DECEMBER 2020
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PENINSULA Living & visiting on the Mornington Peninsula
Local Vibes Foster Hives • Totem Trail Mapped Out • Showbiz Days Readers Leap For Jetty Jumping • Pandemic Tales A Celebration Of Australia’s Indigenous Wildlife • A Christmas Gift Of Art Freshness Flavour • Wholesomely Generous • The Chapel In The Woods..At Shoreham
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Local Vibes Foster Hives
A Mount Martha family is abuzz while relocating swarms and tending to healthy hives, colony health and careful harvesting of local honey.
12. Totem Trail Mapped Out Artist Lizzie Dennis has produced an illustrated map of the unique totems dotting Somers landscape which will be printed on tea towels and sold as a fundraiser for Somers Primary School.
Stay& y Pla
WHERE TO STAY AND PLAY THIS SUMMER ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
18. Showbiz Days Even before their Sugar and Spice radio show on RPP FM, Bob and Judy Phillips spent some time rubbing shoulders with the heavyweight stars of stage and screen.
Arts
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22. Readers Leap For Jetty Jumping A lifetime spent near and, on the sea, inspires author Andrea Rowe to pen a picture book about the summer playgrounds that are coastal jetties.
30. Pandemic Tales Kristina McGhee’s new book, 2020 When the World Lost its Balance, is a collection of stories about how Australians felt through the pandemic.
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F E AT U R E & GIFT GUIDE
Gamekeepers Christmas Ham Guide
Proudly published by
Writers: Andrea Louise Thomas, Erica Louise, Andrea Rowe, Melissa McCullough, Peter McCullough Photography: Yanni, Gary Sissons Creative: Sam Loverso, Dannielle Espagne Publisher: Melissa McCullough Advertising: Brooke Hughes, 0409 219 282 or email brooke@mpnews.com.au
All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor. Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. Peninsula Essence is produced monthly. 30,000 copies (mix of home delivery and bulk dropped at an extensive network of outlets across the peninsula).
28. A Celebration Of Australia’s Indigenous Wildlife
Australia’s birds, animals, aquatic life and the Indigenous stories of their creation feature in Everywhen’s Christmas exhibition.
34. A Christmas Gift Of Art Nissarana Galleries Mornington have a new collection of paintings full of life, colour and vibrancy, sculptures that captivate and enchant, and jewelery that speaks class, style, and charm.
Eat & Drink 36. Freshness Flavour Montalto’s kitchen garden keeps produce-driven chef Matt Wilkinson a happy man.
42. Wholesomely Generous When Mel and Chris’s professional hours were reduced during COVID, they fast-tracked their dream to deliver door-to-door cheese and dessert platters with a WOW factor.
Focus On 52. Focus On Rosebud Interesting facts, coffee safari, what to do and photos.
History
Phone: (03) 5974 9000
68. The Chapel In The Woods.. At Shoreham
Registered address: 63 Watt Road, Mornington 3931 www.peninsulaessence.com.au
Bordering the Buxton Woodland Reserve in Shoreham rests the remains of a small stone, outdoor open-air chapel that is now the focus of a community group and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.
facebook/peninsulaessence Instagram @peninsulaessence Cover Image by Yanni
PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. www.pefc.org
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The Squirrel Glider is a small nocturnal, gliding possum native to parts of mainland Australia. The cover picture was taken at Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale Victoria where they have a healthy and thriving colony. Natural predators of the squirrel glider include owls and introduced predators include dogs, cats and foxes. Habitat fragmentation and destruction by human agency is also impacting individual populations.
December 2020
Every Month 6. Peninsula Styles 40. Must Try Dishes
38. Recipe 54. Crossword
152152 Main 152 Main Main Street Street Street Mornington Mornington Mornington 152 Main Street Mornington 152 Main Street Mornington
PHPH (03) PH (03) (03) 5959 7559 75 2475 24 3924 3939 PH (03) 59 75 24 PH (03) 59 75 24 39 39
NOTHING JADED Nothing Jaded brings together metalwork and precious stones with a unapologetically harmonious vibe. Bold colours, vivid combinations, and eclectic mixes of atypical stones and unique sterling silver findings. At their heart, Jade Neylan’s handcrafted creations are influenced and defined by electric anthems and endless summers. Available at nothingjaded.com
JACK + JULES
Peninsula
Styles
Jack + Jules lifestyle bags are so well made they can be used over and over again. Created to fit an active lifestyle they are functional with a fashionable flair. Available at jackandjules.com.au emuplainsmarket.com.au
PRODUCTS FROM THE PENINSULA WE'RE SURE YOU WILL LOVE
COCKATOO COLLECTION This gorgeous cockatoo cushion will be a guaranteed talking point and add light to any room with its bold design and fresh colours. Who doesn’t love our native cockatoo? Available at Emu Plains Market and cockatoocollection.com.au
ATTIKA Designed on the Mornington Peninsula and lovingly handmade by artisans, the Pacific Rattan Hanging Chair is perfect for lazy Summer afternoons. Available from Mornington Peninsula based online eco furniture and homewares store attika.com.au
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December 2020
SORRENTO FURNITURE Designed to weather the Australian climate while looking effortlessly stylish so you can enjoy the furniture for years to come. The Cumulus, from the Elements outdoor collection. Available at Sorrento Furniture 10 Bennetts Rd, Mornington P 5975 0344 sorrentofurniture.com.au
Boundless living
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS 2020
OZ DESIGN FURNITURE MORNINGTON
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December 2020
LOCAL VIBES FOSTER hives By Andrea Rowe Photos Yanni
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he closest Matt Dolling came to bees as a kid, was barefoot in the backyard and accidentally stepping on them in the clover grass. Now, the professional firefighter can’t get enough of caring for their health and sharing his bee passion in Mount Martha’s thriving gardens through neighbourhood hives.
While his day job with Fire Rescue Victoria in Frankston keep’s Matt busy, his side hustle as a registered beekeeper has taken off. The Mt Martha Honey apiarist rescues and relocates swarms and tends to healthy hives and honey production. Like his bees, Matt is literally buzzing with talk of hives, honey, colony health and careful harvesting. Adding to this, is an innovative community-focussed vision, fostering beehives out to local Mount Martha gardens. A chalkboard sign on the gate of the Dolling home, Mt Martha Honey Headquarters, shares updates on bee behaviour and offers to remove and rehome swarms. Next to it hangs a handmade box selling small batch-harvested honey. The lush and blooming gardens of Mount Martha are crawling with bees, and Matt’s care for them has him in high demand. Fostering beehives came from Matt’s desire to see bees enjoy safe and healthy lives, saved from the hands of exterminators. “It’s a win-win. The bees get a safe house, a welcome place they can forage in, our foster hosts get to enjoy bees pollinating their gardens and we collectively enjoy their honey,” says Matt. Matt doesn’t charge for swarm removal, bee relocation, hive residency or honey extraction. He sets up hives in local gardens, shares the spoils with hosts and shares beekeeping tips.
He was soon saving millions of bees across Mount Martha from decline. “The bee bug has really got me! I started researching bees, their habitat and health, and registered with Agriculture Victoria.” After work, he swaps fire-fighting gear for a hive-smoking suit for swarm removal, employing natural beekeeping and retrieval techniques. “I don't want people calling exterminators to kill bees; they deserve a healthy life. Given two thirds of the food we grow and eat needs bees to pollinate it, I’m helping them out for their survival, and our sustainability.” Once his own property reached capacity with urban beekeeping restrictions, encouraging foster hives was a practical solution. Word of mouth spread, as naturally as Mt Martha Honey and there’s now a local waiting list for hives. Matt assembles the hives, transitions bees to established gardens and checks in on his pollinating and nectar producing charges. “People are realising how important bees are. They’re in decline globally, struggling with colony collapse disorder, bee populations and agriculture impacts. We’re fortunate Australia doesn’t have Varroa mites, but we need to ensure healthy bee colonies. The plight of the bees and how important they are for our food bowl matters.” Community foster hives are Mt Martha Honey’s success story. “There's great foraging for bees in Mount Martha with so many ornamental gardens and year-long flowering blooms. It’s the stuff bee’s love, and they’re happy doing their own thing in it,” says Matt.
Matt originally planned for just one hive at his Mount Martha home to help his own garden growing.
“Some of the people have entertained the beekeeper idea but never knew where to start. If they've got a garden with flowers, fruit trees or vegetables our foster hive carers don't need to do any work,;simply sit in their garden with a cuppa and enjoy the bees.”
“Over 65% of fruit and veggies are pollinated by bees. I was happy with them tinkering around my garden and harvesting a little honey.”
“If they’re interested, they can suit up when I visit for inspections and shadow me during extractions. When we harvest, they've got an abundance of honey to enjoy.” Continued next page... December 2020
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“I let the bees do their own thing. A harmonious bee population colony is a happy garden, and we treat our bees like they are part of the family.”
“Some customers say it tastes like honey used to taste in the 1960’s ,which is a lovely complement. While the flavour profile does change depending on the season, it’s a taste that’s distinctly local.”
Beekeeping is a family affair. Wife Emma, who works at Enchanted Maze, coordinates all the Mt Martha Honey marketing and sales. She shares bee and honey-extraction images and bee-facts on Instagram. Their children nine-year-old Will, and four-year-old Charlotte, shadow Matt’s harvesting and hive care.
Honey is sold from the front gate, right near buzzing worker bees, doing their thing. It’s an industry built on honest toil, care for the environment and a love of bees.
“Will is the smoke man when I have my hands full of frames. He has his own hive and I’ve funded his start-up costs.” And the honey? “It tastes like how Mt Martha smells in springtime. That floral taste with the coastal smell of salt, and a hint of tea-tree … it’s Mt Martha in a jar.”
Honey is sold from the front gate, right near buzzing worker bees
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“I can see myself as an old man, pottering in the garden with my bees around me.” Follow Mt Martha Honey on instagram.com/mtmarthahoney
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TOTEM TRAIL mapped out
By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni
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t’s not every day that a writer can conduct an interview by bicycle, but that’s what happened when I interviewed artist, Lizzie Dennis. We were cycling to see the 24 wooden totem poles on the Somers Totem Trail, which covers about 13.5km. Lizzie has produced an illustrated map of the totems, which is being printed on tea towels and sold as a fundraiser for Somers Primary School as they could not hold their annual art fair this year due to COVID.
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Lizzie discovered the totems when her daughter Agnes, a student at the school, wanted to do a project about what one could see on a local bushwalk. They came across the totems and became curious about their origins and stories. Totems are a unique aspect of the Somers landscape. They sprang up in conjunction with the annual Somers Art Fair, the major fundraising event for the local school. One of the most popular aspects of the fair was the totem pole auction. Only a very limited number of totems are created each year for the auction and they have always sold quickly.
Now visitors and locals alike can use the map to find these sculptural works of art situated on properties around town. Some famous artists such as David Larwill and Christabel Wigley have created totems, as well as local artists. There are many totems at the school commemorating their outgoing Year Six students who wanted to leave a lasting legacy. Ultimately, it was a sense of community that brought Lizzie to the totem trail map idea. She moved to Somers with her husband and children in 2018 and wanted to become part of the continued next page... December 2020
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community. She grew up in Charlton in country Victoria. There, everyone knew everyone else and there was a real sense of connectedness. Lizzie sees Somers in a similar way.
I like to draw the spaces people exist in. I’m intrigued by how we interact in our environment
like viewers to find the things I’ve hidden,” she says. She is keenly interested in people. In her portraiture, she wants to convey more than just a subject.
During the second COVID lockdown, when everyone was missing that sense of connection, and people were stuck at home, Lizzie visited the owners of the totems and asked them if they would like to be part of the trail map project. Every person she spoke with was receptive to the idea.
Lizzie’s own story is interesting and full of contrasts. She grew up in a tiny town, but moved to the big city to study law and art history at the University of Melbourne. She was working furiously to complete her degree when she had to stop completely. She was in a horrific car crash and broke her neck. After four months in a halo brace, she went back to complete her law degree.
In her own work as an artist, Lizzie is interested in the ways in which technology and domestic life intersect. She finds that although families occupy the same space, modern technology has disconnected them whether it is television, computers, gaming consoles or personal devices. She conveys both that presence and absence in her art.
She met her husband to be, Matt, while she was in law school and they started to build a life together. Lizzie worked as a corporate lawyer for ten years but, two years after their daughter was born, she had to stop again and reassess. Life as a wife, mother and full time lawyer was just too much. She took a leave-of-absence and regrouped.
“I like to draw the spaces people exist in. I’m intrigued by how we interact in our environment. I like to have story in my work. I
During her leave, she took a drawing class at the Victorian College of the Arts, reconnecting with her lifelong passion for art continued next page...
NATIONAL WORKS ON PAPER
5 DEC 21 FEB
NWOP supports and promotes contemporary Australian artists working on or with paper with up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards. Artists: Kim ANDERSON, Suzanne ARCHER, Lyn ASHBY, Peter ATKINS, Elizabeth BANFIELD, Hannah BEILHARZ, Chris BOND and Drew PETTIFER, Godwin BRADBEER, Kaye BROWN, Jane BURTON, Penelope CAIN, Marilou CHAGNAUD, Timothy COOK, Matt COYLE, Sam CRANSTOUN, Julia DAVIS and Lisa JONES, Stephen EASTAUGH, Naomi ELLER, Robert EWING, Robert FIELDING, Anna FINLAYSON, Belinda FOX, David FRAZER, Kath FRIES, Brian FUATA, Ash GARWOOD, Minna GILLIGAN, Shaun GLADWELL, Tamika GRANTIRAMU, Katherine HATTAM, Judy HOLDING, Anna HOYLE, Clare HUMPHRIES, Winsome JOBLING, Deborah KELLY, Iluwanti KEN, Martin KING, Ilona KISS, Barbie KJAR, Jenna LEE, Dane LOVETT, Chips MACKINOLTY, Laith McGREGOR, Noel McKENNA, Roma McLAUGHLIN, Todd McMILLAN, Fiona McMONAGLE, Vera MÖLLER, Ray MONDE, Kent MORRIS, Tom O’HERN, Becc ORSZÁG, David PALLISER, Louise PARAMOR, Hubert PAREROULTJA, Riley PAYNE, Tom POLO, Patrick POUND, Linda PUNA, Cameron ROBBINS, Brian ROBINSON, Annika ROMEYN, Pip RYAN, Wendy SHARPE, Kylie STILLMAN, Jacqui STOCKDALE, Marina STROCCHI, Hiromi TANGO, Hossein VALAMANESH, Lisa WAUP, Rosie WEISS, Regina WILSON, Judith WRIGHT, Heidi YARDLEY
KEY FUNDER
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December 2020
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER
ition ry exhib al Galle Region insula en P ington A Morn
PARTNER
MEDIA PARTNERS
EVENT PARTNERS
Learn to Sail! Anybody can learn to sail! Everybody can learn to sail! At Mornington Yacht Club our accredited instructors can teach any age and we’ll supply all the gear you’ll need. You don’t need to be a member and our range of sea-happy programs will include the one that’s perfect for you! “Tackers” - Fun game-based “learn to sail” courses for 7 to 12 year olds. There’s even an introduction to sailing program for “Little Tackers” 4 to 6. “Out There Youth Sailing” - An active, fun program for 12 to 17 year olds. Dinghy “learn to sail”, Stand-Up Paddleboard, Windsurfing and Keelboat experiences are available. Adult - We have courses from novice to the more experienced in dinghies and keelboats. Know the basics? Try our “Learn to Race” program. Find out more by contacting the club or going to our website.
Mornington Yacht Club Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington VIC 3931 Phone: (03) 5975 7001 www.morningtonyc.net.au
What a great Christmas gift!
Act now.
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A life-changing opportunity for someone special! Or how about a “Learn to Sail” package for the whole family? Togetherness has never been so much fun!
and drawing. She realised being an artist was a better fit with family life. She then completed a Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts at the VCA. She had her first solo exhibition at The Brunswick Street Gallery in 2016. Lizzie and Matt never saw urban Melbourne as the place to raise children. She wanted the girls to grow up like she did, surrounded by land and natural beauty. She found a property in Somers and they knew immediately, it was the place for them. Living on the Peninsula is a dream location for any artist, but Somers has its own unique beauty. It’s also a welcoming town with an artistic footprint. The little local school is a perfect reflection of this. It’s appropriate that sculptural totems are a signal post for Somers. They reflect the many and varied stories of its residents. Come see for yourself. Totem trail tea towels will be available for purchase through Somers Primary School and selected peninsula specialty stores. See Lizzie’s work at: lizziedennis.com
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REIMAGINED LOCAL business
L
ocal businesses are the life blood of the Mornington Peninsula. Many have impressively adapted through the challenges of 2020. The Mornington Peninsula Shire congratulates this innovation and urges everyone – community members, organisations and businesses – to consider how we spend, recommend and utilise local services. Open for summer, local businesses look a little different. Customer limits, new cleaning regimen, social distancing and record keeping are all part of the new COVID-safe normal. Things learnt through lockdown have been adapted: click and collect, upgraded websites, outdoor trading. The Shire is proud of our business community for adapting and working creatively. From picnics to fine dining, food businesses have developed new menus – carefully packaged for home delivery, take away or now outdoor dining. To enjoy these lively spaces and new menus, you might have to drive a little slower and park a little further away but it’s a small price to pay to keep our village centres thriving and support local jobs.
Local craft brewers have worked together, leveraging collective skills and shared communities to create new limited-edition products for beer lovers. Market gaps identified through lockdown have launched new opportunities with local rum, whisky and gin distillers turning their expertise into the production of hand sanitisers. Supply has been reimagined, local gelati and coffee makers have launched vending machines to provide access to products 24/7 for customers. To celebrate this innovation and excellence as we think, spend and recommend local, Mornington Peninsula Shire is asking you to nominate your favourite food business in the Shire’s 2021 Best Bites People’s Choice Award. To nominate, simply tell us in 25 words or less how your choice demonstrates excellence. Businesses must be featured in the 2020 Best Bites Food Guide to be nominated. To read more about the stories of our local business innovation visit mpbusiness.com.au/supportlocal. To explore what the Best Bites program offers visit mpbusiness.com.au/best-bites
Think. Spend. Recommend. mpbusiness.com.au/supportlocal
Find ways you can support local business The Colour English
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December 2020
SHOWBIZ days By Erica Louise Photos Yanni
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howbiz couple Bob and Judy (nee Banks) Phillips currently live on a small farm in Moorooduc surrounded by horses and lemon trees. In earlier decades, Bob and Judy were deep-rooted in the Australian media industry, rubbing shoulders with the heavyweight stars of stage and screen. As a nod to their former careers, the couple are involved in a weekly showbiz program on the Mornington Peninsula’s RPP FM radio station.
His work saw him meeting international personalities Bob Hope, the Beatles and the iconic Jerry Lewis
Judy began her career fame playing Jane in the smash hit stage production of Salad Days. Her career blossomed after accepting further roles in Lock Up Your Daughters and Robert and Elizabeth. She later co-hosted a quirky children’s television breakfast show with the talented Tedd Dunn, who created the wonderful Fredd Bear character. “Somehow with the Fredd Bear’s Breakfast-A-Go-Go show we revolutionised breakfast TV in the early '70’s,” said Judy. Bob grew up working on dairy farms in Rye before working as a carnival hand, which kick-started his career in entertainment. He later became a cinema projectionist before moving into television. He climbed the media ladder behind the screens where he worked as a producer and executive producer for such icons as Graham Kennedy, Don Lane, Daryl Somers, Bert Newton and Steve Vizard. His work saw him meeting international personalities Bob Hope, the Beatles and the iconic Jerry Lewis. The couple gravitated towards the Peninsula over 40 years ago, purchasing a 10-acre Moorooduc property. “Our property is a paradise away from the hustle and bustle of showbiz. Totally by accident we produce some of the best lemons you would find on the Peninsula,” said Bob. continued next page...
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During lockdown, the couple set up a complete, fully functioning, home radio studio on their farm, where it’s not unusual to hear a horse neighing at the door mid-session. “Our son, Andrew, has moved up to Brisbane and the only other family members are two horses Flynn and Miley, rescue horses who were destined for the knackery,” Bob explained. In the 80s Bob and Judy founded TV World, Australia’s first TV, Movie and Media Museum, with an enormous collection of memorabilia including Dexter the talking robot from Perfect Match. Although well supported by the media with patrons like Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton and The Seekers, the operation has since closed. “Judy and I ran the museum for approximately ten years and it became one of the Mornington Peninsula’s favourite tourist attractions. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure government funding and the collection was eventually disbanded with major exhibits going to the Australian Centre of The Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square,” said Bob. While the couple miss the golden days of Channel Nine’s ‘Television City’, which Bob describes as a ‘bustling production complex with something akin to the MGM studios in Hollywood,’ Bob and Judy remain tuned into the industry as co-hosts on the RPP-FM ‘Sugar and Spice’ radio show. The program has been running for 25 years. “Sugar and Spice is a curious, fun mix of comedy, rock n’ roll, and talk show guests ranging from medicos, cooking experts, horse racing tipsters, authors, talking dogs, politicians and showbiz stars,” said Bob. Because the Australian entertainment industry is small and close knit, the couple have been able to introduce radio show listeners to personalities such as Rhonda Burchmore, Marcia Hines, Daryl Braithwaite and even the late Helen Reddy. Bob believes it is now tougher to get a foothold in the industry. “When I began in the early years of Channel 9, it was possible for youngsters to start in the mailroom and rise to the rank of director or executive producer. These days, studio cameramen (and women) and floor managers etc., are being replaced by technology. Set building and design is mainly outsourced. None of the major networks maintain large studios.” There are still opportunities for Peninsula residents however, Bob believes the Peninsula Short Film Festival is a great way to showcase local creative talents. For those interested in the performing arts, Judy views tenacity as important as talent.
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“One must learn to deal with rejection and poor reviews. Try to gain experience, join an amateur theatrical group, take dance classes, work up some good audition material,” she said. To follow Bob and Judy’s journey, tune in to ‘Sugar and Spice’ every Thursday from 9 – 11am on RPP Radio 98.7 FM. Or read more about their careers in Bob’s recently republished book Like No Other Business - 60 Years of Oz TV, available from all major book stores.
For those interested in the performing arts, Judy views tenacity as important as talent.
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December 2020
READERS LEAP FOR
jetty jumping
Photos Yanni
W
hen Andrea Rowe was a child she wasn’t a big fan of jetties, she feared what lurked underneath them. But a lifetime spent near and on the sea soon cured that and she grew up to write a story about the summer playgrounds that are coastal jetties. Jetty Jumping is Andrea’s debut picture book, published by Little Hare / Hardie Grant Egmont, is to be released in January 2021 with tremendous success in pre-sales and reviews.
While she may have had a shaky start to enjoying jetties as a child, Andrea has made up for lost time. Growing up in her early years in Warrnambool, she has vivid memories of fishing and swimming off jetties with her brothers, and later across Australia on family travels. “When I wrote Jetty Jumping I loved revisiting the feeling I had as a small child being scared of jetties; I really was worried I’d fall through the cracks in the planks and plunge into waters never to be seen again. Goodness knows what the fish below thought with continued next page... December 2020
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my howling and carrying on! My parents think it’s hilarious that the kid they used to drag along the jetty, is now a published author who wrote a book about jetties.”
“I wrote Jetty Jumping as both a nostalgic reflection of my own summer childhood memories, as well as a love letter to the adventures of my own kids who have bravely lept off so many.’
Andrea did manage to put her fears behind her though, and learn to love the adventures that come with jetty activities. The St Andrews Beach author has captured those sentiments beautifully in this nostalgic homage to Australian summer and childhood.
“On the Mornington Peninsula it’s almost a rite of passage to have your jetty moment. So many kids take a jetty jump on to symbolise the end of a school milestones, leaping off jetties in their school uniforms. Jetties are the best coastal playground ever, and I think in recent lockdown times we’ve come to really appreciate feeling free in the outdoors. I headed straight to a jetty as soon as I could.”
“There’s something thrilling about dangling off a jetty,” Andrea says. “All that adventure and daring of leaping off into the water! And, also, the guessing and worry about what might be under the water that you can’t quite see. I really wanted to capture that diversity of feelings children have when they’re standing on a jetty pondering a swim on a blistering hot day.” Jetty Jumping introduces readers to Milla. While her friends take big, brave jumps off the jetty, Milla stays on the blistering wood, scared of what lurks below. But when Milla accidentally falls over the edge, she discovers the beauty of the deep dark sea – and her summer changes forever. Sure to become a coastal kid classic, the picture book is beautifully illustrated by award winning illustrator Hannah Sommerville. “Hannah’s images are mesmerising – I love that every image invites you to look for more details, and I feel as if all of my favourite Peninsula scenes have been captured in the pages. Hannah created such evocative images; I feel like I could swim in the pages. I am incredibly blessed that my editor had such super vision.” Andrea loved pursuing themes of bravery and milestones in the book. “Jetties are such a symbolic thing,” says Andrea. “They are sturdy and strong, but they are also something that we use to launch ourselves from as well. Jetty Jumping is a salute to letting go, and trying new things.” “I’ve seen a lot of jetties in my time. I think there’s a universal language when it comes to jetties; when we stand on them they speak to us of adventure, fun and the chance to be brave.” An energetic adventurer leaping into her own experiences, Andrea has lived in the French alps, Canadian wilderness and Victorian High Country, where jetties on lakes, rivers and icy streams have beckoned. But it’s the coastal jetties of the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland where she feels most at home, watching her children and their friends create their own jetty adventures.
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Andrea has a soft spot for the Rosebud jetty with its views across the bay and azure blue waters, as well as Cameron’s Bight Jetty at Whitecliffs for its historic connections and timeless white railings. Andrea hopes adults will also enjoy reliving their own jetty jumping memories through this nostalgic read. “I like to think that while I write books for children, the stories are just as much for grown-ups to enjoy as well. Picture books help us revisit memories, start conversations with our children and inspire adventures and exploring.” When she’s not wandering jetties, Andrea is writing at her Mornington Peninsula desk. The professional copywriter and children’s and young adult author has been published extensively in anthologies, newspapers and magazines, but this is her first picture book. A respected woman of words on the Peninsula, Andrea is also the Founder of the Peninsula Writers’ Club, an advocate for Australian literature and co-host of the Words After Dark author conversations at Antipodes Bookstore . https://andrearowe.com.au/ She is currently working on several new children’s book, and a young adult novel book set in the sand dunes of a small coastal town. It seems she’s got ample coastal stories still to tell. Jetty Jumping is available at all independent bookstores and Big W from 1 January, 2020.
www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/jettyjumping-by-andrea-rowe/9781760500658 andrearowe.com.au Insta: @andrearowe_coastwriter Facebook: @AndreaRowe.au
December 2020
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We’ve appreciated all your support as we changed to contactless delivery and click and collect, allowing you to enjoy a taste of the Mornington Peninsula from home.
We have used this time working to be ready for this day when we could welcome you back, and we could enjoy the magical region we call home.
Now, as restrictions have begun to ease, we are looking forward to catching up and saying hello again.
Share your great Mornington Peninsula experiences with us by tagging #visitmp on Facebook and Instagram as you reconnect to your favourite Mornington Peninsula people and places and start saying hello, again.
COVID has touched us all, and there are few new rules in place to keep us all safe. We want you to know that we are the same great people and places that you have experienced before.
Taste what you’ve been missing visitmp.org
A CELEBRATION OF AUSTRALIA’S INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE AT EVERYWHEN FOR CHRISTMAS
A
ustralia’s birds, animals, aquatic life and the Indigenous stories of their creation feature in Everywhen’s Christmas exhibition. “Aboriginal artists celebrate and document the wildlife of their regions in a great diversity of ways,” says co-curator Susan McCulloch. “Some, such as the artists of Yuendumu in the Western Desert, have dedicated community programs in which they often paint the birds of the region in quirky and humorous ways; others such as the Kimberley’s Madelene Purdie document creation stories, such as that of the great barramundi whose scales became embedded in rock and formed what we know as Argyle diamonds; Central Arnhem Land artists paint delicately cross-hatched fish and other wildlife in works on paper. “
Throughout, she says, the strong inter-relatedness is evident of Aboriginal people and their lands which many actively care for as rangers. The exhibition runs from 6-22 December. Everywhen Artspace Open: Friday-Tuesday | 11-4 | Wed & Thurs by appt 39 Cook Street, Flinders 3929 T: 5989 0496 | E: info@mccullochandmcculloch.com.au W: mccullochandmcculloch.com.au
Far North Queensland’s Fiona Omeenyo paints her ancestral story of the Parrot Sisters who were taken by the black python before escaping to form the lands to which she belongs. In the Western Desert the story of creation ancestors such as that of brush tail possums and the large creation Tingari myth includes representation of dingo, emu, kingfisher and the western quoll. Although the designs on bark paintings and ceremonial poles of North East Arnhem Land may appear abstract, they are backgrounded by stories of epic journeys in which sea eagles, crocodiles, sharks, stingrays and dugongs interacted with creation ancestor figures to form the land itself and establish the laws under which people live. The show, says Susan, includes joyous small works in which artists celebrate the wildlife they observe on a daily basis, as well as major works that carry deeper resonance and significance.
3. Fiona Omeenyo, Parrot Sisters, acrylic on canvas, 82 x 108cm
December 6-22 Wildlife! A celebration of birds, animals, aquatic life and their creation stories
1. Madelene Purdie, Kilkayi, Argyle Diamond Dreaming, ochres on canvas, 45 x 45cm
Upcoming Dec 28 - Feb 23 The Summer Collector’s Show 2. Kaye Baker, Kalaya (Emu) Dreaming, acrylic on linen, 200 x 200cm
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December 2020
Open Friday-Tuesday 11-4 | Wednesday & Thursday-By Appointment
39 Cook Street, Flinders 3929. | T: 5989 0496 mccullochandmcculloch.com.au | info@mccullochandmcculloch.com.au
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AAbeautiful new aged care in Hastings is opening soon. Experience our home forhome yourself. available. Book today. beautiful new aged care home inTours Hastings is opening soon. A beautiful new aged care home in Hastings is opening soon. Think comfortable, modernmodern rooms that cater singles and and We’ve We’ve for thefor Mornington community for for Think comfortable, rooms thatfor cater for singles been caring the Mornington Peninsula community A beautiful new aged care homebeen incaring Hastings is Peninsula opening soon.
Thinkcouples, comfortable, modern rooms cater for singles andlight. We’ve been for the Mornington Peninsula community for couples, each with private ensuites andthat filled with natural light. over 90 years, withcaring local and care to help oryou your each with private ensuites and filled with natural over 90 years, withstaff local staff andteams care teams toyou help or your couples, each with ensuites and filled with natural 90one years, with local and care teams to help you or your Think comfortable, modern that for singles andlovedover We’ve been caring the Mornington for The dining lounge areas are warm and inviting, each with Theand dining andprivate lounge areas arerooms warm andcater inviting, eachlight. with one feel at feel home. A for limited number ofPeninsula places atcommunity The loved at home. Astaff limited number of places atBays The Bays Think comfortable, modern rooms cater forcourtyards singles and We’ve been caring for the Mornington Peninsula community for Theown dining andservery, lounge areas are warm and inviting, each with one feel at home. Astaff limited number oftoplaces at or The Bays couples, each private ensuites and filled with natural overHastings 90 years, with local and available. care teams help you your their servery, gas logwith fires and terraces or courtyards to their own gas log fires andthat terraces or tolight. Agedloved Care are currently available. Aged Care Hastings are currently couples, each with private ensuites and with natural light. over 90 years, local staff andnumber care teams to help youBays or your The dining and lounge areas are warm and inviting, each with loved one feel with at home. limited of places at The theirBeautifully own servery, gas log and terraces orhomely courtyards to Aged Care Hastings are Acurrently available. enjoy. designed tofires promote a sense of enjoy. Beautifully designed to promote afilled sense of homely To find out more, call 03 5979 dining and loungegas areas are warm and inviting, each with their own servery, fires and terraces courtyards to loved one feel at home. A limited number places at 0333 The Bays Aged Care Hastings are book currently available. callof03 5979 To find out more or a0333 tour enjoy.The Beautifully designed to log promote a sense oforhomely ambience. ambience. To find out more, call 03 5979 0333 enjoy. Beautifully designed to promote a sense of homely their own servery, gas log fires and terraces or courtyards to Aged Care Hastings are currently available. or visit thebays.com.au/aged-care or visit thebays.com.au/aged-care ambience. To find out more, call 03 5979 0333 In addition to permanent residential there options for In addition to permanent residential care, there arehomely options for ambience. enjoy. Beautifully designed tocare, promote a are sense of or visit thebays.com.au/aged-care To more, call 03 5979 0333 orfind visitout thebays.com.au/aged-care private and government-funded respite respite support private government-funded care, are memory support In addition toand permanent residential care, memory there options for ambience. In addition to permanent residential care, there are options for or visit thebays.com.au/aged-care and dementia care. Our home is aligned with The Bays Hospital and dementia care. Our home is aligned with The Bays Hospital private and government-funded respiterespite care, care, memory support private and government-funded memory support In addition to permanent residential care, there are options forThe The Aged , Hastings BaysBays Aged CareCare, Hastings in and Mornington, with expert medical services proudly delivered in Mornington, with expert medical services proudly delivered dementia care. Our home is aligned with The Bays Hospital and dementia care. Our home is aligned with The Bays Hospital private and government-funded respite care,Group. memory support byinthe trusted team at The Bays Healthcare Group. by the trusted team at The Bays Healthcare Trusted Trusted by generations by generations for over for90 over years 90 years Mornington, with expert medical services proudly delivered The Bays Aged Care Hastings in Mornington, with expert medical services proudly delivered and dementia care. Our home is aligned with The Bays Hospital by the trusted team at The Bays Healthcare Group. by the trusted team at The Bays Healthcare Group. Trusted by generations for over 90 Trusted by generations for over 90years years The Bays Aged Care Hastings in Mornington, with expert medical services proudly delivered86 VICTORIA 86 VICTORIA STREET, STREET, HASTINGS HASTINGS VIC 3915 VIC2020 3915 December PENINSULA | 29 by the trusted team at The Bays Healthcare Group. Trusted by generations for over 90 years
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PANDEMIC tales
By Melissa McCullough Photos Yanni
B
orn in Singapore of Swedish parents and spending part of her childhood in South Korea, Mornington Peninsula travel editor and entertainment industry promoter Kristina McGhee spent her childhood travelling the world with her parents. Growing up, Kristina would be fascinated by the tales told, and of their amazing and diverse trips. This later instilled in her a continuing interest in peoples and cultures which led to her gaining a degree in Social Anthropology. At the beginning of 2020 her Airbnb in Rye was constantly booked out and she spent her days cleaning it and preparing the linen for the new guests. She was also a co-ordinator of foreign exchange high school students who had come to Australia from Italy, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Arriving in July 2019, their 10 months abroad should have continued until the end of May 2020.
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“There were bookings. There were students. There were gigs. There was travel to write about. The income was flowing. Life was normal”, says Kristina. Then the corona virus hit Victoria. Kristina recalls, “It took some time to get flights arranged for those students who decided to leave. The dilemma was that if they chose to stay it would mean their travel insurance would not cover their medical here plus their student visas would be invalid and eventually run out as all the schools were closing.” With the worry in their minds building, and after many tears and lots of uncertainty with flights, they all ended up going home. “I was then faced with having no usual income. Promotions for the music and entertainment industry had stopped with all gigs cancelled and theatres closed, and I also couldn’t really work at writing travel itineraries as no one could travel”, said Kristina. Continued next page...
December 2020
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There was also a void left from not being able to do any of the things she would usually do to fill her days, which she quickly remedied with the aid of JobSeeker. These payments enabled her, like many Victorians, to pay her bills, and get into some pastimes that ‘regular life’ might not permit time for. One memorable time was in August when, with four friends, she helped to organise an event called Spark in the Dark. “This event was spurred on by the sudden death of an American actor, singer and good friend who was only 53 and died from COVID-19.” With only two weeks to set it up, Spark in the Dark was to honour all the frontline and health care workers. It was for all Victorians to light a candle or torch, turn all their lights off in their own homes, for one minute at 7.30pm on Saturday August 29, to say thank you.
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“The response from the entire state was amazing. We received photos from all over. It showed us how many people were grateful for all of those who put their lives at risk daily, some of them wearing full PPE outfits for up to twelve hours a day.”
After hearing so many stories of frontline workers Kristina realised that there were so many aspects of this strange scenario that everyone was living through. Kristina says, “It is a moment in history that we are experiencing and hopefully may not have to experience ever again.” These tales inspired her to publish a book consisting of stories written by Australian friends describing how they felt during lockdown. With the help of a group of school friends, listed as co-authors, she managed to gather many interesting stories from all over the country. The idea then expanded to include contributions from her overseas friends and family as well. The creators of the book had friends and family who were frontline workers. They knew people who had lost their businesses, people who were stuck in other countries, people who were scared, and some who did not believe the virus existed at all. As the stories came in, Kristina assembled the experiences into an edited anthology that will forever stand as a testament to the year that was 2020. “I’m so excited that 2020 When the World Lost its Balance has come to fruition as a keepsake and a historical record for future generations”, said Kristina. Like the stories in the collection, Kristina has forgone many occasions. She missed a cousin’s reunion in Sweden. She was supposed to be in Greece in August and then meeting her daughters in Barcelona in the September school holidays. But through it all she kept very busy. She goes on to say, “Lockdown wasn’t so bad for me; and as I read through all of the stories, I realised more and more that I’m a very lucky one.”
2020 When the World Lost its Balance is currently available from selected bookshops and online from: twotailspublishing.com
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A CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ART
T
here’s no denying that this has been a challenging year. We’ve had to change the way we live for the safety of ourselves and those around us, learn to live in a way that asked us to slow down, reflect and, of course, stay home. With this quietened pace, has come a deeper appreciation for the little things including the discovery and recovery of love for our local environments, from our backyards and stunning Peninsula beaches, to our living rooms. As we’ve banded together to support and share in this experience together, virtually, the emergence and understanding of arts importance in our lives has become more and more evident. Seeking out expression and connection through creativity has been the saving grace for so many during this time. From video and music, to visual and tactile, art has been something that has kept us all connected, engaged and (somewhat) sane throughout this year. With the year coming to an end, and finally able to connect with those we love, this is a glorious window of time to allow the year to culminate in an expression of love, appreciation and gratitude for the people we’ve missed, and to ourselves who have managed to survive 2020. As Christmas approaches, as too does the thought of gifts that mean something and value. Gone are the ‘lost for ideas’ last minute gifts, instead, give something that appreciates with time, offers delight, inspires fun and sometimes offers a sensation of travelling to faraway lands – the gift of art. Nissarana Galleries Mornington have a new collection of stunning pieces that won’t fail to impress. Paintings full of life, colour and vibrancy, sculptures that captivate and enchant, and jewelery that speaks class, style, and charm. This Christmas Exhibition includes artwork from highly acclaimed artists Colin Passmore, Graham Jones, Zoe Ellenberg, Philippe de Kraan, Svein Koningen, Debra Hutton and Maggi Turner, Yeats Gruin, Justine Kuran as well as premium Indigenous artists Bianca GardinerDodd, Melanie Hava, Margaret Scobie, Jacinta Hayes, Chad Briggs, Lindsay Bird Mpetyane, Anna Price Petyarre and many more. Visit the gallery in store or view the catalogue online. NISSARANA GALLERIES 211 Main St, Mornington. T: 5976 8877 M: 0474 496 222 E: info@ngmornington.com.au W: nissaranagalleries.com.au INSTA: nissaranagalleries
Bianca Gardiner-Dodd 'Re-Generation'
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Zetta Kanta 'Summer Birds' - Murmuration' Tapestry December 2020
Svein Koningen - 'Paradisaea'
Custom lounge furniture made in Mornington 10 Bennetts Rd, Mornington (03) 5975 0344 | info@sorrentofurniture.com.au Styling | Honor and Grace Interiors instagram honorandgraceinteriors Photography | Lisa Atkinson instagram lisaatkinsonphotographer
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Eat & Drink
FRESHNESS forward By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Supplied
C
hef Matt Wilkinson is a happy man. Fresh, seasonal, produce-driven cooking has always been his focus and he can bring all that to the table in his new role as Culinary Captain at Montalto’s iconic restaurant in Red Hill. While he admires the spectacular setting and outlook, it’s the abundant onsite kitchen garden that most inspires him.
“It’s the first time I’ve had the opportunity to cook right from the kitchen garden,” he says, and he loves it. It doesn’t get any fresher than that! His notorious love of vegetables goes back to his childhood in Barnsley, Yorkshire, in northern England. His grandfather was a miner who had a kitchen garden. They ate seasonally and it made a great impression. His first cookbook, Mr. Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables: A Cookbook to Celebrate the Garden, is a virtual ode to the kitchen garden. In all of those recipes, vegetables take centre stage. This is not because he’s a vegetarian, but because he feels flavour comes predominantly from the vegetables. The kitchen is not where Matt originally saw himself. He wanted to play football for England, but when that didn’t work out, he had to think outside the soccer field. So he went to Barnsley Technical College to study hospitality and catering. Front of house is where he pictured himself, but once he set foot in the kitchen, he knew he belonged there. “It was electrifying! The feeling of it was sensational. My first day was wild and I was hooked,” he says.
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When he was 17 he moved to London where he was offered a job as chef. He worked there for two years. Next he had the opportunity to move to Edinburgh to work under Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart who became his mentor. After two fast-paced years he needed a holiday so he travelled to Australia. His plan was a short stay, but he never left. When he landed in Australia, Matt picked up a Good Food Guide to look for the best places to eat. He figured if he wanted to eat there, he’d be happy to work there too. That’s how he ended up at Vue de Monde at its first home in Carlton where he worked as sous chef for three years. This was followed by four years as sous chef, then head chef at Circa in St. Kilda. In 2010 Matt opened his own place with business partner Ben Foster: the iconic Pope Joan Cafe in Brunswick. It had its own kitchen garden and produce store – Hams and Bacon. They ran Pope Joan until 2018, when they sold the business, but kept the brand. Matt has his fingers in many pies, including those at his popular eatery, The Pie Shop, next to the former Pope Joan Café. The hearty pies there all have names like The Shazza, The Brian and The Irene with personalities to match. It’s a very popular place. It’s fair to say that Matt has something of the Midas touch when it comes to food. If his name is attached to it, it’s a good place to eat. During his very busy career working as a chef and business owner, he met and married his wife Sharlee Gibb. They have two boys.
Matt published two more cookbooks entitled Mr. Wilkinson’s Well Dressed Salad: A Cookbook to Celebrate the Seasons and Mrs. and Mrs. Wilkinson’s How It Is At Home: A Cookbook For Every Family. He wrote the latter with his wife and, hence, it’s his favourite. In 2019, Matt joined the team at Made from Gin by Four Pillars Gin as Creative Director for their Made from Gin product range making delicious condiments like Cranberry and Gin Orange Relish and Rare Dry Gin Glaze. Matt knows the art of bringing the best flavours to the fore. And that is precisely why he is the perfect person to bring out the best of everything they have to offer at Montalto. Matt started in
September with a collaboration called Montalto x Matt Wilkinson At Home, delivering boxed meals inspired by long weekend lunches and pairing great wine with nourishing, tasty, fresh food. Being able to draw from Montalto’s kitchen garden and Mornington Peninsula producers, Matt will make sure that freshness and flavour are front and centre. He has built his entire career around it. “Eat simple and seasonal. That’s how I build the menu and the dish,” he says. Come and taste for yourself. The restaurant is once again welcoming customers through its doors. montalto.com.au mrwilkinsons.com.au
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Book into the next issue Call Brooke on 0409 219 282 brooke@mpnews.com.au December 2020
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Recipe
FRESHLY DUG RADISHES, WHIPPED BUTTER AND GARDEN HERB SALT Serves 2 as a snack
Ingredients:
1 bunch heirloom radishes, washed 150g soft unsalted butter 100g salt flakes A good handful soft mixed herbs like parsley, chervil, tarragon, basil
Method:
1. Place the butter in a bowl and using a whisk whip it until light and fluffy. 2. Dry the herbs in a low oven or if you have it a dehydrator. Once dried, blitz the salt and dried herbs together. 3. Then simply enjoy by dipping radishes into the butter then the salt. Goes brilliantly with a Ciabatta loaf and wedge of cheddar.
The simplest of ingredients and dishes but so tasty. To make the salt is a bit of work but a great flavour bomb for many other dishes. Montalto
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33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South December 2020
Phone: (03) 03 5989 8412
montalto.com.au
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December 2020
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Must try
Dishes
Eye fillet, potato puree, brocollini, jus, house made beetroot relish.
Hotel Sorrento
Heirloom tomatoes, buckwheat pancake, green tomato pickle fennel.
Sashimi salmon atop teriyaki noodles with soy ginger and lemon grass.
5-15 Hotham Road, Sorrento P 5984 8000 hotelsorrento.com.au
1247 Stumpy Gully Rd, Moorooduc P 1800 788 679 stumpygully.com.au
Stumpy Gully Dining
The Gourmet Foodie & Co
Pesto risoni with dried fruits, seeds and nuts.Â
Crispy skin Atlantic salmon with baby potato, local goats curd and fresh salsa verde.
Spring chicken panko crumbed with spring vegetables.
Hickinbotham Of Dromana
1/277 Point Nepean Rd, Dromana P 5981 0685 monkeybusinessdromana.com.au
Via Battisti
26 Lochiel Ave Mt Martha P 5974 4999 viabattisti.com
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194 Nepean Hwy, Dromana P 5981 0355 hickinbotham.biz
December 2020
0434 436 645 thegourmetfoodie.com.au
Monkey Business
GAMEKEEPERS AWARD WINNING TRADITIONAL WOODSMOKED CHRISTMAS HAM ON THE BONE A WHOLE HAM IS CONSIDERED THE CENTREPIECE ON MANY CHRISTMAS TABLES AROUND AUSTRALIA. IT IS ALSO SURPRISINGLY EASY TO MAKE WITH OUR DELICIOUS ORANGE GLAZE AND PERFECT FOR FEEDING A BIG HUNGRY CROWD.
Line a large, deep roasting pan with baking paper. Using a small sharp knife, cut around the ham shank, then carefully run the knife under the skin around the edge of the ham. Gently lift off the skin in one piece by running your fingers between the skin and the fat.
INGREDIENTS
To elevate your ham to a show-stopping centrepiece, score the fat in a diamond pattern (about 5mm deep) and stud the centres of each diamond with cloves. Not only is it decorative, it also creates lovely pockets of crusty glaze in the corners of each diamond.
800ml orange juice 300g brown sugar 2TBS yellow mustard seeds toasted Water when needed
INSTRUCTIONS One of the most important steps is to take the ham out of the fridge 3 hours prior to cooking to let it come up to room temperature. To make the glaze, place all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar, then bring to the boil until the sugar dissolves. Preheat oven to 170 C 0
Pour the glaze over the ham and put in the oven (lowest shelf). Baste the ham with the glaze at regular 20 minute intervals. Make sure you use a ladle so you don’t dislodge the cloves. Each time you baste, rotate the ham 180 degrees. If the glaze in the pan gets too thick, add a little water to the glaze to loosen the caramel. Just remember, the ham is already cooked so you just want to warm it up as well as caramelise the glaze! If using a meat thermometer, aim for about 38 C degrees. Add remaining glaze to a jug and serve alongside your delicious ham. 0
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WHOLESOMELY generous By Andrea Rowe Photos Gary Sissons
M
el and Chris Melbourne know the secret to a good cheese platter is stunning visual styling, and fresh and fabulous produce. As the Wholesome Foodie they’re delivering beautiful grazing boxes to front doors, workplaces and special events across the Mornington Peninsula.
They’ve plated up cheese boards and sweet treat boxes, high teas and hampers for private picnics, isolation celebrations, care packages, staff and client thanks and pay-it-forward gestures. And they’ve catering for intimate celebrations and gatherings with deconstructed grazing tables showcasing style and sophistication and wholesome, bounteous feasts that’s a joy to share. It’s a catering business with a start-up year like no other. A new beginning was thrust upon them as they welcomed a newborn baby. When Mel and Chris’s professional hours were reduced during COVID, they fast-tracked their dream to deliver door-to-door cheese and dessert platters with a WOW factor. Mel’s background in food and beverage management in West Australian iconic venues, and Chris’s in hospitality wholesale management and logistics aligned perfectly. Combining forces, their gorgeously generous food presentation, and ordering and delivery communications, has really made an impact, providing a “five-star service with a personal touch.”
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December 2020
“COVID actually afforded us time to take this small business leap,” says Mel. “We suddenly had time to invest and take a few risks in backing ourselves.” Their first social media post in March 2020 resulted in 50 orders in one day. “On Mother's Day we assembled and delivered 141 orders by midday, from Portsea to Packenham. We’re now providing to over 98 suburbs.”
Real estate agents have formed part of their business for settlement gifts and open homes. “We’re aligning with corporate clients and collaborators who reflect a generous spirit that we value. We can all complement each other and lift each other up. You can't have all the business, but there’s ample goodwill and generous spirit to go round.” Mel delights in watching people’s faces when they see her platters. “I love seeing how they react to my food.”
The couple have established a loyal repeat customer base. They’re as generous with their platter produce as they are in spirit and were humbled to be a part of self-care and recognition deliveries during tough times.
“The day after I gave birth, I was making a list for Chris to assemble and deliver a hamper that night. Creating platters for others is just something I love doing.”
Lockdown restrictions meant locals were forgoing milestone celebrations, while family and friends further away were looking to send messages and gifts to boost morale.
Being a parent to a new business and a newborn baby isn't easy, but Chris and Mel have taken it in their stride. Along with 6-month-old Jasper, they co-parent Chris’s son, 8-year-old Oskar who lives nearby in Cranbourne with his mum and her partner.
“Healthcare staff, carers, frontline workers, family members who were missed or having a hard time were a big part of our delivery during lockdown. Interstate families were sending treats to older family members and we knew conversations and connections were important. Chris took time to chat during deliveries.” Mel enjoys challenging herself to assemble affordable and unique platter combinations that look stunning, including vegetarian cheese platters and vegan desserts, offsetting product packaging and ensuring sustainable practices in her busy kitchen. “I can put together 160 boxes in no time while baking scones, making rocky road and chocolate bark.” The couple take time to transcribe handwritten notes and offer personalised updates for order tracking and delivery. “We’ve shed a few tears transcribing messages or sharing messages at doorsteps. Sometimes people are in an emotive state, and it doesn't take much time out of our day to recognise that. We’re in the business of delivering smiles with our grazing platters.” Chris says it’s a seamless process from ordering to delivery, “Customers deserve that reassurance and we acknowledge their generosity.”
She’s recently added her own boutique tea label, the Tea Circle.
Chris grew up in the Western Port area. Crib Point, Balnarring and Merricks were his playground and they hope to settle there. “The whole of the Peninsula is a small town really. You’re on Ninch Time when you’re here; you can take a breath and relax.” It’s no surprise that Mel and Chris’s own commitment to each other started over a cheese platter. Chris proposed at Craig’s Hut in the Alpine National Park, producing a self-styled cheese platter from the esky to mark the occasion. They've come full circle, marrying business skills and visions to deliver freshly assembled, abundant platters for others to share and celebrate special occasions.
Follow Wholesome Foodie www.wholesomefoodie.com.au Instagram: @wholesomefoodiemelbourne Facebook: @wholesomefoodiemelbourne
Committed to giving back to the community, Wholesome Foodie has paid it forward through a Scone-a-thon morning tea raising money for the Starlight Foundation. Restriction easing has meant that special events and small gatherings have increased. “We’re setting up luscious, deconstructed grazing tables, offering additional on-site services. It’s a visual feast as well as a taste to savour.” December 2020
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LONG LUNCH
25
$
.00
Delivering free Peninsula-wide wholesomefoodie.com.au
|
@w h o l e s o m e f o o d i e m e l b o u r n e
FRIDAY Pizza with beer, wine or JimmyRum basic
Noon — 5pm Not just open for our Friday Pizza Special, drop in over the weekend for the best cocktails, local beers and wines on the peninsula, or take a guided tasting of our award winning spirit
Olieve & Olie BEAUTIFUL SKINCARE HANDCRAFTED RIGHT HERE ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
“
THE FAMILY TEAM AT OLIEVE & OLIE HAVE BEEN MAKING LUXURIOUS OLIVE OIL BASED PRODUCTS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS
LITTLE SPRITZ YOUR SUMMER ESSENTIAL. Little Spritz is light, refreshing, all-natural and downright delicious. With three styles to choose from, there is one for every occasion. Visit our Little Spritz Tasting Bar and enjoy a slice of summer. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am-5pm. For more information on this unique Peninsula destination or to book a private tasting or event, contact Natalie:
Their factory shop is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, and Saturday mornings 9am to 1pm. They are closed Sundays and Public Holidays
7/16-18 HENRY WILSON DVE, ROSEBUD WEST PH 5982 0992 www.olieveandolie.com.au
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P: E: FB: W: A:
0439 368 181 hello@littlespritz.com.au littlespritz INSTA: @littlespritz littlespritz.com.au 20 Brasser Ave, Dromana
*Subject to COVID regulations, please check our website for up to date information.
F E AT U R E
Gift vouchers available. The perfect experience to give this Christmas
Indulge yourself, invite family and friends. Polperro’s wildlife swims will provide wonderful and lasting memories for all. Small, personalised tours.
Simply, the best!
Polperro Dolphin Swims Sorrento Pier, Esplanade, Sorrento 5988 8437 | crew@polperro.com.au www.polperro.com.au
Bookings are advised!
December 2020
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F E AT U R E
Peninsula Hampers sources the freshest locally made goods from the Mornington Peninsula and delivers them to the Peninsula and Melbourne. as tm is e! hr on t C ry ec ve rf e pe or e ft f Th gi
A little piece of the Mediterranean on the Mornington Peninsula Breakfast ::: Brunch ::: Lunch OPEN EVERY DAY (including Christmas day)
order today at
peninsulahampers.com.au
Need catering? We got you covered – and delivered.
Use the coupon code ESSENCE at check out to get 5% off any order until December 31st
Call (03) 5974 4999 | viabattisti.com
Make this a Christmas to remember with Gamekeepers
OCT_Via Battisti_ Pen Essence 126x94mm.indd 1
21/10/20 9:35 pm
Gamekeepers is a Victorian family-owned meat and game specialist. We supply the best quality meat in the country to Victoria’s best restaurants and now we can deliver directly to your door. All of our Christmas products have been meticulously prepared by our team of chefs – from our award winning traditional Woodsmoked Christmas Ham on the bone, to Pork Loin Porchetta and to our delicious free range Numurkah Turkey Roll stuffed with cranberries, chesnut, rosemary and thyme. We deliver to the Peninsula every Tuesday and Thursday. FREE DELIVERY for orders over $100.
Pre-Order Now by calling Gamekeepers direct on 9555 7000
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@gamekeepersmeat | www.gamekeepersmeat.com.au
F E AT U R E
Verdant Dwellings EXCELLENCE IN INDOOR PLANTS
Spoil that special someone this Christmas with their very own GIN MASTERCLASS KIT A blend-your-own gin making kit complete with a range of unique native botanicals, blending tools and a 500mL bottle of bespoke gin. Available for purchase online or from our Distillery Door at 40 Collins Road Dromana. Phone 03 5989 3154.
www.bassandflindersdistillery.com
Verdant Dwellings, located in the Dromana Industrial Estate, is a dedicated indoor plant growing warehouse and retail space. With over 200sq meters dedicated to sales of over 200 varieties, you are sure to find what you're after. Family owned and operated by a 20 year industry horticulturalist, expect quality plants and advice. Open to the public every Friday from 10am to 2pm and Saturday from 9am to 12 midday or online 24/7. Shipping available Australia wide excluding the NT.
For more information visit www.verdantdwellings.com.au Call 0404 046 462
The Gourmet Foodie & Co
Check out www.thegourmetfoodie.com.au for fresh Australian seafood delivered to your door Delivering all over Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula We’ve got Christmas sorted this year, limited spots for delivery Christmas Eve.
Follow us December 2020
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GIFT GUIDE
Spoil someone special this Christmas with a stunning pink diamond pendant and studs. Available at Minzenmay Jewellers 152 Main St, Mornington. P 5975 2439 minzenmay.com.au
Coastal wall art and much more at A Room With a View, Dromana. This framed canvas print ‘Coastal Walk’ measures 1.5m x 1.2m, and is made in Melbourne, Taking orders now in time for Chrissy. aroomwithaview.com.au
A Verdant Dwellings e-Voucher is the perfect gift idea for the green thumb in your life this Christmas. Available for purchase online. It couldn't be easier! verdantdwellings.com.au
Nothing says "you're awesome" more than a JimmyRum gift box. Bypass Kmart and support local this Christmas with JimmyRum. Six options to choose from, including two celebration hampers with local peninsula producers, JimmyRum has your gift-giving sorted! Buy now at jimmyrum.com.au
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VIA BATTISTI A little piece of the Mediterranean at Mt Martha on the Mornington Peninsula. Amazing coffee, delicious fresh food. Gift vouchers available to share this beautiful experience this Christmas P: 5974 4999 viabattisti.com December 2020
POLPERRO DOLPHIN SWIMS Amazing marine animal experiences with wild bottlenose dolphins and Australian fur seals in Port Phillip Bay. The unique adventure sets sail from Sorrento Pier. The perfect experience to give this Christmas P: 5988 8437 or M: 0428 174 160 polperro.com.au
Bass & Flinders Distillery has your gifts for any gin lover covered this Christmas from Gin Masterclass vouchers and gin gift packs through to a blend-your-own gin making kit. Available for purchase online or from our distillery door at 40 Collins Road, Dromana bassandflindersdistillery.com
6
Gift vouchers to GIVE
TALKING HENS The perfect gift idea for those who love their friendly, feathered friends. Buy online or visit our farm on any Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday between 10am - 4pm. 3590 Frankston-Flinders Rd Merricks. P. 0406 691 231 talkinghens.com.au
Whether you're looking to buy a gift for a loved one or treat yourself with something unique, explore single malt whisky from Chief's Son Whisky. Tanist Gift Pack: $175 43%abv 700ml View our online shop for gift ideas and the full range of our whiskies or visit our distillery door in Somerville. chiefsson.com.au
KIDZ SHED Independently owned & operated. A fun place for kids to play & explore! Extensive menu of homemade food, catering for gluten & dairy intolerances. The perfect gift voucher experience this Christmas! 222 Marine Pde Hastings P: 5906 5900 kidzshed.com.au
Exploring our own backyard has never been more important, therefore giving the gift of an MP Experience tour is the perfect way to support local and spoil loved ones this Christmas. Vouchers are available for tours, truffle hunts, transport and workshops. To book visit mpexperience.com.au
MOONLIT SANCTUARY Give a koala-ty gift with a gift voucher that lets you get up close to your favourite Aussie animals. Easy to purchase online. *Subject to COVID restrictions. For more information, visit: moonlitsanctuary.com.au
FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE A gift voucher to the Frankston Arts Centre is valid for three years and the lucky person in your life will enjoy browsing the website and planning good times that await them in 2021. theFAC.com.au December 2020
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GIFT GUIDE
Gift boxes to LOVE
A Crittenden's Estate gift voucher makes an ideal present for the wine lover in your life and can be redeemed for online purchases or at the Crittenden Wine Centre. Visit Crittenden Estate located at 25 Harrisons Road, Dromana. Available online crittendenwines.com.au
WHOLESOME FOODIE Order the perfect gift or treat from the Peninsula’s highestrated grazers with free delivery across the peninsula! wholesomefoodie. com.au
Olieve & Olie's beautiful matt black cardboard gift boxes are ideal for spoiling that someone special. Your products will be neatly packed into the gift box, with their silver embossed logo on the lid for that extra special touch. Available at Olieve and Olie Factory 6 & 7 / 16-18 Henry Wilson Drv, Rosebud olieveandolie.com.au
PENINSULA HAMPERS For the perfect gift for friends, family, employees, and clients. All locally sourced and delivered to Melbourne and the peninsula. peninsulahampers. com.au
THE GOURMET FOODIE & CO. A mix of fresh produce and seafood, chef prepared platters and grazing boxes from The Gourmet Foodie and Co are the perfect way to celebrate this Chritsmas. For more details visit: thegourmetfoodie.com.au
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With Spritz season upon us, our mixed three-pack will put the pop in your party. Little Spritz Gift Pack: $55.00 (and not too jolly at 8% abv) Visit our cellar door in Dromana or shop online at littlespritz.com.au December 2020
RAISING BABY chicks A FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY
R
aising baby chicks is a great experience for kids, parents and grandparents alike. As the chicks grow they transition through a number of different cute and fluffy stages before arriving as fully mature, laying hens.
At Talking Hens, we have always been interested in growing our hens from day-old chicks and now, finally, we have the opportunity to actually do it! My father, Agostino was a poultry farmer who would always raise his own baby chicks which I used to love watching as a child. It was amazing to see all those little, fluffy chicks grow into laying hens and the weekly changes in feather growth, body size and confidence as they grew. I learned that there are some important things to understand when growing chicks. These include a heat lamp to provide them with constant 35-degree warmth for the first few weeks of their life as they can’t regulate their own body temperature when young. They also need a sturdy, draft-free box or container to live in with a dry layer of wood shavings for insulation.
Food and water is also vitally important so good access to the correct water drinker and feeder is needed. They don’t need much food but it must be tailor-made for them to provide all of the nutrients they need. Talking Hens will be receiving a new flock of Hy-Line Brown day-old chicks on Saturday the 5th of December, 2020. They will be available to purchase during our regular opening hours and days being 10am to 4pm, Friday through Monday. We will also have all the other equipment and feed needed to keep them happy and healthy and can answer any questions that you might have as they grow. Talking Hens will 3590 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Merricks M: 0406 691 231 W: talkinghens.com.au Facebook: @TalkingHens
be open every day in the week leading-up to Christmas then closed from the 25th of December and re-opening on the 4th of January.
Looking for backyard hens Wanting baby chicks but unsure where to start? but unsure start? Talking Hens is awhere family business to that loves
backyard chickens! We like them so much that we Talking Hens is a family business that loves backyard chickens! specialise in supplying only the friendliest, bestWe like them sohens much in supplying only the laying alongthat withwe the specialise best quality products to keephens them happy healthy. friendliest, best-laying alongand with the best quality products There’s like thehappy friendship, tonothing keep them andentertainment healthy. and nutrition that you receive from our laying There’s nothing likehens the- friendship, and nutrition a pleasure to beentertainment shared! that you receive from our hens a pleasure to be shared! Visit our Website to learn more and download our FREE, Beginner’s Guide to
Backyard Chickens at: Visit our Website to learn more www.TalkingHens.com.au and download our FREE, Beginner’s Or visit our farm on any Friday, Guide to Backyard Saturday, Sunday or Monday Chickens at:
www.TalkingHens.com.au
between 10am - 4pm. 3590 Frankston-Flinders Rd Merricks. For enquiries
Or visit our0406 farm any Friday, 691on 231 Saturday, Sunday or Monday www.facebook.com/TalkingHens between 10am - 4pm. this ad 3590 Frankston-Flinders RdMention Merricks. and get
10% off
your first purchase. 231until For enquiries 0406 691 Valid
30 Nov 2019. www.facebook.com/TalkingHens
December 2020
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Focus On
on
Rosebud
Rosebud is a seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, approximately 75 km southeast of the Melbourne city centre. It is a large beach-side town fronting Port Phillip, located between Rye and Dromana, and has a population of 12,501. Rosebud provides safe swimming beaches along its continuous stretch of sandy bay coastline, with the focal point being Rosebud Pier which it located opposite Jetty Road and extends about 300 metres into the water..
Coffee Safari
Freshly brewed coffee is a must-have for weekends. Here are a few places to check out when you're in this beautiful part of the world.*
D 'a lia's Bakery Cafe
1049 POINT NEPEAN RD Originally known as Banksia Point, Rosebud began life as a fishing community in the early 1850s. On 2 June 1855, the cargo vessel Rosebud, owned by one of the colony's best known pastoralists Edward Hobson, was washed over the large sandbars and onto the beach. The burgeoning community made off with the cargo of damask and household goods, but the wreck remained for many years as the locals slowly stripped its hull to use in the construction of houses. It became commonplace to call the area "The Rosebud" in reference to the ship, which was shortened to "Rosebud" as the last vestiges of the ship disappeared.
of Rosebud and Dromana can double is size,
A notable feature of Rosebud's bay foreshore is a lack of commercial development. Most of the area between the coastal route of Point Nepean Road and the beach consists of community facilities, parkland and camping areas within sections of bushland.
including 'sea change' retirees.
A striking landmark in Rosebud is the bushy mountain peak of Arthurs Seat. It rises up in the distance behind the shops along Point Nepean Road and provides a scenic backdrop when viewed on Rosebud's beaches.
making a very touristy feel. Rosebud has a temperate coastal climate, and is usually several degrees cooler than Melbourne. The annual maximum mean temperature is 19.1 degrees. The median house price is $600,000 and median rental is $360PW. By the 1960s, Rosebud had emerged as the largest town on the southern peninsula, complete with a shopping centre and extensive sporting facilities. In time it became home to an increasing number of permanent residents,
Some of the famous residents (permanent and holiday) of Rosebud were Judith Cock (Judith Durham), Arthur Boyd and William John Ferrier. The 1995 Australian of the Year launched his career as a painter from the age with his grandfather. One of young Arthur's paintings was of the Burnhams' jetty at the end of Boneo Rd; it is reproduced in Peter Wilson's "On the Road to Rosebud" alongside photos of the jetty. Ferrier won acclaim from
The foreshore area of Rosebud is usually one of the largest camping areas on the peninsula. During the summer months the populations
lighthouse branch, because of his heroic
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December 2020
The Corner Cafe
1455 POINT NEPEAN RD Great coffee in a casual seaside environment with loads of homemade deli food items to eat in or take to the beach. Team that up with all day breakfast and a modern lunch menu selection – all bases are covered.
Blue Mini Cafe 2 COLCHESTER RD
One of the best places for coffee in town with a great atmosphere. Eclectic breakfasts and seasonal lunches in a large room with exposed-brick walls and retro touches.
of 16 while living in Rosebud from 1936-9
Rosebud covers an area of 1,051 square km.
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D'Alias Bakery Cafe is a great place to catch up with friends over breakfast or lunch or just enjoy a coffee with a mouth-watering dessert in a relaxed atmosphere. Offering a wide variety of pastries and breads baked daily.
all over Australia, and probably a job in the rescue of two of the seven crewmen of the La Bella at Warrnambool.
*Please note: Due to uncertain times in Victoria, trading conditions are subject to change to be in line with State Government COVID-19 restrictions. It is advised to check with businesses for trading information.
What to do A large beach-side centre fronting Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, Rosebud is located between Rye and Dromana. The town was named after the English schooner that was blown ashore in 1855, a short distance to the west of where the Rosebud Pier now stands. Rosebud's commercial centre stretches along one side of about a two kilometre length of Point Nepean Road, with the shopping precinct featuring attractive garden strips, paved areas and several wood carvings of notable local identities from the past. Enjoy Rosebud’s safe swimming beaches along its continuous stretch of sandy bay coastline, with the focal point being Rosebud Pier, or take part in the various water sports and golf activities just a short drive away. Home to a plethora of events, Rosebud has in the past hosted the Peninsula Short Film Festival, the Rosebud Kite Festival, and of course the Rosebud Foreshore carnival to name a few. This popular summer holiday destination is the perfect base from which to explore the countless outdoor attractions nearby.Â
Photos Yanni
December 2020
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Puzzle
Corner
ACROSS 1. Hair decoration 5. Blaze control depot (4,7) 11. Scandalises 15. Mexico's northern neighbour (1,1,1) 16. Expression of disgust 17. Obese 19. Hum tunelessly 21. Continually provided 23. Epidemic 25. Together, en ... 27. Burdens (with) 28. Prisons 30. Minuscule amount 31. Short delay in proceedings 32. Repeats 33. Daybreak 34. Demean 35. Harder to find 36. Well-heeled 38. Vulgar person 40. 2nd Greek letter 42. Curl (of smoke) 44. Unexpectedly, out of the ... 45. Adjust 46. Word indicating action 48. Nursery verses 49. Tibet's Dalai ... 50. Wine, ... spumante 51. Samples 52. Dead as a ... 53. Feng ... 54. At a distance 55. Verve 56. Beside (4,2) 58. Plumpest 59. Bring on (birth) 61. Unruly children 63. Cantonese lunch, yum ... 64. Possess 65. Luxury car, ... Martin 67. Fledgling 69. Catches & tears (stocking) 71. Ancient Peruvians 73. Shopping mall 74. Relieving 76. Biblical strongman 78. Russian mountains 80. Seed vessels 82. Hideous 83. Acknowledge 85. Ditch
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89. Outshine 91. Consider, ... as 93. Hive-dweller 94. Flag 96. Surfeit 98. Owns 99. Ox-like antelope 100. Whinnied 102. Shrub greenery 103. Noisier 104. Betrayal crime 105. Whiskey flavour 106. Before now 107. Flourish 108. Relaxed (2,4) 110. Dismal 112. Invalidate 114. Defeat by small margin (4,3) 117. Methods 120. Officiate 123. Replenishes (stamp pad) 125. Mash 127. Lovers' tiffs 128. Place 131. Cites 133. Quietens 134. English coins 135. Afghan capital 136. Planet 137. Fixed gaze 140. Bar 141. Golfing standard 142. Helicopter blade 145. Confront 147. Country music style 148. Blossom 150. Powered by battery or mains (1,1/1,1) 151. Roman dress 152. Tropical tuber 153. Objective 154. Coat-of-arms picture 156. Cruel wisecrack 158. Duelling weapon 160. Large lizard 162. Lion's ruff 163. Render accustomed 164. Regrets 165. Home brew 166. Venetian blind section 167. Depletes 168. Frosted (biscuits) 170. Pale-looking 172. Foodstuffs 173. Oil-exporting cartel 174. Courtroom excuses
December 2020
177. Scoundrel 179. Inkling 180. Prick (boil) 182. Delight 183. Damascus is there 185. Japanese hostess 187. Beatle, ... Starr 188. Scrimp 189. Worry 191. T'ai ... 192. Imp 193. Revealing (sign) 194. Fine grain sweetener (6,5) 195. Early nights
DOWN 1. More weighty 2. From the menu, ... carte (1,2) 3. Lack of proportion 4. Defective rounds of ammunition 5. Appear on screen gradually (4,2) 6. Perch 7. Huts 8. iPod manufacturer 9. Dog, ... wolfhound 10. Prods 11. Lake Erie state 12. Highly confidential (3-6) 13. Band's live performance 14. Severely 18. Seaside 20. Excessively, ad ... 22. Womanisers 24. Postal recipients 26. Traumatised by battle (5-7) 29. Discovering 37. Situated inside 38. Pouch-beaked birds 39. Prattling 40. Relative position 41. Airmen 43. Generator 44. Supreme 47. Farm store 57. Elude 60. Laid-back 62. A second time 66. Hobo 68. Imitation 69. Social insult
70. Pudding starch 72. Hot powdered seasoning (7,6) 73. Race leaders 75. Oriental continent 77. Theirs & ... 79. Lissom physique 81. ... & only 84. Small gateau 85. Clings (to) 86. Gum infection 87. Reduce in worth 88. Nerve cells 90. Absorbs (food) 92. Direct 95. Pilot's code for I 97. Flying saucer (1,1,1) 101. Blunder 109. In addition 111. Automatic teller (1,1,1) 113. Gawk 115. West African land 116. As a gamble (2,4) 118. Mayonnaise ingredient 119. Attack savagely 121. Game of trumps 122. Little island 124. Compulsive thief 126. Easy to operate (4-8) 129. Leaf vegetables 130. Right of way 131. Hangs, draws & ... 132. Punting advisers 138. Play piano, ... the ivories 139. Horseracing areas 143. Setting up 144. Marmalade fruit 146. Halt (flow) 149. Records of ship's voyages 155. Woollen headwear 157. Influencing 159. Medieval rural worker 161. Household gadget 165. Carried 169. Nappies 171. Clergyman 172. Good Friday period 175. Diver's ailment, the ... 176. Devonshire tea item 177. Coarse files 178. Insect bite 181. Enjoyable 184. Widespread 186. Unhealthy 190. Singapore Sling spirit
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2021
MEDIA PARTNER
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November 2020
Practical. Cost Effective. Door-to door service. Practical. Cost Effective.Door-to-door service. Luxury Holiday Linen Hire
Holiday Rentals, B&Bs
Domestic & Commercial Washing & Ironing
Restaurants/Wineries
Accommodation & Table Linen Hire
Day Spas Medical Specialists
Proudly servicing the greater Mornington Peninsula region. info@baylinen.com.au E:E: info@baylinen.com.au P: 0438 0438 387 387 344 P: 344 baylinen.com.au
baylinen.com.au November 2020
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& y Sta y a l P WHERE TO STAY AND PLAY THIS SUMMER ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
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December 2020
HOLIDAY HERE this year!
By Sharon Richardson
E
very year, thousands of people flock from the city, interstate and overseas to the Mornington Peninsula. So what are they all doing when they get here, and why don’t you jump on the bandwagon? Here’s how!
There is no need to jump on a plane or drive for hours to enjoy a holiday, so why not holiday here this year?
First, spoil yourself and book into a traditional bed and breakfast for a few nights. Traditional B&B’s offer you a special escape, friendly, comfy accommodation with a little touch of luxury, delicious full breakfast served to you each morning, and many other little extras depending on the property, such as in room massages, welcome drinks, afternoon teas. Harmony Bed and Breakfast is set in rural acres and is only minutes from everything the peninsula has to offers but makes you feel like you are in the middle of the countryside, a thousand miles from home. They even help you plan and book activities like these. • Spend a relaxing day or evening at Peninsula Hot Springs. One of the peninsula's biggest drawcards, this sprawling expanse of geothermal pools offers over 50 experiences and attracts visitors from all over the world. The venue offers bathing and therapies with cafes and a restaurant where you can enjoy a ‘Dine and Bathe’ package. Spend the afternoon soaking, enjoy a gourmet dinner before heading back to your cosy B&B. • Take a winery, brewery or farmgate tour. Private and group tours are available catering to all budgets. Tours offer door to door service from your B&B so you can enjoy sampling the local product. Tours can include lunches and visits to the many distilleries and breweries, not to mention farmgates where you can sample locally made cheeses, olives, fresh fruit and veggies, not to mention specialty chocolates. • Have a hit and giggle at one of the Mini Golf courses or get serious playing one of the many first class golf courses the peninsula boasts, get lost in amazing mazes or get adventurous
and try tree surfing or zooming down the Giant Zipline at The Enchanted Adventure Garden.
• Stroll along stunning beaches, hike through National Parks, challenge yourself to complete the 23km coastal walk or the 26km Two Bays Trail, step back in time at Point Nepean. See how the other half lives with a casual stroll along ‘The Millionaires Walk’ or just sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in. • Hit the water. Hire a paddle board or canoe, learn to dive, snorkel under the Rye and Sorrento piers and discover seahorses and spider crabs in our amazing underwater wonderland, Go swimming with, or sit back and view the dolphins and seals on a day cruise, or try your luck at catching the ‘Big One’ on a fishing tour in the Bay. You can ride the waves on a surfboard, or ride beside the waves on a sunset horse ride along Gunnamatta Beach. • Get up-close and personal with native wildlife at the sprawling 25 acre Moonlit Sanctuary Conversation Park, or grab a picnic basket and take your chance at spotting a few friendly kangaroos at the lovely Seawinds Gardens on Arthurs Seat. • Sculpture parks, galleries, markets we have them all and of course you can just relax with a good book and maybe a glass of local wine at your B&B. • And what better way to finish a day than with dinner at one of the many restaurants the peninsula boasts, catering to all budgets and tastes, or indulge yourself with good old fish and chips on the beach.
www.harmonybedandbreakfast.com.au
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Stay& Play
Crittenden Estate
Crittenden Estate is one of the Peninsula’s oldest iconic wineries. Family owned and operated since 1982, we are locals passionate about making outstanding quality cool climate wines that reflect this incredible winemaking region.
WINE CENTRE
Described by James Halliday as an outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality, Crittenden Estate was yet again awarded Halliday’s highest rating of five red stars in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion.
Crittenden Estate 25 Harrisons Rd Dromana
Discover our story at the custom built Crittenden Wine Centre, designed to enable our customers to truly appreciate the calibre of our wines in comfort and style.
open seven days I 5987 3800 www.crittendenwines.com.au
PLAY AT THE KIDZSHED
INDOOR PLAY CENTRE & CAFE
A fun place for kids all ages to play & explore. Parents can relax, enjoy good coffee & yummy home-made food, including gluten free! Kidz Shed is an independent & operated indoor playcentre. With an outdoor dining area with umbrellas, climbing equipment & jumping castle. Affordable birthday parties tailored to your needs, themed parties or hire the entire venue. “We always hear from our customers how impressed they are with our cleanliness. Now we are increasing our already high hygiene standards to follow current restrictions & ever-changing guidelines. We’ve always provided hand sanitiser and will be stepping it up even further!” Kidz Shed’s hours have altered to move with our everchanging times, please call to check or book.
WED TO FRI 9AM - 2PM SAT & SUN 9AM - 4PM CLOSED FROM MON 21 DEC 20 RE-OPEN WED 6 JAN 21
OUTDOOR SEATING & PLAY AREA BOOK YOUR XMAS PARTY XMAS GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE
P: 5906 5900 M: 0409 875944 E: kidzshed@gmail.com W: kidzshed.com.au
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222 MARINE PDE HASTINGS
5906 5900 KIDZSHED.COM.AU
Stay& Play
PRIVATE PERSONALISED TOURS OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
*The perfe ct way to rede your $200 su em pport local touris m voucher
*Conditions apply
PRIVATE TOURS AND TRANSPORT
The Directors of MP Experience, brother and sister team Max and Danielle, grew up on the Mornington Peninsula. Max owns the award winning and pioneering Max’s Restaurant at Red Hill Estate and Danielle has years of experience in winery touring. Together, they have unparalleled and extensive knowledge of the area, the culture and the people that make the Peninsula what it is today. They want to share this knowledge with you on their private small group tours. Meet the winemakers, the growers and the artisan producers and have an experience you will be talking about for years to come.
MP Experience gives visitors the ultimate food and wine experience of the Mornington Peninsula. Meet the locals and discover the culture and the people that make the Peninsula what it is today. Transport Only Options Available Know where you want to go and simply need a means of getting there? Want to tour the wineries but don’t have a designated driver? We now offer an easy transport option at an affordable rate. Purchase tours as a gift or gift vouchers this Christmas. For further information or bookings visit www.tour@mpexperience.com.au
W: tour@mpexperience.com.au
FRANKSTON LIBRARIES FINES WAIVED Frankston City Councillors have abolished library fines and waived past fines to open up the libraries for all residents, as part of a package of support for the community. “We know that people can feel embarrassed if they’ve incurred a library fine and we don’t want our members feeling they can no longer enjoy all that the library has to offer,” said Frankston City Libraries Manager, Tammy Goodwin. If you haven’t visited a Frankston City library for a while, perhaps now is the time to check out what’s on offer. You could borrow some books, access job seeker or study support, or even learn a new language without fear of being penalised. For more information, P: 9784 1020 W: library.frankston.vic.gov.au December 2020
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Winter Bonus 3 nights for the price of 2 – 1st May to 30th September
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Golden sands, wineries, gastronomy, art, fashion, but more importantly, platinum accommodation. From designer style beach houses to vast estates with an abundance of luxurious amenities, or just your average family beach cottage, it is all here on the Mornington Peninsula.
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47A Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento PH: 03 5984 4578 beachhouserentals.net.au November 2020
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Stay& Play
YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE PARK Next time you are thinking of visiting one of the big zoos, why not consider checking out your local wildlife sanctuary? Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conversation Park in Pearcedale has over 70 species that are waiting to meet you. You can explore the bushland while feeding kangaroos and wallabies, patting friendly koalas and enjoying encounters with wombats, koalas and dingoes and seeing many other animals including endangered species. Moonlit Sanctuary is the ideal place to learn more about the fascinating animals that call Australia home. There are keeper presentations and shows in the purposebuilt arena daily. And don’t forget to stop at the Koala Encounters area to snap a photo with one of the irresistibly cuddly koalas or book an encounter to pat a super cute wombat named Mary. Moonlit Sanctuary grew out of the childhood dreams of founder and director Michael Johnson. Michael imagined a place where people could experience the rare and unusual animals that roam the Australian bush. Moonlit Sanctuary is that place. “We thank every visitor who comes through our doors and experiences Moonlit Sanctuary, especially those who connect with wildlife they have never seen or heard of before,’ said Michael. ‘It is our hope that each connection creates awareness of the animal’s plight, and that together we can help halt their extinction, so that our children’s children will also experience the joy of their company.” The Sanctuary has become an ark for endangered creatures, and a showcase of their unique beauty. It is a living classroom which encourages children and adults alike to unlock the mystery of Australian mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects and amphibians in a natural bush setting. Mr Johnson said, “Moonlit Sanctuary’s activities range from breeding and releasing endangered species to critical habitat restoration and encouraging our visitors to become wildlife champions.” Having re-opened to visitors in late October, the Sanctuary is enjoying seeing locals return. Mr Johnson explains, “Our visitors provide a fantastic real-life enrichment for the animals, and some of our social animals were very aware that things had changed but, of course, couldn’t understand why.” “We believe meeting each other is just as engaging for many of our species as it is for the visitors,” he added. Open every day, except Christmas Day, Moonlit Sanctuary offers a great family day out but it doesn’t stop there. As the sun sets, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive again with unique lantern-lit guided tours.
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Night birds are active, kangaroos come out to play, tiny gliders swoop around, and endangered quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food. Groups for Night Tours are kept small and take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete. Tours begin between 7pm and 8:30pm depending on the time of sunset and must be booked in advance. It is an amazing way to get close up to Australia’s fascinating wildlife, offering opportunities to meet a wide variety of animals in their natural nocturnal environment where they are really active, busily interacting with each other and their visitors. The Night Tour guides are passionate and knowledgeable about the animals and their conservation and will answer all your wildlife questions during this unforgettable wildlife safari. For a truly special experience you can book a private night tour; perfect for that date night you’ve been planning or as a holiday treat for the family. Bookings are essential as the Park has implemented new procedures to ensure social distancing with staggered arrival times. Bookings can be made online at moonlitsanctuary.com.au. Night Tour Tickets Adults: $55 Concession: $50
Children: $33 Family: $165
Private Night Tours $290 for 1-2 people
$72 for additional people
Day Admission Tickets Adults: $26 Children: $13 Concession: $23 Family Pass: $70 Located at 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale Open from 10:00am-5:00pm weekdays and 9:30am to 5:00pm weekends.
your local wildlife sanctuary
your local wildlife sanctuary Located in Pearcedale at the entrance to the Mornington Peninsula Open daily from 10am—5pm
WHOLESALE WINES
DIRECT TO PUBLIC
AT WHOLESALE PRICING
Wine Lovers Warehouse is the direct to public arm of our wholesale business specialising in restaurant, hotel, and function wines for over 17 years. With COVID-19 restrictions imposed on our venue customers, 2020 put a big handbrake on our wholesale business and stopped it dead. In March we made a decision to transform and stay alive, supported by our friends and the local community, which we will
be forever grateful, we opened up the warehouse three days every week to the public, selling our wines and our suppliers at trade prices and no retail mark ups. It is our commitment to remain open servicing the needs of our Wine Lover community into 2021 and beyond. Come along and say hello, grab a bottle or a case. Don’t forget to bring in this publication for a free bottle of bubbles with any purchase
HOURS: Thursday, Friday, Saturday Weekly 10am until 5pm LOCATION: Unit 5, 3 Trewhitt Court, Dromana Industrial Estate, 3936
Terra Felix Mornington Peninsula Pinot Gris
Viscosi Wines Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
Granite Rose Estate Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay
Sterling Estate Adelaide Hills Sparkling Rose
RRP $25 OUR PRICE $10
RRP $24.95 OUR PRICE $8
RRP $24.95 OUR PRICE $10
RRP $29 OUR PRICE $14
Hidden Ridge King Valley Prosecco
Rosemount Estate 1.5L Magnum Chardonnay
Rouge Home Coonawarra Shiraz
Nillahcootie Estate Mansfield Cabernet Sauvignon
RRP $32 OUR PRICE $10
RRP $22.95 OUR PRICE $8
RRP $19.95 OUR PRICE $10
RRP $35.00 OUR PRICE $5
Call us on 9596 4278 or see our full range on our website www.winelover.com.au
BRAND NEW L A K E S I D E A PA RT M E N T S AT V I L L A G E G L E N C O M P L E T I O N E A R LY 2 0 2 1
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Artist Impression - Kitchen/ Living
There’s only 16 of these luxury Apartments located in the heart of the village. Sizes ranging from 105m2 to 148m2.
Artist Impression -Kitchen
• Spacious kitchen with island bench and European appliances including integrated fridge and freezer • All apartments feature en-suite and second bathroom together with full laundry • Full width balconies with views over the verdant village • Adjoining the Hub which includes restaurant, cinema, hairdresser, library and shop
Contact us today for more information on these brand new Apartments. 03 5986 4455 335 Eastbourne Road, Capel Sound VIC 3940
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WWW.VILLAGEGLEN.COM.AU December 2020
December 2020
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History
The Chapel in the Woods.. at Shoreham By Peter McCullough
B
ordering the Buxton Woodland Reserve in Shoreham, at the rear of the former YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) property, Camp Buxton, rests the remains of a small stone, outdoor open-air chapel, which has had a far-reaching influence belying its size. Neglected for many years, a full restoration of the chapel is now the focus of a community group and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.
The Evolution of Camp Buxton In the first half of the twentieth century a number of children’s camps were established on the Mornington Peninsula; they were often linked with charitable or state institutions which combined concerns for the physical fitness and moral education of young people, in particular disadvantaged or urban youth. In 1925 Walter Henry Buxton purchased 148 acres of land for his subdivisional project ‘Shoreham-on-the-Sea’ and offered two acres to the YMCA which was looking for a suitable camp site in the area. The first camp was held at Christmas 1925 and the area was a hive of activity at weekends and over the subsequent Easter break as working parties became involved. Volunteers cleared the block, dug drains, latrines and a refuse pit as the first steps to permanent occupation. In 1928 contractors relocated a hall and a three-room cottage, purchased for a thousand pounds from Flinders Naval Base. December of that year saw the first official summer camp using these two buildings and a kitchen block. Campers, however, still slept in communal tents. The Inter-War Years Volunteer labour continued during the 1930’s with a continual improvement of facilities: the Recreation Reserve was cleared as a sports ground in 1934, a brick hospital was constructed the following year, and in 1937 a bunkhouse for camp leaders and a shower block were built. Timber floors and frames were also constructed for tents that housed campers. In the 1930’s there were four of five camp sessions in December
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Bottom left: The YMCA Hall Above: Pilot Officer Ivan Young, seated on the wing of a Kittyhawk in Libya not long before he was killed in action Right: Ivan and Cyril Young at their family home in Melbourne, 1940
and January. Of these, one was organized for underprivileged boys. Activities included swimming and life saving lessons, beach games, overnight hikes, picnics, and basketball, as well as regular devotions and discussions. Over the Camp’s first two decades further land was donated by, and in part purchased, from Walter Buxton and his descendants so that by 1950 Camp Buxton had grown from its original two acres to 25 acres, including the playing fields and surrounding bushland. The Chapel Camp Buxton was used by the military during the war years. Then, with summer camps resuming, plans were made in 1945 for an upgrading of the water supply, new bunkhouses, and a memorial open-air chapel. Built of local Moorooduc stone by volunteer labour, and now lying substantially on Shire Council land, the chapel is a ‘living war memorial’ in the midst of nature, and is listed on the Victorian War Heritage Inventory. The chapel itself is dedicated to the memory of Cyril Young who had expressed the desire for ‘a place to worship outdoors’; the pulpit is dedicated to his younger brother, Ivan. The brothers had continued next page...
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Above: The chapel in its heyday (Note the piano which was rolled across from the hall as the occasion demanded) Below: A service at the chapel during the 1950's
been youthful YMCA campers and later leaders; Cyril had been Chairman of the Camp Buxton Committee in 1938. Both were killed while serving in World War Two. Ivan, a member of the famous RAAF 450 squadron, was shot down flying his Kittyhawk at El Alamein in 1942; he was 21. Cyril, a captain in the army, died in 1945 as a POW in the infamous Sandakan camp in North Borneo; he was 27. In December, 1951, an International Older Boys’ Camp was held
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at Camp Buxton. Boys of diverse faiths and traditions from across the Asia/Pacific, including Japan, attended the camp and were present at the chapel dedication ceremony on 22 December, 1951. It was a very grand affair, attended by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brookes, together with Harold Holt, then Minister of Immigration and Minister for Labour and National Service, and also the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Cr. O.J.Nilson. The Prime Minister, then Mr. R.G.Menzies, sent a warm message of greetings
Right: A map showing the location of the chapel
and good wishes for the camp’s success. Thousands of boys experienced services in the chapel under the canopy of stars and columns of eucalypts in a ‘cathedral-like’, torch-lit atmosphere including TAPS (Meditative Thought and Prayer Sessions). For many of the boys the camp service was their first experience of the sacredness of the natural environment, as the chapel was in a grove of swamp gums adjacent to a wetland, alive with fauna, mammals, bird and insect life. The YMCA’s triangular logo symbolised its commitment to promoting a balance between body, mind and spirit within the youth who passed through its programs. Post YMCA In 1970 the YMCA decided to close Camp Buxton and the final camp was held in December, 1970-January, 1971. The facilities were leased to private operators for the next decade before they were sold into private ownership. It remained in operation as a school and youth camp and during these years many young people, both boys and girls, experienced the bushland setting alongside the beautiful beaches of Shoreham and Point Leo. It then became a family camp, open to the general public, until 2002, but on a reduced site. The overall camp site was re-subdivided in the early 1990’s; this created four residential blocks which encompassed the main residential area as well as the southern part of the chapel site. A few scattered bunkhouses were converted for private use and the recreation hall became a private dwelling. The mobilization of community members prevented the loss of the ‘woodland’ area of
Camp Buxton through further subdivision. It was the involvement of these same community members that led to a campaign in 2017 to return the entire chapel site to public ownership. The Road Ahead Today, the stonework of the Cyril Young Memorial Chapel has deteriorated somewhat but a committed group of both local residents and members of the Young family, with the full support of the Shire Council, are determined to save this historic feature which embodies so many facets of Shoreham’s history. From the vision of the YMCA with its ethos of inclusivity, to an understanding of Australia’s wartime history, but also in its spirit of reconciliation following the events of World War Two, this small stone chapel exudes a feeling of peace and deserves to be retained for future generations. Further information can be obtained from the Secretary of the Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Association, either by mail (P.O. Box 307, Shoreham 3916) or email (shorehambushchapel@gmail.com) Donations towards the cost of restoration work would be greatly appreciated. References: Camp Buxton, Shoreham Conservation Management Plan (Prepared for the Shire of Mornington Peninsula by Landmark Heritage Pty Ltd). Notes prepared by CYMCA member Alison Bunting. December 2020
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The all new GLA. Designed for the wilderness. Enjoyed in the city. The all new GLA is going places. With added character, added space and added safety, this revolutionised compact SUV combines form and function at every turn. With 5 seats and room to spare, it complements the modern urbanite’s busy lifestyle – making it your perfect companion, wherever the road takes you. Start your adventure at Mercedes-Benz Mornington today.
Mercedes-Benz Mornington 29-31 Mornington-Tyabb Road Mornington (03) 5923 0011 LMCT443 www.mbmornington.com.au
*Applicable to new and demonstrator passenger cars for 5 years from the date of first registration of the vehicle. Warranty start time may differ for demonstrator vehicles. Commercial application of vehicle is subject to 5 years from first registration date or 200,000km (whichever occurs first). Battery warranty periods vary. Excludes customers with specific warranty arrangements. For full terms, conditions and exclusions please refer to the warranty statement here www.mbmornington.com.au.
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