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Wednesday 8 February 2023
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Maritime centre full steam ahead
Shipshape: Volunteers Kaye Matthews and Rosey Kendall at the Victorian Maritime Museum. Picture: Yanni
VICTORIAN Maritime Centre volunteers are inviting visitors and residents to discover a slice of Australia’s exciting naval history, and get a chance to see hundreds of exhibits that represent the region’s seafaring past. Despite the loss of the Otama submarine from Western Port last year, the centre’s secretary Rosie Kendall says there were still plenty of reasons to stop at the not-forprofit museum, from torpedoes to artillery and an underwater mine. There are also other vessel exhibits and a good collection of artefacts and memorabilia from the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Merchant Navy. Kendall says some people may assume the museum had shut its doors after the Otama was taken away. “Volunteers are still here at the museum keeping the history alive and sharing it with visitors,” she said. “We’d love more people to come and learn about the interesting maritime history and we also would love to hear from people who would like to volunteer with us. Kendall said the museum, run by the Western Port Oberon Association, provided a great day out for the family or groups, and there were plenty of enjoyable activities and eateries to explore around the Mornington Peninsula and the Western Port area. The museum is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm at 220 The Esplanade, Crib Point. People who would like to volunteer at the museum should phone 0476 109223 or email info@maritimecentre.com.au
Community concern over crime spree Liz Bell Liz@mpnews.com.au A SPATE of car thefts and burglaries in recent months in parts of the Mornington Peninsula has residents calling for more police action and tougher penalties to prevent recidivism. In late January, senior police attended a meeting with victims of crime, residents and member for Mornington Chris Crewther to discuss the alarming rate of thefts and home invasions around the Morning-
ton/Mount Eliza and Mount Martha areas in the past few months, and what could be done. Crewther said he had been contacted by a large number of people recently and had raised the matter with Victoria’s minister for police Anthony Carbines. He said one thing that came from the community meeting was concern over the high at the rate of recidivism among some offenders, and whether laws needed to be strengthened and more diversion programs introduced. “There is a problem with recidi-
vism, so there needs to be there some way of redirecting offenders away from crime, and that’s something I will push,” he said. Crewther said police had made a lot of arrests recently and were doing what they could, but that “resources” were stretched. Just two weeks ago three youths and an 18-year-old man were arrested by the Southern Metro Region Crime Team and are now facing a collective 60 charges following a string of burglaries and car thefts across Melbourne’s southeast and the
Mornington Peninsula. In January eight youths, including a 12-year-old, were remanded and a further 12 arrested following a string of property and vehicle crimes across the Mornington Peninsula and in Melbourne. Police allege the 20 were involved in 61 incidents between 23 December and 3 January, including aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle, burglary and attempted aggravated burglary. Just weeks before, in early December, Southern Metro Regional Crime Team detectives arrested
seven youths in relation to a series of alleged aggravated burglaries, including in Mount Martha. In July six teens from the south eastern suburbs , including Frankston, Hastings, Carrum and Noble Park, were arrested over a spate of aggravated burglaries across Melbourne. Southern Metro Regional Crime Team detectives told the media at the time the group aged 1517 years stole a white Suburu from Safety Beach and silver Land Rover from Mt Martha on 10 July. Continued Page 5