THE Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group has teamed with other volunteer organisations across Victoria to ramp up protection and advocacy for dwindling koala populations. The new Koala Alliance Victoria is made up of organisations and individuals involved with koala welfare, including groups on the peninsula, Gippsland and western Victoria. Belinda Eden from MPKC said koalas on the peninsula faced many threats, including starvation due to tree loss. “On the Mornington Peninsula, a koala is likely to die from starvation as her trees are cut down due to lax planning laws. As a direct result, she then experiences stress-induced illness, often…
Author: Liz Bell
WHEN Mornington woman Sandra Franks had difficulty getting up from her chair when she was in her mid-60s, she initially just thought age was creeping up on her. “I had no push in my knees and was struggling to bear weight when trying to stand, so eventually I went to my doctor, who was baffled and sent me to a specialist,” she said. After getting no answers from the first specialist, Franks sought a second opinion and underwent a muscle biopsy that led to her diagnosis. While it was a shock to discover she had myositis, an incurable and progressive…
MORNINGTON Peninsula mother-of-three and business woman Julie Fisher ‘s heart-warming and honest book From the Heart of Mums is an emotional glimpse into living with disability. Fisher, whose son Darcy has Down syndrome, is passionate about raising awareness to increase inclusion and acceptance for people who live with a disability. “When you enter the world of disability with your child or anyone you care for, it can be a scary time of the unknown,” she said. “Your idea of what life was going to be like suddenly changes in an instant.” Fisher said that from the moment of discovering a…
THREE sculpture parks – McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Langwarrin, Pt Leo Estate, Merricks and Montalto Winery, Red Hill South – will collectively celebrate International Sculpture Day on Saturday 29 April. The three open air spaces contain collections that unite sculpture and nature. McClelland director Lisa Byrne said the Mornington Peninsula was home to the largest collections of sculptures in Australia. “This collaboration is an experience not to be missed … at McClelland we champion the value of diversity within Australian culture through a specific focus on sculpture and its connection to the environment,” she said. “We are committed to…
ANYONE who thought the Mornington Peninsula was full of tourists over the summer months was not mistaken. Recent data shows the peninsula is officially one of the most popular tourism spots in Victoria to open a tourism business, with operators benefitting from its proximity to Melbourne, and mix of cafes and restaurants, sand, surf and rolling green hills. The Business Victoria data shows the peninsula has more tourism businesses (3932) in regional Victoria (it is classified metropolitan by the state government) than the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges (3916) and Murray (3880) regions. Despite the growth in the number of…