Western Port
Western Port
realestate 7 October 2014
Queen of hearts > Page 3
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Pageant gives girls their chance to shine
Stephanie McRoe: ‘Girls enter the Miss Western Port Pageant because they want to make difference’. Picture: Gary Sissons
CRIB Point’s Stephanie McRoe is the first entrant in the Miss Western Port Pageant. The pageant is part of the 46th Western Port Festival to be held from 20-22 February 2015 which will honour those who fought in World War I. It is a connection resonates with Ms McRoe, 22, who comes from family of current and past serving members of the Navy. The festival is a community event with its organising, planning and fundraising all done by volunteers. “It is a great way to showcase what our local businesses and schools/clubs and organisations have to offer - while having fun in a family friendly event as well,” Ms McRoe said. “I have no doubt that this year will be the biggest and best yet, especially with local resident Miss Galaxy Australia 2014, Jessica Martini, re-creating history with the Miss Western Port Pageant, formally known as the Miss Shire of Hastings Quest in the 1980s.” Ms McRoe is the youngest Jock and Rachel McRoe’s three children, with older brother Daniel and sister Amy. She works at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Frankston and is in training for the Oxfam Walk 2015. Her sponsor is Anytime Fitness Hastings. “I have lived my whole life in the Western Port region so, to me, I have seen what the district is capable of, so there is no one element that I love the most. “I love the Sunday market at Bittern, and the Local cafe in Hastings where I am a regular, and the great dog park in Somerville where we take our two dogs: Joey and Mia. Contimued Page 8
Drugs, greed drive burgs: police Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au ICE – or crystal methamphetamine – is a key driver in housing burglaries in Hastings, a senior peninsula policeman says. Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Vallas, of Mornington Criminal Investigation Unit, said this knowledge came anecdotally and from drug paraphernalia seized from offenders. “The evidence is plain for all to see,” he said. “The other driver is old fashioned greed - perhaps someone who doesn’t
have a roaring drug habit but who is a recidivist, career criminal. These people may receive sentences but they are out and about in, say, 12 months, and start committing offences all over again. “About half will offend again.” Victoria Police records show Hastings had 16.5 burglaries per 1000 homes over the past year. The total number of homes is 3944. The state’s most targeted areas – the north and west – burglary rates are as high as 36.9 per 1000 houses. Hastings had 65 burglaries in 2013-
14 and 311 over the past five years. Almost as bad was Tyabb, with 15.9 burglaries per 1000 homes, out of a total of 1259 homes. There were 20 burglaries in 2013-14 and 65 over the past five years. Somerville/Pearcedale’s burglary rate was 6.6 per 1000 homes, out of 5461 homes. There were 36 burglaries in 2013-14 and 178 over the past five years. Detective Vallas said the peninsula’s broad socio-economic make up was a factor in the robberies. “You’ve got the very rich and the very poor and those
in poorer economic circumstances do the most break-ins,” he said. Houses under construction are key targets for thieves stealing copper wiring, building materials and appliances, such as dishwashers and stoves. Hot water services are especially vulnerable. “And it’s not just the cost of replacing the materials that’s an issue,” Detective Vallas said. “When they steal the copper they strip it out of the walls and do huge damage. The owners are up for new plastering and all sorts of damage bills.” Detective Vallas said neighbours
played a key role in catching thieves. He said police arrested a man after a complete lot of merbau decking, valued at $3000-$4000, was stolen after being delivered to a Hastings house the previous night. A neighbour reported seeing a man loading the timber onto a trailer behind a four-wheel-drive and – thinking it suspicious - took down the registration number. He showed it to detectives who were door-knocking the street and the offender was later arrested and charged and the timber returned. Contimued Page 8
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