GRANTS to stage major events in Frankston in the 2026/2027 financial year are now on offer.
The latest round of applications for Frankston Council’s Destination Event Attraction Program is open until 8 March. Frankston mayor Sue Baker said the $250,000 grant pool will help stage similar events to previous recipients The Carlsberg Beach Club, The Australian Sand Sculpting Championships, and the Frankston Swim Classic.
“With easy access from Melbourne, a stunning foreshore and a growing reputation for creativity, Frankston is perfectly placed to host events that surprise, delight and attract visitors from across Victoria and beyond,” Cr Baker said. “We’re calling on event organisers to work with us and help shape the next chapter of Frankston’s events story.
“Frankston City is already recognised as a creative centre in Melbourne’s south-east, and this program helps take that reputation to the next level. By supporting great events, we’re growing the creative economy, attracting new visitors, creating local jobs and injecting fresh energy into the city.”
For more information visit frankston. vic.gov.au/Things-To-Do/Get-Involved/ Destination-Event Attraction-Program Picture: Supplied
Upheaval at Frankston Football Club
THE Frankston Football Club has referred financial discrepancies in its accounts to Victoria Police for investigation.
A Herald Sun article last week outlined allegations that the VFL club was facing two police and WorkSafe
investigations, and that the president and a treasurer had recently resigned from their volunteer positions. The article referenced missing funds and “misogynistic attitudes towards female members of management.”
Since the initial reports last week, Frankston Football Club volunteers have contacted The Times expressing serious concerns about the club’s cul-
ture and the deteriorating relationships between its senior figures.
The Times asked Frankston Football Club how many board members and members of the executive team had recently resigned. Acting president Pippa Hanson did not confirm an exact number, but said “financial discrepancies were reported by our club to police and we are working with police on
that matter.”
“In relation to a WorkSafe investigation, the club is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all staff, players, members and supporters and we remain proud of our close connection to the wider community,” Hanson said. “Both matters are being addressed accordingly and will not impact the club’s on-field and off-field
operations for the upcoming season.
“The club will not be making any further comment at this time.”
The Times is not alleging that anyone involved is guilty of misconduct, only that the matter is being investigated.
Last Thursday, Frankston Football Club confirmed it would host its 2026 AGM on the evening of 26 February. Continued Page 4
Bottle shop ‘not appropriate’ - council
Brodie Cowburn
brodie@baysidenews.com.au
APPROVED plans for a bottle shop near Young Street is drawing the ire of nearby residents.
The bottle shop has been approved for 14 Balmoral Street. Frankston Council initially denied the permit, but its decision has been overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Frankston councillor Brad Hill has slammed the bottle shop plans. He said “of all the crazy ideas, this has to be a candidate for worst one ever. The last thing we need down there is easier access to alcohol.”
“Someone applied for a planning permit to sell packaged liquor. The police opposed the permit - rare for them to get involved, but they did to their credit. The council refused the permit. All for nought - on appeal, VCAT then approved the permit on appeal,” he said. “The bottle shop has not yet appeared. Maybe it won’t. Yes, you can buy booze nearby at Coles, Woolies and Dan’s, but a stones throw from Young Street? No thank you.”
The Balmoral Street address was previously tenanted by Dimmeys.
VCAT’s final decision read that “the planning scheme does not provide any guidance to assist decision-makers in the assessment of the acceptability or otherwise of the proposed bottle shop use.”
“There are no specific objectives or decision guidelines relating to this land use, other than guidelines that speak to encouraging a broad range of land uses and to maintain the Frankston MAC as the focus for retailing, dining and entertainment uses,” VCAT wrote. “In the absence of any related policy or further guidance within the planning scheme, we find the use of the land as
a bottle shop is consistent with strategies in the planning scheme which seek to support the city centre as a focus for retail use.
“We are unable to conclude that an unacceptable land use conflict would arise between the proposed retail use as a bottle shop and the surrounding land uses. We are also not persuaded that the proposed use would detract from any proposed improvements to Balmoral Street.
“We acknowledge and understand the concerns regarding potential amenity impacts which may arise from the consumption of alcohol purchased from the premises. However, this is not a relevant planning consideration.”
Council’s submission to VCAT objected to the permit on the basis that “the proposed ‘Bottle Shop’ use does not appropriately address or achieve the objectives of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Planning Policies in that it will not positively contribute to the creation of a vibrant metropolitan activity centre, and a healthy and safe environment for residents, workers and visitors.
“The proposed bottle shop use is not appropriate in this location due to its proximity to persons vulnerable to alcohol-related harm and social disadvantage. The Frankston Station precinct is a key public transport hub frequently used by children, families, and other vulnerable groups. The proposed use increases the potential exposure to antisocial behaviour and public safety impacts to these groups and patrons of the area.”
THE future site of a bottle shop on Balmoral Street. Picture: Supplied
PHONE: 03 5974
Published weekly and distributed to Frankston, Frankston South, Karingal, Langwarrin, Seaford, Baxter and Somerville
Editor: Brodie Cowburn 0401 864 460
Journalists: Brodie Cowburn, 5974 9000
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ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@baysidenews.com.au Web: baysidenews.com.au
DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2026 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2026
The Frankston Football Club had a successful year on the field in 2025, earning their way into the preliminary final. The result was the club’s best since they were readmitted into the VFL in 2018. Healthy crowds in the thousands turned up to watch the Dolphins play each week in Frankston.
The clubs’ 2025 performance is a stark improvement on where it was situated a decade ago - the VFL club
had its license stripped in 2016 after entering administration owing a $1.5 million debt. It spent the next six years clawing its way out of the hole, and finally declared itself debt-free in 2021.
The Frankston Football Club’s social media pages have not addressed the mismanagement allegations, with posts remaining squarely focused on pre-season preparations.
A BIG crowd watching the Frankston Football Club under lights last year. Picture: Supplied
New aquatic conservation facility opens
MOONLIT Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park has officially opened a new Aquatic Fauna Conservation Facility, marking a significant step forward in its 25 years of wildlife conservation.
The purpose-built facility in Pearcedale will support the conservation of threatened freshwater species through long-term care, research and breeding programs.
It features advanced environmental controls and adaptable tank systems, allowing staff to closely replicate natural freshwater conditions including management of water quality, temperature and habitat structure.
The first species to be housed in the facility is the endangered Eastern Dwarf Galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla), a small native freshwater fish found in parts of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Once more widespread, the species has experienced major population declines due to wetland drainage, habitat loss, climate pressures and competition from introduced species.
Moonlit Sanctuary worked closely with Chris Lamin of Middle Creek Farm and Greg Martin from Aquariums by Design to develop the facility. Their technical expertise, alongside ectotherm coordinator Jamieson Brodie, played a key role in designing and installing the specialised aquatic systems now in operation.
MOONLIT Sanctuary owner/director Michael Johnson with Recovery and Restoration of Endangered Species Foundation director Graeme Phipps, Moonlit general manager Samantha Dunn. Picture: Supplied
Moonlit Sanctuary owner/director Michael Johnson said the facility represented a long-term commitment to protecting Australia’s freshwater biodiversity.
“When we opened Moonlit Sanctuary 25 years ago, our goal was always to create meaningful change for Australia’s wildlife,” he said.
“This new facility allows us to extend that commitment into the freshwater space, where species like
the Eastern Dwarf Galaxias urgently need our help. It’s incredibly rewarding to see this work come to life.”
The space has been designed to expand and accommodate additional threatened aquatic species in the future.
Traditionally recognised for its
work with native mammals and reptiles, Moonlit Sanctuary is broadening its conservation efforts to include species that are often overlooked but face increasing risk in the wild.
The facility will be officially opened on 10 February by Bass MP Jordan Crugnale.
“Congratulations to the amazing team at Moonlit Sanctuary as you celebrate this special milestone. Your important work, and the tremendous support received from your valued stakeholders, greatly strengthens wildlife conservation,” said Crugnale.
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Enter at visitmp.org/win or scan the QR code Entries close 11.59pm Thursday, 26 February 2026. Winner announced 9.30am Friday, 27 February 2026.
Park plans progress at Young Street
A NEW park is set to be built on Young Street across from Frankston Railway Station. 76 Young Street was purchased by Frankston Council in 2025. At its most recent council meeting, council advanced a proposal to demolish the existing building and install a community garden.
A motion at the council meeting read that “Urban Design completed concept options for the new 76 Young Street Laneway, which were presented to council through a Hot Topics report. The endorsed concept will be referred for consideration through the Long Term Infrastructure Plan for inclusion in the 2026–27 Capital Works budget.”
The final plan is subject to community consultation at a later date.
At the same meeting, Frankston Council was also presented with multiple milestones from its Young Street Action Plan approved in 2024. During the September-November 2025 period, Frankston Council commenced a vacancy audit of commercial properties in the city centre to be completed by early 2026, completed facade improvements on two Young Street properties, initiated negotiations with Vicinity to transform a large empty store into a pop-up temporary gallery, worked on draft FMAC Urban Design Guidelines, hosted a launch event celebrating the extended Community Connectors initiative along Young Street for a further 12 months, expanded the Community Connectors initiative along Station Street Mall, and presented a “Special Economic Priority Area” proposal to local MPs. When announcing it had finalised
the purchase of 76 Young Street in October last year, council said its vision is to “create safer, more attractive and better-connected pedestrian experience. This includes reimagining the building at 76 Young Street as a possible new gateway into and through Frankston’s city centre, un-
locking potential east–west connections between Frankston Station and Bayside Shopping Centre.”
76 YOUNG Street is set to be converted into a public park.
Picture: Supplied
Police patrol
Cars stolen
TWO 18-year-old men from Frankston, a 23-year-old man from Seaford, and a 17-year-old boy from Frankston have been arrested and charged over a spate of alleged car thefts.
The four people were arrested in Mt Eliza in the early hours of 5 February. They have each been charged with home invasion, theft of motor vehicle, theft, aggravated burglary, and attempted theft of motor vehicle.
Police allege that a Porsche Cayenne was stolen from a Canterbury property after a break-in just after 1am on 5 February. Half an hour later the offenders allegedly tried and failed to break into another Canterbury property.
At around 1.40am the group allegedly broke into another Canterbury property and stole keys to a Porsche and BMW. After being confronted by the resident, the alleged offenders all fled in the Porsche.
Sometime later that evening the group allegedly broke into a property on Tulliallan Boulevard in Cranbourne and stole a Maserati.
Police swooped in after spotting the car driving erratically in Mt Eliza.
All the vehicles involved have now been recovered. Detectives have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au
Two arrested for burglary
A CARRUM Downs man was among two people arrested in connection to a Dandenong South burglary late last month.
Police allege that two men broke into a car detailing business on Discovery Road shortly before 11pm on 28 January. After the owner saw the incident on CCTV he called the police, and the duo allegedly fled in a Jeep Cherokee.
One of the men was dropped off at an Illawarra Crescent address in Dandenong North, where police say they found him hiding in a cupboard. The other man continued driving the car, and was pulled over and arrested on Avon Court.
A 30-year-old from Loch Sport and 31-year-old from Carrum Downs “will be interviewed in relation to burglary”, a Victoria Police statement read.
Theatre | Corner Lonsdale and Walker
Opening hours: Monday - Friday | 10am - 4pm
with Brodie Cowbur
Portrait prize for painting tutor
REGULAR McClelland Guild of Artists tutor and demonstrator, Jenny Croom of Patterson Lakes, has won the first Australian Portrait Artist of the Year competition screened by the ABC.
An exhibition of her portraits was opened on Sunday (1 Feb) at the Art House Gallery, within Tyabb Packing House, and is on show until 28 February.
The ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year is a spin-off from the popular British program now in its 13th series. The local version was judged by three Australian art experts – Director of the National Portrait Gallery Bree Pickering; award-winning multidisciplinary artist Abdul Abdullah; and Associate Professor of Art History at the Australian National University Robert Wellington.
Croom made it through the heats and finals painting noted sitters in just four hours to win. Her prize was a commission to hang at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. The sitter was chef and restaurateur Kylie Kwong. The finished work is now on show at the NPG, where Croom also last week conducted a portrait tutorial.
Aged 77, Croom said the win was the culmination of a lifetime of painting. After years of enjoying landscape painting, painting faces was the most challenging of all.
“Portrait of a real person requires an involvement like no other”, said Croom.
“I want to communicate something deeper, something more than the physical likeness. Only then do I feel the work is finished.”
Crewther’s leadership tilt falls well short
By Cameron McCullough
MEMBER for Mornington, Chris Crewther, has vowed to focus on a Liberal win in November after failing in his bid for the deputy leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party.
The position opened up after the announcement by Nepean MP Sam Groth that he would not be contesting November’s election and would relinquish his deputy leadership role (Groth calls game, set and match on political career, The Times 13/1/26).
David Southwick, who had previously served as deputy to both Matthew Guy and John Pesutto, was challenged by Crewther, who is in his first term as a state member, after previously representing Dunkley in federal parliament.
The role was put to a party room vote on Wednesday 28 January, with Southwick winning 23 to 6 with two votes deemed informal.
In a statement on social media, Crewther said “Today I put my hand up for the open vacancy of deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, following the resignation of Sam Groth MP effective today”.
“In a democratic vote of the Party Room, unfortunately I was unsuccessful.
“I congratulate David Southwick MP on being elected, and on his return to the Deputy Leader role.
“Now that the deputy leadership position is locked in, it’s so important that we continue working as hard
as ever to elect a Victorian Liberal Government, led by Jess Wilson MP and David, and Bev McArthur MP and Evan Mulholland MP in the upper house.
“After nearly 12 years in a row of a Labor Government, things are falling apart and Victorians want action: whether it comes to roads, ambulance ramping, education infrastructure investment, growing debt, massive waste, cost-of-living pressures, and crime”.
Groth resignation to trigger Nepean by-election
MEMBER for Nepean, Sam Groth, has announced his resignation from parliament, triggering a by-election for the seat of Nepean, just months out from the next state election.
A statement released by Groth on 4 February stated “Next week I will resign from the Parliament of Victoria as the Member for Nepean to pursue other opportunities”.
“It has been an honour to serve the people of Nepean, and I sincerely thank them for the trust they placed in me for the opportunity to represent our community.
“I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism, dedication and tireless work in supporting the people of Nepean.
“I wish Jess and the Liberal team all the very best for the November election.
“Most importantly, I thank my family, my wife Britt and our twin boys, for their unwavering love and support.”
On 5 January this year, Groth announced he would not be recontesting his seat at the upcoming November state election, and would stand down as deputy leader of the Opposition (Groth calls game, set and match on political career, The Times 13/1/26).
In that statement, Groth said “After many conversations with my wife and with a great deal of personal thought, I have informed the Leader of the Opposition that I have decided that I cannot continue in Parliament beyond the 2026 election”.
“The public pressure placed on my family in recent months has been
significant and realising that some of it came from within my own party has been difficult to ignore. Coming to that realisation has forced some very personal reflection.
“I entered public life to serve my community, to represent the Mornington Peninsula, and to stand up for what I believe is in the best interests of Victorians. I have always tried to approach this job with honesty, hard work and a clear focus on the people who put their trust in me.
“But when you find yourself having to fight against your own team, it becomes impossible to put those interests first. That is not the standard I came into public life to accept, and it is not the kind of politics Victorians deserve.
“This has been an extremely chal-
lenging period for my family. We took on this role for the right reasons, to contribute to our community and try to make a positive difference. That purpose has never changed, but the environment around it has”.
Groth, a professional tennis player before retiring in 2018, was pre-selected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Nepean before the 2022 state election. Held by Labor’s Chris Brayne since 2018, but with a tenuous 1.82% margin, Groth went on to win the contest, gaining a healthy 6.4% margin in the process.
But the Liberal Party fared terribly in what was considered a referendum on Daniel Andrew’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Holding only 21 seats in the Victorian Legislative As-
sembly going into the 2022 election, the Liberals failed to reach even that low bar, holding just 20 of the 88 seats after the 2022 election.
The Victorian Liberal Party has spent much of the time since the 2022 election in disarray, with infighting between factions, and three different leaders since Matthew Guy bowed out after the 2022 election defeat.
Groth assumed the role of deputy leader of the Opposition in December 2024 with the rise of Brad Battin as the Opposition leader, and kept the role when Jess Wilson became leader of the opposition in November 2025.
Groth’s term as deputy leader was tumultuous. In May 2025, he was accused of misusing a taxpayer funded vehicle to return home from a fund-
raiser; a claim he denied. More trouble brewed for Groth in July 2025 when a News Corp masthead published allegations about Groth and his wife Brittany’s relationship. The allegations were strenuously denied by the Groths, resulting in Federal Court proceedings for defamation and serious invasion of privacy. The proceedings resulted in a settlement from News Corp, and an apology from the masthead.
While Groth at the time towed the party line and blamed Labor for much of the muck-raking, it is likely he was aware that many of the leaks and innuendo that had plagued his time as deputy opposition leader originated from his own party.
The by-election will cost Victorian taxpayers more than $2m to hold.
Cameron McCullough cameron@baysidenews.com.au
SAM Groth. Picture: Supplied
CHRIS Crewther. Picture: Supplied
The Art House Gallery, Tyabb Packing House, Mornington-Tyabb Road, is open from 10am to 5pm Thursday to Sunday.
JENNY Croom pictured at the Art House Gallery, within Tyabb Packing House, showing her portraits of artists. Picture: Fran Henke
The Guide
TOP PICKS OF THE WEEK
FRIDAY
THURSDAY ATTENBOROUGH’S PARENTHOOD
TEN, 7.30pm
Proving that no matter your circumstance – or species – parenthood is an all-consuming process. Thursday’s conclusion focuses on the ingenuity required to raise the next generation in the complexity of the jungle. From a frog and tarantula teaming up to protect tadpoles to a cassowary father teaching his chicks to avoid danger in the Daintree Rainforest, this series offers incredible insight into the natural world, narrated by Sir David Attenborough (left) in his signature style.
THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB
SEVEN, 8.30pm
The TV equivalent of sitting down to solve a crossword with a cup of tea and a biscuit, this cosy series follows a trio of unlikely crime solvers. As they proved in season one, retired archaeologist Judith (Samantha Bond, far right, with Jo Martin and Tom Stourton), dog walker Suzie (Martin) and vicar’s wife Becks (Cara Horgan) make a brilliant team. Our amateur sleuths are called back into action after an aristocrat is found dead the day before his wedding – with his young fiancée, bitter son and scheming ex top of their suspect list.
Thursday, February 12
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
SATURDAY
FOOTBALL: AFL ORIGIN
SEVEN, 7.30pm
It’s been a long time coming. For more than a quarter of a century, state-based rivalries in Australian rules have been left to brew while rugby’s Blues and Maroons take centre stage each year. But no more. This pre-season return is a rematch of Origin’s inaugural fixture in 1977 –with Western Australia again hosting a Victorian side. This time, Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli captains the Big V, while Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps leads the WA team. Seven’s coverage gets a hit of West Australian flavour thanks to former AFL superstar Nic Naitanui (above) on the boundary.
SEVEN (7)
SUNDAY CRICKET:
WOMEN’S TWENTY20 SERIES
7MATE, 7pm
A new innings begins on Sunday for Australian women’s cricket, with allrounder Sophie Molineux (below) named as the squad’s new captain, taking over from a retiring Alyssa Healy. This Twenty20 series opener against India will be the Victoria and Melbourne Renegades skipper’s first time leading the country, taking charge ahead of the T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June. Several members of the team will still be smarting from India’s recordbreaking chase of 339 that knocked Australia out of the ODI World Cup semi-final just a few months ago. With a fresh tactical direction and a score to settle, Molineux and co. are set to shine.
NINE (9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 10.30 The Weekly. (Ml, R) 11.00 Creative Types. (PGv, R) 11.25 QI. (Mls, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Bergerac. (Mv, R) 1.45 Camel Capers. (R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.15 Good With Wood. (PGa, R) 10.15 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGl, R) 11.00 Britain By Beach. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Queens Of Ancient Egypt. (PGa, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Race For The Sky. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. News, sport and weather. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) The latest news and views. 12.00 Golf. LIV Golf Adelaide. Day 1. From the Grange Golf Club, South Australia. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Contestants race to answer quiz questions correctly to avoid being caught by The Chaser. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (Mls, R) 1.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 5 – Highlights. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG)
6.00 9News.
TEN (10)
(R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Toronto Airport Uncovered. (PG) Storms ground outbound flights. 8.25 Robson Green: World’s Most Amazing Walks. (PG) Robson Green explores an ancient trail along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, UK. 9.20 In Flight. (Madlv) Sonny is kidnapped. 10.15 SBS World News Late. 10.45 Before We Die. (MA15+v, R) 11.40 Forest Of The Missing. (MA15+asv, R) 1.40 Silent Road. (Ma, R) 3.35 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad) Harper’s guilt surges. Cash struggles with the rules. Sonny’s frustration gets the better of him. 8.30 AFL Origin Countdown. A countdown to the AFL’s muchanticipated Origin clash.
10.00 Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text. (MA15+av, R)
The NCA are stunned when their French colleagues hack EncroChat. 11.15 To Be Advised.
1.00 Dare Me. (MA15+asv, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
5.00 Sunrise Early News.
5.30 Sunrise.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 6 – Night. Coverage includes men’s skeleton runs, snowboard cross, moguls qualifiers and finals and women’s super alpine skiing.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 6 – Post Midnight. Coverage includes men’s snowboard cross final and women’s 10km cross-country skiing and 5000m speed skating final.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 6 – Overnight.
5.30 Today.
6.00 10 News+.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal.
Friday, February 13
ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Solar System With Brian Cox. (Final, R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Muster Dogs. (PG, R) 2.00 Dog Park. (M, R) 2.30 In Limbo. (Mls, R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Gardening Australia. (Return)
8.30 Professor T. (Return, M) Professor T works on a case while in prison.
9.15 Hard Quiz. (PGa, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.
9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R)
10.15 Dog Park. (M, R)
10.45 ABC Late News.
11.05 Smother. (Mlv, R)
12.50 Rage New Music. (MA15+dhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PGadhlnsv)
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.20 Good With Wood. (PGa, R) 10.15 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGa, R) 11.05 Britain By Beach. (PGav, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 12.55 PBS News. 1.55 The Hospital: In The Deep End. (Ma, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Building The Impossible. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 The Lost Cities Of The Incas. (Premiere) Archaeologists search for clues to the rise of the Inca Empire. 9.25 Isle Of Wight: Jewel Of The South. (R) Follows the Seaview Salties, swimmers who regularly brave the freezing Solent.
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Sisi. (Masv, R)
11.40 Babylon Berlin. (Mav, R)
1.25 The Lesson. (Mal, R)
3.40 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Sunrise. News, sport and weather. 9.00 The
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6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (Return) Johanna Griggs heads to Bribie Island.
8.30 The Marlow Murder Club. (Return, Mav) When a wealthy baronet dies alone in his study the day before his wedding, Judith, Becks and Suzie find themselves at the centre of another mystery.
10.30 To Be Advised.
12.15 GetOn Extra. (Return)
12.45 Dare Me. (MA15+asv)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. (PG, R)
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Night. Coverage includes women’s snowboard cross qualifiers and finals and men’s crosscountry 10km final and ice hockey prelims.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Post Midnight. Coverage includes women’s snowboard cross finals and skeleton runs and men’s 10,000m speed skating final and 10km biathlon sprint final. 3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Overnight.
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6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. (R) A couple move to Canberra. 8.40 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Tracey has spent 10 years tending the garden of her and her husband’s Tea Tree Gully home but Antony wants
6am Morning Programs. 2.10pm Mastermind Aust. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.15 If You Are The One. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over. (Return) 9.25 Stacey Dooley: Meet The Shoplifters. 10.20 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 11.10 Homeland. 12.20am Sex Before The Internet. 2.10 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.10pm Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.35 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.40 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.05 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.35 My Adventures With Superman. 8.55 BattleBots. 10.00 TKO: Total Knock Out. 10.40 Late Programs.
ABC FAMILY (22) 6am 55 Steps. (2017, PG) 7.45 The Movie Show. 8.20 The Secret Garden. (2020, PG) 10.15 St. Vincent. (2014, M) 12.05pm Some Kind Of Beautiful. (2014, M) 1.55 Viceroy’s House. (2017, PG) 3.50 The Big Steal. (1990, PG) 5.40 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, PG) 7.30 The Talented Mr Ripley. (1999, M) 10.00 Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. (1994, M) 11.55 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 8.40 The Magic Canoe. 9.10 Spartakus. 10.00 Wild Survivors. 11.00 Going Places. Noon MOVIE: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. (2000, M) 2.00 Kriol
6am Morning Programs. 9.30 MOVIE: Be My Valentine. (2013, PG) 11.30 The
Saturday, February 14
ABC TV (2)
6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PGadhlnsv) 11.00 75th Anniversary Of Australian National Service. 12.00 News. 12.30 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 1.30 Professor T. (M, R) 2.20 The Piano. (PG, R) 3.20 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.10 Mission To Space With Francis Bourgeois. (R) 5.00 Aust Story. (R) 5.30 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R)
6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R) Kim swears off men and takes up golf.
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.
7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.
7.30 Call The Midwife. (Md) The midwives help a family with a history of drug addiction.
8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv) Engagement celebrations at Godley Manor are brought to a sinister end by a booby-trapped cuckoo clock. 10.00 This England. (Ml, R) Looks at Britain during COVID-19.
11.00 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) Continuous music programming.
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 9.05 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (R) 10.05 Vintage Voltage. (Ml, R) 11.00 World Wide Nate: African Adventures. (Premiere) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 2.10 Going Places. (R) 3.10 The D-Day Superhero: Jack Kirby. (PG, R) 4.10 Kirby At War. (PGav, R) 5.10 Stephen Fry: Willem And Frieda. (PGa, R) 6.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Apollo Stakes Day and Black Caviar Lightning Race Day. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Secrets Of Britain’s Historic Houses: Raising The Roof! (PG) A Tudor mansion gets a new roof. 8.40 Queen Camilla: The Wicked Stepmother. (PGads, R) Looks at the story of Queen Camilla. 9.35 Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey: Aaron Chen. (PG, R) Shaun Micallef heads to China. 10.35 Lord Lucan. (Mal, R) 11.40 Outlander. (MA15+a, R) 1.55 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a, R) 3.50 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 AFL Origin Pre-Game Show. A look ahead as the state-based rivalry returns between Western Australia and Victoria.
7.30 Football. AFL Origin. Western Australia v Victoria. From Optus Stadium, Perth. 10.30 AFL Origin Post-Game Show. A look back at the AFL Origin game. 11.00 No Holds Barred: GWS Giants. (Premiere, Ml) A look at the GWS Giants.
12.00 MOVIE: The Right Mom. (2021, Mav, R) A woman becomes a child’s guardian. Anna Schafer.
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 It’s Academic. (R)
5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
6.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Early Morning. 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 My Way. (R) 12.30 Budget Battlers. (PGl, R) 1.30 Great Australian Detour. (R) 2.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 7 – Highlights. From Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway. (Return, PG) 6.00
6.00 9News Saturday.
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple deals with a dysfunctional property. 8.40 Sort Your Life Out. (PGa, R) Stacey Solomon and her team help families declutter and transform their lives. 9.50 Ambulance Australia. (Mdlm, R) A head-on collision leaves a driver trapped. 10.50 Matlock. (PGad, R) Matty and Olympia help a group of nuns. 11.50 Elsbeth. (PGav, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. 6am Morning Programs. 3pm Heroines. 3.45 BBC News At Ten. 4.15 France 24. 4.45 PBS News. 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 The Food That Built The World. 7.35 Engineering From Above. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 9.20 Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons. 10.15 Marcella. 12.05am WWE Legends. 1.40 Dark Side Of The ‘90s. 2.30 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.10 Tiddler. 10.35 Children’s Programs. 3.30pm Thomas. 4.20 Dino Dex. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 The Smeds And The Smoos. 5.45 Super Monsters. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.30 Hard Quiz Kids. 8.00 Chopped Jnr. 8.40 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 9.25 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.10 Abbott Elementary. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Viceroy’s House. (2017, PG) 8.00 The Movie Show. 8.35 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014,
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Night. Coverage includes men’s alpine skiing giant slalom and women’s mogul dual finals and 4x7.5km cross-country relay.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Post Midnight. Coverage includes men’s alpine skiing giant slalom, women’s cross-country relay, speed skating women’s team pursuit and men’s 500m finals.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Overnight.
Sunday, February 15
6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 The World This Week. (R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Muster Dogs. (PG, R) 3.40 The Piano UK. (R) 4.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Muster Dogs. (PG) The handlers and their pups perform assessment tasks.
8.30 Dog Park. (Ml) Roland and Emma finally confront their future. Roland contemplates a new life as a man living alone with his dog.
9.00 This England. (Ml) Looks at Britain during COVID-19.
9.55 Call The Midwife. (Md, R)
10.55 Midsomer Murders. (Mv, R)
12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.00 Dream Gardens. (R) 4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Children’s
Programs. 3pm Play School. 3.30 Super Monsters. 4.40 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.05 Super Monsters. 6.00 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Paddington. 6.40 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.30 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 7.50 MOVIE: Looney Tunes: Back In Action. (2003, PG) 9.20 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.05 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs.
NITV (34)
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.05 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under. (R) 10.05 Vintage Voltage. (Ml, R) 11.00 World Wide Nate: African Adventures. 12.00 PBS News Compass Points. 12.30 WorldWatch. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.05 Going Places. (R) 4.35 Raising The Mary Rose: The Lost Tapes. (PG, R) 5.30 Brandenburg Gate: The Untold Story.
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Dominic West: Extreme Silk Road. (PG) Dominic West continues his journey through Kyrgyzstan.
8.25 Fengyang: The Forgotten Imperial City. Looks at archaeological work in Fengyang, China.
10.10 Dunhuang: Ancient Frontier Fortress: Rise, Fall And Rebirth. (MA15+v, R)
11.10 South Korea With Alexander Armstrong. (PGa, R)
1.45 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R) 2.40 24 Hours In A&E. (Mal, R) 3.35 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.
6.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R)
7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) Highlights from the past week. 12.00 Golf. LIV Golf Adelaide. Day 4. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R) Follows the work of customs officers.
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.
8.45 The Meghan Effect: Transforming The Royals. (PG) Looks at Meghan Markle, who went from being an actor to becoming part of the British monarchy.
10.15 The Hunters: Mr Cruel. (Mav, R) Notorious cold cases are re-opened.
11.45 Autopsy USA: John Wayne. (Ma, R)
12.45 Temple. (MA15+al)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Early Morning. 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Take Me Home. (PG, R) 11.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 8 – Highlights. 1.10 Rugby League. NRL. Women’s All Stars. Maori All Stars v Indigenous All Stars. 3.15 Rugby League. NRL. Men’s All Stars. Maori All Stars v Indigenous All Stars.
6.00 9News Sunday.
7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls) After an explosive revelations week task, the actions of some have a major effect on the others. Who has chosen to stay and who will leave is revealed at the first commitment ceremony.
8.45 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Night. Coverage includes women’s slalom and monobob bobsleigh, men’s dual moguls and mixed team snowboard cross.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Post Midnight.
3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Overnight. 5.30 Today.
6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Masv) When a petty officer is found brutally murdered and frozen, it leads the team into a twisted underworld of seafood and sex trafficking. 9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (MA15+a) When a tween suffers a life-threatening miscarriage, the team must unravel a web of online fabrications to identify a suspect. 10.30 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) Franks races to locate a missing body. 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning
PBS Washington Week. 5.15 PBS News Compass Points. 5.45 Smoke And Steel: Secrets Of The Modern World. 6.40 The Architecture The Railways Built. 7.35 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo. 10.10 The Grudge. 11.40 Secrets Of Miss America. 12.30am Django. 1.45 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31)
9GEM
Programs. 2.15pm Jeopardy! 4.20 France 24. 4.50
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 3.05pm Rugby League. Murri v Koori Interstate Challenge. Southern Dingos v Redfern All Blacks. Replay. 4.35 All Stars: More Than A Game. 5.05 Make It Right. 5.30 Dr Charles Perkins Oration. 6.45 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.35 Most Endangered Species New Zealand. 8.25 Black Cockatoo Crisis. 9.50 MOVIE: Lean On Me. (1989, M) 11.40 Late Programs.
6am The Secret Garden. Continued. (2020, PG) 7.10 Broken Hill. (2009, PG) 9.10 Anne Of Green Gables. (2016, PG) 10.45 Alcarràs. (2022, M, Spanish, Catalan, English) 12.55pm Say It Loud. (2020, M, Italian) 2.40 What We Did On Our Holiday. (2014, PG) 4.30 A United Kingdom. (2016, PG) 6.30 Notorious. (1946, PG) 8.30 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. (1966, MA15+) 11.45 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Australia: The Story Of Us. Noon Escape To The Country. 1.00 The Real Seachange. 1.30 Harry’s Practice. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 Medical Emergency. 3.00 Better Homes. 4.10 The Amazing Homemakers. 5.10 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 6.10 Escape To The Country. 7.10 Vicar Of Dibley. 8.30 Vera. 10.30
Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Australian Story.
8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program.
9.15 Media Watch. (M) Presented by Linton Besser.
9.35 Planet America. A look at American politics.
10.05 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Business. (R) 11.10 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R) 11.35 Love Your Garden. (R) 12.25 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv)
2.20 Smother. (Mlv, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R)
5.30 7.30. (R)
Morning Programs. 9.30 Good With Wood. (PG, R) 10.25 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGal, R) 11.15 Britain By Beach. (R) 12.10 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBS News Compass Points. 1.30 WorldWatch. 2.05 Asia’s Ancient Civilisations. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Silk Road From Above. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Inside The Tower Of London. (PG) It is Constable’s Dues day at the Tower of London. 8.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) Hosted by Jimmy Carr.
9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted by Greg Davies. 10.10 SBS World News Late.
10.40 Other People’s Money. (PGals) 11.30 Vigil. (Mav, R) 2.45 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R) 3.40 Celebrity Mastermind. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
Late Programs. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.20pm Octonauts. 2.15 Peter Rabbit. 2.45 The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 3.30 Wiggle. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.35 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.35 TKO: Total Knock Out. (Final) 9.15 Kids BBQ Championship. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Notorious. (1946, PG) 7.55 A United Kingdom. (2016, PG) 10.00 Discovering
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGal, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls, R) 1.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 9 – Highlights. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PGas) Leah crafts a romantic apology. 7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 9.15 9-1-1. (Mahv) The 118s beliefs are put to the test as they respond to emergency calls involving a Jack-o’-lantern.
10.15 Ivan Milat: Buried Secrets. (MA15+av, R) Takes a look at the crimes of Ivan Milat. 12.15 Conviction. (MA15+a, R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair. 7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The newlyweds enter intimacy week and while some couples choose to embrace the challenge, others remain hesitant.
9.05 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Night. Coverage includes men’s alpine slalom, bobsleigh and short track and women’s snowboard slopestyle and short track.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Post Midnight. 3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 10 – Overnight. 5.30 Today.
6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Matlock. (PGd) Olympia works to repair her relationship with her family after she takes on a case involving her mother’s new husband. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.00 10 News+. (R) 11.30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.30
Tuesday, February 17
ABC (2)
(3)
(9) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Australian Story. (R) 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.00 Human. (Final, PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (Md, R) 2.00 Restoration Australia. (Final, PG, R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 9.15 Good With Wood. (PGa, R) 10.10 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGl, R) 11.00 China On Stage. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 Asia’s Ancient Civilisations. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PGaw, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Silk Road From Above. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Marc Fennell. (PGa, R)
Marc Fennell explores his roots.
8.35 MOVIE: Bardot. (2024, Malsw)
An intimate look at the life of international icon Brigitte Bardot, with unseen archive and candid interviews.
(R) Two properties are transformed.
10.15 Way Out Ag. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News.
10.50 The Business. (R) 11.05 Four Corners. (R) 11.55 Media Watch. (M, R) 12.10 Love Your Garden. (R) 1.00 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 2.20 Smother. (Mal, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
10.20 SBS World News Late.
10.50 Exit. (MA15+ads, R)
11.50 Syndrome E. (Malv, R) 1.55 24 Hours
In Emergency. (Ma, R) 2.50 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R) 3.40 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 12.35pm Ben And Holly. 1.20 Octonauts. 2.15 Peter Rabbit. 2.45 The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 3.30 Wiggle. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.35 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.35 Whale With Steve Backshall. 9.25 Planet Weird. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs.
ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 10.05 Above The Dust. (2024, M, Mandarin) 12.20pm Limitless. (2011, M) 2.20 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 4.00 Notorious. (1946, PG) 6.00 The Eagle Huntress. (2016, PG, Kazakh) 7.35 The Legend Of Fong Sai-Yuk. (1993, M, Cantonese) 9.30 The Legend Of Fong Sai-Yuk 2. (1993, M, Cantonese, Mandarin) 11.20 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Karla Grant Presents. 12.25pm MOVIE: Alick & Albert. (2021, PG) 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Going Places. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Africa’s Underwater Wonders. 7.30 Big Backyard Quiz. 8.30 Unleash The Beast. 9.30 The Shooter Of War. 10.30 MOVIE: The Dead Lands. (2014, MA15+) 12.20am Late Programs. NITV (34)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)
7.30 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.
8.30 Doc. (Ma) Michael is under investigation for his actions during the hostage crisis. TJ returns to work and treats a prisoner.
9.30 Ambulance: Code Red. (Ma) A man is attacked by a gang with a machete.
10.30 St. Denis Medical. (Ms)
11.30 Madeleine McCann: Searching For The Prime Suspect. (Mav, R)
12.30 Childhood’s End. (Mav)
2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) Intimacy week tasks have a mixed effect on the newlyweds. A tense men’s workshop results in poor behaviour. In a shocking turn of events, one bride suddenly calls it quits.
9.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Night. Coverage includes men and women’s aerials qualifiers, women’s snowboard slopestyle and men’s ice hockey.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Post Midnight. 3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Overnight. 5.30 Today.
(10)
6.00 10 News+.
6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PGs) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 NCIS. (Mv) A petty officer’s death tied to blackmail forces the team to work with Special Agent Sawyer. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 11.00 10 News+. (R)
Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 2.20pm Mastermind Aust. 2.50 Kars & Stars. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.20 Mysteries From Above. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 In The Footsteps Of Marco Polo. 10.25 MOVIE: I Am Bruce Lee. (2012) 12.05am Casketeers Life & Death Across The Globe. 1.00 Then You Run. 2.50 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.
Wednesday, February 18
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Dr Ann’s Secret Lives. (R) 11.15 The Assembly. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch. (M, R) 1.50 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)
6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Hard Quiz. (PGa) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.
8.30 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG) A satirical news program. 9.00 Dog Park. (Ml, R) Roland and Emma finally confront their future. 9.30 QI. (Ms) Hosted by Sandi Toksvig. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News.
10.50 The Business. (R) 11.05 Live At The Wireless. (M, R) 12.05 Love Your Garden. (R) 12.50 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.40 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 2.20 Smother. (Mal, R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
6.00 WorldWatch. 9.10 Good With Wood. (PGal, R) 10.10 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGadlv, R) 11.00 China On Stage. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.05 Asia’s Ancient Civilisations. (PG, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PGa, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Silk Road From Above. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Saving Yellowstone. (PG)
8.30 Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World: Halicarnassus/ Hanging Gardens Of Babylon/ Temple Of Artemis. (PGa, R) Bettany Hughes ventures to Turkey.
9.25 Trespasses. (Mals)
10.20 SBS World News Late. 10.50 Face To Face. (Mals, R) 11.45 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Mav, R) 1.35 Golden Boy. (Mal, R) 2.25 The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor. (PG, R) 3.15 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
ABC FAMILY (22) 6am The Eagle Huntress. Continued. (2016, PG, Kazakh) 7.15 Discovering Film. 8.15 Mrs Lowry And Son. (2019, PG) 10.00 House Of The Seasons. (2023, M, Japanese, Korean) 12.10pm Godland. (2022, M, Danish, Icelandic) 2.40 Go. (1999, PG) 4.35 The Bridge On The River Kwai. (1957, PG) 7.30 Fist Of Legend. (1994, M) 9.30 Tai Chi Master. (1993, MA15+, Cantonese, Mandarin) 11.20 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Big Backyard Quiz. Noon Piri’s Tiki Tour.
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (Mls, R) 1.30 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 11 – Highlights. 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away. (PGad)
7.30 The 1% Club UK. (PGas) 8.30 Highway Patrol. (PGl) A driver sideswipes another vehicle.
9.00 Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text. (MA15+av) The gangs realise that they’ve been rumbled.
10.00 Air Crash Investigations: Norwegian Nightmare. (PGa) 11.00 The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito. (Malv, R)
12.15 The Last Weekend. (Malv) 1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. (R) 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 9News.
7.00 A Current Affair.
7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) At the second dinner party, some couples are feeling the love, while others go on the warpath.
9.10 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Night.
Coverage includes women’s alpine slalom and aerials finals, men’s snowboard slopestyle and men’s and women’s cross-country team sprint.
12.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Post Midnight. 3.00 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Day 12 – Overnight. 5.30 Today.
6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PGa, R) 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Elsbeth. (PGa) After a donor’s death shakes New York’s non-profit arts scene, Elsbeth questions the motives of the victim’s friend. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather.
10 News+. (R)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG)
Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 3.20pm BBC News At Ten. 3.50 France 24. 4.20 PBS News. 5.20 Mysteries From Above. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 9.20 MOVIE: Moonfall. (2022, M) 11.45 MOVIE: Perrier’s Bounty. (2009, MA15+) 1.25am Tales From The Territories. 2.20 WWE Rivals. 3.15 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.45pm The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 3.30 Wiggle. 4.10 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.35 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.55 Adv Time. 9.40 We Bare Bears. 9.55 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 10.15 My Adventures With Superman. 10.40 Late Programs.
(34) 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30
Demanding our fair share
I am writing in response to last week’s article on homelessness (Foreshore fury over abandoned homeless camp, The News 3/2/26), which details some of the major homelessness and sleepingrough challenges the southern Mornington Peninsula faces. Most of your readers will know that the Mornington Peninsula now has the unenviable claim of having the highest rate of people sleeping-rough in metropolitan Melbourne.
The article contains a quote from the Victorian government, which cites the peninsula’s 4,500 Airbnb homes as a critical factor in this problem, and that’s why “the short stay levy is critical to building more social housing”.
In the past two years, the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula has met with the Minister for Housing and written to Homes Victoria clarifying where the funds raised from the short-stay levy will be spent. We have also directly raised this with the Victorian Treasurer. There has been no indication, statement, or announcement that any funding from the short-stay levy will be spent on housing or homelessness support services in the Mornington Peninsula Shire.
In fact, funds raised from this levy are consolidated within Homes Victoria – an organisation tasked with finding locations for suitable housing projects around key activity centres in and around Melbourne – while 25% of revenue raised is reserved for projects in Regional Victoria.
To remediate this, the government could increase our share of funding distributed under the Big Housing Build. To date, the shire has received $14m from this program, while our neighbours across the bay in Geelong have received $487.5m.
The committee stands with this region’s hard working community support services and frontline providers, and we continue to respectfully demand our fair share of funding to address our own housing and homelessness challenges.
Providing accommodation for the homeless is not the responsibility of the shire (Homeless responsibility, Letters 3/2/26).
Who would pay for these homes, who would pay for the upkeep and the services?
The costs would have to be added to our rates, and it would be a large amount. Plus, the on going extra staff costs for the shire to administer the properties. The shire already provides support and services. I also wonder how would you expect the shire to select the most needy as we will never get to the end of the growing list of homeless people. It may be best to provide support to help and encourage people to be self sufficient and try to reverse the reason why they are homeless.
John King, McCrae
Zero expenditure?
The Australian Electoral Commission’s “Transparency Register” has been updated with 2025 required data.
After all of the complaining and attacks by Zoe McKenzie about Ben Smith’s spending it is interesting that she did not spend anything on her election.
The 2025 Federal Election Candidate Return has Zoe’s total electoral expenditure at zero. So she ran her campaign for free! Such a deal! And the new donations regulations do not fix this problem, they exacerbate it.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Editor’s note: Under the AEC rules, the “Transparency Register” does not include the candidates from registered political parties who “may submit a ‘nil return’ and roll their reporting into the annual return for their party if those financial transactions were the responsibility of a party committee”.
Thanks Liberal supporters
I’d like to thank all those voters who supported the Liberals in the last state election.
Not only did you kick out the local, Labor’s Chris Brayne, who gave us much needed renovations of our schools, new bus time tables and an express bus service to Frankston among other things that we would never have if the Liberals were in.
The Liberals also voted in a candidate that for reasons known only to him, has created a situation where he’s pulled the pin and we, the taxpayer, are up for millions of bucks for a costly by-election.
John Cain, McCrae
Shire demerger
When three local councils were merged in 1998 to make the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the state was broke.
Multiple shire CEO’s each earning as much as $400k became one. Direct shire employee numbers were reduced, and services were out sourced with “competitive tender”. Now... the state is still broke.
Hastings’ population has increased over 30% since 1998. It is likely that the entire MPSC has increased just as much. Each time I pass a roundabout with one metre high weeds, swerve a pothole, or see a shire contractor pass a pile of dumped rubbish, I reminisce about our Hastings Shire and the townships it managed.
The towns were tidy, and the council seemed efficient. At least that is what I remember!
Is it not time for talking about demerging the MPSC in some form to improve services and productivity for better outcomes?
Review needed
A. Barling, Bittern
I would like to respond to the letter from Brian A Mitchelson (Lucky to have BlueScope, Letters 2/2/2026).
I understand that the BlueScope is a large employer and has made donations to our schools and sponsored Hastings SES, Rotary and others over the years.
Their website states “… In financial year 2024, BlueScope Western Port contributed $50,000 to the local community via our sponsorship and donation program…”
It is highly unlikely that BlueScope would shut down its Hastings facility to avoid paying more annual rates to Mornington Peninsula Shire.
I did contact the shire regarding BlueScope’s land rates and site valuation and was advised “… With respect to the Steelworks property, valuations are undertaken by the Victorian State Government. As such, Council is not able to alter or challenge these valuations on behalf of property owners… the rates collected from the Steelworks under the current differential rate are significantly higher than what would be received if the property were charged at the general rate in the dollar. Council is satisfied that the current arrangement ensures an appropriate contribution from both the Steelworks and BlueScope.”
I still believe the Western Port (Steel Works Rating) Act 1972 is no longer fit for purpose by allowing BlueScope to pay the same annual rates of $840,000 on 1700 acres of land since 1983. An updated valuation of the BlueScope land and buildings/equipment is required to determine the current capital improved value of the industrial site.
Regarding general rates on the Mornington Peninsula, residential, commercial and industrial properties pay the same amount while other councils have lower rates for residential property owners.
Frankston City Council general rates for residential property are 20% lower than commercial and industrial properties.
Should families and retirees living on the Mornington Peninsula pay the same rates as liquor stores, pokies venues, supermarkets or the Esso gas facility?
Public feedback on the Shire’s Rating Strategy Review closes on Sunday 15 February 2026. shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/rating-strategy-review Dale Stohr, Crib Point
Thanks to BlueScope
On behalf of the Hastings Seafarers Centre Inc. I wish to also state that we are lucky to have BlueScope (Lucky to have BlueScope, Letters 3/2/25).
The Seafarers Centre provides “R & R” facilities and bus transport for crews with shore leave from ships that berth at the three wharves in the Port of Hastings. The centre is staffed totally by volunteers from three of the churches in Hastings (Anglican, Roman Catholic and Uniting) from a building supplied by BlueScope (then BHP) on BlueScope land at the end of Bayview Road. BlueScope, at their wharf, together with Esso
at Long Island Point and United Petroleum who use Crib Point Jetty, are businesses who continually support us as an organisation in a number of different ways.
Australians should all remember that we are an “island” nation and more than 75% of what we need, use or want comes in by ship, offset by a wide variety of exports that leave by ship.
For the good of Australia, let’s all look at “the big picture” for the good around us.
Deirdre McLean, Acting Chair, Hastings Seafarers Centre Inc
Give politics a rest
Let’s give it a rest please. We know that a state election is coming at the end of the year so at least stop writing in with political claptrap and get on to something more important.
There are many organisations on the peninsula (the shire will provide you with a list of them) that are desperate to get more volunteers to help with the various activities.
It does not matter how much time you have to spare but giving your time is important in keeping our wonderful peninsula running smoothly.
Whether it is helping with student driving lessons, Rotary, your local CFA brigade etc, they all have many areas that you can help with.
So stop whinging and get off your backsides and volunteer. You’ll be surprised how good you feel when you have helped someone achieve their goal or, indeed, helped them with something that they are unable to do for themselves.
So no more political claptrap. Doing something more useful would be appreciated.
Barry Kirkpatrick, Mt Martha
Road barriers
I’ve seen a number of signs in the higher reaches of the peninsula deriding the installation of road barriers. Unsightly. A disturbance to tranquillity. A blight on nature.
Red Hill tops out at 251m above sea level, scientifically not quite high enough for a shortage of oxygen to affect decision making. But what else to make of this strident opposition to a feature saving lives?
On another note, I’m sure a number of local community groups would appreciate volunteers, but where do we find the time?
Nick Schaffer, Rosebud
Cooling earth
A good question from Alan Reid (Cooler earth in 2025, Letters 3/2/25), and one well answered by the editor. A little further context may help. While carbon dioxide is responsible for most global warming (around 64 per cent), it is not the only factor. Other greenhouse gases, including methane and CFCs, contribute a further 27 per cent.
Natural climate variability also plays a role. As the World Meteorological Organisation explains, 2025 was a La Niña year, which tends to have a cooling effect on the tropical Pacific.
The global average temperature record from the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows both this short-term variability and the unmistakable long-term warming trend. That trend is driven by the increase in atmospheric CO₂, clearly illustrated in the graph at science.nasa.gov/climatechange/evidence/ showing the dramatic rise in recent decades.
With La Niña now fading, forecasters are watching for a return of El Niño conditions later this year. If that occurs, it is highly likely that 2026 will be warmer than 2025, and possibly the hottest year on record. No doubt Alan will be watching with interest.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Turbine trouble?
Dr. Amy Hiller is rightly concerned about the number of koala deaths on the Mornington Peninsula (Koala deaths, Letters 3/2/26).
I am still waiting for her reply regarding the swathes of koala habitat cleared for wind turbines across Australia.
Sue Glenn, Mornington
Immigration levels
I was shocked in the last federal election when Anthony Albanese made a statement leaving me with the impression that immigration numbers were something out the federal government’s hands.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, “net immigration to Australia for the year ending March 2025 was 315,900 people; a decrease of 36% from the previous year” (ABS website).
In believe this is far too high for homogeneous growth and should be drastically reduced to much lower levels; say 40,000.
Of course, people want to immigrate here to our beautiful country and escape factors such as war, overpopulation, repressive governments, limited employment opportunities or poor wages and a bleak future. However, in my opinion such a rapid and massive influx in migrants will generate its own unwanted problems for Australia’s future. The volume and number of different languages one hears on the street every day is a clear indication that Australia is changing rapidly. Each culture comes with its own values and bonds, which I believe has its own set of problems from political leverage to employment to respect for others. In addition, massive immigration can only exacerbate the lack of housing and financial difficulties young Australians face in purchasing a house.
Australia is lacking in many key employment areas from medical staff to police to farm hands and even defence. Our government needs to ascertain how “we” deal with this, but it needs to be transparent and logical not just a policy of using immigration to balance the books. If it cannot do this, then we will see a fracturing in our society and a rise in cruel and radical anti-immigration elements, like in many other countries, and pay the price for it.
Henry Kelsall, The Sustainable Future Association
National pride?
I am being marginalised and disparaged by some members of my local club for daring to ask if we were going to be celebrating Australia day?
Our administrator from one of our community WhatsApp has cancelled my enquiry and inferred through posting a request to avoid political posts, that my same enquiry on this app is political and thereby inappropriate?
Our local club has celebrated Australia Day since its inception in the late sixties but post Covid this is suddenly a “no no”, even to discuss it! While certain members attend or support the Invasion Day celebrations at “The Briars”, it appears it is considered politically and socially inappropriate to openly discuss or celebrate Australia day on 26 January and they pull rank from their acquired positions in clubs, organisations or social media platforms to close down conversations and activities related to our national day of celebrations. When did our national pride and flying just one uniting flag on Australia Day become a toxic political subject matter and an act to be frowned upon?
Michelle Gregory, Somers
BarleyCharlie@Almost90
Random thoughts, sometimes called niggles. Consistently, letters to the editor contain the phrase “ordinary Australians” some adding “ordinary and decent” Australians. What (in God’s name?) do they mean, or infer? A special breed? Personally, my inclination means it rolls off their tongues, unconnected with true blue Australians. Like always we live in strange times. Princess Pauline and Mister B Joyce running second to Albo’s lot, no doubt the increased numbers for white Aussie Pauline attributed to disillusioned Liberal voters, normally within the one (political) thought process: “Anything but Labor.” Paul Keating for clarity? His previous - Blind deference to Washington risking subordinating Australian interests to unpredictable U.S. priorities, once dismissed by some as contrarian, now rings with striking clarity 2026.
With Trump’s return to the White House bringing renewed unpredictability - threatened tariffs on allies, territorial ambitions like Greenland, and a transactional approach to alliances - Keating’s warning looks less like radicalism and more like realism.
As the U.S. under Trump appears to prioritise “America First” with little regard for multilateral norms or allied concerns, Australia’s deep entanglement in arrangements like AUKUScosting hundreds of billions - feels increasingly mismatched.
Into February, 50 days to the big Nine O. A rethink, living for the moments, a Magpie victory, birthday bash and oysters. A strange situation into the nineties, most previous years connected to my future; and now, what future? As a younger man I enjoyed a night of playing poker with a win of a small amount in a particular game. Which has now grown up to mean small moments of happiness, similar (very) to a Collingwood AFL victory or (better still?) a pension rise applicable to an ordinary decent Australian? Just saying.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
Mornington Racing Club – Frankston Benefit Meeting
Compiled by Cameron McCullough
A COMMITTEE meeting was held on Monday evening last when there were present: Messrs. T. Ritchie, P. McArthur, A. D. Kerr, J. E. Somers, E. Swift, T. J. McMurtrie, A. Bartlett, G. Bidgood, C. D. Robertson, J. Houfe, J. Kelleher, P. Olsen, and H. Downward, secretary. Messrs. R. C. Holman, H. Golds, and Cr. J. L. Pratt represented the Frankston Returned Soldiers’ branch.
The preliminary balance-sheet of Cup meeting showed a profit of about £256, the race books returning a clear profit of £56.
The secretary reported an excellent entry of 116 entries to date for the benefit meeting on Tuesday next, and stated it included Answer, winner of last Australian Cup, who would be a certain starter so as to help him along in his preparation for the Australian Cup in March next.
Mr. P. Olsen reported that Mr. H. Masterton, of Frankston, who gave the Mornington Cup for this year, had given him that day £10/10/ donation towards the funds of the benefit meeting next Tuesday.
All arrangements of the details of organising for the races were then made. Mr. Holman reported that tickets were selling well at Frankston, 60 having been sold up to the present; that Mr. A. G. Wilcox had been appointed the steward to act from Frankston at the race meeting; and that Mr. George Keast had advanced the £100, the sum required as a guarantee to the race club against any loss.
The race meeting has been insured for £100 against 10 points of rain, at a
cost of £8/15/-.
Messrs. Kelleher and Houfe moved that the president’s and secretary’s action in accepting the tender of Messrs. Orr and Powell at £33 for the two booths, be endorsed.
The president said if a fine day was experienced next Tuesday he hoped to be able to announce on the evening of the races that a substantial profit had been made to help the Frankston soldiers in paying off their hall. (Applause).
***
Sunday on our beaches
The high temperature last Sunday attracted thousands of visitors to the bayside.
The beaches from Oliver’s Hill to Seaford were literally alive with people. Family picnic parties were numerous, and the friendly shade of the ti-tree on the foreshore provided ideal conditions for alfresco meals.
Hundreds of motor cars were parked at the foot of Oliver’s Hill, at “The Fernery” and other points.
Facilities in this connection are not numerous in Frankston, and the provision of suitable parking areas, similar to those provided at Mordialloc, is a question the Council will have to face in the near future.
The beaches were gay with life and color. Men, women and children attired in costumes of every conceivable hue, were to be seen swimming and splashing about in the water.
The tide was very low on Sunday afternoon, and three or four cricket matches were played on the beautiful firm sand, while hundreds of children were wonderfully busy with buckets and spades.
Canoes and rowing boats were in full commission, and provided plenty of fun for the young folk.
The pier was crowded, and while enjoying the gentle southerly breeze, found entertainment in watching the swimmers doing fancy diving stunts from the spring board.
Sailors from the two war boats which were lying just off the pier, mingled with the crowd, and gave a touch of added interest to the scene.
***
Mt Eliza
The first picnic of the Mt. Eliza Progress Association was held at Flinders on Monday last.
Twenty-seven persons made the trip, being conveyed there by motors.
Members of the Flinders Progress Association met the visitors and showed the way to Bass Park at West Point.
The cordial welcome extended to the picnickers by the local association was very much appreciated and helped very largely to make the visit most enjoyable.
Hot water and milk and the use of the park were supplied free.
The Bass and Flinders memorials occupy a prominent position overlooking the entrance to Westernport.
A brisk trade was done with crayfish, most of the members securing a pair.
About 6 o’clock good-bye was said to Flinders, everyone being agreed that the outing had been a decided success.
***
Frankston gymnasium – promising support
Last night Mr. Norman W. Clements
presided over an enthusiastic meeting held at Bond’s market rooms for the purpose of forming a gymnasium.
It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Livick, seconded by Mr. Hansen that a club be formed, to be called the “Frankston Gymnastic Club.”
An entrance fee of 5/- and contribution of 1/- per week was agreed to on the motion of Mr. Livick, seconded by Mr. J. Cunneen.
Mr. Stanley Croucher was unanimously elected secretary.
At the suggestion of the chairman, the election of office-bearers was held in abeyance. Mr. Clements said he was hopeful of securing the co-operation of prominent citizens who would join the club as honorary members, and would no doubt be willing to act on the executive.
It was decided that the election of committee take place on Thursday night, 18th February, at 8 o’clock.
It was agreed that to secure the best results an instructor should be appointed, and the secretary was directed to write to various organisations, asking if they could recommend a suitable man.
The secretary was also authorised to advertise the date of the meeting for Thursday, 18th February, and write to prominent citizens, asking their cooperation in launching the movement.
Mr. Clements reported that Messrs. Sherlock & Hay and Chitty’s Pty. Ltd. had promised the timber necessary for making horizontal bars, etc., and the firms named were heartily thanked for their practical support.
It was gratifying to note the enthusiasm of the large number of young men present, and it is to be hoped that the
general public will accord the movement its cordial support.
***
Frankston Fire Brigade - To The Editor Sir,
Would you kindly allow me space in your paper to contradict the impression among the people of Frankston and district re the payment of members of the brigade.
The fire men DO NOT receive one penny for attending fires, the only payment the firemen receive is one shilling a month, or 12/- per year. When compared with the number of hours put in by members at fires and practices, it could not even be called “tobacco money.”
At the last four fires alone the firemen put in over 300 working hours, and yet when an appeal is made for money to buy important equipment and erect a station worthy of the town, we are politely told that we are paid for what we do, and that the insurance companies keep the brigade.
This brigade is allowed £22 per year to pay the men, all repairs and minor supplies, and except for the same few supporters we get nothing. Such is the public spirit as is shown in Frankston. Whereas if every ratepayer in Frankston and district paid 2/6 per year for three years, I doubt if we would need to appeal for any more funds. Trusting that I have not taken up too much of your valuable space.
Yours, etc.,
R. COXALL, Secretary, Frankston Fire Brigade.
***
From the Pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 12 February 1926
Longevity & Wellbeing
Author, podcaster and longevity expert Marcus Pearce has spent the past decade researching the world’s centenarians and graceful agers in the European Blue Zones of Sardinia and Ikaria. No matter your family history or your genes, he believes that your best years are in front of you, not behind you.
Friday, 27 February 2026, 10:00 AM
Martha Cove Village, 101 Pickings Road, Safety Beach
Registration is essential. Limited spaces available
RSVP to Andrea Gordon, Mobile: 0458 603 047 or Email: agordon3@boltonclarke.com.au
VILLAGE
Host of the podcast 100 Not Out
PUZZLE ZONE
Drool
Used oars
Cleanliness 8. Australian native canine
Arrived (of day)
Critical study
Learners 17. Tooth coating
18. Renter 21. Modified 22. Charter 23. Enlarged (pupils)
1. Wickedly enjoyable
Farther than
Rams’ mates
Riverside plant
Observer
Extinct bird
Stunned
Momentary misjudgment 13. Carved artistically
Type of spice 16. Photographer’s tool
Drag with effort 19. Evaluate
Female servant
See page 19 for solutions.
Scoreboard
Pines put Sharks to the sword, Somerville continue season dominance
By Kennedy McCullough
PROVINCIAL
RED Hill set Heatherhill a massive target of 271 on the opening day of their two-day clash at home. Heatherhill have struggled all year and have only had one win for the 2025-26 season. Red Hill on the other hand are sitting at a comfortable second on the ladder.
Openers Luke Robertson and Joe Smith-Butler scored 51 and 47 respectively, but batsman Simon Dart was Red Hill’s best, scoring 83 off 138 balls.
Captain Adeel Hussain and Tyler Neal were the best bowlers for Heatherhill, taking four wickets each.
Mornington and Langwarrin sit third and fourth on the ladder with six wins each, so a close game was expected. Langwarrin batted out their 80 overs, finishing at 9/170. After both openers were out for three runs each, things looked grim, but the middle order steadied. Vice captain Taylor Smith took control of the game, scoring 63 not out.
Dromana were bowled out for 149 in the first day of their two day game against Baden Powell. There were no stand out batters for Dromana, the highest score for the day belonging to Freddie Lower at 25. Rhys Elmi achieved the impressive bowling figures of 5/49.
Sorrento struggled in their clash against top team Pines.
The home side were bowled out in the 53rd over for just 129.
Dimitri Mascarenhas was the highest scorer of the innings with a score of 30.
Pines then went in for a bat and by the end of the day were 3/57.
PENINSULA
SOMERVILLE continued their dominance of the 2025-26 season, batting out their 80 overs and ending up with 7/288 in their two day clash against Mt Eliza.
Jack Barbour scored 56 for the Eagles, but captain Chris Brittain’s 91 was the best of the innings.
Tom Vaughan managed four wickets for Mount Eliza.
Balnarring also set a high target for Long Island in the first day of their two day clash, managing 7/276 off their 80 overs.
Captain Luke Hewitt was the highest scorer for Balnarring with 85, but Xavier Warmbrunn was not far behind with 72.
Moorooduc took on Old Peninsula at Moorooduc Recreation Reserve and were all out after 77 overs for 207.
Liam Walsh was the top scorer with 64, with Nick Williams getting 42 and Raymond Curry with 41.
Seaford were bowled out in their last over at home against Rosebud, managing a score of 218.
The stand out player for Seaford was Dil Pageni, who achieved a score of 85 off 112 balls, before being bowled by Rosebud’s captain Patrick Nagel.
DISTRICT
CRIB Point didn’t let their home ground advantage go to waste, achieving a handy score of 6/297.
Brayden Gleeson was the star of Crib Point’s innings, with an impressive 117 not out. Spencer Wilton (61) and Waide Symes (52 not out) also put up commendable scores.
Rye and Carrum Downs met at Rye for a top of the table clash, with Rye only managing a score of 185 before
running out of batters in the 76th over.
Waligama Palleguruge was the top scorer for the Demons with 46 runs and captain Adam Ciavarella managed a hard-fought 32 off 112 balls.
Ryan Lynch was the best of the bowlers for Carrum Downs with a score of 4/16.
Carrum set lowly Flinders a huge target for next week, scoring 9/291.
Opener Jake D’Atri fell just short of a century, caught out for 97. Liam Hulett also performed well with a score of 66.
Boneo didn’t manage to bat their full 80 overs, being all out for 227 after 76 overs.
Christopher Jobling got 80 runs off 189 balls and Cameron Williams managed a tail end flurry with 41 runs off just 30 balls.
Seaford Tigers went into bat, facing three overs for the day and Christopher Jobling continued his good streak, managing to bowl out Karanbir Singh for just four runs, leaving the visitors 1/5 at stumps.
SUB DISTRICT
BAXTER won the toss and elected to bowl in their two-day game against Pearcedale. The decision proved to be a good one, with Pearcedale being bowled out for 75 runs in the 36th over.
Only one player, Shahvaiz Zeb, made double figured, with 34 runs off 38 balls.
Baxter then took to the crease and clinched the victory, running up 258 runs for the loss of just two wickets.
Captain Mark Cooper managed 128 runs off 129 balls in the rout.
Skye were at home for their clash against Frankston YCW, and batted their full 80 overs, ending up at 6/270.
All batsmen that went out to the crease got into double figures, with Andrew Johnson and Daniel Polson both managing 61 runs each.
Ballam Park won the toss and elected to bat in their clash against Delacombe Park. It proved to be a poor decision with the visitors all out in the 30th over for 93 runs.
Delacombe Park’s opening batsman Jonny Guthrie managed to match Ballam Park’s total score on his own with 93 not out. Fellow opener Lucas Christides provided strong support with an innings of 42.
Mt Martha won the toss and sent Tootgarook in to bat in their two-day clash at Ferrero Reserve. Tootgarook struggled with the bat, with three batsmen scoring single runs and two ducks in the innings. Joshua Phillips was the only bright light for Tootgarook with 38 runs off 47 balls.
Steven Lindsay was the best of Mt Martha’s bowlers with 5/24.
In response, Mt Martha took to the crease and at stumps were 4/77.
Travis French managed 40 and Duncan Brown is 19 not out.
WOMENS DIV ONE
MT Martha won the toss and elected to send Somerville in to bat in their one-day clash at Somerville Reserve.
Julie Fearns top scored for Somerville with 31 runs.
Billie Raymond held the ground well for Mt Martha, managing to get 4/12.
Mt Martha then took to the crease and easily defeated Somerville in the 15th over for the loss of just two wickets, ending on a score of 2/87.
Angela Dunn was best for Mt Martha, with the opener getting a score of 41 not out, with her fellow opener
Katherine Laemmle scoring 20 runs.
Tooradin won the toss and elected to bat first in their clash against Crib Point.
Aimee Mellford managed to get 41 runs off 38 balls not out, coming out as the highest scorer for Tooradin, followed closely by openers Julie Donahoe (35 runs) and Maeve Goldberg (31 runs).
Tooradin ended up with a score of 4/144 after their 30 overs were completed.
Crib Point’s highest score was made by Laura Herrington, who managed 17 runs.
Tooradin’s captain Stephanie Gonsalvez dominated the bowling in the innings, scoring 5/17, and solidifying the win for Tooradin.
Balnarring begun the game by batting against Tyabb, ending up with an outstanding score of 1/250.
Opener Jemma Reynolds got the highest score of the game, with a final score of 100 runs off 74 balls retired.
After their 30 overs, Tyabb came in to bat, with no scores in the double digits occurring.
Tyabb finished with a score of 10/59, giving Balnarring a good win.
Mt Eliza won the toss and gave Rye/ Boneo the chance to bat first, beginning a very close game which resulted in Rye/Boneo winning with a score of 5/170.
Rye/Boneo’s top scorer was Ella Hilton, who scored 59 runs off 47 balls. Stella Appleford was also managed 30 runs not out.
Mt Eliza came in to bat next, with opener Char Palmer achieving the highest score of the game with 72 runs.
LANGWARRIN won the toss and had a very slow start and were 8/94 against Mornington, before Taylor Smith helped them to a respectable 9/170 with 63 not out from 160 balls. Picture: Paul Churcher
Scoreboard
‘Murph’ moves, Skelly upbeat
SOCCER
By Craig MacKenzie
ALANA Murphy’s switch to Nottingham Forest and the start of the VPL1 season are under the spotlight this week.
Murphy, 20, is a Langwarrin prodigy who joined the English WSL2 side last week from SC Sand in Germany’s Bundesliga 2.
Forest wasted no time in cinching the deal.
“They reached out to my agent in search of a centre midfielder and when he sent through my profile they seemed to like what they saw and straight away they made an offer,” Murphy said.
Nottingham Forest head coach Carly Davies couldn’t hide her enthusiasm over Murphy’s capture.
“Alana is an incredible talent and we are over the moon to have her on board and part of this team,” Davies said.
“She adds a new dynamic to our midfield with her experience playing in Australia, Germany and on the international stage with the Matildas.
“She is a great character for this group and one we are sure will excite the Forest fans at the City Ground.”
Murphy played a full game on Sunday as midtable Forest lost 2-0 to league leader Charlton Athletic.
In Germany she had been playing as a defensive midfielder but looks likely to play a more forward role at Forest.
“I think I will be playing more of an 8 type of role, slightly higher up than my usual 6 position but I’m excited to use my creativity closer to goal,” she said.
Murphy’s transfer continues the upward trajectory of her career.
“I think being at Forest is going to provide a better platform for me to continue to build my game and hopefully reap the rewards of my hard work.
“SC Sand is a very communitybased club and at this point in my career I was after a more professional environment built for athletes to thrive.
“Having said that I’m grateful for the learning experience and the connections I made (in Germany) and I wish them all the best for the future.”
While Murphy aims to make a positive impact at Forest the club that introduced her to the sport – Langwarrin – aims to get its VPL1 season off to a flyer on Saturday when it takes on North Sunshine Eagles at Lawton Park at 7pm.
The under-20 match kicks off at
2.15pm and the under-23s at 4.30pm.
Langy gaffer Jamie Skelly and assistant Adam Poole have been to a number of North Sunshine games during pre-season and for the past fortnight training has focussed on this round one clash.
“We’ve got a pretty good understanding of how they are going to play,” Skelly said.
“Hopefully we can put things in place that counter their strengths and be able to capitalise on our strengths.
“Things are so much easier if you get off to a good start as it breeds confidence within the group and within the club especially as we have the first three games at home then the next five away.”
Langwarrin’s off-season recruitment has focussed on attack and Skelly is pleased with the outcome.
“We’re as good as we ever have been across all three facets of the game,” he said.
“Defensively we’re strong, in midfield we’ve got some good strength and creativity and we’ve bolstered our attack by bringing in Alun Webb, Sayed Fatemi, Alex Kubenko and Zac Bates when he’s fit.
“We’ve brought in players who are proven goalscorers in that attacking third.”
Bates (fractured fibula and ankle), Luke Goulding (bone bruising in his knee) and Tom Youngs (suspended) are the only players expected to be unavailable for selection on Saturday.
Sudoku and crossword solutions
“We’ve got goals within our group about where we see ourselves and obviously we want to finish as high up as possible.
“The ultimate aim is to be at that elite NPL level but it’s also important to continue to be a viable VPL1 club which puts us in a good position to attract players and to be able to keep our youngsters coming through and have opportunities in that senior environment.”
VPL1 clubs have until 5pm on Tuesday this week to finalise their squads but Langy wrapped up its transfer business on Sunday with news that it had reached a loan agreement with Oakleigh Cannons for midfielder Noah Holmes.
Here is the Langwarrin squad featuring seven new signings with their previous club in brackets:
GOALKEEPERS: James Burgess, Branten Kindler. DEFENDERS: Ben Mason (Dandenong City), Aryan Bhatia (South Melbourne), Dylan Street (promoted from 23s), Charlie Fry, Lucas Portelli, Luke Adams, Jeremy Min Fa, Luke Goulding. MIDFIELDERS: Lochy Scott (promoted from 23s), Rogan McGeorge, Ryo Takahashi, Kosta Apostolopoulos, Tosan Popo, Joe Tweats, Callum Goulding, Noah Holmes (Oakleigh). FORWARDS: Alun Webb (Northcote City), Zac Bates (Northcote City), Alex Kubenko (Nunawading City), Sayed Fatemi (Malvern City), Marco Papettas (promoted from 23s),
(promoted from 23s),
In State 5 news last weekend Seaford United won the Konqa Cup hosted by Pakenham United.
Seaford reached the final with a 1-0 win over Pakenham, a 1-0 loss to Sandown Lions and a 4-2 win over Chelsea (a lot of its senior players were at James Stinson’s wedding).
Seaford beat Sandown 3-0 in the final with goals from Zain Ahmad (2) and Mitchell Lander.
Ahmad was the tournament’s top scorer while Lander was named player of the tournament.
Meanwhile Football Victoria is deciding whether or not to implement a temporary dismissal (sin bin) rule.
Basically it involves a player being sin-binned for 10 minutes “in the event that a Match Official determines that a Player has used words or gestures that question or undermine a Match Official’s decision.”
This temporary dismissal will be considered a yellow card so two temporary dismissals result in a player being sent off.
Last week the federation floated the idea but don’t panic as FV assures us that clubs will be given notice should it be implemented.
Here are the results of some friendlies played last week and last weekend:
Chelsea 0 Noble Park Utd 4, Springvale White Eagles 0 Morn-
Peninsula Strikers v Skye Utd, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm Here is the first preliminary round of the Dockerty Cup (which doubles as the Australia Cup). Please note that Seaford’s away fixture has been revised and the local side will play at home:
AUSTRALIA CUP
Saturday 14 February
Frankston Pines v Old Trinity Grammarians, Monterey Reserve, 6pm
Chelsea v Monbulk Rangers, Edithvale Recreation Reserve, 3pm Somerville Eagles v Wyndham, Westernport Secondary College, 3pm Newport Storm v Rosebud, AW Bond Reserve, 12 noon Croydon Ranges v Seaford Utd, North Seaford Reserve, 4pm Baxter v Bacchus Marsh, Baxter Park, 3pm Mount Martha v King’s Domain, Civic Reserve, 4pm
Sunday 15 February
Westside Strikers v Mount Eliza, Brookside Recreation Reserve, 3pm
Jed Hagenaars
Brad Blumenthal, Tom Youngs, Mark Deacon.
In the news: New Nottingham Forest midfielder Alana Murphy (left) and Langwarrin head coach Jamie Skelly. Pictures: supplied and Darryl Kennedy
