June 2nd 2011

Mornington

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Local news for local people

Your fortnightly community newspaper incorporating Mornington, Mount Martha and Mount Eliza For all your advertising and editorial needs, call us on 1300

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MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au

No price hike for this petrel

Long-range tank: This juvenile northern giant petrel visited Mornington mid-May, at least 1500 kilometres from home. Silver gulls kept a respectful distance as the petrel fed on fish scraps. Picture: Glenn Ehmke Story Page 12

Pollution delays $7m project

By Keith Platt CHEMICAL contamination is holding up a $7 million apartment and shop development in Main St, Mornington.

The three-storey complex is planned for the former Caltex service station site, but contaminated groundwater has so far been found to have spread at least as far as the Esplanade and Drake St. Mornington Peninsula Shire has granted a two-year extension to the

planning permit to allow time for a clean up.

Caltex has also sought permission to carry out more work to clean up the site and groundwater.

Plans for the land at the corner of Ross St and Main St include 18 apartments, four shops and a basement car park.

A Certificate of Environmental Audit or a Statement of Environmental Audit must be presented to the shire council

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Although information about the contamination was given to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors on 15 September 2008, a Caltex spokesman this week told The News that “no comprehensive information is available to us”.

Media adviser Sam Collyer said an environmental assessment was being carried out by independent consultants “to keep Caltex at arm’s length”.

He said the site, 16-20 Main St, was

“in a condition typical of a service station of its age and usage”.

Mr Collyer said he was unable to say if contamination had spread beyond the site and “there’s no comprehensive information available to us”.

Coffey Environments, the company hired by Caltex to clean up the site, referred The News to Mr Collyer.

Mr Collyer said there had been several assessments of contamination on the Caltex site and neighbouring prop-

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erties “but the results are not known”.

“It would be inappropriate to speculate about contamination on neighbouring sites.”

He said remediation would be done on site without digging up the soil using “hi-tech technology”.

Information given to The News suggests the contamination may have polluted groundwater all the way to the foreshore.

Continued Page 10

NEWS DESK Proudly published by Mornington Peninsula News Group Pty. Ltd

PHONE: 1300 MPNEWS (1300 676 397) Published fortnightly. Circulation: 20,000

Editor: Mike Hast, 5979 8564 Advertising Sales: Carolyn Wagener, 0407 030 761 Production/Graphic Design: Stephanie Loverso Group Editor: Keith Platt, 0439 394 707 Publisher: Cameron McCullough, 0407 027 707 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Neil Walker, Barry Irving, Cliff Ellen, Frances Cameron, Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Gary Turner, Jaime McDougall, Marilyn Cunnington, Brad Stirton, Fran Henke.

ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 E-mail: team@mpnews.com.au Web: www.mpnews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 9 JUNE NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: THURSDAY 16 JUNE

Local news for local people We stand as the only locally owned and operated community newspaper on the Peninsula.

We are dedicated to the belief that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community.

We exist to serve residents, community groups and businesses and ask for their support in return.

To advertise in the next Mornington News please contact Carolyn Wagener on 0407 030 761

PAGE 2

Mornington News 2 June 2011

Time limit: Ralph Hamilton says parking bans means he can no longer easily fish his favourite beach.

Parking limits angler’s luck

By Keith Platt CATCHING fish is rarely easy, and for Ralph Hamilton the days of carting home a bagful of Western Port whiting is getting near impossible.

However, access to one beach after another has been tightened in the 43 years the 79-year-old Bittern man has fished Western Port.

In some cases car parks have been moved further away from the sand itself while in others parking spaces have been reduced.

While understanding the need for foreshore protection, Mr Hamilton says the latest limit on his fishing has almost forced him to hang up his rods for good.

In the lead-up to last summer ‘No

Parking’ signs along Surf St in Merricks Beach meant he had to park at least 200-300 metres away in Merricks Beach Rd. The distance is not too great for a fit person, but becomes a severe obstacle for a man whose legs “won’t carry the weight”.

If he does make it along Surf St on foot, Mr Hamilton then has to walk through tea tree along an undulating sandy track to the beach.

“It’s just getting too much for me,” he said last week after showing The News his favourite fishing spot.

“The number of fish I catch here has changed too – there are not as many as in the past.”

The parking restriction signs are on

the seaward side of Surf St and some residents on the other side of the road have planted out their nature strips, creating obstacles for anyone wanting to use them for parking.

Mr Hamilton was also unsure of the law when it comes to nature strips: “I don’t think you can go there.”

Inquiries to Mornington Peninsula Shire have proved fruitless, although he did get one reply, after the intervention of Flinders MP Greg Hunt, saying his concerns about parking restrictions would be passed on to the mayor, Cr Graham Pittock and Cerberus Ward councillor Reade Smith.

That was a few months ago and Mr Hamilton is still awaiting contact from the shire.

Billionaire pool row

By Mike Hast THE shire council is likely to seek the demolition of an $80,000 swimming pool allegedly built on public foreshore land at Mt Eliza.

Mornington Peninsula Shire is investigating the pool built by Solomon Lew and his daughter Jacqueline Lew on the Port Phillip side of their property overlooking Moondah Beach south of Kunyung Rd. Mr Lew is a billionaire retailer whose primary holding company owns brands Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, Peter Alexander, Dotti and Smiggle.

Council sources told The News the shire had given the Lew family until 10 June to explain why the pool had been built on public land, also called Crown land, which the shire manages on behalf of the state government.

The shire’s communications manager Todd Trimble said planning permits had not been issued for the pool and associated works, and an investigation had been launched.

“The owners of the property did not apply for a permit to build the pool.

The investigation will also focus on whether the pool has been built outside the property boundaries,” he said in a statement.

The pool land is believed to be worth about $1 million and is part of the coastal reserve between Moondah

Shire to seek demolition of pool on Crown land and Ranelagh beaches. The land appears to be been built up to take the horizon pool, also called an infinity pool, which produces the visual effect of water extending to the horizon.

An aerial image taken in 2008 of the disputed land shows a grassed area with steps from the house.

Images on NearMap.com, an Australian supplier of high resolution aerial photos taken every month over capital cities, show the progress of the pool’s construction.

The title of the Lew land is a battleaxe shape with a strip allowing access to Osprey Ave, which is connected to Kunyung Rd via Manatee Ave. There are two houses between the Lew property and Osprey Ave that also use the “axe handle” for vehicle and pedestrian access.

The Lew land adjoins Melbourne Business School in the green wedge zone.

The boundary of private properties in the area and the coastal reserve was described as an anomaly in 2003 when the Department of Sustainability and

Environment’s online map showed the coastal reserve as a farming zone.

Port Phillip Conservation Council president Geoffrey Goode uncovered the anomaly and DSE corrected it, changing “farming zone” to “public park and recreation zone”.

It has been claimed some online maps were wrong until recently.

Mt Eliza Action Group secretary June Horner accused the retail entrepreneur of a “land grab by stealth’’.

“Most annoying is that shire ratepayers will have to pay for the council to battle Mr Lew,” she said.

She claimed MEAG members who lived near the Lew property had no idea a pool was being built.

“The pool builders must have used unmarked vehicles. Usually when a pool is being built you see a sign on the front fence advertising the company but this did not occur at the Lew property.”

The pool fracas featured on Channel Seven’s current affairs program Today Tonight on Tuesday night.

Eyes in the sky: Top, aerial photo taken in 2008 with the property boundary in blue.

Below, a recent NearMap image of the new pool.

Snap to self-employment CAPTURING a job in the professional photography world can be a hard road so Mornington-based snapper Adam Richmond is employing himself.

The 26-year-old has been wearing out shoe leather looking for a job “in an extremely competitive industry, so I’ve decided working for myself is the way to go”.

“I’ll have total control over the input and output of my work. I enjoy the process of interacting with a client, Creative impulse: A self-portrait of Adam Richmond, who said: “Took the self-portrait using my iPhone 4. I used the Hipstamatic app and created the blur effect by using another app called Tilt shift generator. You can adjust saturation and blur using simple sliders. I composed the shot on my Nikon D300 first by taking a pic of my sister in a similar pose then gave her the camera to shoot the pic of me. It was taken in Degraves St, Melbourne.”

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shooting a subject and post-production of the files; it provides a real sense of achievement,” he said.

Adam, a former Mt Eliza and Dromana secondary college student, gained a Diploma in Applied Photography at the Photographic Imaging College and is now doing a business course at Chisholm Institute.

“With the knowledge I’ve gained from the diploma combined with the marketing and finance segments in my current course, I’m now in a position to put it to use.”

He got his first break as a commercial photographer working for Mornington On Tanti Hotel.

“The hotel used my images for its advertising and they are displayed in the dining area.”

He’s continued the theme, shooting interior and exterior images of restaurants, cafes and bars for promotional

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and advertising use.

Like many commercial photographers, he keeps an eye out for artistic shots.

“My personal portfolio consisting mainly of street photographs. I get my inspiration by walking the city streets, camera in hand.”

He’s had several photos published in magazines and newspapers (some readers may recall seeing his photo of dolphins swimming near junior sailors in Mornington harbour, which was published on the front page of a local paper about three years ago).

Adam also snagged the St Kilda Photography Prize in 2009.

“I’m always looking to improve and developing a signature style. I’m getting requests for an array of different jobs, so things are looking up.”

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PAGE 3

NEWS DESK

Bare bones budget for 2011-12

By Mike Hast and Keith Platt MAYOR Graham Pittock described the draft budget released yesterday (Wednesday) as a “livability budget” even though rates have increased to 6.8 per cent from last financial year’s 6.2 per cent.

He said it focused on preserving and enhancing the “look, feel and function” of the peninsula’s towns and villages and protects the amenity of green wedge areas and coastline. “[It] increases opportunities for active and passive recreation, consistent with the peninsula’s relaxed, semi-rural lifestyle, and provides services that respond to the needs of families, the young and the old.”

He said the council’s financial position was strong and getting stronger.

“This budget will deliver our 11th straight surplus and reduce debt by $3.75 million.”

Key commitments include:  Continued response to drainage and flood management ($3 million for a total amount of $30 million over 10 years).  Tripling of funding for new footpaths and shared paths from last year’s $500,000 to $1.5 million).



An increase of $67,000 to the fire prevention budget to $2.2 million.

There will be more money for cleaning town centres as well as footpaths, streets and beaches, and money for improving streetscapes with planting of trees, shrubs and grasses.

This will include about $400,000

shared paths in the next 12 months.

However, this is less than 10 per cent of the 200 kilometres of unmade footpaths in the shire, which could cost more than $35 million to construct.

Although the draft budget had tripled footpath spending, 13 kilometres on new paths would fall short of the 80km

[Mayor Graham Pittock said the budget] focused on preserving and enhancing the “look, feel and function” of the peninsula’s towns and villages and protects the amenity of green wedge areas and coastline. for maintenance of shire (community) buildings; $200,000 for crushed rock on unmade roads affected by the wet weather of the last 12 months; $100,000 for footpath cleaning, mainly in shopping centres; $50,000 for beach cleaning; and $50,000 for inspection of trees under electrical lines.

There would be extra money to respond to more frequent and damaging storm events.

Cr Pittock said the shire would build nearly 13 kilometres of footpaths and

built between 2004 and 2006.

Cr Pittock said the shire’s efforts to protect and enhance the peninsula’s relaxed lifestyle and highly valued coastal and rural amenity remained as strong as ever, “with numerous local planning controls, including development design overlays and mandatory height controls”.

“The decision by the state government to put a new planning scheme in place is welcomed by the council and the peninsula community, and the

council looks forward to engaging with the state government and our community in its preparation,” he said.

CEO Michael Kennedy said shire rate levels were low compared to other municipalities “and will continue to be so into the future”.

He said the shire was committed to ensuring rate increases were within the limits of affordability.

“We strive to make best use of every dollar through ongoing review processes that focus on efficiency, effectiveness and innovation across everything we do,” Dr Kennedy said.

“Even though this is already a very tight budget, the council is committed to delivering $400,000 in savings through efficiency gains and innovation over the next 12 months.”

The municipal charge goes up by $10.

The council will introduce a differential rate for vacant residential, commercial and industrial land. The additional 20 per cent on the general rate will generate $826,000 more.

“Vacant land should make a more equitable contribution to council facilities and services; a range of council services are clearly relevant to all

property, improved or unimproved,” he said.

The draft budget is on public exhibition until 28 June.

Councillors will vote on the final product on 25 July.

The council is legally obliged to consider any written submissions and submitters can speak at a special hearing on 12 July in the council chamber, Besgrove St, Rosebud.

Dr Kennedy will lead a council team on a “roadshow” around the peninsula in coming weeks.

The shire has offered to explain the budget and answer questions from residents’ action groups, chambers of commerce, service clubs such as Lions and Rotary, Probus clubs and others.

Last year Dr Kennedy spoke to about a dozen groups.

The budget is at all council offices as well as Mornington, Hastings, Rosebud and Somerville libraries.  Frankston Council is proposing a 6.6 per cent rate increase for its 2011-12 budget, which translates to an average $79 increase in residential rates. Owners of agricultural land in the green wedge will get a 20 per cent discount.

Pier piles close to collapse

By Mike Hast ENGINEERS have found about 20 per cent of piles on the outside, unrenovated section of Mornington pier are no longer adequately supporting the top deck.

Another half are in “average condition” and Parks Victoria could be on the verge of closing the 75-metre outer section of the 185-metre long pier.

Locals claim the outer section swayed up to a metre in each direction during strong winds in mid-May. This has been disputed by a Parks Victoria insider who says the sway is no more than half a metre.

As The News reported in early May, the outer section is at risk of being pulled down if it is hit by a major storm similar to the three that struck Mornington harbour last year.

The pier was closed last April after a storm damaged piles and dislodged dozens of top deck timbers.

Two more storms in August and September with winds of about 60 knots further weakened the iconic structure.

The inner and middle section of the pier is in no danger of closing, with the inner section constructed of concrete and rocks. The middle section is undergoing a $3.5 million renovation that started last August with the pouring of concrete for the third and final part of about 14 metres on Thursday morning.

The Parks Victoria contractor, K V Johnson Constructions, has built two of the three sections of the 53-metre renovation – a 14-metre section last year and a 24-metre section in April.

After the concrete work is completed this week, decking will be installed using $200,000 worth of timber from NSW and Queensland.

The government needs to find at least $7 million to repair the outer section.

In May, Mornington MP David Morris said the pier was one of the most popular on Port Phillip and “very important to the town”, but had been neglected for many years by successive governments.

He has been lobbying Environment Minister Ryan Smith and Parks Victo-

Stability questions: Doubts have been cast on the integrity of about 70 per cent of piles on the old part of Mornington pier (right).

ria to fix the pier as soon as possible.

The News believes Parks Victoria has trimmed the budget for the pier, which has seen wave screen panels on both sides of the pier not installed as originally planned.

Bolts to take the screens have been installed, but covered with rubber caps.

Parks Victoria has been forced to

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find about $3 million to repair Wilsons Promontory, damaged by floods in March.

Parks Victoria was asked if it was going to release the engineering report about the outer section.

A spokesman said: “Parks Victoria continually monitors the condition of piers across Port Phillip and programs

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“With works to upgrade the middle section of Mornington Pier nearing completion, Parks Victoria is currently reviewing the condition of the outer section in relation to public safety prior to the reopening of the pier.”

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Wedding Expo

MORNINGTON RACECOURSE - JUNE 19, 2011

Mornington Wedding Extravaganza returns JUNE is here again and that means the Annual Mornington Wedding Extravaganza is on our doorstep.

The locally operated wedding expo is a proud supporter of SIDSandKIDS and will feature more than 40 quality wedding suppliers based in and around the peninsula.

Couples planning their big day can source everything they need from venues and cars to make-up and bombonieres at this year’s expo.

Peter de Wever, expo organiser and owner of Peninsula Expos, said a number of exhibitors were finalists or winners in this year’s Australian Bridal Industry Academy Awards.

“We like to provide brides and grooms with highquality, reliable suppliers.” he said. “Wedding planning can be hard work and we like to make it as easy as possible.”

Mr de Wever is also a founding member of Mornington Peninsula Weddings Inc, a group dedicated to promoting the Mornington Peninsula and the excellent wedding suppliers it has to offer.

There will be a number of MPW members exhibiting at the expo as well as a stand dedicated to the group.

The Annual Mornington Wedding Extravaganza will be held on Sunday 19 June at the Mornington Racecourse from 10am to 3pm with entry a gold coin donation to SIDSandKIDS. Also at the racecourse on Sunday 19 June is the Bumble Bee Baby & Children’s Market, so it’s a great family day out for all.

Peninsula Expos is holding other bridal expos in Frankston and Cranbourne later in the year.

The Frankston Wedding Expo will be on 24 July at the Frankston RSL and the Cranbourne Wedding Expo will be held on 28 August at the Cranbourne Racecourse.

For more information on the expos, visit www.peninsulaexpos.com.au

PAGE 6

Mornington News 2 June 2011

Toasting a successful five years of publishing RAISE a glass to TOAST Mornington Peninsula, your local one-stop guide to weddings on the peninsula. Our fifth annual edition and web directory is out on 19 June at the Annual Mornington Wedding Extravaganza at Mornington Racecourse.

However you choose to celebrate your wedding, we hope you can draw some inspiration from this issue of TOAST and create the day of your dreams. From well-spoken celebrants to lavish gowns, professional photographers to cakes, caters and party hire, stunning scenic locations and exceptional entertainers, it’s all here on the Mornington Peninsula – why go anywhere else?

At TOAST our focus has always been on creating a wedding using the many local suppliers based here on the peninsula – now, in these days of reducing our carbon footprint (we are proudly a carbon neutral publication), going local has never seemed so important.

In 2011 we present you with options, tips, trends and ideas for weddings from the smallest to the most outrageous, each with one common factor – they can all be found here on our beautiful Mornington Peninsula. We also feature ‘The Real Deal’ – a new section on real life weddings, to see just how beautiful a coastal or hinterland wedding can be. So whether you’re a visitor or a local, happy planning!

Pick up your free copy at selected outlets, see our website at www.toastmorningtonpeninsula.com.au for more details.

Here’s cheers, from the team at TOAST.

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PAGE 9

NEWS DESK

Woof winners MT Eliza residents Kim Jones and her partner Rhys Palmer are proud of their “family” and have opted for a station wagon because a four-door sedan is just too small for trips to the park.

Five-year-old Tana, weighing 94kg, (named after All Blacks captain Tana Umaga) and two-year-old Lote, 99kg (named after West Tigers player Lote Tuqiri), are English mastiffs.

Both dogs scooped the pool at the recent Mastiff Club of Victoria annual championships at KCC Park.

Tana walked away with first place for Best Limit Dog while Lote took four placings including first Best Gait, first Best Intermediate, first Reserve Challenge and was second runner-up to Best in Show.

Lote was also given an obedience achievement award at the Mornington Obedience Dog Club and won at the annual members’ day, beating a labrador for first place. In the same event Tana passed his B3 trial.

Mastiffs are a bred almost exclusively as companion animals and are not generally regarded as a working breed.

“These days mastiffs compete in obedience trialling work, agility trialling, tracking trials and work as therapy pets,” Kim said.

“For the past seven years we have attended the Mastiff Club of Victoria annual championship show at KCC Park in Skye, Royal Shows and breed shows and Tana and Lote are our first dogs.”

Rhys said they were dedicated “to the promotion and well being of this fantastic old world heritage breed”.

“There is always a great deal of in-

Out of site: Groundwater polluted by chemicals from the former Caltex site in Main St, Mornington, has been traced as far away as the Esplanade and Drake St. Caltex has asked for more time for a clean up.

Proud parents: Rhys Palmer and Kim Jones with Lote and Tana.

terest in our boys wherever we go due to their size and gentle nature.”

Tana and Lote may be studded out for breeding.

“We own the dogs under breeder terms, which means the breeders Marstenmoor and Yangerdook respectively and jointly will manage any pairings to ensure continual improvement to the Australian bloodlines,” Kim said.

“There is no room for the boys on the end of the bed or the couch, but they are never too far from the foot of the bed or lying by your feet.”

Pollution delays Main St project Continued from Page 1

THE assessment of the Caltex site given by Coffey Environments to the council in 2008 stated:  All petroleum-related infrastructure has been excavated and removed;  Soil contamination was identified in the vicinity of the petroleum infrastructure and has been removed to the extent practicable;  Impact on groundwater has been identified on the northern boundary of the site. The extent of groundwater impact is bounded by the area between the site, Main St, Drake St and the Esplanade; and  Further work is currently being conducted to delineate the extent of groundwater impact.

When asked for details, including when the clean up would be completed, Mr Collyer said the service station had

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Mornington News 2 June 2011

closed in 2006 with infrastructure removed by March 2008.

“Caltex follows stringent procedures for the closure of service station sites across its network.

“Caltex takes its legal obligations very seriously. To this effect, independent environmental assessments are undertaken so as to prepare a comprehensive remediation or clean-up plan for each site.

“This remediation work is tailored to the specific circumstances of the site in question and is conducted in accordance with Caltex’s environmental and work health and safety standards, and complies with statutory obligations.

“Soil contaminants are removed through the remediation process, which uses technology to assist with the breakdown of contamination.

“This entire process is undertaken in situ and is designed to keep disturbance of the site to a minimum.”

‘Widen’ coastal plan

Weather to plant a raingarden

By Mike Hast WITH normal rainfall returning to the peninsula, at least for the foreseeable future, it’s time to consider installing a raingarden.

They look like an ordinary garden bed, but have layers of rocks, pebbles and sandy soil that allow free drainage and filtration.

They also can handle heavy downpours when water rushes off roofs, paved areas, driveways, compacted grass areas and higher parts of a garden.

Raingardens are a simple and effective way to treat stormwater, which is filtered and slowed before running into waterways.

The heavy rain and subsequent flooding of parts of southeast Melbourne in early February – which saw Melbourne Water forced to release raw sewage into rivers, creeks and waterways to stop it bubbling up into domestic showers – would not have been as bad if we had more rain gardens.

Melbourne Water’s Healthy Waterways 10,000 raingardens program is encouraging people to build raingardens at home and aims to see 10,000 such gardens in Melbourne by 2013.

Leading the charge at a local council level in the southeast is Kingston Council, which has installed 130 rain gardens since 2001.

One of the region’s foremost raingarden specialists, Gail Rossi, is guest speaker at Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association’s monthly meeting on Monday 6 June in Rosebud.

Founder of Mornington Peninsula-based MayFly raingardens, Ms Rossi is an environmental scientist and garden designer, and will talk about raingardens with indigenous plantings.

She says rain gardens can be natural, lowmaintenance environments.

“They enhance a property and are a lovely

Rain woman: Gail Rossi, left, and Anton Engelmayer’s raingarden, which was awarded a prize by Melbourne Water.

addition to the garden. You conserve water and reduce pollutants reaching our waterways,” she said.

Ms Rossi has a Bachelor of Environmental Science and did her Diploma of Conservation and Land Management at Rosebud TAFE. Along the way she has become a qualified environmentally certified landscaper.

“I’m always looking for practical solutions to environmental improvement and sustainability,” she said.

“A residential raingarden is placed so it can take stormwater from hard surfaces such as roofs, paved areas and driveways. They slow the rate of contaminant-laden stormwater flowing into stormwater drains and then into creeks, rivers and our two bays.

“Raingardens in public places such as streets, parks, shopping centres and schools also filter out oil, chemicals and sediment, excess nutrients and litter that normally build up on hard surfaces such as roads, car parks, footpaths and roofs.”

Plants in a raingarden should tolerate both saturated and dry soil. Using native plants is best as they contribute to urban habitats for birds and beneficial insects.

Details: SPIFFA monthly meeting, 7.30pm, Monday 6 June, Parks Victoria office, 44 Hinton St, Rosebud. For more information, email spiffa.secretary@gmail.com or write to SPIFFA, PO Box 480, Rosebud 3939.

Information about Melbourne Water’s 10,000 raingardens program is at www.raingardens.melbournewater.com.au

By Keith Platt MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will be asked to extend its coastal activity plans to include the entire municipality, not just foreshore and beaches between Mt Eliza and Point Nepean.

The decision to seek and extension of the CAP area is one of the findings of a five-yearly review required under the Coastal Management Act 1995.

However, the future of the CAP could hinge on whether there is support for it being widened to address such issues as climate change.

Results of the review showed that nine of 34 actions identified by the shire in partnership with the Central Coast Board had been completed, while another 41 per cent were underway.

Eight actions aimed at reducing the impact of Point Nepean Rd on the coastal environment were now classed as “no longer required”.

The traffic pressure was to be lessened by “shifting to the use of internal roads and feeder routes and a bus shuttle service to the coast”.

Across Port Phillip in Corio Bay, 90 per cent of the 112 actions were complete or in progress.

The review found the implementation committee for actions between Mt Eliza and Point Nepean failed to hold regular meetings and that the involvement of other government agencies was “peripheral”.

The review found that many of the actions in the Mt Eliza to Point Nepean CAP were “often not well defined” and had not been prioritised.

However, the shire had trained key staff and

foreshore advisory groups to increase understanding of the CAP. The Mt Eliza to Point Nepean CAP – gazetted on 9 June 2005 – is seen a “key tool for interpreting and implementing the Victorian Coastal Strategy 2002 … and applying the principle of sustainability”.

The latest review is in two parts: assessing the status of the actions in the CAP and evaluating its effectiveness as a sub-regional planning document (“very positive”).

The Central Coastal Board recommended that the shire and other key agencies be asked to support:  Completing all actions in the CAP (except “no longer required” actions).  Revising the CAP with a broadened scope to include consideration of the significant coastal issues identified in the Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008.  Changing the geographical boundaries of the CAP, for example, including all of Mornington Peninsula Shire.

The review also called for “a review of the role of CAPs in relation to other planning tools to address regional coastal issues (such as climate change) should be undertaken before revising the CAP”.

“If there is no support for a revision of the CAP, the ‘not started/in progress’ actions and strategic directions should be assessed again to determine whether it is appropriate to repeal the CAP.”

View for a plan: The coast at Sorrento is included in the coastal action plan being managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Central Coast Board.

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PAGE 11

NEWS DESK

Plenty of petrel in the tank BIRDWATCHERS had a field day at Mornington two weeks ago when a northern giant petrel visited from the Southern Ocean.

Wildlife photographer Glenn Ehmke of Mornington went to the boat launching ramp at Fishermans Beach in Mornington two weekends ago hoping to spot a few seabirds and was surprised to see a huge dark bird in the distance he did not instantly recognise.

He soon realised it was a northern giant petrel, a species known as the “vulture of the Southern Ocean”, and started taking photos. Later he reported the sighting to the Birdline Victoria website and birdwatchers came from far and wide to see and photograph the rare visitor.

Another “birdo” reported the petrel was seen off a Mt Martha beach two days earlier.

“They’re rarely seen in Port Phillip, but are regularly spotted at sea off the Victorian coastline,” Mr Ehmke said.

Northern giant petrels live in the Antarctic and on sub-Antarctic island such as Macquarie Island, which is about 1500 kilometres from Tasmania, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica.

“They are almost the size of the albatross and have wingspans of 1.52 metres. They usually feed on dead seals and penguins,” he said.

“The bird was at least 2000km from where it was born and probably in its first or second year of life. It was likely having a rest from the stormy weather, probably after being at sea for a long time.”

He said the bird appeared fit and healthy, “unlike another giant petrel

Toddler unplugged Staying afloat: The juvenile northern giant petrel paddles in shallows at Mornington.

Picture: Glenn Ehmke

found at Lakes Entrance last week that unfortunately died in care after eating plastic”.

Because giant petrels live on largely uninhabited islands, they have little fear of people and are naturally inquisitive.

Petrels are “tube-nosed” seabirds and have a distinctive beak or bill with openings on top of the upper portion and between seven and nine distinct horny plates.

The beak enables them push out a stomach oil for use against predators as well as an energy-rich food source for chicks and for adults during long flights.

They also have a salt gland above the nasal passage that helps desalinate their bodies. Petrels take in a high amount of ocean water and the gland

enables them to excrete a concentrated saline solution through the nostrils.

Adults are grey-brown with lighter coloured forehead, sides of face and chin. Juveniles like the bird in the photos are completely dark brown and get lighter with age.

An estimate made in 2001 put their numbers at between 17,000 and 21,000 mature birds. The population has increased over the past 20 years and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has changed their status from “threatened” to “near threatened”.

And why are they called “northern” giant petrels? Have they lost their way or been misnamed? Unbelievably, it’s because they live further north than the southern giant petrel.

DROMANA Fire Brigade’s rescue squad were called out on Thursday 19 May to assist a two year old boy with his finger trapped in the kitchen sink drain plug.

When fire crews arrived at the Bittern home, the parents of the child had managed to remove the entire metal plug hole from the sink, however the child’s finger was still firmly trapped in the metal.

Officer in charge Andrew Brown said: “It took half an hour to free the boy’s finger from the plug hole. Rescue crews carefully and slowly used specialised equipment to free the boy’s finger.”

Luckily, the boy was not harmed.

CFAs are not just there to fight fires.

Local fire brigades respond to many emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including, car accidents, entrapments, hazardous materials incidents,

children locked in cars, gas leaks and many more emergencies.

Anyone interested in volunteering with a local fire brigade, can contact brigade support officer Jane Orr on 0419 872 117 or online www.cfa.vic. gov.au.

Cemetery walk NEPEAN Historical Society is holding another guided tour of Sorrento Cemetery in Normanby Rd. The second cemetery walk will again be “guided” by Peter Munro, who will explain which grave sites are connected to Sorrento’s shipwreck coast; the Drayton Grange-Boer War tragedy; former local identities, including politicians, sporting personalities and victims of crime.

The Sunday 12 June walk costs $5, bookings essential, call 5982 0502.

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Call to build aquatic centre at Mornington before Rosebud

By Mike Hast MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s 2000 Indoor Pool Feasibility Strategy should be reviewed following the revelation of much higher population growth in Mornington and Mt Martha compared with Rosebud and Dromana.

Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Residents Association secretary Alan Nelsen says Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that since 2001, Mornington and Mt Martha area population had grown by 30 per cent while Rosebud and Dromana’s growth was 14 per cent.

He says the growth rates had implications for the pool strategy, which detailed Mornington Peninsula Shire’s plans to build a pool first in Hastings (Pelican Aquatic and Recreation Centre opened in 2003) followed by Rosebud and Mornington.

“Mornington should get a pool before Rosebud,” he told The News last week.

Mr Nelsen has written to Mornington councillor Bev Colomb, who at the opening of the renovated Dromana pier precinct over Easter said the Mornington area was growing faster than the rest of the peninsula.

His letter has been sent to the shire’s manager of recreation and leisure Peter Gore.

“The 2000 pool strategy was based on 1996 Census figures, which are now 15 years out of date,” he said.

“Also, the strategy uses trends for catchments and patronage based on studies made as far back as 1987 and 1994.”

Mr Nelsen wrote to Cr Colomb: “In view of the altered demographics since the report was prepared, with high users of aquatic and leisure facilities such as younger families moving into the Mornington and Mt Martha area, and Mornington becoming the premier township of the peninsula ... it would now appear to make more sense for the shire’s major aquatic centre to be located in Mornington.”

He stated that building an aquatic centre in Mornington would be consistent with the argument that had been used to justify the siting of SPA (Southern Peninsula Aquatic centre).

“That is, the pool must be located in a prominent position, have access to seven-day-a-week public transport, and must boost a commercial centre with social, cultural and economic benefits.”

He said the criteria meant Mornington offered superior benefits over Rosebud because “there is more public transport, [it] offers much greater visibility to more people, and is a more central location for community services, commercial activity and cultural activities”.

“The 2000 SPA report indicates that Mornington East is a secondary catchment [area], suggesting that some of these residents will travel to Rosebud to use the pool.

“Similarly it is just as easy for Rosebud residents to travel to Mornington so the travel disadvantage to the Rosebud/Mornington community is six of one and half a dozen of the other.”

He said a chart (see right) showed the potential catchment area if the pool was in Mornington was significantly greater than if the pool was in Rosebud.

More people lived in the Mornington catchment than Rosebud, and it made more commercial sense to build the shire’s second aquatic centre in Mornington.

“It would provide greater net community benefit to the shire as a whole,” Mr Nelsen said.

Pool parties: Primary (black dotted line) and secondary (red) catchment populations for the proposed Rosebud aquatic centre.

Briefly Ranelagh vegetation plan meeting A DRAFT plan for vegetation management in Mt Eliza’s Ranelagh Estate will be discussed at a public meeting on Saturday morning.

The plan follows recent concerns by Mornington Peninsula Shire planners, councillors and residents about the loss of significant vegetation as well as how some residents are using nature strips for driveways and parking.

Ranelagh was designed by Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahoney Griffin in 1924. The nature strips, roads and pocket parks were heritage listed in May 2005.

Ranelagh was one of the Griffins’ garden suburbs, characterised by curving roads, parks, indigenous bush and trees, and wide nature strips.

Mt Eliza Ward councillor Leigh Eustace said significant vegetation in the estate included a rare avenue of tuart trees and Monterey cypress in Wimbledon Ave as well as natural bushland beside Earimil Creek.

“I’m hoping we get a good turnout of people to hear and ask questions about this important vegetation management plan,” he said.

The meeting is 9.30-11.30am at Mt Eliza Community Centre, 90-100 Canadian Bay Rd. Details: Call the shire on 1300 850 600.

Food talk FOOD security and sustainability and ways to grow and cook fresh food are on the menu for discussion at the “Fed Well – food for thought and action” food forum.

Vasili Kanidiasis, host of Vasili’s Garden on Channel 31 and other speakers will share their knowledge and enthusiasm for food.

The forum includes talks about sustainable food production in a changing climate by Tim Sansom of Diggers and Rick Coleman of Southern Cross Permaculture Institute showing how to grow fresh food in the backyard, including fruit trees.

Community-based food sharing and cooking programs will be explained by representatives of Peninsula Health Community Health and the redistribution of excess food to communities in need by Second Bite.

The food forum is presented by the Mornington Peninsula Food Access Network, which includes representatives from the food production, distribution and food relief service sectors, in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire.

The food forum is 12.30-4pm on Saturday 4 June at Hastings Hall, High St. Details: Kate Stuart or Erin Moore on 5950 1686.

Cool top drop THE 2009 chardonnay from Elgee Park vineyard, Merricks North, has been judged the top wine at this year’s Red Hill Show International Cool Climate Wine Show.

Red Hill Estate was the People’s Choice winner with its 2007 chardonnay.

New Zealand’s Spy Valley 2010 pinot noir was named best red wine and Elgee Park’s chardonnay also took out the best white award.

Chairman of judges Mike DeGaris said the light at the Mornington Racing Club made it the best wine judging venue in Australasia.

About 20 per cent of the 678 wines entered in the show came from the peninsula.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE and THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION

Extends an invitation to you to attend a

CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY MULTI-FAITH SERVICE Commemorating the 150th year of gazetted history of the townships of Dromana, Rye Mornington and Hastings/Tyabb

Sunday 12 June 2011 Peninsula Community Theatre Wilsons Rd, Mornington

Displays open 1pm and Service 2pm

Ward meeting CR Leigh Eustace is holding a ward meeting for residents, ratepayers and business people 7.30-9.30pm on Wednesday 15 June, at Mt Eliza Community Centre, 90-100 Canadian Bay Rd. Supper provided.

Topics include drainage, planning, capital works, budget considerations, heritage and any matters raised by people attending. Bring newsletters and brochures for distribution.

RSVP to 5950 1428 or email councillor. support@mornpen.vic.gov.au.

Guest Speaker PROFESSOR WESTON BATE Renowned Historian and Poet For further information or to register your interest, please contact Brian Stahl OAM on 5979 4343 or 0407 683 525.

Mornington News 2 June 2011

PAGE 13

NEWS DESK

New regos for classics

Preserving invaluable history: Car enthusiast Ben Mayne behind the wheel of his MG in the Western Port Festival parade.

MEMBERS of the Mornington Peninsula Historical Vehicles Club are applauding VicRoads and the Australian Federation of Motoring Clubs for the introduction of a new registration scheme for club-registered classic vehicles.

The new scheme allows car club members to register their vehicles for either 45 or 90 days.

Enthusiasts participating in the plan must be bona fide members of a recognised car club, and the vehicles will have specific classic and historic registration plates, a special registration label and a log book system.

The scheme means enthusiasts can register and use their vehicles more freely from as little as $64 a year for registration. Vehicles can’t be used for commercial purposes.

“As many enthusiasts know, we are all

about preserving motoring history while enjoying the thrill that only an old car or motorcycle can deliver,” said Chris Warwick, president of Mornington Peninsula Historical Vehicles Club.

“The new club plate scheme is available to vehicles that are 25 years or older and you must also be a member of a recognised car club.”

The Mornington Peninsula club was founded in 1969 and is the oldest motoring club on the peninsula.

“We welcome new members to our club as the level of interest in historic cars, trucks and motorcycles is growing all the time,” Mr Warwick said.

For more information about joining the club, call membership officer Brian French on 9783 5120 or email mphvc@ dodo.com.au

Carers plan to build protection for disabled

By Terri Rew A MORNINGTON Peninsula carers’ group wants to stop unscrupulous landlords preying on people with intellectual disabilities.

Community Lifestyle Accommodation is appealing for donations of land or money to build accommodation for adults with disabilities.

CLA chairman Paul Lyons said housing was desperately needed for carers and families who were missing out on support and services.

Dedicated carers with varying skills, knowledge and expertise in CLA say they are committed to tackling the critical lack of suitable accommodation, combined with the changing needs of adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

The not-for-profit CLA wants

individuals, businesses, private organisations and government organisations to donate land and cash for a new building on the peninsula.

In a two-part submission in response to the February 2011 Disability Care and Support Productivity Commission’s draft report, CLA said many people with intellectual disabilities were living in poverty in boarding houses where they were vulnerable to exploitation by landlords and abuse by other residents.

The CLA submission stated: “They have no one to monitor their medications or medical appointments and are surrounded by co-residents – typically people with serious mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse.

“CLA is concerned for elderly

carers with adult children suffering with physical or intellectual disabilities … If the parent is incapacitated in any way and can no longer care for their child, the concern is many are vulnerable to financial, physical and sexual abuse and do not have the skills to manage abusive situations.

In fact it is highly likely that they would not recognise the dangers or realise that what is happening is indeed, abuse.”

“This is an extremely urgent issue to address,” said CLA secretary Marie Hell, who is a carer of her adult son.

Mr Lyons and board member Jenny Hopmans told The News they were concerned at the lack of support for carers as well as inadequate aid for people with disabilities aged over 18.

Many caring families were missing out on support and services that were desperately needed for them to enjoy “a simple life, as others do in our community”.

According to the Productivity Commission’s draft report “the disability support system is inequitable, underfunded, fragmented, and inefficient and gives people with disabilities little choice”.

Mr Lyons said CLA believed people with an intellectual or physical disability deserve entitlements, not charity handouts.

The CLA agreed with the commission’s recommendations that the Australian, state and territory governments form a task force to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the reporting

structure to the Council of Australia Governments and Heads of Treasuries meetings.

“People have to act now. There are ageing parents caring for their intellectual or physical impaired adult child with hardly any support.

Who will care for their children when they are dead?” Mr Lyons asked.

He said CLA was committed to providing a flexible, individual service model that would enable adults with an intellectual disability to live independently of their carers.

Anyone wanting to help Community Lifestyle Accommodation can call Marie Hell on 5983 8785 or visit www. ommunitylifestyleaccommodation. org.au.

Scientists investigate ‘secret life’ under the bay TEAMS of marine scientists are hoping to improve their understanding of life in the underwater world of Port Phillip with $3 million in research grants from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

Marine life in bay will go under the microscope for three linked research projects undertaken by multidisciplinary research teams that will include top scientists from around Australia.

DSE chief scientist Graham Mitchell: “Port Phillip’s temperate reefs are large living habitats for marine life, similar to forested landscapes on land. They support a diversity of life forms, including many that are unique to south eastern Australia, so preserving the bay’s reefs is vital to the future of the thousands of fish, invertebrates and seaweed species that rely on reefs for survival.

“What we’re hoping to gain by this research is additional knowledge and understanding of these complex living habitats. This ‘stitching together’ of current and new environmental and biophysical information will help us come up with better evidence-based management approaches to protect and conserve our precious marine environments for the future.

“We can be very confident that the quality of the research teams brought together for these projects and the novel approaches they’ll be using are likely to yield some

PAGE 14

exciting new discoveries on the fundamental ecology of Port Phillip Bay’s seagrass and reefs. This new information will be imperative to improving our capacity to manage marine environments more effectively.”

Mr Mitchell said the research projects will run over four years, investigating the likely responses of seagrass and reef habitats to environmental challenges including predicted climate change effects.

Two projects will be led by the University of Melbourne through chief investigators, Professor Mick Keough from the University of Melbourne and Professor Craig Johnson from the University of Tasmania and one project will be lead by the Department of Primary Industries, through chief investigator Professor Greg Jenkins.

The marine research studies are one component of the larger Seagrass and Reefs Program for Port Phillip Bay being implemented by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Division of DSE. A DSE news release says its $5.5 million seagrass and reefs program is one of the most comprehensive investments into marine environments ever undertaken in Victoria.

A short video introduction to the Seagrass and Reefs program can be viewed at DSE’s You Tube channel:www.youtube.com/ DSEVictoria.

Mornington News 2 June 2011

Something fishy: Although known as a seadragon because of its appearance, this weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) is a fish, related to the seahorse. They grow to up 45 centimetres in length and are found in waters three metres to 50 metres deep. The weedy description comes from the small projections on their bodies that provide camouflage when moving among seaweed.

OVTL NHYKLU A peninsula garden...

By Frances Cameron WE had some glorious autumn weather on the Mornington Peninsula, but now it seems as if the cold of winter has arrived.

Deciduous trees are losing the chlorophyll from their leaves as they don’t require it anymore, which leaves the trees adorned in their red and gold autumn finery until the wind makes them bare. Dreary days can give us an excuse to sit inside and plan for the rest of the gardening year, but there is always something to be done; there are plenty of things which can be pruned at the moment.

If anybody is lucky enough to still have hydrangeas in their gardens after the extraordinarily long, hot summers of recent years, you can start to think about when you want to prune them. The most commonly planted hydrangea is the mop-head hydrangea (H. macrophylla). The large, rounded heads of four petalled flowers can be found in a large variety of colours ranging from the ubiquitous blues and pinks to creamy greens and burning reds. The beauty of these flowers is that over time the colours will change, as a result you can have one bush with an array of different coloured flowers.

Leave the bush alone until all of the flowers have faded and the leaves have begun to drop before you prune; this can be done any time from late autumn to winter.

There are a couple of ways that you can prune these plants; older, less bushy plants can be cut back really hard to just above a healthy bud to allow for them to grow back with a better, more bushy shape.

The drawback is that you may not get flowers for an extra year. However, this may not always be the case, my father-inlaw treats his hydrangeas with an uncaring abandon at pruning time, and they flower beautifully every year.

Another, more gentle way is to firstly cut out all the old, woody canes to the ground, then taking each stem which has flowered, cut at a point where there are two fat buds starting to form.

These buds will often be about one-third of the way down the stem. After you’ve cut off the old flowers take a step back and check which other stems need to be cut to get a nice rounded form and cut them back to a point where you think they should be. As with most plants, pruning hydran-

geas need not be an exercise in precision, the most important thing is to make sure your secateurs are clean and sharp to avoid messy cuts as most plants are able to recover from a ‘bad’ pruning.

Another plant to pay attention to now is sedum spectabile or showy sedum (S. ‘Autumn Joy’ is very popular).

Cut the old, yellowing stems down to their basal leaves and remove any other dead foliage to allow for air circulation and drainage. The clumps at the base of the plant can be divided and moved to any area which is fairly sunny and well-draining, or be put into pots to share.

Have a look around your garden to see what other plants have dead flowers and stems and clean them up, simply getting rid of the unsightly dead elements of your garden will go a long way towards making it a more pleasant space. Keep deadheading roses and patrolling for aphids and other pests and weeds.

Summer grasses such as kikuyu have slowed down but not stopped and the pesky winter grass (Poa annua) will pop up absolutely anywhere.

Happy gardening. peninsulagardener.blogspot.com

MASSIVE POT & GARDEN DECOR SALE UP TO 80% off Seconds, Damaged Goods, Discontinued Stock 2 Days only Sat 18th June 9.30am – 4.00pm Sun 19thJune 9.30am – 4.00pm Topez, together with one of Australia’s largest pot importers, Pots Direct is having a massive clearance on the on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June 2011. Bring your trailer, van or ute and save $$$ on hundreds of seconds, damaged and discontinued items.

Select from a range of indoor and outdoor pots, statues, water features, giant urns.

Sale is on a first come first serve basis for two days only.

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16 Mornington – Tyabb Rd Tyabb Phone 03 9397 6644 Email: enquiries@topez.com.au Open Thurs –Sat 9.30am – 4.00pm Sun 9.30am – 2.00pm www.topez.com.au

Mornington News 2 June 2011

PAGE 15

F

D& ENTERTAINMENT ʔʦLȫɏ

Confucius says:

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There are two homeless men. One of the men dies of old age. A police officer comes to file a report and can’t find any identification on him.

The officer askes the man that is alive “Who is this man?” the alive man responds “Brothers and sisters I have none, but this man’s father is my father’s son.” Who is the dead man? Answer page 17.

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

The Man from Iron Knob

By Stuart McCullough THERE is a town in South Australia called Iron Knob.

It has a rich history and is regarded by many as the birthplace of the Australian steel industry. Set in a desert landscape and marooned in red dust, it looks to be both quite beautiful and the perfect setting for a Mad Max film. However, when the mines closed in the late 1990s, the town suffered a significant blow and lost much of its population. But in spite of the undoubted beauty of the town, its rich history and colourful local characters, the simple truth of the matter is that I have great difficulty getting past the name. This, I am sure, says much more about me than it does about Iron Knob.

Once you see things a certain way, your view can set like concrete. It’s not just with Iron Knob, either. Every once in a while, we return to Tyabb. The town remains largely as it was when I grew up, save that there is now a set of traffic lights and all the derelict warehouses have been turned into antique shops. That and the term “café latte” – which simply did not exist when I was a kid – has been successfully introduced to locals. Otherwise, just as Sovereign Hill reminds us what it was like to be in 1883, so too

does Tyabb provide a valuable link back to the year 1983. A range of souvenir tea towels and a substantial cover charge supporting this fact can only be a matter of time. Perhaps that’s unfair, but I can’t see Tyabb any other way.

The same is true of my

father’s house. The long gravel drive that takes you away from the main road always manages to transport me back in time.

The walls remain filled with the pictures and decorations that hovered over my youth like a ghostly presence. Some are family artefacts, such as the tea

towel with the legend ‘We love our Dad’ and what is said to be a computerised representation of all five children. It was an item purchased from a stall in the Bayside Shopping Centre in 1983, before computer graphics really came into their own. The grey computer blots and smudges look not so much like children wearing the finest skivvies known to humanity as they do dirt. Much like the Shroud of Turin, there were attempts at preservation, including an ill-conceived effort to fill out the dots with a grey-lead. Regardless of its faults, it continues to hang in my father’s study. Aside from family portraiture representing a variety of degrees of success, there are souvenirs.

Most of these objects were collected by my father in the years before we were born.

Posters and objects from faraway places, reminders of a well-travelled life. They are so familiar to me as to be almost invisible. I paid them no attention growing up – I was far too busy doing all the things that clutter your childhood, even if those things have vanished as surely as a poor quality computer printout on a tea towel. I imagined any number of lives for myself: academic, musician and, for a brief time, professional

wrestler. Had my dreams of “turning pro” been realised, I would have wrestled under the name The Tyabb Terror.

We were in Tyabb for Easter.

Before dark set in, I made sure to bring up plenty of firewood to the house. It had been one of my chores as a child and still feels overwhelmingly familiar.

Very few of the people who know me now appreciate fully the extent of my fire-lighting skills. I can only say – without fear of exaggeration – that they are awesome. But as I struck the match and started to encourage the flames, the room filled with smoke. When it was suggested to me that this was the result of a flaw in my technique, I made the mistake of claiming that the billowing fog was normal.

Smoking ceremonies were regarded by some indigenous communities as powerful events that warded off bad spirits and cleansed the participants. I have to say, our experience was very different.

Instead, it looked like a large cloud was parked in the living room. However, as I waved my hands through the air to clear the smoke, I saw something on the wall that caused my jaw to drop. For as long as I can recall, this item has hung on the living room wall. It is best described as a metal pressing of someone who looks like a cross between

a soldier and an oompa loompa.

Although this object was overwhelmingly familiar to me, I had never before noticed a certain anatomical frankness to the piece. Without being too specific, the picture in question suggests the man was born in a particular town in South Australia.

It felt as though the scales had fallen from my eyes.

Perhaps it was the smoke that helped me see things in a new, albeit hazy, light. I could only guess whether my father had been aware that the picture on his wall was quite so, well, exposed.

I spoke to him just last week.

He denies any knowledge of “The Man from Iron Knob” but did, however, have an explanation for the fireplace.

Apparently the room had filled with smoke because a bird’s nest had been built on top of the chimney. I can’t imagine the birds being any more happy about it than we were.

Familiarity breeds contempt, but that’s not its only offspring.

It can make you blind to the obvious or willing to justify the unjustifiable.

You can blame the passing of time or you can blame the smoke.

Just don’t blame the Man from Iron Knob. www.stuartmccullough.com

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

Joke!!!

A cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on newcomers.

When he finished, he found his horse had been stolen.

He comes back into the bar, handily flips his gun into the air, catches it above his head without even looking and fires a shot into the ceiling. “Who stole my horse?” he yelled with surprising forcefulness.

No one answered.

“I’m gonna have another beer and if my horse ain’t back outside by the time I’m finished, I’m gonna do what I dun back in Texas and I don’t want to have to do what I dun back in Texas!”

Some of the locals shifted restlessly.

He had another beer, walked outside, and his horse was back! He saddled up and started to ride out of town.

The bartender wandered out of the bar and asked, “Say partner, what happened in Texas?”

The cowboy turned back and said, “I had to walk home!”

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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment OPERA Australia will present the second half of its season in November and December with La Traviata, Of Mice and Men and Don Giovanni.

Giovanni.

La Traviata is Verdi’s romantic masterpiece about the beautiful courtesan Violetta, who finally succumbs and falls in love with Alfredo.

Of Mice and Men comes to Australia for the first time in a new production designed by John Stoddart.

He creates rural California during the Great Depression, where the migrant farmhands’ home is a bunkhouse in a barn under a lonely prairie sky.

He is back with his leather boots and good looks – Don Giovanni is a shameless womaniser. He loves the thrill of the chase, but his deeds are beginning to catch up with him.

Opera is one of the great experiences in life. Give someone tickets to the opera and you give them a special occasion, a night to remember and an experience to cherish. For Opera Australia gift vouchers call 9685 3700 or visit www.opera-australia.org.au.

Book on 1300 182 183. *** THE Production Company kicks off its season with six performances of Anything Goes from 20-24 July.

Kismet will follow from August 1721 and Nancye Hayes stars in Grey Gardens,, 25 November to 4 December.

Gardens All three productions will be held at

The Playhouse at the Arts Centre.

Tickets are on sale from 6 June at The Arts Centre box office or call 1300 182 183. Book at www.theartscentre. com.au. Details: www.theproduction. company .com.au ***

FINALLY what everyone has been waiting for – the new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured), Love Never Dies is now showing at the Regent Theatre.

The continuing story of The Phantom of the Opera stars Ben Lewis and Anna O’Byrne.

It is produced by Tim McFarlane and directed by Melbourne’s Simon Phillips.

McFarlane said: ““The The Phantom of

the Opera has been seen in 149 cities around the world and taken more than $US5 billion at the box office, more than the combined box office takings of the two top grossing films of all time, Avatar and Titanic Titanic..

“Those who saw Phantom and loved the show will be excited to see how the story continues and those who appreciate musical theatre will be thrilled by Love Never Dies Dies.” .”

Simon Phillips said: “It’s an honour to be working on an Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dazzling new work.

“The score of Love Never Dies is truly ravishing, loaded with big lyrical ballads and some taut and unforgettably hummable ensembles.”

Book on 1300 111 011.

Details: www.loveneverdies.com.au *** WHEN Sean and Jenny Goldrick’s daughter Shannon finally arrived, she weighed only 908 grams and spent more than three months in hospital before being given the all clear to go home.

Now aged six, Shannon is still affected by the early birth. Mother Jenny Goldrick said “a support group called the Featherweight Club had been very supportive for the family”.

The group started at the old Mercy Hospital for Women in East Melbourne and the group meets on a

“Un-Australian” when referring to opposing ideas. Beware of those arguing along the lines of “thinking people” and “Un-Australian”. *** LOVE hurts, as the song goes, more specifically love is blind, sometimes insane, extreme passion married to the loss of rational thinking. It’s gorgeous when it happens; she (and he) can be fat, skinny, ugly, whatever, but it will be purr-fect because the feeling blots out everything else for days, weeks, months even. You’re walking/floating through a dream, unaware of anything, soulmates forever. Any faults? No, they’re cute, you love them anyway.

You adore his/her honesty. Friends say things but they don’t understand. One day, somewhere, he or she will say something stupid and you will hear it.

This is the beginning of the return to reality. The cracks start to appear. He reads comics, she’s into Tony Abbott.

He smokes pot, she thinks Dane Swan is from Denmark. Worse still, both are convinced that they are as purr-fect as the other has told them. “Until the 12th of never, I’ll still be loving you.” Yeah right. Easy for a female to escape; simply be seen with another man. Equally

as easy for a male because they’re generally infused with a lack of sensitivity. (Man sitting at home drinking a cold one on the porch with his wife and he says, “I love you.” She asks, “Is that you or the beer talking?” He replies, “It’s me – talking to the beer”) *** TEDDY Baillieu’s mob announced a budget allocation of $7.9 million to establish an independent Office of the Freedom of Information Commissioner. Greater community access, Ted mate? Leave the comedy to the comedians. If you’re really serious, doubtful at best, give us the drum on the real reason why you’re trying to get rid of Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland. Gotcha! *** THE great late Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason. It is vain to hurry it. By trusting to the end, it shall ripen into truth, and you shall know why you believe.”

I’m not so sure about this one, Ralph. I look around (and listen) and I see people’s instinctive reactions to the federal budget depending on the “me” factor, political bias and the

with Gary Turner

Run for the Kids: Sean Goldrick with son Riley and daughter Shannon.

regular basis over morning tea.

Mr Goldrick, now a committee member of the club, said: “The group is open to all mothers from around Melbourne regardless of which hospital they attended or the age of their child. It’s all about providing support for parents.”

Jenny Goldrick said: “When children were getting ready to go to school it was also an important time for parents to have support, as health concerns caused by premature births could surface.

“It is important to provide a checklist for parents coming up to school age as even a lot of doctors aren’t aware of problems.”

Mrs Goldrick said they hoped to set up another hospital peer support group and also train the group’s volunteers but they need more funding.

Mr Goldrick recently set up the Goldrick Family Team to tackle the Run for the Kids supporting the Featherweight Club with son Riley and daughter Shannon completing the run in 1:03:49 just ahead of Father Sean 1:03:50.

For more details visit www. featherweightclub.com.au GT’s top 10 albums 1. Band of Joy – Robert Plant 2. Live at Last – The Dingoes 3. Station to Station – David Bowie 4. Stillpoint – Madder Lake 5. 7 Axes – Diesel 6. Ball Power – Coloured Balls 7. The Rough Guide to Paris Lounge – Various 8. Low Country Blues – Gregg Allman 9. Live at Sunbury – Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs 10. Snow – Brendan Radford

A Grain of Salt ASSUMING neuroscientists are correct and the subconcious brain is much larger than the concious, I’m thinking there’s got to be a tiny tunnel joining them, and this tunnel operates in that time between when you first wake (around 5.30am) and when you make that difficult decision to get out of bed. Half-thoughts, in a haze, zipping, flashing, in and out. Like freeing Schapelle, football umpires, the Yankee Osama propaganda, no more cigs, sign up with Ashley Madison, forgotten concupiscence, the dreaded morning glasses of water, Ingrid Bergman, Julio at Rod Laver Arena, who is he? Forgotten in the urgency of the toilet, heating on, coffee. Recalling the details over a ciggy. Alas, the subconcious was teasing. The door is firmly slammed shut, until tomorrow? *** I IMMEDIATELY become suspicious when I hear the comments from Police Association secretary Greg Davies: “Most of the thinking public have become disenchanted with Simon Overland.” Does this mean that if you have nothing against Simon then you are not a thinker? Likewise Danny Frawley, who frequently uses the term

News Corporation media. A different type of instinct you say? No doubt.

My instinct tells me I’ll never win Powerball and I shall remain invisible and single. My “me” factor (the good news) is that I can earn $73 a week (by co-incidence my weekly beer expenditure) without it affecting my pension, accumulating to $3796 a year. The bad news is that my telephone is deathly quiet. Press on. *** SOMEBODY said to me recently “What type of readers do you get?” I replied that I have no idea. It set me wondering (thinking?) and concluded the following: they would have to be of the older brigade, desperate for the need to fill in time (like me) and so make a habit of picking up all the free newspapers. Leader, Weekly, The Senior, you name it, and obviously this newspaper. Eventually, assuming their patience has not fallen by the wayside due to eye troubles, illness, death or boredom, they would finish up way way down the back of this newspaper to my column, where the editor hides it in embarrassment. But some of us are stayers, or lonely. Some of us even read books! Another frequently

with Cliff Ellen asked question is “What’s your column about?” after reading it! Well, as a once-only explanation, my column is about “instinct” together with saving me to some extent from going ratty.

Finally, to those who suggest I write more about local issues, may I suggest that human nature is always a local issue. So, if you happen to be reading this column, desist from asking me ever again, or stop reading it. You can always change to fiction by paying for the daily newspapers or watch A Current Affair. Now kindly turn the page. *** “Thank you for your coffee, seignor.

I shall miss that when we leave Casablanca.” (Gorgeous Ingrid) “Distrust all those in whom the urge to punish is strong.” (Johann Goethe) Stay warm. cliffie9@bigpond.com

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

Mornington News 2 June 2011

The sprint clash of the century is on the cards

the best international sprinter – he has won his past two Global Sprint Challenge sprints (the 1200m Golden Shaheen on the Tapeta track at Meydan in Dubai, and the KrisFlyer on turf) and has finished second in his four other international Group 1 attempts, and with luck could have won them all.

As it is, his record is a brilliant 16 wins from 20 starts.

Shaw said he is keen to come and he will inspect the Werribee quarantine facility at Racing Victoria’s invitation, but a

Saints a shadow of 2010 Round 11 previews

Sunday 5 June Hawthorn v Fremantle, MCG 1.10pm If there’s a team you can feel

Port Adelaide v Carlton, AAMI Stadium 4.40pm Port Adelaide, the team that has struggled at home all season, has somehow managed to win a game in Darwin to lift them off the bottom of the ladder. Could this be the spark that lights their season?

The Blues on the weekend cruised to an easy win against Melbourne. Chris Judd was at his usual best and Marc Murphy was brilliant. These are exciting times for the Blues. This game comes down to the fact that the Power is returning from Darwin after playing all 10 games so far this season. To be blunt, they’re tired. Carlton by 24 points.

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et

West Coast v Gold Coast, Patersons Stadium 3.10pm In the battle of the “Coasts”, we find two young teams rapidly improving in their quest for success. Watching the Suns last week showed me the Gold Coast will be going places in the next few seasons. For a side that has more first-year players than any team in more than a decade, to take it up to

Collingwood v St. Kilda, MCG 7.10pm This is the grand final replay “replay”, but these two teams have changed so much since the 2010 grand final and its replay. The Pies have improved dramatically while the Saints have lost all hope of winning the flag. The Saints last weekend took a first step in the right direction. Fremantle were injury depleted and flat but the Saints took advantage of this and gave them an oldfashioned belting.

Injury worries linger over stars Brendon Goddard, Jason Blake and Sean Dempster after copping friendly fire from their own teammates. Collingwood never got into top gear and managed to win by 50, so I can’t see them losing this one.

Collingwood by 28 points.

North Melbourne v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium 2.10pm These teams have struggled to find their feet all season. The Kangaroos last weekend were unlucky to lose to Sydney after wasting too many shots at goal. The angry defender Scott Thompson (North) had a day out kicking a rare two goals. Adelaide last weekend again started strongly, leading at quarter time before being steamrolled by the Lions to put their season into disarray.

Adelaide has always struggled against the Roos at Etihad and they look like maintaining that hoodoo. North Melbourne by 19 points.

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Saturday 4 June Geelong v Western Bulldogs, Skilled Stadium 2.10pm There is no worse place to travel to for an out of form team than Skilled Stadium, and this is what the Bulldogs face. The Cats again showed they are the team to beat after trailing at half-time to the Gold Coast. Then they unleashed Steve Johnson who kicked seven goals for the night and ran away to a big win. The Dogs last week to their credit were competitive against the in-form Hawthorn but Geelong go up a whole different level when they’re playing at home.

Geelong by 69 points.

Brisbane v Sydney, Gabba 7.10pm It’s amazing the difference having Jonathan Brown in your side can make. Since Brown returned the Lions won two on the trot and look a much better side. This match will be a good test to see how they go against a quality side in the Swans.

Sydney last week played below par but still managed a win, which is a positive. First year player Alex Johnson has been great for the Swans this year.

John Longmire has done well with the kids after debuting four this year. Sydney by 6 points.

sorry for it’s Fremantle after being in the top four at the start of the season before being decimated by injury. All they can do now is keep their players on the field, win as many games as possible and hope they get their stars back in August to push for a finals berth. Most teams will struggle against Hawthorn this year; the Hawks have been quietly achieving, winning their last four and pressing for a spot in the top two. Hawthorn by 44 points.

E li z

Friday 3 June Essendon v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium 7.40pm After a week of rest, the Bombers will be looking to make amends for their upset loss against the Tigers. With no Jobe Watson, Essendon looked vulnerable and was unable to generate as much run through the corridor as usual. If Melbourne doesn’t start getting players back soon, it will struggle to get back into finals contention. But Jack Trengove will be back and Tom Scully is a chance, so there’s a flicker of hope for the Dees. Essendon by 18 points.

the undefeated Cats was a great sign for the future. West Coast will be slightly disappointed it didn’t make the most of the game against Collingwood.

Players just struggled to get their hands on the ball. West Coast by 45 points.

33

victory showed Singaporebased Patrick Shaw was justified in saying about Australia’s five-time Group 1 winner Black Caviar: “We’re happy to take her on. I’ve seen her and she is a great mare, but Rocket Man is better than she is.”

International handicappers rate Black Caviar the world’s best sprinter (and the world’s best horse for the sixth months from October to March), but she has met only local opponents in Australia and there is no question that Rocket Man is

1 28

Up with the stars: Rocket Man wins the KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji in Singapore on 22 May. Picture: Ron McKnight

Mourilyan, owned by controversial Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, who bought Gitano Hernando recently.

In Singapore, Gitano Hernando ($73, or almost 14/1) beat another South African, the mare River Jetez, with Hong Kong’s Irian (Darren Beadman) dead-heating for third with Singapore’s Waikato.

Brown said the Melbourne Cup was an option for the winner, but his father, Herman Brown Snr, a former champion trainer who was representing Kadyrov at the meeting, said Australia’s greatest race was firmly on the agenda.

Schofield was to have ridden Gitano Hernando when he was unplaced in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong earlier in the month, but broke his collarbone in a fall in the Sydney Cup the week before and Damien Oliver filled in.

Grateful that Brown put him back on, Schofield said: “He travelled really sweetly and then he showed a lovely turn of foot when I asked him. I knew my horse was tiring but he was brave all the way to the finish.”

Brown said he thought the 2000 metres would have been a bit short for him. Sounds like a Melbourne Cup horse.

98

PREPARE yourself for a mighty clash if we get the much-talked about meeting of the world’s two best sprinters in the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington this spring.

And prepare yourself for the prospect that “our girl”, Black Caviar (13 wins from 13 starts) might meet her match.

Anyone who saw Rocket Man’s sensational win in the $S1 million Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji in Singapore on 22 May can vouch for this. She will have to be at the top of her game to win.

The ease of Rocket Man’s

Kingdom and Green Birdie, finished sixth and seventh.

Melbourne jockey Steven Arnold, who finished eighth on Capablanca, said: “Rocket Man was in a league of his own.”

Rocket Man’s jockey, South African Felix Coetzee, said: “These champions help you, they tell you what to do. I’m just the guy who sits on top.”

The win was a South African bonanza for Shaw, Coetzee, who was the great Silent Witness’ partner in Hong Kong when he won 17 races straight, and Rocket Man’s owner, Johannesburg-based businessman Fred Crabbia.

For most on course at Kranji, the win overshadowed the major Group 1 at the meeting, the $S3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m), also a South African bonanza and also a race of huge significance for Victoria this spring with the winner, Gitano Hernando, a probable runner in the Melbourne Cup. Gitano Hernando is trained

by South African Herman Brown and was ridden by Sydney-based South African jockey Glyn Schofield.

The pair combined to finish third behind Shocking in the 2009 Melbourne Cup with

:5

Reporting from Singapore

decision won’t be made for some time – after the July Cup at Newmarket England and/or a spell. Rocket Man’s connections have the choice of Japan, Melbourne or Hong Kong.

The Victoria Racing Club has arranged a $600,000 sweetener on top of any prizemoney he may win if Rocket Man comes to Flemington for the $1 million sprint.

It would be a wonderful boost to the spring carnival if connections take up the challenge to provide a match for the Peter Moody-trained Black Caviar, who thrilled race fans in Melbourne (wins in the Lightning, the Newmarket and the William Reid), Sydney (a win in the T J Smith) and Brisbane (yes, another win in the BTC Cup) before going to the paddock.

Rocket Man ($6 favourite for a $5 unit, or 1/5 in old terms) won the KrisFlyer by almost five lengths from Eclair Fastpass and Perfect Pins, also Singapore-trained.

He jumped well, raced three wide as others booted up under him, settled third, went to the front on the turn and made the race a one-act affair in the straight. Two former KrisFlyer winners, Hong Kong’s Sacred

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