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…
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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…
TWO years ago, Janet Hough was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive and currently incurable condition which affects the nerves controlling voluntary muscles.Her diagnosis began with lower limb weakness and has since progressed to the point where Janet requires a walker and is unable to move either leg below her knees. The disease causes nerves to become damaged and start to die, which causes muscles to weaken and waste away. It progresses at various rates in different people, but the average life expectancy is two to three years from diagnosis. “I think any diagnosis where there is no…
MORNINGTON VIEW Club members are calling on the community to dig deep and support Anti-Poverty Week (12-18 October) and help end child poverty across Australia through education and local action. The club hoped this year more people can sponsor a child or donate to the national children’s education charity The Smith Family.Mornington VIEW Club president Diane Latessa said with one in six children in Australia growing up in poverty, there had never been a more important time to support a child with their education. “Families are having to make impossible choices about how to spend limited resources, this could be…
THE Coolart Homestead, a treasured late-Victorian mansion in Somers, has officially reopened to the public for the first time in seven years.The 1895 building, located within the Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Estate with expansive lawns and gardens, reopened its doors after safety concerns relating to the age of the structure forced its closure. Parks Victoria has completed a range of upgrades throughout the site, including improvements to accessibility, lighting and fire safety measures.Initial access will be restricted to the ground floor as Parks Victoria continued to review further repair and funding options for the mansion. “We commit to keeping the…
STATE government grants for projects which improve the health of Port Phillip Bay are now open.There are $2.16m worth of grants on offer through the 2025 Port Phillip Bay Fund. The grants are expected to be offered to environmental groups, Traditional Owners, local councils, schools, and research institutes.Victorian environment minister Steve Dimopoulos said that Port Phillip Bay “is one of Victoria’s most iconic tourist attractions, and a beloved local landmark. We are proud to support the great work of local groups caring for their bay to keep it this way.” “The Port Phillip Bay Fund has helped more than 35,000…
THE St Vincent de Paul Society Mornington Conference is preparing to mark a special occasion this month as its volunteers work tirelessly helping those in need.The Mornington Conference, which is the local arm of the society, has about 20 volunteers who give their time to deliver food parcels, and vouchers for food and clothing to the disadvantaged. The society can also offer financial help to those families feeling severe economic stress including outstanding bills, as well as providing furniture and white goods.While its volunteers, also called Vincentians, are working hard in the community, they will take a moment to reflect…
BIRD lovers and nature enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Mornington Peninsula gears up to host its inaugural Bird Festival, featuring guided trips, an art show, expert talks and beginner-friendly workshops. Running on the weekend of 22–23 November, the event will shine a spotlight on the diverse birdlife of the region, offering visitors of all ages a chance to connect with nature in meaningful and exciting ways. All events and activities will be based at Coolart Homestead and wetlands. This includes bird watching with well-respected bird guides both mornings, plus a trip on Western Port and another to…
A TRAIL running couple from the Mornington Peninsula are preparing to represent Australia at one of the world’s most prestigious endurance events this month in Spain. Tom Dade and his partner Miah Noble have earned their place among the world’s elite after being selected to compete in the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships from 25-28 September.The event will be held in Canfranc-Pirineos in the Spanish Pyrenees known for its stunning mountain scenery and rich history. It will bring together the top trail and mountain runners from across the globe as they take on gruelling courses featuring steep climbs…
MORNINGTON Peninsula’s first tiny house on wheels for crisis accommodation is nearly complete thanks to an incredible community effort. The unique project, the first of its kind on the peninsula, is being hailed as a significant step towards providing immediate, dignified shelter for individuals or a small family in urgent need. The fully mobile home is being built by former shire mayor Simon Brooks, along with a few other tradespeople, who have volunteered hours of their time to bring the vision to life. Supported by the Dromana Association and Rotary Club of Dromana, the project has been entirely community-funded, with…
VISITORS to the Hastings public boat ramp this week have been met with a strange sight: a boat moored to the dock made entirely out of rubbish. The creation is not only floating, but seaworthy, and the man behind the mission, Samuel McLennan, has sailed his craft along the Victorian coastline for over a year after making the journey across from Tasmania. The 48-year-old’s inspiration was born from a time of reflection in his personal life when he returned to Tasmania in 2020 after a stint living in Sydney. “Things weren’t really working out for me. I couldn’t really find…
A QUIET night at home turned into a life-or-death emergency for Mornington Peninsula man Alan when he suddenly collapsed from a cardiac arrest in February. In a moment of courage, his wife of 33 years, Anita, sprung into action – immediately calling Triple Zero (000) and beginning CPR. Luckily for Alan and his family, their neighbour Shannon had the GoodSAM app on her phone and was notified about Alan’s critical condition. Shannon and her two children, Jackson and Charlie, rushed next door, took over CPR and shocked Alan three times with an automated external defibrillator (AED) that was in their…
A COMMUNITY fundraiser has been launched after heartless thieves stole a disabled man’s car along with his wheelchair in Capel Sound, leaving him without vital mobility. Daniel Laing, 39, was asleep when four intruders broke into his garage before stealing his Holden Berlina station wagon about 1.15am on 12 August. The car had special hand controls installed to help him drive with a wheelchair that he uses for work sitting in the front passenger’s seat. It is a massive blow for the disability advocate who can no longer get to work or appointments. Although his car was found a few…
By Raia Flinos LAST week, the Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos group were awarded a Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by President José Ramos-Horta. The ceremony, which took place at the Kelvin Club in Melbourne, brought together friendship groups from around Australia and was a celebration of their contributions to Timor-Leste over the past 25 years. “These awards symbolise our nation’s profound appreciation for those who have walked alongside Timor-Leste in times of struggle and progress. Their selflessness and commitment inspire us to continue building a future of unity and prosperity,” Ramos-Horta said in a press release. The friendship…
A DECK of cards, a mountain of sticky tape, and a lot of ambition. That’s what students had from across the Western Port area when they took part in creating the tallest freestanding tower at an Inter Schools Activity Challenge (ISAC) held at BlueScope Steel in Hastings on 7 August. Organised by Somerville Tyabb Rotary Club, the event brought together 20 teams of year 5/6 students from 12 schools.ISAC is designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, as well as a fun learning experience – which are all skills at the heart of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).The…
STUDENTS from Dromana’s Peninsula Specialist College are gaining valuable real-world hospitality experience thanks to a partnership with the Rosebud RSL and disability support organisation Umbrella Support. The program enables students to participate in an inclusive and welcoming work environment while learning new skills in hospitality and customer service.Umbrella Support has been working with Rosebud RSL for the past two years, with the college partnering with the organisation to allow these opportunities. The school’s pathways and work experience coordinator Bianca Barber said they were proud to be involved in the initiative, which would allow students to gain a sense of purpose…
By Raia Flinos TAHNEE Driver thought her bloating was a sign of an intolerance; gluten maybe. She had some pizza and a sore stomach and at first, wasn’t too concerned. But six weeks ago, Tahnee’s life was flipped upside down.The 39-year-old mum of two was urged to go to hospital after days of being unable to keep down food. At 11:30pm, after an MRI, she was told she had bowel cancer. Two days later, she was in surgery, having a tumour removed. “It didn’t feel real,” she said. “I actually put my arm out to the nurse and said, ‘Can…
A NEWLY opened food pantry in Somerville is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of hundreds of residents, just one month after opening its doors. Launched on 7 July, Helping Hands Somerville was created to meet growing community needs amid rising food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. It’s operated by a small group of volunteers including its president Anne Raukawa, retired caterer Gail, and retired teacher Deb, who met earlier this year over coffee with an idea of starting a “simple local pantry” offering rescued food and donated items to those in need. “Little did we know then how…
A PLAYFUL, mysterious and photogenic dolphin in the bay finally has a name. The Dolphin Research Institute announced that dolphin #89, a flippered local of Port Phillip Bay’s unique community of common dolphins, will be named Nellie following a community “name the dolphin” competition.Nellie made waves after being spotted in 2022, stealing hearts and even seen babysitting another dolphin’s young calf. Researchers didn’t know whether Nellie was male or female just yet – as it’s quite hard to tell – and the name needed to take this into account.The institute said there were “many lovely and a few wacky suggestions”…
A PENINSULA surfer mum has made waves on the national stage after claiming top spot in the over-40s women’s division at this year’s Australian Longboard Titles final. Eglantine (Tina) Balland, 41, beamed with pride after securing the title at Cabarita Beach in NSW on 25 July. A life-long lover of the ocean and mother of one, Tina described the win as the “happiest moment of my entire sporting life” and a big comeback to the sport. “A few years ago, I nearly died from a severe pneumonia. I eventually recovered but I was left with very damaged lungs,” she said.…
MT Martha mum and sexuality educator Jenny Wood is being recognised at a national level for the quiet impact she’s making through her business. She has been named as a finalist in two categories of the AusMumpreneur Awards including the Children’s Wellbeing and Wellness and the Children’s Online Education awards, which celebrate and support Australian mothers in business. Wood’s nomination is for her work in running Justasec Education since 2022, which she founded after identifying a need among parents to assist them to speak more confidently with their children about sexuality and relationships. She said thousands of parents had spoken…
By Raia Flinos MOUNT Martha local, Lincoln Cole, found relief after years of chronic pain thanks to a locally designed technology implanted in his spine. After a workplace accident in 2013 left him with chronic, debilitating pain, Lincoln’s world shrunk. Before the accident, Lincoln lived an active lifestyle and loved surfing and riding horses. He quickly found himself housebound, depressed, and dependent on strong painkillers. Even standing upright became a struggle.|“I went from being capable and doing pretty much whatever I wanted to doing nothing,” he said. “[The chronic pain] is constant. It’s 24 hours a day. It doesn’t go…
By Raia Flinos AT 94 years old, Frank Brown is living proof that creativity knows no age. A beloved gem to the community of Hastings, Frank has become an unlikely celebrity at FiRST Early Learning Hastings thanks to his handcrafted dioramas.What began as a personal hobby has become a gift to local children and families. Frank creates miniature masterpieces; detailed, life-like landscapes built from dense foam, cardboard, and paint, some of which now sit proudly in the early learning centre.This latest chapter is only one part of Frank’s remarkable life. Born and raised in Northern England, Frank met his wife…