OVER the last 18 months Rotary has been committed to a project to refurbish seven apartments, The Ranch 2.0, the only short term crisis accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula.
The apartments were provided by the Paton and Upotipotpon Foundations, in May 2025, to the Mornington Community Support Centre.
In 2025 the Rotary Clubs of Mornington, Frankston, and Mt Martha undertook all the work to renovate five of the apartments, including arranging all materials, specialist trades and furnishing.
The project was completed at no cost to MCSC, and each unit was occupied immediately on completion.
Sorrento Rotary Club contributed financially and a Rotary District 9815 Grant also helped.
Late in 2025 the Channel 9 program “The Block” who had announced their 2026 show would be based in Mt Eliza, were approached to see if they would be interested in adopting the Ranch 2.0 as their 2026 community project.
They jumped at the opportunity because, as The Blocks Executive Director said, the show is all about creating homes.
In the last week of April, over four days, the units were completely stripped, renovated and furnished by the contestants and generous “The Block” sponsors.
The relevant episodes aired on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September with the “Reveal” night on Wednesday 23 September.
Volunteers from MCSC and the Rotary Clubs who had been involved, watched the reveal and announcement of the winning team by MCSC CEO Ben Smith, over dinner and celebratory drinks at the Bays Hotel. The episodes can still be seen on 9Now.
The consistent theme throughout the project, and on the night was the commitment and generosity in tackling the issue of homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula.
First published in the Mornington News -29 September 2029
