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Journalists: Keith Platt, Liz Bell, Brodie Cowburn Ph: 5974 9000. Email: team@mpnews.com.au Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Advertising Sales: Ricky Thompson, 0425 867 578 Real Estate Account Manager: Ricky Thompson, 0425 867 578 Production/Graphic design: Marcus Pettifer, Danielle Espagne Group Editor: Keith Platt Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Craig MacKenzie. ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@mpnews.com.au Web: www.mpnews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURS 14 DECEMBER 2023 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: WED 20 DECEMBER 2023
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THE Mount Martha Sea Wolves bathe daily at dawn. Picture: Noah Smith Fletcher
Inspiring howls from Sea Wolves THE second annual Flinders Fringe Festival in February will be headlined by Sea Wolves Howl, a theatre piece based on a group of women who daily plunge into the sea at Mount Martha. Written and performed by Mornington Peninsula artist Carole Patullo with Jane Bayly, Melanie Beddie and Kelly Nash, the piece was commissioned by the festival. Direction and dramaturgy are by Melanie Beddie with music by John Thorn. The Mount Martha Sea Wolves, an
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intergenerational group of up to 60 Mornington Peninsula-based women and non-binary people, gather on the beach daily at dawn. As they hold hands and enter the sea the women howl like wolves in what is described as a transformative ritual. Patullo and her collaborators are developing Sea Wolves Howl from stories gathered from the swimmers. “… It will embrace the life-affirming spirit of the Sea Wolves and celebrate the transformative power of
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Western Port News
13 December 2023
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With Liz Bell over the equipment, with many others buried in the bark. Victoria Police said the incidents had not been reported to them, and they were not investigating. The shire said it took safety seriously and urged anyone who discovered an issue to promptly report it to the website: mornpen.vic. gov.au/reportit. For urgent problems call 1800 850 600.
A Family Who Cares With a genuine 59 years of personal experience and service, the people who Ted employs are a caring and family oriented team.
the sea,” she said. Sea Wolves Howl will be performed at the Flinders Community Hall from 22 to 24 February and tickets can be bought at flindersfringe.com.au. “To have the privilege of inhabiting the characters that emerge, and bring them to life, is incredibly satisfying,” Patullo said. “There is something very powerful about the act of storytelling; when stories from lived experiences are transformed into theatre, the response from community is profound.”
THUMB tacks, or drawing pins, found scattered at Pembroke Drive playground in Somerville. Photo: Supplied
Safety message for playground users PARENTS have been warned to be alert after thumb tacks were found scattered around two children’s playgrounds in Somerville. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is urging anyone who discovers vandalism of any sort to contact it after the thumb tacks, or drawing pins, were found at the playground Pembroke Drive, Somerville on Sunday 3 December. The council’s rapid response team went to the playground on Monday to clean up any remaining thumb tacks. Posts on social media reports also show a similar thing happened at Clairmont Close Reserve at around the same time, with thumb tacks left on equipment and playground furniture. A parent whose child was taken to the park by grandparents and found the tacks in “multiple spots” around the playground said it was “not acceptable” and wanted to warn other parents. “It’s going to end up where we have security cameras just to make sure our kids are safe,” she posted. Others described it as a disgusting act by a “sick individual”. Another parent who found tacks at Pembroke Drive playground said they had been spread all
Schoolies assault DETECTIVES are appealing for information and witnesses in relation to an assault that occurred during a schoolies event in Rye about 8.15pm on 1 December. It is alleged that a male victim was assaulted by two males on the Rye beach foreshore. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au. Incident #230424951. Police talk about safety THE Mornington Peninsula Neighbourhood Policing Forum took place on Wednesday (6 December) at Mornington Golf Course. More than 100 community members and Mornington Peninsula police discussed safety issues that mattered most to the community. It was an opportunity for the community to network and ask police questions about their community safety concerns.
Goodwill visit POLICE from the Hastings police station last week embarked on a visit to French Island as part of “community engagement”. The police who made the trip across Western Port chatted with local volunteers, Zoo’s Victoria staff working at the island’s koala reserve and staff from Forest Fire Management Victoria conducting early season fire risk assessments. Police saw the visit as an opportunity to build relationships and promote a collaborative approach towards enhancing community safety on the Island.
