GLENN Browne was a merchant seaman for almost 20 years. He sailed the world on all sorts of vessels and had salt air in his blood. He believed his future would be working on ships until he was too old to walk the gangway. But one day in August 2020, his entire life turned upside down.“I woke up with a pain in my jaw, but I didn’t think much of it. I drove to a mate’s bakery and clipped another car on the way. It was very unlike me to have an accident. “When I arrived at the bakery, I…
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A MT MARTHA family has taken Halloween festivities to spine-tingling heights after turning their front yard into a frightful spectacle.“It’s something we do every year and it’s gotten bigger and bigger every year; we just love it because it just brings the whole community together,” Sarah said of her Lynch Court home. “Every year we get about 400 trick-or-treaters … you can’t even drive down the street, there’s just kids everywhere.” Sarah said her kids Harvey (pictured), Hadley and Hugo look forward to Halloween for all the adventure it creates. The home’s un-boo-lievable display covers the whole front lawn and…
MOONLIT Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and Western Port Biosphere have joined forces to launch a new project to save the region’s precious koala population. Named the Western Port Koala Corridor Project, the initiative aims to create a network of trees throughout the UNESCO listed Western Port Biosphere to allow koalas and other vulnerable species to move safely between areas of bushland. The project will also address the growing threats faced koalas as their numbers have rapidly dropped due to habitat destruction, disease, dog attacks, and road hazards.To help support their populations, the project is seeking to engage dedicated community volunteers…
FOR over 75 years, The Portsea Camp has been a haven and lifeline for thousands of children, providing support to disadvantaged and vulnerable kids through tailored wellness programs and camps.Property developer and philanthropist Max Beck is once again leading the charge with his fellow cyclists to raise vital funds for the “Making a Difference” programs at the camp. Starting the Sorrento Bay Riders 30 years ago, Beck and his fellow riders have raised over $1 million for various charitable organizations. This year, they are on an urgent mission as more and more children seek the services of The Portsea Camp.…
AMBULANCE Victoria is reminding people to update their asthma action plans to stay safe as the weather warms up.Ambulance Victoria (AV) director of emergency management Justin Dunlop said creating an asthma action plan was an easy and potentially lifesaving step. “It’s simple – visit your GP and they can create a plan with you,” he said. “Everyone’s asthma action plan will look different, and it will help you manage your condition, ensuring you don’t find yourself in an emergency. “Follow your asthma action plan, and most importantly, if a person is having difficulty breathing and their reliever medicine is not…
AN author and a casual teacher at a Dromana school has launched a new book that aims to ensure children with additional needs are well supported in their education journey.Anne Vize, also a specialist education teacher, said she was excited to announced her newly published book called Partnerships with Families of Children with Additional Needs. Ms Vize said she wrote the book after realising how many teachers and early years workers found it challenging to work with families even though they are often confident teaching children. “This latest book helps teachers understand different family experiences, the impact caring can have…
THE Mornington & District Historical Society is celebrating 60 years of service to the Mornington district and wider Mornington Peninsula. Great vision established the museum, and 60 years of voluntary service has kept it strong. Over that time, an incredible amount of volunteer hours have gone into not just for opening the museum, but documenting and caring for the collection, answering people’s questions, speaking to various groups and helping school children be enthused and interested in history.Located at the Old Post Office Museum (corner of Main Street and the Esplanade), they are open Sundays between 12.30pm and 3pm and encourage…
SEVENTEEN-year-old Austin Blight has no memory of the moment his life was nearly taken while training at a Rosebud gym. The Padua College year 12 student had been lifting weights at Yawa Aquatic Centre in July when, “out of the blue”, he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Staff members immediately stepped in and began CPR before using a defibrillator to deliver two life-saving electric shocks needed to restore Austin’s heartbeat, before paramedics arrived. He was taken to Frankston Hospital where he was kept in ICU for 24 hours, most of which time he relied on a ventilator to help…
BUS operator Kinetic is inviting applications for the first round of its Moving Communities Fund, with grants of up to $10,000 available to successful community organisations. The company, which is the naming rights sponsor of the Frankston Dolphins home ground, has launched the fund to support community organisations, not-for-profits and other initiatives that improve the livelihoods of communities where Kinetic operates.Kinetic Group CEO Michael Sewards said the grants program was a natural progression in Kinetic’s efforts to support local communities and organisations. “We are incredibly privileged to be in a position to support the outstanding work being done by community…
NINE youth have celebrated their graduation from the Salvation Army’s Tools For The Trade program, which aims to re-engage youths in education and training. Each term, the program provides participants with hands-on experience through learning activities, group work, trade tasters, accredited courses, and selected work experience opportunities. The latest graduation was held on 20 September at the Salvation Army’s Mission Centre in Mount Martha.The nine-week program, assisted through Youth Services Peninsula, is designed to support young people aged 16-21 who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education, training, employment and community connections. Salvation Army Major Warren Elliott congratulated…
A NEW education facility nestled within the Mornington Peninsula’s very own rainforest will help students learn about the natural environment and the area’s cultural heritage.The Nearkey Biik Education and Environment Centre was formally opened at Endeavour Fern Gully, a 28-hectare National Trust property that is the peninsula’s original rainforest featuring the area’s last remaining sections of indigenous bushland south of Red Hill.The National Trust of Victoria celebrated the official opening on September 6, with the name Nearkey Biik meaning “Take Care of Country”, which was made in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation. The name also reflected both…
EIGHT people have died at Mornington Peninsula beaches and waterways over the last year.There were more deaths in Mornington Peninsula coastal areas between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 than there were in any other Victorian municipality. Surf Life Saving Australia’s annual National Coastal Safety Report, released last week, showed that eight people died on the Mornington Peninsula in that timeframe.In total, Surf Life Saving Australia recorded 258 coastal deaths nationally in 2023/2024. 150 died from drowning, with 26 of those drownings occurring in Victoria. More than 80 per cent of drowning victims nationally were male, and every single…
THE RSPCA’s sweetest annual event Cupcake Day is back for its 16th year to raise money for the welfare for its four-legged pals. Schools, businesses, and residents of the Mornington Peninsula are being encouraged to don their aprons and help raise funds to support the RSPCA.“Cupcake Day is a wonderful way for everyone to connect with their community while making a real difference to support animals in need,” RSPCA Victoria events manager Kate Kasby said. “All funds raised go directly to our vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals across Victoria. “Your participation means the world to us and,…
GOLF enthusiasts in Mornington are getting ready to hit the green for a good cause.X-Golf Mornington (virtual indoor golf) has launched its inaugural Starlight Scramble to help brighten the lives of sick children. The fundraiser will run every day until 12 October with the national goal of funding five life-changing Starlight wishes at $7500 per wish. While X-Golf’s sights are set high at raising more than $35,000 they’re confident punters will join in to support the little ones.X-Golf’s Peter Nolan said when sick kids’ worlds are filled with hospitals and treatments, a Starlight Wish was an incredible gift of happiness.…
DAMAGING winds lashed the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston areas last week, causing significant disruption and destroying iconic beach boxes.From 7pm on Sunday September 1 and 3pm on Tuesday September 3, the SES received more than 1500 calls for help in the southern metropolitan region. Of those, 1100 were related to downed trees and more than 400 for building damage. Frankston was the hardest hit with 285 jobs. Hastings SES were called to 176 jobs while Sorrento SES had 130 requests for help.Many beach boxes were severely damaged or ripped apart particularly along Shire Hall Beach after wind speeds as high…
PETER Mitchell spends a lot of time chasing cartoon characters, especially Big Bird from the popular TV series, Sesame Street. He may also be found tracking Bart Simpson, Kermit the Frog, and Snoopy as well as bicycles, running shoes and even circumnavigating New Zealand.Mitchell’s journeys may sound a bit esoteric, but they are all carefully traced, digitally, on a map. The Safety Beach runner follows what he calls a “creative pastime – GPS Art”. Before setting out on a run Mitchell draws his course on a map of the area which is then able to be called up on his…
A DEDICATED team of Peninsula Health doctors and nurses have returned from a journey to Papua New Guinea as part an eight-day medical expedition led by the ‘No Roads Expeditions Foundation’.As one of the world’s most underdeveloped nations, Papua New Guinea grapples with some of the world’s worst health statistics. The country’s fragile health system, compounded by extremely poor health and immunisation outcomes, means there are difficulties accessing adequate health services and facilities.“I was eager to join in on another health expedition in Papua New Guinea as a way of giving to communities that I know are in desperate need,”…
IT is with deep gratitude, and a sense of sadness, that we say goodbye to our friend and colleague, Keith Platt, who is retiring this week.Life can feel like a strung-together series of wins and losses, randomly thrust upon us by an ambivalent universe.One of our great wins was that Keith came to work for us at Mornington Peninsula News Group in 2012 as our group editor.Keith has spent his entire career working in journalism across newspapers, magazines, television and documentary making. When he came to MPNG he was already well-known in the community for his long years at the…
ROSEBUD has been named as one of Australia’s top ten places to retire.Financial technical company Citro says research into retirement destinations showed Rosebud came sixth out of 30 based on such “key factors” as affordability, access to quality health care and a range of lifestyle options. Citro said that with a population of more than 14,000, Rosebud offered “a laidback allure, beachside living and a busy and welcoming community”.Armidale in New South Wales, Ingham, Queensland and Maryborough, Victoria top the rankings as potential retirement destinations.Citro predicted that “regional lifestyle property markets will flourish as more Australians than ever hit retirement…
NEW mum Jessica Baguley was pleased to learn that her newborn daughter Poppy’s birth will help save the life of a helpless baby in Uganda. Jessica’s obstetrician Dr Natalie Elphinstone makes a donation to a charity called Baby Watoto for each baby that she delivers, after discovering the plight of orphaned babies and vulnerable mothers in Watoto, Uganda.Dr Elphinstone gave Jessica a hippopotamus toy, handmade in the Watoto Village, as a keepsake and reminder of this special gift. “I feel so good knowing that my daughter’s birth has helped another pregnant woman and baby who are less fortunate,” said Baguley.…
TRAINS and dancers were on time at the station when Mornington Tourist Railway held its annual rock and roll day at Moorooduc. Above the tracks dancers from Team Richards Dance Studio made their moves to the sounds of the Rockin Daddys Band while the car park featured antique cars, including those from the Ford V8 Club.“Rock and Roll Day has become an annual event at the railway,” tourist railway committee member Owen Paden said. “We work in conjunction with Grant and Maryanne Richards from Team Richards Dance Studio and they bring dozens of dancers to our platform to perform. Some…
IT has been long journey for Judy Tricker to get to her first art exhibition. One where she had to separate herself from other’s expectations, and follow her heart.“As a teenager, I remember being told my drawings were not very good,” said Tricker. “As a result of that, I spent most of my life thinking I wasn’t artistic. That I wasn’t good at art.” Everything changed when, just four years ago, one of Tricker’s friends convinced her to accompany her to an art course. “I went with the usual ‘I can’t paint, I can’t draw, I don’t have an artistic…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Music Industry Summit on Monday 12 August was a day of collaboration and connection for our music industry. The event, held across five venues in Mornington, brought together prominent musicians, music venues, and industry professionals who shared their invaluable insights and expertise in workshops and panel discussions throughout the day.Attracting some heavy hitters from the Australian music industry, such as Frontier Touring director Gerard Schlaghake, Brad Hinds from OzTix, singer-songwriter Katie Noonan, rocker Dallas Frasca, and Something for Kate’s Clint Hyndman, delegates learned about current trends and opportunities.Panel discussions were lively and centred on various issues currently…
JANE Edmanson, a presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia, handed out cuttings from her own garden when speaking to members of the Peninsula Parkinson’s Peer Support Group at Mount Martha last Tuesday (6 August). The cuttings, delivered in time for spring planting, were made as Edmanson acknowledged the problems of planting coastal areas.“I love coming to the Mornington Peninsula, but I know gardening here can be a challenge,” she said when speaking at Mount Martha Community House. “There are lots of vagaries. It’s often very windy, and salt spray can be damaging to plants. Sandy soil can also be a…
MARINE biologist Dr Sue Mason has launched an educational program to support and inspire female secondary school students who want to be scientists.Mason, former research director at the Hastings-based Dolphin Research Institute, said female students faced barriers to studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).While remaining involved with research at Deakin University, Mason has started Cetacean Sisters to help secondary school students connect with other like-minded girls. “The program aims to advance the scientific skills and knowledge of cetaceans — whales and dolphins — of the participants,” she said.“Set against the picturesque shores of Port Phillip, these five, two-hour sessions…
TUCKED away in a room at Mt Martha Community House is a little group about to notch up it’s 50th year.Mt Martha Model Railway Club Inc was founded in 1975 and has run continuously with only the occasional derailments, one of which was covid.“We run train afternoons every Tuesday and Thursday from 2 – 4. And soon we are starting a Saturday afternoon session from 2 – 4,” said president of the model railway club, Bob Geeves.“We are a member of the Men’s Shed organisation, and it is mostly men who come along,” said Bob. “To be honest, we don’t…
THE Rev Father Geoffrey McIlroy will be swapping his priestly vestments for motorbike leathers when he joins an estimated 2000 fellow riders converging on Canberra in September. McIlroy plans to join the annual Wall-to-Wall Ride for Remembrance to honour fallen colleagues, raise money for police legacies and promote safe and lawful motorcycling.A priest at St Macartan’s Catholic Church, Mornington, McIlroy is also chaplain to police stations from Mornington to Sorrento. “I feel privileged in both roles – to serve the parishioners as their shepherd and to serve the police who serve us, as their multi-denominational padre,” McIlroy said.A motorbike rider…
RYE Pier is back open to the public. After months of anticipation and dedicated work by Parks Victoria, the iconic pier has been beautifully restored and is now ready to welcome visitors again.The restoration has revived the pier’s historic charm and introduced several exciting new features. Among the highlights are the interpretive signs installed along the pier, which showcase the area’s rich marine life. These signs provide fascinating information about the local sea creatures, making your visit enjoyable and educational.In addition to the interpretive signage, new benches crafted by the Point Nepean Men’s Shed have been strategically placed along the…
NEW 4K video cameras will help doctors at The Bays Hospital in Mornington perform keyhole surgeries and endoscopies.The hospital has spent $1.2 million upgrading its theatre complex this year. Its two new portable 4K cameras will allow doctors to take better images for diagnostic purposes and to show patients afterwards.A new fleet of endoscopes, including gastroscopes and colonoscopes, were purchased by the hospital this year for the upgrade. In a statement, The Bays Hospital said “endoscopes now feature artificial intelligence functionality, which aids in the early detection and identification of polyps.”The Bays Healthcare Group CEO Jade Phelan said the upgrades…
MISSING dogs are not an unusual occurrence on the Mornington Peninsula, as any look at local social media attests to. But some pull at the heart strings more than others.The case of lost dog Fifi has another layer of sadness, with the pooches’ owner Nicole Kenyon finding out about the dog’s escape on 14 June, when she was stuck in hospital for several weeks and helplessly unable to do anything. Kenyon had placed her beloved Maltese x Shitzu dog in the hands of a dog minder, but as often happens when dogs miss their human, the 11-year-old pet escaped an…