RSPCA Victoria has launched a new program to help victim-survivors of domestic and family violence keep their pets safe while fleeing unsafe situations. The SafePaws program provides practical support including emergency pet packs, access to emergency boarding, and veterinary care for animals that have been harmed or require rehabilitation due to domestic and family violence. For many victim-survivors, concern for a pet’s safety can be an overwhelming barrier, delaying their decision to leave unsafe situations. RSPCA Victoria’s senior manager education and community outreach, Dr Lauren Roberts, said the scale of the problem was significant. “We know people in domestic and…
Author: Sarah Halfpenny
A LARGE boulder bearing the name of David Cassai – a young man killed by a single punch on New Year’s Eve 2012 – now stands permanently at the Rye foreshore, close to the spot where his life was taken. Around 80 people – friends, family, police officers who worked on David’s case and other families who have lost loved ones to one-punch attacks – gathered at the Rye foreshore on Sunday 24 May for an informal ceremony, a catchup and a picnic. The plaque on the memorial reads: “In memory of David Cassai, 19/1/1990 – 31/12/2012. From profound loss…
MORE than 50 families affected by cancer spent a day at Enchanted Adventure in Arthurs Seat on 23 May, as part of a Family Fun Day hosted by children’s cancer charity Camp Quality. Families enjoyed the high ropes course, tube slides and mazes at the park, which has supported Camp Quality for four years through complimentary and discounted entry – a contribution of around $30,000. Enchanted Adventure owner, Michael Savage, approached his team five years ago about increasing the business’s charitable support. The partnership with Camp Quality has since welcomed more than 130 families through the gates. Camp Quality Family…
A PENINSULA wildlife advocate has resigned from the Arthurs Seat Eagle Local Community Reference Group (LCRG), saying he could not be part of a process that pressured him to frame wildlife displacement as a positive outcome. Craig Thomson, president of Save Kangaroos on Mornington Peninsula (SKOMP) and a wildlife rescuer with more than 25 years’ experience, withdrew from the group following the March meeting, citing disrespect toward him and what he describes as the dismissal of wildlife welfare concerns. “Clearing vegetation in a state park kills wildlife. It displaces wildlife. It fragments habitat. It destroys kangaroo songlines. And no amount…
THE Mornington Peninsula has taken home three major honours at the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards, cementing the region’s reputation as a national leader in community-driven environmental action. Held in Launceston on 17 May, the ceremony saw the peninsula recognised in the Circular Economy and Waste Reduction category and the Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero Award, while also earning a Highly Commended in the Young Legends Award. The Circular Economy and Waste Reduction win went to Shell Savers, a grassroots initiative that collects shellfish waste from local restaurants and hospitality businesses, cleans it using volunteers and transforms it…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula organisation and teenage twin brothers have taken home awards at the 2025 Victorian Sport Awards, presented by the Victorian government and Vicsport on 13 May at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Among 19 awards covering athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators, local winners were Mornington Life Saving Club, and sailing brothers from Sorrento. Sixteen-year-old twins, Henri and Miles Levenspiel, took out Young Team of the Year for a standout 2025 season of sailing (Twins ride high sailing into sports awards, The News 22/4/25). The pair claimed first junior at the Australian 9er National Championships, were crowned Victorian 29er…
COMMUNITY advocates say animals continue to suffer at a Moorooduc Hwy property in Mt Eliza, more than 12 months after peaceful protests began outside the site. The RSPCA, accompanied by police, returned to the property on 11 May and seized an injured horse and a dog – the second seizure operation at the address since September last year, when 35 horses were removed (RSPCA seizes 35 horses in major operation at Mt Eliza property, The News 9/10/25). An RSPCA Victoria spokesperson confirmed the September seizure of 35 horses was part of an active investigation that remains ongoing, and that no…
MORNINGTON Peninsula chef Andrew Ballard will take centre stage at the Good Food & Wine Show in Melbourne later this month, curating the Singapore Airlines VIP Lounge menu and unveiling an exclusive Japanese-inspired lamington. Frankson-based Ballard was named Australian Chef of the Year in 2021, and is in his 20th year as executive chef of the show, which runs from 29 to 31 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show draws more than 90,000 visitors nationally each year across Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane events, and in 2026 adds two major new experiences: Bakers Alley, a dedicated…
THE Southern Mornington Peninsula Uniting Church has donated $20,000 to Southern Peninsula Community Support through the proceeds of their Dromana Welcome Centre Op Shop, with a commitment to direct all future proceeds to the organisation. The op shop has been running since 1998, originally from a small premises in Rosebud. When Covid made the rent unaffordable, the shop relocated to a former church building in Dromana, which the congregation renamed the Welcome Centre. The building now houses four playgroups, a drop-in morning tea and Soup and Chatter program on Fridays, and a Wednesday osteopath service for health and pension card…
ONE of only two Welsh Ladies Choirs in the entire Southern Hemisphere will spend the weekend of 22–24 May in Flinders, with up to 30 choristers attending the group’s inaugural music workshop. The Mornington Peninsula Welsh Ladies Choir will base itself at the Flinders Motel for the three days, with the workshop to be led by musical director Tom Buchanan OAM at the Flinders Community Centre. Buchanan is also musical director of the Australian Welsh Male Choir, which is preparing for an international tour that includes a performance at London’s Albert Hall. In the lead-up to the weekend, choristers Marissa…
PETSTOCK stores across the Mornington Peninsula will host rescue animal adoption weekends this month, giving locals the chance to offer a forever home to pets in need. Four peninsula stores are taking part, with events running from 10am to 2pm. The events come as new Petstock Foundation research found one in six pet owners had seriously considered rehoming their pet due to cost of living pressures – something Jenny Cooper, manager of Petstock Mornington Central, said she was witnessing firsthand. “I see a lot of posts on Facebook with people trying to raise money because they’ve rescued a dog and…
WHEN Ben Starick steps onto the Mornington Peninsula coastline on Friday 22 May, it will be a walk 30 years in the making. He’ll mark one kilometre for every year since losing his younger brother Joel to suicide. Joel was just 16. Ben, now 48, was a teenager in Swan Hill when Joel died in 1996. “There was no warning, no goodbye. Just a phone call that split life into before and after,” he said. Three decades on, he will walk the 30km route at Coastrek Mornington Peninsula the day after what would have been Joel’s 47th birthday – a…
THREE Mornington Peninsula not-for-profit organisations are among 251 community initiatives across Australia to receive funding through Australia Post’s 2026 People of Post grant program. Projex J, Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, and Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation each received $2,000 from the program, which awarded almost $500,000 nationally this year. Shivaun Hanlon from Projex J said the grant would support the not-for-profit’s free grief and wellbeing programs for children, parents and families on the peninsula. The organisation was founded by Chantelle Ross following the death of her son Jameson, known as Jammo, in a hit-and-run accident in October 2022. (Keeping busy with…
THE Sydney Writers’ Festival Live & Local program is coming to the Mornington Peninsula this May, livestreaming author talks and panel discussions for free into Mornington Library and Hastings Library. From Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 May, sessions will be screened at the two libraries as part of the national program, which connects 152 venues across every state and territory. Sydney Writers’ Festival Artistic Director Ann Mossop said the festival put four days of programming – featuring both international and Australian authors – on its main stage and made it available for libraries to screen for their audiences. “It’s about…
RESIDENTS curious about passive house design, straw bale walls or off-grid living can step inside four sustainable homes on the Mornington Peninsula this Sunday. Sustainable House Day takes place on Sunday 17 May. A $15 all-day pass gives access to three peninsula homes that will welcome visitors in person, plus an online tour of a fourth property at Red Hill. “If you’ve ever watched Grand Designs and thought ‘I wonder what it’s really like…’ you’re in luck! The famous Cave House in Rye (S12 E3) is one of this year’s open homes, so come and see it for yourself,” said…
Mornington Park Primary School is among 31 Victorian government schools that will share in $294.8m for upgrade and modernisation works. The school will receive $331,000 for its upgrade and modernisation works, with the project due for completion by 31 March 2028. “As a small community school, we are delighted to receive this funding to support important upgrades across our facilities,” said Mornington Park Primary School principal Kathleen Lord. “These improvements will help us create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and safe, while also enhancing the overall appearance of our school for students, staff and the wider community.” The broader…
NUMBERS of an endangered fish at The Briars in Mount Martha have grown from around 40 to more than 400 in a single breeding season, following a wetland management project headed by Briars Conservation and Wildlife Lead, Lachlan Gordon, and aquatic ecologist Gemma Walker from Ecology Australia. The eastern dwarf galaxias is listed as endangered at both state and national levels. The species grows to a maximum length of 3-4cm and was first translocated to The Briars during the Peninsula Link project in 2011. The team reshaped the water environment to better aligning conditions with the fish’s breeding cycle. “It’s…
TWO Mornington Peninsula homelessness services have welcomed a $500,000 Liberal Party election pledge but say ongoing operational funding remains the more urgent need. Liberal Candidate for Nepean Anthony Marsh announced on 30 April that an elected Liberal and Nationals government would provide $250,000 to Fusion Mornington Peninsula and $250,000 to Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS). The funding is contingent on the Liberal-Nationals Coalition winning government at November’s state election. Marsh, the former Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor, won the Nepean seat at the 2 May by-election triggered by the February resignation of former member Sam Groth. “This investment is about more…
YOUNG people on the southern Mornington Peninsula now have easier access to free mental health support, with Headspace relocating to the Tounnin Wominjeka Youth Hub in Rosebud. Headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation and provides services for those aged 12 to 25, including mental health support and assistance with employment, education, and drug and alcohol concerns. Andrew Joseph, from Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth and Family Services, said the hub had been built with youth in mind. “We’ve got amazing workers here that can just have those conversations to make you feel really supported” said Joseph. Headspace Clinical Team…
A FOUR-seater electric buggy used to transport children and adults with disabilities has been stolen from a Balnarring Beach charity that supports vulnerable Victorian families. The buggy was taken from Saltbush Balnarring Beach about midnight on Saturday 25 April. Thieves used bolt cutters on the entrance gate and broke a downpipe when removing the vehicle from a secure storage area behind the front office. Saltbush Balnarring Beach chief executive officer, Keeley Reade, said staff discovered the theft on Monday morning, 27 April. A sensor light provided the only clue to the timing, with the charity’s CCTV not covering the storage…
FOUR Mornington Peninsula projects have been named finalists in the 2026 Dulux Colour Awards, which celebrate the use of colour in Australian and New Zealand architecture and design. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the awards, which drew more than 540 entries across eight categories. A panel of five leading interior designers and architects from Australia and New Zealand selected the 94 finalists. The local projects shortlisted are Point Nepean House by SJB (Residential Interior), Portsea Treetop House by Studio Esteta (Residential Interior), Joy Haus in Mount Eliza by Studio Shields (Residential Interior and Single Residential Exterior), and Crescent…
GUNNAMATTA Surf Life Saving Club is celebrating six decades of volunteer lifesaving service this year. The club, established in December 1966, now operates with around 95 active patrolling members, 100 nippers aged under seven to under 14, and approximately 490 total members, including social members and parents. Club secretary Barry Williams told The News the organisation has five patrolling teams that rotate through the summer season. “The average patroller does 60 to 70 hours over summer volunteering,” Williams said. “Some of our patrols will run through to over 150 hours on the beach a year.” Since its foundation, the club…
MOTORISTS across the Mornington Peninsula are enduring extreme delays as a combination of concurrent roadworks and road closures affect the area’s main arterial routes. A southbound lane closure on Nepean Highway outside the Bata site in Mornington, where private developer Neue Space is overseeing the construction of a new slip lane and bus stop to service its development, has become the flashpoint for widespread frustration at the state of the local road network. The closure is scheduled to remain in place until 22 June 2026. Compounding the disruption are ongoing works associated with Peninsula Link, which has diverted traffic onto…
MOUNT Eliza teenager Gemma Scott has been selected for Australia’s Skillaroos team to compete at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 in September. The 18-year-old Restaurant Service competitor will join 37 other skilled apprentices, trainees and students representing Australia at the world’s biggest vocational skills competition. WorldSkills is a biennial international competition where more than 1,400 young hospitality, construction, tech and trade workers compete against peers from over 70 countries and test their skills. Scott is a student at the William Angliss Institute with a Certificate III in Hospitality and a Diploma in Hospitality Management. Involved in hospitality since she was 15, her…
By Sarah Halfpenny THE Westernport Regional Band’s U19 Jazz Ensemble will make history when it becomes the first non-school band to compete at the Generations in Jazz festival, held in South Australia from 1–3 May. Established in 1987, the festival holds a special place in Australia’s jazz culture, attracting both jazz legends and young musicians to Mount Gambier to learn from each other, study, and perform. The U19 Jazz Ensemble was established in May 2025 to address a shortage of music opportunities for young people on the Mornington Peninsula. Headed by school music teachers, Kate Makrikostas and David Hedges, it…
By Sarah Halfpenny A HASTINGS woman who channelled her passion for animal welfare into grassroots activism has successfully brought a decade-old animal protection bill closer to reality. Tracey Asquith’s petition calling on the Victorian government to introduce the draft Animal Care and Protection Bill was tabled in Parliament by Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell on 2 April. Last year, Asquith heard about horses at 550 Moorooduc Highway in Mt Eliza being kept in terrible conditions and dying from neglect. The discovery spurred her to act. She created social media posts, organised protests at Parliament House and the RSPCA’s head…
PARKS Victoria has ordered contractors to stop work on the historic Flinders Pier restoration just four months after construction began, citing a lapse in funding. The direction issued to lead contractor Bridgewater Marine comes less than five months after Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne announced that works had commenced as part of the Allan Labor Government’s $18m investment to restore some of the state’s most historic piers. Construction had been expected to finish by mid-2026. Chair of the Save Flinders Pier campaign, Charles Reis OAM, said the decision had shocked and dismayed supporters who fought for the pier’s…
By Sarah Halfpenny A BRIGHT blue cypress tree trunk now stands as a symbol of hope on Hotham Street in Sorrento, marking the arrival of the Blue Tree Project to the Mornington Peninsula. The tree, located at McFarland Reserve near the Sorrento Football and Netball Club, was painted as part of a global initiative to raise mental health awareness. The Blue Tree Project started as a grassroots movement in Western Australia in 2019, following the death of Jayden Whyte by suicide in 2018. It has since grown into a worldwide movement, with 1,600 blue trees now registered in Europe, the…