Meagan OโHehir and Heather Cust met years before cancer entered either of their lives, crossing paths on the netball courts of the Rosebud Football Netball Club. It would take a diagnosis, then another, to turn a passing acquaintance into a partnership that now reaches dozens of peninsula families a year.
Hastings microbiologist Robert Mitchell discovered something beautiful and unexpected during his rambles in nearby nature reserves. It changed the future for local native terrestrial orchids. โI was just a curious person looking for things to photograph during lockdown and found these orchids. I discovered six new species,โ he says.
For anyone reading this who is grieving and canโt yet picture surviving it, Chantelle Ross wants them to know something simple. โDonโt think about next month or next year. Just focus on today. And donโt try to carry it alone. Even if it doesnโt feel like it right now, there is hope.โ
Somerville chef and hospitality trainer, Marlene Hoff, has been quietly changing lives for years, serving up nutrition for the body, mind and spirit. Everything she does comes from a place of care, respect and service to her local community.
Caleb Watkins wants to do some good in the world. The Bittern eco commerce entrepreneur is currently focussed on rescuing landfill-bound fabrics. He transforms salvaged heavy-duty canvas and PVC into smart, durable, naturally waterproof outdoor gear.
Tootgarook sculptor Dan Thornell has always been a hands-on person, so sculpture was the natural choice when he pivoted to art. A boilermaker by trade, Dan is familiar with how to bend metal to his will. Whether heโs making ribbons of steel representing the sea and sky, carving wooden objects or making furniture, Dan has his hands on art.
For Frankston local Steven Gallop, opera was never part of his grand plan. His singing journey began with school musicals in Brisbane, followed by amateur choruses in Queensland, but it wasnโt until in his mid-20s that singing began to take centre stage.
Dayna Fallon’s one-woman show at this yearโs Melbourne Fringe Festival is centred on a poem she wrote, titled The Manager is Me, and explores invisible labour, caregiving, and the art of keeping it together when it feels like everything is falling apart.
By day, Mark Harveyโs hands are wrapped around the wheel of a truck and trailer, hauling products from quarries from near and far back to Dromana. By night, back home in Hastings, those same hands are bending old spoons and forks into rings, bangles and pendants under the business name Spoontanious.
A local coupleโs travelling bookstore has quickly grown into a series of literary events, bringing together the community to gather around books. Bookneck was started in June by Carolyn Watson and David Moore, who began their careers as writers.
Itโs a crazy world out there and the fashion arena is also reflecting that sentiment. There are so many trends and directions that it seems anything goes; a bit of eras forgone such as 70s retro, 80s colour, 90s weirdness and turn of the century maximalism. A welcome reactionary renaissance that we have all been waiting for.
Though not every couple chooses to walk down the aisle these days one thing is for sure, the ones that do, ranging from traditional to unique and unpredictable, are full of excitement and joy. The new wave of wedding etiquette has arrived, and these highly-produced events are rewriting bridal culture and couture from the moment you receive the โSave the Dateโ.
Iโm no famous designer, but when I style a vision that can reach the masses through an image, social media or a magazine, my work feels validated and seen. If I can evoke a reaction to my interpretation of beauty and art through fashion, it makes me extremely happy.
Reality checkโฆitโs winter! Well, we canโt have our cake and eat it too. Colder days are here and they are going past so quickly I canโt keep up with the changes I need to make in my wardrobe.
Suits have long been associated with looking powerful and professional. They create an assumption that we are polished, credible, trustworthy and carry an air of success or standard. I think they look sharp! I love a good piece of tailoring and, though I wear more blazers than two-piece suits, they are a fabulous canvas for self-expression.
He cut his teeth as Jimmy Giggle in the hit childrenโs series โGiggle and Hootโ, but after a decade in the role, constant travel, and a young family, Jimmy Rees wanted a change. It was time to move on. Fast forward to 2026. Jimmy boasts an astounding 4.5 million followers across the platforms of Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and You Tube, and in 2024 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to arts as an entertainer, and to the community.
Mt Martha garden designer Andrew Stark has made an unforgettable debut at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, receiving the prestigious Silver Gilt medal and the Peopleโs Choice Award for his first-ever show garden, โUrban Luxeโ.
Janette Bendle moves through her Mornington Pilates studio with the ease of someone whoโs been teaching an impressive 26 years. While she didnโt find romantic love on The Golden Bachelor, she discovered something else entirely.
After a pivotal chat with her life coach aunt, Dance Academy star Dena Kaplan had what she calls a โhuge creative download.โ By dayโs end, she had designed The Self Retreatโintimate wellness weekends now transforming womenโs lives on the Mornington Peninsula.
When Mount Eliza anti-vaping campaigner Lily Ford began, she had only one objective โ to help others. It came as quite a shock when she received hateful trolling on her social media accounts and online hate despite the mountain of evidence outlining the very unique hazards of this insidious device
Mount Eliza micro baker, Isabelle Sully is a maverick. In January, at nineteen years old, she launched her business, Pops Shop, offering artisanal handmade, homemade sourdough bread and itโs been going gangbusters ever since.
Pastry chef Jessinta Fantauzzo is the peninsulaโs Pied Piper of Sicilian cannoli and other traditional Italian desserts. People come from all over to eat her delicious fresh-made pastries. Jess is a stickler for perfection, just as her Nonno (grandfather), Lino, taught her.
Onda, the new coastal Mediterranean dining room built on pylons over Port Phillip Bay inside the brand-new Sorrento Ferry Terminal, is the kind of place that seems almost too good to be true with floor-to-ceiling windows, uninterrupted water views, and a pizza oven crackling at the heart of the kitchen.
Ric de Vries has spent a lifetime around the water. It started when an 18-year-old Ric moved to Cape Paterson and landed a job with Fisheries. That was the beginning of a love affair with the water that eventually led him to Mornington and his true passion: abalone diving.
Black figs carry deep meaning in Aboriginal ways of knowing. Theyโre associated with birthing, nourishment, and community gathering, so it seemed the right name for a cafรฉ built to do exactly that.
From coastal sculpture parks to bushland galleries and working studios, the Mornington Peninsula is home to remarkable outdoor art experiences. Take a journey along the Arts & Heritage Trail, where sculptures sit among vineyards, gardens and native bushland. Discover world-class installations, meet working artists and experience creativity woven into the Mornington Peninsula landscape.
As the sun climbs higher and the days heat up, you might be wondering what itโs like to visit Peninsula Hot Springs during summer. While known for warmth and relaxation, summer is one of the most refreshing times to visit.
Whether visitors come to unwind, explore, or play, spring at Ashcombe Maze & Gardens is all about connection and adventure. Itโs the perfect place to make memories, embrace the outdoors, and celebrate the season in full bloom.
Renowned for its world-class courses, breathtaking coastal views, and laid-back charm, the Mornington Peninsula stands out as one of Australiaโs top golfing destinations. Here, we shine a light on two must-play courses you wonโt want to miss.
As spring breathes new life into the landscape, McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery invites you to immerse yourself in a month of creativity, sound, and wonder.
From his first primary school cross country race, to the start line at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Archie Hewettโs path to representing Australia has demanded everything he has.
A whole lot of talent, training and perhaps some help from her lucky number has taken Mornington long jumper, Geena Davy, all the way to the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, after she sealed her spot on the Australian team with a qualifying jump of 6.27 metres.
Mount Eliza competitive cyclist, Bizzy Butterworth is at one with the world when sheโs on two wheels. โIโm a very visual person. When Iโm riding I love to see the changing light, the hues of green in the leaves. I love the smells. I love to breathe it all inโ.
Paralympic gold medallist Heath Davidson has one of the most remarkable comeback stories in Australian sport. After abandoning wheelchair tennis for 11 years, he returned to the court at the age of 28 and won gold at the Rio Paralympics just 11 months later.
Melissa Warren is not one to be told she canโt do something. โThere is this incorrect perception that sailing is unobtainable, or inaccessible, but nothing is further from the truth,โ said Melissa. โYou donโt need a large budget; you just have to have passion.โ
While in Dromana, head down to the beach with its white sands and calm waters, enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of the many cafes, or taste an award-winning drop at one of the local distilleries. Later, catch a movie at the Dromana Drive-In.
Savour local brews, distilleries, and expertly roasted coffee. Families can enjoy a day out at Dinosaur World, while shoppers can explore Somerville Plaza, Centro Somerville, or browse through a range of charming specialty stores.
Strolling on Morningtonโs Main Street, youโll quickly understand the appeal of the town. Alfresco cafรฉs, diverse restaurants, and cosy spots for cocktails or an after-work beer with friends line the streets, inviting you to savour the cosmopolitan vibe it exudes.
Stroll along the Frankston waterfront precinct extending from the boat ramp at the base of Olivers Hill, crossing the Landmark Bridge, and ending at Waves restaurant. Take a walking tour through the city streets and take in many building exteriors adorned with eye-catching murals.
Sorrento offers something for everyone – from scenic walks like the Artists Trail and Millionaires Walk, to dolphin swims, historic sites, and even ghost tours. Explore rock pools at the back beach, take the ferry to Queenscliff, or wander the foreshore, pier, and vibrant main street, where beach life, heritage, and galleries come together.
Discover whatโs on across the Mornington Peninsula, from vibrant festivals and local markets to live music, art exhibitions, food and wine experiences, and family-friendly events. Find your next local adventure!
