Compiled by Cameron McCullough A SPECIAL meeting of the Shire Council was held at the Council Chambers, on Monday morning last. Cr. F. H. Wells, Shire president, was in the chair. Other councillors present were: Crs. G. May, P. Montague, W. Armstrong, R. F. Miles, D. Hoban, J. L. Pratt, W. J. Oates, Alden and J. Brown, and Mr. J. A. P. Ham (Shire secretary).The meeting was convened to finalise the electric light loan which the Council decided to borrow in May last.All matters pertaining to the loan were dealt with at this meeting, and the following day the Shire…
Author: mpnews
Pelican pool thanks Being back in the Hastings pool after the long closure is a real delight and relief for a body that requires non weight bearing exercise. The renovations are superb. Family/disabled change rooms have the kind of facilities much needed for people on sticks or using chairs, easy to use.We are so fortunate that Mornington Peninsula Shire invested in this pool when other councils have allowed theirs to disintegrate. Many regional pools have closed. They provide not only valuable exercise opportunities, learn to swim for kids and migrants from countries where swimming is not part of the culture,…
BIRD lovers and nature enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Mornington Peninsula gears up to host its inaugural Bird Festival, featuring guided trips, an art show, expert talks and beginner-friendly workshops. Running on the weekend of 22–23 November, the event will shine a spotlight on the diverse birdlife of the region, offering visitors of all ages a chance to connect with nature in meaningful and exciting ways. All events and activities will be based at Coolart Homestead and wetlands. This includes bird watching with well-respected bird guides both mornings, plus a trip on Western Port and another to…
THE winner of the Australia Day Community Event of the Year in 2025, the Tyabb Airshow is returning on 1 March 2026 and tickets are now available. The many static displays will include vintage and modern aircraft and helicopters, vintage cars, re-enactment groups. Aviation displays from the Australia Defence Force, CFA, vintage car clubs as well as a water fire bomber demonstration. A full schedule will be available closer to the event, and will involve over 80 air displays.The Tyabb Airshow is a community event raising money for local charities and other worthwhile causes. The 2024 event donated $43,000 to…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughTHE Grand Final between Naval Depot and Seaford was played at Somerville last Saturday, in the presence of a good gathering of spectators.The game, as in the previous one the week before, was a hotly contested one; first one side getting the lead, then the other, and the issue was always in doubt right up to within a minute or two of time.With the bounce of the ball, Seaford kicking down the hill, attacked strongly, and soon had play in the Depot’s territory, and quickly added two singles, but the Depot ruck, forcing the play from the…
VIBRANT hot-air balloon sculptures of giant skywhales will grace the skies over Red Hill during a sunrise spectacle on 8 November. Leading Australian contemporary artist Patricia Piccinini’s will showcase her iconic Skywhale and Skywhalepapa in majestic flight at Red Hill Recreation Reserve.The free community event, from 5am–7.30am, will be presented by the National Gallery of Australia and hosted by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) with support by the Friends of MPRG. The unique 90-minute experience includes a soundscape mood set, followed by a special introduction from Piccinini. Families can pack a picnic, grab a coffee from a food van and…
Pothole situation dire I too was a victim of the neglect by road authorities to repair the ever increasing number of serious potholes on Mornington Peninsula roads (Drivers fury over pothole damage, The News 3/9/25).I am sure many others reading the article have also been inconvenienced and put at risk and unnecessary expense. In fact the tyre repair business where I had the tyre replaced advised me that in one week they had serviced over 30 clients with the same issue.The monetary issue is annoying, but far more worrying is the thought that there will be a serious if not…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughA CAP and streamer dance was organised by, the residents. of Mt. Eliza and held in the public hall on Monday night last. A large number were present.Visitors from Mornington and Frankston were amongst the number present. There was no doubt about the success of the function.Apart from the financial side, which allowed the sum of over £10 being paid towards the High school funds, the arrangements had been carried out in the most able manner, and dancing, to the strains of music supplied by Miss Mitchell, Messrs. C. Martin, J. Moseley and Morton, was indulged in.The…
SWAN goes to Spring Street ON Thursday on 27 August, members of the Southern Women’s Action Network’s Women for Housing Justice group made a trip to Spring Street. They spent the full day in Parliament House meeting with members of the Victorian parliament from both sides of politics, spreading the word about the escalating housing and homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula.The group met with the minister for local government and consumer affairs, the Hon Nick Staikos and members of his department. They pressed the case for funding for financial counselling services, as more people than ever on the peninsula…
Next month, Frankston Arts Centre will welcome Duck Pond, the latest creation from Circa Contemporary Circus, renowned for pushing the boundaries of physical theatre with daring innovation and a playful spirit. Taking inspiration from the world’s most romantic ballet, Duck Pond transforms Swan Lake into a vibrant circus spectacular. The production blends breathtaking acrobatics, sumptuous aerial routines and Circa’s signature physicality with a mischievous sense of humour. Expect flipper-wearing ducks, a burlesque black swan and, of course, feathers – lots of them. Director Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble have created a performance that is both visually spectacular and emotionally…
MORNINGTON Police have offered heartfelt thanks to everyone who has left flowers, cards, and messages of support after the tragic events involving the members at Porepunkah. One member of the public even came with his lawnmower and did the station’s lawns. Senior Sergeant Dean Delle-Vergini (left) and Senior Sergeant Kirby Tonkin (right) told The News “The outpouring of kindness and generosity from our community means a lot to us and we greatly appreciate it. This tragedy is felt by us all and knowing that our community stands beside us means more than words can express”. First published in the Mornington…
Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged four further offenders over a series of alleged theft offences in the greater Mornington Peninsula area earlier this month. Detectives have been thoroughly investigating the string of theft of motor vehicles, burglaries and theft from motor vehicles that occurred in Mount Eliza, Mornington, Mount Martha, Bittern and Somers areas between 8 August and 14 August. A 30-year-old Hastings man was charged with 29 offences, including charges related to engaging children to commit criminal activity after a search warrant was executed at his residence on Monday, 18 August. Further searches were conducted on…
Somerville Highway Patrol officers have caught a drink driver following a collision in Hastings last night. Officers were called to the corner of Victoria Street and Spring Street to reports of an Audi Q5 colliding with a parked truck about 8:15pm. The driver of the Audi, a 46-year-old woman, underwent a preliminary breath test which returned a positive result. She accompanied police to a local station and underwent an evidentiary breath test where she returned an alleged reading of 0.263. She was issued an immediate driving ban and has been charged on summons with exceeding the prescribed content of alcohol…
A QUIET night at home turned into a life-or-death emergency for Mornington Peninsula man Alan when he suddenly collapsed from a cardiac arrest in February. In a moment of courage, his wife of 33 years, Anita, sprung into action – immediately calling Triple Zero (000) and beginning CPR. Luckily for Alan and his family, their neighbour Shannon had the GoodSAM app on her phone and was notified about Alan’s critical condition. Shannon and her two children, Jackson and Charlie, rushed next door, took over CPR and shocked Alan three times with an automated external defibrillator (AED) that was in their…
THE heritage-listed Norman Lodge gatehouse on Nepean Highway, Mount Eliza, has commenced the process of being dismantled, before being rebuilt metres away from its original site. The dismantling comes a year after a demolition order for the gatehouse was issued by Mornington Peninsula Shire after a structural engineer’s report identified it as having suffered “total loss of structural integrity”.The protected gatehouse has been the subject of planning applications in 2013 and 2020 that would have seen the structure deconstructed and moved just metres away to be reconstructed on a concrete slab footing. The future of the building fell into doubt…
Social housing needed on the peninsula I am a retired public servant who was with what is now DFFH. A project I initiated a few years before Covid looks to be replicated (Agencies unite to fix Main St public housing troubles, The News 5/8/25).My project, which was multi-partnered with the department (Housing Manager Frankston) , the Salvation Army, the Community Support Centre, Mi Health, Bolton Clarke, WAYSS, VicPol, Mornington Peninsula Shire and others was very successful.Monthly meetings identified issues and encouraged the partner agencies to take action. DFFH purchased a barbeque. Monthly estate barbeques and coffee cart (funded and hosted…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughTHE first general meeting of the new Ranelagh Club at Frankston (Mornington Road) was held last week in the lounge at Scott’s. Hotel, Melbourne, for the purpose of directing the incorporation of the club under the provisions of the Companies Acts.As indicative of the intended spirit of this club, afternoon tea was served at the same time as the business of the meetings was being conducted.Brigadier-General Blamey was in the chair. It was decided that at the present stage no appointment would be made to the offices of patron, president or vice-presidents, but that such be left…
A Somerville based company has received a $5,140 fine after deciding to dump waste in a Tyabb drain instead of waiting for the local resource recovery centre to open. Last year, the Shire received a report about a timber waste product dumped in an open drain on Denham Road, Tyabb. After investigating, Council’s Litter Prevention Officers confirmed the source was from the Somerville-based company. Despite being just minutes away from the Tyabb Resource Recovery Centre, the representative of the company told officers they dumped the waste because the facility was closed at the time. The representative also tried to justify the decision…
TWENTY-four CFA volunteers from Hastings and Langwarrin have received a prestigious honour following their heroic rescue of a man trapped under a ten-tonne roller last July. The harrowing industrial accident occurred in Hastings where the worker had become unconscious, requiring crews to work under pressure to safely extract him after his legs were pinned under a massive roller. He luckily survived and has since recovered and returned to work. For their professionalism during the high-risk operation, the two brigades were awarded a Unit Citation for Service on 11 August. Incident controller and Hastings fire brigade captain Mike Willmott and rescue…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughFOR a considerable time the people of Mornington have been buoyed up under the impression that there was every likelihood of the line between Frankston and Mornington being electrified, and rosy visions of future progress and prosperity were indulged in, but on Thursday last the Railway Commissioner-in-chief paid Mornington an official visit, and was waited upon by representatives of the Mornington Shire Council and Progress Association, who laid before the Commissioner a strong plea for the electrification of the line, based upon the rapid material progress of Mornington during the past two years.The Commissioner, in reply, said:…
A tree planting photo op won’t save our wildlife Councillor’s tree planting efforts might make for a nice photo op, but it’s a hollow gesture when so many trees planted by the shire along our roadsides are already dead, ripped out, or doomed from the start – shoved under powerlines or too close to footpaths where they’ll be hacked back before they can ever cast a shadow.While the shire pats itself on the back for planting saplings, the sound of chainsaws tells a different story. Mature, life-sustaining habitat trees are being felled or butchered constantly, leaving native wildlife homeless, displaced,…
WHEN a Balnarring Football Club women’s player moved to South Australia this year to take on a role at Ceduna Area School, little did she know that a couple of the girls from the school would make the trip to Victoria to pull on the boots for her old junior football club. In her role as a student support officer, Grace met footy mad Indigenous twin sisters Kailee and Kaianne who travel 800km (approximately eight hours) a weekend to play football. This feat is even more amazing, considering the girls come from a family with six kids; their parents having…
By Raia Flinos LAST week, the Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos group were awarded a Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by President José Ramos-Horta. The ceremony, which took place at the Kelvin Club in Melbourne, brought together friendship groups from around Australia and was a celebration of their contributions to Timor-Leste over the past 25 years. “These awards symbolise our nation’s profound appreciation for those who have walked alongside Timor-Leste in times of struggle and progress. Their selflessness and commitment inspire us to continue building a future of unity and prosperity,” Ramos-Horta said in a press release. The friendship…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughNOMINATIONS for the annual shire elections closed yesterday. There are contests in the Frankston and Seaford ridings, but in the other three divisions no poll will be necessary.Election day is fixed for Thursday, 27th August, and the hours of polling will be from 8am to 7pm.The polling booth at Frankston will be at the Shire Hall, while the poll at Seaford will be taken at the Seaford Church Hall.Keen interest will be taken in both contests. Mr. E. W. Thomason, who is opposing the retiring councillor in the Frankston riding, is sure to receive very solid support,…
VICTORIA Police have launched a new road policing enforcement effort targeting reckless e-bike riders. Operation Consider has been launched in response to a significant increase in road trauma involving e-bikes. New police data shows there were 144 e-bike collisions in 2024, up from 79 in 2023. Provisional analysis of 2025 collision data indicates there were at least 113 e-bike collisions as at 30 July this year. One high-profile incident involving an allegedly illegally modified e-bike was the death of Hastings resident William Lothian, who was hit and killed by on Frankston Flinders Road on 12 May. Police allege the 24-year-old…
Homeless action needed National Homelessness Week is commemorated annually from August 4-10 to raise awareness of homelessness. The theme this year is Homelessness Action Now. It is with much sadness and of great concern that the latest figures available show the rate of homelessness here on the Mornington Peninsula continues to increase. According to the shire, 900 people have experienced homelessness in our community in the past 12 months. It is particularly disturbing that the number of women sleeping rough is getting worse, second only to the City Port Phillip (Housing crisis, Letters 29/7/25).Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) would like…
A TRIO of Mornington dads have turned their social golf into serious success after clinching a place in Australasia’s biggest indoor golf championship this month.Kade Carey, Kurt McGlynn and James Dent will represent Victoria when they join eight other teams from Christchurch, Darwin and Perth vying for victory in the annual X-League Championships – the Southern Hemisphere’s largest tech-powered golf competition.All three dads are mates juggling work lives, family life and fatherhood. “We honestly didn’t think we’d get this far, so we’re pretty chuffed,” 41-year-old Kade said. “I started out with a 36 handicap outdoors which has dropped to 13…
FIREFIGHTERS from Sorrento Fire Brigade are now trained to respond to people experiencing cardiac arrests thanks to a vital new partnership with Ambulance Victoria.Sorrento is one of 22 brigades across the state taking part in Fire Medical Response (FMR) program to boost their emergency medical response.Both CFA and Ambulance Victoria will be called simultaneously to cardiac arrests incidents, with 50 brigades to ultimately be a part of the service.CFA district eight assistant chief fire officer Sean Kerr said the program would serve the community in more ways. “Nine members from Sorrento brigade are now ready and embedded within the community,…
By Raia Flinos TAHNEE Driver thought her bloating was a sign of an intolerance; gluten maybe. She had some pizza and a sore stomach and at first, wasn’t too concerned. But six weeks ago, Tahnee’s life was flipped upside down.The 39-year-old mum of two was urged to go to hospital after days of being unable to keep down food. At 11:30pm, after an MRI, she was told she had bowel cancer. Two days later, she was in surgery, having a tumour removed. “It didn’t feel real,” she said. “I actually put my arm out to the nurse and said, ‘Can…
By Cr Patrick Binyon* THE Mornington Peninsula Friends of Lospalos recent visit to Lospalos and Dili, Timor-Leste, was an outstanding success of inter-community and government friendships. I was fortunate to be part of the self-funded volunteer team of seven visiting “Friends”. Our team travelled with three key goals: to review current projects, assess our capacity for new initiatives, and participate in the International Conference of Friendship Cities between Timor-Leste and Australia – celebrating 25 years of friendship and community solidarity in continuous support for the development of Timor-Leste. Our shire’s friendship with Lospalos began in 2000 and is built on…