A STATE memorial service for legendary boxer Johnny Famechon will be held this month. Famechon died on 4 August aged 77. The former world champion featherweight called Frankston home for five decades. The memorial service for Famechon will take place at Festival Hall, a fitting location for his farewell. Famechon had his first professional fight at the iconic venue, and ended up boxing there on more than 50 occasions. The crowning achievement of Famechon’s boxing career was his WBC world title win over Jose Legra at Royal Albert Hall in 1969. Famechon’s title defences against Japan’s Fighting Harada cemented his…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
A VICTORIA Police operation is targeting monkey bike riders. Operation “Rolling Boulder” began at the start of the month, with police pouring more time and resources into catching riders of illegally modified bikes. Carrum Downs Victoria Police senior sergeant Alan Courtney said that the operation was important as monkey bike riding can have deadly consequences. “Riding illegal dirt or monkey bikes on our streets and through our parks is never harmless fun. Our community is rightly sick of it and police have zero tolerance for any activity that threatens the safety of our community,” Courtney said. “We know all too…
A PUSH to have the Parkdale Station building heritage protected has failed. Kingston Council had been advocating to have a heritage overlay placed over the station in the Kingston Planning Scheme. In a statement, council confirmed that the state government had turned down the request. The state government is building skyrail to replace two level crossings at Warrigal Road and Parkers Road. A new Parkdale Station will be built as part of the project. Kingston mayor Steve Staikos said that council had wanted to place a heritage overlay over the site to “protect important historic buildings and irreplaceable trees”. Councillor…
MPNFL DIVISION ONE FRANKSTON YCW are premiers of the MPNFL once again. The powerhouse club claimed premiership glory with an impressive Grand Final win over Bonbeach at Skybus Stadium last Sunday. Both clubs had to contend with wet conditions in Frankston. The Stonecats had the better of Bonbeach in the first quarter, but couldn’t make them pay. They kicked six behinds in a frustrating first term. Frankston YCW kicked straight in the second quarter, and established a handy lead. After a five-goals-to-one second term they went into half time ahead by 29 points. The main break came at a good…
AN investigation into the notorious new 40kmph speed limit on Nepean Highway in Frankston is underway. The speed limit at the intersection was reduced from 60 kmph to 40 kmph in October last year. Since then multiple motorists have contacted The Times to complain about being fined, with one estimating that thousands of people had been caught by the speed camera at the intersection of Nepean Highway and Davey Street. In late July, Victorian road safety camera commissioner Neville Taylor initiated an investigation into how the new speed limit was established. An end date for the investigation was not announced.…