THE Mornington Peninsula community is celebrating after being named Victoria’s Tidy Town for 2025 at the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards.
“These achievements reflect the peninsula’s strong sense of community pride and the shared commitment of residents, volunteers and the Shire to creating a better future together,” mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said.
Local projects showcased the peninsula’s community spirit and innovation. The awards recognised the dedication of local people who come together to make the community stronger and more connected.
Local ecologist, ethnobotanist, and educator Gidja Walker OAM took home the prestigious Dame Phyllis Frost Award.
Walker has dedicated her career to natural systems management, restoration ecology, and environmental education, as well as being an accomplished artist. The award celebrates more than 30 years of work restoring local ecosystems and sharing her knowledge of Country with the community.
Two shire initiatives also won in their categories, with the Coastal Process Education and Dune Erosion Mitigation taking home the Behaviour Change Campaigns and Education category and the Virtual Energy Network Pilot winning the Energy category.
Local community groups were celebrated too. Our Songlines won the Indigenous Culture Award for the annual Our Survival Day event, Southern Peninsula Community Support won the Social Wellbeing award for the Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower program, and Circular Peninsula won the Litter award for the Lid Rescue Project.
Honourable mentions went to the shire’s Wash Against Waste Event Trailer in the EPA Waste Prevention and Reduction category and the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation in the Environment category.
First published in the Mornington News – 18 November 2025
