Mornington Peninsula Magazine October 2022

The art of grieving

Actor Georgina Haig, who has had roles in Australia and overseas, including television shows Once Upon A Time, Secret Bridesmaids Business and Archive 81, has recently been working on the other side of the camera. The seasoned actor was born and bred on the Peninsula and has written Ashes, a short film to be filmed on the foreshore at Dromana in the middle of this month.

Ashes is Georgina’s first project as writer and director. The film is inspired by a real-life black comedy moment Georgina had after the death of her beloved father Russell Haig in February this year to cancer. Russell was a script writer and filmmaker who had a long list of notable credits in his successful career, including working with Stanley Kubrick as an art director on cult film A Clockwork Orange. He co-wrote Australian hit films BMX Bandits and The Cup and worked on numerous television shows including Water Rats and Blue Heelers.

Russell was a great inspiration to Georgina; they had a close relationship. When they spoke about Georgina becoming an actor, Russell offered his tongue-in-cheek advice with a small smile on his face: "Well, be on time, be sober and know your lines."

“I’d always been afraid of losing my dad,” Georgina says. “He was my rock. Now that it’s happened and I’ve come through the other side, I feel quite strong even though I feel very vulnerable and devastated too. I think losing Dad has given me a strength and clarity I wasn’t expecting. I’d of course rather have him back though.”

Russell was a highly punctual person

and Georgina tries her best to be but sometimes life gets in the way. So when in her grief Georgina completely forgot about the appointment to pick up her father’s ashes, she laughed at the irony and thought there was a story in it.

Ashes is a 10-minute film that tells the story of Frances, who is bereft after the loss of her beloved dad James. In her grief, Frances misses the appointment to pick up her dad’s ashes. There’s a twist in the tale that speaks to the unexpected ways those who have passed continue to influence their loved ones.

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“We’re very excited about our cast,” Georgina says. “We’ve got the amazing Michael Caton playing my dad, which is incredible. Michael and I worked together on Back to the Rafters. In the story the dad is quite cheeky and plays a slightly cruel trick on his daughter, so I needed someone who had that bit of sparkle, that cheekiness, and Michael definitely has that, and Dad had that as well.”

Georgina will also be in the film alongside Michala Banas and Toby Truslove. Ashes will be entered in short film festivals in Australia and overseas. Keep an eye on the Peninsula Short Film Festival program

next year where Georgina hopes it will make an appearance.

“It has surprised me the part that is so love-filled. You’re so sad and broken by it but at the same time I’ve felt a lot of love from those around me. Grief accesses this really raw place. There’s a real truthfulness to that place, so to me as a creative it makes sense that that’s a good place to tell stories from.”

NIKKI FISHER

Russell and Georgina Haig at the premiere of The Cup.

Support for vulnerable new mums

With the right support, being pregnant and becoming a mum can be an incredibly exciting time in a woman’s life. If, however, a woman is experiencing hardship, having a baby can be stressful and overwhelming. That’s where The Babes Project in Frankston can help.

It was founded in 2009 by Helen Parker, who had her own experience of crisis during pregnancy in 1999. "I just needed someone to tell me that I could be a parent, and then show me how to do it," she said. Eleven weeks after Helen's daughter was born, a couple took them into their home. “They taught me about love, about family, and showed me that my daughter and I could be a family and have a great future without being defined by my circumstances.”

Helen realised she wasn’t the only woman walking a path to motherhood alone and overwhelmed, so she created The Babes Project to show women what’s possible with the right support.

The Babes Project came to the Peninsula in 2014 after research showed that some of the most acute need for perinatal support in Victoria was in the southeast. “We piloted an outreach program without a pregnancy support

centre, confirming how great the need for our work was in the area and how impactful it could be here. We crowdfunded in 2015 to open on O'Grady Ave in Frankston in 2016. It is our second centre of three.”

The Babes Project works with women referred by other service providers, social workers, or a family member or friend who has identified that they need support preparing for and entering motherhood. Women referred to The Babes Project are experiencing difficult circumstances such as family breakdown, domestic and family violence, homelessness, addiction, isolation, and mental health

issues.

The Babes Project delivers a proven perinatal program from any stage in pregnancy through to one year after a baby's birth. The program includes support such as assisting women to address challenging circumstances in their life, engaging with other healthcare and support agencies, and workshops teaching life skills and baby care. And importantly, the program provides women with a safe and nurturing space to plan a different future for their family. While participating in The Babes Project, women have access to midwives and can apply for other programs including material aid and labour support.

There is no cost to participate in the perinatal program that has been developed by a wide range of professionals in health care and midwifery, psychology, social work, and parental education. Volunteers are trained as pregnancy support workers to deliver the program. The Babes Project is funded purely through philanthropy and grants so it is always looking for financial support to continue its important work.

One program participant said: "I've been supported by the Babes like they're family, helping guide me through all things pregnancy and baby/mum life. They've given me confidence, guidance, and reassurance on my journey into motherhood. The Babes Project is the community I needed.”

For more information or to contact The Babes Foundation, visit its website at www.thebabesproject. com.au

NIKKI

Pedal power from Capel Sound to the Outback

Many people take up golf or tennis when they retire. Capel Sound resident Lawrence Fisher, 69, celebrated his recent retirement from the eight years he worked at Peninsula Hot Springs with a cycling adventure that saw him cycle 8666km up the east coast of Australia and down through the Red Centre.

In March this year he waved goodbye to his family and set off pedalling on his trip of a lifetime. While he took in some magical scenery and visited places he’s always dreamed of, the trip wasn’t without its challenges. He encountered the nation’s worst recorded flood disaster in NSW and a mouse plague in the Northern Territory. “I had a problem with the zip on my tent – the mice got in and they would hide when I tried to get them out,” Lawrence says. “I’d wake up to a noise and they’d be making holes in the tent to get out so I’d have to sew it up the next day.”

Having been in active work for many years and committed to regular exercise, Lawrence felt physically well prepared. “The psychological part was harder. When you have weeks of rain, or when you’re

Mount Connor, in the NT, was just one of the many spectacular sights along the way.

going up mountains and there’s no one else to throw it around with or encourage you, it’s hard. But the good part was I had to find that in myself to get through it. Head winds were the worst part. You can only go about 7km/h and you think ‘This isn’t fun’. You’re not getting anywhere, and you just have to accept it and keep pedalling. Acceptance is one of the hardest things in life. Once you accept it, it’s OK.”

Lawrence has been a vegetarian all his adult life. His cooking gear consisted of a tiny gas stove and two billies. Most meals were rice and vegetables. Finding fresh food in remote areas proved difficult. “Out of the big cities it was white bread and meat. Hot chips were the only option sometimes.”

All that said, he’d do it again in a heartbeat. Cycling through the desert with eagles soaring overhead keeping him company was a highlight, as was the support and encouragement he received from social media followers. “It was a really beautiful way to see Australia.”

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info centres, accommodation and high traffic venues across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston.

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NIKKI FISHER

Lawrence Fisher’s 8666km cycling adventure was tough going in parts but full of highlights.

Brighter future for koalas on the Peninsula

If you’re looking for inspiration to get a community project off the ground, look no further than Dirk Jansen, president of Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation.

Five years ago, Dirk became curious about the koala population on the Peninsula. He started a Facebook group to gain some local knowledge about where koalas live on the Peninsula and if residents had noticed a decline in numbers. “From Langwarrin to Mount Eliza to Rosebud to Western Port, people were saying the same thing: ‘We used to see lots of koalas and now we don’t see them anymore’,” Dirk says. “That sparked my interest.”

Dirk’s next step was to form a Landcare group. Fast forward to September this year when Dirk was awarded the 2022 Mornington Peninsula Shire Citizen of the Year award for his tireless work in establishing MPKC.

“I don’t take the environment here for granted,” he says. “I appreciate that I can walk out my door and see kangaroos and koalas in Arthurs Seat State Park. That’s amazing to me.”

The Landcare group has grown to about 300 members, and by the end of October MPKC will have planted 20,000 trees since May to establish vegetation corridors linking fragmented populations of koalas. A further 15,000 trees are available for eligible property owners free of charge. “The No.1 reason for the decline in numbers of koalas on the Peninsula is the reduction in indigenous vegetation.”

The group is taking action to offset the impact of urbanisation on the biodiversity of the Peninsula’s environment. By providing indigenous vegetation links between habitat pockets, koalas will be less likely to be injured or killed crossing roads, caught in fences, or

suffering dog attacks.

“We have so many opportunities for volunteers to make a real difference to our environment and provide shelter and food for koalas and other species. As a community, we are stronger when we work together.”

Dirk encourages private property owners to get in touch and talk about tree planting on their property. “The parks that we have like Arthurs Seat and Green’s Bush, they’re not enough habitat to maintain a viable koala population, so we need private properties in between to provide habitat.”

Tree-planting days happen most weekends and are a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and learn about how to make your property more wildlife friendly. For more information or to join MPKC, visit www. mpkoalas.org.au

Shire calls for State Government action to tackle housing crisis

The pressure to find a solution to the Mornington Peninsula’s housing crisis is intense. But Mornington Peninsula Shire is adamant the answer doesn’t lie in tents.

“Homelessness on the Peninsula is at tragic levels,” the shire said in a statement last month. “There are zero emergency relief or supported crisis accommodation options in our municipality and at least 1000 people are experiencing homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula right now. What is the solution forced on us

by the Victorian Government? Tents? With services so stretched, our only solution might be to support them in camping spaces.”

“A tent in a campsite should remain a summer holiday tradition, not a makeshift solution to our housing crisis,” Mayor Anthony Marsh said. “But that’s the forced position we find ourselves in due to an incomprehensible lack of support, interest and funding from the Victorian Government to support thousands of our vulnerable community members. We need at least $100 million

from Victoria’s Big Housing Build program to go toward housing on the Mornington Peninsula. Our community is in desperate need of crisis accommodation, social housing and affordable housing.”

According to the shire, 16 per cent of homeless residents sleep rough every night – many on the foreshore. It asked residents to add their weight to the push for housing money by joining its Shout Out For The Peninsula campaign. Visit mornpen.vic.gov.au/SHOUTOUT for details.

NIKKI FISHER

Free TAFE at Chisholm in 2023

Whether you are starting your career, upskilling or considering a change in 2023, we’ve got great news for you. The Victorian Government is continuing its Free TAFE initiative, which covers tuition fees for students who are eligible for government-subsidised training.

You can join more than 115,000 students who have benefited from Free TAFE since it was introduced in 2019, saving more than $281 million in tuition fees.

Free TAFE is available for more than 50 in-demand courses at Chisholm, across growth industries including community and social services, early childhood education, health, building and construction, automotive, horticulture and hospitality.

At Chisholm, we can help you to find a

Free TAFE course that’s right for you. Here are seven reasons to study Free TAFE at Chisholm in 2023:

1. You will gain practical, hands-on education where you will often undertake practical placement as part of your course.

2. You will learn from industry professionals who understand the skills and knowledge needed in workplaces.

3. TAFE classes are generally small, where you will get to know and work closely with your teacher and peers.

4. Generally, there are fewer entry requirements than universities, including no ATAR requirements, which makes studying more accessible to some students.

5. Studying a TAFE course provides you with credits and a pathway into the higher education sector, which is also offered for some courses at Chisholm.

6. Chisholm is one of the largest training providers in Victoria, with modern facilities and industry-specific equipment incorporated into most courses.

7. You can choose to study in a way that suits you – whether that’s close to home at one of our eight campus locations, online, or in your workplace.

We also provide scholarships through the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation

to eligible applicants to cover the cost of any materials associated with courses. To learn more, visit Chisholm.edu.au/freetafe

CHISHOLM INSTITUTE

A: Frankston, Dandenong, Berwick, Cranbourne, Rosebud and Wonthaggi campuses

T: 1300 244 746

W: www.chisholm.edu.au

FB: ChisholmInstitute

INSTA: chisholm_institute

Ebony lights up business awards

Mornington Peninsula entrepreneur and mum Ebony Flett has a lot to smile about this month. Ebony is known as a passionate Mornington Peninsula business owner with a love for the region and welcoming guests into the wonderful world of fragrance at her Red Hill Candle Co business’s factory experience and store.

Last month her hard work was recognised at the 2022 AusMumpreneur Awards with success in two national award categories, winning gold in Retail Bricks and Mortar, and silver in Homewares. Ebony is a 34-year-old mum to 22-month-old daughter Percie, with another baby due this month.

The AusMumpreneur Awards started 13 years ago and are all about supporting Australian mums in business and highlighting the contribution they make to the economy. They were presented by The Women’s Business School cofounder Peace Mitchell, who said: “With the business mum community growing at lightning speed, now more than ever Australian women need inspirational role models and an inclusive and supportive space to connect.”

At the awards ceremony in Sydney, hundreds of talented mums in business from all over the country came together in person and online to celebrate the achievements of the best and brightest in

the Australian mumpreneur industry.

“This evening has been amazing,” Ebony said on the night, “and it’s a great acknowledgment to be included among all these incredible people. It’s so humbling.”

She attributed her business’s ongoing success to her amazing Red Hill Candle Co team who have worked hard to evolve and grow the store and experiences since opening in December 2020.

Ebony acknowledged the continued support of her customers who trust her team to deliver memorable, joyous customer experiences. “Without all the support of our customers over the past six years the business wouldn’t be where it is now, and we are hugely thankful.”

CHASE CALLING. YOUR

Frankston and Peninsula ‘rip-off’ fires up state election campaign

A new report comparing government grants and infrastructure spending in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula with Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula reveals shocking neglect on the Frankston side, says an advocacy group.

Committee for Greater Frankston says the region continues to be “ripped off” by government.

“Geelong will receive 10 times more money per person for planned infrastructure even though both cities and their neighbouring peninsulas have comparable economies and are similar distances from Melbourne,” committee president Rod Evenden said.

The report, Frankston & Mornington Peninsula Benchmarking Analysis, shows Geelong and the Bellarine has $6.2 billion ($22,823 a person) worth of infrastructure projects in the pipeline compared with $0.72 billion ($2317 a person) for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.

“The disparity has been felt by the community for some time, but this report confirms the gap is now massive,” Mr Evenden said.

He said the region’s had just 40 per cent of Geelong’s spending on infrastructure including transport, schools, hospitals and “community and justice funding” over the past 10 years.

The committee is asking the State Government for a fair share of funds to extend the Frankston train line and revitalise the Nepean Highway through Frankston CBD.

“Miserable is a good description of infrastructure funding the State Government has given our region. And the disparity could get much worse. Unless the State Government agrees to extend the Frankston line and fund its share, we’ll lose $225 million of Commonwealth funds already committed to the project.”

He said the Victorian Government had committed $1.1 billion for South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail extension and $4 billion for Geelong fast rail. Not included in the report is Geelong’s lion’s share of at least $2.6 billion Commonwealth Games funding.

“We don’t for a moment begrudge funds allocated to Geelong but the comparison tellingly shows the massive neglect of our region’s public transport infrastructure by successive state governments.

“Fixing the Nepean Highway through Frankston’s CBD is a nobrainer. Its redesign has been on the books for years.

“Major funding is needed to create a boulevard – like St Kilda Rd or Mordialloc’s main street – to appeal to visitors and locals alike, and connect our city centre with the beautiful foreshore.”

The committee’s vice-president, Pippa Hanson, said the region’s public transport system no longer met local needs. “One in 20 Melbourne residents – five per cent – now live beyond the end of the Frankston train line.

“This means instead of carparking being available for shoppers and visitors, Frankston’s CBD is currently clogged with the cars of commuters connecting with Melbourne-bound trains,” Mrs Hanson said.

“Frankston’s rail extension business case is simple – extend the line 5km to Peninsula Link to bring Metro trains to the doorsteps of 37,000 more people in Karingal and Langwarrin, include a new station to service Monash University’s campus and Frankston Hospital, and open up commuter carparking for 170,000 Mornington Peninsula residents to free up Frankston CBD parking.”

In 2020, fixing Frankston’s public transport connectivity was recognised by Infrastructure Australia as a national infrastructure priority that needed to be built in the next five years.

“It’s time for our fair share,” Mrs Hanson said.

MIKE HAST

Mike Hast is a freelance journalist and former editor of Mornington Peninsula newspapers.

Committee for Greater Frankston vice-president Pippa Hanson and president Rod Evenden are leading a campaign calling on the State Government to extend the Frankston train line to Peninsula Link at Langwarrin, including removing the level crossing at Moorooduc Highway near Monash University and Bunnings. The poster reads “Vote 1 for our fair share. Electrify our train to Peninsula Link”. Photo: Barry Thomas

Learn a new language in Mornington

Mornington Peninsula Language & Culture Studies is a Peninsula-based small business providing professional and friendly services since 2012. Our courses start all throughout the year and are led by native-speaking teachers during the day and evenings. They cover all ability levels – beginners, intermediate, advanced, and conversation – and we have classes on site and online.

We’re proud to offer you the opportunity to learn and understand other cultures with our team. Every term, we offer you different workshops for you to engage with the language that you are learning. We’re also very excited to announce our collaboration with the Spanish company Dothegap, which specialises in cultural exchanges anywhere in the world at any time of the year.

If you are thinking about travel, we have courses designed to give you the basics to make your experience more enjoyable, and we’ll also give you tips and advice.

For more information about our courses and Dothegap, visit our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We look forward to welcoming you to our

Demand from guests for holiday apartments is booming! Is yours keeping up?

If you own a holiday apartment, especially in the northern half of the Peninsula stretching all the way to the heart of Melbourne itself, there’s a chance your property may be underperforming under its current management. Maybe you’re taking care of it yourself on top of your day-to-day life or letting an agent take care of it for you; do you really feel its getting the best attention it deserves and making the most from bookings that it can?

Holiday Rentals Australia is seeing a huge boom in booking interest from prospective guests for their properties which includes houses and apartments. Apartments however are seeing the highest number of enquiries and all the company’s recently launched properties, managed on behalf of their owners, are flourishing. Their latest apartment launch, using the company’s signature thorough approach to photos and listing content, saw 5 quality bookings received in the first 48 HOURS of the listing going live. Their latest house launch received a long, high value booking within just 36 HOURS.

If you think your property could be doing better, call Stephen on 0435 768 514. It might be time you shook things up with your management to make sure you don’t miss out on the unprecedented boom of domestic travel we’re expecting this summer.

Call Stephen today on 0435 768 514 for a friendly no-obligation chat and appraisal of your property.

www.HolidayRentalsAustralia.com.au

language school.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA LANGUAGE & CULTURE STUDIES

A: 14/1140 Nepean Highway, Mornington

T: 0401 332 230

W: www.mplcs.com.au

FB: MorningtonPeninsulaLanguageAndCultureStudies

INSTA: mplcs_mornington

Edible reconciliation in action

Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association in Hastings is all about culture, connection and community. It provides a safe and welcoming space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Mornington Peninsula to gather. And it also serves as an important destination for reconciliation.

One of the best ways to bring people together is through cooking and sharing a meal. Willum Warrain’s Big Mob Cook Up is what executive officer Peter Aldenhoven describes as “edible reconciliation in action”. The Cook Up is held on the last Friday of every month and is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Everyone pitches in to create a bush tucker-themed meal and then sits down together to yarn and enjoy lunch.

Visitors who attend Big Mob Cook Up might help with harvesting bush tucker from Willum Warrain’s gardens and bush, preparing and cooking the meal, decorating tables with native plants, serving the meal and cleaning up afterwards. It is a casual, welcoming event and people can take part in whatever capacity they can.

Lunch might be chicken or tofu with warragul pesto, stir-fried kangaroo or tofu with saltbush and karkalla, or kangaroo lasagne or vegetarian lasagne with bush herbs. There’s no cost and you just turn up on the day at 11am. Lunch is usually served at 12.15pm.

Big Mob Cook Up started four years ago. Fridays have always been Willum Warrain’s volunteer day open to the broader public to volunteer in the community garden or the Bush Nursery, or in the kitchen depending on their interests. The monthly Cook Up grew out of the volunteer days and as a way of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people connecting.

“Earlier in the week Cultural programs are run for the Aboriginal community and kin but on Fridays everyone is welcome,” Peter said. “Agencies visit on Fridays to engage with our Aboriginal community as well. Non-Indigenous people like visiting the Gathering Place to connect with the local Aboriginal mob. We pride ourselves on welcoming everyone who comes through our gates.”

The next Big Mob Cook Up will be held on Friday, October 28, from 11am-1pm at Willum Warrain, 10c Pound Rd, Hastings.

NIKKI FISHER

Magellanic Clouds take celestial centre stage

Two of the celestial showpieces of the southern skies are on show this month, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These galaxies lie relatively close in space to the Milky Way. The irregular galaxy known as the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) sits in the constellation Tucana and can be seen with the unaided eye. It stretches roughly seven times the moon’s apparent diameter across the sky. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is also visible to the unaided eye and is a magnificent sight on the Dorado-Mensa border. Binoculars or small telescopes reveal many star clusters and patches of nebulosity within the LMC.

Also occurring is the annual Orionid Meteor Shower. Orionids are active every year in October, this year peaking on the night of October 21-22. At its peak there are potentially up to 15 meteors visible every hour. The Orionid meteor shower is the second annual meteor shower created by Halley’s Comet. No special equipment or a lot of skill is required to view a meteor shower. All you really need is a clear sky and lots of patience. For optimum viewing, find a secluded spot away from the city lights. Once you have found your viewing spot, make sure you are

comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long –meteor-watching can be a waiting game!

Mercury, the innermost planet in our solar system, will be at its highest altitude in the morning sky on October 8 and at dichotomy, which means that half of its Earth-facing side will be illuminated by the sun. Conjunctions this month include the moon and Saturn on October 6, the moon and Jupiter on October 9, and the moon and Mars on October 15.

October 23 sees Saturn end retrograde motion, then October 31 is when Mars will enter retrograde motion, which is an apparent change in the movement of the planet through the sky. It is not real, in that the planet does not physically start moving backwards in its orbit. It just appears to do so because of the relative positions of the planet and Earth and how they are moving around the sun

For further information about the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, such as public stargazing nights, event bookings and membership, please visit the society’s Facebook page, or website at www.mpas.asn.au

NERIDA LANGCAKE, Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society

The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex (pronounced ‘oh-fee-yoo-ki’ and named after a bright star in the region) is a dark, emission and reflection nebula about 14 light-years across. It is located some 460 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent-bearer. It is one of the closest star-forming regions to the solar system. Photo: MPAS member Chris Kostokanellis

Tinalley String Quartet on stage in Mornington

Come and enjoy some world-class chamber music right here in Mornington as the Peninsula Music Society presents the Tinalley String Quartet on November 5 at 7.30pm.

Internationally acclaimed for its “addictive sound”, “intuitive” music-making and “technical virtuosity”, the Tinalley String Quartet has established itself as one of Australia’s finest string quartets and most awarded classical music exports. In this concert, Tinalley performs a program of quartet greats, with works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven.

PENINSULA MUSIC SOCIETY

HAS PLEASURE IN PRESENTING TINALLEY STRING QUARTET Saturday 5 November 2022 at 7.30pm

at PENINSULA COMMUNITY THEATRE Cnr Nepean Hwy & Wilsons Rd. Mornington Free parking. Seats are not reserved.

https://pmsmusic.asn.au

The venue for the performance is Peninsula Community Theatre in Wilsons Rd, Mornington, with its great acoustics and free parking. Tickets are $55 for adults, $50 for seniors/pensioners, and $25 for under-30s, with school students free. Tickets and further information are available online at https:// pmsmusic.asn.au; at Farrells Bookshop, Mornington; or by phoning 9789 8392.

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mornington PENINSULA

Richard’s keen to share his passion for Mercedes-Benz

Meet New Vehicle Sales Manager, Richard Sullivan. Richard has been working at Mercedes-Benz Mornington for 11 years after starting as a sales cadet at the dealership in his 20s. He has grown to be an integral part of the team and now leader.

Before entering the automotive industry, Richard worked at a vehicle wholesale auction centre, cleaning and preparing the vehicles before they were presented for auction. He has always possessed a true passion and keen interest in cars, which is what drew him to work for Mercedes-Benz Mornington. It provided him with the opportunity to sell a product he feels passionately about in a retail environment surrounded by people.

Outside the retail environment and the automotive industry, Richard enjoys spending time and days off with his fiancé and two beautiful children, who mean everything to him. His other passion is being in the

water and keeping fit, which includes a lot of openwater swimming in Port Phillip Bay. On the weekends he loves getting out on the boat to wakeboard and ski, combining two of his great loves: family and water. Another keen interest of Richard’s that keeps him fit and gets his heart pumping is snow skiing.

Richard has extensive experience in the industry and a vibrant personality with the drive to deliver the best customer service every time. Experience the Mercedes-Benz Edition C with Richard and the team at Mercedes-Benz Mornington at 29 MorningtonTyabb Rd, or call 5902 7201. Ask for Richard to book your test drive!

MERCEDES-BENZ MORNINGTON

A: 29-31 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington

T: 5902 7201

W: www.mbmornington.com.au

FB: Mercedes-Benz Mornington

INSTA: @mbmornington

Chris Crewther driven by passion for equal opportunity and community

Chris Crewther was inspired to make a difference after seeing significant disadvantage growing up in Horsham and Murtoa, and participating in Youth Parliament 21 years ago at Camp Manyung, Mount Eliza. That’s why Chris believes in creating equality of opportunity, no matter one’s socioeconomic status, background, or postcode.

Living in Mount Eliza with Grace and their two children, he’s advocating for better infrastructure, roads, public transport, and services in the Mornington electorate – which includes Moorooduc, Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Tuerong, and part of Baxter.

Listening to locals, Chris has secured $21 million worth of funding commitments from an elected Liberal Nationals state government. Commitments include a redevelopment masterplan and senior students’ centre at Mount Eliza Secondary College, and major sports

infrastructure at both Emil Madsen Reserve (football, netball, soccer, cricket, and skateboarding) and Dallas Brooks Park (soccer).

Taking action to protect and enhance our local environment, Chris has also secured funding commitments to develop erosion solutions for Mount Martha North, Hawker, and Shire Hall beaches, and to save and rehabilitate the decommissioned Kunyung Rd reservoir as a public wetlands and reserve.

Chris has a proven record on local commitments, including the Mornington athletics track, Mount Martha Soccer Club fields, Peninsula Home Hospice building fit-out, Empire Mall upgrade, Canadian Bay Rd student safety carpark, Alexandra Park netball courts, Beleura JFC scoreboard/lights, Frankston’s National Centre for Ageing and Paediatric Emergency Centre, and more.

Ensuring access to quality local healthcare is a priority for Chris and the state

Liberals, with $340 million announced to redevelop Rosebud Hospital.

Chris is also passionate about tackling homelessness. He supports Fusion Mornington Peninsula’s work with young people experiencing homelessness (at the old Balcombe Army Barracks in Mount Martha, where his father was an Army apprentice). Having enabled the local Brekky Club and Donation Chain hot shower service, Chris is advocating for urgent crisis accommodation and a Peninsula trial matching those who can offer a home or room, with people needing one.

CHRIS CREWTHER

A: 197 Main St, Mornington (manned by volunteers 10-11.30am weekdays)

T: 0480 383 143

E: chris.crewther@vic.liberal.org.au

W: www.chriscrewther.com.au

FB: Chris Crewther - Liberal for Mornington INSTA: chriscrewthermp

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Authorised by C. McQuestin, L12, 257 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000.

Chris Crewther with Grace and their children, Yasmin and Edward. Photo: ©️ Joanna Clarke Photography, Mt Eliza

Through Bush Kinder and conservation activities, students from ECC right through to Year 12 are given opportunities to engage in real world environmental learning.

Can you solve this murder mystery?

Mornington Peninsula author Will Spokes has spent much of his life on the water in one way or another. Boating, sailing or fishing is where you’ll often find him. Off the water, reading historical fiction, crime or mystery is his jam. So it makes sense that the story in his latest novel Death on the Ferry Hygeia combines these two interests.

Will spent the best part of a year writing the novel and particularly enjoyed immersing himself in the research. “The story is set in the 1920s in Melbourne,” he said. “It was an exciting time between the wars, past the scourge of Spanish flu, and the Great Depression which was yet to come. Melbourne was still very prosperous thanks to the goldfields. There was a lot to draw on from that time in history.”

The Hygeia, with a capacity of 2000 passengers and luxuriously fitted out, was one of a fleet of three – alongside the Weeroona and the Ozone – that plied the bay providing excursions for Melbourne citizens, trade unions and many other groups. These ferries have

provided street names on the Peninsula and are familiar to long-time residents.

A key event in Will’s book is a spectacular Christmas fundraising trip aboard the Hygeia in support of a children’s hospital. Everyone in Melbourne’s society is desperate to be aboard for this special event, including conspirators in a land swindle. As can be expected, greed and envy play a significant role in the outcome of the Hygeia’s voyage.

Will came to writing after retirement from a competitive corporate career due to a health issues. “When I retired I thought I would try my hand at writing. Two books later and I’ve just sent the manuscript off for my third book.” The ‘accidental’ prolific author puts a lot of care into crafting his stories and always has the reader in mind. “I said to my wife, ‘I’d like someone to read one of my books and tell me that they enjoyed it. That’s all I want out of it'.”

If you’re curious about the drama and mystery that happened aboard the Hygeia, you can buy a copy of Will’s book at www.shawlinepublishing.com.au or www.booktopia.com.au

NIKKI FISHER

Conservation’s integral role in modern education

Learning how to care for our environment has a lot more meaning when you have first-hand experience with the animals and plants who live in it.

Woodleigh School has deep roots in science and environmental education. Its Senior Campus on Golf Links Rd, Langwarrin – once a flower farm – has since the mid-1970s been purposefully nurtured to be a natural bushland environment. While the school buildings are designed to be immersed in the bush, the rear of the campus has for the past 15 years been a dedicated wildlife reserve. The Brian Henderson Reserve provides a 4ha native wildlife sanctuary for several endangered species, including wallabies, pademelons, bettongs, kangaroos, quolls, and emus. The reserve has also played a big part in various recovery programs that have seen populations of critically endangered animals returned to the wild.

What does conservation have to do with modern education? Everything. As future leaders tackling complex global issues such as climate change, environmental education will be as integral to raising good global citizens as language, numeracy, humanities, and science.

Whether it be through bush kinder programs in Early Childhood, or through community service programs for Senior Campus students, children are given the opportunity to engage in age-appropriate, real-world conservation work.

From Year 12 right down to Early Learning, time in the bush is programmed into the curriculum. Students at Penbank and Minimbah Junior Campuses learn and play in natural bushland playground environments and adjoining creeks, which promote a sense of adventure, creativity, and confidence. At Senior Campus, students in Years 7 to 12 are given the opportunity to volunteer their time to feed animals, clean out pens, mend fences and plant out native vegetation both in the reserve and on regular visits to our community partners across Victoria – Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre, Tiverton Station and Dunkeld Pastoral.

DR GARY SIMPSON – Director of Brian Henderson Reserve

WOODLEIGH SCHOOL

A: 485 Golf Links Rd, Langwarrin South

T: 5971 6100

W: www.woodleigh.vic.edu.au

FB: woodleighschool

INSTA: woodleighschool

Dove and Lyre

Fossils Crystals Jewellery Antiquities Taxidermied Butterflies and Bugs

Own an authentic piece of the past

Have you ever dreamed of being an archeologist? Imagine being able to hold an ancient relic in your hands and know it’s yours.

At Dove and Lyre we have been purchasing antiquities for years, offering our customers the opportunity to buy pieces of history knowing they are genuine. These pieces are sourced from recognised dealers around the world, and we have a selection of amazing artefacts dating back to before 3000BC.

One of our oldest pieces is a 5000-yearold Neolithic painted jug from China.

We also have a number of glazed bowls from the Ming dynasty (AD1368-1644).

If you look at the picture of the Ming bowl you will see the base has the same ring around the edge that we have today, to make the bowl stable and not wobble.

We have many antiquities of other preChristian cultures, including the Indus Valley, Thrace, and even flint tools from Quidenham in Norfolk, UK, from around 2600BC. All these cultures had

masters of their trade and apprentices who learnt from them.

We have many examples of intricate bronze, silver and gold jewellery created by these artisans thousands of years ago. Later pieces come from Ancient Greece, Rome, Scandinavia (Viking) and the UK. Even horses and military weapons were decorated by metalsmiths proud to show their expertise. We have examples of Ancient Greek and Roman pieces depicting gods and goddesses, Caesars and heroes. Many pieces are so well made and strong that they can be worn today.

Also included in our collection are pieces from the Celtic and Saxon periods and a vast range of medieval jewellery, arrowheads, fragments of military fabrics and other interesting items up to the 19th century.

Dove and Lyre is definitely the place to come for history buffs who would like a piece of our past – literally.

buffs who would like

literally.

DoveandLyreis definitelytheplace

2nd Century BC Celtic Bronze Fibula Brooch

5 thousand year old Chinese pitcher

8th Century BC Greek Gold pendant

Medieval period silver ring with spread eagle15th century

Viking Era Bronze Mount

Roman Ribbed Glass Flask 3rd Century AD

Roman glass bottle showing dimple in bottom

Bowl showing rim at bottom to give stability

Knight’s Templar Enamelled Seal Box 13th Century

187 Main St Mornington | P: 5902 6084 | Ming period glazed bowl

Ned’s Peninsula Cup a sure bet for fun

Spring racing is well and truly here, and it’s the Peninsula’s time to shine. The Ned’s Peninsula Cup returns to the vibrant and picturesque grounds of the Mornington Racecourse on Sunday, October 30, promising an electric atmosphere with plenty of activity on and off the track.

Back on course in high demand, the Highview Marquee offers the day’s top spot to play for members as well as the public. Featuring live music from Baker Boys, an all-inclusive food and beverage package provided by a selection of the Peninsula’s best food trucks and the central bar, and a prime trackside location to top it all off, the Highview Marquee is the ideal place to immerse yourself in every memorable moment. Lock in your spot now at www.mrc. racing.com

For those on the front lawn, you can expect garden party vibes highlighted by even more of the finest local food trucks, pop-up bars, and a DJ to deliver an elevated experience.

Tots and teens alike can revel in the day’s activities, with a run of unlimited rides, lawn games and face painting to ensure fun for all.

MORNINGTON RACECOURSE

T: 5975 3310

W: www.mrc.racing.com

After three years of lockdowns interrupting all the fun, the team at Sk8house in Carrum Downs are very excited to announce the return of their most popular annual special event – the Halloween Spooky Skate on Saturday, October 29, from 6-10pm.

The newly renovated rink will be transformed into the most ‘spooktacular’ entertainment venue you’ve seen. There will be more decorations than ever before, including the return of our good friend Vlad, who is looking forward to being released from the upstairs storeroom to welcome you at the entrance.

With five years of Halloween party experience behind them, the Sk8house team are guaranteed to scare your socks off. There will also be prizes for best dressed, so dig out your scariest costumes.

Entry is just $16 a person for four hours jam-packed with Halloween fun. Group passes are also available for just $50 for four people. Sk8hire is $4 a person if required. Book online to save 25 per cent on the price of entry, and use the code MPSPOOKY2022 to save. Visit www.sk8house.com.au for session times and to book now.

SK8HOUSE

A: 3/2 Amayla Cres, Carrum Downs

T: 9773 6799

E: info@sk8house.com.au

W: www.sk8house.com.au

Dragons Abreast Patterson Lakes Pink Lotus

Fun, fitness and support for breast cancer survivors

Once surgery and treatment are over, breast cancer survivors can suddenly find themselves in the daunting position of having to switch from a whirlwind of medically driven activity to suddenly being in charge of rebuilding their health, fitness and lives. Being able to do all those things in the company of others who have travelled the same path helps to restore the confidence, spark and sense of adventure needed to permit a full and active life despite breast cancer.

friendships made in Dragons Abreast provide a unique support network at a grassroots level for people living with breast cancer to overcome the isolation that a diagnosis can often bring. Encouraging wellness, fitness, fun and camaraderie for breast cancer survivors through the sport of dragon boating while promoting breast cancer awareness throughout our community is what Dragons Abreast Patterson Lakes Pink Lotus is all about.

Marilyn

Dragons Abreast Patterson Lakes Pink Lotus – whose motto is Connect. Move. Live. – provides a supportive and non-threatening environment where women are helped to overcome physical limitations and improve their health and well-being by taking part in dragon boat paddling. Members come in all shapes, sizes and ages – from 27 to 93. Sporting ability is not a requirement for taking part. While not a formal support group,

If you’d like to find out more, there’s an open day on Sunday, October 30, from 9-11am, and your supporters are welcome to come along too. For details, call Marilyn on 0433 114 338 or Lyndsay on 0425 743 455.

DRAGONS ABREAST PATTERSON LAKES

PINK LOTUS

A: 10 Launching Way, Patterson Lakes

T: 0417 545 872

FB: DAPattersonLakesPinkLotus

Removing the stigma around females in construction

SG Coatings are a team of professional female and male painters who have been providing residential and commercial painting services to their clients on the Mornington Peninsula since 2014. From that time, owner Sophie Grover has been actively seeking new and experienced female painters to join her team.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to many that the construction industry is male-dominated. As of 2022, women make up just 2 per cent of the workers in Australian construction. As a female construction worker herself, Sophie has experienced the lack of females within the industry first hand. “It’s a shame to see so few females working in construction, especially when there is so much talent and opportunity out there,” she says.

SG Coatings currently has four females employed at the company, two of whom are apprentices and two who are fully qualified painters. The business is focused on employing, upskilling and empowering females to facilitate their growth and success.

“I think the problem stems from the lack of support that females receive at school in terms of encouragement to pursue a career in construction,” Sophie says. “If we start to encourage girls from a young age and give them the option to explore trades, we could see an increase of females in the industry.”

Sophie also believes that employers in construction are failing to recognise the importance of hiring females. “More needs to be done to provide women with adequate support in trades.”

With SG Coatings operating as a female-led business, the company is purposefully helping to support and facilitate the growth of young women and their careers. If you would like to speak to Sophie about a new career in construction, please reach out today.

SG

0468 390 058

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344. If you decide to return your car to VCFS at the end of your term, VCFS will pay you the agreed GFV, which will be put against your final payment subject to fair wear and tear conditions and agreed kilometres being met. At the end of your term, you can elect to (1) trade-in; (2) return; or (3) retain the vehicle by paying the GFV owed to VCFS at the end of the loan term after all repayments have been made. You will be liable for any loan contract deficit and additional charges apply if you exceed the nominated kilometre allowance and/or the vehicle is not in an acceptable condition. Fleet government, rental buyers, hire car and chauffeur companies excluded. To see if this product is right for you, please see our Target Market Determination on our website, https://www.volvocars.com/au/l/financial-services/target-marketdeterminations/. Volvo Car Financial Services is a trading name of Volkswagen Financial Services

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There’s a lot more to the Mornington Peninsula than a pristine environment and world-class wineries and restaurants. There’s a rich and in some cases hidden or untold history beneath the surface of many of the places that make up this magnetic location.

In November an ambitious art project titled Front Beach, Back Beach presented by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and Deakin University’s Public Art Commission will take place across 15 sites from Coolart Wetlands to Point Nepean National Park. Eighteen leading Australian artists have been commissioned to make new work in response to the distinctive geographical sites, histories and communities of our region.

Artistic directors Cameron Bishop, David Cross and Danny Lacy led a curatorial team of eight who spent time choosing the locations and then considering artists Australia-wide who could bring their vision for the project to life. “We really wanted to peel back the layers behind

stories like the role of Point Nepean – from the cultural significance of the region for Bunurong Traditional Owners, the first shot fired by the British Empire in World War I coming from Fort Nepean or the story of Harold Holt’s disappearance,” David says. “It’s about celebrating the stories of the Peninsula but not doing it uncritically. We looked at the stories of place we were interested in investigating and then we selected artists based on who we thought would be a powerful respondent to that place and story.”

For example, David came across the story of the chicory industry on the Peninsula. “Chicory was the No.1 drink in Australia prior to World War II and the Mornington Peninsula was one of the biggest areas that it was grown, harvested and produced. Then came the coffee machine to Australia, and people switched from drinking chicory to coffee. So we thought about who would be an artist that could work with that story. We selected Lucy Bleach, an artist from Tasmania, because we thought her practice would be a great mix between that

story and her ability to make a sculptural response.”

Some works will be sculptural, others will be more performative-based. Flinders artist Vera Möller will celebrate the marine ecology of Western Port –specifically the weedy seadragon. Responding to what’s usually reserved for divers, Vera’s work will invert what’s going on below sea level at Flinders Pier. Melbourne artist Geoff Robinson has created a 40-minute audio walking tour to be experienced on site within Point Nepean National Park.

After this large-scale public art project in November, the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery will be hosting a Front Beach, Back Beach exhibition between December 10 and February 19, presenting remnants and documentation of the 15 projects.

Front Beach, Back Beach runs from November 4-27. For more information and to subscribe for updates, visit www.fbbb.com.au

Experience a smarter level of driving pleasure

Peninsula GWM Haval is brought to you by the family-owned and operated Freeway Motor Group. We were one of the first Victorian dealerships for the brand when it first entered the Australian market, and we’re proud to bring you a line-up of outstanding GWM utes and Haval SUVs that rival many of the top ‘marques’ in both safety and forward-looking tech features. Not only that, they come at a range of price points that blows the competition away—a worthy advantage given today’s cost-of-living pressures.

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here are some highlights from some of the most trusted reviewers out there:

“The fundamentals of the new Jolion are solid – engine, chassis, cabin comfort and refinement levels – and the safety, tech and standard equipment list is class-leading. It delivers unquestionable value and that alone will get bums on seats. But our first drive has also made it clear that the new Jolion performs well in the real world.”—Carsales

“Surprise! The new generation H6 isn’t just good value-for-money any more. It’s still really well priced but it has stunning looks, too.”—Cars Guide

“I have to say, the specification – especially given the sharp pricing – is an absolute highlight. There are also things to love, like the cabin fit-out, interior space and standard tech.”—Car Advice

So there you have it. Why not pop down and treat yourself to a test drive?

PENINSULA

A: 14 Wells Rd, Seaford

T: 9786 1022

W: www.peninsulagwmhaval.com.au

Your ultimate shopping,

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Mother and daughter owned salon in the heart of Mornington.

Specialising in cosmetic injectables, eyelash extensions and brow design.

Fame Trivia every Wednesday 7.30pm-9.30pm

Book your team table online or by phone

Every Thursday 7.30pm-9.30pm

Traditional Irish Music Night with Tri Na Ceile

LIVE MUSIC artists Friday and Saturday 7.30pm-10.30pm and Sunday 4pm-7pm

Full Menu available every day with weekly specials

Closed Monday and Tuesday

Open Wednesday-Friday 12noon-11pm Saturday and Sunday 11am-11pm

65a Octavia St, Mornington | P. 5975 3567 www.thedublinermornington.com for all bookings

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Women Connect Luncheon

On Wednesday September 7 one of our favourite women’s groups held their first luncheon in over 3 years. Women Connect met for a sumptuous 2 course lunch at Frankston RSL with guest speaker Dr Jody Richardson. It included fundraising for Dress For Success and was a truly enjoyable occasion. Well done to Michelle Braggins, Pippa Hanson and the team at Women Connect. Mornington Peninsula Magazine has been a proud sponsor of Women Connect since its inception.

mornington PENINSULA

Exciting times ahead for new-look Rosebud Plaza

Rosebud Plaza is bringing a new shopping experience to the Rosebud community.

Over the past nine months, Rosebud Plaza has been under redevelopment to enhance the shopping experience and improve access to the centre. Later this year the launch will showcase a

brand new Woolworths and 10 specialty retailers. The centre will also feature refurbished amenities, mall and ambience upgrades, and changes to the northwestern carpark.

You can also expect to see a welcoming new entry statement and upgraded internal

furnishings. Over the next 12 months the centre will continue to invest in the evolution of the existing precinct with the introduction of Dan Murphy’s in 2023 into the existing Woolworths. The upgrades that are under way will offer further convenience-based variety and reflect the community’s needs for a diversified and convenient retail experience.

Rosebud Plaza is also pleased to be welcoming back some familiar faces later this year. Returning favourites include Ika Sushi, Essential Stuff, Donut King, Goldsmith, and Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse. In addition to these specialty retailers, we are excited to announce the arrival of Boost Juice, Augustus Gelatery, Kingsman Hair and Sportfirst, with more to be announced soon.

Join the community in celebrating the launch of Rosebud Plaza’s redevelopment this December – and be sure to be following the centre’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates, competitions and giveaways to help celebrate Rosebud Plaza’s new look.

ROSEBUD PLAZA

A: cnr Boneo Rd and McCombe St, Rosebud

T: 4435 0100

W: www.rosebudplaza.com.au

FB: RosebudPlaza

INSTA: Rosebudplaza

Artist’s impression only

Women supporting women to be their best

The latest data from the Victorian Women’s Health Atlas shows persistent high rates of family violence perpetrated against women in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula, and higher rates of poverty compared with women in the rest of Victoria. Kit McMahon, chair of Women’s Spirit Project, says: “There’s an ongoing need for support to address women’s health and well-being in this region.”

Women’s Spirit Project founder Jodie Belyea has seen first hand the impact of the pandemic on support services particularly for vulnerable women living in poverty and experiencing domestic violence, addiction, or mental health issues. “We know the community sector supporting vulnerable women is bulging under unmet demand,” Jodie says. “Women’s Spirit Project offers programs that complement existing services.”

One program is The Spirit of Transformation, a 13-week holistic fitness, health, and well-being program for women by women with lived experience. “What we offer isn’t rocket science, but the supportive environment we create helps these women feel normal and restores their confidence to transform their lives.”

The first intake of participants happened in March 2021 in Frankston. One participant said: “I’ve had the courage to apply for a job after seven years and have successfully secured the role that fits around my commitments as a single mum.”

Women’s Spirit Project has a bold vision to raise $1 million over three years to make its programs widely accessible to disadvantaged women in the community. It’s kicking off its campaign to raise $150,000 to deliver its Spirit of Transformation program on the Mornington Peninsula in 2023.

On Friday, October 21, The Spirit of Transformation

launch appeal will be held at Blairgowrie Yacht Club. A two-course lunch will be served, a documentary about the program will be shown and previous participants will share inspirational stories about how they have transformed their lives through being part of Women’s Spirit Project. Stories such as this: “It took some time however I have finally recovered my capacity to trust, a little more, and smile. This was missing due to experiences of severe family violence and being very isolated with no supports. This program has enabled me to reach out for help and get the supports I need to be able to deal with the trauma of family violence.”

Tickets are $70 a person or $650 for a table of 10.

Another way you can support Women’s Spirit Project is by taking part in its Frank to Schanck walk in November. The 60km walk over three days is open to women who are part of the wider community. There are options to walk shorter segments of the course. There’s a registration fee to participate and money raised goes towards continuing the work of Women’s Spirit Project. To learn more about Women’s Spirit Project or to get behind its fundraising mission, visit www. womensspiritproject.org

THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA’S MOST ICONIC DESTINATION FOR STAY AND PLAY

NIKKI FISHER

Get your fresh spring produce – and support local

The fresh mornings, sunny afternoons and spring rains mean there is a whole range of fruit and vegetables coming into season, all grown on the Mornington Peninsula.

The dark sandy soils of Boneo and Tyabb make for perfect vegie-growing lands, while the deep red soils of Red Hill and Main Ridge feature grapes, olives and orchards. Think artichokes and Asian greens, beans and carrots, radish and rhubarb, silverbeet and spinach, and as many herbs as you can shake a fork at – not to mention so many varieties of our perennial favourite vegetable – potatoes.

Spring is also the season for our delicious strawberries, citrus, quinces, apples and pears – and don’t forget our superb seafood, including mussels, oysters, and snapper.

The Peninsula is rich in the range of fresh food it produces, and if it’s grown, bred or raised entirely on the Peninsula, it is easy to identify with our Mornington Peninsula Produce (MPP) brand. The MPP Certified Trademark is a guarantee of provenance, giving consumers confidence in supporting their local farmers and certainty of sourcing their food locally.

You can feed the family and support local farmers, farmgates, greengrocers and butchers by sourcing local fresh in-season essentials. Find other ways you can support local business at mpbusiness.com.au/supportlocal

MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

A: 2 Queen St, Mornington

A: 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud

A: 21 Marine Pde, Hastings

A: 1085 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Somerville

T: 5950 1000

W: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Home

Happy birthday Diamond Coco

Anthony Hansen, owner of Diamond Coco, is proud to be celebrating 15 years in business this year. Anthony has made a name for himself selling exquisite diamond jewellery to customers who appreciate quality and value.

“I love dealing in diamond jewellery because my clients are usually purchasing for a significant milestone event such as an engagement or special birthday,” Anthony says. “It never gets old being involved in such happy times. I also value the trust they place in me to find a jewellery piece that will be handed down to future generations. Time and time again my clients tell me that they learnt more about diamonds in 10 minutes with me than they have visiting countless jewellery stores.”

Quality diamonds and personalised service is everything to Anthony. Being a sole operator working from a private office space, Anthony is able to offer attentive, knowledgeable service and he doesn’t have the high overheads that retail store operators have. Anthony passes those savings on to his customers, meaning he

can offer high-quality diamonds at extremely competitive prices. If diamonds are on your wish list, make an appointment at Diamond Coco.

DIAMOND COCO

A: 6/38A Main St, Mornington

T: 1300 230 630

W: diamondcoco.com.au

The final pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place

Village Glen, one of Australia's largest and most well-appointed retirement communities, has embarked on a major renovation that will offer residents the lifestyle and facilities they'd expect to find in a 5-star resort.

The last piece of the jigsaw at The Hub includes a 125-seat Palms restaurant, a 48-seat gold class-style cinema, Jakes bar for that catch-up with friends, CJs lounge with café and bar offering light snacks and coffee, a new repurposed library, and a repurposed billiards room. The Hub of the Village has always been where residents meet to chat, shop at the general store or visit the hairdresser. Now with the added amenities, it really will become a destination to socialise and relax in a beautiful environment.

In November this year the jigsaw will be complete and the magnificent Mornington Peninsula will be home to reputably Australia's largest and most well-appointed retirement community comprising 50ha (120 acres) of botanically landscaped gardens and facilities. It will contain 11 one-bedroom villas, 217 two-bedroom villas, 346 twobedroom-plus-study villas, 42 one-bedroom Terrace apartments and 16 two-bedroom Lakeside apartments. The facilities include a nine-hole par-3 golf course, a health and wellness centre, an eight-rink turf bowling green, a croquet lawn, a craft activity building, a fully appointed workshop, and complimentary caravan and boat storage.

There has never been a better time to explore what is on offer and discover how you can join this wonderful community and secure a safe, fun retirement future.

Visit www.villageglen.com.au or call for a brochure or appointment on 5986 4455.

VILLAGE GLEN

A: 335-351 Eastbourne Rd, Capel Sound

T: 5986 4455

W: www.villageglen.com.au

Artist’s

Nominate a local hero

2023 Australia Day Local Awards

Do you know someone whose contribution to our community deserves to be recognised?

Acknowledge their contribution by nominating them for the 2023 Australia Day Local Awards.

Nominate for:

• Citizen of the Year

• Young Citizen of the Year

• Community Event of the Year (virtual or in person)

Nominations close Fri 18 November 2022.

Nominate them now!

mornpen.vic.gov.au/ausdayawards 5950 1137

Nominations open for Australia Day Awards

Do you know someone whose efforts within our community should be recognised? Have you been to a local community event you enjoyed? If you know a friend, family member, co-worker or school friend who has gone above and beyond to make our Peninsula a better place, nominate them for a 2023 Australia Day Award.

You can now acknowledge someone’s outstanding contribution to our community by nominating them in the categories of Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year. Nominations for Community Event of the Year are also open where you can recognise a great community event – either in-person or virtual – that you have attended or helped to organise.

Winners of the 2022 awards were: Citizen of the Year, Dirk Jansen; Young Citizen of the Year, Oliver WalkerPeel; Community Event of the Year, Flinders Motoring Heritage; Local Champion Award, Geraldine Bilston; Local Champion Award, Roslyn Ferres; and Lifetime Achievement Award, David Pullin.

Nominations are open and close on Friday, November 18. You can nominate online by visiting mornpen.vic.gov. au/ausdayawards, or you can contact governanceteam@ mornpen.vic.gov.au

MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

A: 2 Queen St, Mornington

A: 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud

A: 21 Marine Pde, Hastings

A: 1085 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Somerville

T: 5950 1000

W: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Home

Experience the joy of volunteering

Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to your community, meet people and feel a sense of belonging. Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and achievement. It can help you feel you’re part of the community and help you feel better about yourself. You can share your talent, learn new skills, or meet new people and experience the joy of being around others.

We spoke to volunteers from Meals on Wheels, our emergency services, a local community house and Mornington Community Information and Support Centre and created a series of short videos to give you an insight into the life of a local volunteer. To watch the videos or learn more about volunteering, visit mornpen.vic.gov.au/volunteerlocally

Ever thought about volunteering? You can drop in to our Volunteer Information Hub at the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre to chat about what opportunities might be available for you. Open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm, the hub provides a faceto-face service, giving you information on what volunteering roles might suit you, access to the internet to view current volunteering vacancies, and contact details for local organisations. Search for current volunteering vacancies at volmornpen.com.au

MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

A: 2 Queen St, Mornington

A: 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud

A: 21 Marine Pde, Hastings

A: 1085 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Somerville

T: 5950 1000

W: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Home

Through our range of tailored aged care services, we are committed to helping people realise their wellbeing goals and lead meaningful lives.

We focus on every person as an individual so we can provide the best possible care and help them find the smile in every day.

Talk to us today and discover the Regis difference.

That’s why we’ve been nurturing trusted connections with our employees, clients, residents and their families for nearly 30 years.

Cheviot Beach no stranger to tragedy

When the Prime Minister of Australia, Harold Holt, was reported missing after swimming at Cheviot Beach on December 17, 1967, few Australians knew why the beach had that name.

Harold Holt was an enthusiastic swimmer and enjoyed spearfishing at the site. With friends he had watched Alec Rose pass through the Heads in his yacht Lively Lady after a singlehanded passage of 155 days from Portsmouth, UK, and decided to have a swim before lunch. He swam out through the waves and was never seen again.

Eighty years earlier, Cheviot Beach was where the steamer s.s. Cheviot was wrecked on October 19, 1887. She had departed from Melbourne bound for Sydney and was passing through The Rip against a strong south-westerly gale when she lost all power because of some fault with the propeller. The captain decided to set the sails in the hope of keeping clear of the land but was unable to make any headway against the violent wind and very rough sea. Her anchors were dropped but they

The s.s. Cheviot, built at Newcastle, UK, in 1870, was 70m long. From a painting by Allan C. Green (1878-1954); State Library of Victoria

found the telegraph line and followed it to the fort at Point Nepean was able to tell rescuers where the wreck had occurred. It was a very dark night and they had to wait for the dawn to see the stern of the ship, where it remained on the rocks. A rocket line fired across it enabled a rope to be set up to carry the survivors to the beach one at a time. Twenty-four were saved, with the captain being the last ashore; 35 lives, mainly from the fore section, were lost.

A very detailed account, including statements by the captain, crew members and passengers, is on page 4 of the Melbourne Argus of October 21, 1887 (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/280066).

MAURIE HUTCHINSON

dragged, and the Cheviot struck the rocks about 9pm and soon afterward broke in two.

Many of the passengers and crew were in the fore section, which quickly broke up, throwing them into the dreadful waves. Few survived, as even the strongest swimmers died after being driven against the rocks. The stern, however, remained stuck fast on the rocks, though being battered by the huge waves. A survivor who had

President, Peninsula Ship Society

T: 9787 5780

E: mauriehutch@gmail.com

The Peninsula Ship Society meets at Hastings Yacht Club on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am. Visitors are welcome.

Be captivated by the charm of Mount Eliza Village

If you’re looking for a fabulous spring retail experience, head to Mount Eliza Village and explore the wonderful boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Be greeted warmly by the slow-paced, friendly atmosphere of a vibrant local community, and take time to shop, eat, drink and chill.

This shady, tree-lined village is home to an interesting mix of independent shops with not a chain store in sight. You’ll find fashion, homewares, specialist food and wine merchants plus the best quality fresh produce and no shortage of beauty, personal pampering services and health specialists too.

Remember the days of quality customer service? Well,

Hello Chyka!

Coastal Agents is delighted to announce their inaugural spring lunch with Chyka Keebaugh as guest speaker, and it's all for a great cause. Primarily a fundraising event for cancer research, Coastal Agents is hoping to raise much-needed funds for the Forgotten Cancers Project. Grab your friends, frock up and celebrate spring while enjoying the coastal ambience of the Ranelagh Club in Mount Eliza.

Chyka Keebaugh is a successful businesswoman, events styling powerhouse, social media influencer, media personality, editor-in-chief of her own online magazine chyka.com and author of the books Chyka Home and Chyka Celebrate. Chyka is recognised as a major player in the business world, as she and her husband established catering and events companies The Big Group and The Commons Collective. With a home on the Mornington Peninsula, we’re proud to claim Chyka as a local.

Relax over a two-course lunch while listening to the fabulous Chyka talking all things home, food

and lifestyle. We will also have some incredible Mornington Peninsula artisans holding stalls on the day for some pre-Christmas shopping, and a very exciting raffle is planned.

Coastal Agents is extremely proud to be a sponsor of the Forgotten Cancers Project, which is a Cancer Council Victoria initiative started by Mount Eliza local Jo Gunnerson. Personally touched by cancer, Jo started the Forgotten Cancers Project several years ago to raise funds through the sale of Christmas cakes and shortbread for research into the statistically less common yet equally devastating cancers that frequently affect our community and loved ones. To date the Forgotten Cancers Project has raised nearly $200,000.

Tickets are limited and selling fast, so save the date of October 21, round up your friends and book online at Eventbrite now at https://bit.ly/3UeThCP

COASTAL AGENTS

A: 50 Ranelagh Drive, Mount Eliza

M: Liz, 0417 559 992

M: Meg, 0400 190 242

M: Sarah, 0408 543 435

W: www.coastalagents.com.au

it still exists here in abundance. Be looked after in many cases by the business owners themselves. They have knowledge and passion for the goods and services they provide.

Mount Eliza Village is busy each weekday for shopping, plus Saturdays until 3pm, but here Sundays still remain sleepy with limited shops open as owners take some precious family time. The exception is on the fourth Sunday of each month when the popular Mount Eliza Farmers’ Market takes place on the street from 9am-1pm. Follow Mount Eliza Village on Facebook and Instagram @mteliza_village for your retail inspiration and enjoy the best-kept shopping secret on the Mornington Peninsula.

Exciting changes at Peninsula Endermologie

After a “tricky” couple of years, Peninsula Endermologie has decided to have a fresh start. But don’t panic!

Niamh is still offering the clinically proven, non-invasive treatment for cellulite, body contouring and skin firming. It’s just that after celebrating six years and hundreds of happy clients, she’s designed a clean new look for the Mount Eliza-based business – and what’s even more exciting is she’s upgraded to the latest whizz-bang LPG technology called The Alliance.

The Alliance is the latest in a long line

of tried and tested endermologie technologies. This new machine has been proven to smooth cellulite by 67plus per cent, increase skin firmness by 80-plus per cent and take an average of 5.2cm off the waistline with visible results in just three sessions!

Endermologie offers a wealth of health benefits too. “Many of my clients come to get rid of their cellulite and stubborn fat or to experience the spectacular anti-ageing facial, but they keep coming back because it makes them feel amazing,” Niamh says. “It’s the

best lymphatic massage you can get, relieving tired, heavy legs and boosting the body’s natural immunity.”

If you want a slimmer, smoother, toned and – most importantly – healthier body, book a consultation with Niamh today.

PENINSULA ENDERMOLOGIE WELLNESS & CELLULITE SOLUTIONS

A: 120 Humphries Rd, Mount Eliza

M: 0434 946 209

W: peninsulaendermologie.com

FB: peninsula.endermologie

INSTA: peninsula.endermologie

Your children will feel right at home

Nestled in the leafy suburb of Mount Eliza, Mt Eliza House Sanctuary of Early Learning was established in 1996 and has been providing a consistent quality of care ever since. Only a stone’s throw from the bay, we travel via our centre bus and incorporate Beach and Bush Kinder weekly into our program.

With large natural outdoor environments and six inviting rooms, the children spend their days exploring their world, creating positive friendships and developing empathy and respect. Our curriculum reinforces connections with nature and encourages autonomy, problem-solving and creativity.

We invite you to tour our service to see for yourself the home-like play spaces and feel the family and community vibe that is Mt Eliza House.

Find style and inspiration at Sonsie Boutique

In Scottish poetry, ‘sonsie’ refers to the bringing of joy and good luck. Fittingly, Gwen Dinmore chose to name her new Mount Eliza business Sonsie Boutique. “Being from Scotland, I feel lucky to be able to be part of the Mount Eliza shopping experience,” Gwen said.

“Being immersed in the fashion industry as a womenswear buyer throughout my career has given me the opportunity to work with major brands in the UK, NZ and Australia including Myer and David Jones. Having always been so inspired by Melbourne’s diverse fashion, I am so excited to bring Sonsie Boutique to life in beautiful Mount Eliza.”

Sonsie presents a range of quality on-trend women’s clothing, fashion labels that highlight local brands and clothing designed in Australia and New Zealand. At Sonsie you will find looks that provide style and inspiration, including co-ordinated collections, dresses, casualwear, denim and activewear.

“We ensure you’re ready for the season ahead with a range of accessories including bags, shoes, jewellery and sunglasses. Look out for our exclusive swimwear range Bring It In Swim – elegant on the outside with constructed shapewear underneath – just in time for summer.”

SONSIE BOUTIQUE

A: 5/54 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza T: 5909 0995 INSTA: sonsie.boutique

We are a dynamic team, recognised as leaders in our field, and your trusted ally and advocate.

We are a dynamic team, recognised as leaders in our field, and your trusted ally and advocate.

Our campaigns get attention and inspire action, our relationships build loyalty and our track record shows us consistently outperforming the average days on market, regardless of the property cycle. Let us help you.

Vicki Sayers Katrina O’Carroll Pietra Vieira

Our campaigns get attention and inspire action, our relationships build loyalty and our track record shows us consistently outperforming the average days on market, regardless of the property cycle.

Let us help you.

Vicki Sayers Katrina O’Carroll Pietra Vieira

PENINSULA 0410 416 987 0414 578

0410 416 987 0414 578

0452 569

We have Mount Eliza covered... 0452 569

A rewarding career awaits at Henrietta’s

Like many businesses, Henrietta’s Help @ Home is challenged to grow staff numbers.

“This has often been upsetting, not being able to take up new inquiries,” says director Stephanie Tate. “There have been tears from new mums, sadness from people needing extra help with ageing parents or partners, as well as our inability to support women who are wanting to return to work.

“The core of the business is built on longstanding clients and staff. We feel we have the formula right in

managing being a service provider and staff manager.”

HHH has a very successful staff contract, providing regular hours with recurring clients to predominantly part-time staff. This is a mutual choice, with staff nominating the days and number of hours they are available to work at the start. Also, each job is a minimum of three hours.

“Life’s experience and previous qualifications are also well considered,” Stephanie says. “This allows staff to work in several service areas, again giving them and the clients rewarding interaction.”

If you are interested in joining the team, please call Stephanie (‘Henrietta’) for a chat.

HENRIETTA’S HELP @ HOME

T: 9766 1099 or 0425 733 290

W: www.henriettashelpathome.com.au

FB: Henriettas Help at Home

Cancer research volunteer celebrates a win

A cancer diagnosis is shocking, but it can also bring perspective and focus to a person’s life. Mount Eliza resident Geoff Nyssen is proof of that. In 2014 Geoff was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. “First and foremost, I’m dad to Riley and Georgia and husband to Sarah,” the father of two says. He’s also a dedicated volunteer across several organisations working towards a cure for blood cancers.

Last month Geoff took out the Volunteer of the Year Award from Third Sector. Third Sector defines itself as the “voice and advocate for the social sector”. Geoff was nominated for the award by Snowdome Foundation, the only not-forprofit organisation exclusively focused on raising funds to support research into blood cancers. “Whilst Snowdome nominated me, they then very kindly reached out to Myeloma Australia, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and they all jumped on board to generate support for me to be recognised with this award,” Geoff says. “It’s been very humbling.”

Regular readers of Mornington Peninsula Magazine will know that one of the ways Geoff

raises money for blood cancer research is through My Mount Eliza Run and Fun Festival, an annual event founded by Geoff and some friends. The fun run has raised more than $320,000 in six years, fully funding one clinical trial and partly funding a second one.

“It’s a huge event,” he says. “We have up to 1000 participants. It’s run wholly by volunteers, and the aim is to raise awareness and to create a space where people with myeloma can bring their family and have some fun while raising money for research to try and find a cure for this cancer.”

The next festival will be held in March 2023. You can find out more about My Mount Eliza Run and Fun Festival at www. mymounteliza.org.au

NIKKI FISHER

Child Care

Babysitters, Nannies, and Nanna Nannies Wedding Nannies Nannies who cook!

Senior Support

Home Management

Companionship

Transport to appointments Assistance with menu planning & shopping

Home Care

Residential cleaning

Home management includingsome laundry Special cleans – fridge, pantry etc to existing clients

Wedding & Event Assistants

Wedding babysitters & nannies

Wedding senior carers Kitchen, bar & wait staff for private hospitality and events.

Stunning new stock at Gouzlan

Gouzlan Egyptian Jewellery owner/operator

Cheryl Young has just been on a buying trip to Dubai and Egypt, so that means there’ll be a magnificent new range of jewellery to view in store from early November. Whether you’re searching for a special gold ring with semi-precious stones for a loved one, or a chic necklace to accessorise a special occasion outfit, Gouzlan Egyptian Jewellery has the right piece for you.

Cheryl’s expert eye for premium quality continues to deliver a stellar range of jewellery you won’t find anywhere else. Her elegant store in Mount

Eliza has developed a reputation on the Peninsula and beyond for offering an exquisite range of unique jewellery and also provides expert repair and remodelling services so the jewellery you’ve been storing away can live another day.

Come into Gouzlan Egyptian Jewellery to experience individual statement-making natural creations that deliver timeless beauty. This is the home of stunning jewellery brought from across the ocean especially for you.

GOUZLAN GROUP AUSTRALIA

A: 76A Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza

T: 9787 0100

W: www.egyptianjewelleryaustralia.com.au

Exciting additions to Ritchies Village Mt Eliza

Ritchies Village Mt Eliza would like to welcome our newest retailer, Katie’s Koffee, located in shop 4 between Mt Eliza Optical and Ritchies Liquor. Katie offers not only great coffee but also vegan cakes and slices, toasted sandwiches, baguettes and a range of freshly made salads.

We are also looking forward to the grand opening of To You From Me, who are in the process of moving into the larger premises next door to their existing shop. To You From Me will expand their already wonderful range of homewares and gifts and will include a café within their premises. With the grand opening expected just in time for Christmas

shopping, what better time to visit the centre, check out the new retailers, tick some gifts off the shopping list then relax and enjoy a coffee.

Ritchies Village Mt Eliza is also home to Ritchies Fine Food and Wine,Terry White Chemmart, Mt Eliza Optical, Fat Williams Variety Store, Reprieve Recycled Clothing, Eliza Health Foods and Gifts, Chris Yates

Fashion, Black Fox Real Estate, To You From Me, and Tony Techfix.

RITCHIES VILLAGE MT ELIZA

A: 89 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza

T: 9947 5112

W: www.ritchiesvillage.com.au

FB: ritchiesvillage

The wonders of Western Port

If you haven’t explored Western Port and its seaside villages in a while, it’s high time you do. The slower pace of life still exists here and it’s part of the charm. The uncrowded beaches are perfect for beachcombing or fishing and there are so many wonderful shops, cafes, restaurants, markets, and events to experience.

People have time to stop and chat on this side of the Peninsula, where you’ll be made to feel welcome and glad that you visited. From the Balnarring Picnic Races to the Balnarring Sustainability Fair, the offerings are diverse and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Have a wonderful farm stay getaway at Wilindi Estate in Tyabb, or while away the hours in Flinders Village where you’ll find delicious delights at Flinders General Store and luxury fashion at Little Alpaca.

Wander your way through Red Hill, Merricks, Somers, and Shoreham discovering galleries, wineries and farmgates.

And if you want to soak up the spring sunshine and sea air, walk along Hastings foreshore walking track and take in the views of the mangroves then stop to count the pelicans on the jetty.

Western Port is the place you can immerse yourself in nature and get your culinary or retail fix too. Allow plenty of time to discover all there is to fall in love with here. We’ve compiled a feature on the following pages to get you started. Enjoy!

Little Alpaca is a specialty natural fibre store, nestled in the heart of the beautiful coastal town of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula

In addition we sell

Leather gloves by Dents Gumboots by Bogs Australia

Ugg Boots & Sheepskins by Ugg Australia

All Knitwear for Ladies & Men to many brands to list!

Linen by Valia, Manteau Noir, Lorena Laing Jeans and Pants/ shirts by Brax Germany

Plus much more!

Unit 2, 48 Cook St, Flinders

www.littlealpaca.com.au P. 0403 836 710

Leather Country boots by Dubarry Yarn, Lotions & Soaps Jewellery

Flinders General Store has been servicing Flinders and the surrounding region since 1866. Broad range of locally grown fruit and vegetables, artisan breads, free-range and grass-fed meat, cheese, olives, honey and a huge wine selection just to get you started. Ensure you take time out to relax and enjoy a great coffee and a bite to eat at the coffee bar.

mornington

Neglected farm animals get a second chance

Wilindi Estate owner Miriam Heatherich has a long history of working with both vulnerable children and animals. This passion has led to the creation of the one-of-a-kind luxury farm stay at Tyabb on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula.

Wilindi Estate is a wonderful place in which to relax and get a taste of peaceful farm life. It offers two two-bedroom cottages and a studio cottage, each with its own private, fenced garden. The interiors have been curated with an eclectic mix of contemporary and antique farm furnishings.

Miriam’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned and neglected farm animals. Through the advocacy of farm animals in need, she aims to build and educate a humane community that promotes compassion and seeks to strengthen the human-animal bond. Registered nationally with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, Herd Harmony operates from Wilindi Estate, where Miriam continues to work with animals and children and provides a unique educational experience for her guests and their families.

Miriam has successfully rescued horses from the slaughter pipeline and others who have been abandoned. A team of qualified equine vets, dentists and farriers provide integral support in nurturing each horse back to full health. Once well, the horse can then be behaviourally assessed, trained, and eventually rehomed.

Luxury Farm

Sustainability through education and inspiration

The Balnarring Community Sustainability Fair will run as a twilight event on Saturday, October 8, from 3-7pm at Balnarring Primary School and the surrounding Balbirooroo Wetlands. The fair will open with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by a Boon Wurrung Foundation representative and is designed to inform, educate and inspire visitors to work towards a more sustainable future.

There will be workshops, presentations, children’s activities, wetland tours, food and drinks, market stalls, an art auction and more, along with live entertainment including an outdoor disco.

The Balnarring Environmental Action Team will take a guided tour through the thriving wetlands, and school students will be selling handmade gifts. The Pre Loved Department Store will feature a treasure trove of pre-loved items, including books, clothing and kitchenware. The art department, in addition to its famous art auction, is unveiling a new initiative this year titled Unearthed, in which visitors can buy artworks before knowing the artist behind them.

There will be an opportunity to recycle some of your unwanted home goods at the Mornington Peninsula e-waste trailer, including small electricals, clothing, shoes, bags and hats. Visitors can also bring their clean and empty bottles and jars to have them filled with Roving Refill’s eco-friendly detergents and cleaners, and Hastings

Repair Cafe will mend any broken household items you bring along.

Proceeds from the fair will go towards the school’s sustainability curriculum programs, maintaining and caring for the wetlands, and the school’s sustainability, animal and gardening hub Bimblemeer.

This fair is single-use plastic-free and visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnicware. Entry is by gold coin donation, and sponsors include Bendigo Bank Balnarring, Tall Trees, Event Logistics Group, Montalto, Red Hill Brewery, Lions Club, Myers Solar, Balnarring Preschool, Westernport Bicycle Centre, Mamas Bohemian Bazaar, Natural Outlook, Blue Scope Steel, Westernport Vet, Westernport Biosphere, Torello, Homes and Acreage, Pauls Art Shop, Balnarring Bowls Club, and Galaxy Print. Mornington Peninsula Magazine and MP News Group are the media partners. For more information, stall inquiries and sponsorship applications, please visit www.balnarringsusfair.com.au or call Balnarring Primary School on 9531 4444.

Engaging the right agent to look after your investment property is worth investing in

John Woolley

Property Management Maintenance & Accounts

Being a Licensed estate agent and having a Certificate IV in Finance, John Woolley is responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day operations of our accounts department.

He loves the fact that his role allows him to meet new people in our community, especially through the local sporting clubs that we sponsor. A born and bred local, John lives and breathes the area and knows it like the back of his hand.

John also is our specialist for property management maintenance for all our rentals. Because of his long-standing 27 years of experience in the building industry, John ensures high level of detail and commendable work ethic with everything he does. John is always available with all maintenance requests and routine inspections

Megan Harris

Senior Property Manager

With a background in customer service and 15 successful years in the Real Estate Industry, Megan has the knowledge and dedication to assist your property needs with the best results possible.

Megan began her career at the age of 19, she climbed from Reception to Property Manager, Business Development Manager to Residential Department Manager in a few short years proving that she always strives for the top.

Megan’s well earned reputation is based on respect, loyalty, integrity and trust. Her vivacious personality and passion for customer service ensures she builds long term relationships with all of her clients.

Megan has an astute eye for detail, diligent work ethic and a ‘can do’ attitude, even with the largest of challenges. Her passion for Real Estate and strong commitment to providing exceptional service ensures she is getting the very best out of every property she works with.

For the month of October, Roberts & Green are offering two months free management to any new client that transfers their investment property over to our company.

Learning and Leadership

The importance of both at Western Port Secondary College

Get the gossip…

It has been a busy Semester and a half in 2022 at WPSC and being out of Covid lockdowns has provided freedom and some challenges. It is with great enthusiasm that our students have embraced all excursions, incursions, events and seeing their friends and staff again.

In Student Leadership, our CARE captains are living our school values of Community, Achievement, Respect and Engagement and have been busy completing their Legacy Projects across this year. These projects are based off College student voice; Uniform additions, new Drink Taps in locations close to our new Fitness Centre and outdoor active spaces, new Playground, Landscaping project with an additional 4 square courts, Term 4 Leadership Camp and an MND Fundraiser in the form of a Footy colours day and Ice Bucket Challenge for the teachers.

We welcome the return of excursions this year like the recent Program 9 excursion to Mushroom Reef in Flinders, where they met marine biologist Harry Briedahl to conduct a crab survey as well as observe many other

creatures that inhabit the reef. The day was finished off with a hike to Gunnery lookout, beach games and of course, a hot chip lunch!

Incursions like Point and Be Proud for our 7s – 10s, which was an amazing program aiming to raise awareness of the racism and discrimination and the impact it has on an individual mental health and wellbeing. This 2 hour program with footy clinic was a great reminder of the impact Saints star Nicky Winmar had on raising the conversation and the ripples which came from his iconic moment.

Some of our current projects/clubs that our students are excited about are; Warhammer Club…an opt-in extra curriculum activity where The Warhammer School Alliance Program gives students social learning opportunities as well as literacy/ numeracy practice through the vehicle of the Warhammer hobby and Dungeons and Dragons. The Green Team has also evolved this year, establishing vegetable gardens, planning an upcoming Waste-Free Lunch Day and recruiting Waste Warriors to educate regarding recycling and reducing waste.

Our Instrumental Music tuition program and several different school bands regularly showcase their talent, most recently during our

wonderful Winter Concert alongside four local primary schools in our Kevin Berry Performing Arts Centre. We would like to wish Alison Dowler our Head of HPE/Outdoor Education many congratulations for being nominated for a Victorian Education Excellence Award. Alison is a finalist in the category of HPE Teacher of the Year!

And while on staffing… our new additions to our team here at WPSC have been phenomenal with a number of new staff this year filling roles in Tutoring, MYLNS Literacy/Numeracy support, Curriculum/Data/Assessment and Student Wellbeing.

Our campus is undergoing some major improvements with big capital works starting in August at a cost of 11 million dollars. We are very excited about what the next 18 months will bring and look forward to when we can showcase our new Wellness Centre, Junior School Hub and Senior School Hub. It’s been a busy year so far, which is just how we like it. It is wonderful to have all our community back on campus to work and learn together and to have some fun social interactions. We are very proud of our tightknit community here at Western Port Secondary College where everyone is welcome.

events leisure arts events leisure

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Iconic art show has something for everyone

Local artists and makers will exhibit at the 43rd Mount Eliza Art & Design Show at Mount Eliza North Primary School this month – headlined by Mornington Peninsula artist Kirsten Robinson and photographer Kate Enno. An iconic community event, the show is also a major fundraiser, with all money raised going towards improving the grounds and facilities at the school.

Alongside fabulous art, the art show will feature a popup gallery shop, student photography exhibition, cafe, bar from noon, and a sausage sizzle. With a playground outside, the art show is an event for the whole family to enjoy.

The show opens on Friday, October 21, with an event featuring musical entertainment, live auction, canapes by The Corner Pantry, Foxeys Hangout wine and Jetty Road beer. Purchase tickets to attend the opening night at www.mtelizaart.com. Entry over the weekend is $5 for adults, with children under 16 free. See www.mtelizaart. com for details.

MOUNT ELIZA ART & DESIGN SHOW

A: Moseley Drive, Mount Eliza

T: 9787 6611

Inside the gallery at Onshore Studios

Engaging the community in visual arts

Onshore Studios is an artist-run workspace/gallery set in the centre of Rosebud’s bustling industrial estate. Founded in early 2022 by painters Baden Croft and Liam Waldie, Onshore aims to encourage engagement in visual arts with the broader community while providing its resident studio artists with a space to make work with as little creative limitation as possible.

Its current exhibition, A Way of Seeing, invites the viewer on a journey into the minds and artistic practice of Baden and Liam. Based on a two-week road trip to Tasmania at the beginning of 2022, the exhibition explores the striking natural beauty of Australia’s most southern state and traverses themes of environmental vulnerability and the appreciation of a given moment in a time and place.

Its upcoming exhibition is Habitat, by Sarah Morrow, whose paintings are an attempt to highlight the importance of place as a necessity of existence for all species of animals and plants. Habitats can range in size from the largest forest to a small pond or the forgotten corner of a suburban backyard, making the point that we can all make a difference to life on Earth.

Onshore Studios’ Summer Small Works Exhibition/Group Exhibition runs from December 3-January 14. For more, go to www.onshorestudios.com

‘Habitat’

22 October - 26 November Onshore Studios

7/32 Henry Wilson Drv, Capel Sound

The paintings created for this show will strive to encourage preservation of all habitats large and small, for all life on Earth.

Sarah Morrow paints landscapes as hardy, practical places that provide healthy habitats for flora and fauna, not as a pleasant view for humans.

Her view is that the natural environment does not exist for exploitation on any level.

Please join Sarah Morrow at her exhibition Opening

Saturday 22nd October 5pm-8pmSarah and studio buddy ‘Alfie’ at onshore studios

Backbone pushes the boundaries of physical possibilities

The internationally renowned team of highflying, home-grown heroes from Gravity & Other Myths are set to thrill, entertain and send chills down the backbone when they perform in Frankston in November. With more than 318 performances to date in 107 theatres and festivals across 23 countries, Backbone keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as the cast tumble, somersault and fly through the air.

Seamlessly blending contemporary theatre and acrobatics, co-founder and performer Lachlan Binns – and the rest of the GOM collective – are no strangers to physically demanding work of superhuman proportions. With no overarching narrative structure, Lachlan wants audiences to determine their own take-home values after seeing this production.

"We like audiences to come away from our shows feeling inspired – whether that's inspired to go out

and do something physical, or be inspired to just connect to the people around them more,” he said. “We think that is the most important thing you can take away from our show – to just want to do something a little bit better, whether it be physicality, or just being a good person. We think our shows are all about connection, joy, and working together to create something incredible. We like that to rub off on people when they leave the show."

This is acrobatics at its best. Marvel at what the human body is capable of on Saturday, November 12, at Frankston Arts Centre. Tickets are available at thefac.com.au or by calling 9784 1060.

FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE

A: 27-37 Davey St, Frankston

T: 9784 1060

W: www.thefac.com.au

FB: FrankstonArtsCentre

INSTA: the_fac

It’s looking a lot more like summer

Popular and talented Mount Martha coastal artist Miffy Pittaway uses decades-old shells she’s collected to create unique works of art that evoke memories of sun-kissed days on the beach, and this seashellencrusted and adorned driftwood angel fish wall art will have you looking forward to summer in real style. It is exclusively on display to view and buy for $450 at Mark and Cherie Poulter’s delightful Veraison Restaurant at 1889 Point Nepean Rd, Tootgarook. You’ll also find more of Miffy’s art at Leanne and Rob’s Bodhi & Me at 5A Bay Rd, Mount Martha.

As with all of Miffy’s seashell artworks, none of the shells used in this ‘showstopper’ come from living sea creatures; all are from non-critically endangered, non-threatened and nonexotic species.

Put yourself in a better frame of mind with a beach-inspired artwork from She Shell Art.

SHE SHELL ART

M: 0400 178 635

E: miffypittaway@live.com.au

W: sheshellartbymiffy.godaddysites.com

FB: Miffyshells

INSTA: sheshellartbymiffy

Sea Shell Encrusted & Adorned

Bowl - See at Bodhi &

5a Bay Rd, Mount Martha www.bodhiandme.com.au P. 5916 1270

Art By Miffy

SeagrassSea-ShellMirrorFrame Exclusively at Veraison Restaurant 1889 Point Nepean Rd, Tootgarook www.veraisonrestaurant.com.au P. 5985 8888

www.sheshellartbymiffy.godaddysites.com

P. 0400 178 635

Three interpretations of an important Aboriginal women's songline feature in an exhibition at Everywhen Artspace in Flinders this month. The Minyma Maku (Women of the Witchetty Grub) songline belongs to the traditional women owners of South Australia's APY Lands. Here, Anita Pumani, Betty Campbell and Umatji Tjapalyi depict the songline as it relates to the 846,000 square kilometre Indigenous Protected Area of Antara. Near the artists’ home community of Mimili, Antara is rich with

rock formations, waterholes and wildlife and is frequently visited and cared for by these and other Mimili artists.

Granddaughter of one of Mimili's founding artists, Anita Pumani is one of the APY Lands’ brightest rising art stars. Here, her work depicts the country and maku trees of Minyma Maku. Secondgeneration painter Umatji Tjapalyi paints the women's ceremonies of her mother’s

country – part of the Antara storyline. Although more senior, Betty Campbell is showing her first exhibition works, focusing on the dance and women's ceremonies associated with the songline.

Fresh, vibrant, and imaginative, the exhibition truly embodies the concept of innovation within tradition. Minyma Maku runs from October 7-25.

EVERYWHEN ARTSPACE

A: 39 Cook St, Flinders

T: 5989 0496

W: www.everywhenart.com.au

Opening hours: Friday-Tuesday 11am4pm

Pictured: Artist Anita Pumani ; Betty Campbell’s Minymaku Tjukurpa, 101 x 101 cm

Anita Pumani, Betty Campbell, Umatji Tjapalyi

arts events leisure

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5

The Big Bike Film Night 2022

Peninsula Cinemas, 30 Rosebud Pde. Rosebud, 7-9.20pm; tickets $26, book online

https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2022/ the-big-bike-film-night-2022/melbourne/rosebud

FRIDAY OCTOBER 21 to SUNDAY OCTOBER 23

Mount Eliza North Primary School Art Show

6 Moseley Drive, Mount Eliza; entry $5 at the door, children under 16 free; check website for times

https://mtelizaart.com/

MONDAY OCTOBER 31

The Three Kings

Frankston Arts Centre, 7.30-9.30pm; tickets $80 Call 9784 1060 to book or www.fac.com.au

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6

Cirque Mother Africa

Frankston Arts Centre, 7.30-9.20pm; tickets $80 Call 9784 1060 to book or www.fac.com.au

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8

Balnarring Community Twilight Sustainability Fair

Balnarring Primary School, 16 Civic Court, Balnarring, 3-7pm; ecofriendly market, kids’ activities, workshops, live music, disco and more.

https://www.balnarringsusfair.com.au/

MONDAY OCTOBER 24

Josh Pyke – To Find Happiness regional tour

Commonfolk Coffee Company, 16 Progress St, Mornington, from 8pm; tickets $45, book online https://www.bandsintown.com/e/103671665josh-pyke-at-commonfolk-coffee-company?came_ from=251&utm_medium=web&utm_source=artist_ page&utm_campaign=ticket_rsvp

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13

Southern Peninsula Choir Presents- A Requiem and a Farewell

Southern Mornington Peninsula Uniting Church 6 MurrayAnderson Rd Rosebud. 2-pm, book online https://www.trybooking.com/CCJTQ or contact John 0438 041 154

FRIDAY OCTOBER 28 to SUNDAY OCTOBER 30

David Strassman in The Chocolate Diet

Frankston Arts Centre, tickets $70

Call 9784 1060 to book or www.fac.com.au

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‘featured’

event

Bobby Valentine coming our way

Dust off your cowboy boots – singer-songwriter

Bobby Valentine is coming to town and he’ll be singing a whole lotta country. Bobby will be entertaining Peninsula audiences this month on his tour celebrating the vinyl release of his fifth album and his first country album, Writing My Book Again.

One of Melbourne’s favourite performers, Bobby’s had an impressive musical career playing with standout national and international performers including Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Rod Stewart. As a successful solo artist Bobby has given many significant private performances, including Hugh Jackman’s wedding and Jimmy Barnes' 40th, as well as being a sought-after performer for events such as the AFL Grand Final, the Australian Open and the Melbourne Cup.

Known for his huge soulful voice and charismatic stage

presence, Bobby will be accompanied by his sensational Band of Renown. The band is made up of a whole lot of talent featuring Adrian Scott (Kylie Minogue, The Seekers, LRB) on keys, Nigel Thompson (Bluestone, The New Dream) on bass and David ‘Stix’ Hicks (The Seekers, Glenn Shorrock and Brian Cadd) on drums.

Bobby and the Band of Renown will perform one show at The Shed Theatre, an intimate, quirky, and multi-purpose arts space at The Pig & Whistle in Main Ridge. The Shed has become a popular venue for touring musicians and local bands alike. The show starts at 7.30pm on Friday, October 7.

On Saturday, October 8, Bobby and his band take to the stage for an afternoon show at Coolart Wetlands, starting at 2.30pm.

Book tickets online at www.coolart.org.au or www. thepigandwhistle.com.au

Get ready to rock with Sledgehammer Honey

Brothers Daniel, Hayden and James Anderson, and Aussie McGain make up Sledgehammer Honey, a four-piece alternative rock band from the Mornington Peninsula. They play a wide range of styles, exploring genres of pop rock, heavy rock, alternative and melodic ballads. Their new single, Can’t Belong, will be released mid-October. Sledgehammer Honey chats to MAXON from MP Music Network.

Tell us the story of how you formed Sledgehammer Honey?

We’ve been playing together since we were very young, just mucking around and writing songs. Three of us are brothers and Aussie is our best mate who started playing with us around three years ago. We decided to officially form the band when Dan was old enough to sing live.

How did you come up with the band name?

We wanted something to represent the soft and hard aspects of our music, and after a few name changes, finally landed on Sledgehammer Honey. We figured it rolled off the tongue pretty easy.

Besides your own, what music are you digging at the moment?

We’re loving the underground rock scene coming out of Melbourne at the moment and we’ve been so lucky to play with some of these bands.

You released your singles Carry On and Fly this year. What was the recording process like?

The recording process at Head Gap Studios was super easy. We worked with a great studio engineer named Finn Keane who understood what sound we were going for and was open to all our ideas. The two songs were recorded over two days, one day to record the music and the other to mix and master.

What's on the horizon for the rest of 2022?

We’re releasing our new single Can’t Belong with a single launch at HABA in Rye on October 21. We have some ripping bands joining us for the gig – Tudor Club and One More Weekend. We’re very excited to bring out some new music.

Keep up to date with Sledgehammer Honey on Instagram @sledgehammerhoney and you can find them on Spotify too. For further information about musicians, events or to get involved in the Mornington Peninsula Music Network, visit the MPMN Instagram page @mpmusicnetwork or website www.mpmusic.com.au

health, beauty, fashion

Fitting bras for 55 years

Michelle-Ann are not only celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, they are celebrating the store’s 55th birthday with a mammoth bra sale.

Lois and Michelle-Ann are thrilled to achieve the trading milestone. Lois’s daughter Michelle-Ann joined the business 37 years ago and together they have both enjoyed growing Michelle-Ann into a bra, swimwear, sleepwear and prosthesis megastore.

Swimwear brands include Togs, Jantzen, Sunseeker, Poolproof, Zoggs and Empreinte in sizes 8-26 A cup to H cup. Sleepwear includes Givoni, Schrank, French Country, Yuu and our beautiful Italian brand Pluto, summer and winter nighties,

PJs and dressing gowns all year round in sizes 8-26.

A well-fitting bra helps maintain good posture and can make a big difference to back and shoulder pain. Michelle-Ann is proud to be a stockist of French bra brand Empreinte, the ultimate in highend beautiful French lace and comfort.

Once you have been expertly fitted in an Empreinte bra, you will want to wear nothing else. The fit and comfort is a next level experience. They’re available up to 26 H.

If you or a family member/friend have experienced breast cancer surgery, Michelle-Ann leads the way in breast prosthesis products. The Pink Room is a caring space that enables ladies who have experienced breast cancer surgery to regain comfort and confidence.

We now stock the Amoena adaptair prosthesis, which gives ladies a virtual custom-made fit which is very lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Our range of beautiful prosthesis bras is amazing. They not only look beautiful, they provide an immense amount of comfort, shape and confidence.

Michelle-Ann has a very comprehensive range of bras and swimwear for everyone of all ages. Our caring team look forward to advising you on what you need to achieve next-level comfort, shape and confidence.

MICHELLE-ANN BRAS & SWIMWEAR

A: 142 Main St, Mornington

T: 5975 3649

W. www.michelleann.com.au

FB: michelleann.mornington

INSTA: michelleann.mornington

Ever feel like you’re not ‘enough’? And wish you could perform better as a partner, parent, student, professional or athlete?

Maybe you’re going through a transitional phase of your life and are struggling to make sense of the change?

Perhaps you need help defining your purpose and setting achievable goals?

Or is performance anxiety preventing you from competing at your full potential?

Benjamin takes a holistic, solution-focused approach which means that we’ll work together to identify any issues that impact your life and support you to move past them, so that you can perform at your best, even during stressful periods.

Benjamin offers FREE 15-minute intro calls so you can see if he is the right fit for you.

To book one of these calls head to our website.

Tai Chi Classes

Enjoy the calmness and stillness of tai chi while gently exercising the body and the brain.

Classes held in Mt Martha, Tyabb, Somerville and Mornington.

All levels of experience and ability welcome.

For more information call 0418 566 216 or visit www.risingmoontaichi.net

Breathe. Relax. Enjoy.

beauty

A lot to smile about at Mornington Peninsula Dental

Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic has cared for generations of families for more than 40 years. Principal dentist and director Dr David Laskey and his team pride themselves on creating a welcoming environment where clients feel well looked after and thoroughly informed about their dental health care.

The extensive range of services offered here means that care for the whole family is available, from children’s dentistry through to dentures and dental implants. For those looking to achieve their dream smile, cosmetic dentistry services include porcelain veneers and take-home teeth whitening. Dental veneers can assist in creating a straight, symmetrical white smile. They’re an ideal solution for people wanting to improve the appearance of discoloured, worn down, chipped, or broken teeth.

The modern premises are filled with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows and, as

you would expect, are spotlessly clean. On-site parking is a bonus, which means you don’t have to add parking stress to what can already feel like a stressful activity.

The team here recognise that going to the dentist isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time and they put great effort into putting clients at ease. There are 13 dentists on staff, all with their own areas of specialisation and interest. They are well supported by friendly and attentive dental assistants, and reception staff to greet you and manage appointments efficiently.

Looking after your teeth should be a priority, not an afterthought. If you’re overdue for a check-up or have been putting off treatment, don’t delay. Call Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic today.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA DENTAL CLINIC

A: 117 Tanti Ave, Mornington

T: 5975 5944

W: www.morningtondental.com.au

FB: Morningtonpeninsuladental

INSTA: morningtondentalclinic

mornington PENINSULA

Helping patients regain sexual health on their own terms

Dr Anita Moss is proud to announce the opening of Sexual Health Options, a brand-new, GP-led sexual health clinic supporting people through their sexual health decision making.

We are a specialised team who are passionate about providing informative and empowering sexual health services within a safe and nonjudgemental space to anyone, regardless of sex, age, ethnic origin and gender.

We provide a comprehensive medical abortion service from Young Street Medical & Dental Centre, with no referrals needed to access the service. We offer a “one stop shop” where people are assessed for suitability for medical abortion, and prescribed medication on the same day.

Patients can book directly by calling the practice or through our website. We offer safe, nonjudgemental options while providing:

• Counselling around unintended pregnancy options

• Suitability assessment for medical abortion

• Ultrasound dating of pregnancy in clinic at first appointment

• Client provided with abortion medication at appointment, if suitable

• Contraceptive consultations

• Onsite pathology and pharmacy

• Discreet STI screening and treatment

Most services are also available via Telehealth, including medical abortion. We can conduct assessments over the phone and provide scripts or referrals directly to the patient for discreet care.

Sexual Health Options is open Tuesday to Friday from 8am-5pm, expanding to five days a week as the practice grows. Telehealth appointments can be arranged as needed during business hours. Phone line open to take bookings on Mondays between 10am-2pm.

SEXUAL HEALTH OPTIONS

A: 89 Young St, Frankston T: 8725 0172

W: www.sexualhealthoptions.com.au

fashion

Main Street Eyecare pops up in Barkly St

storm

next

while

Main Street Eyecare

pop-

Tea & Coffee and

Peter,

“Peter and I opened our stores about the same time, so we’ve known each other for 20 years,” Kay said. “When the storm happened and we needed to find a temporary shop, the logical thing to do was to share a space because it’s about community, caring and sharing.”

The location and shop might be different, but you’ll still find the same bright and fabulous eyewear that Kay’s store is known for. And now that spring is in full swing it’s a good time to update your look. Eyeglasses are an opportunity to express your unique style and personality.

If you’re looking for the best range of diverse frames on the Peninsula, you’ll find them here. “There’s no need to travel to the city to buy unique eyewear,” Kay said. “We

have so many choices here.”

Kay takes great joy in sourcing not only great-looking frames but excellent quality. British brand Kirk and Kirk and popular French brand Sabine Be certainly fit that bill. Kirk and Kirk frames are lightweight, made from Italian acrylic and come in a wide range of vibrant colours. Sabine Be is known for their funky shapes and standout colours. These glasses are all about celebrating individuality.

Kay will move back to Main St when the renovations are completed, but in the meantime she’d love to see you in Barkly St.

MAIN STREET EYECARE

A: Shop 7/68 Barkly St, Mornington (pop-up shop)

T: 5975 3235

FB: mainstreeteyecare3931

INSTA: mainstreeteyecare

Subtle and sympathetic approach to beauty treatment

Simply Aesthetics JJ owner Julia Johnson lives on the Peninsula with her young family and loves the gorgeous coastline, lifestyle and community.

After nearly 20 years of experience in pediatric nursing and cardiac care, Julia is well versed in procedural skills and prides herself on patient care and attentiveness. She believes these core skills and values remain equally relevant in cosmetic aesthetics, which is her passion.

Julia believes the key to long-lasting client relationships is patience in understanding each client’s unique needs and working

with them to develop personalised treatment plans with which they can feel safe, relaxed and confident. She offers free full-face consultations, anti-wrinkle treatments, fillers and skin bioremodellers in her clinic.

Artistic by nature and with a keen eye for detail, Julia’s personal treatment style is subtle and sympathetic, aiming to help the client achieve realistic personal goals in harmony with their intrinsic natural beauty.

SIMPLY AESTHETICS JJ

A: 1889 Nepean Highway, Tootgarook

T: 0418 489 895

FB: simplyaestheticsjj

INSTA: simplyaestheticsjj

Cosmetic Injectables, Mornington Peninsula

Would you like to feel and look fresher?

At Simply Aesthetics I work with you to highlight your natural beauty, and believe that subtle treatments = beautiful, natural looking results.

Achieve excellent results with someone you trust- I am a highly skilled cosmetic injector, with a 20-year nursing career.

NEW location at Peninsula Beauty Shed, 1889 Nepean Hwy Tootgarook

Book in for a full face of consultation and we can make a plan that suits you best!

Contact/bookings: Mobile 0418489895

Email: info@simplyaestheticsjj.com

Booking link: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/zeh3wdqhjl53uk/ LBHB27HXVX2RH/services

the business

I love logos

“It’s that simple,” says Priscilla, who heads up LogoLogix situated in bayside. “I love designing logos. I love the thought that goes into a logo and I love the complexity of message a logo can convey in such a succinct form. A logo has the ability to capture the imagination and to make an impression. Most importantly, a bespoke designed logo is unique to you and your business.”

With her invaluable years of experience in

designing logos, corporate identities and packaging for all scale of business operations, Priscilla is passionate about her role in creating an outstanding, personalised identity for you and your business.

“Feel free to check our website, drop us a line or call LogoLogix for your corporate identity needs.”

LOGOLOGIX

E: contact@logologix.com.au

T: 9598 6995

W: www.logologix.com.au

FB: Logo Logix

More support for local businesses

Mornington Peninsula Shire is proud to support local businesses in a range of ways – from workshops and webinars to grants and awards, plus a whole lot in between.

Showcasing examples of excellence within the business community can help businesses connect with new people, learn new ways of doing things and build a more resilient business.

Sharing the stories of our talented local businesses through our dedicated business newsletter and website is one way we Support Local and connect businesses together.

Businesses can learn from Local Experts at workshops or online or be inspired by Local Spotlight blog articles that showcase those delivering excellence.

Our business networking events and our Business Grants are as diverse as our local businesses but both help build

capacity. It all adds to the mix of support we can offer. The highlight of the year will be the Mornington Peninsula Business Excellence Awards where our business community celebrate local businesses that have demonstrated excellence, innovation and sustainability, particularly over the past two challenging years.

With nominations now closed, judging is about to begin, and the results will be announced on Wednesday, October 19, at a gala black-tie night to be held at the Mornington Racecourse.

For more information, visit mpbusiness.com.au

MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE

A: 2 Queen St, Mornington

A: 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud

A: 21 Marine Pde, Hastings

A: 1085 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Somerville

T: 5950 1000

W: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Home

Constructive legal construction advice

As a Frankston resident, Kelvin Oldridge has situated his legal practice in Sandringham to provide accessibility for clients from the city, bayside and the Peninsula.

With qualifications in building and law — B.Build (RMIT) and LL.B (Hons University of London) — Kelvin’s advice is complemented by his building experience and his understanding of the needs of clients from the building and construction industry.

Kelvin regularly provides a legal and advisory service to construction and project management businesses, property developers, contractors and insurance companies, including drafting and amending contracts, standard forms of construction and development contracts in Australia and including the Australia Standards suite of contracts. He also provides commercial advice and support to clients in arbitration, litigation and the defence of insurance claims.

KO CONSTRUCTION LAW T: 9598 6444 W: www.kolaw.com.au

MARKETS

PENINSULA & FRANKSTON

All markets are confirmed with organisers before publication, however, late changes can occur. For FREE inclusion online and in print, please email market details to publishing@mpmag.com.au by the 15th of each month.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Main St, Mornington: 9am-3pm between Cromwell and Albert streets

EVERY THURSDAY

High St, Hastings: 9am-1pm, 40+ stalls, everything homemade, home-grown & crafted

Plaza Palooza: 9am-4pm, Langwarrin Plaza, Langwarrin

EVERY SUNDAY

Bittern: 8am-1pm, 70+ stalls, Frankston-Flinders Rd, Bittern station

Frankston: 8am-1pm, Sherlock & Hay carpark, Young St, Frankston

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8

Crib Point Community Market: second Saturday of month, 9am-1pm, Crib Point Community House, 7 Park Rd, Crib Point

Rosebud Community School: second Saturday of month, Nepean Hwy, the old carnival site on Rosebud Foreshore (opp 7-Eleven), 8am-1pm, 120+ stalls, handmade and new items, produce and plants

SATURDAY OCTOBER 15

Boneo Community Market: third Saturday of the month, 8am-noon; cnr Boneo and Limestone roads

Emu Plains Market: Emu Plains Reserve, Balnarring Racecourse, Balnarring, 9am-2pm www.emuplainsmarket. com.au

Pearcedale Market: third Saturday of month, 8am-noon, 710 Baxter-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16

Shoreham Market: third Sunday of the month, hand grown, made and gathered and music, corner of Byrnes and Cliff Rd

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22

Dromana Community Market: fourth Saturday of month, Dromana Community Park, Point Nepean Rd, Dromana; 8.30am-1.30pm; family-friendly experience with fresh and seasonal produce and locally crafted products

Food Yard Mornington: Street Food Saturday’s 5-8pm. 63 Yuilles Rd Mornington www.unrivalledevents.com.au/ food-yard

Little Beauty Market: Beauty Park, High St, Frankston, 9am2pm www.littlebeautymarket.com.au

Sorrento Street Market: Sorrento Village, Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento, 9am-2pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 23

Mt Eliza Farmers’: fourth Sunday of month, Mount Eliza Village Green, 9am-1pm

SATURDAY OCTOBER 29

5ifth Market: Chelsea Bicentennial Park, Scotch Pde, Chelsea, 10am-2pm; 120+ makers and food stalls set around a beautiful walking track www.unrivalledevents.com.au/ the-5ifth-market

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1

Mount Martha South Beach Market: Mount Martha House Lawn, 466 Esplanade, Mount Martha; spectacular boutique street food truck and handmade makers market overlooking the ocean; www.unrivalledevents.com.au/ south-beach-market

Popular stocking fillers return for Christmas

Due to popular demand, Olieve & Olie welcome back Christmas candles and Christmas diffusers to their luxurious range of natural skincare and giftware. Those same Christmas scents you fell in love with last year are back and launching at the beginning of October. Light up your Christmas with a range of fragrances that will invigorate the senses for your festive season with Pine Needle & Eucalyptus, Plum & Juniper Berry, and Orange and Cedar Leaf.

There’s no doubt the scent of pine needles evokes a sense of Christmas glee. Their Pine Needle & Eucalyptus scent will do just that with its notes of woody musk and sweet jasmine which will warm your soul, while notes of fresh pine needles will take you back to opening presents under the Christmas tree. The hints of eucalyptus will remind you of a truly Australian Christmas, which complements the aromas of newly sawn forest woods, clove leaf and patchouli.

No Christmas dinner is complete without a dessert of freshly steamed plum pudding and sugar-topped mince pies. The Plum & Juniper Berry candle or diffuser will have you dreaming of Christmas-inspired sweet treats from the minute you pick it up as it emits sweet spices, brown sugar and lemon peel with hints of brandy and rich raisins. You can’t go past the intoxicating allure of cyclamen that will evoke memories of past Christmas celebrations.

The Orange and Cedar Leaf scent by Olieve & Olie gives a nod to Australia’s summery Christmas season, with a sweet and refreshing scent. You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s a sweet cocktail nearby along with fruity top notes of orange peel and strawberry. Base notes of vanilla and sweet musk follow with a charismatic blend that also embraces peach, cinnamon and cedar leaf.

These luxe candles provide up to 60 hours of burn time, whereas the diffusers delicately release aromas for up to four months. They’re available until Christmas unless sold out beforehand. Pop these diffusers and candles on your Christmas shopping list so you don’t miss out on your favourite stocking fillers this year.

Photographs

Willow Creative.

From Sri Lanka with love

Down a back road at the end of an industrial estate in North Frankston is what is said to be the best Sri Lankan restaurant in Melbourne. Sri Lankan ex-pats flock from all parts of the metro area to dine on classic dishes from the tropical island nation. Ceylon Girl’s is warm, honest and simple, with the large room painted in colourful art by well-known street artist @silencemelbourne. Raffia-look chairs sit at bare tables. There are a few wines on the list but the fridge is stocked with Sri Lanka’s Lion beer while Texas blues purrs through the prominent amp in the corner of the room. “Did I say we have live music every second Friday?” asks Angela Lord rhetorically.

Angela is a warm woman with a sweet smile. She grew up in a fishing village north of Colombo. “The men would go fishing or work and the women would get together and share lunch,” says Angela. “I would look over their shoulders and ask them ‘What is that?’ and ‘How do you make that?’” The first meal she cooked was when she was eight. Her mother was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation, and her father said to her, “Well, what are we going to cook?” “It was a simple meal of dahl, rice and coconut sambal,” remembers Angela, but when her father took some to the hospital, “Mother said it was the best food she ever had eaten”.

Angela came to Melbourne with her then-husband to help in a restaurant belonging to a member of his family. Some years later she started a Sri Lankan food truck with her new partner and did the festival circuit selling freshly made curries. “But I needed bricks and mortar to make the food I really wanted to cook,” she says. In 2020 she opened Ceylon Girl’s. The offering is simple but truly wonderful. Everything served here is made fresh using excellent ingredients. “Sri Lankan cuisine is a melting pot of different cultures from the Dutch, Chinese, English, and the local culture,” she says. “What unites them is the quality. I only use the very freshest and best Sri Lankan spices. I make my own spice blends from scratch.”

Breakfast at Ceylon Girl’s could be an egg and bacon roll for the tradies or a plate of rice cooked in coconut milk with a rich and highly spiced chicken curry, rich coconut sambal, and a piquant side

of onion. String hoppers are her specialty – little ‘plates’ of steamed rice noodles served with earthy dahl and a fragrant curry redolent of cinnamon and cardamom. “I use different chillies for their different aromas and levels of flavour and heat,” she says. The mixed curry plate is a masterclass in layering flavour. There is a spiced but earthy beetroot dish that melds with the slightly sweet but richly coconutty pumpkin. This segues into the finely

spiced fish curry made with real yellowfin tuna. Then there is the lamprais – a Dutch colonial-era dish of curries, relish and rice wrapped in a banana leaf and baked.

There is no skimping on the quality of ingredients here.

It is that attention to detail and cooking in small batches that means the food at Ceylon Girl’s retains its honest, wholesome integrity. This is home cooking. This is food that you usually would only get in Sri Lanka or by visiting

an ex-pat’s home. This is food cooked with skill and, more importantly, love.

RICHARD CORNISH

CEYLON GIRL’S CAFÉ & BAR

A: 16 Skye Rd, Frankston

T: 0412 383 252

W: ceylongirlscafe.com.au

Thinking of a picnic in the sun or Friday afternoon drinks?

with ease and enjoy the quality we are famous for!

7 days a week, pre order your sweet or savoury grazing boxes online today!

Welcome spring with three of the best

Dromana Estate Winery is one of the largest winemaking wineries on the Mornington Peninsula, with 50 acres (20ha) under vine. Our wine is estate-grown and produced, and we hold three wine labels: Mornington Estate, Dromana Estate, and Tuerong Park.

Our Mornington Estate label is our showcase, displaying the varietal diversity of the Peninsula. Our premium Dromana Estate range highlights the Peninsula’s extended, gradual ripening season that is ideal for producing award-winning wines from classic, cool-climate varietals. Tuerong Park is our limited-edition range, made from selected sections of the vineyard to which the winemaker has paid personal hands-on attention and care. Due to our cooler climate, we are best known for our chardonnay and pinot noir.

As we enter spring and with summer approaching, we have a freshly updated menu with new picnic packages soon to be available. Enjoy a splendid afternoon outside for lunch with your choice of a selection of pizzas, delicious mains, or mouthwatering cheese boards paired with the perfect wine to satisfy your day surrounded by those you love.

DROMANA ESTATE

A: 555 Old Moorooduc Rd, Tuerong

T: 5974 4400

W: www.dromanaestate.com.au

FB: DromanaEstate

INSTA: dromanaestate

12pm

open fireplace, a wonderful view of our fabulous beer garden and an expansive menu.

2:30pm

dining experience to remember! Head to the website to see full menu.

Thursday 5:30pm

8:30pm

Saturday 5:30pm

9pm

October STARS

by Stephanie Johnson

Aries: Are you ready to mingle? October is all about connecting, compromising and co-operation. In your personal life this is all about your one best friend, the person who is your partner in life. In your work, it’s about contracts and business partners. Lucky Jupiter in your Zodiac Sign gives you wings.

Taurus: October is a month in which you need to pay attention to processes rather than outcomes. A project, health concern, household duties or all of the aforesaid need to be handled. Everyday costs could be a matter on contention. Count to 10 before committing to payments or voicing concerns.

Gemini: It’s all systems go with a creative project. Mars, the planet of action, is in your Zodiac Sign giving you an extra boost of energy. So it’s time to get the creative juices flowing. Ideas flow, and you need to listen. Live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future.

Cancer: This month sees you seeking comfort at home. If your home is your haven then you can find ways to improve your surroundings. A stylist could be the way to go, or you could do a little styling yourself. Alternatively, it’s time to step out and create your own safe haven.

Leo: The Sun is shining in the 3rd House of your Solar Chart, lighting up your connections with siblings, neighbours, and friends of your children. This is also the sector of short journeys and your communication skills. So get ready for a busy month involving all of the above.

Virgo: October is a stop/go month for Virgos. On the one hand the planet Mars is urging you to get going, and you have plenty of plans and ideas. On the other hand, your ruling planet Mercury is saying stop and reconsider. You may need to pivot one more time before going ahead.

Libra: October is the ideal month for you to enjoy the company of others while also taking care of yourself. So do a little retail therapy, upgrade your wardrobe, have a makeover or indulge in a spa treatment or two. You can indulge in anything connected to peace, harmony and beauty.

Scorpio: It’s retreat time. This could mean bingewatching your favourite streaming series, pulling down the hatches to complete a project or literally going on a health retreat. The idea is that having had a busy social time, or fulfilling a long-held personal dream, you now need to take time to reflect.

For more info go to seeingwithstars.net or ph: 0411 2555 77

Sagittarius: October is a social month for Sagittarius. Your calendar quickly fills with personal and work gatherings. You are popular, and other people demand your time. You need to go with the flow where possible, but a few boundaries may be necessary if you feel pulled in different directions.

Capricorn: October is about finding balance between work and home. An opportunity that arises at work needs consideration and possibly discussion with family members so that they can see the benefits for them as well. A budget needs to be set and a compromise needs to be reached.

Aquarius: Conferences are on the agenda this month. It’s all about networking. Perhaps a recent work conference has sparked some bright ideas. Or maybe you are about to take part in a personal or professional symposium. Meetings, online sessions and the like are highlighted. You could plan to travel overseas.

Pisces: There’s a time to reap and a time to sow. Or so the saying goes. This is your month to reap what you have sown. This could apply to different areas of your life, but is most likely connected to how you invest your time and money. Joint resources are highlighted.

Stephanie is an experienced Astrologer and regular contributor to Mornington Peninsula Magazine.

property home garden

After a long cold winter, it’s time to open our homes to the fresh air and sunnier days that come with spring and refresh our living spaces ready for the more social season.

You’d be amazed what a few small changes can make to the look and feel of your home. Decluttering is an essential part of the season, and then you can turn your thoughts to redecorating. Rolling out a stunning handmade rug can bring colour and texture to a tired room, lifting the energy. Window furnishings are another important decor element that can dramatically change the atmosphere of a room.

Beyond the living areas, the bedroom is where we spend many important hours resting so it is worth putting some attention in here, whether it’s new linen or a whole new bedroom suite. If you’ve had a bigger home décor or renovation project in mind, now is a good time to make it happen.

On the following pages we’ve brought together some wonderful home living suppliers to feature their goods and services. We hope you enjoy celebrating the lighter and brighter days of spring by making your home the haven it should be.

FLORIDA

NEOLUXE

HYPNOS

Woodpecker is proud to be the Mornington Peninsula’s premier destination for all things heating and cooling. They have been servicing the Mornington Peninsula and Greater Melbourne for more than 25 years as your home environment specialists.

As a local family-owned business, they offer a wide range of services including supply and installation of gas, wood and electric fireplaces, as well as ducted heating and cooling and all airconditioning appliances. As a one-stop shop, they provide an end-to-end service from advice through to installation and ongoing servicing of your units. They offer a variety of units, stocking both Australian-designed and made units as well as showcasing international brands.

Their team of qualified and accredited installers are professional and have been installing heating and cooling as a concentrated career. They know their heating and cooling – so there’s no guesswork! Woodpecker installers are such a trusted name in the community that they will carry out work in homes when customers aren’t even there, or if it’s the client’s second residence.

Woodpecker is also the exclusive retailer of Sculpt Fireplace Collection products, the most sought-after high-end French fireplace designs. Their collection includes JC Bordelet suspended fireplaces, Seguin 100 per cent pure original cast-iron fireplaces – which can be freestanding or inbuilt – and Axis panoramic wood heaters. They are intent on providing Australians with a dynamic collection of designer fires. Sculpt Fireplace Collection have strategically gathered not only award-winning fireplace deigns, but also fireplaces which have been manufactured with high-quality materials.

The team at Woodpecker Heating and Cooling are experienced and ready to answer all of your heating and cooling questions, offering incredible service and expert advice.

LouvreTec roofs open up a world of possibilities

LouvreTec Melbourne’s opening and retractable roofs are customised to perfectly fit over your deck or outdoor area. They are a beautiful way to create more space in which to relax, entertain and enjoy life.

LouvreTec roofs are designed to allow you to control the sunlight, ventilation, and temperature within your space. Our team will consider your climate, wind impact and positioning of your area so you get the right advice on the roof best suited for you.

A LouvreTec roof system opens up a world of possibilities for enjoying your outdoor entertaining space, with the ability to control your view of the stars or block out the rain with the push of a button.

Our opening/retractable roof is innovative, stylish, and created for Australian conditions. We custom design, manufacture and install our roofs across Melbourne. Guaranteed to impress and add value to your home, LouvreTec roofs are versatile and built for longevity – a true art of outdoor architecture. Perfect for both commercial and residential applications, opening/retractable roofs from LouvreTec Melbourne are a smart choice. Choose from eight different styles of opening roofs, including our new retractable opening roof.

A LouvreTec roof gives you a taste of luxury and is a great investment in your home and lifestyle. Its features include:

√

Award-winning spiral pivot system –rotate and stop the louvre blades at any point through 180 degre√es of motion.

√ Fully customisable, custom manufactured, fully installed.

√ Retractable opening roof opens 135 degrees and retracts back, leaving approximately 75 per cent open space.

Realise new dimensions for your property

Life on the Mornington Peninsula is full of beauty and possibility. The way we inhabit this natural environment is mostly through our homes and a variety of other built spaces. Living here invites us to think differently about the spaces that we live and work in – embracing its energy and uniqueness. Here, we have an opportunity to create true balance between the home being your private sanctuary and welcoming space that nurtures relationships.

Creating a new space or reshaping an existing one calls for a collaboration with the right architectural partner to take you on the journey from dream to reality. Someone who can help you reimagine, clarify, and verbalise the vision of your ultimate space that truly reflects your needs and has a sense of belonging in the Peninsula landscape. Someone who can hold space for your exploration, capture your vision and translate it into architecturally sound, efficient, functional, and economical plans that integrate all the obvious as well as the more subtle

dimensions of a well-built space.

One such local partner of choice is 11 Dimensions Architects, established by Jeff Umansky, a passionate, experienced, and progressive architect based in Balnarring Beach. Jeff believes that design is a collaborative creative process, and each client brings their individual energy and ideas to the table, and it’s 11 Dimensions’ role to tease out, crystalise, positively challenge then complement these to shape the desired outcome. Jeff has more than 25 years’ experience in architecture, and his work has been

featured on the front cover of such leading magazines as Habitus Living.

He and his team pride themselves on exceeding clients’ expectations, bringing expert advice and best practice, intuition, and meticulous attention to detail.

Whether you’re preparing to build your dream home, holiday accommodation or commercial project, Jeff will enable you to make the most of your site, designing and constructing a building worthy of space, place, and environment.

11 Dimensions Architects relish the

opportunity to work with our local community and provide an emphasis on sustainable and innovative design that feels that it really belongs in the Peninsula environment. Jeff and his team invite you to reach out for an informal dialogue to explore if this is the right relationship to realise your project.

11 DIMENSIONS ARCHITECTS

T: 9017 0690

info@11dimensions.com.au

We are a boutique architectural design studio offering functional, real life solutions with dedication and commitment to our clients’ identified needs

From the looms of Kabul to Mornington why you need a handwoven rug

For more than two decades, Samarkand Gallery has brought quality, comfort and style to Mornington Peninsula homes. Today we are still one of the few rug businesses that travel to Afghanistan to source our beautiful rugs from the artisan weavers themselves.

From a small shop on Main St, Samarkand Gallery is now at bustling 23 Progress St in Mornington where we have one of the biggest showrooms of handwoven rugs in Australia. Our authentic collection includes some of the finest quality silk rugs, classical, tribal, and wonderfully unique rugs.

Hand-knotted carpets are more than just a combination of inspiring colours and designs. Each piece is an original form of artistic expression revealing the origins, heritage, culture, and traditions of its weaver. Every knot is imbued with patience and time-honoured craftsmanship

to create long-lasting, quality works of art for your floors. In fact, a handwoven rug will be the most functional work of art you will ever own.

Our rugs are coloured with all-natural fruit and vegetable dyes, giving them earthy tones that create an authentic feel to any décor. These rugs will last for more than 200 years if cared for as advised.

Rugs were originally made for mud floors, and although the flooring was hard, it was porous and provided friction. No wonder antique rugs do not have many stains and are mostly preserved. Modern-day flooring means the rugs require additional care, so we provide customcut felt underlay to stop any type of slip or stain.

Samarkand Gallery also washes and repairs rugs. Visit our website to find out more.

SAMARKAND GALLERY

A: 23 Progress St, Mornington

T: 0416 785 217

W: www.samarugs.com.au

FB: Samarugs

INSTA: samarugs.official

Quality Products by Quality People

Ultimate Frameless Glass are the Specialists in High Quality Glass with 60+ years of experience

Specialising in Glass balustrade

Pool fence and 10mm frameless shower screens

Family owned business

2/8 Thamer St, Capel Sound P. 5986 8266 info@ultimateglass.com.au

Clear leader in frameless glass

With its combination of more than 60 years’ experience in the glass industry and a high skill set, Ultimate Frameless Glass is your go-to company for all your glass needs. This family-owned business specialises in custom made to measure products and takes great pride in high performance and top quality. Its dedication to providing exceptional customer service with a strong community focus means that when you call the team at Ultimate Frameless Glass you can be assured the work will be completed quickly and to your total satisfaction.

Director John Hilder says Ultimate Frameless Glass is also committed to employing local workers for the local market and giving them the opportunity for a career, not just a job.

“We’re looking for controlled growth which will allow us to offer employment to more local people who aspire to learn and grow,” John says.

From glass balustrades to pool fences, 10mm frameless shower screens, mirrors and splashbacks, if you need glass, call the team at Ultimate Frameless Glass today.

ULTIMATE FRAMELESS GLASS

A: 2/8 Thamer St, Rosebud West T: 5986 8266

W: www.ultimateglass.com.au

Prepare to enter a world of wonder

Walking into The Main Street Greenery and the Fairy Kingdom is like finding a diamond among the rocks. There is something for everyone.

We are a collective of local artists and makers who have come together, resulting in a store that feels warm, inviting, and full of community spirit.

The Greenery has a huge collection of indoor and

outdoor plants, specialising in rare and unusual plants and succulents and offering a range of great plantcare products. It is a must-see for all plant-lovers.

The store is comprised of about 70 artisans and offers everything from crystals and oils to baby hats knitted with love. There are several popular local jewellery brands in store that offer designs and quality like no

other. Our business also houses the largest handmade (from recycled goods) indoor fairy garden and also offers fairy garden and terrarium workshops, supplies, and fairy miniatures.

When shopping in our store, $1 from each transaction goes straight back into the community providing help to those in need. Come in, you won't regret it!

mornington PENINSULA

on a fab show

mornington PENINSULA

A truly fabulous day was had by all at the recent fashion show at Yo-Ko Original Boutique in Armstrongs Street Seaford. Well done Annie.

The beauty of reclaimed timber

With the temperature rising and the days slowly getting longer, inviting new pieces and experimenting with different looks and styles is front of mind. Instead of reducing in the name of minimalism, we are now exploring spaces filled with pieces that reflect our personality, spaces that can quickly shift from work to play and finally relaxation.

Make the most of the warm weather and style up a sunroom to host unforgettable lunch and dinner parties. A great way to fill your space with dimension is by using furniture made from reclaimed timber.

Designed for the entertainer, OZ Design Furniture’s Southport dining table is a handmade beauty using reclaimed pine salvaged from old building structures. With many unique and imperfect characteristics, this beautiful piece brings its history into any space. Paired with the Cristo

and rattan Skye Designer Chairs, achieve a showstopper interior using environmentally sustainable materials.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match your dining chairs to suit your space. A rule of thumb is to only switch out the chairs at the heads of the table to give a symmetrical look, like OZ Design has done here. Bookending your dining table with armchairs at either end can give your space an added sense of luxury.

Live in style this spring and discover OZ Design Furniture's new season pieces that will transform your home into a space that feels like there is no place like it. Shop online or in store today.

OZ DESIGN FURNITURE

MORNINGTON

A: Showroom D4, Peninsula Home, 1128-1132 Nepean Highway, Mornington

T: 8560 1137

W: www.ozdesignfurniture.com.au

FB: OZDesignFurniture

INSTA: ozdesignfurniture

Showroom open by Appointment

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Excellent job prospects for willing workers

Good life begins with a good company, and that company is Essential Home Services. This professional cleaning company has full-time and casual vacancies for anyone who’s motivated and willing to learn. Experience isn’t necessary; just your positive vibes.

Give us a call at 1300 910 971 or send your CV to recruitment@essentialhomeservices.com.au

Everything we love about the peninsula, fresh every month

You’ll be provided with:

• Cleaning equipment, tools and materials;

• Signwritten company car;

• Onsite training, support and development;

• Company uniform;

• Employee mentoring program; and,

• Professional development assistance

Hours are 9am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, and with no weekend work you’ll have a great work/life balance. No two days are the same, and our positive and hard-working crew are at the heart of everything we do. We are about integrity, professionalism and commitment to service.

You’ll need to demonstrate:

• An eye for detail;

• Reliability;

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment; and,

• Great communication skills.

Customer service experience is desired but not essential. Performance bonuses are offered and pay increases are rewarded for performance improvements.

We are all about team environment and value our people’s input to growing a successful cleaning company. If you think this fits you, we would love to hear from you. Please email your resume or interest to recruitment@ essentialhomeservices.com.au

ESSENTIAL HOME SERVICES

A: Frankston

T: 1300 910 971

W: www.essentialhomeservices. com.au

E: enquiries@ essentialhomeservices.com.au

mornington PENINSULA Magazine

what's hot

1. In October one lucky person will WIN a $100 Geonbae voucher. To enter, become an Eat.Drink member using this QR Code, then check out @ EatDrinkMornPen on Facebook and Instagram.

2. The Hamptons buffet marries a classic design with coastal elegance. Oz Design Furniture, Peninsula Home, Mornington, 8560 1137,www.ozdesignfurniture.com.au

3. Albany Antique Console Table $1299. Crafted from reclaimed timber, each console is unique showcasing beautiful hues and patinas in the wood.Provincial Home Living, Peninsula Home Mornington, 5925 9400, www.provincialhomeliving.com.au

4. In October one lucky person will win a Trollbeads Limited Edition Exhale Bracelet with Flower Bed, Strawberry Quartz, On Top and round Adventurine bead valued at $503.

To enter, become a member of Mornington Peninsula Magazine at using this QR code, then check out @MornPenMag on Facebook and Instagram to complete all the entry steps on the competition post.

Enjoy the great outdoors

Prepare your home for a summer spent outside with dollar curtains + blinds’ range of Australian-made awnings. Zipscreen is the ultimate external screening solution for any window or outdoor area and is designed with Australians’ love of outdoor entertaining in mind. A great choice for areas such as pergolas, verandas and balconies, they offer privacy and protection from the sun, wind, rain and insects all year round.

Your custom-designed system can be made in widths up to 5.5m, giving you an outdoor solution suitable for almost any area. With fabric and hardware colours inspired by Colorbond, you can match the system to your home’s existing outdoor colour palette.

In addition to our awnings, our durable aluminium shutters are designed for the outdoors. Sun, wind and waterproof, dollar curtains + blinds’ aluminium shutters are designed specifically for the Australian elements and allow you to control your privacy, views and airflow. Available in fixed, hinged, sliding and bifold designs, they’re ideal for creating an inviting outdoor space.

dc+b has specialised in manufacturing indoor and outdoor window coverings for more than 50 years, all handcrafted in our own workrooms in Victoria. Contact our Mornington or Moorabbin teams

today for your free design and measure and quote. Both stores are open Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm, and Saturdays 9am-5pm. If you’re building a new home, then dc+b can also provide expert advice and a free quote off your house plans. Christmas is fast approaching, so order now to beat the pre-Christmas rush.

DC+B

A: Shop C4, Peninsula Home, 1128-1132 Nepean Highway, Mornington

T: 5975 3655

E: mornington@dollarcurtains.com.au

A: Store 15, Kingston Central Plaza, 288 Centre Dandenong Rd, Moorabbin Airport

T: 9566 8200

E: moorabbin@dollarcurtains.com.au

FB: dollarcurtainsandblinds

INSTA: dollarcurtainsandblinds

Sleep well and spring out of bed

Spring is the season for renewal. It’s the time of year to declutter and clean and say “Out with the old and in with the new”. If you’ve been hanging on to your old mattress

and it’s keeping you tired, make time to visit Makin Mattresses in Sandringham.

The secret to feeling fresh and revitalised each morning is a good night’s sleep, and you can’t do that on a worn-out mattress. The friendly team at Makin Mattresses will set you up for the ultimate night’s sleep. You and your body will know the difference when you experience Makin Mattresses’ comfy-plus mattresses. Just add luxe bedding to start your journey to a well-rested night’s sleep.

For more than 45 years Makin Mattresses has been Australia’s largest independent mattress manufacturer. The sales assistants at Makin Mattresses are bedding specialists, and with 10 stores Australia-wide and six manufacturing sites, they offer a range of mattresses

to suit everyone – including the popular two-piece Bellissimo range. The Bellissimo range is designed to provide long-lasting comfort, support and style. The seven-zone support system cradles the parts of your body that need it most. Their complete range of mattresses are double-sided, handcrafted and designed to be flipped and rotated to ensure an even sleep surface. This is essential because it doubles the life of your mattress so you can rest easy knowing you’ve made a smart purchase.

Makin Mattresses sells direct to the public and clients can try before they buy.

MAKIN MATTRESSES

A: 189 Bay Rd, Sandringham

T: 9533 1113

W: www.makinmattresses.com.au

FB: MakinmattressesAu

Promoting a clean, green peninsula

See the bluebottle in a whole new light

The physalia, more commonly known as the bluebottle or Pacific man-of-war, is not a single animal but a colony of four kinds of highly modified individuals called zooids. The zooids are dependent on one another for survival.

The float, or pneumatophore, is a single individual and supports the rest of the colony. The tentacles, or dactylozooids, are polyps concerned with the detection and capture of food and convey their prey to the digestive polyps, called gastrozooids. Reproduction is carried out by the gonozooids, another type of polyp. Bluebottles are commonly encountered in the summer months on the eastern coast of Australia, and during autumn and winter on our southern shores.

The most impressive members of the colony are the tentacles. As the bluebottle drifts downwind, the long tentacles fish continuously through the water. Muscles in the tentacles contract and drag prey into range of the digestive polyps.

Bluebottles are hermaphrodites, so each individual gonozooid consists of male and female parts. The fertilised egg develops into a planktonic larval form that produces the large colony by asexual budding.

The bluebottle is not a jellyfish but is related to sea anemones and jellyfish and can still sting victims even after they're dead or washed up on a beach.

I’m sure next time you see a bluebottle, you’ll see them differently.

JOSIE JONES Follow me on Instagram @sharejosie

While the warmer, sunnier days are becoming more frequent, now is time to get more vegies in the ground.

By now hopefully you have sowed most of your summer vegetable seeds and raised some beautifully strong seedlings to transfer to your beds. If you aren’t sowing this year, get out to your local nursery and buy some ready-made ones. The soil temperature is on the up and it is time to plant all your babies in their place and watch them flourish. With the exception of capsicums and chillies, pretty much everything can be planted now, including your tomatoes.

There may still be a late frosty spring morning or two around the corner, so keep an ear on the weather reports and protect your new sensitive plants – in particular cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries. Any sign that we’re expecting a cold snap overnight, you can cover up these plants with old sheets or blankets and spread a thick layer of straw mulch around to make sure the soil is well covered.

If you are still growing some broccoli, cabbage or rocket, which I suggest you should be, the pesky little cabbage white butterfly will be hanging around a bit now. You can protect the beds from this pest by making a simple tunnel covered in netting. There are many ways to do this, either using materials you have lying around at home or purchasing readymade. Essentially though you will need to use a number of hoops to create a supportive frame which the netting is then draped over, pulled tight and fastened to the garden bed or soil.

The local and introduced rats and mice will be on the move again now too, so keep an eye out for them.

With the realisation that we are in store for a wetter than usual summer courtesy of another La Niña cycle, fungal issues may be more prevalent this season. A little funky fungus here and there doesn’t cause much concern; however, if an outbreak of fungal wilt or mildew sets in, you don’t want to lose your entire crop. There are a number of biological fungicides on the market that can assist you in clearing up the problem, but it is important in these conditions to continue to monitor your crops every few days. Same goes for your fruit trees.

I suppose there are some positives about having a wetter than usual growing season: we don’t have to be as concerned about keeping our crops watered, and moisture loss from the soil may not be as problematic. Still, a well-mulched garden and functioning irrigation system will always lead to better results.

May the season be long and fruitful, with plenty of sunshine days.

HAPPY GARDENING! Drew Cooper, Edible Gardens www.ediblegardens.com.au

COMMITTED TO A CLEAN GREEN PENINSULA

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Photo: Birte Moliere