MORNINGTON Peninsula Koala Conservation Group (MPKC) started the planting season on Saturday 31 May with an event in Dromana. Volunteers planted 1500 trees and shrubs over two days after the group postponed plantings earlier in May due to the unseasonably warm temperatures and low rainfall. “We have monitored the weather and soil conditions closely and aim to plant 34,000 trees this season. We want them to have the best possible start to survive, as watering at this scale is not usually an option,” said president of the group Dirk Jansen.The volunteer landcare group has planted approximately 25,000 trees per year…
Browsing: Feature
ARMED with beads, big dreams, and a big heart, 11-year-old Hope Blythe of Hastings is making a significant impact in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND). Every year she makes and sells bracelets to raise money for MND awareness and vital research. A passionate Collingwood supporter, she and her twin sister Olivia (Liv), and Mum Kimberley, who are both Melbourne supporters, and Dad always attend the Melbourne v Collingwood game for the “Big freeze at the G,” which will be held on 9 June for Big Freeze 11. For Hope, it’s not just the game and the atmosphere on…
MEET dolphin #89, a resident of Port Phillip Bay’s unique community of common dolphins. Photographed recently by Ella Hutchinson, the Williamson Research Fellow with the Dolphin Research Institute, #89 was first identified in 2022, and is a playful individual that has been sighted regularly every year since.Earlier this year, #89 was even seen “babysitting” another dolphin’s young calf. Now the institute is calling on the community to help give this curious dolphin a proper name. “With 166 individuals in our catalogue, we only name a special few,” Hutchinson said. “We thought with such a great display with the Mornington Yacht…
TUCKED away in Mount Martha, life for mum-of-three Danielle Busuttil has always been a rich blend of creativity, care, and community. With her three young daughters, Ella, Charlise, and Amelia, keeping her on her toes, Danielle is no stranger to juggling multiple roles. But her latest venture may be the most surprising (and impactful) yet.Earlier this year, Danielle became co-owner of Peekapoo, a bold, boutique brand of eco-friendly luxury toilet paper with a powerful mission: to bring sustainability, style, and social responsibility into bathrooms across Australia. Made from 100% FSC-certified bamboo, Peekapoo is a kinder choice for the planet, offering…
ABOUT 3000 keen hikers have laced up their boots and taken to the trails of the Mornington Peninsula in support of raising more than $1.2 million for Beyond Blue’s 24/7 support service. The coastal hike, held on 23 May, included options of a 50km from Cape Schanck, a 30km loop from Point Nepean or 20km from Sorrento, with all distances finishing in Point Nepean. It is a team event of minimum two people, with all team sizes welcome.Back for its 11th year on the Mornington Peninsula, the event was organised by Coastrek, which hosts a national series of fundraising walks in the…
A BOATLOAD of shells has made a splash in Port Phillip Bay to not only clean the bay but help baby oysters and give shellfish a place to grow.Volunteers at fish habitat charity OzFish, with the Victorian Fisheries Authority, is aiming to repurpose shell that would have otherwise gone to landfill. The group has teamed up with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and with funding from Sustainability Victoria, OzFish is closing the loop on shellfish waste.Once a week, OzFishers drive around to Mornington Peninsula restaurants and seafood wholesalers, collecting discarded oyster, mussel and scallop shells. The shell is then processed and…
MEMBER for Mornington, Chris Crewther MP, will lead a 21km trek along the Mornington electorate coastline, starting from sunrise on Saturday 31 May, to raise bowel cancer awareness, particularly of early-onset bowel cancer, ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in June.The Coastal Walk for Bowel Cancer Awareness is being held in partnership with Bowel Cancer Australia’s #Never2Young campaign, which aims to raise community awareness of early-onset bowel cancer, provide better support to young people diagnosed with the disease, and give younger people a voice in helping change clinical practice and policy.Starting at 7am where Kackeraboite Creek meets the beach in…
SIXTEEN-year-old dancer Hailey Krongold from Safety Beach is proving that you can make a difference with a few good moves – and a big heart. Last month she organised her first dance workshop called Aspire for dancers aged over 12 at Inspirations Performing Arts Studio in Mornington.“I felt as if there are so many aspiring dancers on the peninsula who may not have access to the same teachers and mentors as those in the metro areas due to the travel distance to get to these open classes and programs,” she said. “So why not bring these incredible choreographers to the…
FOUR standout projects on the Mornington Peninsula are in the running for the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards, showcasing the region’s growing influence in architectural innovation.The awards celebrate the most inspiring architecture across the state with the winners to be announced at an awards night on 27 June. The shortlisted projects in Mornington Peninsula include residences House on a Hill, Stumpy Gully House, and The Apple House, as well as Woodleigh School’s Woodleigh Regenerative Futures Studio. House on a Hill, created by Leeton Pointon Architects + Interiors, sits in a rural setting on the Mornington Peninsula, featuring second hand bricks and…
A PASSIONATE Rye community leader who has made a significant difference to her hometown, as well as protecting its natural beauty has been awarded a national honour. Mechelle Cheers, whose initiatives continue to make Rye a better place for everyone, was named the Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero Award at the 2025 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Town Awards during a ceremony held in Beechworth on 3 May The award recognised her outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and community leadership to Rye. This included the award-winning Rye coastal wetland project, conserving the vulnerable Moonah Woodland, Rye – A Foreshore for All,…
THE Salvation Army has been out in force across Frankston and Mornington to raise money for the 61st annual Red Shield Appeal. Nationwide the Salvation Army hopes to raise $38 million this year. Funds raised locally will “will stay in the local community and will be used to meet the specific needs faced by the most disadvantaged and vulnerable”, the Salvation Army says. “Earlier this year, The Salvos released their Social Justice Stocktake; a survey which polled over 16,000 Australians and provided national, state and electoral reports highlighting the biggest issues faced by communities. Within the electorate of Flinders, it…
GOT some unused spectacles or sunglasses tucked away in a drawer? They could be making a greater difference to someone in a third-world country. The Mornington Peninsula’s Friends of Lospalos Inc is partnering with the Lions program’s Recycle for Sight to encourage locals to donate their old glasses to help offer the gift of vision to the people in Timor-Leste. The program sees preloved spectacles and non-prescription sunglasses cleaned, graded, and refurbished before being sent to Timor-Leste, where the quality of eye care is often out of reach. “Timor-Leste is one of our closest neighbours. The Mornington Peninsula Shire and…
Teenage twin brothers Henri and Miles Levenspiel of Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club are making some serious headway in the youth sailing scene. The 15-year-olds recently won the Victorian Youth Championship in April and have now been named finalists as the Young Team of the Year in the Victorian Sports Awards. “We both were honestly pretty surprised – it’s not something we expected,” they said of the finalist nomination. “Just being nominated was already a huge honour, so to find out we were finalists was something special. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved this year in sailing, and to have…
GET ready for some giggles and a whole lot of fun. Mt Eliza-based illustrator Karen Erasmus has launched her latest children’s picture book, Wombat Poos Are Square, which cheekily explores “another side” to Australian animals. Blending humour and education, the book provides some intriguing facts about animal poo and its role in the environment including from the sparkly poops of echidnas, to the vital role of whale poo in supplying Earth’s oxygen. While a wombat character is the main feature of the book, there are also nocturnal animals, reptiles, sea creatures and mischievous koalas to be discovered along the way.…
A FORMER Mornington VCE student has earned a prestigious honour with her impressively crafted recipe book project being selected for exhibition at the Melbourne Museum’s Top Designs showcase.Caitlin Bouwmeester, who graduated from Padua College last year, created the piece as part of her year 12 visual communication design studies, which features vibrant digital illustrations, clear typography, and nutritional information. The exhibition, which runs from 29 March to 20 July, celebrates Victoria’s next generation of designers, featuring 77 student works that re-imagine innovative, renewable and inclusive futures.Caitlin said she was “super excited” to discover that her book titled The Fresh Produce…
THE Mornington Peninsula will pay tribute to Australia’s military heroes this Anzac Day with several events being held throughout the municipality. From dawn services to marches and a range of commemorative events, the peninsula will honour the sacrifices made by the nation’s servicemen and women. This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1915. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said Friday 25 April would be a day to “come together to honour the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation”. “As a former Royal Australian Air Force officer and now mayor, it is…
A VINTAGE aircraft from Tyabb has taken to the skies at the Avalon International Airshow, with a young Mornington Peninsula-based pilot showcasing its timeless beauty. The De Havilland Tiger Moth bi-plane, which is part of Judy Pay’s collection of old warbirds at the Old Aeroplane Company in Tyabb, flew as part of the “Frozen Five” Tiger Moth formation team in front of thousands of aviation enthusiasts on 28 March. Originally designed in the 1930s, Pay’s Tiger Moth was built in 1941 for England’s Royal Air Force, before later being used for “barnstorming” to entertain crowds at airshows and joy flights.…
HOLD onto your pint glasses, beer lovers – Jetty Road Brewing is about to rock your taste buds in the most unexpected way. The Dromana-based brewery has whipped up a bold concoction so unique, it might just be the sweetest idea to hit the craft beer scene: a Neapolitan Ice Cream Ale. The new brew, which features the triple threat of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavours, will be making its grand debut at this year’s Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) festival at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where attendees are bracing themselves for a taste experience like no other.…
LANDCARE volunteers will be able to apply for project grants of up to $20,000 through Melbourne Water’s 2025 Landcare grants program. More than 500 volunteer conservation groups across the Port Phillip and Westernport region are eligible to apply for financial support. The grants, which close 16 April, can be applied to fund on-ground works, capacity-building activities, and community education about native vegetation, waterways, and wetlands. Support grants of up to $500 are also available to help with administration and running costs like taking out insurance or holding events. Last year the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network received support from Melbourne Water…
IT was a full house at Eliza Archery on Sunday (16 March) for a female-only archery event in celebration of International Women’s Day. The day was free for all participants, with female coaches on hand to help, and 2024 Olympian Laura Paeglis in attendance.“This is something we are passionate about,” said Alec Potts, owner of Eliza Archery, and founder of the not-for-profit Peninsula Target Archers that hosted the day. “This is the first time we’ve held this event, and it sold out, which we are very happy about. “We have opened especially on a Sunday to host this event, and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula author and Rosebud-based chiropractor Adam Mackey has been awarded a prestigious honour for his new book in recognition of its powerful impact on readers.Mackey, also known as Angel A, was bestowed the Difference Maker award from Australian company, Store With A Heart, which recognises books that “exhibit the courage, foresight, and initiative to bring about significant change—whether on a worldwide or local level”. It also celebrates authors who use their words to “tackle important issues, challenge perspectives, and light the way to a better future”.Mackey said his book and first novel titled Holy Parrot, published in December 2022,…
OPPONENTS of a luge-style development proposed for Arthurs Seat are ramping up their campaign, holding a public information session to help the community understand its “serious impacts”.The $25 million plan proposes to expand the popular tourist attraction including adding a new observation tower, a pedestrian bridge over Arthurs Seat Rd, a function centre, a luge ride attraction and an “experiential interpretive centre”. But community group Save Our Seat are objecting to the controversial plans by developers Arthurs Seat Eagle in what they have labelled as a “roller-coaster-style luge” for a massive tourism redevelopment.Save Our Seat spokesperson Kylie Greer said community…
PORTSEA Surf Life Saving Club has a proud history stretching back to 1949. A true community club, a testament to its success is its over 5000 members, with over 500 active, that patrol the waters of Portsea back beach.The club isn’t just about protecting those in the water but about fostering leadership and commitment among its members young and old, and building the next generation of lifesavers and leaders. “In the early days, surf lifesaving was a traditionally male-dominated arena,” said Susan Crow, a director of Portsea Surf Lifesaving Club. “We are very proud of our efforts at PSLC to…
THE McCrae Lighthouse will be illuminated in a symbolic display of support for Rare Disease Day on 28 February, drawing attention to the often-overlooked rare condition of myositis.The event, which is part of a global initiative to raise awareness of rare diseases, is set to shine a light on the challenges faced by individuals living with myositis. A group of autoimmune diseases, myositis causes inflammation in the muscles, leading to weakness, pain and fatigue. Research toward a cure is underway but is dependent upon funding and support.The Lions Club of McCrae is throwing its support behind the Myositis Association with…
GUNNAMATTA Surf Life Saving Club’s Jill Douglas has been awarded a Life Saving Victoria national medal recognising her 15 years of dedicated service.The award, which is part of Australia’s national honours system, acknowledges those who “risk their lives to protect or assist the community in enforcement of law or in times of emergency or natural disaster”. Recipients must have served a minimum of 30 patrol hours per year over 15 years to be eligible for the medal.Douglas, who is one of the club trainers and assessors and the junior bronze lifesaver camp coordinator, expressed her commitment to volunteering was not…
A MT ELIZA teenager who gave up his time during year 12 to create positive outcomes in the Mornington community has been nominated for a young achiever award. Finn Mackay, 18, volunteered at Mornington MP Chris Crewther’s office last year, helping with administrative tasks and various community projects including beach hand cleaning. For his efforts, he’s now in the running for the 2024 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards under the community award category for Victoria. The awards aim to recognise leadership, dedication and pursuit of excellence among young people up to 29 years of age.Mackay, who was 17 at the time…
THE Peninsula Raiders have proudly launched their 2025 Indigenous training shirts. The shirts were designed by talented local First Nations artist Holly Ryan. Having painted murals for Hastings Primary School, St Macartan’s Primary and Red Hill Consolidated School, Holly has a special connection with football and her Indigenous heritage. Her great-grandfather, Joe Johnson, is recognized as the first-ever Indigenous Australian to play VFL football, representing Fitzroy and playing in back-to-back premierships in 1904 and 1905. Her grandfather, Percy Johnson, also played 52 games for North Melbourne from 1951 to 1955.The Peninsula Raiders Football Club values community and family, themes Holly…
THE Bays’ new Cancer Care Centre in Mornington officially opened its doors last week with a grand ceremony, marking a milestone in the community.The centre will be the first of its kind to have a radiation oncology service on the Mornington Peninsula, providing the latest radiation therapy technology and techniques for all cancer types. Other services include diagnostic, treatment, and support, with an integrated approach focused on personalised care for patients and their families. The $15 million project was completed late last year after construction began in April 2023. “Today marks the culmination of years of planning and dedication to…
ARMY veteran David Locke knows all too well the inner battles that can follow after leaving the service.For years the 37-year-old Rye resident, who was deployed to Afghanistan, grappled with the weight of post-traumatic stress and a sense of isolation. “I was pretty cooked … I worked for a few years (after leaving the army in 2012) but mentally couldn’t handle it,” he said, which included a time of self-medicating with alcohol and drugs to cope.But it was his love of fishing that ultimately helped him reclaim his life, and more recently, the discovery of Veterans for Fishing (VFF), that’s…
THE Mornington Lifesaving Club is celebrating after securing seven new premium nipper boards thanks to a South East Water community grant.“The new nipper boards mean that more kids can get involved, learn vital water safety skills, and have fun in the surf,” the club’s nipper captain Jeremy Warner said. “It’s wonderful to see smiles on their faces as they grow in confidence.” The new boards will allow kids of all heights and abilities to dive into surf programs and most importantly to promote beach safety.South East Water’s community grants program is designed to support groups adversely impacted by incidents such…