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Tuesday 10 January 2023
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Water blessed
HUNDREDS of people came to Frankston Pier for the annual Greek Orthodox Blessing of the Waters last week. Each year, a cross is thrown into the water and is chased down by a crowd of people keen to claim it. The person who retrieves the cross receives a year of good luck in return, according to members of the Greek Orthodox community. Last Friday 22 people vied for the cross, which was thrown into the water by Archbishop Makarios. It was retrieved by Emmanouil Spyroglou (pictured left), a father of three who has plenty of experience fighting for the honour. “I’m here on holidays,” Spyroglou said. “I’ve done this before many years ago in Port Melbourne. I’ve caught it three times in the past. This is my fourth time.” Pictures: Supplied
No fatalities recorded on Frankston roads Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au FOR the first time in nearly a decade, nobody died in an accident on Frankston roads last year. Before 2022, the last year which did not feature any fatalities on roads in the Frankston local government area was 2013. The final Victorian road toll for 2022 was 240, up six from the year prior. 240 is the fourth-lowest yearly road
toll since the TAC started collecting statistics three decades ago. Although no fatalities were recorded in the Frankston municipality, at least 30 people spent time in hospital after local car accidents between January and May 2022. TAC acting CEO Liz Cairns has urged drivers to stay vigilant to ensure the road toll does not grow. “Sadly, more than 240 families are starting this year missing a loved one who lost their
life on our roads in 2022 – it’s tragic, it’s avoidable and we need all Victorians to make safe choices and play a role in turning it around,” she said. In December 2022, the statewide road toll dropped by ten compared to the same time last year. Victoria Police detected 13,500 offences during December. Acting road policing assistant commissioner Justin Goldsmith said “it’s pleasing to see an improvement in road trauma towards the end of the year and
we certainly want to build on that momentum. While the number of lives lost is only slightly above the previous year when there were still significant travel restrictions due to Covid, it’s crucial to stress any life lost is one too many.” “These are not just numbers – each represents a mother, father, brother, sister, child or friend whose life has been needlessly cut short. Many people will be celebrating the start of the new year but our thoughts are with the family and
loved ones of those who will never get the chance to see in 2023,” he said. “The rise in motorcyclist and pedestrian fatalities over the last 12 months is especially concerning. We’re also seeing increased trauma in country areas. Victoria Police is focused on reducing this needless loss of life and we urge all road users to look out for each other.” In 27 per cent of deaths recorded by the TAC last year, the victim was not wearing a seat belt.