Mornington Peninsula Magazine Social Pics

Down to business: International Women’s Day proved the perfect opportunity to launch the Women in Business Mornington Peninsula Association at Butterfly Red Hill. “It’s been a long year since a group of local, female-owned business and community leaders gathered to build an association focused on working collaboratively to solve individual and community challenges and to extend our positive impacts,” said the association’s Melissa Goffin. “International Women’s Day was an opportunity to connect with the greater issues that women face, to consider how we may better understand and improve the conditions for all of us, and to celebrate the strength and resilience that has served us over these past two years.”

Peninsula’s best on show

The Red Hill Showgrounds were transformed into a spectacular sea of colour and action as 15,000 people enjoyed perfect weather for the 94th Red Hill Show on March 12.

The first flower beard competition was a real hoot, the weighing of the heaviest pumpkin a crowd-pleaser, and the Golden Sausage Award, judged by Paul Mercurio, hotly contested with Balnarring Village Meats taking the title. The Mornington Peninsula Paddock was filled with gourmet food, liquor and 5-star producers, and MC Richard Cornish had the audience captivated on the MPP Stage with a host of special guests.

The fruit cake and apple pie competitions were highlights for the crowd, and the cider marquee was busy with workshops and public tastings. The new Horticultural Hangout, sponsored by 3MP and supported by the Red Hill Garden Society and the Environmental Zones, included wonderful presenters and workshops, and the Willum Warrain native plant marquee was a big hit.

Red Hill A & H Society executive officer Bec Davis said this year’s show was “touch and go” after the cancellation of the 2021 event. “We needed to have a successful show to survive,” Bec said. “We thank everyone for supporting this community event and the profits made go back into ensuring a better show next year.”

Mornington Peninsula Magazine proudly sponsors the Red Hill Show every year. Photos Mornington Peninsula Magazine and supplied.

Cancer centre fundraiser an enormous success

Last month’s International Women’s Day fundraiser at Mercetta in Mornington was a fabulous celebration of women enjoying delicious food, local wines and a sociable catch-up with friends and fellow business owners.

Organised and hosted by SMART Business Solutions, the event raised $30,992 for The Bays Healthcare Comprehensive Cancer Centre, including $20,000 donated by SMART Business Solutions and Count Charitable Foundation, together with ticket sales, lump sum donations and auction bids. The money will allow The Bays Healthcare to buy three infusion treatment chairs that are essential for anyone undergoing cancer treatment.

An online auction featured more than 70 products and services from Mornington Peninsula businesses, including gift experiences from Intercontinental Sorrento and Peninsula Hot Springs, Crittenden Wine packs, beauty treatments, and advertising campaigns from major sponsor Mornington Peninsula Magazine and Easy Music 3MP.

Without the sponsorships and donations from these wonderful Peninsula businesses, raising such a significant amount would have been impossible.

Supporting the health of the Mornington Peninsula community is something we will all benefit from.

Photos: Mornington Peninsula Magazine Use this QR code for more pics

Women to the fore: The annual International Women’s Day breakfast at Mornington Racecourse last month was again a huge sell-out success. Presented by Frankston North Rotary and proudly sponsored by Mornington Peninsula Magazine, the breakfast featured guest speakers Sharn Coombes and Amanda Leck, two formidable and engaging speakers who are just two examples of the wonderful women we have in our community.