A DECK of cards, a mountain of sticky tape, and a lot of ambition. That’s what students had from across the Western Port area when they took part in creating the tallest freestanding tower at an Inter Schools Activity Challenge (ISAC) held at BlueScope Steel in Hastings on 7 August. Organised by Somerville Tyabb Rotary Club, the event brought together 20 teams of year 5/6 students from 12 schools.ISAC is designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, as well as a fun learning experience – which are all skills at the heart of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).The…
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STUDENTS from Dromana’s Peninsula Specialist College are gaining valuable real-world hospitality experience thanks to a partnership with the Rosebud RSL and disability support organisation Umbrella Support. The program enables students to participate in an inclusive and welcoming work environment while learning new skills in hospitality and customer service.Umbrella Support has been working with Rosebud RSL for the past two years, with the college partnering with the organisation to allow these opportunities. The school’s pathways and work experience coordinator Bianca Barber said they were proud to be involved in the initiative, which would allow students to gain a sense of purpose…
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…
A NEWLY opened food pantry in Somerville is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of hundreds of residents, just one month after opening its doors. Launched on 7 July, Helping Hands Somerville was created to meet growing community needs amid rising food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. It’s operated by a small group of volunteers including its president Anne Raukawa, retired caterer Gail, and retired teacher Deb, who met earlier this year over coffee with an idea of starting a “simple local pantry” offering rescued food and donated items to those in need. “Little did we know then how…
A PLAYFUL, mysterious and photogenic dolphin in the bay finally has a name. The Dolphin Research Institute announced that dolphin #89, a flippered local of Port Phillip Bay’s unique community of common dolphins, will be named Nellie following a community “name the dolphin” competition.Nellie made waves after being spotted in 2022, stealing hearts and even seen babysitting another dolphin’s young calf. Researchers didn’t know whether Nellie was male or female just yet – as it’s quite hard to tell – and the name needed to take this into account.The institute said there were “many lovely and a few wacky suggestions”…
A PENINSULA surfer mum has made waves on the national stage after claiming top spot in the over-40s women’s division at this year’s Australian Longboard Titles final. Eglantine (Tina) Balland, 41, beamed with pride after securing the title at Cabarita Beach in NSW on 25 July. A life-long lover of the ocean and mother of one, Tina described the win as the “happiest moment of my entire sporting life” and a big comeback to the sport. “A few years ago, I nearly died from a severe pneumonia. I eventually recovered but I was left with very damaged lungs,” she said.…
MT Martha mum and sexuality educator Jenny Wood is being recognised at a national level for the quiet impact she’s making through her business. She has been named as a finalist in two categories of the AusMumpreneur Awards including the Children’s Wellbeing and Wellness and the Children’s Online Education awards, which celebrate and support Australian mothers in business. Wood’s nomination is for her work in running Justasec Education since 2022, which she founded after identifying a need among parents to assist them to speak more confidently with their children about sexuality and relationships. She said thousands of parents had spoken…
By Raia Flinos MOUNT Martha local, Lincoln Cole, found relief after years of chronic pain thanks to a locally designed technology implanted in his spine. After a workplace accident in 2013 left him with chronic, debilitating pain, Lincoln’s world shrunk. Before the accident, Lincoln lived an active lifestyle and loved surfing and riding horses. He quickly found himself housebound, depressed, and dependent on strong painkillers. Even standing upright became a struggle.|“I went from being capable and doing pretty much whatever I wanted to doing nothing,” he said. “[The chronic pain] is constant. It’s 24 hours a day. It doesn’t go…
By Raia Flinos AT 94 years old, Frank Brown is living proof that creativity knows no age. A beloved gem to the community of Hastings, Frank has become an unlikely celebrity at FiRST Early Learning Hastings thanks to his handcrafted dioramas.What began as a personal hobby has become a gift to local children and families. Frank creates miniature masterpieces; detailed, life-like landscapes built from dense foam, cardboard, and paint, some of which now sit proudly in the early learning centre.This latest chapter is only one part of Frank’s remarkable life. Born and raised in Northern England, Frank met his wife…
A RED Hill glass studio is celebrating the launch of its book at an exhibition, showcasing the family’s rich legacy and its place in global artistry and broader art world. The book Blowing In A New Era: Three Generations, One Family by Gordon Studio Glassblowers and Gallery is on show at the McClelland Sculpture Gallery and Sculpture Park in Langwarrin, which is also exhibiting more than 130 pieces of Gordon-Donaldson glass art.The event, which runs until 27 July, celebrates intergenerational artists on the Mornington Peninsula, as well as the launch of the book. As part of the exhibition, visitors can…
SAGES Cottage Farm is already home to miniature ponies, pigs, alpacas and goats, and now the farm’s workers are on the lookout for two miniature donkeys.Wallara’s Sages Cottage Farm in Baxter is run by people living with disabilities. The 40-acre farm is home to a cafe, animals, and gardens.Wallara senior manager Lisa Laing said that the addition of donkeys to the farm would help clients manage anxiety and improve their knowledge. “Welcoming new animals to Sages will provide our staff with more species to learn how to feed, groom and take care of – expanding their animal care knowledge,” Laing…
VOLUNTEERS at the Sunshine Reserve Conservation Group have been rolling up their sleeves and getting to work ahead of this year’s National Tree Day on 27 July. The reserve at Mt Martha is a pocket of natural bushland with volunteers passionate about preserving it and seeing indigenous flora and fauna thrive.Volunteers have been busy weeding out invasive plants and preparing for tree planting sessions for National Tree Day. They are now inviting all community members to a planting session at the reserve from 9am to 12pm on 27 July. The event will also include a smoking ceremony.“Unfortunately weeding is the…
TWO striking properties on the Mornington Peninsula have been recognised at the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards. Woodleigh Regenerative Futures Studio won awards in the Sustainable Architecture and Educational Architecture categories. The building, designed by Mcildowie Partners with Joost Bakker, houses Woodleigh School’s senior campus.The Woodleigh School site is solar-powered and fitted with five flexible learning spaces, staff amenities, social spaces, and an outside Aquaponic tanks with native fish. The roof houses native plants and grasses for native butterflies, birds, and bees.Stumpy Gully House was awarded a commendation in the Residential Architecture – Houses category.Adam Markowitz Design and Stavrias Architecture teamed…
CAPEL Sound and Somerville are looking a little greener, thanks to the planting of 180 trees across the two communities. The Mornington Peninsula Shire coordinated effort is part of its Urban Forest Strategy; aimed at improving tree canopy and providing more shade, biodiversity, and neighbourhood liveability.In Somerville, about 80 trees have found a new home on Jones Rd where a passive irrigation system is being trialled using stormwater. A further 100 trees have been planted along Broadway in Capel Sound as part of the recent road and footpath upgrade project. The shire said Capel Sound and Somerville were identified as…
COMMUNITY groups dedicated to fostering connections and improving mental wellbeing can now apply for grants of up to $10,000 through Australia Post’s 2025 Community Grants program.Australia Post has also announced a significant expansion of its Community Grants program for this year, with an additional allocation of up to $250,000 allocated to support grassroots initiatives that enhance mental wellbeing, foster connection, and build resilience in disaster-impacted communities.Australia Post’s community and stakeholder engagement general manager Nicky Tracey said local organisations were best placed to support a recovery process in times of disaster. “That’s why we’re proud to offer an additional allocation of…
THE Flinders community is stretching its fundraising muscles to pump up support for a new outdoor gym at the Flinders Recreation Reserve that it hopes everyone can enjoy.The Flinders Community Association (FCA) spearheaded the idea three years ago to provide a free and accessible way to stay active, while promoting health and fitness to people of all ages and visitors. It has so far proved a success with the association having raised about $100,000 for the project which is expected to cost between $120,000 and $130,000. The association’s major partner, the Mornington Peninsula Shire, has provided a community capital grant…
THE peninsula branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation will host its annual Gala Ball fundraiser next month. The Blue Ribbon branch has been fundraising to install two Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation machines at the intensive care unit in Frankston Hospital. It has now met its goal, and will begin fundraising for a Fetal Monitoring Service. The Blue Ribbon Gala Ball will be held at the Mornington Race Course on Saturday, 26 July.The peninsula branch is also set to host an invite-only event at the Frankston Arts Centre in honour of the four police members who died in the Eastern…
A FATHER at Sorrento Beach has thrown caution to the wind by diving into the water to rescue his daughter. He saved his daughter’s life, but it nearly came at the cost of his own.Peter and his family were at Sorrento over the summer when their daughter got caught in deep water. After saving her and returning to shore, Peter began to suffer a medical emergency. “My son ran over and told me my daughter had gone into the deep water. I tried to see where she was, I could not see her at first. I saw her and then…
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…
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…