MOUNT Martha resident and former Voices of the Peninsula candidate for the federal election, Claire Boardman, has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday list with a Public Service Medal for her outstanding contribution to public health. Boardman is recognised as an Australian leader in the field of infection prevention control. She is currently deputy public health commander and executive director of the Victorian Department of Health Infection Prevention Control Advice and Response (IPCAR) unit. Boardman said she was honoured to be recognised for her 20-year commitment to public health management and work in improving health outcomes for whole populations. Although…
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MORNINGTON Yacht Club member and Sailability volunteer Krista Bailey has been given the Shine on Award from Mornington Rotary Club. Bailey, a keen sailor, contracted a form of dystrophy in her teens but did not let that stop living her best life, and she went on to raise three children. Her condition has deteriorated, and she now needs a wheelchair, but even that hasn’t dampened her zest for life. Bailey started learning to sail in 2004 and became proficient enough to compete at state and national levels and be part of the winning teams. She now helps others to sail…
FOR 29-year-old, Rye mother-of-two Mariah Kendle, the option of being able to study nursing and give her family a brighter future seemed out of reach until she heard about the options for study available through TAFE. After completing a course in individual support and being named trainee student of the year, from Chisholm TAFE, she is now well on her way to a nursing degree. Kendle, whose determination to succeed made her stand out from the crowd at the Rosebud campus where she studied, credits staff for motivating her to complete her studies and define her goals. “Studying a course…
RYE skateboarder Lilly Sherriff in three years has achieved a level of fan that many merely aspire to. At 11, she is already a wizard in the bowl, a long way from the eight-year-old whose first board was picked up at a garage sale. It didn’t take long for Lilly to demonstrate a natural ability on the board, gliding the concrete ramps like they were rivers of water and flying high on the momentum. Friends and family were impressed, and pretty soon her reputation grew around the state, and then the country. Who was this tiny girl skateboarder appearing mid-air…
MOUNT Eliza North Primary School student Ella Seaburgh will compete in the School Sport Australia Championship as part of the 11 to 19 years and under Victorian team in Queensland in September. The 12-year-old participated in a structured trial process to be selected for the aquathon/triathlon. She is dedicated to her sport, competing as a nipper every summer at Mornington Life Saving Club, training in open swimming, boarding and beach running. During winter she continues with her swimming (in the pool) and running and plays netball and football. Ella is hoping to raise around $2000 for the trip, which includes…
THE Alpaca Pavilion at Red Hill Showgrounds took on a new look last week when it was transformed into an entertainment venue for Spark Youth Dance Company’s performance of Satellite. The show on 28 and 29 May, took audiences on a journey through a series of eight dance works by seven emerging young choreographers. The visually energetic work was only the second performance to be staged at the pavilion, but audience members said the aesthetics worked well and enhanced the quality performances. Every year Spark Youth Dance Company produces a series on new dance works by young people aged 8…
SHOPPERS on the peninsula are set to experience Woolworths’ newest supermarket at Mornington Central, which has an expanded fresh food experience, convenient shopping options and value at the heart of its offering. The multi-million dollar investment into the opening of Mornington Central Woolworths on Thursday 9th June, represents the supermarket’s commitment to the community and brings an employment boost with 65 brand new team members. Mornington Central Woolworths will showcase an extensive range of Australian fruit and vegetables, artisan style breads baked freshly each day from the full-scratch Bakery, 100% Australian beef from Aussie farmers and trade qualified Butchers and…
SIX Mornington Yacht Club sailors are among 18 recipients of Victorian Institute of Sport’s Victorian youth scholarships for 2022/23. The scholarships are awarded to athletes based on national and international performances. The club’s marketing chair Peter Davey said the club’s strong representation was testament to its successful training and development program. He said three of the six will now become a part of the Australian Sailing Futures Program, which recognises their potential to become Olympic sailors in the next four to eight years. Recipients have access to coaching support and the training program includes regular gym work, medical and physiotherapy…
LANDSCAPER Jay Shelling believes that every young person deserves a chance and a job, no matter what their life story has been. Shelling has started a not-for-profit outreach service for young people called Street Peace, with the aim of guiding disenfranchised young people into lives of purpose and hope. That path may seem out of reach for many disconnected and at-risk youth, but Shelling makes the goal of a roof over their heads and a job achievable through employing young people in his landscaping business on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston. Shelling said it was one way he could…
ST JOSEPH’S Primary School students made important steps towards a healthier future on Friday 20 May by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day. The day aims to raise awareness of the health, safety and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for children’s long-term wellbeing. Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking also has a favourable impact on children’s cognitive and academic performance. Now in its 23rd year, the annual event has joined forces with National Road Safety Week (15-22 May). Principal Monica O’Shannassy joined students, teachers and parents on the walk, and…
JAN Wilcox’s story of anxiety over COVID, getting older and what the future held will be familiar to many women in their 50s and 60s. The 62-year-old Rosebud resident’s life was plunged into turmoil when COVID hit, and she wasn’t sure whether her job was secure or where she would end up. Ascending into a journey of self-fulfillment, Wilcox had quit her job and sought out a new career path. Except, one month later, the whole world was at a standstill thanks to lockdown. But her story of triumph over the dark forces of anxiety and ageing is uplifting and…
WHEN paramedic of 40 years Will Barger’s body started badly behaving six years ago, the then-57-year-old initially thought old age was catching up with him. “A few times I noticed I had trouble heaving myself out of seats, and even walking was tricky in some instances, especially negotiating footpaths that were not even,” he said. “On a couple of occasions early on my knees just buckled under me, and while I put it down to ageing, I knew it was more than that … my grip was also gradually getting weaker so that I started having trouble grabbing and picking…
By Pippa Salmon “WHAT are you lot up to? Have you spotted anything yet?” Wearing bright orange vests, chunky binoculars and big grins (or looks of intense concentration), the Dolphin Research Institute (DRI) interns are easy to spot. I happen to be one of them. Every week we spend a few hours down by the beach, straining our eyes to see dolphins. And every week, regardless of what we spot in the water, we hear at least one dolphin story. “They always come when it’s calm; I think the rough water stresses them out.” “I was on a paddleboard once…
PENINSULA Transport Assist wants more volunteer drivers to join the low-cost service that gets clients to where they need to go. The service, established in July 2013, was started to tackle chronic transport disadvantage and related social isolation both on the Mornington Peninsula and in Frankston. The target clients are people who cannot get to medical or social appointments and fully engage and participate within their community. While the service costs about half the price of a taxi and for medical appointments clients are personally escorted to the destination and back. PTA president Nick Jones said volunteer drivers pick up…
MOUNT Eliza illustrator Karen Erasmus’s new children’s picture book brings to life the heart-warming and true story of runaway greyhound, Albert. In her second illustration project with Gippsland author Kylie Miller, Erasmus has created colourful and engaging images of Albert’s chaotic adventures as the anxious, adopted greyhound overcomes his fear of cats to find a safe home, a warm bed, and a family of his own. The book, Albert, The Greyhound Who Loves to Run is about a two-year-old greyhound who jumped the fence at his Gippsland lakes home after being spooked by the family cat a day after his…
THE first of 36 orange-bellied parrots bred in captivity have been released into the wild at Western Port and Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula. The endangered birds are expected to join a 100-strong flock of previously released parrots. Experts predict this autumn will see a flock of about 140 orange-bellied parrots migrate to Victoria from Tasmania, the largest number in 15 years. The parrots are reported to have had a successful breeding season in the wild and other captive-bred birds were released in spring and late summer. The species has gone from being at imminent risk of extinction, with…
BALNARRING Primary School has collected a staggering 798 pairs of shoes for recycling to become the national prize winner in the TreadLightly sustainability awards. Students at the school collected the shoes and raised awareness by giving a short presentation on TreadLightly to each class to encourage students, parents, teachers and the wider community to get behind the cause. Their efforts have won $8600 in prizes and school resources. Teacher Kate Large said the school was dedicated to sustainability and “we know kids’ feet grow so quickly”. “This was a perfect opportunity for our school to get onboard with an initiative…
THE inaugural Drift festival continues on Saturday with a floating gallery at Point Leo. Titled Ocean, the exhibition curated by Janenne Willis includes visual, sound, video and performance artists. Willis says the “experiential, site specific installation encourages audiences to swim, paddle or row amid ocean-inspired works by Shanai Kellett, Leyla Bulmer, Judith Van Heeren, Warren Cooke, Hayden O’Neill, Tilly Riches, Alice Blanch, Sarah Dingwall and Hamish Donaldson. The works will be found in the water off Point Leo Boat Club, on Saturday 14 May (weather permitting). Details: driftartsfestival.com.au/program/o-c-e-a-n-floating-gallery The Point Leo part of the Ocean exhibition follows Groundswell, above, the…
FEMALE soccer had been going from strength to strength on the Mornington Peninsula, until COVID hit in 2020. Mount Martha Soccer Club is on a mission to encourage the return of females to the sport after two years of disruption. The club has an opportunity to do so with the Go Soccer Mums program, which was started in 2019 with Football Victoria and VicHealth. Committee member and recovered stroke sufferer Shelley Christie said the program at Mount Martha was called Women’s Social Soccer – Go Soccer Mums, as it is promoted not just to mothers, but females from all walks…
THE Salvation Army Church in Mornington is holding a Lego competition to raise money for its Red Shield Appeal. The Salvos want children and adults to build something with Lego, that they think represents something unique about the Mornington Peninsula. Competitors will be asked to bring their creations to the church where they will be on public display over the 28, 29 May weekend. There are prizes for ages 12 and under, 13-17 and 18 plus. Registration is a must. Details: salvationarmy.org.au/mornington or email debbie.taylor@salvatioarmy.org.au To donate to the Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal: digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au/mornington-salvos First published in the Mornington News…
AN all-abilities clinic held at Rosebud Stadium (Southern Peninsula Basketball Association) in conjunction with GenU Rosebud drew about 40 participants aged 19 to 50. The day was designed for all levels of basketball ability, starting with a skills and drill session to get participants warmed up, and finishing with two full court games. Community engagement officer for the association, Peter Caspersz, said the level of basketball skill was wide, but the “smiles and friendships and fun was massive”. “Being truly our first all abilities clinic and with the help of Danielle Sparks and a group of experienced teachers from GenU…
SEVENTY-TWO years ago, a young couple met at a dance, fell in love and began a partnership that has stood the test of time. On Friday 22 April, Mount Martha couple Gerry and Val McKenna, pictured, celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary and reflected on the strength of a loving union that has lasted more than seven decades. Mrs McKenna, 94, said her husband Gerry, 96, was “a wonderful man” who had been a loving husband and father. There was no “secret” to their strong union other than shared interests, music, travel, working together and being dedicated to raising a family,…
SIXTEEN years of collecting sea glass on the Mornington Peninsula foreshores turned into something of an environmental message for Mount Eliza artist Marynes Avila, who has won the best entrant prize in the 2022 Mount Eliza Sculpture Trail competition. Avila’s winning entry, Indifference, is an ongoing site-specific project, and is a poignant choreography of about 1500 sea glass pieces in a sea of sand that she describes as “a commentary on oblivious human behaviour towards environmental issues”. The self-described “visual artist” who creates sculptures and photographs, is exhibiting her work in the Police Point Artist in Residence Retrospective exhibition. With…
SCHOOL students from across the Mornington Peninsula have used art and imagination to demonstrate their engagement with the wonders of the underwater environment. The Mornington Peninsula Schools Art Competition, run by the Save Flinders Pier group with the support of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Mornington Regional Art Gallery, drew almost 300 artworks of all genres. The competition was the brainchild of the SFP group as a way of bringing wider attention to the importance of the marine environment, and to encourage young people to engage with the underwater world. One of the key organisers, retired teacher and Flinders…
MORNINGTON artist John Trebilco was busy sketching the activities he saw around him as the community hall in Verdon Street, Dromana became the focal point for two days of live performances as part of the Drift Festival. The inaugural 11-day festival – a “vehicle for creativity” – was sponsored by Mornington Peninsula Shire and included theatre, music, outdoor installations, film, writing and art projections. The artistic offerings based at the Dromana hall were named Lift, a collaboration of the Peninsula Culture Collective (Dreamhouse Theatre Company, Living Culture, MP Music Network, Peninsula Studio Trail, Peninsula Writers Club and Spark Productions). Trebilco,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s inaugural 11-day arts festival Drift started on Thursday 21 April, with performances continuing until 1 May. For 11 days Drift is bringing the peninsula’s venues, places and spaces to life with more than 80 works from all disciplines including performance, music, visual arts, public art installations, film and projections, writing, culture and heritage. With a focus on immersion, participation, creativity and fun, Drift honours the local creative community across the peninsula, while also bringing new talent to the region. There is even the opportunity to choose a personalised experience by using the Your Drift festival planner: driftartsfestival.com.au/your-drift-a…
MORE than 1500 people braved the chilly nine degree weather to attend the dawn service at Rye RSL on Monday. It was the first service since 2019 and attracted a crowd of all ages, including many children. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 April 2022
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Mayor Anthony Marsh is still nursing his tired muscles from kayaking about 100 kilometres along much of the peninsula’s coast to raise money for charity. But the pain is almost forgotten as the councillor of two years reflected on raising $35,000 and the “incredible” experiences since launching from Mount Eliza on 15 April. The Mayoral Charity Paddle saw Marsh take to the water in both Port Phillip and Western Port over the Easter long weekend. Marsh said the passing scenery highlighted the importance of the coast to the peninsula and the importance of an up-to-date coastal management…
WHEN Yulia Voituk fled Ukraine a few weeks ago under an Australian government emergency evacuation scheme, there was little time to do anything more than grab a few belongings. One of 600 Ukrainians to receive the visa to Australia, Voituk says she feels “safe” in Australia, but is desperate to be with her husband and to again believe in the future. The mother of one was in the middle of a course of extensive dental treatment at the time she was given the opportunity to escape Ukraine and had no choice but to discontinue the treatment and travel in pain…