it’s to keep out those “dreadful” kangaroos, but in doing so these fences also prevent other wildlife from getting in such as our dwindling koala population. But hang on, there are no gum trees for the koalas anyway.

Let’s not even get into the argument about their reason for removing almost every single tree is because of the threat of bushfires. Don’t they know a pine hedge will go up in flames much quicker than native trees?

It’s so disappointing and sad to see this destruction occurring on a regular basis.

Thank goodness for Red Hill Ward councillor David Gill, who is doing his best to conserve the peninsula’s native wildlife and habitat. He and others are working on planning overlays to prevent further destruction of koala habitat.

We need more councillors like him and more peninsula residents to say no to mindless land clearing.

Mary Waterman, vice-president Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Group

Branching out I loved the article about the hedges, and I am pleased to know that my rates are being spent wisely.

I would like to know if those on the [Mornington Peninsula Shire’s] investigative committee are in the special branch? Are they getting to the root of the problem and is it all being paid for by a hedge fund?

Judi Loughridge, Rosebud

Umpire to decide The president of Peninsula Aero Club (PAC), Jack Vevers, claims the club has all the approvals it needs to continue operating the landing ground/airfield/airport in Tyabb the way it does.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council takes a different view, based on the advice of a legal senior counsel following a major review.

The resolution of this matter is a no-brainer: go to VCAT to get an independent legal interpretation.

If Mr Vevers is correct, PAC has nothing to fear. If he is incorrect, then we will all know why PAC needs to moderate its activities. Either way, PAC will have had the chance to present its evidence and its credibility will have been evaluated.

In Tyabb, the runway is only 250 meters from the general residential zone (the helicopter pad is closer), more than 2650 people live within 1.5 kilometres of the runway, more than 2000 children go to the four schools within 1.7km.

Despite this, there are very few restrictions on aircraft traffic and noise. For example, there is no legally enforceable cap on how many aircraft can take off in a day, or in an hour, and aircraft which are not on an emergency operate at night.

The aircraft noise local residents experience should not be determined by the noise makers. It should be determined by sensible and appropriate compromises where local residents who live with the noise pollution have a significant influence. Tyabb residents have already spoken on this. I conducted an extensive survey in 2018, which showed four out of five (79 per cent) want

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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News

no increase above 2018 levels.

The local community deserves legal protection to ensure there are limits on future aircraft noise and the time of day and night at which we experience it.

Brewis Atkinson, Tyabb

Industrious BMXers My home on Wimborne Avenue, Mount Eliza backs on to the Jessie White Reserve and I unequivocally support BMX/mountain bike tracks in bush that otherwise goes completely unused and is quite frankly, an environmental hazard .

Not only have some industrious youngsters cleared a veritable tinderbox of undergrowth and dry wood, they’ve cleared paths in an area largely inhabited by Introduced species that have killed off native fauna: rats and foxes.

Unfortunately, the only people objecting to (and destroying) the use of the land, which otherwise is useless, are a few older residents who clearly have no memory of childhood.

These youngsters are outside instead of on their devices and they’re using critical skills that will hold them in good stead as future citizens; they’re developing the land through planning, engaging in discussions on viability and suitability of natural building materials and they’re giving back to the community a resource that’s valued by other cyclists.

The Live Love Mount Eliza Facebook page has a post from earlier this year on the track out the back of Wimborne.

With great respect to the elderly, it’s time for them to move on - their economic legacy and environmental impact is nothing short of shameless.

Lara Blamey, Mount Eliza

Bad example What sort of example does it set for children when their parents encourage and assist illegal bike tracks to be laid through Mornington Peninsula Shire Council land, destroying the natural environment along the way? Ratepayers contribute to the upkeep of parks and reserves and they are there for the use of all to enjoy undisturbed, not to become obstacles courses for the selfish few.

We can say “no” and fine these parents and others flouting the laws with their excavators and dumping of soil, not take the soft approach.

Council erected tape, put up a sign and placed obstacles along a self-made BMX track leading from Shire Hall Beach to Mills Beach, Mornington prohibiting the use and pointing out the need to protect the scrub, only to have the tape and sign pulled down.

It is very pleasant to walk along the pathways provided there, but the constant use of bike riders is exposing the roots of trees to such an extent that it is becoming somewhat hazardous.

It would be good to see a sign up excluding the use of bikes.

I fully support Jeanette Miller’s plea to protect the remaining woodland corridor along the Moorooduc-Mornington railway line before it too is lost.

Beverley Treloar, Mornington

Graffiti out of hours Whether you are anti or pro AGL’s floating gas terminal proposal for Crib Point, I pose the following question: Do you have the right to graffiti public property or any property for that matter with your stance?

It appears that the anti-AGL supporters seem to think they have the right to graffiti whatever they please, to show their support for their cause.

Again, the ballast along the railway track at Bittern has been grafittied with anti an AGL message.

Regardless of what spin the anti-brigade put on it, it is still graffiti and is against the law.

The prominent people who are against AGL should put their hands up and denounce such behaviour.

I am asking our MP for Flinders, Greg Hunt, our MP for Hastings Neale Burgess, the mayor and councillors of Mornington Peninsula Shire

2 September 2020

and the spokesperson for Save Westernport Julia Stockigt to publicly declare that they do not agree with such behaviour.

Perhaps the police may investigate it as well, as I believe it was done during curfew hours.

Michael Binney, Bittern

Unfair criticism On the Letters page, much time is spent kicking [Premier] Dan Andrews.

Evidence is not brought forward, as it assumed everyone will agree with the negative opinion of the writer.

The assumption is made that Dan Andrews was stupid to employ security guards to manage hotel quarantine. Apparently the ADF should be used as it is in NSW, except that security guards are also used in NSW. Interestingly, the federal government provides lists of approved security guard companies. In New Zealand, where only police and defence are used for hotel quarantine, there have been breakouts. Only luck and low COVID-19 case numbers meant there was little consequence.

The federal LNP wants to pass responsibility to Dan Andrews for aged care COVID-19 outbreaks on public health grounds. However, in state aged care decent staff-to-patient ratios and rules have not led to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Only the federal regulator has authority to intervene in aged care. Yet our premier has had to take hundreds of nurses out of state-run and paid for hospitals to stem disaster in federally funded and regulated private providers.

Procurement of PPE for the nation is a federal responsibility, yet we hear daily from nurses in hospitals and aged care about not being able to get proper PPE. Example: nurses are more often than not female. They have smaller faces than men, but the N95 masks which take about an hour to be properly fitted, are not fitted, and the ones ordered for Australia are all for men, and too big for women, therefore ineffective.

People trying to make a case against Dan Andrews and the NSW premier, of course are more knowledgeable and could have done a better job themselves, not.

Susan Cee, Mornington

Foreseeable deaths I’m feeling a bit grumpy today, obviously it’s the lockdown. I’m grumpy about the airhead recalcitrants who won’t wear masks or stay home, therefore, we’re at stage four restrictions.

I’m grumpy about how celebrities and or wealthy people appear able to flaunt the quarantine rules. [Trucking magnate] Lindsay Fox’s son got himself and his family over the Queensland border because he flashed his truckie’s licence. I wonder if he put his family into the cab of a B-double and drive up there?

I’m grumpy because of all the deaths occurring in nursing homes, a federal government responsibility that [Prime Minister Scott] Morrison keeps trying to flick pass to [Premier Daniel] Andrews. The PM is quoted as saying “in so many cases, the issues in aged care facilities are unforeseen circumstances”. At the aged care royal commission, Peter Rozen QC replied, “none of the problems were unforeseeable”.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck didn’t know the figure for aged care deaths in Victoria.

At the time of writing this letter it was 254.

If Colbeck can’t do the job, then he should be sacked.

John Cain, McCrae

Climate threat ignored I believe our local member [Flinders MP Greg Hunt] in his role as Health Minister has been derelict in his lack of understanding of the health impacts of climate change.

For the last two decades at least, scientists have been warning us about the link between climate change and pandemics, as the loss in biodiversity, destruction of native forests and warming temperatures allow diseases to spread.

We saw the impact of smoke from the bushfires earlier this year that we have almost forgotten. However, we are now facing yet another bushfire season in the coming months, with the government apparently doing little to prepare for its worst impacts.

The AMA, in a presentation to a 2017 Senate inquiry, said heatwaves posed a greater risk to Australian lives than any other natural disaster.

This inquiry recommended that the federal gov-

ernment develop a national climate and health strategy. Yet, just as the Commonwealth has ignored the many warnings it has had about the precarious nature of aged care, it is also ignoring the impact of climate change on our health.

This government consistently refuses to act to turn around the climate emergency, instead continues to champion fossil fuels.

It is fair to ask Greg Hunt, at the least, what plans he has for developing a plan to address the health impacts of climate change? At the moment it appears he is happy to sit on his hands.

Marg D’Arcy, Rye

Unanswered questions I have been considering the NSW inquiry into the Ruby Princess debacle. Have I missed something?

How can the powerful border force and agriculture departments be exonerated from any blame so emphatically by the federal and NSW governments when heads of departments were not allowed to appear before the inquiry to be asked and answer the many damming questions of what exactly went wrong?

Is this is just another whitewash by these governments to protect politicians and staff who need to be bought to account?

A sorry, only by the premier of NSW, is just not good enough, given the consequences of the evolving debacle that continues, which has left so many people devastated, with evidence given at the inquiry, on all accounts could have been preventable.

No one is being held accountable, no sacking, unbelievable, just buck passing.

The prime minister is missing in action; nothing to see here is his and his government’s usual mantra!

The people who have had loved ones die and others left with serious ongoing health problems need answers.

Day after day the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews fronts up to his constituency, taking scrutiny on the hotel debacle, with very probing questions from mostly hostile journalists. As he keeps saying, the buck stops with him.

Transparency in a democracy is fundamental if we are to trust our politicians.

Ongoing scrutiny of the Ruby Princess and the many questions of what went wrong should not be allowed to pass unanswered!

Denise Hassett, Mount Martha

Political avoidance Well, we have two political hero leaders: [Victorian Premier] DanAndrews and [NSW Premier] Gladys Berejiklian, both of who are willing to admit mistakes have been made and to own up to them and to front the press with answers not diversion.

Unlike our Prime Minister [Scott Morrison] who is an expert at not answering, ignoring the question and answering a question that was not asked.

Reporter: Mr Morrison, why did your plan for aged care not work? Was it inadequate, and why did it take so long to take action?

Morrison: I have had discussions with Dan Andrews and will continue to discuss this issue with him. I am hoping he follows the proper protocols on the issue and ends this mess.

Reporter: What are the protocols?

Morrison: Dan Andrews has them, and we will be working together on them.

Reporter: But what are they?

Morrison: What are what?

Reporter: The protocols?

Morrison: What protocols?

Reporter: The protocols you have given to Dan Andrews?

Morrison: Yes, Dan Andrews has them.

Reporter: Could you list five of the protocols?

Morrison: Geez. We just announced an additional $171 million, so maybe Dan Andrews can deal with this. And remember, we regulate aged care, but when there is a public health pandemic then they are things that are managed from Victoria.

Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach

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

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THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

Lockdown – Tips for Surrendering to your Canine Overlord

By Stuart McCullough IT came to a head this week. I was sitting at my desk when the phone rang. This, of itself, is not an unusual occurrence. The caller was not a colleague or friend but a delivery driver.

He was, as it turns out, standing at the gate with a package that he was being paid to deliver. However, the front gate was as far as he wanted to come. The reason, so he said, was our dog. Presumably people in the delivery business all speak to each other.

Maybe they even have their own Facebook, WhatsApp or Hoomadoodle page where they share their thoughts, hopes and dreams. Clearly, they’ve been talking about our dog. Word has gotten around.

Let me clear – our dog doesn’t live in the front yard. Were someone to walk from the gate to the front door, they wouldn’t encounter our dog in a physical sense. They would, however, know she was there. Our dog, Fozzie, is a fifty kilogram hound who is the friendliest dog in the world, unless you’re a stranger approaching our house in which case she’ll bark as though she’s planning to tear your arms off. Barking at strangers who enter your property is kind of what dogs do. It’s their form of trash talk or, if you prefer, a canine KPI. Being something of a large dog, Fozzie’s bark is deep, sonorous and makes her sound even larger than she is. I’m sure those who experience the full force of her barking as they approach the porch imagine her to be about twelve feet tall, raised on a diet of raw meat and Red Bull rather than dry food and carrots. In ‘bark’ terms,

I’d describe her as a baritone. The sound is spectacular and is not to everyone’s liking.

This is my third week of working from home every day. What I’ve learned is that although my name is on the title deed, the house belongs to the

dog. She simply lets me stay here partly as an act of charity and partly because I can reach the dog food. I serve a purpose in her canine kingdom. The day she learns to get her own food and open doors is the day she’ll ask me to leave. It’s only her lack of opposable

thumbs that sees me living here.

With lockdown in full effect, not only are we stuck at home, we’re doing a lot more on-line shopping. In short, there’s a parade of delivery people arriving on our front porch. This occurs randomly. The first I know of it is when the dog starts barking up a storm. By the time I reach the front door, all I see is a fluorescent vest leaving in great haste as yet another delivery driver flees for their lives.

It’s not just the sound of our dog; it’s the sight of her also. Fozzie very much likes to see what’s going on in the street. This means she sometimes hangs out by the side gate in order to catch a glimpse of comings and goings. Sometimes, however, we leave the front door open with just the steel grill closed. We used to have a fly-wire door before discovering that it was unlikely to support the weight of a dog who, for whatever reason, decided to stand on her hind legs to greet anyone dressed in flouro. When she does this, she stands about six feet tall. This, for want of a better way of describing it, can be off-putting for the uninitiated.

It’s not just deliveries where the dog makes her presence felt. She has completely transformed what it is to participate in a work-related zoom conference, in much the same way as face masks have forever changed how it feels to sneeze. It’s as if she senses weakness. Or a lack of attention. Or knows that being disruptive will increase her chances of getting food.

(I can’t be too judgmental; I’ve been known to take a similar approach.)

Whatever the cause, it has become commonplace for her to burst in, leap into frame, and bark before leaving.

It’s the equivalent of having someone walk into a room, tip the furniture over before storming out. The more important the meeting, the greater the chances a canine cameo will disrupt it.

On the plus side, the dog needs to be walked. This keeps me to a schedule as the dog is far less flexible about these things than me. She invariably lets me know when it’s time to step away from the computer. Over the past few weeks I’ve discovered that we no longer have a social circle. It’s more a social oval, where fellow dog owners greet each other as their dogs get some much-needed exercise.

By the time I reached the gate, the delivery driver was on his phone.

Doubtless he was posting a message to Facebook, WhatsApp or Hoomadoodle that he’d encountered the legendary hound and the rumours were true.

He looked a little shaken. He asked me what my name was and I told him ‘Fozzie’, thinking it was better to tell him who was in charge. He handed over the parcel and disappeared, the sound of the dog still ringing in his ears. Since then, parcels have begun appearing on the front step. I suspect they’re being thrown from the footpath. Perhaps they’re using some type of parcel slingshot or catapult.

Or, given their condition, dropping them from a plane. Whatever the case, they’ve adapted. Right now, the dog is at my feet and everything is peaceful.

And so it will remain until a delivery arrives. I like that she’s protective and loud and vigilant. That for this brief moment in time, we’re together a lot.

For that, at least, I’m thankful. stuart@stuartmccullough.com

Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

PAGE 7

100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK...

Football protest put down by Somerville skipper Compiled by Cameron McCullough After Somerville so narrowly missed victory on Saturday last, there were some of Somerville’s enthusiasts who thought that Somerville ought to lodge a protest against Frankston playing its one-time skipper, Bill Cain.

Somerville alleged that it was an injustice to include one who had not played three qualifying games, as they allege that Cain played only two games – one against Dromana on May 21st and one against Somerville on August 14th.

Despite the majority desiring to protest, the Somerville skipper, Hutchison, was strongly against it.

“No. I’ll not sign any protests.” he remarked, when questioned by the writer.

To the writer’s viewpoint, Hutchison’s sporting spirit was too strong to permit his signing the protest, and yet Somerville would be acting rightly if the charge against Cain was proved to be correct.

Frankston denies the charge.

Somerville sports remarked that if Cain was eligible on the two games, as they allege, Somerville would have been justified in playing Percy Thornell, who had only played two senior games.

Be that as it may, Somerville goes out—creditably.

Whilst discussing the subject, it may not be out of place to chronicle the fact that one Somerville supporter assured me that be had a note from Cain, in black and white, admitting ineligibility.

It has been remarked here that no

such letter exists.

If these notes come under the optics of that sport, will he post it to me, if he has it, to print in these notes?

Another discomfiture to some Frankston sports was the including of George Patterson at the last moment when he had not been selected, in Major Condor’s place, in preference to Eric McComb, who had been selected as first of the emergencies.

There may be something in it. But we recorded the fact some weeks previously that most likely Patterson would be available for the semi-final and final matches.

After Somerville’s defeat, the Frankston skipper, McCulloch, congratulated Somerville’s skipper, Hutchison, on the remarkable game Somerville played.

Pleased as he was, McCulloch was sufficiently imbued with the sporting spirit to acknowledge the gallant fight the Somerville stalwarts had fought.

“You played all over us in the last term,” he admitted to Hutchison, who returned compliments by a hearty hand shake. *** THERE are 15,456 electors on the roll for Mornington electorate as against 14,722 in 1917. *** MESSRS J. Wigg (hotel keeper, Brocklesby, NS.W.), J. Flannagan (storekeeper of Tocumwal), and W. Walker (storekeeper, Kiewa, Vic) recently purchased four fine allotments each at Frankston.

They propose erecting bungalows on the blocks. ***

TWO of Melbourne’s leading barristers visited Frankston last week. One has his eye on property here. *** MR M. A. James, late of the Imperial Army, has started a plumber’s business at Playne Street, Frankston.

Mr James has an announcement in this issue. *** THE annual meeting of the Frankston Athletic Club will held at the Mechanics’ Institute on Monday night next, and all interested are invited to attend. *** MR J. J. Powell announces in this issue that he has commenced business as watch maker, etc. at Frankston, and advises that orders may be left at his private residence. *** ON August 13th, Mr J. B. Jolly, late of Frankston, having completed 17 years with the Vacuum Oil Co Ltd, was presented by the directors with 100 shares (valued at £10 10s each) in the company. *** MR W. R. Angus, of Eldorado, has purchased two allotments in Finley Street, Frankston and proposes to erect a summer residence thereon. *** MR William Kemp’s modern home on Melbourne Road, Frankston, has been commenced. *** IT is rumoured that one of Frankston’s best businesses has changed hands at a satisfactory figure. *** A BIG clearing sale of cattle, horses,

The LARGEST range of Alegria on the Peninsula.

and implements takes place on Monday, Sept 6 at Mr Lush’s, Seaford – see advt. *** NEXT Friday night, in the Mechanics’ Hall, the scholars of the Frankston State School are giving a concert and variety entertainment.

A large audience is expected.

The programme includes Brahe’s cantata, “The Magic Wood.” *** THE principal trees planted at the Frankston State School on Arbor Day were: – Three Albies Douglasii, three Picea Fraserii, one Cedrus Atlanitica, six Cedrus Deodaan, two Eriobotyara, 15. Eucalyptus Ficifolia, and the following Acacias – 34 Pyenantha, 12 Baileyana, 12 Spectabalis, six Melanoxylon, two Phoenix Canariensis, one Chamaerops, four Olives, eight Bougainvilleias and 10 Holly. *** THE late Mr Edward H. Thoraberg, late boniface of the isle of Wight Hotel, Cowes, who died recently, left £12,865 to friends. *** “YOU Can’t Have Everything” is the Frankston Band feature for Saturday night.

Kathryn Williams, Sylvia Breamer, Elliott Dexter, Theodore Roberts, Wanda Hawley and Tully Marshall are part of the cast. *** A Welcome Citizen We extract the following from the Essendon “Gazette”: Last week a number of friends farewelled Mr Milner Macmaster prior to his departure for Frankston, where he

IN THE

proposes to interest himself in land.

In Essendon. Mr Macmaster was an active member of the Horticultural and Literary Societies, but was best known as President of the North Essendon Progress Association.

The association originated in the fight for the Keilor Road School, Victory crowned their efforts, and the fine building erected by the Education Department has just been opened.

During the years of Mr Macmaster’s presidency the Association had the satisfaction of seeing two fine parks presented to the council, of erecting a shelter shed, of making countless minor improvements, and of seeing the district advance by leaps and bounds.

Mr Macmaster has been interested in land and journalism for very many years, and in exceptionally wide connection with the press in four of the six States gives him an almost unique opportunity to call attention to the needs and attractions of the district in which he resides.

Mr Macmaster’s removal to Frankston is primarily due to family reasons.

Mrs Macmaster organised a branch of the Red Cross in her own home, and Miss Dorothea Macmaster is a well known pianiste whose recitals have been very successful.”

We welcome Mr Macmaster to our district. A business announcement from Mr Macmaster appears elsewhere. *** FROM the pages of the Mornington Standard, 27 August 1920

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CHELSEA MORDIALLOC MENTONE NEWS

scoreboard

Skills key to Giabardo’s way SOCCER

By Craig MacKenzie DOES Rob Giabardo ever stop teaching?

When he’s not teaching phys ed or taking grade six classes at Hampton Primary School he’s teaching at Chelsea soccer club.

He’d be the first to admit that a major part of his life revolves around classrooms and football pitches.

The Melbourne-born father of three has been involved at State 4 South outfit Chelsea since 2013 but his journey there was via Pennsylvania where he landed as a 20-year-old around 40 years ago.

His US experience did much to shape his views of coaching.

“I worked with kids with disabilities at a camp in Pennsylvania and through doing that I met a lot of guys who would come over from the UK and do their summers there,” he said.

“A lot of them were excellent soccer coaches and one of them worked for the English FA as a coaches’ instructor and had been with Chelsea, Newcastle and Carlisle.

“He was Adam Ford, a Scottish guy, an excellent bloke and we remain friends to this day.

“He taught me that coaching juniors should be focussed on their skills.

“His favourite saying was ‘tools for the toolbox’ and that has stuck with me for 30 years.

“His focus was on giving players the skills, the tools, to implement the tactics.

“The whole game is about problem solving, about giving players a skill set so they can accomplish things on the pitch.”

In the US Giabardo signed up for coaching courses through the National Soccer Coaches Association and completed week-long residential and weekend classes conducted by professionals from leading UK clubs such as Scottish giant Rangers and Leeds United.

“I’d go back to my local area, Nazareth in Pennsylvania, and coach at the local club.

“I became their technical director and coached some really good quality kids.

“One of our teams was ranked ninth in the country in their age group which was a real feather in the club’s cap.”

Yet when he returned to Melbourne 12 years ago he wasn’t immediately

Junior champs: Chelsea’s under-13s, winners of the 2019 Bendigo Cup. Inset: Rob Giabardo. Pictures: supplied

welcomed with open arms.

“I didn’t have a club so I spoke to Hampton soccer club and said I’d like to volunteer.

“They told me they didn’t need anyone. I thought ‘wow’. That really surprised me so then I went to Sandringham and they said ‘sure’ so I coached a team called Storm there.

“From under-10s and under-11s we coached their skill set and these guys became a wonderful group of players who ended up winning just about everything in Australia including their league, a Kanga Cup (held annually in Canberra), a Bendigo Cup, in fact I think we won six Bendigo Cups in a row.”

But Giabardo eventually became disillusioned with what he saw as a switch in focus at Sandringham.

“It became hard to get anything done for the juniors as Sandy invested a lot of time and effort into senior football.

“I went to Beaumaris to help them because they were struggling with numbers and had around 200 juniors.”

A year later Beaumaris had 630 juniors but again Giabardo encountered a focus on the seniors and that was a problem for him.

“I’m all about junior development and getting the juniors to go right through the club to the seniors if possible.

“That’s how you develop clubs, develop culture, develop players.”

At Beaumaris he met Dom Boccari, one of a group that had taken over Chelsea from its Croatian community backers who had moved to Dandenong City.

It was near the end of the 2013 season and Giabardo couldn’t ignore Boccari’s

call for help.

“I’m like that. I like helping people when they are down and I liked the idea of what they were trying to do with Chelsea, to try and open it up rather than have just one ethnic identity.

“Plus Beaumaris was on fire, they had great juniors and some great coaches because we’d done a lot of work developing their coaches.”

So Giabardo joined Chelsea as technical director but at the same time he answered the plea from parents he knew at Beaumaris to keep coaching their children.

He had been heavily involved in coaching two teams there but now most of the players in both squads had switched to George Andrews Reserve to join Dandenong Thunder.

A year on from these under-14 and under-15 boys joining Thunder Giabardo coached the under-18s to the NPL title.

“Most of these kids were pretty much under-16s when they did that.”

The up side of his stay at Thunder was meeting current Langwarrin technical director Mark Cassar.

“I have great respect for Mark.

“I think he’s brilliant, in fact I think he’s the most underrated coach in the state.”

The down side of his stay at Thunder was again dealing with a club focussed on its senior squad.

“At some clubs you just scratch your head at the way they are run.

“We didn’t even have anyone from the club come to support us at the state final. I couldn’t believe it.

“In the men’s NPL there is a lot of money going into the seniors and some

Did you know... you can view our papers online www.baysidenews.com.au Bayside

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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

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PAGE 10

of these clubs have the most unbelievable budgets.”

Giabardo’s next move was orchestrated by Cassar who had been appointed technical director at Southern United for the 2017 season.

Giabardo linked with Bill Mihaloudis whose player contacts allowed them to effect a major makeover of the struggling senior squad.

It proved effective as Southern finished fifth that year, the only time it hasn’t propped up the NPLW ladder.

Southern captain Candela FerreyraBas was a runaway winner of the 2017 NPLW Gold Medal and Giabardo and Mihaloudis shared Coach of the Year honours.

However any prospect that Southern had of finally establishing itself at an elite level vanished suddenly as the club had made deals it couldn’t keep.

“When we got told we couldn’t get paid we could have walked but we said ‘no, let’s see the season out’.

“We were more disappointed for some of the girls who were promised money but didn’t get anything.”

Giabardo and Mihaloudis switched to rival NPLW club Bayside United at the end of the season and triggered a mass player exodus from Southern.

The local club never recovered and was eventually booted out of the NPLW at the end of last season.

“I feel bad about what happened there and I miss Southern.

“I love the club and I’d love to go and help them.

“Mrs Palmer (Shannon Palmer, club president in 2018 and 2019) did a great job under the circumstances and I felt so sorry for her when they lost their senior licence because she’s a fantastic lady.”

Throughout his time coaching back in Melbourne Giabardo has maintained a mantra about junior development and a commitment to go the extra yard to give young players the skills they need.

It hasn’t been easy but he’s never wavered as anyone at Chelsea can attest.

“When I first went there it was a very haphazard sort of club.

“The teams were like satellites. There was no unison and everyone seemed to be doing their own thing.

“We needed to bring everybody to-

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gether and implement a coaching plan and I did a lot of work with George Perpina, a lovely guy who understands the importance of skills development.

“We needed to coach the coaches because they were doing AFL football drills and nothing with the ball and there was quite a lot of resistance to what we tried to do. I don’t know why.

“It took us two or three years to get things right but when you get out of it two or three good coaches who are still coaching now it makes it worthwhile and it’s made a huge difference to Chelsea over the past seven years.”

A significant change in Chelsea’s fortunes came when John Zeccola became president in 2015.

“John’s been fantastic and for a guy whose got two kids there he never puts his kids before the club.

“He’s all about Chelsea, how can the club be better and how can the club service the community.

“Together with him and a couple of other committee members everyone focussed on doing the best with what we had.

“We realised it was going to take a while but I think we are ready to go higher up the leagues.”

Giabardo has overseen a transformation at Chelsea that is a source of pride not easy to mask.

He likes what the club has become.

“Right now I know just about every kid there and every parent and I can walk around the grounds and say hello to all of them.

“That’s the kind of family culture that’s developed here but you only get that when you have a leader like John who’s got vision and that old-fashioned vision about playing for the jumper.”

You also nurture that culture by applying the Giabardo method of player development.

“What the Japanese call the golden age of learning is between the ages of nine and 13.

“They are the most important years and what you learn then stays with you and comes back to you naturally when you are older.

“We are focussed on doing the best skill instruction, the best technique development for our juniors because they are our future.”

CHELSEA MORDIALLOC MENTONE NEWS scoreboard

Another promising ‘Jen’ breaks through HORSE RACING

By Ben Triandafillou MORNINGTON-based trainer David Brideoake has unveiled another promising ‘Jen’ at Sale on Sunday 30 August with Peskijen breaking through for a convincing win on debut.

Brideoake, who claimed Group One glory with Princess Jenni last year and landed a dominant debut victory with Jenni’s Rainbow earlier this month, added Peskijen to the list of handy fillies he has in work.

Peskijen backed up her promising jumpouts with a decisive three-quarters-of-a-length victory in the second race at Sale.

Despite sitting three-wide the entire trip, the three-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls still proved too good for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Frankie Pinot and the Hawkes-trained Rubick Kingdom. They clocked the second quickest time of the three 1200m races on the day in 1:11.36.

Trainer David Brideoake said he was glad to see the filly run as well as expected.

“I think she’s very promising and she beat a good field today, so I think that stands her in good stead as a progressive three-year-old filly,” Brideoake said. “She can start to elevate towards some city class races through the spring.”

Brideoake now has a couple of progressive fillies in Jenni’s Rainbow and Peskijen and believes they’re a

“pretty similar type”.

“She (Peskijen) has a pedigree to go a bit further,” he said. “The Savabeel mare (Queen Sabeel) was a pretty good racehorse that she’s out of, so

she might be able to get out over a bit further.”

Brideoake said he’ll just continue to take it one step at a time with Peskijen.

“I’ll just progress with her quietly.

We’ll probably go to a three-year-old 64 race next and see where it goes from there,” he said.

Dominant debut: David Brideoake’s Peskijen break her maiden victory at Sale on debut. Picture: Supplied

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IN THE

specialists HANDS

Your hearing questions answered IS it important for patients to see an audiologist if they think they may be having difficulties hearing?

Yes, if you are starting to notice difficulties it’s important to have a full hearing test. We don’t just test which sounds you can hear, we also check how clearly you can understand speech, in quiet and in background noise.

Some common indications that you may have a hearing loss are: • Turning the TV up • Frequently asking for repeats • Not being able to hear properly on the telephone • Difficulty in noisy situations such as restaurants • Missing out on important parts of the conversation Often your partner or a close family member may be the first person to notice that you are having difficulty hearing.

Is it true that a lot of patients don’t actually need hearing aids?

Yes. Probably 25 percent of those that we see do choose to get hearing aids. Some people have a little bit of hearing loss that we just need to talk about, and continue to monitor.

Are there steps people who aren’t ready for hearing aids can do to help combat hearing loss?

Yes. Pick a seat in a restaurant where you can see the faces of the people that you are taking to. This can make it easier to follow what they are saying. With the television, if you’re

not ready for hearing aids, we can get a set of cordless headphones. These can be one of the best options for hearing the TV clearly.

Are there ever very simple solutions to hearing loss?

Yes. Sometimes a hearing loss can be caused by ear wax blocking the canal.

If someone needs a hearing aid, should they always choose the most expensive, top-of-the-line model?

Most people don’t need the most expensive hearing aids, fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. It really is patient specific. You don’t always need the absolute top-of the-line hearing aid technology, if the features that you need are available in something less expensive.

At Chelsea Hearing, we always offer you a range of options, and it is up to you to choose something that you are comfortable with. You should never feel pressured to proceed with hearing aids that you don’t feel ready for.

Are smaller hearing aids more expensive?

Generally, the style of the hearing aid does not have very much impact on the price. There are very good, small hearing aids available at all price points. Larger hearing aids are not necessarily less expensive either.

The good news is that the very small, comfortable hearing aids are suitable for most people these days.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Most people who are on a Centrelink pension (such as an age

pension or a disability pension) are eligible for the Office of Hearing Services Voucher program. This enables them to choose from a range of hearing aids that are “free-toclient”. These hearing aids have improved significantly over the past few years, and a lot of people are pleasantly surprised at how natural they sound, and how small and comfortable they can be. Pensioners can also choose to contribute to more expensive hearing aids if they wish.

For people who are not eligible for the voucher program, hearing aids typically start at $2,700 for a pair.

What brand of hearing aids to you recommend?

Chelsea Hearing is an independent clinic. We fit hearing aids from all of the major manufacturers. Our recommendations are made after we have tested your hearing, looked in your ears, and had a discussion about the things that you want to hear well.

We also take the time to consider your preference for style and size of the hearing aids, as well as your budget. We will recommend the most appropriate hearing aids for you, and we will always give you a range of options to choose from.

What is your philosophy on health care?

If I wouldn’t do it for my Mum or Dad, I don’t do it for a patient. When I’m making recommendations for a patient, I think “if this was my mum or dad, with this hearing loss, and

these difficulties, would I be making the same recommendations?”. If the answer is “yes”, then I know I’m doing my best for a patient.

What does the relationship you have with your patients mean to you?

The patient comes first. The patient is your customer and you want to have the healthiest, happiest patient that you can. That makes me happy as well. To know that we are helping that patient to be happy is just rewarding.

What is one thing about your job that really sticks out in a positive way?

It’s really nice to be able to make a difference for people. Often the partner of the person with a hearing loss may have been repeating themselves and having to speak louder for years. When we help with a hearing loss (often with hearing aids) it’s often the family members who notice the benefit first.

Suddenly they don’t have to repeat everything, and they don’t get so tired from speaking loudly all day.

It can make a big difference for the whole family.

Do you have rules that you live by when treating patients?

My number one rule is to take things at the right pace of the individual patient. Some people come in here, and they know they want to get hearing aids and they want to get it all happening as quickly as possible. Other people come in, and they are having some difficulties hearing, but they don’t

know if they have a hearing loss.

They may need a little bit more time to understand their hearing loss, and the options available.

It doesn’t help anyone to push someone into getting hearing aids before they are ready for them, or to pressure someone to purchase hearing aids that cost more than they are comfortable with. Sometimes the best thing to do is explain what’s causing the problem, and what solutions are available. It can also be helpful to bring your partner or a close family member to your appointment with you.

Your audiologist, Cathryn Williams

Hearing problems?

We can help you Chelsea Hearing is accredited by the Office of Hearing Services to provide services to eligible pensioners. This includes free to client hearing tests and hearing aids.

• • • •

Hearing tests for adults and children Hearing aids Hearing classes Custom earplugs for swimming, musicians and communication earpieces

Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm To make an appointment call Cathryn on 8740 2135 Address: Suite 3, 8 The Strand, Chelsea Email: reception@chelseahearing.com.au PAGE 12

Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2020

Ph: 8740 2135 Website: www.chelseahearing.com.au