MORNINGTON Community Garden is holding an open day on 17 October, inviting people to explore what the garden has to offer and learn some gardening tips and tricks. From 10 am to 3 pm, visitors can enjoy a choir, sausage sizzle, tea, coffee and cakes, a raffle, and a chance to explore the garden’s offerings. The open day is part of the Mornington Peninsula Seniors’ Festival, which aims to celebrate the later part of life, recognise the contributions senior people make to the community, and encourage older people to try something new. Garden president Ian Barnes said the primary benefit…
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A FRANKSTON couple are undertaking the Camino de Santiago to raise funds for Miscarriage Information Support Service (MISS). Upali and Nina DeSilva set off from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France on 27 August and are set to finish their pilgrimage at Santiago de Compostela on 16 October. The couple said the Camino is about endurance and reflection, which felt like the right way to honour families who have experienced miscarriage. “Miscarriage is something so many families go through in silence, and we wanted to walk the Camino to shine a light and raise awareness of the grief, and make sure the families…
OVER the last 18 months Rotary has been committed to a project to refurbish seven apartments, The Ranch 2.0, the only short term crisis accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula. The apartments were provided by the Paton and Upotipotpon Foundations, in May 2025, to the Mornington Community Support Centre. In 2025 the Rotary Clubs of Mornington, Frankston, and Mt Martha undertook all the work to renovate five of the apartments, including arranging all materials, specialist trades and furnishing. The project was completed at no cost to MCSC, and each unit was occupied immediately on completion. Sorrento Rotary Club contributed financially and…
A GROUP of local art students are holding an exhibition and auction to raise funds for Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation and Southern Peninsula Community Support. The exhibition will open at 4pm on 5 October at Mornington Library and run until 24 November. The artwork was created by students aged seven to 16 from This Artful Life, Visual Art education offering classes and workshops on the peninsula. Art educator Katrina Frazer teaches weekly term classes and has been working with the students on the upcoming exhibition titled ‘Our Mornington Peninsula’. “The art is their interpretation of photographs they’ve taken,” said Frazer.…
RESIDENTS from three Regis aged care homes on the peninsula came together for a sustainable fashion showcase, celebrating months of creativity and hard work. Regis Capel Sound, Rosebud, and Mornington residents came together on 8 September to showcase their designs. The project was in collaboration with Eco Fashion Week Australia, a nationwide initiative that celebrates sustainable fashion. All Regis homes across Australia participated, with finalists from the fashion showcases set to share their designs at Eco Fashion Week in Perth in October. Regis Capel Sound Lifestyle Coordinator Shelley Taylor said residents worked collaboratively with the lifestyle team for the past…
RITCHIES and Rotary Mt Eliza are joining forces for a community event celebrating dogs and animal welfare. ‘Paws for a Cause’ will be held at Ritchies in Mt Eliza on 27 September from 10 am to 1 pm. Local animal-welfare professionals, pet businesses, and the community will gather for a morning of competitions, entertainment, information, and activities. Yvonne Simpson, community coordinator at Rotary Mt Eliza, said the event is a chance for the community to come together and have fun while supporting a good cause. “We are particularly pleased to have animal-welfare and pet-care professionals involved, because the event is…
A PENINSULA resident with an inherited BRCA1 gene mutation is urging families to discuss their cancer history and consider genetic testing as part of Gynaecological Awareness Month. Julie Gaspero discovered she carried the BRCA1 mutation after her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and she began researching their family’s medical history. Gaspero and her sister, Michelle, underwent genetic testing at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and found they both carried the mutation. They were told they had an 80 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 40 per cent chance of developing ovarian cancer. “I still remember it like…
TWO Year 9 Woodleigh students are holding a photo exhibition to raise awareness about beach pollution and what the community can do to help. Xavier Goldfinch and Oscar McKeown have spent months taking photos for ‘Washed Up’, which will be exhibited at The Nook in Mornington on 21 September. The exhibition was part of their Middle Years Program community project, which requires students to identify an issue, investigate it, and take meaningful action. “So, we decided to focus our project on beach cleaning, and just like all the rubbish that appears on our beaches,” said Goldfinch. “We both live on…
OCEAN Mind, a therapeutic surfing charity that aims to improve young people’s mental health and relationships through surfing, is heading into its third season on the peninsula. Ocean Mind offers free six-week programs for young people experiencing mental health challenges, which run from September to May/June. Participants are paired with a volunteer mentor who teaches them to surf while also providing support and a listening ear. After completing the program, participants are offered a spot in a surf club, helping provide ongoing support and community connection. Rachael Parker founded Ocean Mind on the Surf Coast ten years ago before expanding…
FOR the past 36 years, Linda and Tony Perrin have opened their home to children who need a safe place to stay. The Safety Beach residents began their fostering journey when they were first married and didn’t think they would have children of their own. They began fostering before having three children through IVF. They took a break while their children were young but returned to fostering when their youngest children were six and eight. “I love it, and there’s such a need for it; there’s just not enough carers,” said Linda. Now, decades later, the couple are still fostering.…
A FUNDRAISER to raise awareness about vulva health and vulvar cancer will take place at Main Ridge Community Hall on 12 September. The event is being organised by Vulva Sisters Australia and will be a celebration of women’s health, with all ticket sale profits donated to Rare Cancers Australia. Vulva Sisters Australia is a not-for-profit organisation co-founded by Jane Hancox and Marlo Woods, who met cold-water swimming in the bay during COVID. Hancox was diagnosed with vulvar cancer around three years ago. Due to misdiagnosis, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and required her to undergo multiple surgeries,…
A FUNDRAISER to raise awareness and funds for Huntington’s disease will be held at Donato Cafe in Mt Martha on 26 August. The event is being organised by Silvana Contu, Business Development Manager at ART in Caring, and any funds raised will go towards Huntington’s Victoria. Huntington’s Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation providing support, education, and advocacy for individuals living with the disease, and their families. Contu said the idea for the fundraiser came from ART in Caring’s work supporting clients living with Huntington’s and seeing first-hand the impact the disease can have on individuals, carers, and loved ones. “It’s…
A MAJOR marine social-impact campaign is putting one of Victoria’s most important yet under-recognised marine environments in the spotlight, but it needs community and corporate support to reach the finish line. Western Port Down Under combines documentary storytelling, education, community engagement and conservation to reveal the remarkable natural and cultural stories of Western Port, inspiring schools, residents and visitors to explore, champion and care for the bay. The campaign is being led by local marine biologist, award-winning author and documentary maker Sheree Marris in partnership with the not-for-profit Unico Conservation Foundation. The team is currently focused on delivering the campaign’s…
A NEW mural by local artist Tyson Savanah, known as Father Marker, now honours the life of Sammy the seal at Safety Beach. Sammy became a local icon earlier this year, drawn to the beaches between Rosebud and Mornington, with the Safety Beach boat ramp among his favourite resting spots. He gained national attention in April when he took a nap on Point Nepean Road near Anthony’s Nose, closing the road to traffic in both directions for six hours. Sammy died at Coral Cove, Mount Martha, on 12 May, prompting an outpouring of community affection. Tyson, who recently completed a…
RYE resident Josephine Nicholls AM founded national charity Brainwave Australia 30 years ago, and will mark the milestone with a gala at the National Gallery of Victoria on 29 August. Brainwave supports children with brain conditions and their families across Australia, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. The charity began after Nicholls’ eldest son, Nick, was diagnosed with a brain tumour as a six-year-old. Nick and his younger brother, Edward, had both come down with a virus, but while Edward recovered within days, Nick didn’t. His only symptom at first was a change in his balance, before he began telling…
TWO young women from the peninsula are preparing to make history as they become the first adults with disability to take part in the Variety Bash. Natalie Palancian and Amelia Nichols are both 21 and have mobility issues that stem from cerebral palsy. They met at school and have remained close friends since. The girls decided they will be partaking in the 10-day, 5,500km road trip across Australia to help raise money for Variety, a charity that supports children living with disability, disadvantage, or illness. The Bash begins on 18 August from Halls Gap, with participants going through outback tracks,…
A GROUP of Mornington swimmers will be participating in Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day Dip to help raise funds for cancer research. The Mornington Bay Belles meet at Fisherman’s Beach every day at 7am for a swim or dip followed by a coffee. This will be their third consecutive year taking place in the Cancer Council fundraiser. On 9 August, the group will hold a special community dip at Mornington Pier at 10am. Locals are encouraged to come along and support them and the cause. Daffodil Day is held annually by Cancer Council and is one of Australia’s largest cancer fundraising…
MAIN Street in Mornington will be getting its Christmas glow-up again, with group The 4 Cs calling for more volunteers to help decorate every one of its 76 trees. In 2025, Mornington resident Pam hoped she might find enough people to dress four trees along the strip, after several people commented that Main Street had lost its Christmas spirit. “We decorated 38 trees last year,” said Pam. More than 40 volunteers had jumped on board by December, each claiming a tree. “Some people knitted, some people crocheted, some people did sewing, or a combination of everything, and decorated their own…
FOUNDED in 1994, the Mornington VIEW Club has spent 32 years raising money for disadvantaged students locally through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. The club – whose name stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women – now sponsors 10 students, covering costs such as school uniforms, excursions and laptops, along with a birthday card and $75 voucher for each student at their birthday and again at Christmas. “All Learning for Life students come from a family living within one of the 94 communities across Australia in which The Smith Family works,” said Mornington VIEW Club Vice President,…
DADS, stepdads, grandfathers and other significant male role models with a child under four are invited to a new free program at Mornington Library called Books, Blokes and Bubs. The program responds to the growing recognition of the role fathers and male caregivers play in a child’s development, and the need for dedicated spaces where they can build connections and confidence. Books, Blokes and Bubs offers a relaxed environment where participants can spend time with their children while connecting with other dads and caregivers. Each session includes a free coffee, storytime, and opportunities for shared play and conversation. The initiative…
REPOWER Mornington Peninsula, a volunteer run not for profit group, is running a series of short and snappy webinars to help residents make their homes more comfortable, on a budget. The first one, Draft Proofing and Insulation is on Wednesday 29 July, 7 – 7.40pm. Do you or someone you know live in a drafty, poorly insulated house? Of all the steps you can take to make your home cosier and cheaper to run, eliminating drafts is the first one. It is not expensive and is something even renters can do. Good insulation does cost a bit more for homeowners,…
AT 29 years old, peninsula local Kaitlyn (Kaitie) Mester is facing a future she never imagined after being diagnosed with a series of chronic illnesses. Kaitie had established a successful career in freight management and was preparing to step into a leadership role. Now, she spends much of her time confined to bed and relies on family and friends to help complete daily tasks. After nearly two decades of her health declining, Kaitie was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, POTS/autonomic dysfunction and severe gastrointestinal disease. She wants more Australians to understand the struggles of living with a chronic illness and…
MOUNT Martha resident Natasha Dreger is preparing to walk 60km in one day, from Mt Martha to St Kilda Rd, to raise funds for Deaf Children Australia. Dreger’s youngest son, Hamish, was born deaf. He is now 14 and Dreger said he is a typical outgoing, competent teenage boy who loves sports and gaming. “I think that’s because he’s had that additional support from the community and different organisations over the years,” said Dreger. In late January, Dreger began working at Deaf Children Australia, where she started as a parent mentor, talking to fellow parents of deaf children over the…
A VOLUNTEER-RUN laundry service is encouraging more Mornington Peninsula residents to make use of its free weekly support. Orange Sky was first started in October 2025 as a free resource for homeless people. For the past few months, Orange Sky has been operating from the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre on Mondays from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Volunteer Linda Perrin said the service is open to anyone who needs it. “Majority of people we see are homeless, but you know, you’ve got people from boarding houses,” said Perrin. “Some people may just not have a washing machine and dryer at…
PORTSEA has been named a finalist in the 2026 Top Tourism Town Awards. Mornington Peninsula Shire Acting Mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said being named a finalist in the Tiny Town category is a wonderful achievement. “We’re encouraging everyone – community, visitors, businesses from near and far to get behind Portsea and help showcase the Mornington Peninsula at a state level through public voting,” Cr Pingiaro said. Nepean Ward Cr Andrea Allen said it’s a great opportunity to inspire people to rediscover Portsea and support the region by voting. “These awards are about celebrating the experiences, landscapes and stories that make…
TWO years on from her newborn’s near-death experience, Frankston South mum Samantha is thankful she listened to her instincts. Samantha took her two-week-old daughter Zara to Peninsula University Hospital’s emergency department concerned that she was not eating or sleeping properly. Zara was assessed and quickly rushed to the resuscitation area, where a defibrillator was used to reduce her heart rate from 290 beats per minute. Samantha said “when I walked in the doors she went quiet, even though she had just been crying inconsolably. I almost thought ‘she seems fine now, maybe I should take her home’. “It went from…
PAUL Maley didn’t give much thought to breast cancer, until a sleepless night three years ago changed everything. The Mornington Peninsula-based former professional NBL player is one of the subjects of Conquering Breast Cancer, a new Australian documentary releasing in cinemas nationwide from 10 June, including at Village Cinemas Karingal on 21 June. Presented by Melbourne filmmaker Sue Collins, the film weaves together survivor stories – including those of Olympic legend Raelene Boyle AM MBE, and First Nations mountaineer Kristal Kinsela – with expert insight from leading oncologists and researchers, asking whether Australia can rise to the challenge of ending…
MORNINGTON Peninsula chef Andrew Ballard will take centre stage at the Good Food & Wine Show in Melbourne later this month, curating the Singapore Airlines VIP Lounge menu and unveiling an exclusive Japanese-inspired lamington. Frankson-based Ballard was named Australian Chef of the Year in 2021, and is in his 20th year as executive chef of the show, which runs from 29 to 31 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show draws more than 90,000 visitors nationally each year across Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane events, and in 2026 adds two major new experiences: Bakers Alley, a dedicated…
PETSTOCK stores across the Mornington Peninsula will host rescue animal adoption weekends this month, giving locals the chance to offer a forever home to pets in need. Four peninsula stores are taking part, with events running from 10am to 2pm. The events come as new Petstock Foundation research found one in six pet owners had seriously considered rehoming their pet due to cost of living pressures – something Jenny Cooper, manager of Petstock Mornington Central, said she was witnessing firsthand. “I see a lot of posts on Facebook with people trying to raise money because they’ve rescued a dog and…
WHEN Ben Starick steps onto the Mornington Peninsula coastline on Friday 22 May, it will be a walk 30 years in the making. He’ll mark one kilometre for every year since losing his younger brother Joel to suicide. Joel was just 16. Ben, now 48, was a teenager in Swan Hill when Joel died in 1996. “There was no warning, no goodbye. Just a phone call that split life into before and after,” he said. Three decades on, he will walk the 30km route at Coastrek Mornington Peninsula the day after what would have been Joel’s 47th birthday – a…