Author: Stephen Taylor

MORNINGTON Peninsula Chorale members Gabrielle Dole and daughter Anna Jones can’t wait to hit the high notes in New York on the group’s first overseas trip next year. The chorale’s invitation came about after they performed Sir Karl Jenkin’s Armed Man at Frankston Arts Centre at last year’s Anzac Day centenary celebrations.  In the “Big Apple” in January, 50 members of the group will perform with choristers from around the world at the Distinguished Concert Singers International at the Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall. The family has a long background in music and performing. Gabrielle Dole (nee Bradley) was born…

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A HORRIFYING attack on a schoolgirl has resulted in a group of youngsters aged 12-14 appearing before a children’s court charged with armed robbery and assault. Police said the youngsters had lured the girl, 15, to the Frankston skate park on the pretext of being her friend. There they allegedly punched and kicked her on the face and body and set fire to her hair with a cigarette lighter. Three of the group appeared in court on Monday where one was bailed and two – a 12 year-old Seaford boy and 13-year-old Langwarrin boy – were remanded in custody. Four…

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“IT is easy to get addicted to gem stones,” admits lapidary enthusiast Kristine Waterston, of Skye. As one of the 130 members of the Frankston and Peninsula Lapidary Club, she’s right at home polishing, cutting and grinding gemstones into mini works of art. “We go out and dig for them and bring stuff back – that’s fossicking – or we go to gem shows and buy them,” she said. “We seek uncut, raw stones – that’s what the club’s all about.” Popular stones among members are rhodonite, agate, jasper, opals – such as a “boulder opal I have got myself…

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FRANKSTON police will launch a strategy next month that they say will enhance patrols and make policing more efficient. The Frankston Divisional Operations Support Office – DOSO – will allow police on restricted duties due to injury or illness to oversee calls made to triple zero and take jobs from patrol units that don’t necessarily require a police presence. The DOSO police can then call complainants and prepare crime and intelligence reports and referrals, without taking up the time of police on active duty. “This will allow greater patrol time for units on the road to focus on key areas…

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A FRANKSTON man was allegedly involved in a crime spree over five suburbs on Thursday (4 August) which forced Wantirna College into lock-down. He is among four people charged by Eastern Region Crime Squad detectives following alleged offences at Mitcham, Blackburn, Park Orchards, Officer and Clayton. Operation Cosmas detectives allege three victims were robbed in Arnott St, Clayton, about 12.20am. A Ford sedan was later allegedly stolen from a house in Fairwood Rise, Officer, during an alleged aggravated burglary, 6.30am. Police allege the offenders committed aggravated burglaries at Alva Av, Park Orchards, 7.55am, and Almondsbury Ct, Blackburn, 9.50am. The men…

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