SELFLESS service and community spirit have been recognised across the Mornington Peninsula on Australia Day, as the shire honoured residents and community groups who make a difference through dedication.
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said this year’s awards were about acknowledging people who put their community first.
“Each of these award recipients represents the heart and soul of our community. Their dedication, resilience and selflessness inspire us all, and it was a privilege to celebrate them with the community at Flinders Civic Hall on Australia Day,” he said.
“This year’s honourees remind us that real change happens through care, connection and people stepping up for one another.”
Chantelle Ross was named the 2026 Mornington Peninsula Citizen of the Year for her extraordinary leadership and advocacy for people experiencing grief and loss.
Ross founded Projex J in honour of her 23-year-old son Jamerson who was killed in a road incident in Hastings in 2022 and has transformed personal tragedy into a powerful force for community healing.
Inspired by Jamerson’s motto, Get Busy Living, she has created free grief support programs, retreats, youth initiatives and wellbeing workshops that have supported more than 10,000 people across the peninsula.
“Her empathy, authenticity and tireless dedication have reshaped how local families experience and talk about loss,” the shire said in announcing this year’s award recipients.
Young Citizen of the Year went to Regan Morel in recognition of his “outstanding leadership and long-standing commitment to youth wellbeing and community safety”.
A member of the Mornington Life Saving Club since the age of six, Regan has contributed more than 15 years of service and currently serves as patrol vice-captain, committee member and mentor to younger lifesavers.
This year’s Community Event of the Year was awarded to SPLaSH for Women Ladies Luncheon “for its leadership in raising awareness of women’s homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula”.
For the Lifetime Achievement Award, Betty Preston was recognised for “more than 30 years of extraordinary service to the peninsula community”.
For nearly three decades she volunteered at Rosebud Hospital, running hydrotherapy classes for up to 100 rehabilitation patients each week. She also spent 18 years campaigning for an aquatic centre with rehabilitation facilities, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the Yawa Aquatic Centre.
At 92, Preston continues to enhance community life, crafting beanies and headbands for cancer patients across Victoria.
In other awards, the Community Advocate Award went to Eric White “for his compassionate support of vulnerable families and his commitment to educational equity” and Brett McRae was honoured for his community connection through sport, receiving the Community Inspiration Award.
Vic Jeremiah was presented the Historical Preservation Award for his dedication to documenting the sporting history of Hastings and the Mornington Peninsula.
Twenty-two-year-old Kayne Barton received a Commendation for Community Service for his “extensive volunteer work across sporting clubs, emergency services and the local RSL”, while Thomas Taylor was recognised with a Commendation for Emergency Service “for his exceptional dedication through the Mornington CFA”.
The Rye Athletics Carnival and Family Fun Day was also formally recognised for 50 years of service to the community.
The shire said all recipients had made a lasting difference across the peninsula, driven by their dedication to service, advocacy, and giving back.
First published in the Mornington News – 27 January 2026