Author: Neil Walker

AN upsetting customer service experience made Joshua Kaiser determined to pool his swimming skills to make a difference. The former coffee shop worker became friendly with a regular customer who later revealed he suffered from the debilitating and degenerative disease, multiple sclerosis. Seeing the downward spiral of a customer named Greg was a confronting sight and made Joshua, 23, think about how upset he would feel if the disease afflicted a family member. The Hastings resident subsequently became a swimming teacher and participated in the annual MS Mega Swim fundraiser “in teams of 15”. This year he wants to get…

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A SCOUTS group says it had planned to “Be Prepared” to move from a hall at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve but talks with Frankston Council about help to relocate became muddied amid claims from council that the Scouts had turned down offers of help. A $3.8 million community sporting pavilion in a revamp of Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve was announced amid much fanfare earlier this month without mention of the demolition of a hall used by 1st Carrum Downs Scouts for about the past four decades. A new pavilion will host play for Skye Football Club, Carrum Downs Junior Football…

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CRICKET could be coming to Frankston in a big way after the Saints march out of Seaford’s Linen House sporting complex. The Times can reveal Cricket Victoria has been in touch with Frankston Council to talk about possibly leasing space at the centre. St Kilda Football Club is set to leave Seaford and head back to its “spiritual home” of Moorabbin just four years after Frankston Council kicked in about $4 million of ratepayers’ money to a joint AFL, state government and council deal to entice the Saints to Seaford. The Saints pay a peppercorn rent of $1 per year…

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EXPANSION plans by a company set up by Frankston Council to manage swim centres have been sunk by councillors. Councillors at the May council meeting last week voted 5-3 to instruct Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd directors “not to enter into or tender for projects outside of their core obligation, that being the management of PARC and the Pines Pool”. The vote came after The Times revealed Peninsula Leisure, established in 2012 and wholly owned by Frankston Council, last year expressed an interest in managing Mornington Peninsula Shire council sports centres (“Sports ‘in the swim’”, The Times 15/5/17). Councillors who voted…

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PLASTICS found along Frankston beach last week are the final straw for Beach Patrol volunteers. The patrollers picked up a staggering 92 plastic straws along just 1.5km of sand in one hour. The straw poll has prompted Frankston Beach Patrol manager John Billing to call on a ban on “single use” plastics. “It is a regular occurrence,” he said. “Discarded plastic straws, plastic bottles, coffee cup lids are common sights along the beach.” Mr Billing said takeaway cafes should stock cardboard straws that are biodegradable. “They last for one drink and that’s all they’re supposed to do. Obviously, we don’t…

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