Mornington News

Police are investigating a collision on Mornington Peninsula Freeway yesterday. A white Ford ute was reportedly driving erratically about 4.30pm when it collided with a Triton ute travelling in the same direction This has caused the Triton to crash into the safety rail, become airborne then roll along the safety rail. The driver of the Ford ute was forced to pull over due to damage and attempted to flee but was stopped by a passerby until police arrived.

“TRAVELLER,” Frankston, shows what can be done under a system of intense culture: To the Editor. Sir, The visitor to Frankston indeed must be struck with the display of fine fruit, vegetables and other farm produce offered to the highest bidder as the market day comes round. There the frugal housekeeper without the middleman, may provide supplies to keep the family in clover until the next current cash falls due.

IT is lockdown No.6 and one year since Hastings-based photographer Celia Furt warned against feeding junk food to birds. Furt was out with her camera again last week to show that not much has changed. “The photos tell the same story as last year: people during lockdown feeding junk food to the pelicans and seagulls,” she said. “However, the difference is that last year the signs weren’t up as the fishing pier at Hastings was in the middle of being rebuilt and was closed off to the public.

DESPITE small businesses being hit hard, membership of Peninsula Business Networking has doubled during the COVID crisis. The not-for-profit group’s events coordinator Kathy Edwards said the increase in numbers was due to “an influx of new start-ups on the Mornington Peninsula and established business owners wishing to extend their business relationships circles and open opportunities to attract more clients”.

IN these times of lockdown and restrictions designed to prevent the spread of COVID, it is nice to know that nature continues its merry way. This echidna was out and about late last week (as was legally entitled photographer Yanni) foraging for food, and no doubt enjoying the relative quiet, at Flinders. Not adverse to taking advantage of the situation, the echidna (an egg-laying mammal) made good use of the steps down (or up) the steep cliff.

BELEURA Junior Football Club is celebrating its first AFLW signing. Under-18 Ash Richards was snapped up by St Kilda with pick 12 in the recent AFLW draft. The Saints had noted her versatility in the midfield and up forward, as well as her athleticism and ability to find the goals. Growing up as an avid Geelong supporter, Richards began at Beleura as a 13-year-old.

Centrelink and Medicare offices in Main Street, Mornington are set to stay open despite moves to close them last year. Strong community opposition and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the federal government to delay its decision to shut the offices on 27 March 2020 and replace them with a private, part-time agency to run over 15 hours three days a week. (“Mornington Centrelink wins extra time” The News 25/3/20).

TWO Mount Eliza men are taking adventure racing to a new level as competitors in XPD events. XPD is expedition-style adventure racing in which international teams of four hike, mountain bike, and kayak for three to six days over all types of terrain, usually far from medical assistance. Racing day and night over a 500 kilometre course they push themselves to the limits of their endurance – just for the thrill of competing.

THE state opposition has told the government to “stop pretending” the Mornington Peninsula is part of metropolitan Melbourne. Mornington MP David Morris criticised the Premier Daniel Andrews in parliament for avoiding repeated demands to reclassify the peninsula as regional. “The fact that the premier was not prepared to address the issue directly makes it clear that there is no justification for the current situation,” Mr Morris said.

TWO of the Mornington Peninsula’s most prominent environment groups fear changes to federal government regulations will have a punitive backlash on the type of actions they successfully used to stop AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point. Changes to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act give the charities commissioner, Gary Johns the power to shut down charities for breaching the Act or for suspecting that a breach might occur.