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…
Author: mpnews
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…
THE Mornington Police Senior Community Register held their 25th Anniversary celebration in Mornington on Thursday 19 March. “For 25 years, the Register has proudly supported our local community through friendship, care and connection,” said MPSCR co-ordinator Yvonne Morrison. “This celebration is our way of saying thank you to our past and present police officers, including MPSCR police liaison officers, past and present volunteers, Members and supporters who have made this possible.” First published in the Mornington News – 24 March 2026
AUSTRALIA dominated the 2026 Trans Tasman pétanque Challenge held at the Mt Martha Pétanque Club winning both the Open and 60+ divisions. The Australian Bouleroos secured commanding victories against New Zealand showcasing superior consistency and depth throughout the 12 rounds including crucial wins the 60+ division. In the Open division Australia scored 98 – 46 and in the 60+ division 74 – 46 which reversed last year’s final result in Christchurch NZ. This shows just how close the two sporting nations are in skill. Many close friendships have developed across the Tasman over the years in this fascinating very social…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough WHEN it was learned at the High School Council meeting on Wednesday night last that the Minister of Education, Sir Alexander Peacock, was at Sorrento attending the A.N.A. Conference and would be returning to Melbourne the following day, it was decided to arrange for a “hold up” at Frankston. Mr. Bishop, head master of the High school, got Sir Alex on the phone, and acquainted him with the intention of the Frankston people. The Minister laughed, and the phone survived; so did the plan of campaign. Yesterday afternoon at about 4.30, Sir Alex’s car slowed down…
A fair share for the Mornington Peninsula On Monday night (16 March) I attended a public meeting about housing with Minister Harriett Shing as part of the panel. The panel of speakers put forward the urgent position about housing issues on the Mornington Peninsula. They articulated our urgent need for housing stock, including crisis housing and in situ housing support wrap around services. BUT the impression I got was that this information and local knowledge sharing fell on deaf Ministerial ears. I do understand the limitations the Minister is held to. We heard broad statements about lots of dollars towards…
THERE were plenty of reasons to celebrate at Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place in Hastings on Saturday 21 March. Willum Warrain is celebrating 12 years of caring for its community members and for the site that it has woven into a beautiful place of reconciliation. Willum Warrain CEO, Uncle Peter Aldenhoven said, “we thank all our mob and allies for helping us celebrate our birthday and for sharing our excitement and hopes for Treaty”. Jules Pittle from Mornington Peninsula Human Rights Group added, “Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place is a living example of self-determination – Aboriginal people running things their…
RED Hill Tennis Club is set for a brighter future, with upgraded court lighting now ready for action. Eastern Victoria MP Tom McIntosh officially launched the new lighting on 11 March thanks to a $200,000 state government funding investment. The Mornington Peninsula Shire also contributed nearly $6000 to the project. The club’s six courts now feature 350 lux LED lights, allowing safer play and extended participation hours for locals. “After a huge summer of tennis in our sports-mad state, the popularity of the sport is on the up on the Mornington Peninsula,” McIntosh said. The improved facilities are expected to…
MORNINGTON Peninsula retiree Mary Strange says she felt cut off from the world for more than two decades, relying on a single hearing aid after losing her hearing due to a head injury at 42. “And believing that there could be nothing ever done about my condition, I managed with one hearing aid for 20 years,” she said. ‘However, when I was 64, it was suggested to me that I try a cochlear implant – and to me, it was the best thing I ever did.” The Tyabb’s resident’s experience is now at the centre of a campaign by the…
AUSTRALIA’S housing conversation is shifting – and the solutions are getting smaller, smarter and more innovative. From Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March, the Tiny Home Expo is back again at the Mornington Racecourse, bringing together the country’s leading tiny home builders, designers and off-grid specialists for one powerful weekend. For anyone curious about downsizing, investing, creating a secondary dwelling, or exploring off-grid living, this is a rare opportunity to step inside a wide range of full-scale tiny homes and compare craftsmanship, layouts and pricing in one place. Online research can only take you so far — this is your…
THE renowned Australian Welsh Male Choir, known for performing their music across Australia and overseas are gearing up for their next international tour, this time with an exciting French twist. Based on the Mornington Peninsula at Baxter, as well as in Frankston and Melbourne, the choir has travelled extensively throughout Australia. In 2024, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a highly successful “Outback Tour,” performing at Uluru and beyond. The choir has a long history of international performances, having sung many times in Wales, Scotland, England, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This June, they are thrilled to return to the…
HARLEY Mann, director of Aboriginal circus group Na Djinang, creates work that is as emotive as it is visually stunning. Their performances combine physical theatre, contemporary dance, and storytelling, engaging body, mind, and spirit. Following the acclaim of Arterial at Frankston Arts Centre last year, Na Djinang returns with their latest show, Of The Land On Which We Meet, on Friday, April 10. The performance invites audiences to reflect on what being on country truly means. Mann, a Waka Waka man, describes country as “the intimate relationship we have with the whole ecosystem – the land, the people, the animals,…
COMMUNITY Bank Mt Martha has announced the recipients of its ”Mt Martha Stronger Community Grant Program’ – Round 3. Applicants were able to apply for Grants of minimum $2,500 to maximum of $10,000, for capital works initiatives. The Board of Community Bank Mt Martha, at its February meeting approved the following capital works grants: They have also approved the following community grants this financial year: The Grants are made possible by the local community doing its banking at Community Bank Mt Martha. and total $98,547. First published in the Mornington News – 17 March 2026