Olivers Hill, Frankston’s beaches and Port Phillip have long inspired Billy Nye.
Peninsula strikes gold Sister Cities art comes from the heart at tourism awards Artist Belinda ‘Billy’ Nye is sharing her love of Frankston with the world. Billy’s stunning hand-painted linocut prints capturing Olivers Hill and the bay – commissioned by Frankston City Council – will be sent to Sister Cities including Suva in Fiji, Wuxi in China and Susono in Japan as part of an arts exchange. “Frankston is the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula and Olivers Hill is the welcome party,” Billy says. “It’s always spectacular.” Billy grew up in Frankston and went to Overport Primary School, Frankston High School and Frankston Chisholm Institute. Her parents owned a house on Olivers Hill and the view of Frankston was spectacular. “My childhood memories are of riding my bike down Foot St hill to the Frankston Pier, surfing culture, and Frankston Bayside shopping centre. My parents owned two petrol stations in Frankston and they knew everyone in the community. “I was a Frankston Rotary exchange student and travelled to the United States at 16 years of age. I eventually moved away from Frankston and lived a good portion of my life in London and New York. When I returned to Melbourne with my family, I moved back into the area and now live in Mornington. I went back to Chisholm to
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complete my Diploma of Visual Arts and then graduated from university with a BA in Fine Art and Visual Culture. “My artistic journey has been a full circle for me. I had to come home to Australia for artistic inspiration. Since coming home I have never been short of creative inspiration.” Well-travelled, Billy has been to Monte Carlo and Paris, and she lived in the Hamptons for a decade. But nothing has ever inspired her as much as Olivers Hill, Frankston’s beaches and Port Phillip. “That's why I make my art of the area. I just love it and I hope that this shows through in my artwork. I work in many mediums – painting, drawing, digital artwork and printmaking – but the subject matter remains the same.” Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy said the council was proud to support the arts, adding: “Billy’s passion for Frankston overflows in her artworks – it’s wonderful that other members of the Frankston City ‘family’ living in our Sister Cities can experience Frankston’s beauty and charm thanks to Billy’s remarkable talent.” For more about Frankston’s Sister Cities, visit www.frankston.vic.gov.au/YourCouncil/Sister-Cities, and to see more of Billy’s art, check out www.belindanye.com
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The Mornington Peninsula has cemented its standing as one of the state’s premium tourist destinations after a stunning night of accolades at the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards. Four businesses won gold awards for taking out their respective categories: Green Olive at Red Hill (Excellence in Food Tourism), Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (Ecotourism), Carmel at Sorrento (5 Star Luxury Accommodation), and Searoad Ferries (Major Tour and Transport Operators). They will join the other category winners at the Australian Tourism Awards on Friday, March 18, on the Sunshine Coast. Meanwhile, Red Hill Candle Co founder Ebony Flett won the Young Achievers Award, and Moonlit Sanctuary was inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame. Peninsula businesses were also showered with silver and bronze awards: Red Hill Candle Co (bronze, New Tourism Business); Pt. Leo Estate (silver, Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services); Hawkes Farm (silver, Excellence in Food Tourism); Grape Explorations Australia (silver, Tour and Transport Operators); and Mornington Boat Hire (bronze, Adventure Tourism). Other Peninsula finalists included Hop It, JimmyRum and Peninsula Hot Springs. The Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Board won silver in the Tourism Marketing and Campaigns category for its 2021 Hello Again campaign. Board CEO Angela Cleland said: “To have the Mornington Peninsula recognised so significantly on this statewide scale is truly remarkable. We are so proud of all the entrants, finalists and winners and cannot wait to continue promoting our region as a leading tourism destination. While these past two years have presented undeniable challenges, we look forward to a year of new opportunity, adventure and ongoing success.” The awards were held last month at the Melbourne Town Hall, having been postponed from November as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. They acknowledge excellence, innovation, industry professionalism and collaboration in the tourism industry; highlight Victorian tourism products and services; and place significant focus on the strengthening and deepening of industry relationships, creating a space to unite as well as share stories, knowledge and successes with one another. mornington PENINSULA
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