A PAIR of filmmakers, working on a project to document the lives of centenarians, have interviewed a 110-year-old woman who grew up in Rosebud. The astounding recollections of Edie Dryden, who was born while Australians were still entrenched at Gallipoli, shines a light on a distant time in our past. Edie was born on 16 October 1915 in Wandin, country Victoria. Her parents were strawberry farmers and her early life was shaped by a world without many of today’s modern comforts. As a young child she moved to Rosebud where she completed her schooling and met Edward (Ted) Dryden. They…
Author: Cameron McCullough
WITH less than six weeks until the Nepean by-election, electoral rolls are now closed and candidates are able to officially nominate for the race. A new name has entered the contest with Milton Wilde nominating for “End Mass Immigration – Reform AU”. Wilde joins the Liberal Party (Anthony Marsh), Victorian Greens (Sianan Healy), One Nation (Darren Hercus), Libertarians (Peter Angelico), and Indepdendents for Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate (Tracee Hutchison) to make up the six contesting Nepean so far. Pundits from the major parties would have looked to South Australia over the weekend, and pondered how the results there will offer…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire and South East Water (SEW) have issued a joint statement that agreement has been reached with some affected residents, facilitating critical works to be undertaken, and providing a pathway for residents to return to their homes. The board of inquiry’s report into the McCrae landslide of 14 January 2025 found the landslide, which destroyed a house and injured a council worker, was due to a burst water main owned by South East Water (SEW). Inquiry chair Renée Enbom KC found the burst water main was located 450m south of the destroyed property, near the corner of Bayview…
FLINDERS MP Zoe McKenzie has updated her parliamentary Statement of Registerable Interests detailing last month’s European trip; the second for 2026, and the seventh overseas trip since she was elected in 2022. McKenzie travelled to Germany, Belgium and France between 13 and 28 February with transport, meals and accommodation for the 19-28 February portion in Brussels and Berlin provided by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Regional Programme – Australia and the Pacific. McKenzie funded the France portion of her trip herself. The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). The organisation’s website…
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate missing Safety Beach man George. The 75-year-old was last seen on Seaview Avenue about 8am on 22 March. There are concerns for George’s welfare as he lives with dementia and may be disoriented. George is Caucasian, about 167cm tall, with a slim build and short dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing beige pants, white runners and a brown shirt with checks. Anyone who sees George or with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Rosebud Police Station on (03) 5986 0444.
Melissa Warren is not one to be told she can’t do something. In high school, her French teacher advised against studying French at a prestigious university. So, she did it. Later, when living in France she expressed a desire to go to Paris and work in fashion. She was told it would be impossible. So, she did it. Now Melissa, who works as the sailing manager at Mornington Yacht Club, mixes it with the best in the male dominated sport of offshore sailing, having competed in both the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Melbourne to Hobart-Westcoaster. Melissa grew up…
INTERNAL communications at Mornington Peninsula Shire have indicated the rollout of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across remoter areas of the peninsula may be driven by lack of effective ambulance coverage; a claim disputed by Ambulance Victoria. Ambulance Victoria is believed to fall well short of its KPI target of “less than 15 minutes response times for 90% of incidents” for some remoter parts of the peninsula. Recent data across the entire peninsula shows that 60.1% of responses are achieved in less than 15 minutes, with the average response time 16 minutes and 11 seconds. Ambulance branches are located in Sorrento,…
WITH less than seven weeks until the Nepean by-election, candidates are out in force, with perhaps the hottest topic being the state of Rosebud Hospital. Liberal Party candidate Anthony Marsh, alongside party leader Jess Wilson, announced on Saturday (14 March) that an elected Liberal government would spend $340m to rebuild the hospital. In a social media post, Marsh wrote “For years as mayor, I stood alongside locals calling for the upgrades our hospital desperately needs”. “Today, with Jess and the new Liberal Team, we’re drawing a line in the sand. We will get this done. “To deliver real outcomes, you…
SERVICE Stream, which manages maintenance of Peninsula Link, has announced that roadworks will be continuing until the end of 2026. The roadworks have created traffic chaos over the last few months with thousands of motorists forced off the freeway and onto clogged local roads. The mayhem was stopped briefly over the summer tourist season, with a pause in works, but the speed limit remained at a reduced 80kmh. At the time, Service Stream told The News “While the resurfacing works carried out to date have largely been completed, the final layer of specialised asphalt has not yet been applied”. “This…
THE review of the Liberal’s Party’s 2025 federal election defeat has painted a grim picture overall, but makes positive mention of Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie’s performance defeating independent Ben Smith. The confidential review, commissioned by the federal executive of the Liberal Party and authored by retired Liberal MPs Pru Goward and Nick Minchin, has been obtained by The News. The report did not hold back, with the authors stating “Our recommendations cannot be put on the back burner or implemented over the course of five years. The party’s survival requires urgency, determination and unity”. Submitters contributed numerous concerns including “about…
FIVE candidates have nominated for the 2 May Nepean by-election with the Independents for Mornington Peninsula and Victorian Greens joining the Liberal Party, One Nation and Libertarians in the contest. Mornington Peninsula-based broadcaster and journalist Tracee Hutchison will be standing as a community independent candidate, endorsed by the Independents for Mornington Peninsula. Hutchison, who was born, raised, and lives in Rosebud, said she was stepping forward to ensure her community has strong and authentic leadership and representation during this period. “I’m running as a community independent because both major parties have failed our community for decades, and too many decisions…
BLUESCOPE has announced to shareholders the company’s plans to rapidly develop a “logistics hub” on their surplus land in Hastings; news that has come as a surprise to Mornington Peninsula Shire. The announcement came at the company’s half year report where they reported first half profits of $391m, up 118% on last year. A statement said “BlueScope continues to progress value realisation across its 1,200ha surplus land portfolio, as demonstrated by the recent 33ha residential land sale at West Dapto, which is contracted for settlement in the second half of FY2026”. “The 1,200ha surplus land portfolio is in sought after…
Mornington Peninsula-based broadcaster and journalist Tracee Hutchison has announced she will be standing as a community independent candidate in the upcoming by-election for the seat of Nepean to be held on 2 May. Endorsed by the Independents for Mornington Peninsula, Hutchison, who was born, raised, and lives in Rosebud, said she was stepping forward to ensure her community has strong and authentic leadership and representation during this period. “I’m running as a community independent because both major parties have failed our community for decades, and too many decisions affecting Nepean are made by people who don’t live here and ignore…
An arrest warrant has been issued for Somerville-based businessman Jamie (Jay) Scicluna after he failed to appear in Frankston Magistrates Court, as ordered, last week. The publisher of the STPL News was due in court to face oral examination last Wednesday (25 February) for failing to pay a court-ordered amount of $5000. After his failure to appear, the judgment creditor signed a “Request for warrant to arrest judgment debtor” that has now been signed off by a Magistrate. Last year the court ordered Scicluna to pay $5000 to his ex-accountant after it was ruled he applied for a personal safety…
THEY say a week is a long time in politics, and much has changed in the last seven days. Anthony Marsh was preselected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the Nepean by-election last Tuesday, and has wasted no time in “hitting the hustings”. It wasn’t even close last Tuesday with Marsh winning the vote for preselection in the first round. Out of 19 votes cast, it is understood Marsh received 10 votes, Briony Camp received four votes, Nathan Conroy received three votes, and David Burgess received two votes. A statement posted to the Liberal Party’s website from Marsh said “The…
As expected after last night’s preselection as the Liberal candidate for the upcoming Nepean by-election, Marsh has taken leave from his duties as both Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor and Briars Ward councillor, effective immediately. A statement from shire CEO, Mark Stoermer, said “I have been advised by Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh of his intention to take leave to contest the upcoming Nepean by-election”. “Cr Marsh will not perform council duties or attend meetings between now and the by-election to be held on May 2, 2026. “Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro will act as Mayor during this time and has also agreed…
Anthony Marsh has won preselection as the Liberal Party candidate for the upcoming Nepean by-election. News out of Liberal HQ is that Marsh had a clear win against the other candidates in the first round of voting. Out of 19 votes cast, it is understood Marsh received 10 votes, Briony Camp received four votes, Nathan Conroy received three votes, and David Burgess received two votes. Marsh now has less than ten weeks to campaign for the 2 May poll to elect a replacement for retired MP Sam Groth. Precedent exists for what will be in store for Marsh, currently Mornington…
WITH the change of leadership for the parliamentary Liberal Party came the inevitable reshuffle of portfolios. Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, remains in the shadow ministry after the ditching of Sussan Ley in favour of Angus Taylor, but in different roles. On 28 May last year, McKenzie announced that she had been asked by new leader Ley to serve in the capacity of Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Early Learning and Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health. At the time McKenzie stated she was honoured at the elevation into the shadow ministry stating “I have a deep passion for…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire council have given the green light to a ramped-up redevelopment of the Emil Madsen Reserve Western Pavilion, against the recommendation of council officers. The examination of options for the redevelopment was touted at the 22 July 2025 council meeting, in response to a report considering expenditure options for remaining underspend from Commonwealth Government grant funds at Emil Madsen Reserve. At last week’s meeting (Tuesday 17 February), officers came back with three recommendations to consider. Option one was the original design, in accordance with council’s endorsed facility standards. Option two included amending the concept design to expand the…
OPINION: There is no doubt that the current councillor term at Mornington Peninsula Shire has been marked by considerable change. There has been a vast restructuring inside the organisation and a swathe of well-publicised changes including, perhaps most notably, the scrapping of the Climate Emergency Plan in April last year. While suggestions of a “block” are refuted by Marsh, some votes in the current council terms appear predetermined, if not by connivance, then by undoubtably by councillor’s personal philosophies. That is a pity. For the best outcomes for ratepayers are the ones where every item is carefully considered not through…
CHRIS Brayne, who was the Member for Nepean between 2018 and 2022 before being ousted by Sam Groth, has re-emerged from self-imposed exile with some pointed commentary about the upcoming by-election. Brayne was a shock winner in the 2018 state election when, at just 25-years-old, he snatched the seat retiring MP Martin Dixon had held for 16 years. Brayne pulled off an 8.5% swing in his favour, albiet holding the seat with a tenuous 0.9% margin. Brayne faced an uphill battle in 2022 against high-profile Groth and was ousted at the poll. Brayne retired into the background and has been…
The voters of the Nepean electorate will head to the polls on 2 May to elect a replacement for retired MP Sam Groth. The date was announced yesterday (Tuesday 17 February) by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Maree Edwards, and leaves candidates and voters a little over ten weeks of campaigning. Crucially, candidates will have only ten weeks run their campaign to be elected and only 23 days if they wait until the final nomination day for candidates on 10 April. Voters have even less time to update their enrollment, with the electoral roll closing on 20 March News from…
BEC Watson, who has risen to digital fame with her “Bec’s Unhinged Reviews” social media account has had a short but succinct look at the Nepean by-election before deciding to pass. The Mornington resident has had a meteoric rise since starting her page in October last year to over 40,000 Facebook followers of her scorched earth reviews of local towns and landmarks that have captured the imagination of a community who always knew it but were too polite to say it. Taking to social media on 6 February, Watson told her followers “Alright I need to be very clear because…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor, and Briars Ward councillor Anthony Marsh has joined the Liberal Party and has confirmed with The News he has nominated for preselection as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the upcoming Nepean by-election. Marsh submitted his application last week and was approved by a Liberal Party administrative committee meeting last Thursday (12 February). The Liberals waived the usual two-year wait before a member can nominate for preselection. A Liberal Party source told The News there are at least six other contenders for preselection for the upcoming Nepean by-election, and that applications closed Monday (16 February). Among the…
REGULAR McClelland Guild of Artists tutor and demonstrator, Jenny Croom of Patterson Lakes, has won the first Australian Portrait Artist of the Year competition screened by the ABC. An exhibition of her portraits was opened on Sunday (1 Feb) at the Art House Gallery, within Tyabb Packing House, and is on show until 28 February. The ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year is a spin-off from the popular British program now in its 13th series. The local version was judged by three Australian art experts – Director of the National Portrait Gallery Bree Pickering; award-winning multidisciplinary artist Abdul Abdullah; and…
A Liberal Party source has told The News there are at least six contenders for preselection for the upcoming Nepean by-election with applications believed to be closing on Monday 16 February. Among the mix are ex-Frankston City mayor and two-time Dunkley candidate Nathan Conroy, who contested the 2024 by-election after the death of Peta Murphy, and again in the 2025 federal election, both times losing to Labor’s Jodie Belyea. Also putting her hand up for another attempt is Briony Camp (nee Hutton), who ran for the seat of Hastings in the 2022 state election, losing to Labor’s Paul Mercurio. Her…
Independents for Mornington Peninsula have announced they are stepping up their search for a candidate for the state seat of Nepean, after the news of Sam Groth’s resignation and the forthcoming by-election. President of Independents for Mornington Peninsula, Phil Riley, told The News they had been searching for candidate for this year’s state election since November, but the by-election had created a “new urgency”. “The voters of Nepean will be forced to the polls twice in eight months,” said Riley. “Once again, voters of the Mornington Peninsula find themselves paying the price for Liberal Party incompetence. “This by-election isn’t about…
IN response to a parliamentary question, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has attempted to shift blame for the flawed interim erosion management overlay back onto the shire, despite an earlier letter appearing to leave the municipality little choice in the matter. Described by some as a major “overreach”, the interim erosion management overlay (EMO7) targets land assessed as highly susceptible to landslides, affecting about 33,000 lots. Of these, roughly 27,000 are residential properties not already covered by existing erosion overlays. Many residents have expressed anger and confusion after their properties were suddenly included, with many believing they face no landslide risk…
MEMBER for Mornington, Chris Crewther, has vowed to focus on a Liberal win in November after failing in his bid for the deputy leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party. The position opened up after the announcement by Nepean MP Sam Groth that he would not be contesting November’s election and would relinquish his deputy leadership role (Groth calls game, set and match on political career, The News 13/1/26). David Southwick, who had previously served as deputy to both Matthew Guy and John Pesutto, was challenged by Crewther, who is in his first term as a state member, after previously representing…
MEMBER for Nepean, Sam Groth, has announced his resignation from parliament, triggering a by-election for the seat of Nepean, just months out from the next state election. A statement released by Groth today (4 February) stated “Next week I will resign from the Parliament of Victoria as the Member for Nepean to pursue other opportunities”. “It has been an honour to serve the people of Nepean, and I sincerely thank them for the trust they placed in me for the opportunity to represent our community. “I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism, dedication and tireless work in…