A MORNINGTON home under construction will open its doors to visitors as part of an international initiative showcasing energy-efficient building models. The property will be among more than 40 Australian communities opening certified Passivhaus homes and commercial sites for tours during International Passivhaus Open Days from 13 to 15 November. Emerald Building Services is building the Passivhaus home, which will feature high-performance windows, continuous insulation and airtight construction to improve comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. The Mornington tour will be hosted by Emerald Building Services director and registered builder Tim Greenham and will provide an opportunity for visitors…
Browsing: Feature
WHAT happens when we stop talking about people experiencing mental health challenges and start listening to their stories? Stories That Move Us is a community event presented by Kindred Clubhouse, with support from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, bringing people together to hear real stories of mental health, recovery, connection, resilience and hope. Kindred Clubhouse has been building community for fourteen years. Based on the internationally recognised Clubhouse model, Kindred provides a peer-led space where people living with mental health challenges can find belonging, build confidence and relationships, and explore opportunities for education, volunteering and employment. Kindred Clubhouse Director Stefanie Poole…
MORNINGTON Lions Club held its annual Lego Technical Building Competition, with 13 schools from across the peninsula competing. On 22 October, teams of six to eight students from Year 4 and 5 at local schools competed in the competition at Mornington Theatre. Head of Membership at the Lions Club, Graham Read, said the competition was designed to help engage young people in a non-physical and creative challenge. “It’s really to engage the local community through the schools and to try and engage with the youth, in terms of getting them to do a non-manual or a non-combative kind of sport,”…
BUILDING exceptional homes since 1982, Roseleigh Homes combines decades of hands-on experience with personalised design to create homes that are as individual as the people who live in them. If you’re looking for a custom builder with quality craftsmanship and innovative design at its core, look no further than Roseleigh Homes. With a commitment to doing things differently, Roseleigh Homes understands that no two homeowners or blocks of land are the same. That’s why every home is thoughtfully designed and built around the way you live, working with the unique features of your land instead of against them. Whether you…
A NEW “bush food garden” opened at Moonlit Sanctuary last week as part of the park’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The new garden at the Pearcedale sanctuary features native Australian plants, and explores traditional uses. The garden is dedicated to Roland and Margaret Johnson, the parents of Moonlit Sanctuary founder Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson said the new garden “reflected the Sanctuary’s broader aim of helping people develop a deeper connection with the Australian environment.” “When we started Moonlit Sanctuary 25 years ago, the idea was to give people a chance to experience Australian wildlife and develop an appreciation for the natural…
NEW Peninsula Community Caring is gearing up to help families in need this Christmas as it launches its annual Christmas Hope Appeal. Every year, the organisation partners with schools around the peninsula to deliver festive hampers to families experiencing hardship. The initiative runs from mid-October to 22 November and relies on the generosity of the community and the support of local partners. Community Caring Project Coordinator Pandora Downs said they have been sharing the joy of Christmas with families for over ten years. “These hampers do a lot more than just provide festive food,” said Downs. “They remind families that…
WITH the cost of living continuing to put pressure on household budgets, finding an affordable day out has never been more appealing. Now, Searoad Ferries is giving Victorians the chance to take their car and a passenger across Port Phillip Bay for just $30 return, as its popular Ferry Lottery returns for a third consecutive year. Running for seven weeks from Friday 2 October to Thursday 19 November 2026, the Ferry Lottery invites Victorians to enter a free weekly draw for the chance to secure one of the discounted crossings. Each Friday, a new lottery opens, allowing entrants to nominate…
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…
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…