A DEAF rescue dog from the Mornington Peninsula is being celebrated nationally for a decade of quiet but powerful advocacy that has changed lives – both human and canine. Willow, an 11-year-old Bull Arab cross from Bittern, has been named the recipient of the All Rescues Are Special Medal as part of the 2026 Puppy Tales Australian Dog of the Year Awards, recognising her extraordinary impact on deaf dog education, inclusion and adoption across Australia. Alongside her human, Joanne Heyman, who is also deaf, Willow has spent nearly ten years proving that deafness is not a limitation. “The impact Willow…
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CELEBRATIONS will be once again in full swing at the Village Green in Mt Eliza on Australia Day, Monday 26 January. A free sausage sizzle and entertainment will be happening from 9:00 AM until 12:30pm. The formal program starts at 10:00 AM with the flag raising conducted by 1st Ranelagh Scouts. There will be plenty of entertainment both for kids and all the family to have a fun time while celebrating being part of our wonderful community. Kids will also be able to get up close to wildlife in the hands-on Australian Reptile Show and exhibition – they will be…
FROM the WACA to the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, cricketing legend Adam (Gilly) Gilchrist has fulfilled a life-long dream by developing his Australian owned tequila brand, El Arquero Tequila. Gilly was at Ritchies Balnarring last Thursday (15 January), where customers were treated to a tasting experience with the man himself. El Arquero Tequila is 100% additive-free and has been crafted and produced by a third-generation family-owned distillery . “We didn’t just take their liquid and put a label on it, we worked together with them to develop our own. We wanted to create an authentic liquid profile with the Australian…
THE Mornington Rotary Art Show has returned to the Peninsula Community Theatre, bringing one of the region’s largest and most popular visual arts events back to Mornington. Running from 16 January to 24 January, the annual show will feature around 750 artworks, including oils, acrylics, watercolours and pastels. The exhibition is being held at the theatre on the corner of Wilson Rd and Nepean Hwy, with doors open daily from 10am to 5pm, and a special late-night opening until 8pm on Friday 23 January. At the special Friday night opening, guests will be treated to a drink of their preference…
THE RSPCA has issued a warning to animal owners as the Summer heat ramps up. During last week’s hottest day, RSPCA Victoria said it had received 20 heat-related reports. RSPCA Victoria director of veterinary services Dr Melissa Meehan said the “hot and extreme weather conditions pose a serious risk to animal health.” “Heat stroke can develop rapidly and may be life-threatening, with common warning signs including excessive panting, vomiting or diarrhoea, and unusually bright or very pale gums. If you notice these symptoms in your pet or are concerned about their immediate wellbeing, seek veterinary advice immediately,” Meehan said. “Even…
STORM-BATTERED beaches, worn-out facilities and damaged walking tracks across the Mornington Peninsula have been given a major upgrade for the busy summer season. The works, undertaken by Parks Victoria, include the Mornington Peninsula National Park, with safe access restored to Gunnamatta Beach after the October 2024 storm surge wiped out the stairs and lookout. The main access ramp beside the Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club has been rebuilt with an all abilities-design and a new link from the car park, improving access for all visitors. The upgrades will also support faster emergency responses by the surf lifesaving club, while helping…
THE lineup for February’s Frankston Waterfront Festival has been unveiled. Australian band Hockey Dad will headline the two-day festival. They are joined on the lineup by Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir, John Course, The Gnomes, Cool Out Sun, Sunday Lemonade, Ruby Mae, DJ Cooper Smith, Sundance, and more. Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming formed Hockey Dad in 2013. They have gone on to tour Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, the USA, and the UK. They are touring with their fourth album, titled Rebuild Repeat. In addition to the live music, the Waterfront Festival will also feature food, drinks, and family-friendly…
THE Western Port Community Support Christmas Giving program helped provide relief to many local families this December thanks to the efforts of volunteers and the generosity of the community. The centre distributed 350 food hampers and toys to over 400 children from the local community on 17 and 18 December at their centre in Hastings. Demand for community support has risen in recent years, with many families struggling due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and rising rental prices. Western Port Community Service has seen a disturbing rise in the number of families and individuals needing urgent assistance as the largest…
THE Peninsula Aero Club has held its annual toy run with over 800 toys donated by the local community in support of families in challenging circumstances at Christmas. The gifts will be supplied to Food for All and Western Port Community Support group who will distribute them. The day was fun all around with the Holden Enthusiasts Club and the Antique Aeroplane Association for supporting the day. Live music was donated by Jon Burstow and the Catalina Cruisers Band, while visitors enjoyed a free sausage sizzle. A band of PAC members and volunteers ensured the day was enjoyed by all.…
Over 40 volunteers have spent countless hours and supplied their own materials to decorate nearly 40 tress and bollards on Main Street Mornington this Christmas. Photos: Yanni First published in the Mornington News – 9 December 2025
BLAIRGOWRIE artist, Melinda Piesse, has taken home first place in her category at the Hand & Lock awards in London for her embroidered tapestry. Her piece was featured in an exhibition among 24 other finalists from 5 – 7 November. Piesse won first place in the Open Textile Art category and received $6000 USD and an embroidery course, which she will undertake online at the end of January. “The award means the world to me, having international recognition and the chance to exhibit my work internationally,” Piesse said. Hand & Lock are a global ambassador for embroidery. The embroidery competition…
AROUND 200 motorcyclists are set to make their festive run from Frankston Pier to Rosebud Secondary College for the 24th annual Southern Peninsula Food For All toy appeal. The 6 December event will see a convoy, often featuring bikes decked out in tinsel, soft toys and the occasional Santa suit, join the much-loved tradition on the peninsula. Riders donate toys and festive goodies, all of which go directly to families struggling during the holiday season. Food for All volunteers say the toy run provided a significant boost to their annual appeal, helping ensure no child on the southern peninsula goes…
Our Lady of Fatima students, along with other local schools, have been busy making scarecrows from recycled materials. They were displayed at the Rosebud Community Garden open day on 23 November. Ruby and Jac helped to create Fatima’s entry of a blue Banded Bee. Armed with a giant flame throwing stinger it will certainly scare away any crows. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 November 2025
CAPEL Sounds Educational Child Care Centre and Kindergarten has added a vibrant new mural to its service, celebrating the local Bunurong culture. The collaborative artwork, created with the guidance of local Indigenous educator Kristy Maher, tells the story of the children’s relationship with the land. It features the Bunurong “meeting place” symbol, representing the children coming together, alongside journey symbols depicting paths to local destinations, watched over by Bunjil and Waa above. The mural, officially unveiled on 10 November, was brought to life by local artist Aaron Hingston, who worked closely with the children, families, and kindergarten staff to translate…
Have you ever wondered what happens to your drink cans, bottles and cartons after you return them for a 10-cent refund through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic)? With this week being National Recycling Week (10–16 November), CDS Vic shares what happens next, and how every returned container helps power Victoria’s circular economy. This year’s theme, Join the Cycle, perfectly aligns with the mission of CDS Vic: keeping eligible drink containers in the recycling loop so they can be remade into new products again and again. “National Recycling Week is a timely reminder of our shared commitment to a more…
A TYABB-based puppetry duo is bringing creativity and humour into classrooms, helping children tackle life’s toughest challenges. Chris Elkington and Rob Irvin, founders of The Melbourne Puppet Kerfuffle, have performed for thousands of students across the state, using puppet shows to address bullying, resilience, cyber safety, and emotional well-being. Founded in November 2021, the pair first met when Elkington ran a primary school puppet workshop in Langwarrin South. A subsequent visit to a puppet festival in Williamstown inspired them to make family-friendly puppetry more accessible by taking it into schools and kindergartens. “Our first and most popular show, The Prank…
THE Light Up Autism Foundation has announced the launch of its Positive Support Program, a program aimed to help create brighter futures for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the mainstream schooling system. Founded in 2012 by the late Bianca Appleford OAM, the foundation was born from Bianca’s determination to create change after witnessing firsthand how the education system was not meeting the needs of her autistic child. Bianca’s passion and advocacy sparked a movement toward inclusion, understanding, and practical support for children on the autism spectrum. The Light Up Autism Foundation is dedicated to empowering children with autism…
A BUZZ of creativity filled the Studio Hall at the Mornington Theatre last Friday (7 November) as students from ten local schools took part in the Mornington Lions Club’s annual Lego Technical Building Competition. One of the Mornington Lions Club’s signature projects, the event encourages non-physical and creative challenges for children, giving grade four and five students the chance to think like engineers. Teams of up to eight students were tasked with constructing a Lego model that was unique and could perform some form of active work yet remain static, using only the special Lego Technic kit provided by the…
SOUTHERN Peninsula Food for All is seeking support for its 2025 Christmas appeal. Now in its 34th year the volunteer run group is calling on residents to generously donate food items and toys to ensure local families in need can enjoy a festive season of dignity and hope. Founded in 1991, the charity has grown from its roots following poverty forums organised by the then Shire of Flinders and today distributes weekly food parcels as well as annual Christmas hampers and children’s toys. Food is collected from bins marked “FOOD FOR ALL” in local supermarkets. Christmas food items together with…
By Barry Irving After visiting family in New Zealand, local woodworker Dennis Conner returned home inspired by a simple but meaningful idea — handcrafted wooden tulips sold to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease. In New Zealand, craftsmen have created more than 5,500 wooden tulips over the past five years to support the cause. Wanting to bring the initiative to Australia, Dennis approached the Fight Parkinson’s group and suggested a local fundraising effort. Members of the Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula embraced the idea, turning, sanding, and painting 700 tulips as a club project. The finished tulips were recently presented to…
MORNINGTON cyclist Greg Dalton is proving that passion and pedal power can help change lives, as he throws his support behind the Great Cycle Challenge – a nationwide fundraiser helping fight childhood cancer.The Great Cycle Challenges sees riders hopping on their bike throughout October and raising funds for the life-saving cancer research being done in the labs at Children’s Medical Research Institute in Westmead. Dalton, 66, who has been doing Great Cycle Challenge for ten years, is a theatre nurse, and survived melanoma cancer 30 years ago.Despite his minor setback of having a recent knee replacement, he said every kilometre…
A FUNDRAISER for children living with heart disease will take place in Frankston this weekend. The annual Two Feet & A Heartbeat walk takes place at Ballam Park Primary School on Saturday, 25 October. Participants will be walking four kilometres in honour of the four deaths from childhood-onset heart disease each week, or eight kilometres to mark the eight babies born each day in Australia with a heart condition.HeartKids CEO Marcus Sandmann says that money raised through the walks, which take place across the country throughout October, will be used “to increase accessibility to HeartKids support services and programs in…
WHEN Somerville mum Ebony Brouwer noticed bruises appearing all over the body of her two-year-old son Theodore, she initially brushed them off as a typical mark of a “wild, energetic” toddler. “He was jumping off coffee tables, doing backflips on the couch, riding his balance bike down huge hills. But then everything changed,” she said. Theo had been unwell for a month, prompting visits to the GP. Each time, Ebony was told it was likely just a virus and to give it time.But one morning, something shifted. While visiting his cousins who were running around, Theo remained still, curling up…
A FOURTEEN-year-old from Mt Eliza, Kalen Colabufalo, and his mum, Jonelle, will be taking part in a 13-day hike in Nepal to raise funds for Limbs4All.Mark Inglis will be leading the trek. He is a paralympic medal winner, scientist, philanthropist, and was the first double amputee to summit Mount Everest. They are working in collaboration with Mark’s foundation, Limbs4All, which provides support to amputees, and the Jared Dunscombe Foundation, which was started 11 years ago on the one-year anniversary of Jonelle’s brother and Kalen’s uncle’s death.“Every year we pick a major project to support and fundraise for,” Jonelle said. “We…
MEMBERS of Repower Mornington Peninsula and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Mornington group have teamed up to host a free community information session and short film on Sunday 19 October at 3pm at the Mornington Community Theatre.With the new federal subsidy on home batteries, state rebates on solar panels, and the ever-increasing costs of electricity bills, this will be of interest to anyone pondering the right time to invest in home renewable energy and storage. The event features presentations, a Q and A Panel, conversation time and a short documentary at the end.3 – 4.30pm: Solar and batteries presentation by…
THE Peninsula Community Legal Centre and the Mornington Peninsula Shire will be hosting a free legal information session on 13 November 2025 in Hastings.Speakers from the Peninsula Community Legal Centre and Seniors Rights Victoria will share useful information on common legal issues for older people such as wills, powers of attorney, and medical decision-making.These legal documents are designed to make sure that a person’s wishes are understood and respected, but many people do not understand how they work or why they are so important. For example, if you were critically injured in a car accident tomorrow and could not make…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will be holding a green waste weekend from 24 – 26 October 2025.The ‘No Charge’ Green Waste weekend is for Shire residents or ratepayers only. These events are popular and delays can occur, especially in the morning and at the end of the day. The free green waste weekend will be held at the Resource Recovery Centres at Rye (Truemans Road), Tyabb (McKirdys Road) and Mornington (Watt Road). The opening hours of the centres will be Friday 8am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am – 5pm.Preparation Guide: If you find yourself regularly taking green waste to the…
BY day Simon Mildren is a Mornington Peninsula firefighter – but it’s his work outside the fire station that’s now gaining international acclaim as a beekeeper. His company HiveKeepers, one of Australia’s most-forward thinking tech start-ups, took out Gold for Innovation at the Apimondia World Beekeeping Awards in Copenhagen, Denmark.The win, on 7 October, marks a major milestone for Mildren, also a peninsula resident and a Fire Rescue Victoria senior station officer at Mornington Fire Brigade’s Station 94. “Receiving gold at Apimondia is a career-defining moment, not just for HiveKeepers but for Australian innovation,” said Mildren, who founded HiveKeepers and…
A FATHER-son team from Safety Beach is gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime as they prepare to take part in this year’s Great Vic Bike Ride in the state’s west.David Di Nino and his 16-year-old son Marco have been training for months for the five-day event which will see thousands of cyclists traverse some of Victoria’s most picturesque landscapes from 24-28 November.“We’re mostly recreational riders. I participated in the 2005 Great Vic Bike ride. Marco is a keen mountain biker and has participated in the Aus Cycling Victorian School Mountain Bike races,” David said. “He’s also competed in…
MORNINGTON has proudly become home to one of four thriving branches of Pop Choir, now recognised as Australia’s largest community singing group. With more than 1000 members across Melbourne and 100 million views on TikTok, Pop Choir has become a social media sensation, even earning praise from international stars like Miley Cyrus, Teddy Swims, and Alex Warren. The Mornington group began three years ago in the heart of Main St before moving to its current venue at the Peninsula Community Theatre on Wilsons Rd. Sessions are held every Tuesday evening, with two time slots of 6pm and 7.30pm to accommodate…