Island marks time with bridges
2 Mins Read Connected island: French Island Community Association president Noel Thompson helps Rose Scott open the latest Coast Road bridge at French Island. Picture: Supplied Share
BORN and bred French Island resident Rose Scott has done it again. The 90-year-old was delighted to cut the ribbon to open the island’s new Coast Road bridge, Saturday 24 April, after opening the first bridge on almost the same spot near Tankerton Road about 30 years ago. Afterwards she enjoyed a glass of champagne.
French Island Community Association president Noel Thompson said about 60 well-wishers turned up to watch Ms Scott do the honours and eat lunch afterwards.
Shire spends to ease COVID pain
THE Mornington Peninsula had more businesses relying on the federal government’s JobKeeper program throughout the COVID-19 pandemic than any other Victorian municipality.
From September, 59.2 per cent of peninsula businesses were being supported by the program – the third highest number in Australia.
At the peak of the downturn in August 2205 “local” jobs were lost.
In the wake of those statistics Mornington Peninsula Shire has decided to spend more than $10 million on helping the community recover from the economic and social effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nepean MP Chris Brayne said while the peninsula’s economy was “certainly hit hard last year, we have already begun to see the signs of economic recovery after a really good summer”.
Artist’s books are already taking a walk
2 Mins Read MICHAEL Leeworthy, centre, and friends at the launch of his book about walking trails from Red Hill South. Picture: Yanni Share
RED Hill artist Michael Leeworthy is pleased to see his books “walking out the door”.
A keen bushwalker, Leeworthy has self-published a book detaining 12 walking trails that he says have previously gone undocumented.
Each of the tracks has a starting point at the Red Hill Post Office (based inside the red Hill Wine Cellars at the corner of Point Leo and Shoreham roads) and individual times and distances have been measured by Leeworthy.
Students choose paths to learning
2 Mins Read IT was thumbs up from Mornington Park Primary School cyclists Loga, Liam and Neve when principal Bev Dodds invited Bicycle Network to get involved with working out the best way to ride to school. Picture: Gary Sissons Share
STUDENTS at Mornington Park Primary School helped choose bike riding routes to school at a workshop run by the Bicycle Network.
The Ride2School ActivePaths program area ages signed routes to schools that help children and parents ride on easy and direct paths and trails.
The routes are designed by students, local councils and the Ride2School team.
Association shuts shop
3 Mins Read Done and dusted: Former Rye Beach Business Association president Anton Vigenser and secretary Jeanne Anderson at the Rye Hotel. Picture: Yanni Share
RYE traders are without a united voice following last month’s winding up of the Rye Beach Business Association.
Its former secretary, marketing and business coordinator Jeanne Anderson – the association’s only paid employee – said a lack of support from members, who at one stage numbered 130, had caused its demise.
“We could not run it without their support,” she said, adding that only one trader had turned up for the final meeting on Thursday 8 April.