NEW restrictions have been imposed on the fishing industry following the deaths of eight dolphins and four fur seals during two offshore trips by the factory trawler, Geelong Star. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) says trawlers in the small pelagic fishery must now only fish during daylight while the Geelong Star has to prove it has taken “all reasonable steps … to minimise further marine mammal mortalities”. Boats operating within a defined management zone would face a six-month ban on fishing if a dolphin died as a result of their operations. The tightening of fishing rules is seen as…
Author: Keith Platt
THOUSANDS of people commemorated Anzac Day, attending dawn services and marches across Frankston. The threat of rain did not appear to impact on the numbers gathering to mark the centenary of the ill-fated landings of Australian and New Zealand troops on the beaches at Gallipoli, in Turkey. In direct contrast to the suffering of the troops, Saturday’s crowds parked their cars and walked to the various ceremonies free of any impending danger. Children proudly wore the medals of relatives as they approached memorials, showing everybody the soldiers’ deeds would not be forgotten. Ironically, while speakers at the ceremonies gave thanks…
THE final winding up of the financial affairs of the organisation behind the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga, Mt Eliza, could depend on “litigation flowing” from allegations against its former spiritual leader, Russell Kruckman, also known as Swami Shankarananda and Swamiji. Paul Burness and Con Kokkinos of Worrells Solvency & Forensic Accountants were last week appointed voluntary liquidators of the troubled Shiva Yoga Inc. Mr Burness on Saturday said the timing of the winding up of the organisation would be determined by the “litigation flowing” and contingent liabilities. Once finalised, the liquidation will see the end of an organisation…
The Frankston Visitor Information Centre has again taken out top honours at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards held 2015. Frankston Visitor Information Centre is the first one of its kind to be inducted into the national tourism hall of fame. The visitor centre based near Frankston pier has won the Australian Tourism Awards gold award for visitor information and services for the third year in a row. The induction in Adelaide on Friday 10 April followed the Frankston centre entering the Victorian hall of fame after three consecutive wins in the state awards. The wins mean that the centre can no longer…
WHILE tens of thousands of holidaymakers descend on the Mornington Peninsula over summer, official statistics show record numbers of residents are out of work. While locals may appear to be on holidays, the federal electorate of Flinders – covering most of the peninsula from Mornington south and across to Hastings and including Phillip Island – has had one of the highest jumps in unemployment across Australia. A drop of 4.8 per cent in job participation rates puts Flinders as the second worst hit electorate in in the country. Neighbouring Dunkley (Mornington, Mt Eliza and Frankston), saw a 3.1 per cent…