POLICE, fisheries officials and maritime safety officers were out in force over the weekend as thousands of recreation anglers hit Port Phillip and Western Port for the country’s biggest snapper competition. With more than 2000 people and hundreds of boats expected to take part in the annual fishing competition, which coincides with the start of the snapper season, uniformed and water police, Fisheries Victoria officials and Transport Safety Victoria officers were keen to ensure safety regulations and bag limits were being observed. Boats, trailers and vehicles were inspected at boat ramps across the bayside, Frankston and peninsula region, while police…
Author: Chris Brennan
A SERIES of disturbing reports concerning elderly and disabled wheelchair accessible taxi passengers who were allegedly seriously injured, stranded outdoors overnight and subjected to degrading treatment while travelling in the Frankston and peninsula region is under investigation. Brotherhood of St Laurence Frankston staff said complaints had been lodged with the Victorian Taxi Directorate over the treatment of four clients, while Taxi Services Commissioner Graeme Samuel is also looking into the allegations. In the most recent incident, a 75-year-old woman who has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair was forced to spend the night in a bus shelter at…
DRUG offences have soared in Kingston over the past four years, fuelled by surging levels of ice abuse, while sex crimes and assault have also increased significantly, the state opposition claims. An analysis of crime statistics by the Labor Party shows the number of drug offences in Kingston jumped from 266 in 2009-10 to 557 in 2013-14 – more than double – while sex offences were up 80 per cent, rapes 45 per cent, and assaults 41.2 per cent. Other offences recording significant rises over the four years since the Coalition came to power in Victoria in 2010 include weapons/explosives…
INDUSTRIAL action by Victorian tipper truck drivers threatens to spoil the party for Bunurong Memorial Park following last week’s announcement of a major expansion of the Bangholme cemetery and crematorium, which came with a promise to put the “fun” back into funerals. The Transport Workers Union last week organised strike action and picket lines at worksites across Melbourne, including Bunurong Memorial Park, in support of better pay for tipper truck owner-operators. The memorial park, which was established in 1994 and services Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs including Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, is undergoing a massive expansion program, with 8500 grave sites…
SHE might be only 21, but Langwarrin law student Allie Guegan is already something of a veteran in the volunteer firefighting ranks, not only having battled numerous blazes since joining the CFA at the age of just 18, but also representing the group at international conferences. Despite the pressures of studying law full time at university, Ms Guegan said she couldn’t be happier with her decision to follow in her father’s footsteps to serve the community with the Langwarrin CFA unit. She described her two years with the unit as “life changing”. “The feeling you get when you’re able to…