A NEW mural by local artist Tyson Savanah, known as Father Marker, now honours the life of Sammy the seal at Safety Beach. Sammy became a local icon earlier this year, drawn to the beaches between Rosebud and Mornington, with the Safety Beach boat ramp among his favourite resting spots. He gained national attention in April when he took a nap on Point Nepean Road near Anthony’s Nose, closing the road to traffic in both directions for six hours. Sammy died at Coral Cove, Mount Martha, on 12 May, prompting an outpouring of community affection. Tyson, who recently completed a…
Author: mpnews
One cold night in a car Friday 31 July was the coldest night of the year, and my husband and I were trying to sleep in our car. We’d barely settled when we heard a thin, high whine and thought a mosquito had got in. It took us a while to realise it wasn’t a mosquito. It was our blow-up mattress, slowly going down. We were there for the Southern Peninsula SleepOut, the first one, run by The Ranch with Southern Peninsula Community Support. A car site, a food pack like the ones the centre hands to people doing it…
FRANKSTON South golfer Will Veitch has taken home silver at the US Kids Golf World Championship. The championship took place in Pinehurst, North Carolina from 30 July to 1 August. Seven-year-old Will was tied for the lead after three rounds, before a four-hole playoff decided the title. Will said he was nervous, but it was exciting to get to compete. “It was really cool to play in the World Championship,” said Will. “I was a bit nervous in the playoff, but I just tried my best. I’m really proud of myself.” Will produced a standout performance in the Boys 7…
Over August 7–8, Somerville Highway Patrol members launched Operation Drive-Thru, targeting impaired drivers in the late afternoon and evening. On Friday 7 August they responded to 000 calls for 2 vehicles doing burnouts in Baxter Park. Both were located, with both drivers allegedly testing positive to illicit drugs. One person also received a cannabis caution after a small amount was found. On the same day, police were alerted to a vehicle doing just 20km/h on the freeway and swerving dangerously. The driver was found passed out behind the wheel. She was woken up and taken to hospital due to the…
MAYOR Stephen Batty is calling on all golfers, local businesses, and residents to get behind The Mayoral Charity Golf Day, raising funds to fight homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula has the highest rate of homelessness in Victoria. With long-term rental vacancies scarce and the few available properties out of reach for many. Cr Batty emphasised that homelessness is not a problem happening somewhere else. “Local families and elderly residents are increasingly being forced to sleep in cars and on our foreshores,” said Batty. “Every dollar raised on the day goes straight to the local support centres doing the…
TEN volunteers planted 29 trees across parks between the Esplanade and Barkly Street on National Tree Day (Sunday 26 July), continuing the Greenway project linking Mornington’s foreshore to the hinterland, via Mornington Station. It’s the second stage of planting, following 24 trees planted between Vale and Elizabeth streets, behind The Bays Hospital last winter (Rotary’s green vision springs to life,The News 14/8/25). The Greenway is part of a concept the Rotary Club of Mornington presented to council several years ago to create a green corridor connecting the foreshore to the hinterland. It aligns with council’s Urban Forest Strategy and the…
NEW regulations have been introduced for amusement ride operators following the death of Eugene Mahauariki at the Rye Carnival in 2017. The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Amusement Structure) Regulations 2026 commenced on 29 July and introduced new design and item of plant registration and record keeping requirements. The reform is a result of a coronial inquest after six-year-old Eugene Mahauariki died after being ejected from a ride at the carnival in April 2017. WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said the new regulations are an important step for the carnival industry. “For the first time, WorkSafe will…
CAPEL Sound Community Group have obtained a $5000 grant to go towards disadvantaged students at Eastbourne Primary School. The money was granted by Community Bank Southern Peninsula and will help cover costs for camps, excursions, and school sports events. Bettyanne Foster, Secretary of Capel Sound Community Group, said they are proud to be able to give back to the local community. “Capel Sound Community Group is proud to be able to support our local community in this way, especially with the generosity of the Community Bank Southern Peninsula,” said Foster. She said Eastbourne Primary has a lot of students whose…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough THE agricultural and pastoral outlook in the Mornington district is most favourable, and one of the best for a considerable time. Early in the year it appeared that a serious drought was likely to be experienced, but in the past four months splendid falls have been recorded, and the ground has become splendidly soaked. Farmers then became jubilant about the outlook. There is now plenty of moisture to carry the crops on for several weeks. There have been some warm, sunny days and very few frosts. Crops show a vigorous growth. The area under cultivation is…
VICTORIA’S fire services are calling on residents to prioritise fireplace, chimney and flue safety this winter, following a devastating house fire in Somerville. The fire started after the occupant placed a log on an open fireplace before briefly leaving the property. The log is believed to have rolled from the fireplace and ignited nearby material, with the fire quickly taking hold. When firefighters arrived, the two-storey house was well alight. Crews worked through the night to contain the blaze and protect neighbouring properties. The home did not have working smoke alarms and contained a significant fuel load, which contributed to…
Bus improvements should not leave others worse off Maureen Piper raises a legitimate concern about the loss of a direct bus from Mount Eliza Village to Barkly Street, Mornington (Changes to bus service do not service all, Letters 28/7/26). My advocacy to the state government was for new services to around 2,000 residents previously without any bus service, including for Peninsula Grange, Beleura Village, Racecourse Grange, Mornington Gardens Holiday Village and St Macartan’s Parish Primary School, as well as for the Mornington-Hastings 886 service. After years of advocacy with (and from) so many residents, both have now been delivered. I…
RUGBY By David Burke WITH a weekend that produced perfect conditions for rugby league, the Peninsula Dolphins 3rd grade seniors met the Bendigo Crushers at Seabrook Reserve in Broadmeadows for Saturday afternoon clash on 1 August. In a game that had a lot of stoppages, the Peninsula Dolphins found it difficult to get into their usual tough “grind it out” style of rugby league. Despite this, they managed to put 20 points to nil on the Bendigo Crushers in the first half. The Dolphins allowed frustration to creep into the game with the stop start nature of it pulling them…
In an effort to tackle road safety issues on the Mornington Peninsula, Rosebud Police have introduced a new fleet of traffic vehicles equipped with mobile radars for speed detection, alongside new model preliminary breath testing devices. Over a single night, Rosebud members were shocked by the reckless behaviour of road users during their night-shift patrols. At 11:23 PM, police detected a blue Volkswagen travelling at 116km/h in the 60 zone on Point Nepean Road, Tootgarook. The 21-year-old P-Plater’s licence was suspended for 12 months, and he received an infringement for using an unregistered vehicle. At 1:40 AM, Police observed a…
VICTORIAN renters have the right to live in a property with working smoke alarms, with the CFA urging tenants to report faulty units to their rental provider as a matter of urgency. Broken or faulty smoke alarms are considered urgent repairs under Victoria’s rental laws. CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan, said renters had a role to play in keeping their alarms working. “If you are renting, test your alarms regularly, never remove or disable them and report any faults as soon as they are identified. “CFA recommends smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom and living area, in addition to…
THE Mornington Peninsula and Frankston City Table Tennis Association (MFTTA) has just spent over $100,000 to upgrade their Mornington Stadium flooring to meet Olympic standard requirements. With new flooring, along with upgraded lighting, their Mornington stadium is now a preferred site for Olympic and Paralympic squads and a sporting showpiece for the Mornington Peninsula Shire. MFTTA caters for those wanting to achieve the highest level in the sport as well as community members who wish to play either just for fun and/or graded competition. With over 36,000 attendees per annum including over 1500 intellectual disability attendees, plus juniors as young…
EXPANDED police patrols at Bayside Shopping Centre are set to continue into the next school holidays and into future busy periods. Victoria Police launched “Operation Pulse” last December, dedicating more police resources to shopping centres statewide. Since December more than 1600 people have been arrested as part of the operation. In a statement, Victoria Police said “plans are underway to ensure the expanded approach to all nine centres will occur during the next school holidays and high demand periods. This includes Pacific Werribee, Bayside Frankston, Highpoint, Fountain Gate, Northland, Watergardens, Southland, Eastland and key CBD retail locations in Geelong. “All…
At 5:44AM on the 26th July unknown offender/s have stolen a 2025 Stabi Craft Super Cab 6.2 meter boat with registration XY979 from an address in Coleman Rd, Carrum Downs. An Isuzu flatbed Truck was observed towing vehicle away. Investigators have released an image of the boat for the public to keep a look out for. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
THIRTEEN emerging Victorian agritech founders toured Mornington Peninsula farmgates on Thursday 23 July, as part of a two-day program run in partnership with Farmers2Founders. The itinerary took in Mornington Peninsula Produce members Red Hill Truffles and Pure Peninsula Honey, and Mornington Peninsula Wine members Morning Sun Vineyard and Handpicked Wines. The visiting founders are participants in Farmers2Founders’ Victorian Pre-Accelerator program. Their ventures cover soils and regenerative inputs, water and climate resilience, digital and farm systems, and horticulture and aquaculture. Farmers2Founders has worked since 2018 to accelerate the development, commercialisation and adoption of agrifood technology across Australia. It coincided with the…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough THE Advisory Council of the Frankston High school consists of five government nominees, one representative of the Shire council, and three members elected by the parents of scholars attending the school. Last month all members of the council retired by effluxion of time and on Monday evening last a meeting of parents was held to elect three new members. There was a very large attendance, and great interest was taken in the proceedings which were conducted by Mr. Bishop, B.A. The three retiring members were Mrs. W. M. Hanton, Cr. Bradbury, and Mr. W. C. Young.…
By Lisa Bayley – Somerville, Tyabb and District Heritage Society Standing near the roundabout on Frankston-Flinders Road and Eramosa Road is one of Somerville’s most recognisable landmarks – the distinctive pink building that has occupied the site since at least the late 1870s or early 1880s. For much of its early history the premises operated as a Wine Café, a type of small-scale hotel licensed under Victoria’s Colonial Wine Licence system. The Colonial Wine Licence In 1884 Peter Holmes applied for a publican’s licence for his business premises in Somerville. The application was refused because the building did not meet…
A GROUP of Mornington swimmers will be participating in Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day Dip to help raise funds for cancer research. The Mornington Bay Belles meet at Fisherman’s Beach every day at 7am for a swim or dip followed by a coffee. This will be their third consecutive year taking place in the Cancer Council fundraiser. On 9 August, the group will hold a special community dip at Mornington Pier at 10am. Locals are encouraged to come along and support them and the cause. Daffodil Day is held annually by Cancer Council and is one of Australia’s largest cancer fundraising…
Rosebud Police spent eight months investigating the illegal use of dirt bikes on roads throughout Mornington, Dromana and Rosebud, following numerous triple zero calls and community complaints about riders putting themselves and other road users at risk. On 20 July 2026, police executed two search warrants at properties in Dromana and Rosebud. During the warrants, officers seized motorcycles, riding gear and digital devices believed to be linked to the offending. The investigation remains ongoing, with a focus on improving road safety and reinforcing the message that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated on our roads.…
Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a 55 -year-old man after nearly $100,000 worth of damage was caused to numerous businesses in Sorrento earlier this month. Police will allege the man threw bricks through the front windows of 11 businesses along Ocean Beach Road about 3am on 16 July. The Rosebud man was charged on Sunday with 11 counts of criminal damage and also assault for an unrelated matter. He was remanded in custody to appear in Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 20 August.
Changes to bus service do not service all ON 1 July the Ventura bus 784 route was changed. This was the only direct service we had from Mt Eliza Village to Barkly Street Mornington shops. The only direct service to Mornington we have now is the 788 to the Bays Hospital, but that is quite a walk for us 80 plus years old down to Barkly Street. Then I see on the front page of your paper Mornington MP Chris Crewther congratulating himself for providing the 784 service for the Beleura Village and Peninsula Grange Retirement Villages (Bus stop celebration…
A NEW high-visibility police unit patrolling the Mornington Peninsula has made 30 arrests and dedicated more than 250 hours to community patrols in its first month of operation. The High Visibility Community Engagement Team (HiCET) was established on 1 June, with a focus on crime, road policing, public order and antisocial behaviour. The team uses local intelligence to identify emerging issues before deploying resources to key community locations to prevent, deter and disrupt crime. Patrols have covered Rosebud Plaza, Westpark Hastings, the Hastings CBD, Mornington Central Shopping Centre and Mornington CBD. The arrests came from operations targeting illegal motorbikes, overpowered…
RUGBY By David Burke THE special connection between Peninsula Dolphins and HMAS Cerberus saw the men’s senior team take to the field at Cerberus for the first time this season to take on The Frankston Raiders last Saturday afternoon (25 July) It was a breezy afternoon, and with no rain to speak of there was a good-sized crowd for both sides. However, the Peninsula Dolphins had a lot to fight for, beyond a win for the home crowd. The team has been working hard this season to control the match through the middle of the field and using their forwards…
THE Peninsula VineHop Festival has secured state funding and will go ahead for its ninth year. It will take place on 21 November across seven venues. It will showcase over 30 local drink producers as well as DJs, live music, and food trucks. Mayor Stephen Batty said the funding result was an endorsement of the peninsula’s events sector and the strength of local partnerships. “This funding highlights the Mornington Peninsula as a leading destination for events, food, wine and live music. VineHop showcases the very best of our region, supports local businesses, and encourages visitors to stay longer and explore…
FOUNDED in 1994, the Mornington VIEW Club has spent 32 years raising money for disadvantaged students locally through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. The club – whose name stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women – now sponsors 10 students, covering costs such as school uniforms, excursions and laptops, along with a birthday card and $75 voucher for each student at their birthday and again at Christmas. “All Learning for Life students come from a family living within one of the 94 communities across Australia in which The Smith Family works,” said Mornington VIEW Club Vice President,…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough THREE men were detained, and goods and a motor car seized by police in a raid of a house in Murcott street, Carrum, at 7am last Saturday. The goods included a cabinet gramophone and records, cutlery, crockery, tools, groceries, tins of petrol and lubricating oil, a bag of clothing, tinned fish, a box of tea, a mop, a hose, and other articles, which it is alleged are the proceeds of extensive shopbreaking. In the yard at the rear of the house Lyons found a Master Six Buick car, No. 67,553. Inquiries later revealed that this car…
MORNINGTON MP Chris Crewther joined a large contingent of retirement village residents on Bungower Road last Wednesday (15 July) to catch the newly rerouted 784 bus into Mornington for a coffee. The bus route has been altered to take into account the public transport dependent retirement village resident in the area. “It was exciting board the new 784 bus service with residents of Beleura Village and Peninsula Grange,” said Crewther. “Residents and I have been advocating for this service for years, to what were unused bus shoulders. “They now have a bus service for the first time, along with Mornington…