June 16th 2011

Mornington

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It’s draining, but a ripe young time for learning MORE than 60 youngsters held their noses and gasped as machinery had to be used to lift tonnes of rotting waste from a gross pollution trap at Carrum Downs.

The trap stops rubbish in stormwater from reaching Port Phillip.

Pupils from the schools taking part in the Hastings-based Dolphin Research Institute’s ‘i sea, i care’ program are nominated as ambassadors and are shown how to test water by Melbourne Water’s Water Watch team.

The institute’s executive director Jeff Weir said the workshop “brought to life the mountain to coast catchment story for ambassadors and graphically showed how our activities in the catchment threaten our bays”.

“Stormwater pollution resulting from our actions in the catchment presents one of the largest threats to our bays,” Mr Weir said.

He said the “ambassadors” would share their experiences with thousands at their schools.

The institute will also produce an ‘i sea, i care’ TV segment for its website www.dolphinresearch.org.au.

Waste treatment: Gathered around the waste stopped from entering the bay are pupils from Kunyung, Somers, Lysterfield and Woodlands primary schools.

Stir over CEO’s job

By Mike Hast MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors are vigorously debating behind closed doors whether to reappoint CEO Michael Kennedy without his job being advertised.

If Dr Kennedy gets the nod in August, it will be the third time in a row councillors have not interviewed anyone else for the job, which comes with a salary package of $319,000.

The move is again likely to cause problems for the shire, which endured months of uncertainty in late 2009 and well into 2010 when Dr Kennedy’s 2004 and 2008 contracts were investigated by the Ombudsman and the

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Council divided over search for new blood Victorian Government Solicitor (see ‘Council under spotlight’ on page 6).

Dr Kennedy, who holds a doctorate of business administration, was appointed CEO in 1999 on a five-year contract, replacing Warwick Dilley.

His contract was renewed in February 2004 after the council decided not to advertise his position.

He was rehired before the November 2008 elections, just weeks before the council went into caretaker mode, when it is not permitted to make important decisions.

The contract, this time for three years, started in February 2009, but the decision to not advertise the position was made in September 2008.

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Under local government regulations, councillors have to tell Dr Kennedy they intend to advertise his position six months before his contract expires.

Mornington MP David Morris, the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, on Tuesday told The News he did not want to personalise his comments when asked if Dr Kennedy’s job should be advertised.

“I don’t want to talk about Michael Kennedy and the shire councillors, but I think it’s best that the position be advertised. My position is publicly advertised every four years.

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A decision by the 11 councillors to again not call for other candidates would rile parts of the community.

In 2008 prominent Liberal Party member Robin Cooper, former state MP for Mornington, criticised the council for not advertising the job.

“My view on [council] contract reappointments, regardless of who it is, is that the market should be tested to see who is available,” he said.

Mr Cooper said the job would be attractive to a lot of people who were highly qualified as it was “a very well paid position”.

Continued Page 4

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PAGE 2

Mornington News 16 June 2011

Aged centre gets $25m for beds and rehab unit THE Mornington Centre will receive $25 million to install 30 extra beds and a rehabilitation unit.

The Peninsula Health-run centre on the old secondary school site opened in September 2007 and cost $16.2 million. It was built by Abigroup.

Mornington MP David Morris said the grant would enable the centre to expand services for elderly people recovering after a hospital stay, illness or injury.

“The funding will not only benefit the Mornington community, but also the whole Mornington Peninsula. With our ever-growing population and changing demographic, this increase in services is certainly welcome,” he said.

The centre has 60 geriatric evaluation and management beds as well as consulting, geriatric and therapy rooms to assist rehabilitate dementia patients.

Health minister David Davis said the money for the centre was part of an extra $440 million in funding for public hospitals following successful negotiations with the federal government earlier this year.

The centre replaced the Mt Eliza Centre, formerly called the Mt Eliza Rehabilitation Centre, which was “home” to child polio sufferers prior to 1970.

The centre in Separation St features a striking “sawtooth” motif, prominent on the exterior and reflected inside with folded feature ceilings that break up long flowing corridors.

Its unique façade has 10 varieties of extruded and embossed custom-made bricks to look like timber-cladding, and won the 2008 Horbury Hunt Award for outstanding brick craftsmanship and innovation.

High demand: The Mornington Centre will get 30 new beds for elderly people at a cost of $25 million as the peninsula’s population continues to age.

No word on wobbly pier

Grants for bush work

THE state government’s waterways agency Parks Victoria still has not released its engineering review into the condition of the unrenovated section of Mornington pier and what it intends to do about it.

The News reported earlier this month that engineers had found about 20 per cent of piles on the outside 75-metre section of the iconic pier had failed and were not supporting the top deck.

Half of the remaining 80 per cent of

THE Mornington Railway Preservation Society, Friends of Mornington Foreshore and Mornington Peninsula Shire will benefit from Bush Guardians grants of $14,500.

The grants are to protect native plants and animals in Mt Eliza, Mornington and Mt Martha.

The railway society will use its grant to remove weeds such as watsonia and preserve the increasingly rare purple donkey orchid (pictured).

Friends of Mornington Foreshore will continue the work removing polygala (milkwart) and grass weed that threaten orchids.

Weeds will be removed in Mt Martha Park Reserve by the shire.

The Bush Guardians program aims to protect threatened flora and fauna from the impact of weeds and pests.

It encourages volunteer groups to improve public land. For details, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/bushguardians.

piles were in average condition and the outside section was one big blow away from being irreparably damaged.

Parks Victoria has just spent $3.5 million replacing the centre 53-metre section of the pier, a form of which has stood for more than 150 years.

The photos, taken during a moderate blow on Tuesday 7 June, show the new section (above) breaking a wave and the old section (right) going under.

Mourning a boy’s death THE Red Hill community is in deep mourning after a 16-month-old boy was run over by a reversing four-wheel drive utility in a driveway off Prossors Lane on Monday at about 4.30pm.

One of twin boys of Adam and Julie Redhouse, he was taken by air ambulance from the Red Hill Showgrounds to the Royal Children’s Hospital, but died soon after arrival.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

The boy is a member of the extended Holmes family, pioneers of the area.

Former orchardist Keith Holmes, now of Mt Martha, said it was a tragic accident that had devastated the family and wider community.

“There will be a big funeral as the

Storey story THE shire council will ask state planning minister Matthew Guy to approve an interim rule restricting building height limits to two storeys in Bentons Square shopping centre in Mornington East as well as the town centres of Mt Eliza and Somerville.

The interim restriction would apply while the shire prepares structure plans for Mt Eliza and Somerville.

The request is part of the shire’s plans to restrict building heights in the peninsula’s shopping centres.

Shire planners are recommending a four-storey limit for commercial areas in Rosebud, Mornington and Hastings.

A three-storey limit has been proposed for Dromana and Rye. A two-storey limit was recommended for McCrae, Rosebud West, Blairgowrie, Portsea, Baxter, Tyabb, Bittern, Crib Point, Red Hill South and Flinders.

family was involved with the football club and Red Hill Consolidated School,” he said.

The boy was the fourth toddler to be killed in a driveway accident in the past six months in Victoria.

In April, figures released by the Coroner’s Court showed big vehicles were involved in more than threequarters of all household driveway fatalities involving young children.

It said 13 children had died in residential driveway-related accidents in Victoria since 2000.

Four-wheel drives or trucks had been involved in 77 per cent of all the driveway deaths studied. Children aged 1-3 accounted for 69 per cent of the deaths.

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Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 3

NEWS DESK

‘The Coach’, a doctor and an OAM MICHAEL Kennedy came to the Mornington Peninsula in 1993 and served one year as CEO of the former Shire of Hastings prior to the Kennett government’s forced amalgamation of the 210 Victorian municipalities into 78.

After amalgamation he was CEO of the City of Boroondara (formerly Kew, Camberwell and Hawthorn) from 1995 to 1999 before returning to the peninsula in 1999 to become CEO of the new “super� shire formed from Hastings, Flinders and Mornington.

At Boroondara he played a prominent role when inner east councils tried to stop Telstra and Optus stringing pay TV cables on power poles in the mid1990s (an issue many councils may be

forced to revisit when National Broadband Network cabling arrives).

Prior to local government he was in the shipping industry, as a director and general manager of Coastal ExpressLine and as a senior manager at ANL. A Bachelor of Business, he started a doctorate in business administration while at Boroondara, but set study aside after becoming shire CEO. He completed the course in March 2002 and is entitled to call himself doctor.

Since entering local government, Dr Kennedy has pursued a wide range of allied interests. He has been on the committee of MAV Insurance (Municipal Association of Victoria) since 1995,

is a Victoria fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, a fellow of the Institute of Company Directors, and a fellow of Local Government Professionals.

He has been a member of several health organisations including Boroondara Community Health Centre, was 2007 chairman of the Victorian Healthcare Association and is a board member and 2011 chairman of the Inner East Community Health Service, maintaining ties with his old stamping ground.

He was founding chairman of Lifesaving Victoria and is an independent director.

Dr Kennedy is a regular speaker at conferences on transport, climate

change, coastal communities and attended the 2006 Future Summit in Brisbane hosted by the Australian Davos Connection, a high-powered business and leadership group.

As Dr Kennedy moves toward his fourth contract, which would see him as CEO of the shire for 16 years by the time it ends in 2015, his salary packages has grown steadily.

In 2005 it was $260,000.

In 2007 it was $292,418.

In 2008 it was $299,991.

In 2009 it was $319,000 and he refused an offered increase last year from the three-person panel that reviewed his performance – councillors Bev Colomb (mayor in 2008), Anne

Shaw (mayor in 2009) and Frank Martin (elected unopposed to Red Hill Ward in November 2008 when David Jarman retired).

Dr Kennedy was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on Australia Day in 2009 “for service to health organisations, lifesaving and the Mornington Peninsula Shire as CEO�.

At the time, he said the award was the result of a team effort. “My job is to facilitate change. It’s about listening to the council and the community, and working out what they want to achieve and working to see that is achieved,� said the man known to his staff as “the Coach�.

Mike Hast

Council in glare of Ombudsman’s spotlight THE reappointment of Michael Kennedy in September 2008 without the job being advertising may have indirectly led to his closest brush with “corporate mortality�.

In 2009, Peter Davis of Tyabb – a member of the Tyabb and District Ratepayers Business and Environment Group – twice wrote to the Victorian Ombudsman, George Brouwer, expressing disquiet over Dr Kennedy’s reappointments in 2004 and 2008, and the lack of cooperation from the shire’s governance and corporate support manager Noel Buck when Mr Davis asked to see the CEO’s contract.

Those two letters and the shire’s mishandling of Mr Davis’s Freedom of Information (FOI) request unleashed

months of controversy that involved the Victorian Government Solicitor, Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, local Liberal MPs Neale Burgess and David Morris, the Municipal Association of Victoria, consultants FOI Solutions, shire lawyers, two mayors (2008 mayor Anne Shaw and 2009 mayor David Gibb), and Tim Ginnane SC, now a judge, who provided a legal opinion for the shire.

Mr Davis said he and his wife Val Davis, then president of the Tyabb ratepayers group, had been approached by people who were concerned that Dr Kennedy’s reappointment was being pushed through with undue haste.

They felt Dr Kennedy was not being subject to performance criteria as

specified under the Local Government Act and wanted to see his contracts for 2004 and 2008. “We want to see the Mornington Peninsula have the best CEO it can – it might be him [Dr Kennedy] – but we’d like to see his performance measured,�

Mrs Davis said in November 2009.

She said council officers had “obfuscated� by “handing out bits and pieces of the contract� when the entire document was requested under FOI. Mr Brouwer was dissatisfied with the shire’s behaviour and contacted Minister Wynne, who brought in the Victorian Government Solicitor to investigate the validity of Dr Kennedy’s 2004 and 2008 contracts. The shire’s freedom of information processes were

investigated by Mr Brouwer.

Then followed a farcical period where then-mayor Anne Shaw refused to show her council colleagues the Ombudsman’s report, which recommended that the council: ď Ž Review its freedom of information (FOI) processes and procedures, including record-keeping and records management. ď Ž Consider counselling governance and corporate support manager Noel Buck in relation to his role “in this matterâ€?. ď Ž Review its conflict of interest policy. ď Ž Consider counselling Dr Kennedy in relation to his conflict of interest in seeking legal advice regarding an FOI request for documentation relating to

his employment.

The upshot was that the shire’s FOI consultants said everything was hunky dory, Mr Buck received some kind of counselling, Dr Kennedy received none and in January 2010 Local Government Victoria said the CEO’s contracts were valid.

But by then the damage had been done and many sections of the community developed a high degree of cynicism about the governance of the council.

It’s to be hoped councillors and the executive learn from this tumultuous period and do not repeat the mistakes of the recent past.

Mike Hast

Councillors stir over CEO’s job Continued from Page 1

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Mornington News 16 June 2011

When The News spoke to him on Tuesday, Mr Cooper said his view were unchanged. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether you are pro or anti Dr Kennedy, the council should find whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To commit the same error [not advertise] a second time, well, the councillors should be held to task. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would be staggered if the Minister for Local Government felt any different.â&#x20AC;?

Mr Cooper said any well-run business would advertise the CEOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From one end of the peninsula to the other, most ratepayers would expect it to be advertised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After people have been in the top job for a number of years, sometimes you need a fresh face. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a lot of unhappiness around the place about the way the council deals with certain issues.â&#x20AC;?

Several of the shireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ratepayer lobby groups also expressed disappointment over Dr Kennedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s automatic reappointment in 2008.

Other parts of the community will be happy Dr Kennedy is being reappointed. During an 18-year career in local government, he has held honorary positions with the Municipal Association of Victoria and on health boards, and contributed to management and government bodies (see â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Coach, doctor and an OAM to bootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; above).

The CEO has strong supporters on the council including long-time councillors Bev Colomb, Anne Shaw, David Gibb and Bill Goodrem.

After his reappointment in 2008, thenmayor Cr Colomb said Dr Kennedy was one of the most widely experienced and highly qualified CEOs in local government â&#x20AC;&#x153;with a demonstrated passion for and commitment to

Michael Kennedy

the Mornington Peninsula communityâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having worked with Dr Kennedy for one or more terms of council, my councillor colleagues and I are in a very good position to assess and appreciate his ongoing hard work and the value of his contribution.â&#x20AC;?

On Tuesday, mayor Graham Pittock said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The council is going through the process about whether to advertise the CEOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position and we have to decide by early August.â&#x20AC;?

Comfort with daily Red Cross calling

Caring for the ’coot WESTERN Port Biosphere Foundation is holding a public workshop on the preservation of the region’s iconic threatened mammal – the southern brown bandicoot – at 9am on Thursday 23 June at Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne.

David Nicholls, of the biosphere foundation’s research group, said the Cranbourne gardens had been crucial to conservation action in the region.

“This is where bandicoots have become a common sight for visitors in recent years due to the careful management of fire, weeds and feral animals,” he said.

“We’re hoping to take our SSB recovery group to the next level by involving foundation members, research committee members, government agencies, local landholders and environmental organisations.”

Details: Gillian Collins, 9782 5116 or email gillianuu@yahoo.com.au

Safety check: June Webb is happy at home. She has a cat and a dog, uses a computer and drives wherever she wants. But she is also comforted by a daily Telecross caller inquiring after her health and wellbeing.

By Keith Platt WHAT goes around comes around. June Webb uses the old adage when she talks about having been a Red Cross volunteer who now benefits daily from one of the organisation’s free services.

Every morning the phone rings and Ms Webb knows it’s a Telecross volunteer calling to make sure she is “all right”.

Although they do not personally know each other, Ms Webb and the caller have a brief chat, wish each other well and hang up.

For the caller it is part of a Red Cross service that would include sending someone around to Ms Webb’s Blairgowrie home if there was no answer.

For Ms Webb, it’s reassurance that someone is making a daily check on her wellbeing.

“It’s a fabulous service,” Ms Webb says. “They call at the same time every day and I’m always ready to answer.”

Now 78, Ms Webb moved to Mornington Peninsula 13 years ago after retiring from her job as an accountant.

She still drives and socialises with friends, but lives alone with her cat Rufus and dog, Lady.

The animals accompany her in

the house and when gardening.

The three are close knit but Ms Webb, who has suffered two strokes, knows Telecross is the more reliable when it comes to any help she may need if incapacitated and unable to reach the phone.

Ms Webb is one of 16 “clients” called every day by the peninsula-based Telecross service.

The clients have either asked Red Cross to add them to its list or have been referred by a doctor, family friend, neighbour or aged care service.

Most Telecross clients are elderly or isolated although some are young, living alone and unable to get out and about.

However, the free service also needs help and is looking for a convenor to organise Telecross clients and their callers.

The convenor also does client assessments and notifies emergency contacts if someone fails to answer their daily call.

The peninsula Telecross service also needs extra volunteer callers.

Anyone interested in applying for the Telecross convenor role should call Tess Altman, Red Cross social inclusion programs officer, on 8327 7759, 0419 323 752 or email taltman@redcross.org.au.

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Beleura Beleura sits sits on on top top of of Beleura Beleura Hill Hill surrounded surrounded by by aa garden garden of of great great beauty. beauty.

Guided Guided tours tours are are scheduled scheduled on on select select days days throughout throughout the the year. year.

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Whats W hats o n? on?

Taking direction: Early morning surfers obediently join the line up for the new parking rules at Flinders.

Lines rule at car park THE latest works at the Flinders entrance to the Mornington Peninsula National Park have left visitors scratching their heads.

A small, circular car park at the end of King St has now been painted to show 13 parking spaces, with arrows directing traffic in a clockwise direction.

The marking of the car park follows the installation of treated pine posts to prevent vehicles being parked off the bitumen, spraying of weeds and planting native trees and shrubs.

A grassed “island” that was also used for parking on busy days has been cut in half.

“Madness” is how one surfer described the latest effort to manage the car park as he had to reverse his truck before being able to drive out of a parking bay.

The previously self-managed car park could accommodate more than 20 vehicles.

Cars are now forced to park on nature strips once the allotted 13 spots are taken.

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Telephone 5975 2027 www.beleura.org.au Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 5

NEWS DESK

Hit for freeway planning VICTORIA’S Auditor-General Des Pearson says the promised economic benefits of the Peninsula Link Fwy may have been overstated and its potential negative impacts ignored.

His report, Management of Major Roads Projects, is a scathing critique of the freeway, one of the state’s most expensive road projects.

Mr Pearson slams VicRoads and Linking Melbourne Authority, which is managing the construction of the $760 million, 27-kilometre road from Carrum Downs to Mt Martha.

He said the two authorities failed to take into account the concept that bigger and better roads encourage more traffic, so-called “induced demand”, when deciding whether to build new freeways.

“They did not adequately assess the traffic induced by these improvements, communicate the risks, or estimate the impact of the economic benefits,” he said.

“These shortcomings create a risk of overestimating the benefits and giving decisionmakers false confidence.”

The report calls for induced demand to be factored into all future road decisions, as occurs in the UK and New Zealand.

The report says LMA also had weaknesses in the way it had made procurement decisions.

The freeway was conceived during the global financial crisis by the Brumby Labor government.

In December 2009, LMA with the government’s support awarded the project to Southern Way, a consortium of Royal Bank of Scotland, Bilfinger Berger and Abigroup.

LMA chairman David Buckingham, in a response written on his behalf by LMA CEO Ken Mathers, which is included in the Pearson report, said he was confident the project “represents value for money for the state”.

Bulldozers in the mist: Clearing and filling for Peninsula Link continues in the fog as the freeway works cut a swathe through prime agricultural country in Moorooduc.

Biosphere ‘promise’ in doubt

By Keith Platt DOUBTS have been cast on the ability of the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve to reach the aspirations under which it was established in 2002.

Proclaimed by the United Nations, the biosphere reserve aims to “keep special places – like Western Port – special by fostering conservation and sustainable development”.

But academics David Mercer of RMIT University and Glen Hyman of Sciences-Po in Paris see the biosphere project as an “unfulfilled promise”.

Although the biosphere is supposed to reflect local interests and values, the federal government has seemed disinterested and the state government runs roughshod over the wishes of community groups and municipalities.

In a long article published two years ago by the Australian Geographer, Mercer and Hyman trace the biosphere’s troubled history and blame their conclusion about its failure to meet expectations on a lack of support from state and federal governments.

They say federal governments have shown a “steadily declining interest” in biospheres, while the state “overwhelmingly” places economic growth and development at the top of its policy agenda, “and that the views of local government and community groups will only get a hearing to the extent that they accord with this vision”.

The article questions the ability of the biosphere to succeed, as most major planning decisions – transport, energy and water – are made by the state government not local councils.

Performance gets mixed reviews WHILE acknowledging ongoing dissension among original supporters of the Western Port Biosphere Reserve, a review of the organisation has found the “environmental, social and economic effects were greater than expected given the limited budget”.

Statistics given by the biosphere chair Rob Gell and CEO Cecelia Witton to the report’s author Roberts Evolution Pty Ltd show it “attracted in the order of $200,000 to the region and provided employment for at least two staff and two contractors”.

The review said two main projects – protecting the southern brown bandicoot and cleaning up Watsons Creek, Somerville – had “elements” of the biosphere’s three functions: conservation, sustainable development and logistic support (implementation to include education).

Biosphere reserves set up under UNESCO aim to reconcile the needs of wilderness and humans.

The report for the Department of Sustainability and Environment published in May 2010 showed local environment and business groups knew about the biosphere, but individuals from local and state government did not.

Despite the lack of knowledge by council officers, the biosphere covers and is partly bankrolled by five municipalities – Mornington Peninsula, Frankston, Casey, Cardinia and Bass.

PAGE 6

Mornington News 16 June 2011

The Roberts report says there appears to be communication problems between the biosphere and its members who, as a consequence, do not automatically renew their memberships.

It said “influential members on the board are either becoming frustrated with or losing interest in using this mechanism [community roundtables] to engage the community”, with members feeling marginalised, angry and alienated.

The conflict was blamed for Casey and Cardinia councils “losing interest” in the biosphere, although this was countered by the continuing involvement by CEOs of the five member municipalities.

“When asked to identify barriers [to success], the majority of respondents … articulated difficulties in making the ideal a reality. This discrepancy between the implementation and ideals of the [UNESCO] Man and Biosphere program is expressed in the frustration of stakeholders in responses to many questions asked in this review. Nearly all of the barriers focus on fundamentals such as funding, governance and direction.

“There is still very strong support among the community for the concept of the biosphere but not for the governing structure of the biosphere foundation or for its leadership. Groups and members who felt marginalised in the past have remained so.”

Keith Platt

It says the peninsula is seen as a dormitory suburb with limited employment opportunities.

The eagerness with which the state government approved the $2.3 billion Peninsula Link freeway is given as an example of the state ignoring principles of the biosphere.

With car travel seen by the government as the best way of travelling from the peninsula’s “greenfield” housing areas to jobs in Melbourne’s southeast. it had responded by constructing the 25-kilometre Peninsula Link freeway around Frankston.

The report stated that the freeway cut a swathe through the green wedge for half its length and included a prediction that it would become a “stranded asset” within half of its predicted 40year economic life.

This prediction has been given added strength by last month’s auditorgeneral’s report, which questioned the reliability of figures on which the freeway was being built.

Auditor-general Des Pearson said the agency managing the freeway’s construction, Linking Melbourne Authority, did not take account of the congestion that increased traffic would

cause on the Mornington Peninsula.

About 500 hectares of green wedge land was reserved for the freeway, although the LMA says the “final road surface will cover approximately 75 hectares” with the rest being “open space, landscaping with more than 1.5 million plants, new wetlands and a walking and cycling path”.

The academics say critical problems facing the biosphere’s region “include biodiversity destruction on such a scale that only scattered remnants remain, questionable planning decisions in the past based on waste water, housing and transport, inappropriate developments in green wedge zones, and accelerating population growth pressures”.

They see the biosphere as being “totally disconnected from the decisionmaking processes that structure its future” with the state making decisions that overrule the “place-based governance principles that are at the very heart of the biosphere idea”.

“In the case of the MPWPBR, Victoria has yet to seize the opportunity presented by this special UNESCO status, and, as such, its promise remains unfulfilled,” Mercer and Hyman concluded.

Biosphere explained A UNESCO biosphere reserve is described as being a living laboratory where people cooperate to develop better ways to manage the earth’s resources to meet human needs, while conserving natural processes and biodiversity.

Western Port Biosphere Reserve was chosen in 2002 because the area contains and supports exceptional ecological values on the fringe of a vibrant and expanding city.

Biosphere reserves have three functions: • Conservation — To contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.

• Sustainable development — To foster economic and human development that is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.

• Logistic support — To support research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to conservation and development.

Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere reserve designation does not alter the legal status of land within it.

Shire campaign to ‘stay the same’

By Keith Platt MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has launched a campaign to retain one councillor in each of its 11 wards.

The move has been prompted by a review of “electoral representation” being carried out by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

The campaign echoes one in 2005 that saw councillors, shire employees and Liberal Party members mount similar arguments to retain singlecouncillor wards across the peninsula.

Submissions to the latest review close 15 August and councillors have already endorsed governance and corporate support manager Noel Buck’s recommendation that the number of councillors and wards remain the same.

Although that decision was made at council’s 14 June meeting, the preferred position is already being sold to ratepayers through an article in the May edition of the council’s Peninsula-Wide newsletter.

The shire-financed campaign also includes mailouts to clubs and organi-

Status quo: Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Graham Pittock is campaigning to retain one councillor in each ward.

sations, website space and simultaneous public information sessions on 3 August at the shire’s Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud offices.

The article in Peninsula-Wide, although not attributed to a particular

author, said “single-councillor wards allow us to be responsive and accountable at a local level, while at the same time working as part of a team to tackle the bigger, strategic issues facing the whole shire”.

The article says any new “structure” adopted by the VEC would be in place for 12 years “so it’s important the community has the opportunity to have input”.

The article says single-councillor wards are “clearly the favoured system of our community”.

“At the last electoral review in 2005, Mornington Peninsula Shire residents overwhelmingly rejected a push to introduce multi-councillor wards, inundating the VEC with submissions to maintain the single-councillor model.”

The 2005 review led to two extra councillors being added to the council, taking the number from nine to 11.

The VEC favoured the shire having four wards (three three-councillor wards and one two-councillor ward), but bowed to the shire’s preference for 11 single-councillor wards.

Of the 77 preliminary submissions received by the VEC in 2005, 61 favoured retaining the existing nine councillors elected from nine singlecouncillor wards.

A check of submitters revealed many were either council staff, councillors or members of the Liberal Party.

The mayor Cr Graham Pittock is quoted in last month’s Peninsula-Wide as saying “a move towards multicouncillor wards would open the way for party politics or voting ‘blocs’ to enter council”.

“The single councillor ward system maximises accountability by each local councillor to their ward or electorate and in having the smallest possible ward size makes it affordable for local people to run for council without needing to have the backing of a political party or any other ‘power base’,” Cr Pittock said.

“This shire has an excellent record of working with both the state and federal governments, and the fact that the council works positively with whoever is in power is clear evidence of the

council’s non-partisan approach.”

Cr Pittock is quoted as being concerned about some of the shire’s smaller towns and villages being left “without effective representation under multi-councillor wards”.

In his 14 June report to council, Mr Buck said legislation provides for between five and 11 councillors.

“Due to the number of voters being represented by each councillor (estimated at 13,300 voters per councillor), the number of councillors should remain at 11. It would be unusual for the VEC to recommend 12 councillors, due to greater potential for tied votes and casting votes for council decisions.”

Preliminary submissions to the latest VEC electoral review close on 15 August.

For more details, visit www.vec.vic. gov.au or call 131 832.

The VEC guide for submissions and an information brochure will be available at shire offices at Mornington, Rosebud and Hastings from mid July.

Port control comes back to Hastings AFTER less than a year, the Port of Melbourne is about to lose control of the Port of Hastings.

Legislation has been drawn up giving control back to a new Port of Hastings Development Authority.

Hastings MP Neale Burgess said the move “paves the way for development of the Hastings port”.

“Allowing the development of a monopoly

through one port owning and controlling the other would have reduced Victoria’s competitiveness and hampered its economic development.”

Mr Burgess said local control was the best way to ensure port development was “sensitive to the needs of the local community and in a way that protects our environment”.

The Coalition government had made development of Hastings port a priority.

Education cash: Mornington MP David Morris, second from left, with OzChild’s Tony Pitman, Helen Fraser and Carol Thompson.

Cash for adult learners THREE community groups have $150,000 for adult education from the state government’s Adult, Community and Further Education “Capacity and Innovation Fund”.  Mornington Community Contact will receive $25,000 for new adult students.  Mt Eliza Village Neighbourhood Centre will use its $30,000 to develop an “eLearning” plan.  OzChild has $96,000 for two programs, including encouraging young adults disengaged from mainstream to gain skills through the use of social media.

Mornington MP David Morris said the money would be used to provide opportunities to “Learn Local” organisations to develop programs to in-

crease participation in education.

“The fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.”

He said that each year the state’s 320 “Learn Local” organisations provide education and training to more than 110,000 people, offering vocations, language, literacy and numeracy and workskill courses.

“Over 20 years, the community-based adult education sector has helped thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

A Mouse Trap in the making THE Southern Peninsula Players Theatre Group will perform Agatha Christie’s murder mystery The Mouse Trap in November.

The group has one of the limited production rights to the play that next year celebrates its 60th year of continuous performance in London’s West End. The group will hold a familiarisation night

at 7.30-9.30 on June 27 at the Youth Hall, Pt Nepean Rd, Rosebud. Auditions are 7.309.30pm on Thursday 30 June and Monday 4 July in Rosebud Memorial Hall, Pt Nepean Rd, Rosebud.

For audition bookings and inquiries, call Bonnie Armstrong on 5975 9078 or email bonniearmstrong22@bigpond.com.

Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 7

NEWS DESK

Boat trip to ‘discover’ the bay

By Keith Platt MUCH has been written, said and theorised about them, but to some of those involved in deciding their future the waters of Western Port have remained something seen but not experienced.

Last month the executive officer of the Western Port Catchment Committee, Ian Stevenson, decided it was time to provide “scientists, agencies and community people with a first-hand look” at the bay’s northern sector.

“Going on a boat gave them an opportunity to exchange information and see this part of Western Port,” Mr Stevenson said.

“More than half of them had never before been on that part of the bay.”

The group of 35 sailed from Tooradin on the Tidemaster on Thursday 12 May for a half-day trip taking in the shallow marine protected areas around French Island and the deep channels that sweep past Crawfish Rock, Barrallier Island and the areas earmarked for the expansion of the Port of Hastings.

Many of those on board spent time watching for birdlife on tide-exposed mudflats while Thiery Rowland of Parks Victoria attempted to show images being transmitted from underwater by a camera attached to a pole.

The water was a bit murky for clear images, but Mr Rowland explained that the camera was useful for investigating seagrass beds and the condition of boat moorings and jetty pylons.

All aboard: Clockwise from top: Some of the 35 people who took part in Western Port Catchment Authority’s boat trip; Doris Graham; Hugh Kirkman; disembarking at Tooradin; birds feeding on mudflats; Crawfish Rock; mangroves on Herring Island; and Thiery Rowland with an underwater camera.

PAGE 8

Mornington News 16 June 2011

He said it had been a “great season” for mangroves, with seedlings taking hold and growing on the mudflats.

Since the 2008 ban on professional netting, there had been a noticeable increase in the number of birds in northern Western Port, possibly due to them being disturbed by fewer visitors, Mr Rowland said.

There was “far too little data” to say if the declaration of a marine national park had led to an increase in fish numbers although “you would think that it would, as there is nothing being disturbed or taken out of the water”.

However, Mr Rowland was “pretty sure” the protected area was fished “after hours”.

“Every so often we surprise them

[fishermen],” he said.

He said pollution entering Western Port from Watsons Creek near Somerville was being tackled by “working with landowners and market gardeners”.

Seagrass specialist Hugh Kirkman described how the bay’s two distinct species of seagrass grew in areas regarded as being fish nurseries.

Although the carbohydrate-rich seagrass rhizomes were eaten by swans, “not much else eats it because it doesn’t provide much nutrition”.

Small crustaceans, worms and molluscs fed on organisms that lived on seagrass leaves.

Mr Kirkman said he had studied seagrass in Western Port as part of the

mid-1970s Shapiro report “when we were losing it”.

“It’s very unfortunate seagrass has not been monitored since, even though it is very easy to do.”

Mr Kirkman said history provided evidence of Western Port silting up with records of sailing ships being able to anchor near a hotel in Tooradin on Sawtells Inlet.

Doris Graham of the Victorian Wader Study Group said there had been a decline in the number of wading birds worldwide “which could be due to land lost to agriculture and industry” along the paths followed by migratory birds.

Some annual visitors to Western Port flew up to 13,000 kilometres to and from China and southeast Siberia.

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PAGE 9

AROUND THE PENINSULA

Last journey: Captain John Dowling sought permission from his bosses to delay the journey back from Warrnambool due to bad weather. They ordered him to set sail on schedule. About 33 hours later, his ship went down with all hands and lay hidden for 76 years off Phillip Island.

Mystery solved: This painting of TSS Coramba by Nick Morton was a gift to Des Williams from his business partners Geoff and Mark Miller and is based on a contemporary photo of the coastal freighter.

Preserved: One of the steamship’s two screws, or propellers, lying on the seafloor 63 metres deep in a still taken off the video shot by Mark Ryan of Southern Ocean Exploration.

Diving deep for the fun of the find All hands lost: Three crewman of the Coramba during a visit to port with the daughter of one of the ill-fated crew.

Flotsam: One of the ship’s lifeboats, found washed up on a Phillip Island beach along with part of the ship’s bridge, the ship’s bell, a clock stopped at 10.30pm and four bodies.

PAGE 10

Mornington News 16 June 2011

SOUTHERN Ocean Exploration is group of Victorian non-professional maritime archaeologists, self-confessed “shipwreck nuts”, who fund their own expeditions.

SOE has built a reputation for solving numerous shipwreck mysteries with a combination of high-tech equipment, clever research and dogged persistence.

In recent years the group has discovered the TSS Cumberland, TSS Kanowna, SS Queensland and SS Glenelg, many of them deep below the surface and requiring special diving apparatus.

One of their discoveries was the three-masted screwed barque SS Alert, which foundered in stormy seas near Cape Schanck on 28 December 1893 with the loss of 15 lives.

The sole survivor, Robert Ponting, clung to part of a cabin door for 16 hours before staggering on to a Sorrento back beach about 15 kilometres from where the ship went down.

He was found unconscious and half buried in the sand by four young women, and later a man and his St Bernard dog, which kept him warm until a rescue party arrived.

A memorial plaque for the Alert is at Sorrento cemetery, unveiled in November 2010.

Mark Ryan and his fellow divers are committed to preserving shipwrecks for posterity and make full reports about their discoveries for the state government body Heritage Victoria.

SOE now turns its attention to finding the SS

Federal and the paddle steamer Reliance.

Heritage Victoria last June released online a catalogue of 2000 images of shipwrecks taken over the past 30 years, many by SOE. Mr Ryan said the catalogue was an important historical record.

“The catalogue allows the non-diver to see some of the wonderful treasures that are part of the state’s rich maritime history,” he said.

“It doesn’t replace the excitement of viewing the actual items live, so there will always be a place to showcase relics in museums and displays, but the online catalogue is a fantastic tool for researchers, historians and amateur archaeologists.”

More than 600 ships have sunk in Victorian waters since 1835, but only 239 wrecks have been found and surveyed. Many were deliberately scuttled in Victoria’s ship graveyard southwest of Port Phillip’s entrance.  The Heritage Victoria catalogue is at http:// www.flickr.com/photos/heritage_victoria/  For more information about SOE, go to www.southernoceanexploration.com  A video of SOE diving on Coramba can be downloaded (it’s a large file) at https://www.yousendit.com/download/ dkJveUNGSWhuSlR2Wmc9PQ  The search for Coramba and other SOE expeditions is being filmed for a documentary, Ghost Divers, by Mornington-based Terry Cantwell of White Water Documentaries.

Details: www.whitewaterdocumentaries.com

The sea gives up a secret as Depression-era shipwreck found off Phillip Island

By Mike Hast FOR maritime historian and veteran diver Des Williams and shipwreck hunter Mark Ryan, solving the 76-year mystery of the ill-fated cargo steamer TSS Coramba mid-May was a bitter– sweet experience.

Sweet because the two men had spent a combined 23 years looking for the steamer; bitter because the discovery bought back memories for ageing relatives of the captain and crew who perished when the 530ton, twin-propeller steamer sank off Phillip Island on a stormy night on 30 November 1934.

Coramba should not have been in Bass Strait as her 47-year-old skipper, Captain John Dowling, had requested permission to delay the 30-hour return journey from Warrnambool to Melbourne due to bad weather, which closed in at lunchtime on 29 November.

But competition from rail freight and pressure of business during the Great Depression saw the steamer ordered to sail as scheduled.

The next night, when Coramba was close to the entrance to Port Phillip, Captain Dowling made the fateful decision to steam further east and

shelter in Western Port. He and his ship never made it.

In one of Victoria’s worst maritime disasters, the 50-metre long Coramba capsized and all 17 seamen on board perished.

Washed ashore on Phillip Island beaches days later was part of the ship’s bridge, its bell, a clock stopped at 10.30pm and just four bodies.

Like any good maritime historian, Mr Williams knew the story of the steamer and in the early 1980s started diving off Phillip Island, searching for Coramba where the marine board of inquiry said she had gone down, based on information from legendary diver Johnno Johnstone who had confirmed her sinking for the insurer of the ship’s owner, the Belfast and Koroit Steamship Company.

Mr Williams also started research for a book, Coramba: The Ship the Sea Swallowed, which was published in 1985.

“I was obsessed with that damn ship and spent 15 years looking for her,” he told The News.

“Johnno Johnstone told the insurance company the Coramba went down about two miles off Kitty Miller Bay

and that’s where I started looking.”

Kitty Miller Bay is next to Summerland Bay where the island’s worldfamous fairy penguins waddle up the beach at dusk every day.

Mr Williams gave up the search in the early 1990s, but eight years ago joined forces with Mark Ryan, Peter Taylor and Martin Tozer of the not-forprofit Southern Ocean Exploration (see panel).

Mr Ryan, who lives in Mt Martha, and his colleagues restarted the search for Coramba with Des Williams in 2003. Using sophisticated sounding equipment, they went further out into Bass Strait, but found nothing.

“Perhaps we had misinterpreted the historical information,” Mr Ryan said, “so we searched grids further to the west, but again came up empty-handed.

“Peter Taylor and Martin Tozer suggested we look east of Kitty Miller Bay, but I was sceptical.”

He reckons they searched about 80 square kilometres with the sounder, more than 20 trips into Bass Strait before finding Coramba, spending about $30,000 of their own money.

Luck played a part. On Sunday 15 May, Mr Ryan was on his own, looking

for the ketch Kermandie, which went down while carrying granite from Cape Woolamai to Melbourne, when the sounder picked up a much larger vessel.

“It was a eureka moment. The second I saw the size, a huge rush of adrenalin hit me; it had to be the Coramba,” he said. “This is why we search for shipwrecks; it’s not the thrill of the chase, but the thrill of the find.”

Des Williams takes up the story: “I got a text message from Mark saying he’d found what looked like our ship, but it was too rough to dive on it. Even if it had been calm, Mark wanted the entire team there.

“The following weekend we all went out and Mark and other SOE members dived on the wreck. The clincher was if the vessel had twin screws.

“I waited on the surface and watched for the red buoy to surface, the signal that it was our target. When that buoy popped up, there was an incredible sense of joy and achievement. If I was any happier, I’d have been twins.”

Mr Williams says Peter Taylor played a major part in the discovery. “He’s done a power of research and we might have been looking for another eight

years without his detective work.”

Coramba is lying on her port side in 63 metres (205ft) of water 15 kilometres southeast of Phillip Island, nowhere near where she was thought to be.

Mr Ryan said the Coramba was the most looked-for ship in Victoria.

“It’s a very significant shipwreck and diving on it to confirm it was her was an amazing experience.”

He said the stern is in reasonably good condition, with the twin screws intact, but the front section is shattered, probably from sinking bow first.

For Des Williams the discovery has a poignant human element. While writing the book, he met relatives of the lost crew including the daughter and son of Captain Dowling, Audrey O’Callaghan and Jack Dowling.

They were 12 and nine when their father and the ship and crew under his command disappeared.

Mr Williams says the loss of her father had a profound effect on Audrey, now aged 88, and nearly 20 years ago he promised her he would find the Coramba.

Sadly, Jack died last December, aged 85.

Celebration: Southern Ocean Exploration members and Des Williams (white jumper) celebrate the discovery last month.

Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 11

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A peninsula garden...

By Frances Cameron ON cold, grey days you don’t often feel like getting out into your garden. They can be a really good excuse to sit inside, take a good look at your garden through the windows and work out what needs to be done.

All the leaves from deciduous tree in your neighbourhood that end up in drifts in corners, or any other nooks and crannies, can be gathered up into big gardening bags. Mix through a couple of handfuls of blood and bone, tie up the tops and store them somewhere for the next couple of months.

By the time spring comes around, the blood and bone should have helped them to start breaking down into a nice crumbly mixture for you to add to your garden beds.

Some deciduous plants can be propagated with hardwood cuttings, a process which can be performed now when they are coming into dormancy. Plants which can be propagated like this are weigela (usually W. florida.), berberis (B. thunbergia), and kerria (K. japonica), along with most hydrangea species.

This process involves getting cuttings from the current year’s

growth which are about 15cm long and have at least 3 or 4 healthy buds near the top. Make the bottom cut straight and the top cut on an angle facing away from the closest bud.

The cuttings can then be placed either in a trench in the ground which has been dug over so the soil isn’t lumpy, or they can be placed in a pot using a good quality potting mix. If you are planting into the ground, make a trench as long as you need and about 8 to 10 cm deep then put some washed river sand in the bottom to a depth of about 2cm; the sand will aid in the formation of roots. Place the cuttings into the trench and back fill the soil. These cuttings can take up to two months to form roots big enough to allow transferring the cuttings to their own pots.

Spring flowering bulbs, corms and tubers like daffodils, grape hyacinth, anemone, brodiaea and tulips should be in the ground or pots by now, and some of the earlier flowering bulbs should be starting to pop their heads up above the surface of the soil. If you neglected to give them some food at planting time you can still sprinkle a bit of blood and bone around them now, but otherwise wait

until they have flowered before feeding them again. Feeding them as their flowers fade gives the bulbs energy to store for their next growing season.

Keep the areas around them weed free and mulched with a light covering such as pea straw to protect them over winter.

Transplanting can be done now, as long as the soil isn’t too wet. The key to doing this successfully is to prepare well before shifting the plant. Dig and prepare the new hole first, have a good supply of water ready to water it in and cutting tools ready to cut it back at the same time; reducing the leaf surface area will reduce the risk of the plant going into shock through loss of moisture. Remember to prune the top of the plant to about the same size as the root ball.

There are plenty of beautiful plants in flower throughout early winter, grevillea such as G. ‘Honey gem’ and G. ‘Jessie Cadwell’ flower most of the year. Other natives such as banksia ericifolia and the pincushion hakea (Hakea laurina), one of my favourites, are flowering now as well, get into your neighbourhood and find them.

Happy hunting! peninsulagardener.blogspot.com

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Mornington News 16 June 2011

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Healthy Living Your health and wellbeing

By Laura Jones BARIATRIC surgery can help people to lose weight and reduce obesity related diseases, by enabling people to become satisfied from smaller amounts of food.

However to achieve the best results, patients must also aim to work towards living a healthy lifestyle. My role as a bariatric Dietitian includes providing regular follow up, support and education for patients. In particular I help people to develop a non-dieting approach to their weight loss, which is something a lot of bariatric patients have not achieved before. It is also essential that a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diet is assessed for nutritional adequacy to prevent nutritional deficiencies and related ill health. I also offer suggestions for vitamin supplementation, quick healthy meal ideas, meal planning and helping patients to understand food labels.

Dietitians donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just help people with improving their nutritional knowledge; they also focus on eating behavior, behavioral change, motivation and more importantly adjusting diet for other health conditions that a patient may have. Only an accredited practicing dietitian can give advice on the nutritional management of chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In addition, research has shown that regular follow up with your bariatric team, including the dietitian, can lead to better health and weight loss outcomes in patients. In summary, the dietitian can offer patients with plenty of support, motivation and guidance to help them achieve the best possible health and weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery.

For further information, call Lap Surgery on 9760 2777.

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Call us today on 9760 2777 www.lapsurgeryaustralia.com Email: info@lapsurg.net.au Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 13

Curves Mornington’s annual food drive - Benefiting local people in need FROM June 1 - 30, Curves Mornington is collecting non-perishable food items for The Mornington Information Centres Emergency Food Pantry.

Even if you are not a member, you can still make a donation. There are so many people here in our community who need our help right now.

About Curves Curves is a facility especially designed for women featuring a complete 30-minute cardio and strength-training program that has been proven to be clinically effective with a positive effect on body composition, metabolism, and resting heart rate. Curves appeals to women of all ages who want a fitness routine that differs from typical gyms Curves Mornington also offers Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness, the only 30-minute class that mixes the moves of Zumba with the proven strength training of Curves for a wildly effective workout.

Curves Mornington is giving away one 12 month membership this winter; call us to find out how you can enter.

Please call 5975 5526 for more information or drop into Curves Mornington at Level 1, 8 Spray Street Mornington. Entry to Spray Street is off Main Street, via Elizabeth Street. www.curvesmornington.com.au

Healthy Living Are you paying too much for hair care?

TIRED of paying through the roof for a hairstyle and colour? Then Ziki Hair Salon is the place for you! Modern, stylish and professional, this home hairsalon brings the city to you! With the benefit of low over heads, we at Ziki can offer our clients a service that is

comfortable and easily accessible to those living in Mornington and the surrounding suburbs.

The hours of operation are Sundays 10am – 4pm, Mondays-Tuesdays-Wednesdays- 9am – 9pm, and Thursdays- 9am – 12pm. We offer a complete range of hair services from cutting & colouring, bridal & formal hair, to Keratin Relaxing & Smoothing treatments.

Both Natalie & Shaun have worked in salons throughout the peninsula area and are both highly trained in all aspects of the hair industry. The Ziki team specialize in modern style cutting, foiling and colour correction. We also have sourced and trained in Keratin based relaxing services, and due to our location we offer these at a very reasonable price. Natalie is also trained in organically bonded hair extensions that are so natural looking, they are literally undetectable! Both the extensions and Keratin services are all priced depending on the individual.

We would like to invite you to come try our salon, in which we are sure you will be both happy and impressed, Call Natalie or Shaun on 0449 143 137.

both modern and affordable, almost half the price of normal hairsalon! Plus on your first appointment, you receive a 25% discount on all services!

With twenty-five years experience between them, Natalie (pictured above) & Shaun have built a salon that is modern,

Ziki

Now your muscles can multitask, too.

Our 30-minute circuit works every major muscle group, two muscles at a time, so you can burn up to 2000 kilojoules. All with a trainer to teach and motivate.

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Try 1 Week Free* *Free week may be redeemed on first visit or exchanged for special membership discount. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations. © 2009 Curves International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Women’s Colour Women’s Cuts PERSONAL COACHING SYSTEM

DETAILED PROGRESS REPORT

Tint regrowth only: $45 Tint roots to ends: $60 Tint and foils: $70 Semi-permanent: $45 Foils part line/hairline: $35 Toner: $10 Foils 1/2 head: $70 Foils fullhead: $90 (Long hair charges may apply)

www.curvesmornington.com.au

5975 5526 CURVES MORNINGTON Level 1, 8 Spray Street (off Main St, Via Elizabeth St) PAGE 14

Mornington News 16 June 2011

Wash, cut and dry off: $30 Wash, cut and blow wave: $40 Blow-wave plus curls or straightener add $10 Curls or straightener on dry hair: $20 Conditioning Treatments: $10 Blow Wave: Short $25, Medium $30, Long $35

Men’s Cuts and Colour

Children/Student Cuts

Tint: $20 Foils scattered: $20 Foils full head: $35 Beliarge: $15 Wash and cut: $20 Head shave: $15

Primary and under: $10 High school girls: $15 High school boys: $15 KERATIN COMPLEX TREATMENT: P.O.A FORMAL/BRIDAL HAIR UP: P.O.A HAIR EXTENSIONS: P.O.A

OPENING SPECIAL 25% off 1st visit 14 EDEN PARK DRIVE, MORNINGTON Call Natalie & Shaun 0449143137 6 7 < / , 6 + 3 5 2 ) ( 6 6 , 2 1 $ / 0 2 ' ( 5 1

Healthy Living Put your best foot forward!

DID you know you take, on average, around 7000 steps everyday? That means in a lifetime you’ll have walked the equivalent of greater than 3 times around the world!!

Add to that the amount of time you spend standing engaging in sport and exercise, wearing high heels or non supportive shoes and you have caused an enormous stress to your feet, legs and hips. It’s no wonder that these parts of your body get sore occasionally.

The problem with occasional soreness is it can become more regular, more painful and develop into an injury. We all know that pain is your body’s way of saying “Hey, something is not right here; we have a problem that needs to be fixed!” But it’s amazing that most people just put up with it or think it will go away. Unfortunately most of the time it doesn’t , when it does you can back it in it will return and eventually become a permanent injury. Then you’re stuck having to take 7000 very painful steps everyday! Not to mention limiting your abilities for work, exercise

and recreational activities.

Seeking assistance from a qualified and experienced Sports Podiatrist can assist with injury and wound healing, end heel, arch and foot pain; address shin, knee and hip pain; assist with adolescent growing pains; slow bunions and arthritis.

Paul Dowie – founder of the Foot & Leg Pain Clinics is one of Australia’s leading Sports Podiatrists, with over 15 years experience. He advises that not to put up with pain or discomfort as often there is an easy solution. Paul has been the chosen podiatrist for many celebrated athletes worldwide including seven of the World’s #1 Tennis Players, Olympic gold medalists and many internationally recognized golfers.

Whether you’re 8 or 80, if you’re suffering foot and leg pain or injury Foot and Leg pain Clinics can help. Clinics are open across Melbourne including 135 Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza - Phone 1300 328 300.

Call now for 50% OFF initial consultations.

To advertise in Healthy Living please contact Carolyn Wagener on 0407 030 761

“Can I wear contact lenses?”

Do you play sport, socialise, cook, and generally lead an active lifestyle? Contact lenses can help enhance all aspects of your life, whether for work, sport or leisure activities.

Contact lenses could be a great form of vision correction for you, allowing for better vision, convenience and freedom to live your life. They are less affected by wet weather, do not steam up, and provide a wider field of vision.

Visual conditions correctable with contact lenses include: Shortsightedness (blurred distance vision) Longsightedness (blurry or strained vision) Astigmatism (Visual distortion)  Presbyopia (blurred near vision that occurs as we age) Almost anyone who wears spectacles can wear contact lenses, including people who require multifocal lenses. New technology means contact lenses are clearer, more comfortable and

more convenient than ever. They provide a full field of unobstructed vision – great if you’re into sports – as well as other functional advantages including freedom of movement that spectacles cannot match.

Contact lenses give you additional flexibility to take on new activities with crisper vision, or change you image when it suits you. You can choose to wear them instead of your spectacles, or alternate between spectacles and contact lenses.

Please ask us if contact lenses are a good solution for you.

You will need to have a professional contact lens fitting. This will include FREE TRIAL CONTACT LENSES. We will teach you to wear and manage your lenses.

Ask us today! - John Old Optometrist, Bentons Square Phone: 5975 5720.

The best collection of fashion frames and sunglasses on the Peninsula

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Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 15

F

D& ENTERTAINMENT ʔʦLȫɏ

Confucius says:

Recipes are from The Australian Women’s Weekly, Soup. ACP Books. RRP $12.95, available from selected newsagents, supermarkets and online from www.acpbooks.com.au

Those who say they “sleep like a baby” haven‛t got one

Riddle:

Two individuals proceeded towards the apex of a natural geologic protuberance, the purpose of their expedition being the procurement of a sample of fluid hydride of oxygen in a large vessel the exact size of which was unspecified. One member of the team precipitously descended, sustaining severe damage to the upper cranial portion of his anatomical structure; the second member of the team performed a self rotational translation oriented in the same direction taken by the first team member. Answer page 17

It’s a long way from New Orleans to Mornington ONE of Victoria’s, in fact one of Australia’s true New Orleans jazz musicians, Charlie Powell has been booked along with the Louisiana Shakers for the “A Pleasant Sunday Arvo” concert at the Mornington RSL on Sunday 19 June 2011.

Charlie recently celebrated his 85th birthday and in excess of 47 years of crowd-pleasing appearances when many of his fellow New Orleans devotees came along to a Melbourne jazz venue and “sat-in” to help celebrate the milestone.

“Trombone Charlie Powell” as he is affectionately known is, as part of the “Shakers” line-up, still bringing in and pleasing discerning jazz lovers.

Charlie and fellow (Shakers)

Presents

musician, Nick Polites were members of the groundbreaking Melbourne New Orleans jazz band in 1959. A dedicated group, which, way back then had a massive following (in particular on the Mornington Peninsula) and made some highly influential records for the then, Swaggie label.

“Forty seven years plus behind that trombone! He’ll soon be wanting long service leave” Shakers stalwart and leader, Ashley Keating said. “Joking aside, Chas is a real New Orleans devotee, a dedicated and extremely valued member of our line-up and totally respected by his peers”.

A Pleasant Sunday Arvo organiser, Judy Anderson has been involved in many ways

with the “Louisiana Shakers” for considerable years, hence she is fully aware of the calibre and quality of their performances and is confident that this concert will sell quickly.

“The moral to that is for patrons is to book early to avoid disappointment!”.

“We are extremely fortunate to obtain the services of “The Shakers” for our 2011“A Pleasant Sunday Arvo” concert series. They are in great demand, not only at Melbourne jazz venues but on the Australian jazz festival circuit. They are the ultimate in New Orleans music and a band comprising top quality musicians with one helluva reputation”.

For enquires or bookings please call 5975-2106.

Morning Melodies At The Peninsula Community Theatre Cnr Wilsons Rd & Nepean Hwy Mornington

June 23rd @ 10.30 am doors open 9.30am

$20.00 inc morning tea Bookings at Onde Cafe 1 Barret Lane Mornington

Ph 5976 1224

or

0401939606

Dinner & Show

At Harba Oyster Bar & Grill 786 The Esplanade Mornington

To advertise in the next Food & Entertainment Guide please contact Carolyn Wagener on 0407 030 761

Bookings on PAGE 16

Mornington News 16 June 2011

03 5975 1183

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Thursday Lunch - Weekly

Sunday Arvo Jazz

July 8th Doors from 6pm

$60.00 per head inc 3 course meal and show

MORNINGTON RSL

“The Louisiana Shakers” Mornington

VENUE AVAILABLE FOR FUNCTIONS 4/27 Virginia Street, Mornington

Phone 5975 2106

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Apocalypse Now ... and then

By Stuart McCullough THIS is a disaster. I haven’t felt this flat-out cheated since the whole ‘Y2K’ computer bug turned out to be a complete and utter turkey in 2000. As you may or may not be aware, the world was supposed to end last weekend. Californian minister Harold Camping had boldly predicted that the world as we know it would come to a grinding halt on 21 May 2011.

I was ready. Having survived the whole ‘millennium bug’ fiasco, I can honestly say that if there’s one thing I do well, it’s prepare for an imminent apocalypse.

As soon as I heard that Armageddon was expected over the weekend, I swung into action. This included digging a suitable shelter – a task made all the more awkward by the fact that we have a first floor apartment – and collecting as much in the way of canned goods as possible. Sadly, nearly all those cans are tomato soup; a flavour I despise as a result of chronic overuse during my childhood. It was as though our parents were genuinely unaware that any other variety of soup existed. I can still recall that magical day in 1994 when I first stumbled across a tin of split pea and ham, and

had to be assured this glorious substance was, in fact, soup.

From that moment on, an entire universe of broths, consommés and soups opened up to me.

But I digress.

So involved was I in preparing for the approaching worldwide destruction that I

neglected to ring my sisterin-law and wish her a happy birthday. This, frankly, is completely unforgivable. I can only hope that given the world was scheduled to turn into a cinder, she, like me, was distracted by other events.

My preparations were as

nothing compared to those of others. The newspapers were full of stories of people who were so convinced that the end was nigh that they spent all their savings. (Incidentally, the term ‘nigh’ really only gets a run when you’re speaking of the end of the world. No one ever describes the end of the third quarter as being ‘nigh’.)

Others had decorated their cars with warnings and endured months of abuse for their trouble, some quit their jobs and one fellow drove across the entire continent just so he could be in California when it all went down. Because, I suppose, location really matters when the day of judgement arrives. I’d hate to think that there are some who might have used what they thought were humanity’s last remaining hours to let people know what they really thought of them.

How they must have felt on Sunday morning. Suddenly, my shelter and cans of soup don’t seem so silly.

Sadly (well, sort of sadly), the world did not come to a grinding halt over the weekend.

This, of course, is immensely disappointing. Then I learned the awful truth – this is not the first time that Harold Camping has predicted the end of the world. Previously, he had

said the apocalypse was due to arrive some time in 1994.

When that did not come to pass, he blamed a mathematical error. I prefer to think that Judgement Day was postponed to allow for additional seasons of Seinfeld.

Poor Harold took the news hard – it’s a big call to predict the end of the world. Sadly it’s one of those things that only really matters if you’re wrong.

Apparently he felt so terrible he left home and moved into a motel with his wife, which, as acts of penitence go, doesn’t sound too bad. The following Monday he released a statement. Although I’ve not seen it, I desperately hope that it includes the words ‘missed it by that much…’

But unlike the last time he predicted the coming of Doomsday, Harold’s not prepared to give it a rest for another 17 years. No, he’s revised his prediction to 21 October. This year.

I’m sure that when he went over his notes, it stood out like veritable dog’s bollocks.

When revising his calculations, Harold Camping will have slapped himself when he realised that he’d forgotten to carry the one over to the next column or some such thing.

Serves him right for insisting

that the computations be performed on an abacus rather than a calculator, I say.

The new date of 21 October means several things. Firstly, there will now be enough time to find out who wins this series of Dancing With The Stars.

Perhaps, more importantly, it means that life as we know it will come to an end just before my next birthday. This seems fitting. Given that I failed to get in touch with my sister-in-law on her birthday, it’s only fair that the end of the world should be rescheduled to a day closer to my own.

It also means that I will be able to avoid all the existential angst that comes with turning 40. Phew.

But if the world doesn’t end five months from now, I’m sure I won’t mind too much. Even if it means that I will hit the big ‘4-0’ after all. I’m enjoying the shelter I prepared, which I’m planning to turn into something more like a Mr Brady-style den. If any of you are worried about the end of the world on 21 October or, heck, just find yourself at a loose end, you’d be welcome to come over and join me. I just hope you like tomato soup. I’ll be sure to send a special invitation to Harold. www.stuartmccullough.com

The most ridiculous and strange, fresh for you...

Joke!!!

A truck driver amused himself by running over lawyers as they walked down the side of the road.

Every time he saw a lawyer walking along the road, he would swerve to hit him. There would be a loud “thud”, and then he would swerve back on the road.

As the truck driver drove along one day, he saw a priest hitch hiking, he pulled over and asked the priest, “Where are you going, Father?”

The priest said he was on his way to his church up the road.

“I’ll give you a lift.”

The priest climbed into the passenger seat and the truck driver continued down the road. Suddenly, the truck driver saw a lawyer walking down the road and instinctively swerved to hit him. At the last minute, he remembered he had a priest in the truck and swerved back onto the road. Even though he knew he missed the lawyer, he still heard a loud “thud.” Unsure of where the noise came from, he glanced in his mirrors. When he didn’t see anything, he turned to the priest and said, “I’m sorry, Father. I almost hit a lawyer.”

The priest replied, “That’s OK, I got him with the door.”

RIddle Solution ANSWER: Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after!

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1/6 Latham St Mornington (off Bruce St). Melways Ref: 145 J3.

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Tasmanian Leatherwood and Manuka honey available Mornington News 16 June 2011

PAGE 17

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment THE opening night of Love Never Dies was spectacular and the continuing story of The Phantom of the Opera was a carnival scene of dancers, circus acts and spectacular colour.

The Phantom (Ben Lewis), 10 years after his abduction of Christine (Anna O’Byrne), is now a wealthy impresario running a Coney Island attraction. He lures Christine, her husband Raoul (Simon Gleeson) and son Gustave (Kurtis Papadinis) to Manhattan.

I feel so privileged to have seen the Australian production of Love Never Dies.. Everything about the show was Dies amazing; sets, costumes, singing. I’d see it again if I could! Well done to all involved – a magical night out at the theatre.

The highlight of my night was meeting composer Andrew Lloyd Webber at the after party and chatting with producer Simon Phillips who said: “It’s an honour to be working on an Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dazzling new work.”

We caught up with Barry Humphries, Geoffrey Rush, Police Minister Peter Ryan and his wife, David Marriner, newsreader Mal Walden and 3AW showbiz reporter and newsreader Donna Demaio.

A great night of entertainment and

a great after party that included fresh fairy floss. Tickets 1300 111 011 www.loverneverdies.com.au *** WROKDOWN is a popular TV show on Channel 31 hosted by Wendy Stapleton that features artists, musicians, record producers, photographers and movers and shakers from the rock and pop industry in the 1960s and ’70s.

The show is running a series of fundraising gigs every few months featuring artists who have appeared on the show.

Producer Anita Monk hosts a Wrokdown radio show on 88.3 Southern FM and 96.5 Inner FM hosted by Mick Pealing.

I worked with the Adelaide-born Mick Pealing at Southside Six during the mid-Seventies with his band The Stars and was one of the first radio journalists in Melbourne to play their debut single Quick on the Draw Draw,, a top 30 hit. The Stars also released With a Winning Hand, Mighty Rock and Look After Yourself Yourself..

The next gig, at the Caravan Club, Oakleigh RSL, Drummond St Oakleigh, will feature Ronnie Charles (The Groop, Somebody’s Image), Mick Pealing (The Stars, Spaniards), Jim Keays (Masters Apprentices),

Neale Johns (Blackfeather, Flake, Fraternity) and backing band Wrokdown Circus. MC with be Ken Murdoch (Cloud Nine, Taste). For more information, look up www. wrokdown.com. *** HELL Ain’t A Bad Place To Be Be,, the story of rock icon and AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, will premiere in Melbourne on 12 July at the Athenaeum Theatre for a two-week season.

Rock musician Nick Barker, known for his raw and intimately connected performances, will tell the story of Scott and his rise to fame with AC/ DC, interspersed with hit songs from the legendary musician.

Barker will be joined by legendary rocker Doug Parkinson, who knew Bon Scott in the hell-raising years of the 1970s. Parkinson will sing songs from Bon Scott’s early years while telling stories of his time with Bon – some he’s prepared to share, others he thinks may be best forgotten.

Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be – The Story of Bon Scott is directed

by RocKwiz’s Brian Nankervis, one of Australia’s most celebrated rock and roll brains and a living musical encyclopaedia, and written by Andrew Barker, whose credits include

producer of The Man in Black and The Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session Session..

The story follows Bon’s life from Scotland to Australia, through his wild teenage years and the bands that came before AC/DC – the Spektors, the Valentines and Fraternity.

From hippie epiphanies to bubblegum pop to the iconic early years of AC/DC, Hell celebrates the music, the heartbreak and the life of Bon Scott – a quintessential rock and roll story that ended far too soon.

When Scott died in 1980, Highway to Hell had just reached the top 20 in the United States and AC/DC was on the brink of becoming a global rock phenomenon.

The band’s next album, Back in Black,, was released as a tribute Black to Scott, becoming the secondbestselling album in history.

Scott died after an all-night drinking bout in London in 1980.

Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster 9650 1500. *** WARNER Bros Pictures has announced that Anne Hathaway will play Selina Kyle in the latest instalment of The Dark Knight Rises Rises,, starring alongside Christian Bale who returns in the role as Bruce Wayne/Batman.

all preach the love of God, and each other, in one form or another. Even those nice women who knock on my door (Jehovah’s Witnesses?) have that bottom line – ours is the only true religion. I don’t get this subtle form of hypocrisy. Will we ever elect a Muslim as Prime Minister, or is this a rash thought? If it is a rash thought, why is it? *** PS: Teddy’s mob passed a bill to wind back the powers of the state’s Equal Opportunity Commission. This allows faith-based organisations to refuse staff based on sexuality (read gays) marital status (singles) and spiritual beliefs. And they tell us this is in the name of religious freedom. And pigs may fly. *** CHRIS Lilley’s Summer Heights High had its schoolgirl moments, but really Angry Boys takes some getting used to. His characters are extreme, there’s too much swearing and it’s not very clever; boring in fact. The big plus I suppose is that he’s allowed to put a show like this to air without the wowsers howling him down. Is it culture?

Up to a point I suppose, in that it’s shown on the ABC. A new genre?

There’s no such thing. Not for mine, genius or no genius. *** THE Aborigines long long ago were too busy scratching Bunjil outlines into rocks to think of drugs, so I blame the Chinese. They were smoking opium before British Australia was thought of as a dumping ground, and they would gamble on sticks of wood flowing down the Yangtze River 2000 years before young Jesus popped his head out. Ahh, but we Aussies are clever. Our state government came up with drink coasters showing tips before gambling. “Set your limit.” Problem solved. As the bloke who spoke to the bookie said, “I hope I break even today. I really need the money”. Cigarettes? No problemo. Plain coloured packets: the perfect example of our government seen to be doing something, yet doing nothing. It’s an addiction!

Swearing? Yet again, problem solved. Offensive language – is it even considered an offence if no one is present? This could represent a hidden bonanza for government coffers. An undercover cop in the RSL restricted smoking zone would net a fortune, particularly immediately after the

members’ raffle is drawn. Does this mean that when some idiot cuts me off on the highway the best I can manage is “sugar”? *** I WATCHED the film Red Hill recently. A dozen murders and a hanging. Gory, blood splattering violence.

That’s OK apparently, likewise Underbelly on television, all about violence, drugs and sensuality, albeit third rate with comic performances.

So if all this rubbish is OK why do we go to town on some inoffensive thingo called “Brocial Network”? Emma Quayle, an Age football journalist writing about this Facebook social network, called it “grubby, offensive and immoral” (8000 members are invited to upload photos of scantily clad female friends). It has AFL footballers as members and, no, I haven’t been invited. Fairy floss, Emma. Stick to real footy. *** IN an effort to combat old age, loneliness and boredom, I was half considering a trip overseas, assuming Centrelink approval and the necessary energy to drive to the airport. I have a credit card with my local bank but decided on a second card just in case.

with Gary Turner The film is slated for release in Australia on 19 July 2012. *** STEVE Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith) will tour Australia with Steely Dan in October, performing at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday 27 October.

The singer-songwriter-keyboard player and guitarist was born in Birmingham and joined the Spencer Davis Group with his older brother Muff when he was aged 15.

His soulful voice can be heard on such hits as Gimme Some Lovin’, Keep On Running and I’m a Man, Man, songs he co-wrote.

He later formed Traffic and Blind Faith before going solo in 1981.

A string of hits followed including Valerie, Higher Love, and Arc of a Diver.. Tickets 132 849.

Diver www.frontiertouring.com

A Grain of Salt Whinge issue IT’S very nice for all those females to march against the use of the word slut and “reclaim their bodies”, but people who use the word (including women) will take not one iota of notice.

When I hear people use it (mainly men), I feel a sense of pity, in that they never stop to consider the consequences of their language nor consider that they are announcing their ignorance.

Nine times out of 10 they base their misguided opinion on one look or a vague rumour. Some are married with their wives likely under a dress sense embargo. Strangely, although not surprisingly, these same people complain if females choose to wear a head covering. Thankfully, none of them barrack for Collingwood. *** I AM against bible study in schools and I welcome the Victorian Teachers’ Union resolution (46,000 state school teachers) to scrap Special Religious Instruction during school hours. I am not against religious studies per se, nor will I be attending the Global Atheists Convention funded by our state government in 2012. What concerns me is that almost every religion appears to rubbish the others, and yet they

with Cliff Ellen the Commonwealth Bank ($10,000/ monthly direct debits/no interest) knocked me back. I’ve had an account with them since it was transferred from the State Savings Bank last century. No debts, a pensioner on $700 a fortnight. Can someone kindly tell me where, if any, there’s a risk factor? I could close my account and deposit the funds in another bank, but apparently they all have standard measures against pensioners. Yet some invite you to apply when you reach 18. I’m unconcerned, but they’re shameful. *** AT my age a perfunctory cuddle is better than nothing, I suppose. “If that’s all there is my friends, let’s keep dancing, let’s break out the booze and have a ball, if that’s all, there is.” (Peggy Lee) Too much melancholia? Can’t help it. It’s winter. Bye for now. cliffie9@bigpond.com

Did you know... you can now view our papers online at: www.mpnews.com.au PAGE 18

Mornington News 16 June 2011

Stratcombe ready to shine after a return from injury BLACK CAVIAR’S trainer Peter Moody may have unearthed another star in two-year-old Le Societe.

A filly by Anabaa, Le Societe made it two wins from two starts when spacing her rivals over 1200m at Sandown. She gives every indication she will be equally effective over longer distances.

Former Kiwi Zoomin won twice on wet tracks earlier this season and is ready to fire following three starts from a spell, working home stoutly when runner-up over 2100m at Sandown.

Mornington-trained Charlie’s Queen has reached full maturity this season and is something to bet on over the next few weeks.

Following an unlucky second on resumption at Caulfield, she stepped up against males at Lakeside and was a slashing third behind in-form Second Effort.

Lightly raced five-year-old By The Way worked home strongly when fourth in the same event and is ready to score in similar grade.

Darley-owned Chasse had been a tad disappointing this campaign but is obviously better suited going left-handed judging by his third to Midnight Martini at Lakeside.

Sale-trained Willysfilly has put her problems behind her winning three on the trot on her home track and is now ready to tackle metropolitan grade. Sixth-placed Come on Bill (25/1) would have finished second but for striking interference over the final 200m and is one for longshot backers.

Adam Bodey-trained Gold Viper had been racing well at the picnics but has gone to a new level since being stepped up in distance, toying with his rivals over 2200m at Sale last Sunday.

Cranbourne three-year-old Don’t Wake Me has strengthened this campaign and is ready to break through in the city following excellent efforts in his past two starts at Caulfield.

Redoute’s Choice filly Sport Chic is likely to be competitive in stakes grade when she returns in the spring. After catching the eye on debut at Morphettville, she was ridden more positively when successful at Caulfield.

Lightly raced colt Stratcombe has impressed in two starts since returning from injury, working home stylishly when placed behind stakes-performer General Truce over 1000m at Caulfield.

Sure to relish more ground and roomier track.

Cranbourne-trained Venus World hit a purple patch of form last winter and her first-up effort when fifth behind emerging Mid Summer Music at Caulfield sug-

gests she is going equally as well.

Former Murray Bridge-trained mare Moment In Time is nearing peak fitness following three starts for John Thompson. Despite being sent out at 60/1, the six-yearold was doing her best late when sixth in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm and is sure to take plenty of beating when steeping up to 1600m and beyond.

Heidilicious has come a long way since winning a Bendigo maiden in November and with natural progression is capable of winning a decent staying event later in the year. After missing the start badly in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm, she did a remarkable job to finish fifth to highly regarded Kiwi Scarlett Lady.

Benny’s Button (10/1) was the unlucky runner when third in the Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm on Saturday and should be a good bet the next time he steps out over 1400m or 1600m.

Perfect Hostess was caught in a traffic jam when resuming at Morphettville and is worth following, while lightly raced Mr Lowndes was sent an impossible assignment when fifth behind Pitt Street and is also worth keeping tabs on.

Best: Stratcombe

Swans fly into a head wind at Doveton

By A Cobb A POOR first quarter against a stiff breeze cost the Swans dearly in their recent clash against the Midway Cobras at Doveton. Midway, well known as a tough outfit in the Reclink Football League, wasted no time in hitting the scoreboard.

The Swans failed to register a score as the Cobras piled on 4 goals in the first term. The Swans worked hard to find the ball and it wasn’t until the midfielders led by Robbie Bos started to hit targets up field that Cobras run was halted. Robbie was one of the youngest players on the field but played with cool nerve despite the experience and tough mental approach of his much older opponent.

The breeze in the second term and a few positional changes swung by Coach Wayne Pattison saw the Swans break the ice and fight back. A great chest mark and conversion by Beau Ledwidge sparked the Swans and goals by Dan Kendell saw the margin cut.

Tim Steele, who won the 2010 Lions Award, brought the house down with a courageous pack mark and his goal saw the Swans tempo lift.

At half time, the Swans were back in the race but the Cobras steadied and posted 6 goals to the Swans two in

the second half.

The Cobras’ experience told when the game was in the balance and the young Swans just couldn’t maintain their intensity in a tough game in heavy conditions of Reid Oval.

Michael Matthews, Tom Deveney and Kai Williams stood out across 4 quarters and Ashley Aylott took his football to another level and was the best big man afield.

Matt Bailey played his best game for the club and his confident attack on the ball was a sign of better things to come. Swans official, Ian Dale, praised the defensive work of Tom Deveney who played another strong game at full back.

As the shown by the greatest ever Swan Bobby Skilton, triple Brownlow Medallist, success in football is the result of hard training, self discipline and developing skills to the highest level. Wayne Pattison believes the tough training will eventually pay off and the next big clash at Collingwood

against Bendigo Bombers will show the importance of preparation of the Swans team.

Training is at the Rosebud Oval on Wednesdays commencing at 1.00pm .

Final Scores…..Midway Cobras 12.16. 88 defeated Swans 7.4. 46.

Goals: Ledwidge 2 Kendall 2 Cohn 1 Bos 1 Steele 1 Best: Deveney, Walker, Bos, Harvey, Aylott, Marateo, Mathews, Steele, Kendell The Swans Committee is very pleased with the ongoing support of local community groups and families during the season. The team continues to grow and interest in Reclink Football has spread throughout the Southern Peninsula .

LS/C Teresa Baker said the many kind offers the Swans receive in 2011 make the work of Victoria Police, and the local community so worthwhile. “We are very proud of the players and humbled by the generosity of the local people. Thanks to everyone for what they have done for the young people in our district. The football is great but the support is simply amazing,” Teresa said.

Local organizations willing to sponsor The Southern Peninsula Swans are asked to contact Sergeant Steve O’Neill at Rosebud Police Station for further details.

Mornington Peninsula Camera Club The Mornington Peninsula Camera Club is one of the oldest, established photographic clubs on the peninsula, with it’s beginnings at Red Hill many years ago. At our club we endeavor to cater for all levels of competence, from real beginners to the more experienced members, encouraging them to challenge themselves and try new ideas.

If you would like to join our club, we meet on the 1st Thursday of the month at the Benton’s Square Community Centre, Benton’s Road, Mornington, starting at 7:30pm. New Members are always welcome – for further information, please call either Graeme on 5975-1260 or Maree on 5975-0454.

Clockwise from top left: Anchor by Phil Jackson Hippo by Robert Nickels Hoverfly by Steve Tennyson Roof Geometry by Karel Reus Mornington News 16 June 2011

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Mornington News 16 June 2011

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