Author: Raia Flinos

PENINSULA residents will have the opportunity to hear stories from refugees at an upcoming event in Rosebud. New Peninsula Community Caring and migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia are collaborating for their fourth Sharing Food and Stories community lunch on 12 September. The event is aimed at connecting people who don’t often get a chance to meet over a lunch prepared by local chefs. New Peninsula Community Caring General Manager Andrew Taylor said the idea stemmed from wanting to see a more multicultural peninsula. “We want to provide a welcoming place of acceptance, a place of belonging, where [refugees]…

TWO young women from the peninsula are preparing to make history as they become the first adults with disability to take part in the Variety Bash. Natalie Palancian and Amelia Nichols are both 21 and have mobility issues that stem from cerebral palsy. They met at school and have remained close friends since. The girls decided they will be partaking in the 10-day, 5,500km road trip across Australia to help raise money for Variety, a charity that supports children living with disability, disadvantage, or illness. The Bash begins on 18 August from Halls Gap, with participants going through outback tracks,…

MT Eliza residents have expressed frustration over recent changes to bus services, saying improvements in other areas of the peninsula have come at the expense of services relied on by older residents. Mt Eliza Village resident Maureen Piper relies on buses every day. She said she was disappointed to learn there was no longer a direct service from the village to the Barkly St shopping area in Mornington. “We fought long and hard for better services and these have just been taken away,” said Piper. “How can anyone call this action progress? I am sad and angry. It is unjust.”…

CONCERNED residents are calling for safety improvements at the intersection of Mornington-Tyabb Rd and Racecourse Rd. A petition has attracted hundreds of signatures from people concerned about the dangers faced by cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The petition was organised by Paddy Fricker and sponsored by Mornington MP Chris Crewther. It has attracted over 700 signatures across hard-copy and online forms. Crewther said the petition will be lodged to Parliament once it has surpassed 1000 signatures. “The intersection of Mornington-Tyabb Rd and Racecourse Rd is one of the busiest and most concerning road safety locations in our community,” said Crewther. “Every…

WEIGHTLIFTER Eileen Cikamatana, who lives and trains on the peninsula, has taken home gold at the Commonwealth Games, adding to her impressive record. Cikamatana won gold in the women’s 86kg division at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 29 July. She produced a Commonwealth Games record of 248kg, lifting 108kg in the snatch before lifting a 140kg clean and jerk. She finished nine kilos clear of England’s Madias Ngake, who took home silver with 239kg. This marks Cikamatana’s third gold Commonwealth Games medal. She won gold for Fiji in the 90kg division at the 2018 Gold Coast games before switching…

A LOCAL couple’s travelling bookstore has quickly grown into a series of literary events, bringing together the community to gather around books. Bookneck was started two months ago by Carolyn Watson and David Moore, who began their careers as writers. “If you’re a writer, then you’re a reader,” said Moore. The couple’s relationship began long-distance, fuelled by their shared love of reading and words. Eventually, Moore moved from the US to Australia, and the couple now reside in Frankston South. Watson said they had always dreamed of opening a second-hand bookstore. “Retail spaces are obviously very difficult to come by…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has endorsed a long-term plan to increase parking capacity in Sorrento, with works at Morce Ave car park identified as the highest priority. At the 7 July council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to move forward with a program of works that prioritises the Morce Ave Stage 1 upgrade, followed by permanent angled parking on Hotham Rd and then a second stage of works on Morce Ave. The Stage 1 Morce Ave recommendation includes an increase of approximately 38 parking spaces to help reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. Funding to deliver the projects will be…

MORNINGTON Community Support Centre (MCSC) has exceeded its Winter Appeal target, raising over $150,000. Each year, MSCS holds a Winter Appeal to raise funds to help them deliver services to those who need it most. They provide emergency relief, food, crisis accommodation, financial counselling, advocacy, and help build a sense of community. CEO Ben Smith said they are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated. “It was incredible to witness the community’s response to the call out,” said Smith. “I think it certainly humbles us to know that we’ve got a community who respond when crisis hits and to do so…

THE Victorian government have announced a $2.1m funding package dedicated towards homelessness outreach services on the peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire and local housing advocates have welcomed the announcement and said it is an important step towards addressing the homelessness crisis on the peninsula. Victorian Minister for Housing and Building Nick Staikos and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio announced the funding will go towards a dedicated assertive outreach team of two workers for four years. The announcement comes as homelessness continues to rise on the peninsula. At the end of May, there were around 168 people sleeping rough across the region, a…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Draft Bathing Box Policy has been placed on public exhibition for a period of six weeks. The policy outlines framework for managing bathing boxes on shire managed land and is set to replace the existing policy which was adopted in 2000. At the 7 July council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the policy on public exhibition from 13 July to 25 August. Cr Kate Roper said the current lack of formal agreement creates a range of legal, operational and governance risks for council. “This draft bathing box policy is to replace the policy adopted in 2000,…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has voted to seek approval to reallocate remaining Emil Madsen Reserve upgrade funding after the Australian government rejected a deadline extension. The decision relates to the $15m Priority Community Infrastructure program upgrade of Emil Madsen Reserve, which has already delivered upgrades including the Eastern Pavilion. In May, council submitted a request to use an estimated $5m underspend, combined with $6.6m in council contributions, to construct the Western Pavilion. The request also sought to extend the project timeframe to October 2028. The federal government has rejected the bid and said all works must be completed by 30 June…

AT 29 years old, peninsula local Kaitlyn (Kaitie) Mester is facing a future she never imagined after being diagnosed with a series of chronic illnesses. Kaitie had established a successful career in freight management and was preparing to step into a leadership role. Now, she spends much of her time confined to bed and relies on family and friends to help complete daily tasks. After nearly two decades of her health declining, Kaitie was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, POTS/autonomic dysfunction and severe gastrointestinal disease. She wants more Australians to understand the struggles of living with a chronic illness and…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire have approved a new Long-Term Capital Works Plan, marking the shire’s first comprehensive ten-year capital planning framework. The plan sets out more than $172m in infrastructure investment over the next four years and was approved at the 29 June council meeting. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty thanked officers and staff for the work that went into the plan. “This exercise, which was extremely detailed, commenced in November 2025 and included four briefing sessions, four workshops, two meetings and public exhibition,” said Batty. Batty said the plan is designed to prioritise essential infrastructure within financial constraints. “[It] reflects community…

A DEFIBRILLATOR in Mt Eliza has been used to help save a person’s life just weeks after it was installed. The automated external defibrillator (AED), located at Mt Eliza Village Green, was used by local GoodSAM responders during a recent medical emergency before the ambulance arrived. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said council is grateful the life-saving equipment was available when it was needed. “It saved someone’s life the other week, which was fantastic, and we are going to proceed with two more [AEDs],” said Batty. The AED was recently installed in Mt Eliza through a partnership with the Ranelagh Club…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has reduced its proposed kerbside waste fee after community consultation, but residents will still face a significant increase in annual expenses under the 2026/27 budget. At the 29 June council meeting, council confirmed the fee would drop from $570 to $507 per household after consultation with the community. The revised charge is still an approximate 17% increase from last year’s fee of $433. The waste charges are part of a broader rates and charges package increase totalling $249.6m across the shire. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said the draft budget consultation found residents generally supported the proposed 2.75%…

MORNINGTON artist Perry Fletcher is holding an art auction on 11 July, with a portion of the proceeds going to Vermont Football Club. The auction will be held at Vermont Reserve Clubrooms on Terrara Rd from 12pm to 5pm, with anyone welcome to attend free of charge. Fletcher is fondly known as “Fletcher the Etcher” due to his world-class engraving skills. He has commissioned trophies for the Australian Open, Collingwood Football Club, and the Olympics. The auction is a celebration of Fletcher’s 80th birthday and his 65th year dedicated to grassroots football. “I’ve spent decades capturing the beauty of the…

MOUNT Martha resident Natasha Dreger is preparing to walk 60km in one day, from Mt Martha to St Kilda Rd, to raise funds for Deaf Children Australia. Dreger’s youngest son, Hamish, was born deaf. He is now 14 and Dreger said he is a typical outgoing, competent teenage boy who loves sports and gaming. “I think that’s because he’s had that additional support from the community and different organisations over the years,” said Dreger. In late January, Dreger began working at Deaf Children Australia, where she started as a parent mentor, talking to fellow parents of deaf children over the…

A GROUP of McCrae residents are advocating for the vacant land at 35-39 Armstrong Rd to be preserved as a public open space. Residents believe the flat, three-block piece of land can provide passive recreational opportunities for McCrae. A community gathering will be held at the site on 12 July from 3pm to show local support. Liz Marsh, who is organising the campaign, said the pace of development prompted her to take action. “This area is becoming denser with subdivisions,” said Marsh. “The developers are coming in and just razing the trees on the properties. Recently, there were two properties,…

THE Mornington Peninsula’s wine community is mourning the loss of Nat White, who alongside his wife, Rosalie, established Main Ridge Estate in 1975. Nat passed away on 20 June after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Rosalie said Nat’s journey was a joyous one full of friends, explorations, and celebrations. “Our family is overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages of support and friendship we have already received as we come to terms with the loss of our beautiful man,” said Rosalie. She said Main Ridge Estate began as Nat’s dream of living away from traffic and chaos and among nature.…

ST MACARTAN’S Parish Primary School has won a top honour at the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. Community volunteer David Whillas was recognised for his outstanding contribution to sustainability education, winning the Volunteer of the Year category. The ceremony was held at Melbourne Cricket Ground on 11 June and recognised the achievements of Victorian schools. Whillas has become a familiar face in the school’s garden and volunteers his time each week teaching students practical gardening, composting, and sustainable growing techniques. He first became involved with the school prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped transform its gardening practices by overhauling…

THE Victorian government has confirmed the inner timber section of Flinders Pier won’t be rebuilt, sparking concern from locals who say the decision contradicts earlier commitments. As part of the Victorian Budget 2022/23, $1.53m was allocated towards repairs on Flinders Pier and works began in December 2025. In a statement to The News, a Victorian government spokesperson confirmed the allocated funding has been used towards repairs where possible. In April, it was announced works on the pier would be halted due to a lack of funding (Flinders Pier works halted as funding runs dry, The News 21/04/2026). In May, Minister…

A VOLUNTEER-RUN laundry service is encouraging more Mornington Peninsula residents to make use of its free weekly support. Orange Sky was first started in October 2025 as a free resource for homeless people. For the past few months, Orange Sky has been operating from the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre on Mondays from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Volunteer Linda Perrin said the service is open to anyone who needs it. “Majority of people we see are homeless, but you know, you’ve got people from boarding houses,” said Perrin. “Some people may just not have a washing machine and dryer at…

MORNINGTON’S Jennifer Willis became the first Australian with multiple sclerosis to summit Mount Everest. Willis is a mother-of-three, coach, speaker, educator, and climber, who completed the trek to the highest summit in the world on 19 May. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018 and decided she wasn’t going to let it stop her from doing what she loved: hiking. “Everest was never a dream, but from when I was a little girl, climbing mountains was,” said Willis. “And when I was told it looked like I might have MS, which was in 2008, I made a commitment to…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has voted to join a collaborative gas procurement program aimed at securing competitive prices for some of its largest facilities. The current retail gas contracts for some of the shire’s major sites, including Yawa Aquatic Centre and Pelican Park Recreation Centre, expire on 30 June. At the 9 June council meeting, councillors unanimously approved participation in Procurement Australia’s bulk purchasing process, which combines the gas demand of multiple councils and public organisations to negotiate better rates. Council delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate the new agreement, with a potential contract value of up to…

A COMMUNITY-LED initiative is bringing together businesses, environmental and community groups, and local leaders across the peninsula to strengthen local connections and help the region thrive. The organisation was founded by Tomi Winfree, Mt Eliza resident and regenerative practitioner. Winfree spent two decades working in sustainability research, education, and policy before she realised these approaches were no longer delivering the change needed. “Every time a government changed, the policies changed,” said Winfree. “Everything in sustainability was broken down into tiny parts… and we weren’t getting the outcomes that we were setting out to achieve in practice.” The idea for Regenerating…

Mornington Peninsula Shire is seeking community insight into its draft Integrated Transport Strategy, which will be placed on public exhibition for eight weeks. The strategy sets a long-term vision for a connected transport network across the peninsula. It provides framework for planning, investment, advocacy, and collaboration to help meet the peninsula’s growing mobility demands. At the 9 June council meeting, councillors voted unanimously for the draft to be placed on public exhibition from 23 June to 18 August. Cr Max Patton, who moved the motion, thanked council officers and the traffic and transport team for their work on the strategy.…

MCCRAE-BASED windsurfer Lachlan Vize is preparing to compete at the iQFOiL U23 World Championships in Poland later this year. The championship will take place in Puck, Poland, from 26 September to 3 October and Vize said there will hopefully be a fleet of 80 to 100 competitors. Vize began sailing as a young child before beginning windsurfing at 15. “Through windsurfing, I progressed onto a thing called the IQ Foil, which is the Olympic windsurfing class,” said Vize. “So, I’ve competed on that for the last three or four years now.” He said he loves the challenge and competitiveness of…

OVER 700 people have signed a petition to formally submit a proposal to the Mornington Peninsula Shire for Tyrone Beach to be recognised as a locality. The campaign was launched in May and surpassed its target of 500 signatures in just three weeks. A formal request to consider the area between Blairgowrie and White Cliffs as a new locality will now be submitted to the shire for consideration. Ben Greenwood, campaign coordinator, moved permanently to the area two years ago after spending lots of time at his grandparent’s house in Rye growing up. He said Tyrone Beach has its own…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has issued more than $35,000 worth of fines in the past month as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal waste dumping. The penalties follow investigations by shire officers into several incidents involving the disposal of waste on roadsides, reserves, and foreshore areas. Among the offences was a Clyde North-based company that was fined $6105 after waste generated from its fishing charter operation was dumped on a road reserve. A fine of $2035 was issued to the driver of a company vehicle who was seen urinating into a bottle before disposing of it roadside. An excavation company…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has voted to rename its Climate Emergency Community Reference Group, prompting debate among councillors over whether the move shifts focus from climate emergency action. At the council meeting on 9 June, councillors endorsed a review of the Climate Emergency Community Reference Group, which was established under the shire’s 2020 Climate Emergency Plan. The group will now be known as the Climate Resilience Plan Advisory Committee and will focus on developing the council’s upcoming Climate Resilience Plan. The committee will retain its existing members and updated terms of reference have been adopted. Cr Kate Roper, who moved the…