Improvements to security at Frankston Train Station have included the establishment of a Safer City Centre (2002), the implementation of a Hoon Hotline (2005) and an Ambassador Program (2006).

Currently, gentle classical music is played throughout Frankston Train Station and Young Street in an effort to reduce vandalism and graffiti in the area.

The station master at Frankston claimed that undesirables have an aversion to the music, but it seemed to be frustrating everyone else as well.

“We have found that those the music was set to target have mostly been driven away. Everyone else has a bit of a dislike of it too though,” he said.

Frankston has a notorious history with young people fulfilling the stereotype role of erratic drivers, drag racing, wilful damage, suspect loiterers and thieves.

One incident in March 2008 saw two teenagers performing vandalism and graffiti acts on trains causing more than $5000 worth of damage.

Drug use, antisocial behaviour and vandalism are all set to be targeted by the Frankston 2025 Community Planner.

A suggestion is for local businesses to create graffiti walls for local artists to display their work in designated areas.

The use of security guards has dealt with problems such as young people gathering in reserves on Friday and Saturday nights and causing disturbances to neighbours.

Some reserves have been deemed “no entry” areas at night to further reduce the problem.

A Safer City Centre, established in 2002 in conjunction with Victoria Police and Wilson Group Services, is located directly opposite the Frankston Train Station.

Regular foot police patrols in the area keep theft to a minimum, as well as protecting walkers and businesses in the area from unwanted advances.

The Centre, which is accessible to all visitors and residents of Frankston, is open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm.

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2008 has been a boom year for music at Rosebud Secondary College.

The opening of the Southern Peninsula Performing Arts Centre and associated music classroom upgrades last year have provided much needed space for students.

Five individual practice rooms as well as two larger classrooms provide space for both instrumental (brass, strings, woodwind) and classroom (drums, keyboard, guitar) music.

Mr. Matthew Flynn, an instrumental teacher at several other local schools as well as the College, said that the number of students he is required to teach is getting excessive.

“I had to write over 400 reports last semester, and yet more students have joined the music program since then,” he said.

On days their other music teacher is away, students are still looking to escape regular class, claiming the need for ‘practice time’.

A senior music student mentioned that some of the students participating in the compulsory after-school band rehearsals were very disruptive.

“They can’t seem to concentrate for very long, they are forever giggling during practice,” she said.

Students are encouraged to enjoy various music events throughout the year, including SoundWaves (a vibrant interschool event), a camp and several concerts.

A recent school camp to Wilson’s Promontory involved over thirty members of the school’s concert band.

Activities on the camp included team building exercises, watching inspirational movies, several rehearsals a day and giving concerts at local primary schools.

Teachers said that the students were well-behaved and that another camp would definitely be in the works for 2009.

“With all the up-and-coming year 9 students, plus the new intake of students in year 7 next year, we will be considering a camp in the near future.” said Sam Clough, the band’s leader.

Expressions of interest for assisting at the proposed 2009 camp, or with the college music program in general, can be directed to the Music Department on 5986 8595.

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After ten years of holding pilgrimage treks on the Peninsula and promoting alternative spirituality, Mornington Peninsula Spirituality Network has closed this month.

Events held by the network in 2007 included an opportunity to explore Muslim faith, and a celebration of the seasons and stages of life as well as the obligatory Christian traditions.

Most popular were the annual pilgrimages which grew from a small number of weekend walkers to a full scale, week-long walk.

In commemoration of this, in 2007 MPSN published 1998 – Peninsular Pilgrimage – 2007, a collection of experiences and memories from more than thirty pilgrims.

Margaret Glenn, editor, said that the first edition has sold out to members and friends of the network, but a limited second edition is available for the public.

“We needed the second edition for displaying in libraries and bookshops,” she said.

This success left MPSN wondering where to go next, as numbers attending Saturday events fluctuated and long-serving core members expressed tiredness.

President Denis Woodbridge concluded in his 2007 Annual Report that something drastic must be done to save the MPSN organisation.

“The whole program of the MPSN needs to be re-examined… other people need to come forward to oversee it,” he said.

Sadly, by February 12th 2008, MPSN was set to close, as the annual general meeting saw no new committee members stepping up to take the place of resigning members.

Rev. Woodbridge suggested that perhaps people’s spiritual needs were being addressed by other likeminded agencies, which have burgeoned over the last decade and that this was a natural end for MPSN.

“Our project has served its purpose. We can now reflect on what we have achieved,” he said.

Leftover funds were passed on to the Anglican Parish of Sorrento/Rye for the purpose of further promoting spiritual activities on the Peninsula.

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