THE Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) has received a $4000 community grant from Australia Post to support its Mornington Peninsula arts-based veteran wellbeing program. The program, called Making Space, is designed to foster connection, creativity and peer support through creative engagement among local veterans.ANVAM deputy director Kat Baldwin said they were “thrilled and grateful” on hearing the news. “This grant recognises the importance of veteran-led creative spaces and the role they play in building resilience and community connection,” said Baldwin.Funding will go directly towards program costs, expanding access for more veterans across the peninsula. “It will make a real…
Author: Brendan Rees
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a giant high-tech industry and business park in Somerville is a step closer after Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors backed an independent planning panel’s report.The proposed development, known as Amendment C243morn, would occupy a large parcel of land at 79 and 83 Bungower Rd in Somerville with offerings in manufacturing, research and development, smaller start-ups and small to medium enterprises.The plan is being privately led by Procter Investments Pty Ltd, the founders of navigation technology company Sealite. If approved, it would see a technology, industry and business park created, providing up to 1100 jobs with the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula has recorded 227 reports of animal cruelty over the past financial year with 22 animals either seized or surrendered. The new data was released in RSPCA Victoria’s latest animal cruelty report, making the peninsula the 13th highest in the state for animal cruelty. The report ranked each Victorian local government area (LGA) with Geelong topping the list with 560 reports, followed by Casey (470), and Hume (431) for the 2024-25 financial year.Mornington Peninsula’s 227 cruelty reports matched the previous year’s figure but was still fewer than the 2022-23 financial year (281 reports). There were also fewer animals seized…
A PLAN to merge Peninsula Health with four other health services under a new entity called Bayside Health to improve healthcare access has been green–lit by the state government. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the approval of the voluntary merger of five health services including Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health, which will become effective from 1 January next year. The decision follows a compelling case made by the services, demonstrating how uniting under one umbrella will enhance healthcare access, bring specialist services closer to home, and lead to better…
FRANKSTON and the Mornington Peninsula have a new top cop, and vehicle crime, theft, and road trauma are at the top of her agenda. Superintendent Anne Rudd moved into the lead role in August as the divisional superintendent for the Frankston and Mornington police service area in the southern metropolitan region. She brings 24 years of policing experience, including stints as the local area commander in Yarra, a tasking coordination inspector in the city, and, more recently, overseeing police recruit training at the Victoria Police Academy for the past five years. Superintendent Rudd plans to use that experience to ensure…