RYE’S Civic Centre site has received a vibrant facelift, thanks to the creative talents of local artist Tyson Savanah (known as Father Marker) and the enthusiastic input of Rye Kindergarten children. The once tacky shade sail bollards are now bursting with colour with Tyson drawing inspiration from the bay, the back beaches, and Rye’s native flora and fauna. The Rye Community Group Alliance (RCGA), in partnership with Rye Kindergarten, and supported through a Mornington Peninsula Shire grant spearheaded the mural project. Julie Irvine, the kindergarten’s director, shared that the children enjoyed talking to Tyson about their favourite Rye land and…
Author: mpnews
FRANKSTON Library will be displaying Martin Shaw’s famous Three Well-Known Australians until 19 April. The artwork has toured Australia since 1983 garnering opinions and guesses as to the identify of the mystery figures. Viewers of the painting are encouraged to record their guess as to the identity of the figures, and the accumulated guesses tour around with the display as a living testament to Australia. “The painting goes to big cities, provincial towns, and small villages. It’s like the torch relay in the Olympic games,” said Shaw. “Your opinions form the portrait of Australia in the pages; that’s what you’re…
THE Fire Danger Period officially ended on the Mornington Peninsula at 1am on Tuesday 7 April. As fire restrictions begin to lift, CFA is urging residents to remain alert as the current and continued conditions can still lead to fast-moving grassfires even in cooler weather. CFA state agency commander Garry Cook said the easing of restrictions was due to a number of favourable factors. “Nights are becoming increasingly cool, and we are seeing dew in the mornings that further reduces the risk of fire,” said Cook. “We have also seen some welcomed rainfall and some noticeable new growth, pointing to…
MORNINGTON Peninsula residents and businesses now have a new way to recycle soft plastics, with collection bins launched at the Mornington and Rye Resource Recovery Centres as part of a trial. Delivered in partnership with Solo Resource Recovery, the new bins provide a free and practical drop-off option for soft plastics, which can’t be placed in kerbside recycling bins. From bread bags and chip packets to shopping bags, bubble wrap and frozen food bags, these everyday items can now be kept out of landfill and turned into new resources. Once collected, the plastics are processed into plastic oil, gas and…
THE Rosebud Hospital Kiosk, a cherished part of Bayside Health Peninsula and the community, is calling for volunteers to join its dedicated team. Since opening its doors, the kiosk has raised more than $500,000 to fund life saving medical equipment, a milestone made possible by the tireless efforts of its volunteers. “Most of the funds come from selling sandwiches and plenty of coffee,” kiosk president Helen Hasler said. “We also sell lots of knick-knacks like baby clothes, toys, lollies and jewellery. “Rosebud is an exceptional community hospital – I’m so proud that our kiosk has raised funds to help improve…
AROUND 250 people packed the Dromana Community Hall on Sunday 29 March as Save Our Seat (SOS) launched the new phase of its campaign against a luge ride planned for Arthurs Seat. The meeting came just over a month after the state government approved controversial plans by the Arthurs Seat Eagle for a rollercoaster-style luge running under the existing gondola, as well as a 36-metre viewing tower. SOS said it was thrilled by the turnout, with around 80 per cent of attendees indicating it was the first time they had attended a SOS event. A spokesperson from the group, Kylie…
STUDENTS at Our Lady of Fatima School marked the final day of Term 1 with a powerful act of solidarity, taking part in the school’s Big Walk to Water on Thursday 2 April. The event invited students to walk a lap of the school’s running track while carrying a bucket of water, an activity designed to highlight the daily reality faced by millions of children around the world. The initiative forms part of the school’s Lenten focus on social justice. Throughout March and April, students have been learning about communities in Australia and overseas that live without reliable access to…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough The sensations which suddenly swoop down on the engines who sees that he must hit a automobile trying to “beat the train across” are as terrible as they are indescribable, says a driver on one of our express trains. For twenty years this engineman has been behind the throttle on locomotives in all parts of the State. He has had the nasty experience of hitting a motor car and has narrowly missed striking several others. To see women and children in a motor car which he cannot avoid hitting; sitting there innocently, as death grimly hovers…
By Molly Broadfoot* AS homelessness hits a record-high on the Mornington Peninsula, The Block has begun filming its latest season in Mt Eliza. In an $11m deal to purchase the site, the show plans to construct five luxury houses across 1.35 hectares on Old Mornington Rd. While the show may bring excitement and publicity to the area, critics argue it highlights a broader issue: a focus on luxury property while the region’s housing crisis remains unaddressed. The Mornington Peninsula now has the highest number of rough sleepers out of any local government area in Victoria – including Melbourne City. Despite…
Developer’s generosity made ‘The Ranch’ possible Last week’s article concerning the closure of “The Ranch”, while totally expected, is certainly a concern by reducing the availability of crisis accommodation (The Ranch crisis accommodation set to close, The News 31/3/26). However, it is well for us to acknowledge the generosity and graciousness of the owners of the property to allow its use in this manner. It was always to be a temporary arrangement. However, it fortunately extended beyond the expected 12 months availability to five years! Importantly, we should recognise the extraordinary input into the establishment of the project by the…
A Brighton man was forced to watch his new Porsche Macan be driven away on the back of a tow truck after Somerville Highway Patrol (HWP) members caught him drink driving on the way home from his Mornington Peninsula holiday house on Monday evening. After HWP initially observed the vehicle swerving in and out of the lane on the Penlink Freeway, the vehicle was intercepted. The driver underwent a breath test and allegedly returned a breath alcohol concentration of .142%. His vehicle was impounded and his licence was immediately suspended, pending attendance at court. While this was a disappointing way…
FRANKSTON Waterfront has been transformed into a magical wonderland for the 2026 Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. Open daily from 10.00am-5.00pm until Sunday, April 26, it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, imagination, and family fun. Presented by Sandstorm Events, proudly sponsored by EastLink and supported by Frankston City Council’s Destination Event Attraction Program, this year’s championships showcase more than 400 tonnes of sand sculpted into 16 large-scale installations. From fairytale castles to majestic dragons and mythical creatures, this year’s theme, The Enchanted Realm, invites visitors to step into a world where fantasy and artistry collide. Fourteen solo sculptures have each been…
BELVOIR St Theatre, one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre companies, brings Mandela Mathia’s powerful autobiographical solo show Lose to Win to Frankston Arts Centre for one night only on Saturday 16 May, as part of the 2026 Season and the South Side Festival. Blending spoken word, song and humour, Mathia (known for The Cherry Orchard) shares his extraordinary journey from South Sudan to Egypt, and ultimately to Australia. Forced to flee his war-torn home as a child, he spent years searching for safety, identity and belonging—before discovering a passion for performance. The result is a deeply personal and uplifting work…
A PLAYGROUND that closed suddenly last year has prompted community backlash and a petition demanding the shire address safety concerns and reopen it. The Koopalanda Reserve playground on the corner of Beauford Road and Koopalanda Close in Red Hill South was established over 40 years ago as a requirement of the original subdivision. Residents state it was closed “without notice” last year after the shire deemed the equipment had become unsafe. “Playgrounds personify the heart of local communities; they are meeting places where people gather to talk, unwind and celebrate. Above all playgrounds are places where children can thrive, learn…
By Melissa McCullough LAST week, players from the U18s girls team at Mornington Junior Football Club came together to celebrate something extraordinary. A first for the club which has been steadily gaining players and teams over the past 10 years, the inaugural U18s girls team gathered surrounded by their families and friends to kick off the 2026 season. The girls were gifted one-of-a-kind, pink-accented Bulldogs guernseys by the team’s sponsors which they will wear during their tenure and then be able keep as a memento. The night was held at The Royal Hotel in Mornington where guernseys were presented one-at-a-time…
A GARDENER from Mt Martha has made an unforgettable debut at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Andrew Stark was awarded the prestigious Silver Gilt medal for his first-ever show garden, Urban Luxe, impressing judges and visitors alike with a modern take on a classic Italian design. “This is my first show garden anywhere, so I’ve sort of come out of the blocks exploding. It’s pretty unreal,” he told The News. A Mt Martha resident since 1975, Stark has been running Andrew Stark Gardens for 35 years. Known for his busy, booked-out business, he said the flower show was…
VICTORIANS are throwing away thousands of dollars in potential refunds every day, with many eligible drink containers still ending up in household rubbish bins instead of being returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic). New research shows 1 in 5 Victorians are missing out on refunds because eligible containers such as flavoured milk bottles and juice boxes are often overlooked and discarded. Since CDS Vic launched in November 2023, almost 3 billion drink containers have been returned, putting nearly $300 million back into Victorians’ pockets. But with millions of eligible containers still being thrown away, there is a significant…
Police are seeking public assistance following a hit-run collision on the Peninsula Freeway in Rosebud on 31 March 2026 about 4:30pm. Investigators have been told an unknown 4WD collided with the rear of a Subaru as it was entering the freeway. The male driver allegedly fled the scene on foot, before the front seat passenger drove off in the offending vehicle. The man has been captured on CCTV and police are now appealing for help to identify him. Anyone who was in the area at the time, has dash cam footage, or recognises the person is urged to come forward.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula streets are shining a little brighter, with 3,648 outdated streetlights now replaced with modern LED technology across the Peninsula. Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said “the new lights are more energy efficient and require less maintenance, which means significant savings over time that can be reinvested into services and infrastructure for our community.” The project will receive approximately $630,000 from State Government through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. The upgrade is expected to save the shire around $526,000 every single year. Over 20 years, that adds up to $8.3m back into community funds after project costs. Pingiaro said…
Boats on fire, water rescues, vessels capsizing and jet skis colliding are just some of 840 incidents the Water Police Squad has been called to in just four months. New figures show it’s been busy for the squad – reinforcing the message for locals and visitors to the state’s waterways to do their part in following the rules this Easter holiday. Water police responded to 840 incidents between November 2025 and March this year. Around 520 of the callouts related to vessel collisions or vessel sinkings and almost 100 related to people being in trouble on the water and needing…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough THE people of Mornington and district have been somewhat perturbed lately by the action of the Foreshore Committee removing the fireplaces which have been erected for a number of years along the foreshores for the convenience of the picnicking visitors. The custom of having a billy of water boiled at a fire of your own making has deep seated sentiment among Australians, and the imported man or woman soon becomes infected with the prevailing custom. And when the Foreshore Committee removed these places, and prohibited any fires being lit on the foreshores, they unwittingly furnished the…
UPCOMING reforms to Victoria’s family violence laws will help prevent victim-survivors from being wrongly identified as perpetrators, local legal experts say. The reforms, which are set to come into effect between April and November, include expansion of the definition of family violence to clearly include stalking, systems abuse and animal cruelty; introduction of a two-year default duration for intervention orders; and improvement of safeguards to prevent victim-survivors being wrongly identified as perpetrators. New laws are also set to be put in place to ensure young people remain protected by orders after turning 18; prevent intervention orders being made against children…
DAVID Evan Price was born on 21 October 1940 to Eric Evan Price and Marcelle Whittaker, and grew up alongside his younger siblings Jocelyn, Ian and Andrew. He began his schooling at Little St Margaret’s Kindergarten. David went on to Scotch College, where he thrived. Sport was a huge part of his school life and he gained Colours in football, cricket and athletics. One of his favourite photos was that of the Under 12A cricket team which had himself as captain and a young man named Bob Cowper as one of his assistants. Bob went on to make a triple…
Nepean by-election With the Nepean by-election approaching on 2 May, the volume of commentary in recent days reflects a community that is engaged and paying attention. What matters, however, is not which side dominates the letters page, but the standard of leadership being offered to voters. At a local level, concerns about the performance of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council have been raised often and by many. Questions around governance, direction and accountability are not trivial matters, and they should not be brushed aside in the rush of campaign rhetoric. It is entirely reasonable for voters to consider not only…
FOREST Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) will take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to help reduce the risk of bushfires to communities and the environment, including planned burns on the Mornington Peninsula and French Island. FFMVic Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tamara Beckett said planned burning is one of the most important tools firefighters use to reduce the size, intensity and impact of future bushfires. “Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and small fallen branches means fires burn less intensely, spread more slowly and are safer for our firefighters to control,” she said. “Autumn is generally…
A team of Mornington Peninsula creatives took out one of the top prizes at Tropfest with their short film No Thank You. The film was awarded the Chery Creative Acceleration Award with Director Georgina Haig winning a brand new car. No Thank You is a black comedy about a grieving sculptor and her inability to say “thank you.” It explores the personal and artistic consequences of becoming a social outcast. Written and directed by Georgina Haig, best known for her international roles in film and television, including Late Night with the Devil and Once Upon a Time, the film was…
Paralympic gold medallist Heath Davidson has one of the most remarkable comeback stories in Australian sport. After abandoning wheelchair tennis for 11 years, he returned to the court at the age of 28 and won gold at the Rio Paralympics just 11 months later. “I started hitting tennis balls again in November of 2015,” the Frankston-based athlete says. “…and if you fast forward 11 months, I won a gold medal with Dylan Alcott in 2016.” Heath and his long-time friend Dylan Alcott defeated the three-time reigning champions from the United States to claim Australia’s first gold medal in quad doubles…
a(gap)e— mesmerized by some / thing. A reflection 2016 – 2026 For over fifty years, Aleks Danko has shown an unwavering interest in the ways people interact with art. Now in his mid-seventies, Danko’s observations of the absurdities of the art world and contemporary life are as fresh and provocative as those of his early career, his focus and wit razor sharp. A(GAP)E is an exhibition of work made by Danko over the past ten years. Curated by the artist himself, it is a distillation of his critique of the conventions governing the making of art, and how and where…
Even as a child, nutritionist and chef Sarah Pound had an audience. “I used to set up an old-school camcorder, and I would line up my three sisters. They would be my audience members, and I’d do cooking shows for them. They had to sit there because I was the oldest,” she laughs. Now her online community, Wholesome by Sarah, numbers in the hundreds of thousands, advocating for simple, wholesome, and healthy food that’s easy to prepare. Those early videos for her family might have been a rehearsal for her present career, but in between, she studied food and nutrition…
STREET artists transformed Frankston’s public spaces last week during the annual Frankston Street Art Festival. Spanning nine years and 100 murals, the Frankston Street Art Festival annually brings in internationally-renowned artists. Artists featured this year include Arina Apostolova, Buff Diss, Creature Creature, Father Marker, Jack Rowland, Juzpop, Kitsune Jolene, Mick Russell, Sam Absurd, and Shaun Devenney. Frankston Council public art officer Rebecca Gendron said the Frankston Street Art Festival “has completely transformed the look and feel of our CBD over the past nine years.” “100 artworks is a huge milestone and it’s a reflection of the talent we’ve attracted, the…