Western Port News 19th March 2025

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Hastings ‘preferred location’ for consolidated shire offices

IN a major policy shift, and a huge potential win for Hastings, councillors have voted to nominate the Hastings Marine Parade site as the preferred location for consolidated shire offices.

The change comes after the previous council had “shortlisted” two sites: Queen Street in Mornington and Wannaeue Place in Rosebud (Shortlist of two for new shire HQ, The News 3/9/24).

Officers put forward a motion at the 11 March meeting endorsing the Mornington and Rosebud sites, but councillors had other ideas.

An amendment was put forward to the presented motion requesting the removal of Wannaeue Place (Rosebud) as an option and adding the Hastings site for further consideration.

The News believes the move came after a confidential “Future Workplace Business Case Initial Findings” report specified prohibitive costs at the Rosebud location, and a workshop attended by councillors mooted the financial and social benefits of the Hastings site.

The amended motion is a huge win for first-time councillor Michael Stephens, whose Warringine Ward covers the proposed site.

“I think Hastings should be considered seriously for the site for the shire office proposal,” said Stephens.

“The site at 21 Marine Parade is such a great location being at the end of High Street, across from 40 acres of parkland, and ample space.

“The proposal will add a huge business injection into the area which Hastings is desperately in need of. It would have an enormous positive impact on the town and the Western Port region.”

An amendment was put forward to pause the consultation on the Mornington site by Cr Paul Pingiaro.

The amendment came after Marsh

asked council officers how much money was still to be spent on the Mornington site consultation and officers were unable to provide a figure.

“I think it is important we pause the Mornington consultation. It is a backup plan moving forward if Hastings is not viable,” said Pingiaro.

“Our consensus, after the workshop, is we are all very excited to look at the opportunities we can present for Hastings.”

Marsh agreed with pausing the Mornington consultation.

“We spend a fortune on consultants. If we are delaying it for three months, to see if Hastings is a viable alternative, given the remaining cost is not quantified, I’m keen to pause it. These business cases consume a huge amount of council budget.”

Endorsing the substantive motion, Pingiaro said “There is so much that can be done in Hastings.”

“We need to invest there. We need to look strategically at what we can achieve in Hastings. We need to boost the economy of Hastings. We need

to bring jobs to Hastings. We need to revitalise the area.”

It is believed a motivating factor for pursuing the Hastings site was the commercial opportunities that would then be opened up with the shireowned land in Mornington.

“While the Crown land at Mornington needs to be looked at for other uses, the carparks are owned by the ratepayers. We get knocks on the door from developers wanting to monetize that; it’s some of the most expensive land we own,” said Marsh.

“It makes sense if we can turn them into commercial opportunities to fund public infrastructure.

“This is an exciting and transformational project for Hastings in the same way a performing arts centre would be transformational.”

The final motion, including the removal of the Rosebud site as a preferred site, the pausing of consultation on the Mornington site, and the development of a business case for the Hastings site, was carried unanimously.

Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au
MAYOR Cr Anthony Marsh and Warringine Ward Cr Michael Stephens outside the current shire offices on Marine Parade Hastings. Picture: Cameron McCullough

Council invests millions more in shire roads

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has announced it will be lifting its annual investment in road renewal funding to $5.3m. Coupled with the $2.2m from the federal government’s “Roads to Recovery” program the yearly investment on road renewal on the peninsula will now be $7.5m.

The shire manages more than 1360km of sealed roads, with their dilapidated state causing roads to be a regular feature in the shire’s customer satisfaction surveys.

Residents have gone as far collecting petitions demanding action (Petition to fill potholes, The News 21/2/23) and have raised concerns that the current state of the roads is endangering motorists (Urgent safety calls grow for Boneo Rd, The News 3/12/24).

“In response to this feedback, council is about to embark on an ambitious resealing and rehabilitation program covering 159,700 square metres across 35 shire managed roads,” said Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh.

“This year’s program includes more patching, to ensure that what’s under the surface is in good condition too.”

The shire told The News they have also introduced a range of new measures to further improve the road network including:

n Simplification of response times for potholes and other road defects as part of a new maintenance contract

n Enhanced road maintenance activities

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including road patching to cover multiple potholes.

Renewal works are expected to be completed in stages throughout the year.

“We continue to advocate to the state government for the maintenance and renewal of state managed freeways and arterial roads including Boneo Road and Frankston-Flinders Road,” said Marsh.

“Council also welcomes the $14m investment from the federal government’s “Roads to Recovery Program” to help support our local efforts.

“The RTR provides funding to councils across Australia to support the construction and maintenance of local roads. Between 20242029, Mornington Peninsula Shire has been allocated $14,164,875.”

Over the next three years, the RTR program will see; a roundabout installed at the Truemans Road and Broadway intersection in Capel Sound; road rehabilitation of Mount Eliza Way; road pavement, drainage and safety improvements on Eramosa Road East, Somerville between Lower Somerville Road and Western Port Highway; and road pavement, drainage and safety improvements on Bungower Road between Tyabb-Tooradin Road and Westernport Highway, Somerville.

“Managing our extensive network of roads is a significant challenge, but it’s also one of council’s highest priorities,” said Marsh.

“Our community has been clear –better roads matter. That’s why we’ve boosted our annual investment ensuring we can deliver safer, smoother roads for residents and visitors alike.”

Burn pile reignition prompts warning

THE CFA is warning the community that the fire season still remains active after a burn pile reignited two months after last being lit, causing a fire requiring a water bomber to be called in.

Fire crews were called to the incident on a Coolart Rd property just after 3pm on 10 March where they found a “column of smoke” and a fast-spreading fire.

Crews brought the fire under control within 30 minutes and were on scene for over three hours.

Units from Somerville, Moorooduc, Tyabb, Baxter and Mt Eliza attended.

Somerville Fire Brigade captain Joshua Caron said with conditions still dry across the peninsula, the fire had moved quickly with wind and long grass contributing to the challenging conditions, which resulted in a helicopter water bomber being called to tackle the blaze.

He said firefighters “did an amazing job to quickly stop the spread of the fire,” in a situation that could have escalated significantly.

While the incident was a “rare ignition”, Caron said it was a warning to all property owners to remain vigilant.

“I know we tell people to prepare their properties, but they need to maintain them. Especially where we are, on the rural-urban interface,” he said.

“Removing those significant fuel loads from around your house, making sure trees are maintained and grass is cut when the weather is fine to do this.”

Caron added the outlook was dry for the peninsula over March “so having a fire plan in place could be lifesaving”.

“Even on what might seem like a low-risk day, make sure you always have that fire plan in place and that you are monitoring conditions,” he said.

“This fire occurred on the kind of day where your average person wasn’t thinking about it being a fire risk day, but we are still in fire season.”

McKenzie and a Dutton Coalition Government will deliver....
A HELICOPTER water bomber was called to a grass fire in Somerville. Picture: Supplied

Scaled-back marina plans win council approval

AMENDED plans to build three boat sheds instead of four at Westernport Marina in Hastings has been given the go-ahead after initially being knocked back by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors.

The decision comes after the original application faced significant community opposition with concerns about its bulk and coastal environmental impacts at 21 Skinner St, attracting more than 350 objections.

Councillors had refused to issue a planning permit last August, which resulted in the applicant appealing the matter at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Following a compulsory conference, the applicant filed an amended VCAT application which was made in a VCAT order on 20 February.

Under the scaled-back plans, the height of all boat storage sheds would be reduced to two levels with a maximum height of 6.9 metres –reduced from three levels and 10.2 metres.

The number of boat storage sheds would also be reduced from four to three while the number of boats capable of being stored has been reduced from 200 to 133.

The length of one of the boat sheds along the marina frontage would be reduced from 85 metres to 64 metres with the overall building footprint being 1272sq metres – down from the original 1439sq metres.

Landscaping would also be upgraded along a wall of a restaurant based at the marina.

The revised plans however do not change some original aspects of the plan including a 38.5 metre boat ramp and a forklift launching area to allow for secondary access to the marina’s wet-berthing area and Western Port Bay.

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According to the plans, it also provides for “negative lifting” below ground level to drop boats in and out of the water.

Additional landscaping would also be kept within the foreshore parklands “to provide visual screening of the boat storage sheds”.

A shire report said the reduction in shed height would “ensure that views

COUNCILLOR David Gill has opposed amended plans to develop the Westernport Marina.

Picture: Gary Sissons

are reasonably preserved” and the plans overall “redesigned to protect the outlook from the adjoining commercial premises (restaurant/function centre) and minimise potential amenity impacts”.

“This has been achieved by tapering the boat shed three to one level at the southern end [and] providing greater setbacks (between 10 and 20 metres) between the commercial premises and boat shed 1B,” it said.

The amended plans were considered by councillors at their 11 March meeting which was approved in an 8-2 vote.

Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh and Cr David Gill voted against the proposal.

Supporting it were councillors Michael Stephens, Cam Williams, Paul Pingiaro, Andrea Allen, Stephen Batty, Patrick Binyon, Max Patton and Kate Roper.

Gill said while the number of boats to be stored with the sheds had been dropped, it was “still very substantial”.

“I see some values in the changes, and it is some progress on the original,” he said, but added, “It is still not acceptable, it still has the bulk and second storey that doesn’t take away from me the original feeling that this is out of place.”

“My view of this is that we need to

protect our foreshore areas. They’re not meant for those large storage areas sticking up into the air,” he said.

“I don’t think there’d be a very high expectation of this in a lot of other places on the peninsula.

“I think it’s really important when we think about an area that we need to lift and we need to make it acceptable, and we need to make a place where people want to live and work.”

But Roper disagreed, saying while she acknowledged the development “is tall,” it was “a working marina, they do already have a boat storage section”.

“I’m happy to support this. It’s a successful business. It’s a really important business for Western Port,” she said, noting the plans had also been supported by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

“It’s apparently the second busiest in the state, the Westernport, and people have got to keep their boats somewhere. We don’t want them on their nature strips, we don’t want them on trailers in the street.”

Stephens was also supportive, saying the amended plans were a “vast improvement” and believed the marina “have the right to put this proposal up and use that land”.

Eight objections had been lodged through the VCAT proceedings that cited visual impact and loss views, environmental impacts, pollution and noise, as well as impact to commercial premises.

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‘Million dollar’ bust behind

hidden door

A MAN has been charged after police allegedly found millions of dollars worth of illegal goods behind a hidden door at a Seaford business.

Police raided the Austin Road business just after 7pm on 10 March. They say they found a hidden door behind a row of lockers, and seized cigarettes, tobacco, vapes and drugs with an estimated value in the millions of dollars. They also allegedly seized two firearms and multiple prohibited weapons.

On 11 March police arrested a 53-year-old Seaford man in Dandenong. He was charged with possess handgun, traffick methylamphetamine, possess methylamphetamine, traffick cannabis, possess cannabis, handle stolen goods, and two counts of possess prohibited weapon, allegedly pertaining to a taser and an extendable baton. He was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 14 April.

Police find car

TWO men allegedly caught driving a Lexus stolen from Cape Schanck have been arrested.

Police allege the car was stolen from Jamieson Court in an aggravated burglary sometime between 10 March and 11 March. At around 12.35pm on

11 March, police intercepted the car in Port Melbourne.

The Lexus allegedly rammed two police cars and a civilian’s car prior to the arrests. A 19-year-old Carrum Downs man and a 19-year-old Seaford man were taken into custody.

A taser and OC spray were used by police during the arrest. The Carrum Downs man was taken to hospital.

Company fined after fall injury

A DEMOLITION company has been hit with a huge fine after a worker fell through a skylight and fractured his spine while working in Mornington.

Three City Way workers were demolishing a single storey dwelling in Mornington in October 2022 when the incident occurred, the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court heard. One worker fell through a fibreglass sheet on the garage roof, sustaining vertebrae fractures that rendered him unable to work.

Last week City Way Demolition Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of failing to ensure the workplace was safe and without risks to health, and failing, without reasonable excuse, to provide WorkSafe with required information and documents. It was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay more than $7000 in costs.

A WorkSafe statement read that its investigation “found it was reasonably practicable for City Way to have reduced or eliminated health and safety risks by using a passive fall prevention device, a work positioning system, or a fall arrest system.” WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said “despite there being clear regulations, extensive guidance, and far too many examples of preventable injuries and deaths, the company chose to bypass fall safety measures altogether.

“The blatant disregard for safety –by not having any fall protection in place and then refusing to cooperate with WorkSafe’s investigation – is very disappointing.”

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Rising tide of support to return boardwalk back to former glory

MAYOR Cr Anthony Marsh has fully supported community calls to undertake a “like-for-like” rebuild of a popular Mt Martha boardwalk two years after a section was closed following damaging storms.

The 3.5km Balcombe Creek Estuary boardwalk was inundated by floods in November 2022 during heavy rainfall causing significant damage to one section which had been unrepaired and fenced off near Nepean Hwy and Uralla Rd in Mt Martha.

Delays to fixing the boardwalk have left the community disappointed and frustrated including the Rotary Club of Mount Martha whose members originally built the boardwalk in the 1990s before it was handed over to the Mornington Peninsula Shire to manage (Calls for boardwalk fix as shire proposes options, The News 12/11/24).

But in a long-awaited announcement, the shire in November last year, proposed three options to rebuild the damaged boardwalk which attracted 647 responses to a community survey.

The first option proposes to rebuild the boardwalk in its existing location but widening it from 1.5 metres to 2.5 metres while the second option would see it rebuilt partially in its original location with fewer “environmental, cultural heritage and financial impacts than option one”.

The final option proposes to run the path through the pastureland alongside The Briars’ entry road providing the “least impact “on the natural environment and cultural heritage.

A community pulse forum organised by Mt Martha locals was held at the Mt Martha Life Saving Club on 26 February which saw 100 per cent of the 30-40 attendees voicing their strong desire to see the boardwalk returned to its original design.

Marsh, who was present at the meeting, told The News he “fully supported” residents’ call of returning the damaged boardwalk back to

its former glory under the first option, and understood concerns that there was no need to widen the path as the “project will be delayed significantly” and it would be more costly as it would trigger vegetation removal and a cultural heritage management plan.

“Ultimately we’re there to serve the people,” Marsh said after hearing from the community.

“One of the comments I heard is wheelchairs and prams can pass each other but for the other x-kilometres, you don’t have that option, so why would you join it to something that’s wider?” he said.

“The mood of the room was that it seemed a little bit silly if we’re going to try to make things more accessible.”

Marsh said while he had no knowledge of what the council would ultimately recommend, he was confident he “could convince councillors that doing it more cost effectively and quickly is a good thing”, noting his view had always been a “like-for-like” rebuild and “getting back what we had as quickly as possible”.

The issue is due to be discussed at a council briefing in March, after which it will go to a formal council meeting likely in April.

Marsh said 55 per cent of respondents to the survey were in favour of option one, while 30 per cent supported option two and 15 per cent for option three.

Rotary Club of Mount Martha president Anne Shaw said, “now’s the time for the community to speak up and say we just want it replaced like-for-like”.

“The consensus of the meeting was that there should be an option four and that is to reinstate the boardwalk in its current location at its current width,” she told The News, warning widening the path would see a “huge escalation in price”.

“The other options aren’t boardwalks, they’re granite parts. It’s not going to create that same sense of place and being in that really special environment.”

HARLEY
ROCKY
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NOAH
LUKA
Photos: Yanni
MOUNT Martha Rotary Club members want to see action to fix the Balcombe Creek Estuary boardwalk. Picture: Yanni

Sweet victory for Georgie’s award-winning cake

MOVE over dessert chefs on the peninsula, there’s a new baker in town and she’s just ten years old.

Georgie of Mt Martha baked her way to victory after claiming first prize for her impressive carrot cake at the annual Red Hill Show on 8 March.

It marks her second year in a row that her cakes have been crowned the best cake in the baking competition.

“It was very exciting to walk into the baking shed not knowing who won and when I saw my cake on the winning stand with my name on it, I felt surprised and happy,” Georgie said.

“It is amazing that the cake I baked was judged best out of so many entries from all those people who do a lot of baking.”

Proud dad Chris said Georgie’s passion for baking is what truly “takes the cake”.

“Georgie just seems to have a knack for mixing up a winning cake and we are, of course, proud of her. If only she wouldn’t beat me two years running,” he said.

“We love having the family involved in such a wonderful community event. Bree Lovell and all the volunteers from the show society put in so much work and are always so encouraging of us as a family and especially the kids in their various endeavours.”

Chris said his daughter had enjoyed baking and cooking for a long time, having entered exhibits at the show since 2020.

“Like many, she did a lot of baking and cooking during lockdowns. She loves to be involved with cakes at birthdays and more,” he said.

And Georgie’s ready to work on a new recipe for next year’s show, in which a cake must contain a vegetable.

“We have been pondering what the mystery vegetable ingredient will be in 2026. We have had zucchini 2023, beetroot 2024 and carrot 2025,” Chris said.

Camp gets a boost with new hot water

A PORTSEA not-for-profit social enterprise that has been providing life-changing camp experiences for children since 1946 has had a much-welcome upgrade to its 30-year-old hot water system just as it faced closing its doors for winter.

The Portsea Camp’s old hot water system, including 45 showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities and a community hall was all replaced with a state-of-the-art system and is now expected to save the organisation more than 70 per cent in hot water costs annually.

“The installation and financial relief, coupled with the energy savings, will allow us to reinvest in the programs and experiences that make The Portsea Camp so special,” the organisation’s CEO Sandra Martin said.

“Not only has this project truly safeguarded our ability to keep our programs accessible to all, but it also reinforces our commitment to sustainability and creating a positive impact for young Australians in need.”

The Portsea Camp, based at Point Nepean Rd, has been running for more than 75 years providing personal growth among young people, particularly for those without access to opportunities such as outdoor education, recreational activities and community-based support programs.

It also provides school camps with accommodation for up to 177 campers, corporate retreats, large group accommodation, weddings, weekend and holiday camps, and a range of charity events.

But The Portsea Camp was staring down the barrel of having to cancel its entire school camp program and losing vital funds to host its charitable Make a Difference Camps over summer had the old hot water system, which posed an “urgent risk” to the site, not been fixed.

“To have no hot water in winter would have put our winter programs at risk at the very time we could least afford it,” Martin conceded.

“The camp would have had to close - putting more than 150 school students out of their camp – which in turn directly reduces the number of scholarship places we could offer to disadvan-

THE Portsea Camp is celebrating a muchneeded upgrade to its hot water system. Picture: Supplied

tage children in January.”

The Portsea Camp funded the hot water system upgrade, which received a state government subsidy, including new 270-litre heat pump water heaters at the back of its heritage buildings.

Crews from solar energy company Solahart had to work quickly though to finish the installation within 15 days for the site to remain operational due to the parade ground’s heritage-listed status, with its buildings dating back to 1887.

The Portsea Camp also undertook a significant refurbishment of its shower blocks, replacing outdated shower curtains with new shower doors and partitions, which was funded by The Hansen Little Foundation.

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of The Hansen Little Foundation we were able to engage Toilet Partition Industries to undertake

Reflecting back on 2024, it was a remarkable year for our Long Island Point plant operations with the successful opening of our Hastings Generation Plant. The plant is helping to reduce the need for flaring at LIP and will ultimately generate enough electricity to power as much as half of all the homes on the Mornington Peninsula.

The team also achieved a significant safety milestone with 2024 being our safest year in 10 years. This is a proud achievement, and I'd like to thank each and every one of my team members for their ongoing focus on keeping themselves, and each other, safe.

Last month, we held our first community webinar for the year, one of our most well-attended community forums to date. It was an opportunity for us to share an update on our operations with the community as well as hear their feedback. We appreciate the community's keen interest in our operations, and I look forward to strengthening these relationships even further in 2025.

I'd also like to thank our team as they completed critical maintenance at the site with minor increases to safety flaring during these activities. This work is part of our regularly scheduled activities to continue the safe, responsible and reliable operation of our facility.

Recently, Natasha Marsh, our Operations Technician, participated as a panel member during Western Port Secondary College's International Women's Day event along with other influential women from our Western Port community. Natasha shared her career journey and how she has supported other women both personally and professionally throughout her working life, hoping to inspire and encourage students at the event.

this important upgrade to our bathrooms which has made a huge difference to providing a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for every child who visits,” Martin said.

“At The Portsea Camp, we believe that even small changes can have a big impact—and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can continue creating an environment where kids can feel at home while they embark on their camp adventures,” Sandra said,

All revenue from The Portsea Camp’s services directly supports its core charity of subsidised placements for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and at-risk children at our Making a Difference Camps, which its new water savings significantly to help.

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be another exciting year for our Long Island Point operations as we continue our critical role in supporting the supply of natural gas across the east coast of Australia. I wish our team all the very best.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me at consultation@exxonmobil.com.

GEORGIE is all smiles after winning first prize for her carrot cake. Picture: Gary Sissons

FEDERAL ELECTION 2025

The Coalition will deliver $5 million for the Mornington to Moorooduc Trail

LIBERAL

THE Mornington Peninsula rightly holds the spot as the premier cycling and walking destination in the state.

Filling in the final missing links on the Peninsula Link Trail will cement our region’s place, attracting more tourists to enjoy our beautiful environment and local businesses.

That’s why an elected Coalition government will commit $5m towards the construction of a 5km path along the Mornington Tourist Railway, to connect Mornington to the Peninsula Link Trail at Moorooduc.

According to the Mornington Peninsula Shire, the construction of the path would directly create 12 fulltime equivalent jobs, and contribute $5.95 million in direct economic output.

A Mornington to Moorooduc Trail would encourage greater active transport use, improving physical health for local residents.

The proposed route also passes by multiple schools, and provides a safe, sustainable alternative to private vehicle use. This has the benefit of reducing traffic congestion, especially during peak school drop-off and pickup hours.

This missing link in the trail has the potential to attract off-peak and mid-week tourists and more evenly disperse them across the peninsula.

Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie MP, said “with work having begun on the Somerville to Baxter

trail, the Mornington to Moorooduc trail is the obvious next step.”

“Around two thirds of the proposed 130km Peninsula Link Trail is complete, and this section will take us one step closer to a fully connected trail that connects our coastline and townships across the Mornington Peninsula”

“I was proud to commit $5 million to this project at the 2022 election but it went unmatched by Labor. The Coalition will once again stand up for local businesses, residents’ health and our local environment in supporting this project.”

ZOE McKenzie MP, with representatives of community groups including U3A Leisure Riders, U3A Bush Walkers, Beleura Walkers, Over the Hill Bike Riders, Walker Activity Group, U3A Sunday Riders, Peninsula Pedallers, as well as Ross Kilborn and Graeme Rocke of the Mornington Community Safe Link Group. Picture: Supplied

Greens select candidate for Flinders

GREENS

MORNINGTON Peninsula Greens

have preselected Indigenous man Adam Frogley as their candidate for Flinders in the upcoming federal election.

“I’m a Taungurung (torn-a-rong) man, born and raised on Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) country in the Yarra Valley. I’ve worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for over two decades, holding many different roles in the Aboriginal community, vocational, higher education and government sectors,” said Frogley.

“You know what is at stake in this election. The cost of living, climate and housing crises are being experienced by our community now and the old parties are failing to address them.

“Over the course of my work with First Nations communities I have seen the impact of policy failures of government on our lives. Secure, ongoing employment for working Australians has been eroded over

time, to the point many Australians are now working more than one job a week, simply to provide some level of security for themselves and their families.

“I’m proud to be part of a party that is fighting for workers rights and to stop the casualisation of work in our community, so families have the opportunity to spend time together.

“We want to make big corporations pay their fair share of tax and fund things we all need, like dental and mental health into Medicare, government-built homes to rent and buy, cheaper mortgages, 50 cent public transport fares, a rent freeze and a cap on grocery prices.

“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics and governments should actually solve the problems we face.

“The electorate of Flinders knows they deserve more, and I am ready to demand it. If you want change, it’s time to vote for it.”

Building Australia’s future right here on the peninsula

LABOR

TOOTGAROOK Primary School provides a comprehensive and innovative education program for local families, has a strong and supportive community, and has access to a brand new kindergarten beside the school.

Sarah Race, Labor candidate for Flinders toured the facility with Principal Leigh McQuillen and Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh to hear about the school.

Tootgarook PS has a vision to enhance learning for the children through empowerment, small class sizes, a buddy program, community involvement, and a strong focus on achieving personal excellence.

Tootgarook and schools across the Peninsula are celebrating the announcement that they will receive more funding through the Albanese

Labor Government’s Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.

The increased funding will see an estimated $2.5 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to Victorian public schools over the next ten years.

This is the biggest new investment in Victorian public schools by the Australian Government – ever.

Education is a key part of Labor’s plan to build Australia’s future with the below initiatives already delivered in addition to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement:

n Creating a three day child care guarantee

n A 15 per cent pay rise to early educators

n Child Care reforms Saving families around $4,400 a year

n Wiping $3 billion from HECS debts

n Fee-Free TAFE to train up more

locals so our businesses have the workers they need

If re-elected, Labor will continue supporting families and raising aspirations through education by:

n providing a $10,000 incentive payment to apprentices in the residential housing sector to build more homes more quickly

n establishing a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to build more early childhood education and care centres

n Cutting a further 20% from HECS debts

“Only Labor will build Australia’s future through education reform from early childhood, right through our public school system, to TAFE and university so that everyone in Flinders, from Tootgarook to Somerville, is supported to achieve their best,” said Race.

Smith announces plan to take

INDEPENDENT

WHILE electricity prices continue to skyrocket across the Peninsula, independent candidate for Flinders Ben Smith has unveiled a practical plan to reduce household power bills and end dependence on corporate energy giants.

“Peninsula families are paying far too much for power while energy companies rake in record profits,” Smith said. “The major parties have had years to fix this problem but have failed to act because they’re too busy playing political games or answering to their donors. We know that smart climate action means lower power bills, more jobs, and a secure future for our peninsula.”

Ben’s plan includes:

n Supporting local households and businesses to install solar and battery systems, slashing bills while providing security during blackouts

n Creating local jobs in renewable installation and maintenance on the peninsula

n Ending massive fossil fuel subsidies to make big corporations pay their fair share

n Developing community-owned energy projects to break the grip of energy giants

Rebecca Graley, who part owns both Millers Bread Kitchen and Point Leo General Store, which employs more than 50 people, said her business has been financially impacted by climate change.

“Extreme weather driven by climate change has already caused us to lose substantial money due to business closures and changes to tourism,”

Graley said.

“Black summer was a good example of what was supposed to be a very busy and bustling summer on the Mornington Peninsula, turning out to be one draped in smoke and where people opted to stay away.”

“It was a dismal summer for businesses across the Peninsula. This was followed by flash floods that short circuited all of our power, causing us to shut and creating thousands of dollars of food waste – not to mention cancelling shifts of our staff,” Graley said.

Smith highlighted the major parties’ failure to address energy affordability despite years of promises. “Both sides have had their chance and failed.

Labor and Liberal policies have left us with an energy market that benefits corporations, not consumers.”

“This is about common sense solutions that actually work for everyday people,” Smith said.

“By supporting household energy independence, we also create local jobs, reduce blackout risks during storms, and protect our precious coastal environment for future generations.”

Council signs off on Hastings warehouse and storage units plan

PLANS for 68 warehouses and 14 storage units have been given the green light for development in Hastings despite some fears over traffic problems and lack of parking.

Mornington Peninsula Shire

councillors endorsed the proposed development at 2153 Frankston-Flinders Rd in Hastings, which would see an existing caravan storage site converted into warehouses and rear storage units at the 12,810sq metre site.

The warehouses, abutting Frankston-Flinders Rd, would be 7.5 metres high, while the rear section would have a mix of warehouses and three storey storage units of a maximum height of 14.15 metres, primarily abutting the Stony Point rail line.

A total of 137 car spaces are proposed while a five-metre-high by two-metre-wide pylon sign would also be installed.

The site is located near residential properties just under 30 metres away including at Kurrajong St, Martin St, and Railway Cres.

A council officer recommended the proposed development be approved subject to various conditions, noting it “raised no concerns” with a shortfall of 92 car parking spaces and that there were no “unacceptable amenity impacts”.

The proposal was debated by councillors at their 11 March meeting, which was approved in a 7-3 vote.

Among those dissenting was Cr David Gill, who raised concerns of storm water drainage, a “huge sign”

and parking issues.

“Voting for a development of this nature is not improving Hastings. It’s not doing much for the people of Hastings,” he said.

“The issues that will come back to bite probably are drainage, which may well cost the ratepayers a lot of money.”

In relation to parking, he said if things changed and it “becomes a development that has a great need for parking, then there will be lots of

issues for us to sort out”.

Gill also opposed the large business sign, arguing “I think we should find a way to limit huge signs that start to go up; we never thought that would happen in our municipality like it’s happened”.

Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh agreed with most points Gill raised, saying the “parking waiver” was “a problem that we never seem to fully address”.

“There’s plenty of industrial land around there and other factories, but

not of that density,” he said, adding he feared a nearby service road would become “full of parked cars”.

Marsh also raised serious concern about traffic on Reid Pde, particularly with vehicles turning right onto Frankston-Flinders Rd, which was “already a nightmare”, and “I just don’t see this dealing with that adequately”.

“Again, I think we look at traffic surveys, but they’re often from the person trying to develop the land, and

that’s something I’ve always had an issue with.”

But Cr Kate Roper, who voted in favour of the proposal, said while “we all agree there’s not enough parking spaces here”, “the comfort for me, I guess is that with the storage units, I’m assuming people aren’t going to be parked outside the storage unit constantly”.

“There’s large businesses all along that section of the road and I think it’s fairly appropriate for this area,” she said.

Roper also highlighted the “jobs that this brings” as she felt assured that storage was a “blossoming business all around the country”.

Cr Michael Stephens said while storm water drainage was a “major” issue including at sites along the same stretch of road, “it’s not a reason to stop this proposal”.

“Obviously there’s people who are wanting to put up a development to satisfy market needs,” he said.

Two public objections were received about visual bulk to residential homes and noise concerns.

Gill put forward an alternative motion seeking that the building coverage should not exceed the 50 per cent the overlay allows for, that the building height does not exceed nine metres, and parking increased between 50 and 92 spaces – but this was lost in the councillor vote.

Celebrating

100

years of collective care

A REMARKABLE milestone has been achieved at The Bays Healthcare Group’s dialysis unit in Hastings as four nurses celebrate a combined total of 100 years of service to their patients.

The shared achievement included nurse unit manager Deborah Malkin (30 years), associate nurse unit manager Sharon Mincher (retired after 25 years), nurse unit manager Leanne Waterson (25 years), and nurse Omatola Parker (20 years).

They have all made a lasting impact on countless lives in our local community, providing life-saving treatment for patients managing kidney disease – with their milestone having been

achieved on World Kidney Day on 13 March. “What an amazing contribution they have each made. Their dedication and expertise continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our patients,” The Bays healthcare group CEO Jade Phelan said.

“And their long-term commitment highlights the strength and high quality of care we provide to the Mornington Peninsula community.” Malkin said, “As we see our patients on a regular basis, we are privileged to establish strong relationships with them and help make a difference through their ongoing renal care”.

THE site at 2153 Frankston-Flinders Rd in Hastings has been approved for development. Picture: Gary Sissons

The Guide

TOP PICKS OF THE WEEK

FRIDAY

THURSDAY THE AMAZING

RACE

7MATE, 9.45pm

There’s no question – Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan (pictured) has one of the best jobs on TV. Keoghan has spent the best part of the past 25 years travelling the globe, and getting paid handsomely to do so. In this 37th season, the presenter promises a new surprise every episode to catch the contestants off-guard. In this second instalment, the teams fly to Osaka, Japan, where they encounter an “Intersection”, forcing one partner to work with a member of another team.

GARDENING AUSTRALIA

JUNIOR

ABC FAMILY, 7.05pm

Australia’s favourite green thumbs get their hands dirty with all manner of family-friendly activities. Tonight, Costa Georgiadis (pictured, right) tracks down some peace and quiet with junior hosts Romeo Angelkovski (pictured, middle) and Yeshi Jehru (pictured, left). The trio take time out in a local reserve, drawing inspiration from the tranquil waters and tall timbers before bringing what they’ve learnt home to create a mindful garden of their own.

Thursday, March 20

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

DAY TRIPS MATINEES

SATURDAY

HARRY POTTER: WIZARDS OF BAKING

ABC FAMILY, 7.30pm

While the wizardry of Hogwarts and the Harry Potter films might not be real, the show-stopping movie magic that brought the enchanted school’s iconic feasts to life is within reach of us mere Muggles. There’s bubbling cauldrons, gravity-defying desserts and meticulously crafted optical illusions galore in this spellbinding baking competition hosted by James (pictured, left) and Oliver Phelps (pictured, right).

SUNDAY SKIN IN THE GAME

SBS, 8.30pm

Marlee Silva (pictured) is a proud GamilaroiDunghutti woman, sports commentator and NRL tragic. Here, she examines how we can use the power of sport – in particular Marlee is the daughter of league great Rod

league can transform lives – and especially when it comes to violence against women. of the game’s biggest

SEVEN (7)

NINE (9) 6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 10.30 Back Roads. (PG, R) 11.10 The Role Of A Lifetime. (Final, PGan, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Miniseries: Best Interests. (Mdl, R) 2.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (Final, PG, R) 2.55 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.05 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Back Roads: Bibbulmun Track, WA. (Final, PG)

8.30 Sue Perkins’ Big Adventure: Paris To Istanbul. (Final, PG) Sue Perkins reaches her last stop, Istanbul. 9.15 Grand Designs Revisited. (R) Presented by Kevin McCloud. 10.05 The Role Of A Lifetime. (Final, PGan, R)

10.55 ABC Late News. 11.10 The Business. (R) 11.25 Darby And Joan. (PGa, R) 12.15 Grand Designs. (Ml, R) 1.00 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. (R) 10.00 Food Markets. (R) 11.00 Dream Of Italy. (PGa, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBS NewsHour. 2.00 Saving Lives At Sea. (Ma, R) 3.00 Where Are You Really From? (PG, R) 3.30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. (R) 4.00 DNA Family Secrets. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Finding Your Roots: Mean Streets. (PG) Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

8.30 Super Ships: A Revolution At Sea. Looks at how almost every year, cruise lines launch liners with characteristics that surpass their previous.

9.35 Boiling Point. (Mal) Carly receives bad news.

10.45 SBS World News Late. 11.15 Breaking Point. (Premiere, MA15+a) 12.05 Blackport. (Mls, R) 2.45 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PGa, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Within These Walls. (2020, Mav) Jen Landon. 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (Mls, R) 1.30 Mr Mayor. (PGs, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round 2. Carlton v Hawthorn.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking a look back at all the action from the game.

11.00 Kick Ons. A preview of the upcoming AFL matches.

11.30 The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito. (Mav, R) An exploration of the case of Gabby Petito.

12.45 Damnation. (MA15+asv) Bessie discovers the plans for Holden.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 3. Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers.

9.55 Thursday Night Knock Off. Post-match NRL news and analysis.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 Outback Opal Hunters. (PGl)

12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.00 Next Stop.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

TEN (10)

6.00

of the

Phil Gould, and Lavinia Gould – to work out
part

Friday, March 21

(2)

(9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30 The Pacific. (R) 11.00 The Newsreader. (Final, Ml, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Unforgotten. (Madl, R) 2.00 Grand Designs Australia. (PG, R) 3.00 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.05 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Urban Conversion. (R) 10.00 Food Markets. (PGaw, R) 11.05 Dream Of Italy. (R) 11.35 Soccer. 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifier. Brazil v Colombia. 1.45 Taekwondo. (R) 1.50 Haka Warriors 2023. (R) 2.00 Saving Lives At Sea. (Ma, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up.

6.30

With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R) A satirical news program.

9.50 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

10.15 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

10.45 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee (NZ) (Final, PG, R)

11.35 ABC Late News. 11.50 Grand Designs. (R) 12.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.25 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 James May: Our Man In Italy. (Ml)

8.30 Tony Robinson’s Marvellous Machines: Green Machines. (PG, R) A look at innovative green machines.

9.20 Mysteries Of The Ancient Dead: Maya, Khonkho Wankane, Xiongnu. (PG) Looks at the sacrificial altar of El Castillo. 10.15 SBS World News Late. 10.45 A Body That Works. (Mals) 11.45 Sisi. (Masv, R) 1.35 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (MA15+a, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown. A lead-up to the Friday night AFL match. 7.30 Football. AFL. Round 2. Western Bulldogs v Collingwood. From the MCG. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking a look back at all the action from the game.

11.15 GetOn Extra. A look at the weekend’s best racing.

11.45 Suits L.A. (Ma, R) Ted and Erica try to save Lester’s movie. 12.45 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGa, R) Sketch comedy series. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 9News. 7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 David Attenborough’s Mammals: Forest. (PG) A look at the forests which mammals call home.

8.40 MOVIE: Wedding Crashers. (2005, Mls, R) Two womanisers begin to see the error of their ways when one of them falls in love. Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn.

11.05 MOVIE: Love You Like That. (2021, Mls, R) Mitchell Hope.

12.50 Let’s Eat With George. (R)

1.20 Talking Honey.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Sam Pang Tonight. (Mals, R) Presented by Sam Pang. 8.30 The Graham Norton Show. (Mdlsv, R) Celebrity guests include Dakota Johnson, Sterling K Brown, Domhnall Gleeson and Colman Domingo. 10.50 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.15 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 5.10pm Fashionista. 5.20 News. 5.25 WorldWatch. 5.55 ABC World News Tonight. 6.20 PBS NewsHour. 7.20 Jeopardy! 7.45 NITV News Update. 7.50 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.50 Video Killed The Radio Star. 9.20 Athletics. World Indoor Championships. Day 1. Evening session. 12.35am The Nine Lives Of. 1.30 QAnon: The Search For Q. 2.20 Late Programs. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.25pm Octonauts. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Teen Titans Go! 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 BTN Newsbreak. 8.30 Mythbusters “There’s Your Problem!”. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Diana. (2013, PG) 8.05 The Young Victoria. (2009, PG) 10.05 There Will Be Blood. (2007, M) 12.55pm The Young Lovers. (2021, M, French) 3.00 All At Sea. (2010, PG) 4.40 The Falcons. (2018, PG, Icelandic) 6.35 The Man Who Brought Down The White House. (2017, PG) 8.30 Argo. (2012, M) 10.55 Zola. (2020, MA15+) 12.30am Queen Of Hearts. (2019, MA15+, Swedish) 2.50 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES

Saturday, March 22

In Paradise. (PG, R) 1.25 Darby And Joan. (PGa, R) 2.15 Under The Vines. (PG, R) 2.55 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 3.45 The Role Of A Lifetime. (Final, PGan, R) 4.35 The Platypus Guardian. (PG, R) 5.30 Great Expectations: Karta The OrangUtan’s Story. (PG, R)

6.00 Landline. (R) Hosted by Pip Courtney. 6.30 Back Roads: Bibbulmun Track, WA. (PG, R) Rae Johnston explores WA’s Bibbulmun Track.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Ma) Marlon investigates the murder of his old boss.

8.30 Vera. (Ma, R) Vera investigates the apparent suicide of a well-known TV personality who has recently fallen from grace.

10.00 Unforgotten. (Madl, R) A new case begins for Jess and Sunny’s team.

10.50 Boat Story. (MA15+alv, R) Two strangers discover cocaine on a boat. 11.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Accidental Renovators. (Premiere) 10.10 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R) 10.20 Soccer. 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifier. Uruguay v Argentina. 12.30 BBC News At Ten. 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-Tec Oils Race Tasmania. Day 1. 5.00 ABC World News Tonight With David Muir. 5.30 War Miners: Covert Mission Beneath Arras.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Wonders Of Europe: The Mont Saint-Michel. (PG) Looks at the Mont Saint-Michel.

8.30 Blenheim: The People Behind The Palace. Head shepherd Shaun monitors 1500 lambs due to be born and has to intervene in a difficult birth.

9.25 Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye. (PGa, R) Ray Martin continues to plan his own funeral, taking a look into the rituals around the send-off itself.

10.25 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Milan-San Remo.

3.30 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PG, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Golden Slipper Day and William Reid Stakes Day. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) A passenger has a run-in with the law.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) A passenger’s suitcase has an unusual lining.

7.30 MOVIE: Gladiator. (2000, Mav, R) A successful Roman general seeks revenge after he is betrayed and his family is murdered by the emperor’s heir. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix.

10.40 MOVIE: The Pope’s Exorcist. (2023, MA15+hv) The Pope’s chief exorcist investigates a possession. Russell Crowe. 12.55 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGalv, R)

2.00 To Be Advised.

4.00 It’s Academic. (R) 5.00 My Greek Odyssey. (PG, R)

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 A Current Affair. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Surfing Australia TV. 12.30 My Way. (R)

6.00 9News Saturday.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Space Invaders. (PG) The team helps a woman declutter her home.

8.30 MOVIE: Muriel’s Wedding. (1994, Mls, R) A young woman, who dreams of marriage, leaves her small town to find romance in the big city. Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths.

10.40 MOVIE: Red Dog: True Blue. (2016, PGals, R) Bryan Brown. 12.20 Bondi Vet. (PGm, R) 1.10 Pointless. (PG, R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG) 2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple’s house is too small. 8.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 9.30 Matlock. (PGad, R) An important class-action lawsuit leads the team to investigate a sorority. Matty brings Alfie with her to work. 10.30 Elsbeth. (Mav, R) Elsbeth and Captain Wagner join forces. 11.30 FBI.

Sunday, March 23

6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Monty Don’s French Gardens. (R) 3.30 Sue Perkins’ Big Adventure: Paris To Istanbul. (Final, PG, R) 4.15 Extraordinary Escapes: Christmas Special. (R) 5.05 A Dog’s World With Tony Armstrong. (R) 6.00 DW English News. 6.30 Al Jazeera News. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 Accidental Renovators. (PG) 10.00 FIFA World Cup Classic Matches. 11.30 Motor Racing. ProMX Championships. Round 1. 1.00 Cycling. ProVelo Super League. Round 6. 4.00 Beach Volleyball. Australian Beach Volleyball Tour. Men’s and women’s championships.

6.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Darby And Joan. (PGa) Jack and Joan investigate a suspicious nurse.

8.15 Unforgotten. (Mals) The team investigates Gerry Cooper.

9.05 Boat Story. (MA15+av) Janet and Samuel try to find a buyer for the stolen drugs, which proves to be tricky.

10.05 MOVIE: Irresistible.

(2006, Malsv, R) A woman stalks her husband’s colleague. Susan Sarandon. 11.45 You Can’t Ask That. (Mal, R)

12.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.55 Rage Closer. (R) 3.00 Ask The Doctor. (PG, R) 3.30 Outback Ringer. (PG, R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Ancient Greece By Train: Ephasus To Troy.

8.30 Skin In The Game. (Ma) Presented by Marlee Silva.

9.40 King Tut: Allies And Enemies. (PGa, R) A continued look at the mysteries of Tutankhamun’s life.

10.40 Franklin. (MA15+l, R)

12.25 The Burnt Half. (Mal, R) 1.50 Britain’s Great Outdoors. (R) 2.20 How To Get Fit Fast. (R) 4.10 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (PGaw, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera News.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Sunday Footy Feast. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show. Pre-game coverage of the match. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round 2. North Melbourne v Melbourne.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.

8.40 7NEWS Spotlight. (Return)

A profile of the 17-year-old Aussie sprinter Gout Gout, who is on track to become the fastest man alive.

9.40 The Hunters: Mr Cruel. (Mav, R) Journalist Adam Shand and ex-detective Steve van Aperen reexamine the case of Mr Cruel.

11.10 Autopsy USA: Dean Martin. (Mal) 12.10 The Bay. (Mal, R) 1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 To Be Advised.

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls)

The couples have a big decision to make.

8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.

9.40 Footy Furnace. (Mlv) A look at the latest round of the AFL.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 See No Evil: Not A Social Person. (Mav)

12.05 The First 48. (Ma)

1.00 Destination WA.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Drive TV: Drive Car Of The Year. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 The Sunday Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.00 Australian Survivor. (PGl) Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia. 8.30 Matlock. (PGa) Olympia hires an outside party to select jurors rather than using Shae, putting the case at risk. 9.30 FBI. (Mav) After two jurors for a highprofile mafia trial are gunned down, the team jumps into an organised crime investigation until it is discovered that the jurors may not have been the intended targets. 11.30 The Sunday Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. 5.00 WorldWatch. 5.30 Domino Masters. 6.25 Abandoned Engineering. 7.20 Abandoned Americana. 9.05 The UnXplained With William Shatner. 9.55 Video Killed The Radio Star. 10.25 Athletics. World Indoor Championships. Day 3. Evening session. 12.35am Fashionista. 12.45 Cook Up Bitesize. 12.55 MOVIE: Attica. (2021, MA15+) 3.00 Late Programs.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.35pm Fireman Sam. 5.45 Tish Tash. 5.50 Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Riley Rocket. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Moominvalley. 8.00 Horrible Histories. 8.30 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.10 Abbott Elementary. 9.55 Speechless. 10.20 Merlin. 11.05 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am

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6am Morning Programs.

9GEM (92)

10.00 The Great Australian Doorstep. 10.30 DVine Living. 11.00 I Escaped To The Country. Noon Escape To The Country. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Cities Of The Underworld. 3.30 Better Homes. 4.30 I Escaped To The Country. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Rosemary & Thyme. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Chris Tarrant’s Extreme Railway Journeys. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs.

8.30 The Incredible Journey. 9.00 Turning Point. 9.30 TV Shop. 10.00 My Favorite Martian. 10.30 Getaway. 11.00 NRL Sunday Footy Show. 1pm MOVIE: Return To Paradise. (1953, PG) 3.00 Rugby League. NRL. Round 3. Parramatta Eels v Canterbury Bulldogs. 6.00 Dad’s Army. 6.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: London Has Fallen. (2016, MA15+) 10.30 The Closer. 11.30 Late Programs.

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SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs.

2.40pm Rugby League. NRL. Women’s All Stars. Maori All Stars v Indigenous All Stars. Replay. 4.25 Ub40 Feat. Ali Campbell Live Concert. 6.00 Queer & Here. 6.30 News. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Australia: An Unofficial History. 8.30 Skin In The Game. 9.40 MOVIE: Jackie Brown. (1997, MA15+) 12.20am Late Programs.

The Falcons. (2018, PG, Icelandic) 7.55 Romeo And Juliet. (2013, PG) 10.05 Argo. (2012, M) 12.30pm Emily. (2022, M) 2.50 The Man Who Brought Down The White House. (2017, PG) 4.45 Bright Star. (2009, PG) 6.55 Malcolm. (1986, PG) 8.30 The Big Short. (2015, M) 10.55 Ordinary Justice. (2020, M, Italian) 12.30am The Daughter. (2021, MA15+, Spanish) 2.45 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Counting Cars. 11.00 Pawn Stars. Noon The Fishing Show By AFN. 1.00 Hook, Line And Sinker. 1.30 Tackling Australia. 2.00 Step Outside. 2.30 Al McGlashan’s Fish’n With Mates. 3.00 Fishing Addiction. 4.00 American Resto.

6am Children’s Programs. 1pm Innovation Nation. 1.05 MOVIE: The Man In The Moon. (1991, PG) 3.05 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. 4.05 Young Sheldon. 5.30 MOVIE: Goosebumps. (2015, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Aquaman. (2018, M) 10.20 MOVIE: Fast & Furious 6. (2013, M) 12.50am Gotham. 1.45 Arrow. 2.35 Young Sheldon. 3.00 Beyblade X. 4.00 Bakugan. 4.30 Late Programs.

Monday, March 24

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6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Vera. (PGa, R) 11.30 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli. (PGl, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Grand Designs Australia. (R) 3.00 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs Revisited. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.05 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Australian Story. Presented by Leigh Sales. 8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Linton Besser. 9.35 Q+A. Presented by Patricia Karvelas. 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Business. (R) 11.10 Planet America. (R) 11.40 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R) 12.10 Grand Designs Revisited. (R) 1.00 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

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6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Urban Conversion. (R) 10.00 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PGa, R) 11.10 Dream Of Italy. (Ml, R) 12.10 WorldWatch. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour. 2.00 Saving Lives At Sea. (PGa, R) 3.00 Where Are You Really From? (PG, R) 3.30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. (R) 4.00 DNA Family Secrets. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (Return) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.35 Lisbon With Michael Portillo: Lisbon 2. (PG) 8.25 Dan Snow’s Greatest Discoveries: Atlantis. Dan Snow travels to Greece.

9.20 24 Hours In Emergency: The Last Roll Of The Dice. (Ma) A 58-yearold is rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre. 10.15 SBS World News Late. 10.45 Syndrome E. (Malv) 11.50 The Night Manager. (Mals, R) 2.05 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PG, R) 3.10 How To Get Fit Fast. (PGn, R) 4.05 Bamay. (R) 4.40 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 6.55 Rocket Club. 7.05 Odd Squad. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Little Lunch. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 The Crystal Maze. 9.25 Street Science. 9.50 Merlin. 10.30 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 8.45 Nights In Rodanthe. (2008, PG) 10.35 Partly Cloudy With Sunny Spells. (2015, M, Italian) 12.25pm Silver Linings Playbook. (2012, M) 2.40 The Movie Show. 3.15 Romeo And Juliet. (2013, PG) 5.30

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.45 Surveillance Oz. (PG, R) 3.00 Beat The Chasers UK. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.

8.30 9-1-1: Lone Star. (Ma) The 126 race into action when a train derailment causes multiple injuries.

9.30 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

10.30 Suits L.A. (M)

11.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGal)

12.00 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGas, R) 1.00 Harry’s Practice. (R) 1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls, R) 1.45 My Way. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News

6.00 9News.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Australian Survivor. (PGl) Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia. 8.45 Sam Pang Tonight. (Mals) A weekly tonight show hosted by Sam Pang, featuring a monologue roasting the news of the week. 9.45 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.10 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 11.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. 2.25pm The Inside Story. 2.55 Wine Lovers’ Guide. 3.25 WorldWatch. 5.40 The Fast History Of. 6.05 Mysteries From Above. 7.00 Jeopardy! 7.25 NITV News Update. 7.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.25 Myths: The Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity. 10.30 The Weekly Football Wrap. 11.05 Australia: An Unofficial History. 12.10am Threesome. 1.15 Late Programs.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Ml) The couples face a new challenge. 9.00 Footy Classified. (Ml) A team of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

10.00 9News Late.

10.30 The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard. (MA15+av)

11.30 First On Scene. (Ma) 12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

Tuesday, March 25

6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Budget 2025: The Treasurer’s Speech.

8.00 Budget 2025: A 7.30 Special. 8.30 Insiders: Budget Night Special. David Speers looks at this year’s budget. 9.30 The School That Tried To End Racism. (Final, PG, R)

10.30 The ABC Of. (PG, R) 11.05 ABC Late News. 11.20 The Business: Budget Special. (R) 11.45 Four Corners. (R) 12.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.50 Q+A. (R) 1.55 Parliament Question Time. 2.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 Poh’s Kitchen. (R)

(R) 4.00 DNA Family Secrets. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys: Whitby To Robin Hood’s Bay. (R)

8.30 Insight. Presented by Kumi Taguchi. 9.30 Dateline: Lebanon – War, Peace And Hezbollah. Looks at the consequences of the war in Lebanon.

10.00 SBS World News Late.

10.30 Guillaume’s Paris. (PGl, R) 11.00 Prisoner. (MA15+av)

12.10 Illegals. (MA15+v, R) 2.15 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PG, R) 3.20 How To Get Fit Fast. (PG, R) 4.15 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.50pm Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks

Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 6.55 Rocket Club. 7.05 Odd Squad. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Little Lunch. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Deadly 60. 9.10 Shark With Steve Backshall. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Love And Friendship. (2016, PG) 7.40 Malcolm. (1986, PG) 9.15 Hacker. (2019, PG, Danish) 11.00 Ordinary Justice. (2020, M, Italian) 12.35pm The Big Short. (2015, M) 3.00 The Movie Show. 3.35 Four Souls Of Coyote. (2023, PG) 5.35 Darling Companion. (2012, PG) 7.30 Mermaids. (1990, PG) 9.35 Vampire Seeking Consenting Person. (2023, M, French) 11.15 Late Programs. SBS

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PG)

7.30 The Americas: The Atlantic Coast. (Premiere, PG) A look at the natural beauty of the Americas.

8.30 The Hunting Party. (M) An escaped serial killer from the Pit decides to adopt another inmate’s style of killing.

9.30 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

10.30 The Irrational. (Mav)

11.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGals) 12.00 MOVIE: Cruel Instruction. (2022, MA15+adsv, R)

2.00 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning Programs.

7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Ml) A memorable couple face the end.

9.00 Scrublands. (MA15+lv) The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together but Martin’s excitement is short-lived.

10.00 Footy Classified. (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.

11.00 9News Late.

11.30 The Equalizer. (Mv, R)

12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.05 Next Stop. (PGaw) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Building Ideas. (PG) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 Australian Survivor. (PGl) Presented by Jonathan LaPaglia. 9.00 NCIS. (Mv) The team investigates when Jimmy’s daughter discovers a large sum of money near the naval library. 10.50 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.15 The Project. (R) A look at the day’s news. 12.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. 1.45pm One Armed Chef. 2.40 Queer Sports. 3.35 News. 3.40 WorldWatch. 5.45 The Fast History Of. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 NITV News Update. 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 Travel Man. 9.30 Dark Side Of Reality TV. 10.25 Hostage Rescue. 12.10am Dark Side Of The ‘90s. 1.05 Australia’s Queen Of Burlesque. 1.15 Late Programs.

Wednesday, March 26

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Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG) Presented by Tom Gleeson.

8.30 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG) A satirical news program. 9.00 Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala. Hosted by Mel Buttle.

11.00 ABC Late News.

11.15 The Business. (R)

11.35 Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe. (Mls, R) 12.30 Parliament Question Time. 1.30 Grand Designs Revisited. (R) 2.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 3.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.35 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

WorldWatch. 9.00 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.10 Urban Conversion. (R) 9.40 Earth’s Sacred Wonders. (PGa, R) 10.50 Soccer. 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifier. Argentina v Brazil. 1.00 PBS NewsHour. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw. (PG, R) 4.05 Every Family Has A Secret. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Alone Australia. (Return, Ml) Ten survivalists take on the wilderness.

9.40 Rogue Heroes. (MA15+)

The SAS receives a visit from two senior generals. Stirling prepares to make another escape attempt.

10.50 SBS World News Late. 11.20 Blackwater. (MA15+ans)

The police show up at the commune.

12.30 My Brilliant Friend. (Malv, R) 3.55 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Fallen Angels Murder Club: Friends To Die For. (2022, Mav) Toni Braxton. 3.00 Beat The Chasers UK. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Mackenzie comes clean.

7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PGl) Hosted by Lee Mack.

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unfiltered. (PGal) Hamish McLachlan sits down with key football stars and personalities to reveal their stories.

10.00 Arj Barker: Comes Clean. (Mls, R) A performance by Arj Barker.

11.10 Autopsy USA: Andy Griffith. (Ma)

12.10 Covert Affairs. (Mv, R)

2.30 To Be Advised. 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (Ml, R) 1.30 My Way. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Ml) It’s the last group get-together before the final vows.

9.00 Scrublands. (MA15+lv) Martin comes face-to-face with the true mastermind.

10.00 9News Late.

10.30 Wild Cards. (Mav)

11.30 The Equalizer. (Madv, R) 12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 My Way. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer. 6.30 The Project. A look at the day’s news. 7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 8.30 Elsbeth. (PGlsv) Elsbeth and the team investigate when an unlikable fashion photographer is murdered. 9.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Final, Mv) The team must track down a mysterious terrorist group before they can strike again. 10.25 10’s Late News. 10.50 The Project. (R) 11.55 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am Morning Programs. 1.00 WorldWatch. 1.30 The Movie Show. 3.10 The Weekly Football Wrap. 3.40 News. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.45 The Fast History Of. 6.10 Mysteries From Above. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: Michael Collins. (1996, MA15+) 10.55 MOVIE: Snowpiercer. (2013, MA15+) 1.15am Late Programs.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.50pm Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.15 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Hey Duggee. 6.40 Ben And Holly. 6.55 Rocket Club. 7.05 Odd Squad. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 Little Lunch. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Abbott Elementary. 9.25 Doctor Who. 11.20 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 8.15 Remi Nobody’s Boy. (2018, PG, French) 10.15 Let The River Flow. (2023, M, Norwegian) 12.30pm 20,000 Species Of Bees. (2023, M, Spanish) 2.50 Petite Maman. (2021, PG, French) 4.10 Love And Friendship. (2016, PG) 5.50 Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 7.30 My Salinger Year. (2020, M) 9.25 Girls Will Be Girls. (2024, M, Hindi) 11.35 Late Programs. SBS

5.25 Black As. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.30 News. 6.40 The Big Dry. 7.30 Home, Land & Sea. 8.30 MOVIE: Along Came A Spider. (2001, MA15+) 10.20 Nganampa Anwernekenhe. 10.50 Late Programs. NITV (34)

Esteemed art curator shortlisted in community history awards

A DISTINGUISHED art consultant and writer on the Mornington Peninsula is in the running for a prestigious Victorian award that celebrates community history projects.

Rodney James, a former senior curator at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, has been shortlisted in this year’s Victorian Community History Awards for his book titled Letters to a Critic: Alan McCulloch’s World of Art His book is among 39 publications and projects in contention for the Victorian Premier’s History Award.

Presented by the Public Record Office Victoria in partnership with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and supported by the state government, the awards celebrate individuals preserving the state’s history through various community-focused projects.

James, a Tootgarook resident, said he was incredibly honoured for the recognition, noting Alan McCulloch AO, who founded the Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre in 1971, had been an inspiring figure.

“It’s a great honour, I’m pretty excited,” he told The News

“As I look at a great group of projects nominated, it’s a really diverse and interesting list of writers and subjects. I feel like if the book, not so much me, but if the book does get the award, that would be a great honour to Alan and his family.”

James has more than 30 years specialising in 19th and 20th century art writing and research and has curated over 60 exhibitions.

He described McCulloch, whom he first met in 1990, as a “real stalwart of the peninsula”, and one of Australia’s leading arts critics for 60 years.

His achievements included being an art critic for the Melbourne Herald from 1951 to 1982, as

WHAT’S NEW...

well as being a famous cartoonist, and producing the Encyclopedia of Australia Art in 1968.

“There was this great archive related to Alan’s life and work,” James said, which he noted had presented an opportunity to write the book through the help of McCulloch’s family whom he was close friends with.

“We had this fantastic record of letters that he wrote to and from leading artists, gallery directors, writers, prime ministers; all sorts of people all around the world and that archive ended up in the State Library.”

The archive included about 6000 letters, which James meticulously went through.

He said the “vulnerability of artists was quite amazing because he was friends with these people”, many of whom stayed with the family at the 1870s-built Whistlewood property in Shoreham, which still stands today.

“Alan and his wife had just wonderful relationships with the artists and their families.”

James said the book was not so much a biography but “relooking at 20th century Australian art through the interactions of him and the art world”.

And after 16 years of putting the book together, he said it was a mix of relief and huge satisfaction.

“It nearly defeated me at times, it was just so big and so much material.”

Tyabb airport runway update

THE long awaited resurfacing of the sealed section of main Tyabb runway commenced on 17th February.

These works will improve safety for all aircraft, especially during periods of strong crosswinds when the grass runways are soft and wet. Over the past 20 years the original three metre wide gravel runway shoulders had decayed and been overgrown.

These original shoulders were excavated and replaced by Brett Shepherd Excavations within a few days. Considerable machinery and equipment was used to ensure the works were completed within the allotted time frame.

The ten metre wide sealed section of the 45 metre wide runway was then resurfaced and the replaced runway shoulders sealed.

The club also took this opportunity to replace the runway landing lights with a new wired solar powered system, which has greatly improved safety for night operations.

Peninsula Aero Club members were still able to fly outside the tradesman’s working hours using the grass taxiway as a temporary grass landing area.

Brett Shepherd Excavations have completed the works on time and below budget.

RODNEY James with his book Letters to a Critic: Alan McCulloch’s World of Art Picture: Yanni

Deleterious pavements

The upgrade of the Forest Drive, Hopetoun Drive, intersection with Nepean Highway is almost completed. Pavements are being laid, line marking, guide post and vegetation planting will complete the project.

A rebuild as complex and as large as this contract is not without its difficulties, and has gone smoothly enough.

Inconvenient as it was the detours that were put in place I believe worked quite well.

I used the Dominion Rd, Somerset Drive, Forest Drive detour for the first time last week.

I was appalled at how the Somerset Drive pavement has suffered under the months of constant traffic that it was never meant to carry, Forrest Drive has also suffered its share of wear and tear.

Somerset Drive pavements have suffered the most, to the extent where serious rectification work needs to be carried out, not in small isolated areas but huge sections.

The pavement has extensive alligator cracking, allowing water to enter the base layers and into the sub grade causing further failure of the pavement.

There are areas where constant braking and acceleration has distorted the surface, to the extent it’s like you are driving over cobble stones.

Other areas the pavement has broken down with the tar binders slicking up the surfaces instead of binding the crushed rock as it was ment to do.

I sincerely hope that the shire, together with the contractor building the intersection, carried out a proper pavement audit on the detour roads, and well documented the conditions, prior to commencing construction.

Rectification work eventually will have to be undertaken. This should be done by the contractor at no cost to the shire.

Let us hope the shire was smart enough to have this type of continuance is in place and the shire is indemnified, where we are not picking up the extensive bill.

Gerard van de Ven, Mount Martha Pollie gifts

Our Member for Flinders Zoe McKenzie MP promoted the new ExxonMobil ethane gas power station in her latest “Peninsula Post” newsletter.

The full-page article was simply an advertisement for Esso Australia (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) printed at taxpayers’ expense.

The 47th Parliament Register of Members’ Interests states that Zoe McKenzie MP received “Hospitality - 2 x guest tickets for Australian Open Tennis and dinner - 25 January 2025 - as guests of Simon Younger (ExxonMobil)”.

On 30 September 2023, Zoe attended the 2023 AFL Grand Final as a guest of online betting company Sportsbet.

On 19 October 2023, Zoe spoke in Parliament to support a ban on using credit cards for online gambling but drew special attention to Sportsbet“… I’m pleased to observe that one of Australia’s major betting companies, Sportsbet, supports this change in recognition that we all have to do more to address gambling harm in this country…”.

In May 2024, the Albanese Government had the opportunity to accept the 14 recommendations of the Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations report.

The official response to every recommendation was “Given the passage of time, a substantive government response is no longer appropriate” – what an appalling outcome.

The use of gifts and donations for politicians leads to increased power and influence of corporations at the expense of the ordinary voter - which can harm the public’s trust and support for their elected representatives.

The recent reluctance of Labor and Liberal politicians to introduce bans on gambling advertising is one example.

The Open Politics website reports on our politicians interests and has written to all MPs and senators seeking support for bans on gifts and hospitality.

How many politicians will give up their ‘gifts’?

Dale Stohr, Crib Point

Voting record

I think Ross Hudson has been a tad unfair on the MP for Flinders Zoe McKenzie claiming she has done little for three years (Zoe McKenzie, Letters 11/3/25).

The website theyvoteforyou.org.au reveals that Ms McKenzie has been busy voting against many of the issues of most concern to Australians including cost of living relief and climate change action.

Perhaps that’s because Ms McKenzie is a loyal Liberal and follows Peter Dutton’s lead.

Here on the other side of the bay, the Member for Corio votes very differently but also along party lines.

At least independents can think for themselves and represent their community rather than their party. I like what Ben Smith stands for and I wish we had a similar independent in Corio.

Karen Lamb, North Geelong

What does Zoe stand

for?

There has been much prominent advertising for the current Member for Flinders but virtually nothing about what she stands for. So, we have to conclude that she stands toe to toe with Peter Dutton on most, if not all, policy matters.

So, as John Menadue writes in a recent article, entitled: “Dutton has little faith in Medicare. Like Trump, he prefers culture wars”.

“Dutton’s record as health minister tells us the real story and what he really thinks about Medicare.

A survey of doctors for the Australian doctors magazine ranked Dutton as the worst health minister in 35 years.

He was so embarrassing that he had to be shifted out of health and into home affairs. His performance in that portfolio was not regarded as a great success either, so he had to be shifted again, to defence.”

To sum up, I invite Ms McKenzie to let us know what her federal policies are, in the lead up to the Federal Election, so that electors can assess whether they wish to vote for her or not.

Peter Monie, Flinders

Time for change?

Every election, we see the same pattern – voters in our area stick with the major parties, hoping this time things will be different. Yet, time and again, we end up with the same frustrations: local issues overlooked, party politics taking priority, and decisions that don’t reflect the needs of our community.

Maybe it’s time to approach this election differently.

Independents are making a real impact in Australian politics. Without party constraints, they can advocate for their communities first, pushing for real action on the issues that matter. This election, Flinders has a chance to embrace that change with Ben Smith, an independent candidate focused on representing the people, not a party.

Voters often say they want something different – this is the opportunity to make that happen. If we keep voting the same way, we’ll keep getting the same results.

Perhaps this time, we choose to do things differently.

Kim Robbins, Safety Beach

What is ‘independent’?

The Independent movement. What is it ?

My understanding is that in recent times it is a nation wide movement closely aligned to Climate 200. Climate 200 was convened by Simon Holmes à Court and is dedicated to achieving zero green house gas emissions by 2050. If Australia happened to achieve this we need to understand that this will not have any effect regarding climate change. Our total out put of CO2 is so minuscule that we will have achieved nothing at great cost to our nation.

The USA is not committing to this, China and India have a time line of 2060 and 2070 which even that is possibly wishful thinking. Climate 200 and all its followers (ie the independents), have no thought of including nuclear as part of our energy source once coal and gas are phased out.

To rely on solar, wind farms and to a limited degree hydro, will require the destruction of vast areas of forest and grass lands. Added to this, large tracts of our coast line are earmarked for giant wind farms.

Apart from destroying the natural beauty of large areas, how much research has been done on the effects of all these on wild life? Added to this is the loss of areas of forrest which absorb large amounts of CO2, the most important food of trees.

Politically the “Independents” will side with Labour and the Greens as has been demonstrated since the last elections.

How can candidates be independent when they accept funding from Climate 200, that requires them to have the same philosophies as they do.

To be truly independent they cannot be beholden to Climate 200.

Nuclear issue

Keith Davis, Somers

Keith Davis letter (Nuclear option?, Letters 11/3/25), in response to the position of independent candidate Ben Smith’s opinion on nuclear power, focussed on the issue of cost but ignored the other aspects of Ben’s answer which were timeframe and output.

These two factors alone negate the nuclear option.

We need solutions now to our energy requirements and renewables are delivering this now and far more cheaply than fossil fuels.

Nuclear is at least 15 years away if all goes well and frankly to expect a party that couldn’t even deliver carparks at train stations, that is a big ask.

When, and if, the nuclear power stations do arrive they will only contribute about four percent of our energy needs, so seriously what is the point of them?

Too late, too little and at too much cost.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha

More nuclear questions

It’s good that your correspondent is still asking questions about nuclear (Nuclear option?, Letters 11/3/25).

Nuclear energy was supposed to be the big election pitch from the Coalition but now they seem to be running dead on this.

We haven’t heard anything about nuclear from Coalition spokespeople since they said they would sack Matt Kean, head of the sciencebased Climate Change Authority.

This was is in response to the Authority releasing a report explaining that the nuclear pathway would add 2billion tonnes of extra climate pollution to the atmosphere (because we would use unreliable, polluting coal stations to provide energy while we wait at least 15 years for nuclear).

It would be good to know all candidate’s positions on nuclear energy. Also where does the Coalition plan to store the nuclear waste? And where will the water needed to run the reactors come from?

So many questions, so few answers.

Amy Hiller, Kew

Changed mind on nuclear

I once thought nuclear power might be a good fit for Australia. I have changed my mind for the following reasons:

n It is the most expensive power source (Ref. CSIRO GenCost 24-25 Report)

n The lead time, especially for new projects is likely 15 years or more and too long to meet our carbon reduction targets ( Ref. CSIRO GenCost 24-25 Report)

n Government contracts often run over budget and time (Ref. Snowy 2.0)

n Operating failures or unexpected events can be dangerous and long lasting (Ref. Chernobyl, Fukushima, Three Mile Island)

n It is not compatible with variable sources of power such as renewables. Baseload power is unnecessary because renewables plus firming is adequate (Ref. South Australia power system)

n They can be a target and security risk from those who might wish us harm (Ref. Zaporizhzhya NPP in Ukraine)

n There is still no entirely good solution to the nuclear waste problem.

n An adequate cooling water supply is essential for reactor cooling and may become more difficult or impossible as the climate dries out.

n We have no regulatory system or an adequate pool of nuclear engineers or trained work force.

n Who wants a nuclear power station in their backyard?

Graham Fraser, Mount Martha Nuclear “facts”

Keith Davis wants Independent for Flinders Ben Smith to consider “the facts” about climate change, renewable energy and nuclear power and makes two recommendations (Nuclear option, Letters 11/3/25).

Why would Mr Davis ignore Australia’s leading scientific body, the CSIRO, which consistently reports that renewables, even including the cost of transmission and storage, are far cheaper than nuclear power in Australia.

The YouTube sites he refers readers to are quite revealing.

Chris Uhlmann is a journalist for the Murdoch Press well known for its opposition to humaninduced climate change.

Gerard Holland’s presentation was to the fossil-fuel funded Alliance for Responsible Citizenship at which former Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed the “emissions obsession” of a “climate cult” will eventually be discredited. Extreme stuff.

Far better to listen to unbiased energy experts. In May last year, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said, “if there is a country that has a lot of resources from other sources, such as solar and wind, I wouldn’t see nuclear as a priority option. I’m talking about Australia now.”

And just this week, US energy policy veteran Jonathan Pershing on a visit to Australia said, “In about 80 per cent of the world, the cheapest energy option for reliable power is a combination of solar plus batteries. That’s the cheapest choice. It’s also the fastest choice in much of the world. Why would I add a really expensive technology [nuclear] when I could add something that costs less?”

Ray Peck, Hawthorn

Ranch closure

I was so sad to see in last week’s issue that the Ranch is definitely closing. It was such a fantastic idea run by the community to make up for a huge gap in government public housing. Crisis accommodation should be given. The Peninsula isn’t some forgotten corner of the country – we’re part of one of the richest states in one of the wealthiest nations, yet people will soon be left out on the street.

Liberals and Labor yap on about housing, but when it comes to actually delivering a plan to solve the issue, they’re all talk.

I’ve followed Ben Smith’s work on this issue for a few years now, and I was so happy he decided to run as an Independent at the election. He’s well informed about housing and homelessness, he knows how to work with governments, and he has the ability to think long term about how to fix these major issues facing our society.

I think he’s the right guy for the job.

Guy Taylor, Mt Eliza

Ad waste?

I was appalled to see that Ben Smith has again placed meaningless full-page advertisements in The News, with those in the edition 11/3/2025 sitting directly opposite an article detailing how the Ranch is soon to be closed.

The Ranch is one of very few safe accommodation places for the homeless on the peninsula.

As someone who works in the community service, homelessness field, I find it quite disturbing that Ben is prepared to have his massively wealthy backers place these ads for him, rather than ask them to put their money into housing support for the homeless.

How can this self-aggrandisement sit comfortably with his so-called Christian values? I fear it doesn’t sit well.

Marilyn Merrifield, Rye

Living pressures

No one wants to see crime in our community, but we need to ask what’s really going on. Are we facing a crime crisis, or are we seeing the consequences of tough economic times playing out in predictable ways?

For many families on the peninsula, life is harder than it’s been in years. The cost of living is skyrocketing, secure jobs are scarce, and young people, especially those from working class families, are feeling the strain.

With nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no real sense of purpose, some turn to petty crime out

of boredom. The real question is, do we tackle this with fear and punishment, or do we invest in actual solutions?

Independent candidate Ben Smith believes we need to take a smarter approach. Instead of just talking tough on crime, we could be addressing the reasons young people end up in trouble in the first place. That means creating more opportunities, better access to education and job pathways, and investing in youth services, afterschool programs, and mental health support. These initiatives have been proven to reduce crime and strengthen communities.

Fear-driven politics might grab headlines, but it does not make us safer. Real solutions do. Ben Smith is committed to supporting policies that actually work, rather than ones designed to fearmonger. I think it’s time we give a fresh approach a chance.

Ashlynn O’Malley, Mornington Hospital facts

In regard to Tony Dew’s letter (Rosebud Hospital, Letters 11/3/25) I wish to respond as one of the organisers for the Facebook page and campaign “save Rosebud Hospital”.

The facts are that every hospital is audited regularly to pass an Accreditation process, whereby many factors are taken into consideration – from protocols in care to safety for patients and staff. Rosebud Hospital is in dire need of replacement,– currently held together by “bandaid repairs and compromise”.

The staff work in conditions that are often not

sponse is “Frankston is too far” and we cannot get there in an emergency. We deserve a modern local hospital for all our residents. “

It is also worth noting that Mornington Peninsula Shire have been very supportive of our campaign.

I hope this helps the conversation.

Sue Gilbert, Rye

CEO appointed

Mornington Peninsula Shire has appointed a new CEO, to take up his role on the 16th of April 2025 (Shire appoints new CEO, The News 11/3/25).

As promoted by the Shire and in the interest of openness and transparency, I ask what were the salient points that secured his appointment.

What were his previous KPI’s, did he meet them at all the numerous places he has worked?

Surly the Shire has milestones and KPI’s in place that need to be met, do we have assurance from him, that he going to meet them?

What is his salary going to be and will it be value for money?

The last CEO cost us approximately $10,000.00 per week what did we gain where was the value in that amount of money?

That sort of money would have gone a long way on Shire projects.

Representing who?

Sam Groth: “Thankfully, Flinders already has an effective federal member in Zoe McKenzie, who

making TAFE education fee-free, net zero emissions by 2035, protecting threatened forest and bushland habitats, the Paris Climate Agreement, and vehicle efficiency standards.

Somehow I don’t think this represents us and what we want. Maybe Zoe did not agree this was the right thing to do but was told how to vote by the party and as a loyal party slave did her job of protecting the party not the people.

Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach

Helpful police

A thank you to the two police officers who approached me after I pulled into a service station in Seaford on 6 March at approximately 11.00pm.

I had attended a concert in the city and was driving home to Mornington; a long trip I rarely undertake, especially late at night.

I consider myself a good driver with many years of driving experience and an accident free record.

On this particular Thursday evening the two officers pointed out that I had made several mistakes and appeared to be driving somewhat erratically. We had a general discussion about my errors and then they expressed concern for my welfare asking if I needed a break or sleep. I was using an audio book to keep my mind on the trip.

The officers were so thoughtful and gentle while also being clear and direct in their description of my mistakes. Because of this approach the next morning I was left with no option but to evaluate my circumstances honestly.

fact that renewable energy is the cheapest form, of electricity around (The ‘A’ is for Arthur, Letters 11/3/25).

But I now understand after reading the last few lines of his reply.

Say no more, he’s after all a Trump admirer and would like Australia to have also such a wise and insightful person like Trump in power to rule over us.

For me, I pass on any such notions. No orange narcissist shall rule over my life. I’d rather take my chance with Ben Smith as an independent. Rupert Steiner, Balnarring

Pondering

“Age shall not weary them”, referring to the departed true enough, weary to those (we?) remaining?

“Little fish are sweet”, a phrase often muttered after winning a small pot in a game of poker. One I hold dear being a Collingwood supporter.

“It’s who you know” - a famous phrase? We all live within our social structure, like it or not, accompanying opinions, assumptions, particularly class, often without question.

“Mine is bigger then yours” - yet another line of nonsense. Collingwood? Two players who should have been dropped “before” the match, as proven, surely come the Western Bulldogs? And the new “slick” Fox Footy? AFL 360, AFL matches generally and particularly “On the Couch” (Jack Riewoldt?) prefer the old way. Irascible old coot? Yes. The good news? The Melbourne holiday strutters have departed Rye. “To laugh often and much” (Emerson).

As a result I am quite clear I will no longer drive long distances late at night. It has also led me to have discussions with my friends in terms of seriously assessing our driving skills and the need to make decisions when necessary rather than vaguely pushing the issue into the future.

Thank you to you both.

Robyn Freer, Mornington

Trump?

must have hit a nerve with Brian “Arthur” Mitchelson with my correct observation of the

Cliff Ellen, Rye

A couple of Frankston smashes on the Sabbath

Compiled by Cameron McCullough

ON Sunday morning last, Mr. H. Stell, of the Peninsula Motor Garage, Bay Street, Frankston, was returning from Mornington in a Hudson SuperSix, after conveying a party to that favourite seaside resort.

When approaching the bend leading to the Frankston Pier, a Ford car coming in the opposite direction, also alleged to having been taking up more than a fair share of the roadway, swung in towards the Pier House in front of the car driven by Mr. Stell, who in an endeavour to avoid a collision, negotiated his Super-Six to the right.

In so doing, his own car skidded slightly, with the result that the Ford crashed into the rearguard of the Hudson which suffered damage to the extent of a broken mudguard, and a cut tyre.

No one was injured.

Misfortunes never come singly and on the same day, another Ford was stationary at the side of the road near to the Prince of Wales Hotel.

At the precise moment in question, a motorist came along. He had a parcel between his feet, and it is alleged that, momentarily, he forgot it was there and, accidentally, swerved off the road, hitting the other car in the rear, but without doing much damage.

Shortly after, Mr. Stell drove up in his car, and brought in the damaged Ford to his well-known garage for repairs. ***

A Seaford Sensation. Gruesome discover at Crystal Sand Pits

On Wednesday night last, Constable W. D. Addison, an astute officer of the

Frankston Police Force, dispatched to Superintendent Potter, chief of the C.I.B., an official report to the effect that a complete skeleton, believed to be that of an aboriginal, had been found at the Crystal Sand Pits, at Seaford.

In consequence of an urgent telephone call received earlier in the day, Constable Addison proceeded to Seaford, and there interviewed Mr. John Peters, employed at the Crystal Sand Co. Pty. Ltd., who informed the officer that about 11.20am he had been engaged in shovelling the surface of the sand pit, when he made the gruesome discovery that the implement had unearthed a human skeleton.

Constable Addison also interviewed Mr. William Butterfield, an employee of the same Company, who stated he had been watching Mr. Peters shovelling the surface off the sand pit, and to his surprise he saw his workmate unearth a skeleton, as above described.

Mr. Butterfield immediately notified Mr. Chas. Taylor, the manager of the Crystal Sand Company, who at once communicated with the C.I.B.

Later, Constable Addison, as already stated, went to the scene of the gruesome discovery, and, after investigations had been made, conveyed the skeleton, of what is surmised to be that of an Aboriginal reported missing in the locality some time ago, to the City Morgue.

***

Personal

Mr. Whyte, the popular local S.M., returned to duty on Wednesday last, following twenty-eight days’ furlough. Accompanied by Mrs. Whyte and family, he spent a well-earned

holiday in northern Victoria and New South Wales.

If appearances count for anything, Seaford’s genial S.M.’s vacation has done him good, also his wife has benefitted by the change.

***

Chelsea Police Court. Five Campers Fined Aggregate Of £65.

Rowdy scenes and indecent ones at that were witnessed in the small hours of Sunday morning at Bristol avenue, Chelsea.

Constable Hooper, who had already had a busy evening and a few in the lock-up, requisitioned the assistance of Aspendale’s guardian, Constable W. H. Quinn.

Together they went to the place where partly undressed young men were using filthy language and chasing into the rooms of women in a neighbouring camp.

At the Chelsea court on Monday Claude Warburton, 18; Eddie Finucane, 19; John Mitchell, 20; James Cregan, 23; and Louis Guinne, 21, were each fined £ 10, in default three months’ goal, for indecent language.

The constable said that the language could have been heard a quarter of a mile away.

The specimens he produced were filthy in the extreme.

For offensive behaviour Warburton, Mitchell and Guianne were fined a further £5.

A total of £65 in all was inflicted in fines on the party. No time was allowed to pay. Mr. Cohen saying he would prefer to see them in gaol.

Mr. Reg Wadham applied for leniency as they had all with two others been confined in a veritable Black

Hole of Chelsea – the lock-up, during the hot Sunday night and till the afternoon of Monday.

The lock-up was only 10 feet by 10 feet .

Mr. Cohen further remarked that it was an extraordinary thing that landlords could be found to rent the houses to this class of person. Such houses ought to be condemned.

He had spoken of this before. (Turning to Constable Quinn): “Who were the girls these young men were with?”

Constable Quinn: Single girls, girls who work in various suburbs.

Mr. Cohen: Such places, as I have said before, should be condemned. Landlords should not let their houses to these people.

The fines were ultimately all paid. ***

A fall in the ring. Incident at Somerville show.

During the ring events at the Somerville Show on Wednesday last, Mr. Claude May, one of the prominent competitors, had a nasty fall from the saddle.

At first it was thought he had sustained serious injury, but, fortunately, the surmise proved to be incorrect.

Later, he recovered sufficiently to again mount his steed and give a good account of his prowess as a crack horseman. ***

Mr. F. Taylor’s Fast Trotter.

Mr. F. Taylor, of the well-known “Grange Dairy,” Bay street, Frankston, is not only a poultry expert, and, in this direction, his birds still continue to win prizes, but he is also the proud owner of a fast trotter bearing the name of “Mae.”

At the Somerville Show last week, this famous pony secured no less than three first awards – a good record.

***

Langwarrin Tennis Club Social and Dance.

The social held last Friday night, in aid of the Langwarrin Tennis Club, was largely attended and proved a great success, and with the good music and excellent floor that was provided for the dancers it proved most enjoyable to all.

Further, it is most gratifying to the committee to see the keen interest that is being taken in the welfare of the club by the general public of the district and with the patronage that is being extended to them it is the intention of the club to run more entertainments.

***

Proposed Daily Service. Bittern to Red Hill.

Recently the Minister for Railways (Mr. Eggleston) promised a deputation to discuss with the Railways Commissioners the question of running a daily service between Bittern and Red Hill. There is a tri-weekly service at present.

A motor train was run daily in January last as an experiment, but the results were not satisfactory.

The deputation pointed out that this train was withdrawn before its service was well-known in the district. The issue of seaside excursion tickets to Balnarring and Bittern would encourage tourist traffic.

***

From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 18 & 20 Mar 1925

PUZZLE ZONE

A Message to Elon - Five Things I Did This Week

Thanks for your recent email asking me to list five things I did last week. Although you wanted a response within forty-eight hours, I thought it best for both of us if I took my time and gave you a more considered answer. There’s nothing worse than reactions that are impulsive or illthought out. I’m sure you’ll agree. Firstly, I watched you on a stage dressed like twelve-year old on a freedress day. It’s not clear to me whether that was the look you were going for or simply decided that getting dressed in the dark was a good idea. It’s often said that "clothes maketh the man".

Sadly, that’s not the entire quotation – it should actually read "clothes maketh the man a complete idiot". You, dear Elon, are a case in point. Let’s start with the oversized sunglasses – I’ve no idea how you ended up with Kim Jong Il’s sunglasses. I’d no idea you were even friends. The oversized shades are something that you can only get away with if you’re a despotic dictator and, even then, because no-one has the nerve to tell you that you look terrible. Then there’s the hat.

The oversized hat looks like something that should be worn by a much younger person who answers to a name like, "Scooter" or "Chip". The entire "dark, gothic MAGA" thing reeks of desperation and screams, "please like me and my cool hat!" while ensuring your status as a socially awkward outsider remains cemented for eternity.

As for the t-shirt, I had no idea

until I googled it that the phrase "I’m not procrastinating, I’m doing side quests" is some kind of gamer reference. The reason I had to google it is because I don’t play video games.

And, even if I did, I’d probably do so in the privacy of my own home and not draw attention to it by wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a gamer slogan. In a way, I’m relieved. As a

middle-aged man, I thought it impossible that there might be someone out there who was less cool than I was – turns out there is, and that person is you, Elon.

That said, the three-quarter length black coat is ideal for anyone seeking to make the leap from eccentric, cuddly billionaire to full-fledged Marvel villain. All that remains is for you to change your name to something sinister like "the Elonator" and to threaten to block out the sun for the fun of it and the transformation will be complete.

Secondly, I saw you hold a chainsaw on that very same stage and realised that it was probably the first time in your life that you had, in fact, ever held a chainsaw. For future reference, you don’t wave them around in the air like some kind of tree-felling maraca. Also, next time you’re in public, don’t hold a chainsaw above your head while yelling "chainsaw!" like a psychopath. You’ll look like a complete lunatic. Or, more to the point, like an even bigger lunatic.

The third thing I did this week was to watch the stock market take a dive because your big orange buddy has decided to treat the world economy like my dog used to treat his favourite chew toy – he’d put it between his teeth, shake it around, slobber all over it and, at some point, bury it in the back yard. I’m sure that, somewhere along the line, the analogy breaks down, but it hasn’t yet. I’ll tell you, Elon, I’m more than a little concerned. The only way I can describe how I’m feeling right now about your pal is that it’s like he’s someone who said they knew how to fly a plane and

it’s only now when he’s in the cockpit at thirty thousand feet and behind the controls that he’s willing to admit that he doesn’t.

The fourth thing I did was watch you refer to someone as a "traitor" because they went to Ukraine. You did so on your own social media platform, X, which you have successfully transformed from the digital town square to something more akin to its sewerage treatment plant. Yuck.

The fifth and final thing I did this week? Simple – I wrote this list of five things I did. Granted, it’s not the best use of my time (or yours –presumably there’s a democratically elected official you could be sacking), but here we are. I figured you might appreciate the feedback. I’m mindful that, as the (currently or – by the time I finish writing this sentence - formerly) richest man in the world, you may need it.

My message, Elon, is this: no more side quests - go back to your day job and stop trying to destroy the jobs of others. To borrow the powerful phrase coined by T. S. Eliot – "you came in like a wrecking ball". (On second thoughts, it might have been Miley Cyrus and I’ve just imagined you in the music video, swinging on said wrecking ball as naked as the day you were born while yelling "chainsaw" at the top of your lungs.) I look forward to receiving your list of accomplishments from the past week. Hopefully one of them is "hired a stylist".

Yours hopefully, stuart@stuartmccullough.com

scoreboard

Langy taste defeat, mighty upset for Main Ridge

PROVINCIAL

LADDER leaders Langwarrin will head into this weekend’s final series off the back of a loss, after Dromana put them to the sword on Saturday.

Langwarrin had a disastrous day on the road against Dromana. They got off to a nightmare start when opener Jack Marget was clean bowled by Dale Irving with the first delivery of the day.

Each of Langwarrin’s first five batters failed to reach double digits. They collapsed to 7/43, and looked in a world of trouble.

The tail offered some resistance, but Langwarrin was soon bowled out. They scored just 96 runs.

Dromana made short work of their target, claiming the upset win after 22 overs with six wickets left to spare. An impressive knock of 33 from 27 deliveries by Beau Anthony helped guide Dromana to victory.

The result saw Dromana finish third on the ladder. The loss didn’t knock Langwarrin off the top.

Pines finished the year in second place - they beat Heatherhill with just one ball to spare last weekend to secure their spot.

Red Hill finished the season in fourth and Sorrento finished fifth. The two sides played on Saturday, with Sorrento emerging victorious.

Old Peninsula finished the year in last place, but ended things on a positive note by smashing Baden Powell.

PENINSULA

ROSEBUD will head into finals full of momentum after a big win over Moorooduc on Saturday.

The first-placed Rosebud hit the road to take on Moorooduc. They stamped their authority on the game early, rattling the Moorooduc top order.

Dromana’s captain Sam Fowler bowled Langwarrin’s captain and top scorer Ricky Damiano. Picture: Paul Churcher

At 5/40 Moorooduc looked in big trouble. Skipper Ben Williams steadied things with a knock of 76 to help his side reach a final total of 151. Rosebud chased down their target without too much hassle. Will Jewell hit 52 runs, and Liam Collett scored an unbeaten 50. Rosebud wrapped up the win in 32 overs with eight wickets left to spare.

Mornington finished the season in second place - the Bulldogs closed out the home-and-away season with a win over third-placed Mt Eliza on Saturday.

Long Island finished in fourth place despite a defeat to Seaford last weekend.

Somerville smashed wooden spoon

holders Seaford Tigers to close out their season.

DISTRICT

CARRUM Downs suffered a shock loss to Main Ridge in their final game of the home-and-away season last weekend.

Carrum Downs entered the game as one of the premiership favourites, while Main Ridge is out of finals contention. Carrum Downs set their opponents a tough target of 236 to chase down to win - Gordon Waterfall topscored with 74 runs.

Main Ridge proved up for the fight, but the clock looked like it might work against them. Praveen Fernando came

in at number five and took control.

Fernando smashed a brilliant century off just 53 balls to drag his side to a famous win. He hit 11 fours and five sixes during the electric innings.

Despite the defeat, Carrum Downs still finished the campaign in first place. Balnarring, who closed out their year with a big win over Baxter, finished second.

Third-placed Flinders beat Crib Point last weekend, and fourth-place Boneo beat Carrum.

SUB DISTRICT

TYABB locked up top spot on the ladder by beating Frankston YCW last weekend.

Bunguyan Reserve hosted the two sides on Saturday. Tyabb batted firstJarrod White and Udara Ravindu each scored half-centuries to help their side reach a final total of 202. It was up to Tyabb’s bowlers to finish the job, and they proved up for the fight. The Stonecats managed to score just 125 before being bowled out. Ryan Regan cleaned up the tail-end to secure the win.

The result saw the Stonecats finish the year in third spot.

Rye finished second and Tootagrook finished fourth to round out the finals series. Rye beat Skye on Saturday, and Tootgarook beat Delacombe Park.

Mt Martha closed out the 2024/2025 season with a win over Ballam Park.

MORNINGTON bowled a tight innings bowling Mt Eliza out for 139. Hayden Cummings was the pick of the bowlers with 4/39 off eight overs. Picture: Alan Dillon

Eliza Archery takes aim at women’s participation

IT was a full house at Eliza Archery on Sunday (16 March) for a femaleonly archery event in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The day was free for all participants, with female coaches on hand to help, and 2024 Olympian Laura Paeglis in attendance.

“This is something we are passionate about,” said Alec Potts, owner of Eliza Archery, and founder of the not-forprofit Peninsula Target Archers that hosted the day.

“This is the first time we’ve held this event, and it sold out, which we are very happy about.

“We have opened especially on a Sunday to host this event, and made the event free, with free equipment provided to maximize participation.”

Potts grew up in Mt Eliza and began his archery journey in 2008. He competed at state and national levels and won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“Archery is a wonderful sport in terms of equality,” said Potts.

“There are very few sports where an entire family can compete together.

“An entire family can’t play footy together, but in this sport, they are on equal footing.

“And success is not based on gender. Men and women both stand on the same shooting line.”

Peninsula Target Archers have always prided themselves on their female participation, with the club at one time having the greatest proportion of women members of all archery clubs in the state.

“It is a testament to the great work our female coaches do,” said Potts.

“In particular Kim Taylor, who has competed across the state and nationally in archery titles and continues to inspire our female members.”

“Of course, with the success of our Women in Sport day on Sunday, female participation in archery has been highlighted as a priority, and something we’ll continue to build on.”

Feedback from the participants indicated the day was a great success.

“Thank you for a wonderful day!

Such a great experience,” said Steph.

“Thank you for putting this day on. I've been wanting to try out archery since my 20s and I finally got to do it in my late 40s. I really enjoyed it!”, said Tanja.

Eliza Archery is an indoor archery range based in Seaford. Bookings can be made online at elizaarchery.com

This piece was produced in collaboration with the Victorian Government’s Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.

Acklin raising fund for Euro championships in Türkiye

ACKLIN Stent first jumped into an "Optimist" class sailboat at the Mt Martha Yacht Club at age nine to join a "Learn To Sail" program.

During covid, Acklin took it upon himself to refine the basics out on Port Phillip Bay.

"My immediate concern was that he would somehow manage to sail straight through the heads and off to Antarctica," said Acklin's mum Janine Stent.

"To settle my apprehension, we tied a massive rope to Acklins boat and let him practice his new found skills!"

Acklin is now 13 and predominately sails the "Optimist" but is competing with other dinghy types as well.

Last weekend he became the State Champion for Victoria, and the first kid for both Mt Martha Yacht Club and Mornington Yacht Club to do so.

The previous weekend he won the Junior Foiling Cup, and the weekend before that he placed

3rd in the Minnow State Championships in a borrowed boat which had equipment breakages.

In January 2025 he won two individual races in the Australian Nationals in Brisbane against 197 Australian and International sailors, and placed 8th overall in Australia.

He has since been selected as one of ten kids in the Australian team who will represent Australia in the European Championships in Türkiye this coming May.

The year 8 student at Dromana Secondary College is also part of the school sailing team which competes against many of the other peninsula schools.

Acklin has a Gofundme page for his upcoming European competition and has been actively working to help fund his Euro trip, but letterbox drops and car washing will only get him so far!

Anyone wishing to help Acklin get to Türkiye can donate at: gofund.me/c05af577

867 578 or ricky@mpnews.com.au to arrange a meeting and let his expertise work for you.

Picture: Down Under Sail

WESTERN PORT scoreboard

Local derbies set season alight

SOCCER

THREE local derbies highlight this weekend’s kick-off to the 2025 State League season.

Chelsea and Mentone go head-tohead on Friday night, Seaford United and Mount Martha clash on Saturday afternoon and Rosebud hosts Frankston Pines in a Saturday evening showdown at Olympic Park.

Get used to derbies stealing the limelight in State 4 South where six local clubs are in the same league, unprecedented in the modern era.

To add even more interest to these games local clubs in State 4 and State 5 are fighting tooth and nail to maintain their league status given the major restructure Football Victoria is implementing next year in a bid to standardise the entire State League set-up.

When the 2026 league season rolls around there will be seven State League levels regionalised into SouthEast and North-West divisions.

Finish on top in State 4 and State 5 and you win promotion but to maintain your status in both leagues clubs must finish in second to sixth spots.

Clubs finishing seventh to 10th are relegated and finishing 11th or 12th means you drop down two divisions from State 4 to the new State 6 and from State 5 to the new State 7.

Good luck avoiding that nightmare scenario.

In VPL1 news head coach Jamie Skelly remains confident that Langwarrin can turn around its poor start to the season despite losing 2-0 away to league leader Bentleigh Greens on Friday night.

It took until the 65th minute for the home side to break through courtesy of veteran Leigh Broxham and in the 80th minute Chris Droutsas put the contest out of Langy’s reach.

“We need to continue to stay positive and trust that the situation will turn around if we continue to keep playing the way we are,” Skelly said.

“We went head-to-head with the best team in the league and for long periods were the better team.

“Our inability to convert our chances in key moments has meant we haven’t got the results we have deserved but we are all extremely confident that it will turn around if we keep working hard.”

In other news Thursday’s friendly between Rosebud and Peninsula Strikers at Olympic Park was abandoned after Rosebud striker Ethan Sanderson was injured.

Sanderson suffered a badly broken collarbone in August 2023 that required corrective surgery and sidelined him for a year.

He broke that same collarbone on Thursday with Rosebud leading 1-0 thanks to a fine Connor Wharton finish.

Rosebud has set up a gofundme account to support Sanderson and details can be found on the club’s facebook page.

The third preliminary round of the Australia Cup was held last weekend and just two local clubs remain in the national competition.

Mornington won its way into the next round while Langwarrin’s league status now brings it into the knockout tournament at this stage.

Australia Cup third preliminary round results: Old Ivanhoe 4 Aspendale 4 (Pablo Borboa, Jared Kilmartin, Ryan Mravljak, Lewis Marco) AET. Old Ivanhoe won 4-1 on penalties; Mornington 4 (Max Civil 2, Will Giddings 2) North-

cote 2; Lalor Utd 5 Skye Utd 1 (Ben Lund).

Friendly results:

St Kilda 0 Mornington 3 (Dylan Thomas, Jacob Brito, Keiran Dover); Peninsula Strikers reserves 1 (Josh Costa) Mount Eliza 0; Chelsea 1 (Christian Murray) Sandringham 0; Rosebud 1 (Connor Wharton) Peninsula Strikers 0 (abandoned after 35 minutes due to player injury); Frankston Pines 3 (Nick Chand, Ali Mujtaba) Casey Comets reserves 0; Baxter 1 (Logan Wilson) Seaford Utd 0.

Here are the senior squads of local clubs with the last registered club of new players in brackets after their name:

ASPENDALE

GOALKEEPERS: Tom Carter, Mathew Self. DEFENDERS: Jordy Athanassiou, Lewis Marco, Mathew Leggett (captain), Callum Norris, Charlie Barclay, Ollie Clark, Liam Norris. MIDFIELDERS: Felix Hampson, James Macnab, Blake Rosenberg, Samuel Timuska-Carr, Harry Salisbury (Chelsea) Nathan Drozdek, Pablo Borboa, Samuel Curtis. FORWARDS: Jared Kilmartin, Ben Garside, Kailan Smith, Ryan Mravljak, Alec Bunn, James Pilcher (Brighton), Dean Mamos. BAXTER

GOALKEEPERS: Hugo Paulsen (Frankston Pines). DEFENDERS: Aiden McKenna, Duncan McPherson, Daniel Jones (Skye Utd), Ali-Zamer Noor (Skye Utd), Aaron Credlin (Knox Utd), Cameron Leopold (Skye Utd), Logan Wilson, Jackson Roberts. MIDFIELDERS: Brody Taylor, Niko Juric, Declan Seca, Davide Sbalchiero, Jack Bradbury (Frankston Pines), Charlie O’Connell (Bayside Argonauts), Robbie O’Toole. FORWARDS: Daniel Bancroft (Mount Martha), Alex Giordano (Casey Comets), Morteza Hashemi (Springvale White Eagles), Hassan Nazari (Frankston Pines).

CHELSEA

Goalkeepers: Luke Wright, Rhys Davies. Defenders: Marcelo Burgos (Frankston Pines), Adam Dunsford (Bayside Argonauts), Alex Namar (Nunawading City), Nathan Gondelle (Elwood City), Luca Fidanza (Glen Eira), Tom Flavelle, Nathan Boccari, Luke D’Allesandro, Liam Pavlov, Jake Ross. Midfielders: Dylan Scott, Ryan Scott, Daniel Lewis, Lachie Davies, Adam Bartosy, Lucas Ryan (Glen Eira) , Yodishtra Jagatheson (Mount Eliza), Matthew O’Neil (Springvale

Eagles), Liam Burford (Hampton East Brighton). Forwards: Matteo Barba (Bentleigh Greens), Daniel Vella, Christian Murray, James Stinson. FRANKSTON PINES

GOALKEEPERS: Alfonso Cardinale, Caleb Parr. DEFENDERS: Nikesh Singh, Baqir Rahimi (Greater Dandenong), Hamed Merzaee (exRichmond), Anish Bittu (Knox Utd), Shivneel Krish Pillay, Hayayyaan Arsalaan Khan (Bentleigh Greens).

MIDFIELDERS: Ali Mojtaba (Greater Dandenong), Arbaaz Hafiz (Centenary Stormers, QLD), Mujtabba Mohammadi (Richmond), Omid Mirzaie (Football Development Australia Academy, NSW), Jack Maguire (Peninsula Strikers), Nick Chand (Mount Eliza), Amish Chandra (Mount Eliza), Aloysio Ferreira Neto (Morwell Pegasus), Patrick Finnegan (Noble Park Utd). FORWARDS: Davey Jones (Mount Martha), Anish Khem (Mount Eliza), Jai Narayan (Knox Utd).

LANGWARRIN

GOALKEEPERS: James Burgess, Branten Kindler. DEFENDERS: Ryo Takahashi, Luke Goulding, Kameel Khan, Charlie Fry, Lucas Portelli, Jeremy Min Fa, Luke Adams, Andrew Mullett (Nunawading City).

MIDFIELDERS: Mark Deacon (from U23s), Dante Avian, Kosta Apostolopoulos (Kingston City), Muhamed Huseinovski (Bentleigh Greens), Tosan Popo (Nunawading City), Rogan McGeorge, Cal Goulding, Barath Suresh, Arjuna Surya-Peddell (from U23s). FORWARDS: Brad Blumenthal, Archie Macphee, Tom Youngs, Cooper Legrand (Kingston City).

MORNINGTON

GOALKEEPERS: Kane Runge, Guido Guerrieri (Heidelberg Eagles), Jarrod Nardino (Baxter). DEFENDERS: James Clark, Ziggy Razuki (captain), Ryan Paczkowski, Kameel Khan (Langwarrin), Jack McDonald (Bentleigh Greens), Jack Geddes (Langwarrin), Aaron Hagland, Nelson Powell (Langwarrin). MIDFIELDERS: Jay Davies (Bentleigh Greens), Liron Azizi (Mazenod), Rhys Craigie, Shaun Kenny, Jacob Brito (Langwarrin), Kyle Johnson. FORWARDS: Tom Wood (Peninsula Strikers), Halil Reki, Dylan Thomas (Doveton), Max Civil, James Kelly (Langwarrin), Keiran Dover (Bentleigh Greens).

MOUNT ELIZA

GOALKEEPERS: Luke Armao, Jake Hill. DEFENDERS: Cooper Tossavainen, Callum Drysdale, Riley Van Zanden, Darcy Purcell (Penin-

sula Strikers), Marley Shachar. MIDFIELDERS: Fraser Keon, Lachie Mitchell, Trevor Smith, Callum Gray. FORWARDS: Jackson Tossavainen, Ray Amiri, Austin McEwen, Harris Battison.

MOUNT MARTHA

GOALKEEPERS: Dez Elliott, Dylan Elliott. DEFENDERS: Conner Gibbs, Jacob Platt, Adam Steele, Howie Anderson (Somerville Eagles), Heath Salter (Casey Comets), Finn Vemis, Charley Hunt ( Seaford United). MIDFIELDERS: Josh McMillan, Daniel Bennet (Casey Comets), Tom Brewster (Mornington), Tom Oswell, Cooper Whitehead, Zac Foad. FORWARDS: Jayden Taberner, Mitch Hawkins (Seaford Utd), Seth Bakos Sims (Peninsula Strikers), Lenny Tate, Marcus Poda.

PENINSULA STRIKERS

GOALKEEPERS: Faraz Zenoozi, Ben Caballero. DEFENDERS: Stevie Elliott, Jaiden Madafferi, Jordy May (promoted), Dave Petty, Kyron Kerr, Jamie Davidson, Cody Storton French (promoted). MIDFIELDERS: Wayne Gordon, Danny Brooks (Mornington), Matt Harrington (Reigate Priory FC, England), Kyle Eichenberger, (Langwarrin), Ethan Goulding, Alex Whyte, Jacob Pay. FORWARDS: Riley Anderton, Jai Power, Noah Musso, Cooper Andrews, Sammy Maggs (Berwick City), Campbell Steedman, Josh Botha.

ROSEBUD

GOALKEEPERS: Colin McCormack, Enzo Rosenblum (Peninsula Strikers). DEFENDERS: Stef Papaluca, Jack Wyer, Lewis Pendleton (City Of Liverpool, England), Louis Bisogni, Billy Painting, Ethan Hunt. MIDFIELDERS: Barney Johnson, Ben Symonds, Sebastian Siegl (Mount Martha), Sam Ruddy (Mount Martha), Mark O’Connor (Skye Utd).

FORWARDS: Sean Smith (Doveton), Ethan Sanderson (Mount Martha), Connor Wharton (Mornington), Kori Weetch (Akimos FC, WA), Ashton McMahon (Thornton Redbacks, NSW), Cal Hughes (Peninsula Strikers), Alfie Harris (Peninsula Strikers).

SEAFORD UTD

GOALKEEPERS: Hayden Hicks, Bayleigh Caulfield, Desitney Kweyama (Knox Churches). DEFENDERS: Tristen Stass (Baxter), Sean Crespo (Casey Panthers), Mayom Athiu (Casey Panthers), Shubhdeep Sandhu (Peninsula Strikers), Callum Norton, Anthony Acampora (Melton Phoenix), Adam Martin (Somerville Eagles), Jo-

nas Harrasser, Rosh Livera, Zach Johnstone. MIDFIELDERS: Cory Osorio, Anthony Kipchirchir (Rowville Eagles), Backy Barakzoi, Conor Mcfall (Somerville Eagles), Matthew Cobb, Matthew Davis (White Star Dandenong), Luke Murray, Khalil Bahrami, Wise Barakzoi, Marcus Haringcaspel. FORWARDS: Blake Hicks, Abraham Leuth, Andrew Mazzone (Westside FC, Canada), Zain Ahmad (Casey Panthers), Dylan Waugh (Frankston Pines), Naseer Mohammad, Keegan Bell, Logan Johnston, Brahian Valdez, Mitch Lander, Nazif Mohammad. SKYE UTD

GOALKEEPERS: Steven Hadjikakou, Travis Mitchell, Jonathan Crook. DEFENDERS: Emmanuel Scarlett, Jason Nowakowski (Endeavour Utd), Arash Sadeghi, Paul Aitchison (Seaford), Nic Millar. MIDFIELDERS: Benjamin Lund, Ali Hazarah (White Star Dandenong), Nhan Than, Solomon Scarlett (Phillip Island). FORWARDS: Daniel Attard, Mitch Blake, Elliot Craig (Mornington), Tapiwa Kufakurowa (Hampton East Brighton), Shameit Sharma (Frankston Pines), Varmah Mgoneh (Knox City). SOMERVILLE EAGLES

GOALKEEPERS: Nick Bucello, Nathan Brown (Casey Comets). DEFENDERS: Tom Hennessy, Thomas Pollock, Jack Gorbert (Graham Street Prims, England) Joel Wade, Ben Schmidt, Jake Meggs, Corey Riddle, Alexander Hall (Mount Martha). MIDFIELDERS: Josh Simmons, Nick Simmons (Captain), Eli Masterson, Connor Phillips. FORWARDS: Marcus Anastasiou, Max Watson (promoted), Joe Simmons, Alessio Izzo, Guil Ribeiro.

NEXT WEEKEND’S GAMES

Friday 21 March, 7.30pm

Northcote City v Langwarrin, John Cain Memorial Reserve

Friday 21 March, 8.30pm

Chelsea v Mentone, Edithvale Recreation Reserve

Saturday 22 March, 3pm

Gippsland Utd v Mornington, Baxter Park (Warragul)

Peninsula Strikers v St Kilda, Centenary Park

Berwick City v Skye Utd, Jack Thomas Reserve

Somerville Eagles v Springvale City, Westernport Secondary College

Monash University v Baxter, Monash University Playing Fields

Seaford Utd v Mount Martha, North Seaford Reserve

Mount Eliza v Bunyip District, Emil Madsen Reserve

Barton Utd v Aspendale, Barton Recreation Reserve

Saturday 22 March, 6pm

Rosebud v Frankston Pines, Olympic Park

White
New signings: From left, Tapiwa Kufakurowa (Skye United), Dylan Waugh (Seaford United) and Jack Bradbury (Baxter). Waugh picture: Darryl Kennedy

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