March 10th 2011

Mornington

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10 March - 23 March 2011

For all your advertising and editorial needs, call us on 1300 MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au

Marine industry worth $200m MORNINGTON Peninsula’s commercial and recreational marine industry is worth more than $200 million and by turnover is the biggest in the shire.

It tops the peninsula’s other big enterprises – BlueScope Steel in Hastings, the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Cerberus at Crib Point and Mornington Peninsula Shire’s multiple sites.

The shire has recognised its importance and has formed a steering committee led by economic development manager Shane Murphy to advance the sector’s cause.

Mr Murphy and four of the biggest names in the industry have been meeting since last year and a draft report will be released to the public at the end of the month.

Tim Phillips, Mal Hart, Ted Banks and Stefan Borzecki might not be household names to landlubbers on the peninsula, but all four our passionate marine men.

Tim Phillips operates the quaintly named Wooden Boat Shop in Hotham Rd, Sorrento; Mal Hart is the head of Hart Marine in Yuilles Rd, Mornington; Ted Banks’s father Lionel started Crib Point Engineering; and Stefan Borzecki owns Yaringa Marina in Somerville on the shore of Western Port.

Mr Phillips and his Wooden Boat Shop are the champions of the traditional Queenscliff couta boat and also make and restore a wide range of boats.

They built the first Efficient 44 and launched it at Queenscliff for owner Lloyd Williams of horseracing fame last summer. Driven by a 530-horsepower Yanmar diesel, the boat is fitted out with every conceivable comfort for cruising including satellite TV and an electric sunroof.

E44’s 12-volt electrical system is designed to run away from the 240-volt marina plug.

Tim Phillips has been “messing about” in boats off the southern peninsula since childhood.

After working in the family building business, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to build wooden boats when he started working with renowned fisherman and boat builder Jack Norling and then with the legendary Ken Lacco.

Mr Phillips is regarded as the man who helped revive the unique Australian couta boat, only two of which sailed Port Phillip when the boatbuilder was a young man.

Continued on Page 6

Cat attack: A 15.2-metre long, eight-metre wide catamaran built by Hart Marine for a Glen Waverley earthmoving contractor is trucked to Yaringa Harbour last Sunday. Picture courtesy Hart Marine.

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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 17 MARCH NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: THURSDAY 24 MARCH

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

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

Gymnast heading for Beijing NO one who knows Fiona Sanford (above) would be surprised to learn she was doing somersaults after being told she was going to Beijing.

The Mt Martha teenager was the only Victorian chosen to attend an international youth forum to discuss the Olympic Games; she is also a champion gymnast.

In year 12 at Mornington Secondary College, Fiona was last year named a recipient of a Pierre de Coubertin Award, run by the Victorian Olympic Council and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Named after founder of the mod-

ern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, 140 awards were made last June to students throughout Australia in years 10, 11 and 12.

Every two years, eight students and two teachers are invited to attend the youth forum designed to bring students from around the world together to discuss various topics regarding the Olympics and the Olympic movement.

“I’m so excited at being chosen,” Fiona said last week. “I almost didn’t apply, but was nominated by my school’s principal, Sarah Burns, and sports leader John Walker.”

A gymnast with Mornington Youth Club, Fiona was last year in the state

championships with fellow team members Annie McCallum of Mt Martha and Georgina Mankey of Mt Eliza.

Fiona is also a diver and plays cricket, football and netball as well as doing aerobics and coaching gymnastics.

Fiona feels she had reached her limit in gymnastics and has set her sights on being a sports kinesiologist, studying the use of muscles, particularly by sportsmen and women.

In the meantime she will be continuing her studies at school and preparing for the 10-day trip to Beijing, which will also include tours of Olympic and cultural sites.

Textile artist is missed THE art and wider peninsula community is mourning the loss of textile artist Pamela Farmer of Shoreham, who died last Thursday week after a long illness.

Pamela, 62, exhibited her creations of wool, silk and other materials, described as self-expressive masterpieces, in Melbourne and on the peninsula.

In 2006 she exhibited at Antipodes Gallery in Sorrento and at the Flinders Art Show where she received an award for lino printing.

Pamela’s artwork won many prizes at art shows, wool shows and was exhibited at the former Meat Market Craft Centre near Victoria Market, now known as Arts House.

She gained national attention when she won the Wool Quilt

Wheelie messy: RESIDENTS of Bentons Rd, Mornington, were annoyed to find rubbish strewn across their nature strip after wheelie bins were mown down overnight by vandals. The mess on Thursday 24 February was a boon to ravens and straying dogs, an eyesore to pedestrians and a headache for the rubbish collectors due later that day.

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Mornington News 10 March 2011

Prize, hosted by Geelong’s National Wool Museum.

She conducted workshops on felting, painting and embellishing with stitchery on the peninsula.

At the 2009 Peninsula Festival of Arts and Ideas, she conducted textile art workshops and later that year, indigenous community blanket workshops in Rosebud and Frankston.

Pamela told Carol Heath of Ozquilt Network, a national organisation for art quilters, that she used her sewing machine to create undulations on her quilts.

One of them was constructed from an old woollen blanket, dyed with eucalyptus leaves, layered with merino and alpaca felting and stitched together by hand and machine using applique, quilting and

embroidery techniques.

“Pamela says that when she is working in this manner, something takes over and she is often surprised at what comes out. She feels she doesn’t always have much control over it, seeing the work as it develops,” Ms Heath wrote.

“Her unusual stitching technique is explained when Pamela reveals she originally trained as a printmaker. She uses her stitching lines as she would have originally scratched details and fine lines into copper.”

Pamela Farmer (nee Vary) is survived by her husband, environmentalist Wolf Passauer, her children Chloe, Matthew and Thomas, and her sister Margaret Jean.

Mike Hast

Wrecker set to move on last link to doctor

By Mike Hast THE peninsula is about to lose a link with one of the most flamboyant characters of the last century with the probable demolition of a 1920s house in Barkly St, Mornington.

James Louis Edgeworth Somers, a “beloved physician” who ministered to the sick from 1893 to 1938, built the house at 42 Barkly St in 1920, and is still remembered by the town’s older citizens.

He famously rode a big white horse around the town accompanied by his dogs and rarely missed a morning swim at the baths on Scout Beach, now demolished.

A fit man, he worked until the day of his unexpected death in 1938, aged 75.

The unusual two-storey Federation Bungalow-style house with Mediterranean influence was later the home of noted musician Dorcas Jessie McLean who achieved fame as a violinist and whose estate, including the sale of the house, financed a scholarship for musicians at Melbourne University.

The house was continuously occupied by medical practitioners from 1920 until 1995 including Charles Hopkins and Andrew Taylor,

Ms McLean’s husband.

After 1995 it was a bed and breakfast operated by Denise and David Hassett, the former Labor MP for Dromana 1982-85.

Denise Hassett stood as the ALP candidate for Flinders in the federal election of 1987 and in the state elections in 1988.

Elio and Angela Giucastro, owners of Biscottini café and restaurant in Main St, Mornington, looked at buying the property in 2006 and asked Mornington Peninsula Shire if it was subject to heritage conditions.

They were told no.

After buying the unoccupied house, which had been damaged by squatters, they applied to the shire to demolish it before building a new one.

But the shire discovered it had been built by Dr Somers and was of “local significance”. In August 2008 it placed a temporary heritage overlay on the property, stopping them from pulling it down. This was made permanent in March 2010 by then planning minister Justin Madden.

The Giucastros reportedly said the planning system had failed them and they would not have bought the property if they had known it would be protected. It was going to cost

twice as much to restore as to build a new home.

Fire damaged the house in January 2009 and again on 27 October 2010, and now it is only fit for bulldozing.

Last month a sign was erected in the overgrown front yard applying for a planning permit to demolish it. Public submissions close on 15 March.

The shire’s heritage planner, Simon Lloyd, said Mr and Mrs Giucastro had submitted an engineer’s report in support of the requested demolition that showed the house was too far gone.

“It’s possible to fix it up, but there is a school of thought that says much of the original heritage would be lost,” he said.

The other way of thinking was that owners of heritage properties should not be rewarded for allowing a place to fall into disrepair.

“It won’t be my decision; we report to the councillors and they make the decision.”

The News contacted a distant relative of Dr Somers, Robert UsherSomers in the United Kingdom.

He said his grandfather’s brother was a “restless, questing spirit with a powerful, vibrant personality that set him apart from the ordinary run

Joint award to preserve the past

of men”.

He was born in Ireland, educated at Dublin and Cambridge universities, and trained at St Mary’s Hospital in London. “When he graduated aged 22 years, he was the youngest doctor in the British Empire.”

Dr Somers led a life of travel and extreme adventure before settling in Mornington.

He lived and worked in Africa, practised in Spain and travelled to South America, China and Japan.

He arrived in Australia in the early 1890s and travelled through Queensland and NSW before arriving in Ballarat where he met and fell in love with Frances Usher, a doctor’s daughter.

The couple moved to Mornington in 1893 and had five children, two daughters and three sons.

All his sons served in World War I and two were killed in action, one on Gallipoli and another in France. His surviving son also served in World War II. His practise covered the whole peninsula and he was the magistrate at Mornington as well as president of many community groups.

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HAVING a keen eye on the past could lead to winning an award.

Mornington Peninsula Shire and the National Trust have launched new annual heritage awards to recognise excellence in peninsula heritage projects.

The awards will acknowledge outstanding performance in retention, restoration and reuse of heritage places, including buildings, gardens and objects, and public and private places.

There are five categories: Creative reuse of a heritage place. New work/development within a heritage area. Restoration of a heritage place. Sustainability and greening of a heritage place. Best use of specialist heritage trade skills.

The National Trust’s peninsula branch will collect and collate nominations, oversee judging and announce winners at a function hosted by the shire in May. Nominations are open and close at 5pm on Monday 4 April.

For more information visit www. mornpen.vic.gov.au under Your Property, Heritage, or www.nattrust.com.au/Awards.

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PAGE 3

NEWS DESK

Clean Ocean going national and global

By Mike Hast SOUTHERN peninsula-based Clean Ocean Foundation is going national and then global to help communities fix their pollution problems.

The foundation started in 2000 to lobby the state government and Melbourne Water to upgrade the Eastern Treatment Plant near Carrum.

Each day the plant pumps 450 megalitres of treated sewage and waste water into Bass Strait near Gunnamatta on the Mornington Peninsula.

Clean Ocean led a long and sometimes acrimonious campaign that finally forced the government to fulfil a 1999 election promise to upgrade ETP from class C to class A water.

At the 1999 election, the Steve Bracks-led ALP opposition defeated Jeff Kennett and the Liberal-National Coalition. In 2002, after more delay, the Bracks government gave an ironclad undertaking to upgrade ETP. After seven more years of dithering, in October 2009, the government finally announced it would spend $380 million on the treatment plant upgrade.

Work is underway and is expected to be completed by the last day of 2012.

To many long-time members and supporters of Clean Ocean, the foundation has done its job, but to recently appointed CEO James Clark-Kennedy and key supporters, the work has just began. “Australia has 144 outfalls putting sewage, waste water and untreated runoff into our bays and oceans,” he said.

“We’re hoping to put to good use the experiences of our long lobbying effort.”

Mr Clark-Kennedy and the founda-

tion’s board members are looking at a “Rotary model”, based on how Rotary clubs sponsor the formation of new clubs.

Discussions have been held with environmental groups in Inverloch and Torquay in Victoria and, further afield, Spencer Gulf in South Australia.

The foundation would forge links with the Sierra Club in the United States, arguably America’s strongest environment lobby group, and is in contact with a group in Portugal.

Clean Ocean now has a wealth of experience dealing with government bureaucrats and the often complex processes of government.

For example, Mr Clark-Kennedy is concerned about the cosy relationship between Victoria’s pollution watchdog, the Environment Protect Authority, and water authorities.

His skepticism was proved correct after flooding caused by heavy rains in early February when Melbourne Water was forced to release untreated sewage into Melbourne rivers and creeks.

He says the water authority failed to effectively notify the community and not a word was heard from the EPA. “In Australia we have enshrined in law the separation between church and state. The same concept needs to be applied to environment protect authorities and water authorities in all states.”

He is calling for greater openness and transparency in the way they operate.

“Where are the watchdogs? Government can spend millions on watersaving advertising campaigns; where was the campaign warning people

about river and beach pollution after the floods in early February? Why was there not a peep about heavy pollution at Port Melbourne and Elwood beaches after rains on 20 December?”

Clean Ocean is holding its inaugural film festival in Sorrento later this month. Called “Sea Stories”, it’s a celebration of the ocean, and a key fundraiser for a group that receives no government funding.

“We’re independent, and proudly so.

We have no connection with any government body,” he said.

“There’s so much still to do and we’re hoping people who have been a member of Clean Ocean in the past will rejoin to enable us to continue the good work.”  The first Clean Ocean Foundation film festival, Sea Stories, will be held at Sorrento’s Athenaeum Theatre 2527 March. The festival will screen 13 films: Musica Surfica, Chasing Dora, The Life and Films of Albie Falzon, One Winter Story, Last Hope, In the Eye of the Whale, Destination Three Degrees, The Westsiders, Fibreglass and Megapixels, Dark Side of the Lens, Albatrocity, Kookman, and Without Thought.

Opening night on 25 March will see director Mick Sowry introduce his film Musica Surfica at 6pm followed by music at Morgan’s Bar from 8pm, entry $10 (free to festival ticket holders).

Bookings: 5984 2903. Festival pass $100, three-movie pass $45, single movie $18, concession and children $15. Tickets at the door. Details: Email volunteer@cleanocean.org or on the internet at www.cleanocean.org

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink THE Bolte Liberal government wanted to put treated water from the Eastern Treatment Plant into Port Phillip at Carrum when it was being planned in the mid-1960s.

The proposal caused a huge stink, with unionists, environmentalists, residents and bayside councils including the shires of Flinders and Mornington (now part of Mornington Peninsula Shire), lobbying the government to drop the proposal and instead build a sewer main (pipe) 57 kilometres from Carrum to Boags Rock at Gunnamatta.

The late 1960s and 1970s was a time when the community demanded governments start looking after the environment, so the state backed down.

Building the pipe cost a fortune and presented major engineering challenges.

The government had originally intended to build ETP to produce class A water for discharge into Port Phillip, but deciding to pipe the treated waste water to Bass Strait meant it could get away with producing class C water.

It was a decision that would reverberate down the years.

Now Melbourne Water is upgrading ETP, which treats about 40 per cent of Melbourne’s sewerage and waste water, but has shelved a plan to extend the outfall at Boags Rocks by 2000 metres, first considered in 1998 in conjunction with the upgrade to class A. The longer pipe would enable better mixing of treated water with sea-

water. The existing outfall stretches just 30 metres into Bass Strait and is exposed at low tide. Polluted water washes along the cost and has radically changed the existing marine environment. Surfers at nearby Gunnamatta beach have for years complained about minor illnesses and infections.

In 1998 the extension was costed at about $40 million; 10 years later it was $400 million. Melbourne Water dropped the extension plan two years ago, claiming the ETP upgrade meant it would not be needed.

Critics say the water will be cleaner, but putting large amounts of fresh water into a saltwater environment still damages marine life.

Melbourne Water and the government have not done enough to find other uses of the 400-plus megalitres of class A water that will be produced by ETP from 2012.

It could be piped to Gippsland for use by the papermaking firm Amcor.

The power generators in the Latrobe Valley could use the water.

Farmers would like to use it, but the authorities are asking too high a price.

An estate in Cranbourne, Hunt Club, has purple pipes for class A water, which can be used to wash cars and water gardens. All homes in the southeast could have these pipes; it could flush our toilets.

This lack of action also is likely to reverberate down the years.

Mike Hast

State is ready to ‘protect’ Mt Eliza

By Keith Platt THE state government is poised to bring in planning controls to prevent the carve-up of large blocks in the Mt Eliza Woodland area.

The protection will come when the government adopts the Mornington Peninsula planning scheme amendment C87, rejected in late 2009 by former planning minister Justin Madden.

Mornington MP David Morris says that although some of the large blocks have been subdivided in the meantime, “it is still a salvageable position”.

“When I first raised the issue in October 2007 there were some 1582 out of 1600 lots that were capable of subdivision,” Mr Morris told Parliament on 8 February. “Quite a few of those have now been subdivided, but overall the integrity of the area is still intact, and if we take action reasonably soon there is the opportunity to resolve the problem.”

Mr Morris said changing the planning scheme would be “a very simple matter for the new Minister for Planning [Matthew Guy]”.

He said Mr Madden had sat on the amendment for more than two years before annou7ncing its rejection.

“The proposal has an incredible amount of

community support. It has support right across the spectrum. It has the full support of the council, it has the support of the wider community and, most particularly, it has the very enthusiastic support of almost all the people who live in the Mt Eliza Woodland,” Mr Morris said.

“If the time that has elapsed has proved anything, it is that the performance-based controls that are currently in place and are said to work simply do not.

“We have the opportunity to protect the Mt Eliza Woodland. That opportunity remains despite the late government’s neglect.”

The C87 amendment restricts subdivision of blocks to 2500 square metres in a heavily wooded area bounded by Nepean Hwy, Humphries Rd, Moorooduc Hwy and Canadian Bay Rd known as Woodland.

The minimum block size was set many years ago when the area was unsewered. Planners decided big blocks were needed so septic tanks functioned properly in the poor, clay soil that did not allow efficient dispersion.

Pro-subdivision residents argued the coming of mains sewerage 20 years ago changed the need for larger blocks and people should be allowed to subdivide.

After-care company wins business gong ROSEBUD-based After-Care Australasia has won the growth and development award at the 2011 Melbourne’s South East Business Awards.

The company employs 80 staff to help people remain living in their own homes.

The business excellence award went to Frankston compnay Braaap, a dirt bike design, import, merchandise and retail company.

There were 53 nominations from 10 municipalities in Melbourne’s south-east.

PAGE 4

Mornington News 10 March 2011

After-Care Australasia has offices in Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud, after moving from smaller premises in Rye, and provides personal care, inhome respite and socialisation, transport, domestic assistance, home maintenance and gardening.

The company’s submission to the awards attributed its growth and success to its staff.

Owners Shane and Maxine Kelly said client numbers had grown from 385 to 490 in the past two years.

Former Beaches owner takes on Harba ONE of the peninsula’s most-loved mine hosts, John Crossin, is back in the hospitality game after five years.

The former owner of Beaches bar and restaurant in Barkly St, Mornington, a place “where everyone knows your name” like on the TV show Cheers, has taken over the two-storey Harba Oyster Bar and Grill at 786 the Esplanade, Mornington.

It overlooks Mornington Park with glimpses of the harbour and Port Phillip, one of only a handful of venues in the town with sea views.

Apart from running the successful bar, which he sold in 2006 after 11 years, John is known as one-third of the “Kippanookas”, a Variety Bash team that has been raising money for the children’s charity Variety Club.

The Kippanookas say they have raised more than $150,000 for Variety,

while destroying Ford Fairlanes and other automotive relics of the 1970s in the outback each year. John also has a few hectares out the back of Mornington where the Kippanooka Club raises money for other charities.

The News caught up with him on Tuesday when he was taking a break from doing something up a ladder in the upstairs section, the Sunset Bar and function room.

“Just look at this sensational view,” he said, before fielding phone calls from suppliers and friends.

John said he’d put together a crew of existing and new staff. Head chef Brendan Pitt joins long-term Harba chefs Adam Falls and Sarah Milkins.

“Lisa Wehrle, my stepdaughter, is the new functions manager and brings more than 10 years of experience. Front of house manager Liam Gooda has been

part of Harba since the beginning.”

John’s daughters Rebecca and Megan, and his wife Elaine Hemingway are also in on the new venture.

It’s a much bigger venue than Beaches, and John plans to put to good use the 120-seat upstairs function area for charity events, like the World’s Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation this Thursday night (details: Nikki, 0410 606 576).

The restaurant downstairs seats 120, too, including some on the deck.

John says the key to success in the hospitality game is: “Quality food, good service and a happy atmosphere.”

The Sunset bar is open 5pm to midnight (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) and from 1pm on Sunday. The restaurant is open noon to 1am every day.

Book on 5975 1183. Details: www. harba.com.au

View master: John Crossin surveys the vista from his latest venture, Harba.

Shire flood plans are behind the times

By Keith Platt TWO pilot studies show areas of Dromana and Rosebud are most likely to flood as a result of increased rainfall rather than rising sea levels.

The results signal that at least in these two areas Mornington Peninsula Shire should concentrate spending on improving drainage and not protecting the foreshore, according to the draft Integrated Local Flood and Drainage Strategy.

It says up to 14,000 peninsula properties in known “hot spots” are at risk of flooding.

It says the peninsula’s drainage sys-

tem has evolved over the past 100 years and that flood mapping by Melbourne Water done in the past decade does not take into account the latest climate change predictions.

South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (formerly called Western Port Greenhouse Alliance), of which the shire is a member, says it would be “prudent” for the shire’s planning policies to factor in a predicted 80-centimetre rise in sea levels and a 32 per cent rise in rainfall.

The effects of storm surges had yet to be assessed by the CSIRO, which had provided data for the stragey.

The Dromana study showed it would cost $11.6 million to upgrade the drainage system to cope with a one-infive year flood event.

The study covered the catchment bounded by Nepean Hwy, along the Port Phillip shoreline to Anthonys Nose, and then south along Arthurs Seat Rd to Main Creek Rd and back down to the Mornington Peninsula Fwy and Nepean Hwy interchange.

The Rosebud study area was bounded

by Port Phillip, Eighth Av, then south of the Mornington Peninsula Fwy Reserve and then returning to the coast along Boneo Rd.

extra four full-time staff would need to be hired by the shire.

While warning drainage costs would be expensive based on the Dromana and Rosebud studies, the strategy says completing flood mapping “and capital works adaptation ... implementation is likely to be over 20 years”.

It estimates staff and other resources at $400,000 a year and modelling costs of $90,000 a catchment (total $6.3m).

The ongoing studies were likely to lead to tighter planning controls in flood-prone areas and a levy on ratepayers to pay for improved drainage.

The Rosebud study found 29 “sags” that would prevent water flowing overland and estimated it would cost $3 million to fix.

The studies found “the sea level rise of 0.8m has little effect on flooding … and is contained within the foreshore and poses little threat to any property”.

The draft strategy estimates that with more than 70 catchments on the peninsula draining into Westerhn Port and Port Phillip, it will take at least 10 years to “establish a priority for catchment analysis”.

It says consultants could be hired to do much of the flood mapping, but an

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PAGE 5

NEWS DESK

Market move for reconciliation A MARKET selling indigenous arts, crafts, music and performance will be held at Mornington next month.

The Koori Night Market is being hosted as part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s reconciliation plan and to promote cultural diversity.

“The market is a great way to celebrate indigenous arts and culture. A number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will perform and artwork by Indigenous artists will be for sale at market stalls,” shire social planning and community development coordinator Jenny Macaffer said.

“The market helps to promote an autonomous indigenous economy and will help our community share and learn about indigenous culture.”

The market will feature live music and dancing and stalls

with carvings and sculptures, handmade artifacts, jewellery, ceramics and “indigenous cuisine”.

Former AFL footballer Ronnie Burns will be master of ceremonies. The former Geelong player now hosts the ABC2 footy show, Marngrook.

Jessie Lloyd, nominated as Female Artist of the Year at the 2009 Too Solid Awards, is one of the performers at the market.

Entry is free although there is a charge for some activities.

The Koori Night Market, 4-8pm Saturday 2 April at Peninsula Community Theatre, Wilsons Rd, Mornington. Visit www.koorienightmarket.com.au or call 9982 1207.

Market moves: Indigenous artists will perform at the Koori Night Market at Mornington on Saturday 2 April.

Marine industry worth $200m Continued from Page 1 Started by Mal Hart in the early 1980s, Hart Marine recently built two boats for Port Phillip Sea Pilots, an 18.1-metre craft based at Queenscliff and a 14.3-metre one based at Flinders.

The company first became famous as a builder of composite construction racing yachts, which were strong and light, when others were still using aluminium.

Hart Marine’s boats won many of the southern hemisphere ocean races, most notably the 25-metre maxi Skandia Wild Thing for former Mornington builder Grant Warrington.

Hart Marine also produce carbon car prototypes and carbon fibre cycling wheels.

Crib Point Engineering, nowadays shortened to CPE, was making farm machinery when BP started building its Crib Point refinery at its back door

in 1964.

The company became a supplier of engineering hardware and supporter of construction equipment, then maintenance of the refinery. This included pumps, valves, lifting equipment, ship to shore gangway design and supply.

The company started building boats, and ran its own work boats in Western Port providing runs for crews, stores, and maintenance to shipping and dredging operations.

When Esso started its gas plant at Long Island near Hastings, the company set up alongside Esso to provide it with similar skills and later for BHP at the steel mills, now owned by BlueScope.

In the early 1980s CPE developed its first marine straddle carrier of 40 tonnes capacity and now builds 500-tonne carriers.

Founder Lionel Banks set in place a tradition kept going by Bill and Ted,

and Ted’s sons Robert and Alex.

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NEWS DESK

Shire plans new licences for beach box sites

By Keith Platt BATHING box owners have received a call to arms amid warnings that Mornington Peninsula Shire is about to revise its policy for the structures which are on public land.

Mornington Peninsula Beach Box Association has distributed a letter headed “We need your help” saying the shire’s revamped policy will incorporate “a comprehensive licence agreement and compulsory public liability insurance”.

No stranger to battling bureaucracy, the association’s members forced the then Labor state government in 2001 to override a Department of Sustainability and Environment recommendation that no building permits be issued to replace boatsheds wrecked by storms at Mt Martha Beach North.

Coastal engineer Dr Peter Riedel carried out a stability study of Mt Martha Beach North after 15 boxes were lost or damaged in storms during the winter of 2000.

He found that “the conditions causing the erosion and subsequent damage were not overly severe and that if such structures were to be maintained at the back of the beach, the structural standard needed improvement and the floor levels of structures should be increased”.

The letter to bathing box owners

says the association is “working to protect your interests” and urges nonmembers to take up an annual $40 membership (special offer now runs to 30 June 2012) plus $25 for public liability insurance that provides cover for $10 million with a $1000 excess a box.

The association, formed from a nucleus of members of the Mt Martha Boatshed Owners and Users Association, said it needed new members “because there is strength in numbers to preserve and promote local heritage and culture”.

The shire’s own policy acknowledges the bathing boxes as being “icons”, although recent studies have only identified a small percentage of the nearly 1300 bathing boxes on peninsula’s beaches as having heritage value.

Association vice-president Chris Maine said the shire wanted to introduce a more complicated licence agreement, although the association believed the current system was “simple and effective”.

He said the association’s relationship with the shire was “very good” and he hoped one of the changes would be to increase tenure of bathing box sites to 10 years.

Mr Maine said bathing box owners would like to be able to clear vegetation that was encroaching on bathing boxes.

Top up for summer: Tonnes of sand were trucked to Mt Martha Beach North to restore the beach for summer, although the access track from The Esplanade remains closed due to erosion which has also destroyed several sets of wooden steps installed by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Cliffs behind these boatsheds stretching between Augusta and Alice streets are continually crumbling onto the beach and have smashed treated pine log retaining walls. A coastal engineer has found that “the conditions causing the erosion and subsequent damage were not overly severe

Although some vegetation was creating a fire hazard and restricting beach access “no beach user is allowed to remove it”.

The association describes the bathing boxes as “a colourful cluster of

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historic icons”.

The association’s website says the peninsula’s 45 km of coast - one sixth of Port Phillip’s coastline, with 26 beaches between Mt Eliza and Portsea – has more than 1300 bathing boxes.

The State Government (Department of Sustainability and Environment) permits occupancy of a beach box on Crown land reserves by delegating the issue of licences to the shire and foreshore committees.

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Defence ‘gap’ in coast marine safety zones

By Keith Platt THERE are gaps and failings in the protection of marine animals and plants living in the so-called safe havens on the Mornington Peninsula’s coast, according to the findings of the state Auditor-General.

A report tabled in Parliament last week calls for more active on-ground management and recommends integrated statewide policy and planning for the whole marine environment as the best way to manage environmental threats.

The protected areas near the peninsula are the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary at Flinders, Yaringa Marine National Park, near Somerville in Western Port, and French Island Marine National Park.

“In opposition the Liberal Party supported the legislation that established our current network of marine protected areas, and now they are in government the ball is in their court,” Victorian National Parks Association marine and coastal project officer Simon Branigan said.

“We urge Mr Baillieu to fully adopt and implement all the auditor’s recommendations.”

The report, Environmental Management of Marine Protected Areas, found that the government is failing to protect coastal waters from invasive pests and diseases, and recommends the development of a marine pest biosecurity plan.

“The Auditor-General has rung an alarm bell, alerting Victorians that not enough is being done to prevent invasive marine pests and diseases escaping into our coastal waters, where they could do huge damage to the fishing industry, as well as to marine environments,” Mr Branigan said.

The report stated that there is poor coordination between Parks Victoria and the Department of Primary Industries to police illegal fishing.

“This situation is of huge concern considering the audit identifies illegal fishing as a significant threat to marine biodiversity,” Mr Branigan said.

The Auditor-General found that just 10 per cent of money allocated for managing marine protected areas was being used for its intended purpose.

“This is symptomatic of an agency under stress. VNPA has repeatedly highlighted that Parks Victoria’s core funding is not enough to do the job of

Danger warning: The marine national park at The Heads is one of the sanctuaries in danger from invasive pests, according to a report by the Auditor-General.

protecting our natural environment.

“Parks Victoria needs adequate and reliable funding to ensure budget allocations go where they are intended and

are not diverted to plug budget holes in other operational areas.

“Millions of Victorians enjoy and value the beauty of our underwater

world and want to see it looked after.

National Parks are there to protect nature for all Victorians, now and into the future.”

Mornington News 10 March 2011

PAGE 9

NEWS DESK

Brindle Brothers special: Below: the car Leighton Brindle and his younger brother Melbourne assembled from spare parts.

Right: Examples of Ewart Melbourne Brindle’s work. He became one of America’s foremost illustrators.

Rolls-Royce inspired a life of illustration

Dromana has produced or played host to many famous people in its 150 years. Peninsula historian FRED WILD tells the story of a boy who made good.

WHEN young Ewart Melbourne Brindle was walking barefoot along Dromana’s Esplanade in the early 1900s, he saw a sight that would inspire him forever.

Just over the road from where the Dromana Visitors Information Centre now stands, he saw racing identity Solomon Green and his 1910 RollsRoyce. It is said he bought the car from the winnings when his horse Comedy King won the 1910 Melbourne Cup. The boy who grew up in Dromana was not to know it then, but his father Arthur Brindle, an artist, had his eyes set on the United States.

Brindle would become one of America’s most recognised illustrators.

Arthur was a master decorator in Melbourne where he was a partner in Brindle Brothers Decorators.

The Brindles moved to Dromana and bought “Sunnyside”, the driveway of which is now Scott St off Boundary

PAGE 10

Rd on the inland side of the freeway.

In 1914 when the US was planning to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, Arthur Brindle moved to San Francisco to work on the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition.

The outbreak of World War I saw the banning of domestic travel so it was not until the end of the war that Grace Brindle and her seven children could sail to the US to join Arthur.

Taking his second name as his first, Melbourne Brindle studied art briefly in San Francisco before gaing his first job as a letterer in a department store.

It was not until 1938 when he was 33 that he packed his young family into his 1929 Phantom 1 Rolls-Royce Newmarket convertible and drove to New York where his career as an illustrator would take him to the top.

He started his own business, and before long received a roster of commissions from major corporations including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler, Packard, Douglas Aircraft, United Airlines, Allied Chemical, Gruen watches, Seagrams, DelMonte and many more.

His ads appeared in Fortune, Esquire,

Mornington News 10 March 2011

Collier’s, and National Geographic, as well as covers for the Saturday Evening Post and 30 Medical Times covers.

At Dromana Primary School’s 150th celebrations on the Labour Day long weekend, a display will be held of Melbourne Brindle’s works in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.

I have been putting the display together for the past eight weeks after “discovering” Melbourne via online research. I was typing some testimonials from the school archives that we have made into a booklet, which will be available at the reunion.

Among them was one written by Mel during a visit to Dromana in 1984.

I gathered from the story that he had met with some success in America, but I was stunned to discover the extent of his fame.

He referred in his testimonial to still having drawing books he used at Dromana school from 1915 to 1917.

I contacted Mel’s daughter, Dawn Phillips, and her husband Ned in the US last December, but they had no idea of the existence of the books.

However, they did tell me Mel had produced hundreds of magazine advertisements for Packard, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Buick and other iconic cars.

His paintings introduced the Ford Thunderbird in 1955 and the Buick Riviera in 1963, and for millions he is the artist who added a car each year to the Goodyear Tire advertisements in the 1950s and 1960s.

His cover for a 1949 GM annual report even takes on a Norman Rockwell flair. The illustration shows a small town with big-grilled cars set among people going about their daily business.

In the 1960s car companies stopped using illustrations in their ads and started using photos. It was then Mel set his sights on his passion – drawing Rolls-Royces. In fact, all of the preWorld War I Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts, widely considered the most beautifully built cars in history After eight years of intense research in the US and United Kingdom, including tracking down the eight models that existed and gathering

Boyhood places: A map of Dromana drawn from memory by Melbourne Brindle in Connecticut in 1947, 29 years after he left the town. Right: Melbourne Brindle’s last birthday was his 90th.

information on the 12 that didn’t, and talking to retired chauffeurs, carriage builders and automobile clubs, he published Twenty Silver Ghosts in 1971. It was reprinted eight years later.

The book will be on display at the school on 12 March along with the slideshow and other Brindle paraphernalia. The display can also be seen at the Dromana Historical Society display on Sunday 13 March.

Bill Eichhold, the manager of Brindle Assets Management, said he had an assortment of Mel’s Australian works that he would like to see returned to Australia. This included his bird egg collection.

I suggested the collection would no doubt include the two Dromana drawing books but he was not so sure.

He photographed what he had, sent the photos to me and I responded saying there must be more – it didn’t make sense that Mel would still treasure his books after 80 years and die without them.

After much hounding of Bill to have another look, he was able to track down Mel’s drawing books in a box he had previously overlooked.

Bill (son of Mel’s second wife Emily) has kindly forwarded the books to

their rightful home in Australia to be cared for by the Dromana Historical Society, and they will also be on display.

Melbourne Brindle continued to paint and restore antique cars until his death in 1995. The boy from Dromana, aided by talent, passion, an appreciation of the finest craftsmanship, and a bonvivant personality, managed to join the ranks of the greatest illustrators of the 20th century. His paintings are a pictorial record of some of the most revolutionary machines of his day.

Cheap housing Thaied to imports

By Keith Platt LOWER labour costs in Thailand and the availability of container port facilities at Hastings may help provide cheaper housing on the Mornington Peninsula.

A draft report on ways to provide more “affordable” housing now on public exhibition sees Mornington Peninsula Shire and private developers providing land for lower cost housing.

The report describes how ever-increasing property prices on the peninsula are forcing low income earners out of the market or into spiralling debt.

Crib Point man David Tootell believes one solution may be to bring prefabricated houses to the peninsula from Thailand.

He says the houses could be built in a Bangkok factory, shipped in containers to Western Port and erected within days on pre-prepared building blocks.

A marketing consultant for Ezy Build Australia, Mr Tootell said a two bedroom “country-style” house would sell for about $110,000, plus land or lease costs.

A four bedroom version would be $185,000.

He said Ezy Build was already supplying houses to Papua New Guinea and there was virtually no limit to the types of structures that could be made from the prefab modular method.

“The simplest one can be built in seven days,” he said.

The ultimate cost would depend on the number required.

“It’s volume dependent, but we

ian made and came complete with a 110mm concrete base. Walls were clad with maglite oxide fireproof boards, and the houses had double-glazed windows and came already wired and plumbed.

He preferred to describe them as “modular” rather than “kit homes”.

“I really want to just import the houses and hand them over, but we could put a team together to erect them if necessary,” Mr Tootell said.

The houses could be erected on private or council-owned land, which would be either sold or leased to the house owners.

“The land can be prepared and all permits issued before the houses get here.”

Mr Tootell said he had proposed importing the houses as part of the Black Housing imports: David Tootell believes cheap, quality housing can be brought rto the peninsula from Thailand.

could bring in 30 houses a month,” he said.

Mooring fees were expensive and a crane capable of lifting 60 to 100 tonnes would be needed to unload containers from the ship and from trucks arriving at the building site.

He said discussions had been held with Swire Shipping about bringing the houses from Thailand to Western Port and preliminary talks had been held with BlueScope to use its wharf at Hastings.

Mr Tootell said the steel-framed houses complied with regulations requiring them to be 60 per cent Austral-

Saturday bushfire recovery effort, but “was given the runaround by state government departments”.

An Ezy Build brochure shows the prefabricated designs being adapted for houses, apartments, townhouses, schools, showrooms and motels.

It has an artist’s drawing of accommodation for 3500 in a barracks-like building at a mining project in Western Australia.

The draft Mornington Peninsula Shire Social Housing and Affordable Housing Policy lists the towns of Baxter, Somerville, Tyabb, Hastings, Crib Point, Balnarring, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Mt Martha, Dromana, Rosebud, Rosebud West, Tootgarook, Rye and Sorrento as fitting the criteria for public housing.

If adopted, the plan would see public

housing, also known as “social” or “affordable” housing, making up three per cent of the shire’s housing stock within 10 years. It is now 1.4 per cent.

To achieve the target there would need to be 146 government or not-forprofit group subsidised houses built each year.

As well as using some of its own land, the shire wants developers to agree to include affordable housing in new subdivisions in return for relaxing some planning and design rules.

The shire defines affordable housing as the cost of housing (rent or mortgage) not exceeding 30 per cent of a household’s income. It is also housing rented, leased or sold below the market rate.

$9.4b for Hastings port

By Mike Hast INTERNAL state government costings leaked to a Melbourne newspaper put the price of building a container port at Hastings at $9.4 billion.

The Department of Transport and Major Projects Victoria costings were done in June 2010 and obtained by the newspaper last week.

But the price of developing the port has been rubbery since 2006 when it was first proposed.

This was when Ralph Kenyon, then CEO of the port, released the draft Port Land Use & Transport Strategy,

with an estimate that $3 billion would be needed for the three-stage development.

In September 2009, the cost was put at $5.7 billion.

In January, The News reported the cost would be $11 billion when Transport Minister Dennis Napthine promised the Baillieu government would fast-track Hastings port development and within 10 years turn it into “a moderate sized working container port”.

The News’s figure was based on sources within the port industry.

The previous Labor government had aimed to build the port over 35 years.

Port development opponent Catherine Manning of Blue Wedges Coalition says she is not surprised at the new figure.

“We had expert costings done in 2007 and arrived at a figure of $10 billion and were criticised by the government,” she said.

“This new total does not include any damage to the environment, loss of recreational fishing or tourism business or CO2 emissions from shipping.”

Hobbies for the young, or young at heart KIDS Room Hobbies has a wide range of hobby and toy products. The product range consists of mainly electric, nitro and petrol-powered cars, boats, tanks, helicopters and aircraft.

The store also stocks slot car and train sets, static models, die-cast collectables as well as other toys and puzzles for younger children.

Kids Room Hobbies stock well-known brands such as Thunder Tiger, Tamiya, Kyosho, G V Racing, BSD, Windhobby, HSP, Hobby Tech and King Motor. Parts are available for all stocked hobby products, and repairs are carried out by full-time experienced staff members.

Demonstrations are carried out daily at the Dandenong showroom so drop in and staff will happily fly a plane or run a car for you. All nitro

cars come with a free starter kit, fuel and batteries as well as free tune and service for the life of the car.

Ever wanted to fly a plane or helicopter? Staff at Kids Room Hobbies teach customers to fly at no extra costs.

Book a time and they’ll have an experienced flyer on hand to take you up and guide you through the basics of flight.

With three shops situated in Dandenong, Frankston and a new shop in Mornington, drop in to your local hobby shop and have a look around.

Dandenong: 10 Swift Way, 9768 2586.

Frankston: Shop 46a, Beach St, 9783 1166.

New location: Shop 7/1 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington, 5977 1444.

Women’s awards

Four Legs a colourful affair FOUR LEGS FURNITURE & HOMEWARES has finally opened it’s doors!

This exciting new store is the brain-child of Dale Golotta who previously owned and operated Tigerlily Furniture for over 8 years, and has over 15 years experience in all areas of the furniture industry.

“The reason for opening this new and exciting store is that I believe the way we live on the Peninsula has changed significantly in the past decade,” explains Dale.

“Most people live here because of the amazing lifestyle on offer, and want their homes to be more colorful and decorative than those who live in the boring inner suburbs.”

As most homes are now more neutral inside, it creates the perfect opportunity for the home-

owner to start with the perfect blank canvas to create the most amazing look.

Four Legs Furniture & Homewares offers a wide range of colourful furniture and accessories with homewares, pictures, paintings, rugs, bowls, vases and other pieces, such as ottomans, occasional chairs, throw rugs and scatter cushions.

“We decided to create a store that was based on modern coastal living; that was more colourful, creative, decorative, and yet very affordable to the people living on the Mornington Peninsula.”

And if you love Australian-made furniture, you will love their new ranges of sofas, dining suites, buffets, tv entertainment units and more.

Take the time to visit the new store Four Legs Furniture & Homewares at 2/185 Mornington.

Phone (03) 5976 3688.

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is hosting the first annual Women’s Community Leadership awards on Tuesday 15 March at Bentons Square Community Centre.

Awards will be made in three categories: business, community and local government.

Details: Sina Summers of True Leadership, 0413 957 159 or sinasummers@trueleadership. com.au

Cash for more ‘spy’ cameras THE federal government will give Frankston Council $150,000 to install 10 new CCTV cameras on Seaford foreshore and in Frankston’s central activities district.

The money is on top of $205,000 for cameras granted by the government last year. Nine cameras were switched on last month.

The latest money comes from the Proceeds of Crime Act, which ensures assets from crimes are returned to the community. The new cameras are likely to be set up in Wells St, Nepean Hwy, Keys St, Clyde St and along Kananook Creek Blvd.

Mornington News 10 March 2011

PAGE 11

NEWS DESK

New moves for bay car ferry

By Mike Hast GOVERNMENT authorities continue to plan for the proposed Western Port car ferry despite Bass Coast Shire and a majority of Phillip Island residents rejecting terminal plans for the island’s “capital” of Cowes last July.

The so-called “missing link” ferry was revived by the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry in November 2007 at a meeting of business and political leaders at Parliament House.

VECCI wants a “Great Southern Coastal Road” that would create a unique touring route along Victoria’s spectacular coastline from Portland to Gippsland.

Travelling east, the route would follow the Princes Hwy, then the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff, use the existing car ferry to Sorrento, across the peninsula to Stony Point near Hastings and on to the new car ferry to Cowes, though Phillip Island, across the bridge to San Remo and along the South Gippsland coast near Wilsons Promontory and beyond.

The proposed 150-metre long jetty for the ferry terminal at Cowes, with its covered walkway for pedestrians and car queuing lanes in The Esplanade and Bass Ave, was met by furious opposition from residents last Easter at a rally attended by more than

350 people. Bass Coast councillors rejected the plans that would have transformed the Cowes foreshore in July.

The News understands Bass Coast officers recently held discussions with Parks Victoria and Tourism Victoria to seek an alternative to a terminal beside the existing Cowes pier, where the pedestrian ferry from Stony Point docks.

Supporters of the long-desired car ferry also include Department of Transport and Regional Development Victoria.

A feasibility study costing $700,000 was paid for by Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast shires, which each contributed $250,000, with state government agencies paying $200,000.

Bass Coast has been asked to consider other places for the terminal, with the most likely place being west of Cowes pier near where Cowes Yacht Club is located.

The car ferry terminal needs to be close to town to be financial viable, a source told The News.

On the peninsula side, plans are progressing for the transformation of Stony Point.

Draft plans seen by The News show the ferry access road, parking area and ticket office would take one-third of the land leased by Patrick Ports.

The government could be asked to compensate Patrick, which has a lease

Ferry story: A craft the size of the former Sorrento ferry Peninsula Princess would likely be used in Western Port.

until 2012 with a further five-year option.

The car ferry jetty would be 230 metres long with a two-lane road and covered walkway for pedestrians.

It would be built north of the existing jetty, which is used by Patrick tugs, the existing passenger-only ferry operated by Inter Island Ferries, Royal Australian Navy contractor vessels and others.

The ferry jetty would be built over an existing deep channel, necessitating extensive dredging to create a new one.

Critics of the car ferry, including the

Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Residents Association, say the plan is flawed as insufficient cars will use it.

Association member and retired engineer Alan Nelsen claims the government would have to subsidise each vehicle by at least $250 a trip and this could cost the government $2 million a year.

“It would be a white elephant,” he said.

Frank Denvir of Inter Island Ferries, who has run the Stony Point-Phillip Island passenger ferry service for 15 years, queried the number of drivers who would use the car ferry.

“The Sorrento-Queenscliff car ferry is viable as it connects the west coast with the peninsula and saves drivers having to battle traffic through central Melbourne. But I question the economic viability of a Western Port car ferry,” he said.

This latest car ferry proposal follows a long line of similar proposals, including two failed attempts to link the peninsula with Tasmania, and a proposal by Peninsula Searoad Transport, which operates the car ferry between Sorrento and Queenscliff, to use a superseded Port Phillip ferry to link Stony Point and Cowes.

Buoys may give dolphins a chance

Safe play: Port Phillip dolphins are better protected by new buoys marking a dolphin sanctuary off Point Nepean. Picture: Yanni, dolphinsofportphillip.com

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PARKS Victoria has installed five buoys in the Ticonderoga Bay sanctuary zone off Point Nepean National Park between Portsea and The Heads.

They are designed to protect Port Phillip’s bottlenose dolphins and follow calls in January by peninsula tourism operators for better protection of dolphins from watercraft (“Jet ski blamed for dolphin surf death”, Southern Peninsula News, 11/1/11).

Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Keith Larner said they had been installed

by Parks’ staff and would “ensure the safety of the small and vulnerable population of dolphins that travel between Port Phillip and Western Port”.

The buoys would clearly define for boat and jet ski users the Ticonderoga Bay zone that acts as a refuge area for dolphins to rest, feed and care for their newborn calves, he said.

They remind “recreational jet ski and boat operators that this is a protected area and you must slow down and limit your speed to five knots”.

“We are privileged to have dolphins and especially the vulnerable bottlenose dolphin subspecies in Port Phillip and we want to ensure they remain

there for current and future generations to enjoy,” he said.

“Seals, dolphins and whales are protected and it is an offence to harass or harm them, which is why sanctuary zones are so important to maintain and help protect our marine mammals.”

He hoped the new buoys would prevent future incidents from occurring after a summer that saw the death of two dolphins including a two-monthold calf.

DSE wildlife officers were investigating the two cases and had also issued more than 30 on-the-spot fines and 15 verbal warnings to boat and jet ski operators for offences under the Marine Act. Mornington Peninsula-based Dolphin Research Institute executive director Jeff Weir said it was a positive move and would slow people down.

“The institute placed buoys in the same area about 15 years ago and they worked pretty well,” he said.

They had been removed when public liability insurance costs had soared and maintenance became too expensive for the institute.

Mr Weir said dolphin swim tour operators based at Sor-

rento and Queenscliff did not visit Ticonderoga Bay as part of their licence agreements with DSE. He said that in a perfect world, no one would be allowed to use watercraft in areas where dolphins rest, feed and care for young calves.

Marine laws state:  Recreational boaters must remain 100 metres away from dolphins.  Licensed tour operators 50 metres.  Jet skis 300 metres.  Swimmers 30 metres.  Aircraft including helicopters 500 metres above whales and dolphins.  Recreational boaters must remain 200 metres away from dolphins in the Ticonderoga Bay sanctuary between Police Point and the Port Phillip Heads.

For more information on the new regulations, go to the internet and visit www.dse.vic. gov.au or call 136 186.

To report an emergency (stranding, entanglement, injury or death) involving a whale or dolphin, call the Whale and Dolphin Emergency Hotline on 1300 136 017.

Dark thoughts over Village Glen lights

By Mike Hast RESIDENTS of Rosebud West’s Village Glen retirement complex were bitterly disappointed when shire councillors voted last week not to contribute $100,000 for traffic lights on Eastbourne Rd. At a sometimes rowdy meeting in Balnarring Hall on Monday night last week, councillors voted 6-5 to not contribute to the project.

Last month, shire officers recommended the shire contribute one-third of the $640,000 to build a signalised intersection where the retirement village’s main driveway joins Eastbourne Rd. The lights would replace existing pedestrian lights installed in the early 2000s when Village Glen was significantly expanded.

The new lights had become more urgent since the death last July of Village Glen resident Nancy Telford, whose car was hit by a truck when she was turning out of the complex into Eastbourne Rd. Her death devastated residents and the wider community, and renewed calls for the intersection to be made safer.

The plan for a full signalised intersection proposed in 2007 was revived and submitted to the shire by Village Glen management, which wanted the cost shared equally with the shire and VicRoads, which owns the road.

The shire refused to pay the $213,000 and Village Glen management upped its contribution, proposing the shire put in $100,000, which would have come from its 2010-11 financial year black spot funding. The federal government gave the shire $500,000 for its nine black spots and it has spent about $400,000 so far.

At the Balnarring meeting, it was like a children’s pantomime as some of the more than 90 Village Glen residents in the packed public gallery cheered and clapped councillors who spoke for the money, but jeered those who spoke against.

Mayor and meeting chairman Graham Pittock showed immense tolerance initially as the debate continued, but later warned people in the gallery to be silent. “Councillors should be permitted to speak without feeling intimidated,” he said.

After the meeting, last year’s mayor David Gibb told The News he would have cleared the room. It’s very difficult to make clear and good decisions when you have that level of interruption, he said.

Shire planner Niall McDonagh said if the shire contributed money, VicRoads would be more likely to

Black spot: The intersection of busy Eastbourne Rd and the Village Glen driveway on Monday morning.

install the traffic lights. “This is an opportunity to solve the problem; it’s only $100,000, which is very reasonable,” he said.

Leading the pro-lights councillors were Anne Shaw and Antonella Celi, whose ward takes in the Village Glen.

Cr Shaw kicked off the debate and spoke with a loud voice: “We need to make this road safer; it’s now a black spot and we have funds.”

The shire had contributed money to 12 roads owned by VicRoads and installing the lights at Village Glen for its 900 residents would make it safer for all of us, she said.

The shire had also found $50,000 for the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Portsea beach erosion works, she said.

Cr Celi said the proposal was a winwin, a minimal contribution for a black spot intersection and would provide a net community benefit. “Council has an obligation to look after its elderly residents,” she said.

Cr Celi referred to two fatalities outside Village Glen but gave no details.

Shire council minutes from September 2001 state: “On 1 July, 2001, at approximately 7pm an elderly lady pedestrian, being a resident of the Village Glen, was killed whilst trying to cross Eastbourne Road, between Kolinda Crescent and Illaroo Street. This accident resulted in strong community concern, including the Village Glen who requested the immediate installation of POS [pedestrian-operated signals].

VicRoads have rejected an approach from the Village Glen to advance the

priority funding of the signals.

“Subsequent to this recent tragedy, the Village Glen has liaised with Council officers in conjunction with VicRoads and submitted an offer towards funding the POS in order to expedite the project.

“The written offer by the Village Glen provides for initially full funding (estimated $88,000) of the installation of the POS, however, seeking 50% reimbursement from Council in the 2002-2003 budget, i.e. in essence, an equally shared cost to both the Village Glen and Council. VicRoads has also agreed to accept the cost of signal maintenance (estimated $55,000) for a 10 year period that is normally borne by developers when a project is not included on a VicRoads program.”

Leading the anti-lights councillors were Reade Smith, Tim Rodgers and Leigh Eustace.

Last month Crs Rodgers and Eustace had been criticised for saying Village Glen residents had to take responsibility for their driving.

In the shire officers’ report to councillors in September 2001, it was stated: “Unfortunately as we age our ability to drive safely begins to diminish. This is a potential future problem for many current and future residents of the village.

“It is neither the responsibility of the Shire nor the management of the village, to dictate to residents whether or not they are capable of continuing to drive.

“However village management, though it’s [sic] Management Advisory

MP courts new name to lift city EFFORTS to rid Frankston of its reputation as a crime centre have again turned to pressuring the state government into changing the name of its magistrates court.

Dunkley MP Bruce Billson says the city suffers when it is unfairly associated with crimes tried at Frankston court but committed elsewhere.

Frankston Council has now weighed in to the fight for a name change by suggesting the courts be renamed Peninsula, Nepean or Southern Metropolitan magistrates court.

Council on 21 February agreed to a motion by Cr Christine Richards calling for a name change and also seeking support from state and federal MPs. Mr Billson failed in 2007 to persuade then Attorney-General Rob Hulls to change the court’s name, but now hopes the new Liberal government will agree.

“The change of state government provides a fresh opportunity to pursue this simple and sen-

sible change and we are fortunate to have an energetic local state MP in Geoff Shaw who can strongly advocate for a court name change,” Mr Billson said.

“Mr Hulls dismissed local community concerns that reports of criminal cases being heard at the court were being unfairly associated with Frankston and this association was an unhelpful influence on our city’s reputation.

“Frankston court is a substantial justice facility that serves a wide catchment and hears many criminal cases that just happen to be at this court, but have nothing to do with our city and people from our community “Media reports highlight the charges and the location of the court hearing the case, associating Frankston with the alleged criminal activity and perpetrators in a way that is unhelpful for the positive and welcoming perception of our city that we have all been working to nurture.”

Committee and emergency medical call services, can help residents assess their own suitability to drive and assist with alternative transport arrangements, when necessary.”

Last week at the Balnarring meeting, Cr Smith said the shire in 2001 had given approval for the expansion of Village Glen, but one of the conditions was that some form of traffic lights be installed. “We were concerned about safety.”

He said he was concerned about the system that had been installed in the early 2000s.

“I have residents in Bittern [covered by his ward] wanting traffic signals.”

The developer should pay, he said.

Cr Bill Goodrem supported providing the $100,000: “We can’t alter the past. Now we must plan well for the future. I’m getting to the age where I might want to retire there [Village Glen]. We’d feel guilty if someone [else] was killed there.”

Cr Eustace said the shire had given approval for full traffic lights in 2007.

“Three years and one month later, a woman turns in front of a truck.” He said the issue was discussed in 2001, then 2007 “and now we’ve had a death in 2010. The onus is on the developer to do it”.

Cr Rodgers: “I’ve been through a fatality in the last couple of years.

This is not about the residents [of Village Glen], it’s about taking $100,000 out of the budget to go to one development.” He said his ward [Nepean] needed footpaths and streetscape improvements to make roads safer.

Speaking against the motion, Cr

Bev Colomb said: “We’ve been put in a very difficult position. I have retirement villages in my ward [Mornington area] with no crossings.

We’ve debated this tonight without total information; it [Village Glen] could be developed more.”

Cr David Gibb said it was a simple proposition: “This [Eastbourne Rd] is a main road; a state road and a black spot, and the call on ratepayers’ funds for state projects increases every year. We should be spending our black spot money on shire roads. After we’ve done ours we could contribute to state roads.

“We’ve given money to the government for ambulances and $500,000 for the 788 bus [between Portsea and Frankston]. Shire funds are more finite than state funds.”

He said it was highly unlikely VicRoads would have money for the lights in its 2011-12 budget. It was more likely to be in its 2012-13 budget.

The motion to allocate $100,000 for the lights was put and lost. The five for were: Anne Shaw, Antonella Celi, Frank Martin, Bill Goodrem and Graham Pittock. Against were: Tim Rodgers, Leigh Eustace, Reade Smith, Bev Colomb, David Gibb and Lynn Bowden.

After the meeting, a Village Glen residents who spoke to The News on the condition of anonymity, said it was a furphy that only older people would benefit from traffic lights.

“The village is a big employer of people of all ages,” they said.

“We wanted the support of the council to progress the project. VicRoads would have looked at it more closely if it knew the shire was backing it.”

The resident said they were extremely disappointed with the refusal by the council and of the conduct of some councillors both inside and outside the council chamber.

Some residents were considering making a formal complaint and calling for a public apology.

“The shire has contributed funds to many crossings on roads owned by the government.”

The resident said they had information that a “full treatment” signalised crossing was blocked in 2001.

“We all pay rates, a higher rate than many residents, and we pay for maintenance on the internal roads as well as for gutters, street lights and trees.”

The News believes there is a high probability that Village Glen management will go ahead and install the signalised crossing and then attempt to recoup costs from the state government.

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Mornington News 10 March 2011

Confucius says:

War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left

Riddle: For some I go fast, for others I’m slow. To most people, I’m an obsession. Relying on me is a well practiced lesson. Answer page 15.

FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT

Pet Sounds

By Stuart McCullough SOMETIMES you don’t know how much you need something until it’s offered to you. Take pet insurance. To say that I was surprised to receive an email offering discounted insurance for my dog and/or cat is an understatement on a par with “the Hindenburg disaster was a bit of a setback for the zeppelin industry”. But I receive ridiculous, unsolicited emails every day, most of which I simply ignore.

In fact, this seemingly cavalier approach has ensured that I am not currently married to every other trollop in the broader Russian tundra with a desire to travel and why I am yet to invest in the Nigerian banking industry, despite being consistently invited to do so.

But this was no mere piece of technological spam. No siree.

Unlike those emails that seek to lure you to a link that then unloads a virus worse than the one the monkey in Outbreak had, this email concluded with: “Please do not reply to this email.” I considered it an invitation.

At the risk of offending the insurance industry, while I appreciate your entreaty not to respond, it’s no dice. Indeed, having been asked not to re-

spond, I felt an overwhelming compulsion to do so. Besides, how else can I get answers to my questions? So I sent the following: “Dear Sir/Madam/Other.

Thank you for your email asking whether I wish to insure a dog or a cat. As loathe as I am to suggest a lack of imagination on the part of the good people at Medibank Private, can I ask whether other, less obvious pets can be insured? For example, although I don’t presently own a Mexican fighting fish, I’ve always been attracted to the idea of doing

Joke!!!

RIddle Solution

Two old men had been best friends for years, and they both live to their early 90’s, when one of them suddenly falls deathly ill. His friend comes to visit him on his deathbed, and they’re reminiscing about their long friendship, when the dying man’s friend asks, “Listen, when you die, do me a favor. I want to know if there’s cricket in heaven.”

The dying man said, “We’ve been friends for years, this I’ll do for you.” And then he dies. A couple days later, his surviving friend is sleeping when he hears his friend’s voice.

The voice says, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that there is cricket in heaven.”

“What’s the bad news?”

“The bad news is that you’re opening batsman on Wednesday.”

ww

u m. a w. peni ns ulafudge. c o

so. But, as the name suggests, these fish are renowned for their less than ideal temperament and are prone to embroiling themselves in scuffles.

Many’s the time I have spotted one on Kings St beyond a certain hour, its chest puffed and flippers flailing aggressively, having been refused entry to a nightclub. Granted, such aggression rarely descends into a fully fledged brawl, but I suspect that’s largely a result of not having fists. You can only be so hostile with flippers.

I digress. If you do offer insurance for other animals, should I assume that pets such

For some I go fast, for others I’m slow. To most people, I’m an obsession relying on me is a well practiced lesson.

Answer: Time

Sudoku Solution

many over the years. My favourite was a terrier named Jock who, as best I can tell, suffered a coronary after eating an entire rabbit. That the rabbit in question belonged to my sister remains something of a sore point. While insurance can now do little for the dog or the rabbit, I do feel that some kind of coronial process might bring a sense of finality that is long overdue.

Thank you, too, for detailing the many wonderful benefits that come with insuring a pet, such as coverage of vet bills including my choice of specialist. With this in mind, I’m hoping that such services extend beyond the more obvious: “my dog swallowed a bone larger than his entire intestinal tract” or “my spoodle has herniated his back trying to lick himself somewhere inappropriate” kind of scenarios. For instance, does it include cosmetic surgery? For I have seen some full-on ugly dogs in my time, many of which could well do with the type of nip and tuck that doesn’t involve the wholesale removal of their private parts. I’m just saying; if it’s good enough to turn them into eunuchs, we can at least ensure that they feel good about themselves.

Finally, I must note with

as these might attract a surcharge of some kind, or perhaps a higher excess? Now that I think about it, I’d understand if you tried to avoid the whole “fish” thing completely.

There’s an old saying in the pet game: never get attached to a fish. They’re just as likely to go belly up to spite you. For myself, I have never owned a goldfish that outlasted a litre of milk. Much like crack addicts or motorcycle stuntmen, such creatures are, perhaps, uninsurable.

Also, can a retrospective policy be obtained? Presently, I am petless but have owned

disappointment the absence of benefits that are broadly considered standard when insuring humans. For example, there is no reference to any kind of rebate for gym classes, sunglasses or a guarantee of a private room if admission to a vet clinic is necessary, to say nothing of dental care. For shame. While it’s true that most shi-tzus and labradoodles avoid gymnasiums, this may well be attributable to a lack of support from the insurance industry rather than, say, an absence of opposable thumbs by which to activate the treadmill. Yours, etc.”

I am yet to receive a response.

I am, however, giving serious consideration to getting myself a sausage dog. Whether I take out insurance for my dishlicker will all depend on how accident-prone he is. Rather than get expensive insurance, I might just be extra cautious and insist the animal wear a helmet and elbow pads at all times. I’m not sure what I’ll call him, but I dare say you’ll know he’s mine if you see him. www.stuartmccullough.com

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PAGE 15

EVENTS

From apples to motocross thrills THE hardworking farmers and orchardists of Red Hill who organised the area’s first agricultural show in 1922 would surely stare in amazement if they could time travel to this month’s event.

Flying over their heads would be the gravity-defying daredevils of Empire FMX, the freestyle motocross team, one of the main drawcards of the 83rd annual show, nowadays the only event of its kind on the peninsula.

In the 1920s, life was lived at a more sedate pace – drawcards included local people exhibiting their best eating apples, flowers and vegetables along with the best butter, cooking and preserves from their farm kitchens.

Many took their produce to the showgrounds on Arthurs Seat Rd by horse and cart.

Show day was declared a local holiday by the Shire of Flinders and a special train ran from Melbourne to bring spectators to Red Hill, a journey of more than three hours.

The holiday is gone, the train is gone and the shire is now part of a “mega-shire”, but the crowds continue to come, and there will be something for everyone on Saturday 26 March.

Over the years, horses, sheep, cattle and alpacas were included to the show, reflecting the changing face of farming on the peninsula. Wine, avocados, olives, berries and cheese have joined the list of produce, with some of

PAGE 16

the best available for tasting and buying.

Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Society secretary Alison Dougherty said this year’s event will be a “wonderful mixture of animals, arena events, woodchopping, entertainment, competitions and demonstrations”.

The Empire motocross riders would do two shows as well as sign posters and autographs.

“They’ll add a wow factor to the show,” she said.

Also new this year is the Australian Fishing Show, which demonstrates fishing techniques using live fish in a 21-metre long tank as well as providing information on 4WDs, eye and boat safety, knife sharpening, motor maintenance, holiday destinations and lure fishing.

“We also have Tubby the Robot, roving entertainer Super Weirdo, Daisy the Clown and her stiltwalking friends, free pony rides and free face painting,” Ms Dougherty said.

Animal stars will include beef cattle; horses, especially Clydesdales; alpacas; stud, black and coloured sheep; poultry; rats, ferrets and pigs. There will be petting paddocks full of animals for youngsters.

Demonstrations will include shearing, spinning, working dogs, woodwork, heritage machinery, craft and cake decorating.

A perennial favourite is the woodchopping, with eight-

Mornington News 10 March 2011

time world champion Lawrence O’Toole Junior leading the musclemen and making the chips fly.

Chainsaw racing is also popular.

The showground’s pavilions display craft, cooking, fruit, flowers, vegetables, art and photography.

In 2008, the show celebrated the 150th anniversary of agricultural and horticultural shows on the Mornington Peninsula, and a history, “A Show of our Own”, will be with the historical display in the Pioneers Produce Pavilion.

The showjumping will be held Showtime: Tubby the Robot delights the children (above). An Empire FMX rider defies gravity (right). The at Boneo Park on Boneo Rd this team is new to the Red Hill Show this year. Woodchopping contests (below) have been a mainstay since the first show and still draw the crowds. year on Saturday and Sunday 2 and 3 April, and will include eight showjumping events for A, B, C and D grade horses as well as events for junior riders.

Tickets cost $40 for a family (two adults, three children 6-18 years), adults $15, children $10, students and pensioners $10, children five and under free. Free parking.

Details and entry forms: Society office 5989 2357, email: redhillshow@hotkey.net.au and on the internet at: www.redhillshow. org  The society’s 12th annual International Cool Climate Wine Show, which includes judging, public tastings and awards dinner, is from 23-27 May at the showgrounds.

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USA comes to Tyabb DURING March, Topez is proudly exhibiting the controversial and surreal art of American artist Dale Mathis. Topez is the managing agent for Dale’s work in Australia. The intricacy of the dynamic integration of moving parts in each piece of work will leave you spellbound and captivated. Whether you are an art enthusiast or just appreciate great talent, you must see this exhibition.

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Big top glitz comes to town THE Great Moscow Circus featuring Russian and other overseas performers is coming to Frankston.

Acrobats jump high into the top of the marquee while audiences gasp as riders brave the The Wheel of Death.

In the grand finale four motorbike riders tackle the splitting Globe of Death.

Other acts perform magical illusions while the

Wacky Ringmaster has his own trampoline.

Miniature horses have their own routine as does the hula hoop artist who bends while spinning and whirling.

There is precision juggling with silks, cubes, the Dynamic Diablos, the Statue Act and clowns.

The Great Moscow Circus, with it’s slighting and costumes, says it capturing the spirit of Moscow.

To win a double pass to see The Great Moscow Circus on Thursday 24th March, send your details to “Circus competition”, PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915 by Thursday 17th March.

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Mornington News 10 March 2011

PAGE 17

Entertainment COUNTRY music performer, journalist and author Jim Haynes has released a moving tribute to our soldiers who served in World War II with the release of his new book On All Fronts (ABC Books).

Jim said: “On all Fronts is a book l had to write. It’s an account of Australia’s participation in World War II, written for all Australians, not just war and history buffs. It looks at Australian involvement in the major theatres of World War II. “l grew up in the aftermath of World War II and wanted to give accurate and simple accounts of the battles as well as glimpses into the human and social impact on Australians. The book attempts to explain to ordinary Aussies what happened and why it was important. On All Fronts rrp $35.00 would make a great gift.

Jim is also the author of The ABC Book of Australian Country Music containing more than 250 biographies and photos of country music artists.

Jim dedicated his “bible” of country music to Slim Dusty and Smoky Dawson.

He covers everything from the international success of Keith Urban and the iconic Aussie status of John Williamson to the spectacular rise

of Kasey Chambers, and lists all the Golden Guitar winners since the beginning of the Country Music Awards of Australia.

Jim has written more than 100 published and recorded songs including the novelty hits Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga and Since Cheryl Went Feral. He has also served on the board of the Country Music Association of Australia for more than 12 years.

Both books are available now.

Some of his best recorded material is available on The Jim Haynes Collection containing 14 funny songs including Cricket out the Back, Since Cheryl Went Feral, Wagga Wagga Honeymoon, Rindercella – A Fairytale, I’ll Have Chips and many more.

For more info, www.jimhaynes.net, www.ourcountry.com.au and www. harpercollins.com.au *** ABC Music has released the new Jasmine Rae single Hunky Country Boys, the first single from her forthcoming album Listen Here, the follow-up to her ARIA-nominated album Look It Up. Listen Here, produced in Nashville

by Grammy-nominated Australian

with Gary Turner

Above: Jasmine Rae and your columnist.

producer Mark Moffatt, will be released on 4 March.

The album is released on the day of her first sold out Arena show with Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

I caught up with Jasmine at Bonnie Doon last weekend and she was excited about Tamworth and her new album.

We finished the last Planet Country gig for 2010 to a crowd of 1200 people at Bonnie Doon, 170 kilometres from Melbourne.

I look forward to hosting the Toyota

Prado Lee Kernaghan and Friends concert at Tamworth in January.

For info, www.jasminerea.com.au www.theresmoretocountry.com *** FUNNY man and talented country singer-songwriter Pete Denahy will release his first DVD All You Can Eat directed by Ross Wood and shot in Pete’s hometown Yackandandah, Victoria.

It features well known and loved tracks such as the popular Sort of, Dunno, Nothin’, which reached a million hits on YouTube, The Target

forms of gambling. Will they go ahead with the scheme? Not under a Liberal government. Freedom for us to lose at will and for them to get richer and so on.

Should they? I can’t see it producing the result they’re after, as in curbing the gambling instincts of the addicted. How about the gambling advertisements on direct telecast football matches? At racetracks – a sport?

Who for? Centrebet, online gambling and Betfair. Yeah, very fair – for them.

And on it goes, a gambling tsunami.

The poker machine problem is but a drop in the ocean. The psychiatrists support the proposal.

They would, of course. Professor Patrick McGorry reckons 4.4 million Aussies confront mental illness every year. Numbers, pulled from a rabbit’s hat. Are we the rabbits? “What’s up Doc?” *** TELSTRA is closing its Moe call centre and axing 114 jobs. The good news, so they tell us, is that the Melbourne Docklands and the Philippines call centres will be able to take up the slack. Good old Telstra.

And good old Marius Kloppers, the BHP chief executive in announcing

their $11 billion profit.

More good news in that Marius and Co are “thinking about” expanding coal operations in the Illawarra, building out Newcastle ports and expanding rail ports in Queensland, not to mention their commitment to Bass Strait oil and gas fields.

My heart gladdens for all those phantom Mum and Dad shareholders, none of which I’ve ever met, but I surmise that fresh fruit followed by eggs benedict with a latte would be their breakfast of choice. *** DANIEL Andrews, state Opposition leader, said it would be good for Broadmeadows to have a Labor candidate elected because the Coalition would do “nothing for Broadmeadows, absolutely nothing”. And tell me, Daniel, what did your party do for the Mornington Peninsula during the past 10 years?

During “Mr Freeway” John Brumby’s reign, I only had a vague idea of who his deputy was. Not so with Teddy’s lot. The dasher himself, smiling Police Minister Peter Ryan (I think he’s smiling?) is in our faces almost every day. Watch him, Teddy; he adores that camera.

Song, Petrol Head and many others.

For info, www.petedenahy.com.au *** CROONER Johnny Mathis, best known for his hits, Chances Are, Wonderful! Wonderful!, and Twelfth of Never, has recorded an album in Nashville called Let it Be Me (Sony).

It’s a recording of classic songs such as Let It Be Me with Alison Krauss, Crazy, Southern Nights, Shenandoah, Love Me Tender, Please Help Me I’m Falling and many more including What a Wonderful World (Christmas version).

The San Francisco-born Mathis was signed to Columbia Records at age 19 and has been recording since 1956.

A legendary career.

A Grain Of Salt THE Ides of March already. Poor old Julius Caesar, stabbed 23 times 2055 years ago this month. For me another birth month – 70! Enough to make a man take stock, if I had any stock to take.

They had a 105-year-old Chelsea woman on radio station 774 (Jon Faine) recently, as bright as a button.

That same evening on Australian Story an 85-year-old was riding his motorbike around Australia. Does this make me feel young? No! Press on.

Birthdays? Yuk! On the other hand, the Rye 150th birthday celebrations were a treat despite the cold weather. I couldn’t help but admire the efforts of all those people involved, young, old, bands and even Clydesdales. Well done. *** THE 17-year-old female in the St Kilda and Ricky Nixon fiasco may well be naive or even predatory, but with St Kilda paying for her accommodation followed by News Limited and the Herald Sun, the whole saga is laced with hypocrisy coming from all forms of the media.

Then we have the vitriolic Caroline Wilson from The Age getting stuck into tricky Ricky. Until Sunday night’s

60 Minutes, the teenager couldn’t be identified by name or photographed, so the TV stations show footage of her from behind or in a form of darkness.

Mind you, she appears to actively seek publicity. The earthquake must have disappointed her. I love it. Don’t you just love it? *** THE owner of the former Ansett property at Mt Eliza wants to build a fence to privatise the beach area in front of his mansion. Apparently he and his family were frequent witnesses to “full homosexual acts on the beach, which of course can be confronting.

I have no idea of the exact location of this beach, nor am I likely to be confronted, nor am I really interested, always assuming they refer to male gays. My “shadow aspect” (look it up) is well under control, due no doubt to my age. *** I’M always doubtful about any new laws, particularly under the guise of what’s good for us. And so it is with the proposal of a compulsory precommitment scheme for pokie players.

They’re talking 95,000 problem players (who does the counting?) but no mention of numbers in other

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WHERE did North Melbourne Football Club president James Brayshaw spring from? I quite like the Shinboners, but Brayshaw? He became co-host of The Footy Show, then he kicked aside a good host in Tony Jones on the Sunday Footy Show, then a cricket commentator?

He must know someone high up at Channel 9. Let’s face it, his good looks aside, he must be way up there at the top of the list as Australia’s most boring, most bland television persons, ditto Karl Stefanovic.

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Black Caviar shows her class

No bounds for Breakers

Breakers under 18s: Back row (left to right) Jake McKinnon (assistant coach), Ethan Bowering, Mark Whitehead, Ben Leyland, Chris Janesse (coach), Luke Scott and James O’Connor. Front (left to right) Nick Bird, Ben Rolton, Josh Watt, Luke Whittaker (awarded MVP) and Jacob Smith.

THE Mornington Breakers U18 Boys first team has commenced the 2011 season with enormous flair and athleticism.

In the recent Dandenong tournament, they battled hard to finish 4-0 at the top of their pool, defeating teams from interstate as well as across Victoria.

The semi-final was a first versus second matchup between Mornington and Warnambool with the boys’ talent clearly shining through with a 47-19 win. Later the same

day they played the grand final against Nunawading and defeated them 50-30 in a fast and furious game.

Luke Whittaker was nominated Most Valuable Player of the tournament, showing speed and dexterity with the ball.

There were strong performances from all the boys; particularly Josh Watt and Luke Scott who both scored well during the tournament.

This winning streak has continued throughout the grading season where the boys have

dominated their section, going on to successfully grade at the top of the VJBL in the Victorian Championship.

This promises to be a stellar season for the team, which have now set its sights on touring Seattle in the US at the end of the year.

The team is seeking sponsorships to enable it to achieve this dream. Contact the Mornington Breakers, PO Box 373, Mornington 3931, call 5975 0067 or email deb@morningtonbasketball.com.au if you can help.

AS the autumn carnival gathers momentum, the brilliant Black Caviar has captured all the headlines, but I have managed to identify a few horses who will pay their way in the near future.

New Zealand bred 2yo RESCUE MISSION, who is trained on the Mornington Peninsula

by Lee Freedman, caught the eye with a fast finishing 2nd to the smart Anevay over 1100m at Flemington.

With the benefit of that experience and over a little more ground he should be able to go on and chalk up his first win.

An ideal target would be the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes [1400m] at Flemington on March 12.

Lightly raced 5yo ANUDJAWIN, who rattled home to finish an unlucky 2nd to in-form King Diamond over 2000m at Flemington. That was only his third run in and should be able to greet the judge at his next start over 2000m or further.

Moe trained BELGIETTO is a progressive type, who won four races in succession earlier this season, resumed with pleasing 2nd to quality sprinter Diplomatic Force over 1200m.

Effective on all surfaces he will be seen to advantage when he steps out over longer distances.

In-form Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien has a coming winner in 4yo ERASET. After a summer break he ran a solid 2nd to the consistent Offenders and will be fitter next time.

Look for him over 1600m.

Top run: Black Caviar spacing her rivals in the Lightning Stakes.

Picture: Slickpix (www.slickpix.com.au)

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Brian Jenkins who is based a Cranbourne has recently taken over the training of lightly raced STOLE. She was having her third start for the stable when a determined 3rd to outsider Did He Win over 1700m at Flemington and will be suited back in mares’ grade.

Mike Moroney – another Melbourne Cup winning trainer – is about to improve the record of the 5yo SPONTANEOUS. So far the gelding has won three of 43 but his two runs this time in have been encouraging and is worth supporting when he gets to 2000m.

Mornington trained DELAGO’S LAD is poised to secure victory in group class following his eye-catching 6th to champion juvenile Sepoy

in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 26.

After a tardy starts he was doing his best work over the final 200m giving the impression he will run a strong 1600m.

Classy 5yo WHOBEGOTYOU is worth backing in any race he contests over the next few months. Returning from a spell the chestnut posted a series of outstanding sectionals – including 21.61 for his final 400m – when a fast closing 2nd to gun mare More Joyous in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes [1400m] at Caulfield.

Former Sydneysider HINCHINBROOK appears back on track after losing his way earlier this season. Having his first start for leading trainer Peter Moody, the 3yo hit the turf with gusto when 3rd in the 1100m Oakleigh Plate and can be supported with confidence when he steps up to 1200m and 1400m.

BEST: WHOBEGOTYOU

Little Kickers… scoring points with parents LITTLE KICKERS, the approved FUN Soccer classes for children, has been scoring big points with parents across the Australia. Here is what Samantha Ireland has to say…

“Having an energetic three-year-old and finding ways to occupy him can be challenging. My son, Xander, had tried various activities but he wasn’t gaining any real skills. That was when I heard about Little Kickers. After the first class it was clear Xander loved the social interaction, and I was just relieved that some of his energy was being used up. But after a few more sessions I realised that Little Kickers is much more than just good fun.

Being an only child Xander was very focused on himself, but under the guidance of his coaches he began to learn how to work within a team.

As his physical abilities developed and his ball skills increased, so did his sense of belonging.

I’m constantly impressed with the coaches and how they encourage all the boys and girls within their classes to participate, no matter the level of their soccer skills.

He’s also learnt that persistence pays off and the only way to get better at something is to keep trying. So many of these lessons are just as important off the soccer field and I’m thrilled that he’s learning these important life skills while keeping physically active and having so much fun.

It’s not often you can find an activity for kids that nurtures them so holistically. Little Kickers really gives these kids a sense of pride, friendship and fair play while fostering a love for a great game.”

For more information please visit www.littlekickers.com.au or contact Nick on (03)97088131

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Where learning’s a ball Mornington News 10 March 2011

PAGE 19

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2/185 Mornington Tyabb Road, Mornington. Phn: 5976 3688 PAGE 20

Mornington News 10 March 2011