Peninsula Essence February 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

FREE

PENINSULA Living & visiting on the Mornington Peninsula

Renaissance Man • I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues • Taking Dating Into Their Own Hands Reaching New Heights • Blasko Peninsula Bound • Dojo Of Champions • Collectively Cool Born An Artist • Modern Conservationist • Sophisticated And Chilled • The Art of Picnicking Changing Lives One Dish At A Time • Putting The Real into Real Estate • Barragunda and Cape Schanck

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contents 7. Events 11. Renaissance Man

Paul Mercurio is a master of reinvention with a surprising breadth of talent. He’s enjoyed many professional incarnations, but what makes it all the more interesting is that he’s achieved his successes in two completely different fields.

14. I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues

Growing up in Sorrento surrounded by music, Patrick Elliget was destined to do something important for the art that he admires so much. An anesthetic technician by day, the peninsula local put his love of the blues, in particular, out there in 2014 when he created the Mornington Peninsula Blues Sessions.

Writers: Melissa Walsh, Brodie Cowburn, Andrea Louise Thomas, Cameron McCullough, Peter McCullough, Jay McCarthy-Rivero Photography: Yanni, Gary Sissons Publisher: Cameron McCullough Advertising: Brooke Hughes, 0409 219 282 or brooke@mpnews.com.au Marg Harrison, 0414 773 153 or marg@mpnews.com.au General enquiries: essence@mpnews.com.au Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931 Phone: 5973 6424 www.peninsulaessence.com.au

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All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor.

Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Peninsula Essence is produced monthly. 30,000 copies (mix of home delivery and bulk dropped at an extensive network of outlets across the peninsula).

18. Taking Dating Into Their Own Hands

Three women on the Mornington Peninsula decided to take dating matters into their own hands after being disheartened by the singles scene, and created their own dating sites. Peninsula Essence Magazine talks to the creators behind ‘Peninsula Singles’ and ‘Dine, Date, Love’ about their journey into the hearts of peninsula locals.

22. Reaching New Heights

Growing up on the Mornington Peninsula, Brian Randall was able to combine his two passions, the beach and photography. Now, after 20 years in the industry, the professional photographer continues to kick goals and create even more beautiful pieces of art with his aerial photography, some of which were exhibited in the recent Mornington Peninsula Art Show.

30. Blasko Peninsula Bound

Off the back of a sell-out event in 2018, The Peninsula Picnic returns on Saturday March 30, 2019 with an unprecedented line-up of Australian music acts, including the one and only Sarah Blasko.

36. Dojo Of Champions

It takes a certain kind of magic to teach. It’s a mixture of dedication, patience, discipline and respect with a dash of humour. When skills take years to perfect, keeping students motivated is all the more impressive, but sports karate Sensei Peter Hollowood does it with easy because he loves what he does and it shows.

50. Collectively Cool

Bern Cooper and Micah Mills are a cool couple, with a chilled vibe and a love of the arts that has spanned over two decades. They've created Southern Buoy Studios last year to support the artistic community on the Mornington Peninsula.

54. Born An Artist

Philippe de Kraan leaves no stone unturned in our interview, speaking on a variety of topics.

60. Modern Conservationist

Siri Hayes grew up with parents who were environmental activists for Western Port in the 1970’s. These days, Hayes creates art work that incorporates both washedup natural detritus and rubbish as well as work that comments on the impact of human activity on nature, which is part of the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery exhibition ‘In the Valley’.

66. Sophisticated And Chilled

He might be only 28 but Leo Howard is a chef to be reckoned with, these days running the busy kitchen at Barmah Park Winery.

74. Changing Lives One Dish At A Time

Marlene Hoff is a chef, hospitality trainer, and advocate of peninsula produce and the practice of using local, sustainable and ethical food and wine. More so this passionate foodie is out to change the world one dish at a time.

78. The Art of Picnicking

Whether it’s a get together with friends, a family outing or romantic date, there is nothing like a picnic. Here on the Mornington Peninsula we have a large variety of wonderful picnic locations for you to try out

Cover Photo

85. Putting The Real into Real Estate

Picture: Yanni

Proudly published by

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Geoffrey Crowder, at 78, still works within the business at the Carrum Downs branch of Nichols Crowder.

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February 2019

92. Barragunda and Cape Schanck

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Peninsula events

February

2019

THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA BLUES FESTIVAL

BEAN THERE DUG THAT

LOVE IN THE DETAIL

THE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL

ROCK THE BOAT

SONGS AND TIMES OF SAM COOKE

February 9 Mornington Peninsula Blues Festival will be a high level live Blues music event featuring some of Australia's leading Rock and Blues musicians at the Mornington Racecourse .

A world class Blue Event featuring 8 acts over 9 hours including Australian rock Legend Ross Wilson and leading Australian Blues Artists including Phil Manning,Chris Finnen,Lloyd Spiegel and more Mornington Racecourse Racecourse Road, Mornington www.mornpenbluesfest.com

February 16 - 17 Frankston's most anticipated free summer festival is back!

This much-loved community event attracts residents and visitors to the sun-soaked beach at the Frankston Waterfront with two spectacular days of live music, beach and water sports, market stalls, delicious food, wine, cider and craft beer.

Pier Promenade, Frankston www.frankston.vic.gov.au/ Things_To_Do/Events/ Major_Events/The_Waterfront_ Festival

February 14 A passionate panel of exhibiting artists, Natasha Bieniek, Juan Ford, Chris Bond and Sam Jinks, will have an in-depth conversation with exhibition curator Danny Lacy. Find out more about their intricate artistic methods and why they adore creating hyper realistic works of art.

Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington Ph 5950 1580 www.mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

February 10 An introductory vegetable gardening class. Chloe Thomson been working in the horticultural media for over 10 years now and has grown vegetables in all sorts of gardens including balconies, share house gardens, raised beds and planter boxes, and she is keen to show you that you CAN grow at least some of the food you eat. You will cover aspects of what to grow, where to grow it and why to grow it.

100 Mile Foodie 24 Chesterfield Road, Somerville

February 16 Enjoy live music and an awesome DJ throughout the evening whilst sailing Port Phillip Bay from Sorrento to Queenscliff aboard Searoad Ferries. Start the night with a welcome drink and watch the sunset. Enjoy the continuous Canapes served throughout the evening.The main event is in the lounge area with plenty of seating and room to dance.

Searoad Ferries Sorrento Pier, Esplanade Ph 5257 4500 www.searoad.com.au

February 23 Sinclair Artists presents Songs & Times of Sam Cooke, featuring Australian soul singer Gary Pinto and the Champions of Soul. The performance tells the story of Cooke's rise to fame and his untimely death through his legendary songs. The must see show features his many hits, including You Send Me, A Change Is Gonna Come, Cupid and Wonderful World to name a few Frankston Arts Centre, 27-37 Davey Street, Frankston Ph 9784 1060

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• Invite your family and friends.

• Great Social Functions through the year.

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Mornington Yacht Club Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington VIC 3931 Phone: (03) 5975 7001 www.morningtonyc.net.au 1094 February 2019

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Candy Nelson Nakamarra’s Kalipinypa - one of the brilliant colour works featuring in the opening exhibitionColours of My Country at Everywhen Artspace, in Flinders.

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February 2019

RENAISSANCE

Man

By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Daryl Layne & Yanni

P

aul Mercurio is a master of reinvention with a surprising breadth of talent. He’s enjoyed many professional incarnations, but what makes it all the more interesting is that he’s achieved his successes in two completely different fields.

He continues to expand and refine his skills approaching every pursuit with equal measures of passion and professionalism.

Add to that an unquenchable drive, keen curiosity and easy warmth and it’s no wonder he has been so successful.

Mercurio is probably best known for his starring role as Scott Hastings in Baz Lurhmann’s timeless feel good feature film, Strictly Ballroom. In fact, 26 years on, he still gets fan mail. But before the film, he already had a distinguished career as principal dancer for the Sydney Dance Company as well as choreographing a number of its works. He later formed his own dance company, the Australian Choreographic Ensemble where he worked as director, choreographer and dancer. continued next page...

February 2019

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I’m wanting to nourish them physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually and that’s what’s important

Across his performing career he worked extensively in film and television becoming a star in Australia, Hollywood and internationally. So it’s not surprising that people remember him as a great dancer, actor or as a judge on Dancing with the Stars.

What might surprise people is the diversity of Mercurio’s talents. He shifted from a career in show business to a completely different career in cooking.

He’s authored three cookbooks. His first book, Mercurio’s Menu, became a bestseller in 2009. It was based on recipes from Series One and Two of the television program, Mercurio’s Menu, where once again, he was in the television spotlight. Over the intervening years, he’s starred in 52 episodes of that show, as well as 10 episodes of the Food Trail and 10 episodes of New Zealand on a Plate. His true passion lies in the subject of the second cookbook, Cooking with Beer, which was voted one of the best beer books in the world at the 2012 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. He’s been brewing his own beer for 30 years.

Mercurio doesn’t view beer as a beverage; he sees it as a food. In Germany, beer is actually classed as a food because the process of making beer involves cooking. It’s a creative enterprise. Each beer has its own story. So he thought that if beer is a food, why not use it as an ingredient in cooking? As wine pairing has always been considered an important part of fine dining, beer pairing is now gaining the same reputation.

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Flavour is at the forefront of his latest ventures.

In 2017, he released his own line of personally handcrafted beer-based condiments called Beerlicious. The Kickass Hot Beer Mustard features Mornington Pale Ale. The Spicy Beetroot Chutney contains Coopers Best Extra Stout. He’s also produced a line of four delicious rubs (a rub is essentially a spice mix used to flavour meat, seafood, cheese or vegetables). You can’t miss his products on the shelf of your local IGA or butcher shop with their quirky and colourful striped labels featuring humourous characters on the condiments and cartoons on the rubs. You won’t see that on any other product!

He’s now taken his love of cooking in a new direction – teaching.

He’s teamed up with Phil the Butcher at Somerville Village Meats where the two are hosting Meat Masterclass. In it, participants actually learn the art of butchery, what cut is suited to which dish and how important the cut is to achieving a great result. Each class member gets to take home the meat they have cooked whether it is bacon, sausages, kabana or Christmas ham. Next up he’ll be teaching how to make woodfired pizzas.

At the heart of all his professional pursuits is a love of storytelling.

“Everything in my performance career was about taking people on a journey, telling them a story, entertaining them and most importantly nurturing them on some level – whether as a choreographer, an actor, a dancer or a cook, I’m wanting to nourish them physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually and that’s what’s important,” Mercurio says.

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February 2019

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I GUESS THAT'S WHY

They call it the Blues

By Melissa Walsh

G

rowing up in Sorrento surrounded by music, Patrick Elliget was destined to do something important for the art that he admires so much. An anaesthetic technician by day, the peninsula local put his love of the blues, in particular, out there in 2014 when he created the Mornington Peninsula Blues Sessions - a series of live boutique blues events showcasing some of this country's leading exponents of the blues in an intimate theatrelike environment of the Peninsula Community Theatre in Mornington. Now the go getter has ramped it up a notch, creating the first ever Peninsula Blues Festival, held this February 9 at the Mornington Racecourse.

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“I grew up in a musical family; my parents were Walter and Mary; dad was a jazz musician playing trumpet and piano, and the church organist playing the organ at the Sorrento church for years. Mum and dad had ten kids and dad was a hard working plumber. My brothers and I even had our own family jazz band and I was the drummer. Our house was always alive with music,” said Patrick, who has continued the family traditions with his two grown up daughters who are both musically inclined. “Cassie sings in a Brazilian jazz band, while Kate is also very into her singing and dancing.”

Always having to drive to the city or other regional areas to see his favourite musical genre was the catalyst for starting the blues sessions and now the blues festival. continued next page...

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“I had always gone to places like Echuca to see festivals and sought out blues singers and bands in the Melbourne C.B.D as well. I just love my blues and decided we needed something like it on the peninsula,” said Patrick. “Once the blues gets into your soul, you’re hooked. It’s a little bit about the human struggles we all have to go through. I love the complexity of the genre as there’s a lot of different styles of blues.

It branches into jazz as well; I call blues and jazz kissing cousins.”

Over the last four years, twice yearly, the sold out sessions have been graced by some of Australia's finest Blues musicians including Phil Manning, Matt Taylor, Geoff Achison, Chris Finnen, Lloyd Spiegel, Jimi Hocking, Fiona Boyes and Chris Wilson, to name just a few.

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February 2019

“I wanted to mix it up a bit as the blues has a whole range of genres and styles. We have Australian Rock Legends Ross Wilson and Phil Manning and some of Australia's finest blues musicians including Geoff Achison, Chris Finnen and Lloyd Spiegel,” said Patrick.

“Peninsula music-lovers will be able to enjoy food and refreshments courtesy of the Mornington Racing Club providers while they listen to eight high-class blues acts, and there will be various market stalls and displays in a celebration of what the peninsula has to offer. Buses from Melbourne On The Move will be running to and from the festival, with pick-ups from Melbourne, Brighton, Mordialloc, Frankston, Blairgowrie, Dromana, Rosebud and Sorrento, so your transport options are sorted and you can relax and enjoy a day filled with sensational blues.”

I wanted to mix it up a bit as the blues has a whole range of genres and styles

“After much critical acclaim and establishing a loyal following 'The Sessions' will continue in mid-2019, however we are taking it to a whole new level with the first blues festival on the peninsula,” said Patrick, who is excited to bring the myriad stars here so more people can experience and enjoy world class blues music.

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“The Mornington Peninsula Blues Festival will be a high-end, world class event featuring some of Australia's finest Rock and Blues music artists in a celebration of live music and everything the fabulous Mornington Peninsula has to offer,” said Patrick, who has chosen an eclectic mix of musicians to grace the Mornington Racecourse stage.

www.mornpenbluesfest.com

www.peninsulasingles.com.au

THEY'RE TAKING DATING....

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons

W

ith Valentine’s Day falling this month, our attention turns to romance but it’s not all roses and chocolates as finding the love of your life can be a tricky business. We’ve all heard of, and perhaps had, online dating disasters, yet is seems that 4.5 million Australians are still using online dating each year regardless of the horror stories. Three women on the Mornington Peninsula decided to take dating matters into their own hands after being disheartened by the singles scene, and created their own dating sites. Peninsula Essence Magazine talks to the creators behind ‘Peninsula Singles’ and ‘Dine, Date, Love’ about their journey into the hearts of peninsula locals.

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February 2019

Marnie and Hayley are two strong, independent women. Marnie runs her own business and Hayley is studying at university but, like so many others, they have found it difficult to find a relationship.

And so began Peninsula Singles.

“We were sick of swiping left or right, of being sent nude photos and of the unsociable nature of online dating. You might be talking to a guy but it’s highly likely he’s talking to 12 other women as well,” said Marnie. “It’s just so demoralising, so we got together and decided to create a dating site ourselves.”

In a short time, Peninsula Singles was born, which took off in September last year with their first mixer at God’s Kitchen in Mornington.

www.dinedatelove.com.au

into their own hands “We immediately had a great response from our promotion on Facebook and Instagram. Our first mixer had 80 people,” said Marnie who has been single for about three years.

The way Peninsula Singles works is this: all of the information is on Facebook or Instagram, you can subscribe and get notifications of mixers, then pay a fee of $39 to attend.

“These days you are swiping right and literally sleeping with someone to work out if you want to date them. It should be the other way round. I think we need to go back to organically meeting people, to getting to know them and going out on dates. When we first found our husbands it was in an age when you got to know someone first but these days it is so different,” said Marnie who is 35. “To be honest, dating in your thirties kind of sucks. You might be seeing someone only to find out you are one of four, or you get the guys who want to be instant dads and move in straight away. We found there was nothing for peninsula singles down this way so we decided to start it up ourselves.”

“Our first event last year was a sell out. The entry price includes a free drink, canapes and mixer for purely single people. We try to ensure the ratio of men to women is even,” said Marnie of the dating service that is primarily for 30 plus. “It was amazing. There was no one left sitting on their own. Everyone mingled and had a great time.

There were even a few dates that came out of it.”

The girls specifically geared the event to be on a Wednesday night with a set time schedule. continued next page...

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“We are trying to avoid the pub mentality. It runs from 6.30 till 9.30 and the mid-week event is definitely more successful as people know what they’re there for. We did run one Friday night mixer but felt it was more suited to a Wednesday. Then people have their weekends free to date someone they might have met,” they said with a laugh.

dinners and know that the recipe is ideal with good conversation, good people, and nice food. There are always four men and four women and the idea is to put yourself out there to meet new people.

If a date comes out of it, that is a bonus.”

One relationship has been thriving since the first mixer which the girls are thrilled about.

“Straight away I had people signing up for dinners and have been running regular Saturday night dinners ever since,” she said of the dinner club that has been running for nearly two years.

“We are watching a couple at the moment who have been seeing each other ever since,” said Hayley, who herself has been single for a few years. “I personally have never used online dating but heard some awful stories from friends. I am more of a fan of the old fashioned way and meeting someone organically. Essentially with Peninsula Singles we are trying to bring it back to old school. Actually talk to someone, find out about them, and ask them on a date.”

Marnie and Hayley both believe that chivalry is not dead and the singles mixers have proven that.

“We are seeing men here that are old school in their approach to women. They are looking to get to know someone and chat to them, and are even quite nervous about putting themselves out there,” the girls said. “Both men and women have been excited about what we are offering and we look forward to holding other mixers and events.

We are thinking of doing winery and beer tours as well as our singles mixers. It’s the perfect way to meet people without interrupting your weekend plans.”

For Mt Eliza woman, Amanda, it was a similar tale. After being married for many years, the forty something mother realised the dating scene was a whole new world. She tried online dating to no avail. Then one day her own mum suggested dinner club dates but there was nothing on the peninsula.

“I had been by myself for several years and had raised a family. I tried the internet dating and it was quite brutal,” said Amanda. “I am a member of the Mt Eliza Bowling Club and realised there are a lot of older people who are quite lonely, they said to me Saturday night was the hardest. I have found a partner now but still decided to go ahead so others might have the chance at love. I purely facilitate

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When Amanda started Dine Date Love the positive response was immediate.

“I choose my restaurants carefully. I speak to the owner and they know to show the guests to the table as they will not know anyone.

The feedback has been absolutely fabulous. People always have a great night and sometimes good friendships come out of it. Being in a group is safe rather than going on a blind date and being critiqued.

The dinners start at 7pm and then it is up to the groups how late they stay.”

Amanda has a successful couple already who have been dating for 13 months now, and several others that have gone on independent dates.

“I would say the main age demographic for Dine Date Love is 50s to 70s. You are never too old to find love or put yourself out there. I have a man who has just joined who is 65 and he said all his friends are together and he wants to meet someone to travel with.”

Fact is if you are a bit older you don’t tend to hang out at bars and clubs so meeting someone is very difficult.

“I think of it as a dinner club and the dating aspect will take care of itself if it’s meant to be. I am focused on the peninsula at the moment but would like to expand to different areas. I do enjoy it, particularly when I get nice feedback. When I started thinking about doing my dinner club I checked out how they work but it is a very simple philosophy of getting people together, let them enjoy their time with no pressure.”

For Peninsula Singles, go to www.peninsulasingles.com.au For Dine Date Love, go to www.dinedatelove.com.au

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REACHING NewHeights

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons & Brian Randall

G

rowing up on the Mornington Peninsula, Brian Randall was able to combine his two passions; the beach and photography. Now, after 20 years in the industry, the professional photographer continues to kick goals and create even more beautiful pieces of art with his aerial photography, some of which were exhibited in the recent Mornington Peninsula Art Show.

Alongside partner and fellow photographer, Louise, the couple creates incredible images of the peninsula

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February 2019

that display their joint passion for the beach and ocean.

“I definitely got the creative bug from my grandparents,” said Brian who is a multi-award winning photographer. “One of my grandmothers was into pottery; the other was an artist who focused on painting. They both lived with me so I guess I got the bug from them.”

With a talent that turns photography into art which is evident in all his work, Brian says for him it is about being able to capture different

elements of life, from nature and science to special moments in time with portraits and weddings.

Seeing something from an aerial view gives you a whole different perspective of the peninsula.

It is another way to see its beauty

“I was mostly self-taught but did a short course at TAFE on developing in the dark room with film in the old days. When digital took over I loved that medium as you could see your image straight away. These days we spend more time on the computer producing our images,” said Brian who has always managed to

adapt with the times. “I bought a drone four or five months ago and I love it. I loved being able to get a different point of view of the peninsula. It’s like a birds eye view; you see all these birds flying round and get an idea of what they are seeing. Seeing something from an aerial view gives you a whole different perspective of the peninsula. It is another way to see its beauty.”

The ability to push the boundaries in his photography has always been continued next page...

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important, whether it’s with aerial photography, or simply his weddings, portraits, and commercial work, which are his bread and butter.

We have such incredible beaches right here in our very own backyard

“I have taken over 1000 photos already.

The Emerald Waters was taken over Seaford pier; it is like seeing something from a different perspective. Coast Track is at Black Rock. I’ve always been a professional photographer but this aerial photography is for the creative side. I have about 65 images from areas including Seaford, Black Rock, and a lot down Portsea way, Rye, Rosebud, Martha Cove, and Mornington While those shots are for my art, I am more than happy to do commercial aerial work as well.”

Definitely not a one trick pony, Brian has been recognized in the industry for his architectural and landscape photography.

“I was Victorian landscape photographer of the year for 2011, and the illustrative photographer of the year for buildings and architecture shots as well as a finalist last year for commercial photography.”

As a Master photographer with the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers and assistance from partner and photographer, Louise for the past ten years, the couple have become an unstoppable influence in the industry but it is all about their passion and love for the peninsula “We have such incredible beaches right here in our very own backyard. To capture beautiful clear water from the sky gives you a whole new perspective on what’s around us. The sea level changes

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all the time, whether the tide is in or out, the sand drifts in many different directions giving us a vast variety of shots,” said Brian.

This creative duo has now risen to new heights, selling their Aerial Artworks in several homeware stores including The New Cocoon, 310 New Street Brighton and A Room with a View, Dromana.

“Recently we had a client buy three large Art pieces from us including two framed Metal images. Metal can be a great choice if you have a very bright room as it eliminates a lot of reflection,” said Brian.

“I remember selling a framed image of an amazing sunset over the Mornington Harbour to a client. This image is above her bed and the client said to me “This puts a smile on my face as it will be the last thing I see before going to sleep”. It is really nice that clients get so much pleasure out of our images.”

Brian and Louise are happy to photograph any special location on a client’s request.

“We had photographed with our drone a couple on their colourful stand up paddle boards in the crystal clear waters of Safety Beach. It now hangs proudly in their living room.”

Brian and Louise can be contacted 0412072848 or info@brianrandall.com.au www.brianrandall.com.au

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The Mornington Peninsula brewing and distilling scene offers a range of choice from craft brews to cider made from apples grown in the hinterland and distilleries that handcraft gin, brandy, rum and whisky from secret recipes.

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There is nothing quite like the experience of visiting the place where the tipple or amber ale is distilled or brewed. Not to mention access to new limited edition batches made exclusively for tap house release.

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visitmp.org/BCStrail

Your guide to Mornington Peninsula aged care Village Glen Aged Care Residences provide residents and their family the peace of mind that there is support along this journey. Our team can answer all your questions about the aged care process as we know it can be complicated. You simply need to tell us what we can do to assist you.

The Village Glen difference extends into our offerings to our residents. While we have a beautiful facility with stunning bay views, we also offer residents in-house physiotherapy, a lifestyle program run by diversional therapists and of course a team of executive chefs creating tempting delights. Plus, there’s the security of having the highest level of nursing care including our memory support unit with a very special sensory garden.

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Your guide to retiring on the Mornington Peninsula What better spot is there to retire to than the Mornington Peninsula? It’s a bayside playground, with beautiful beaches, nature reserves, world-class wineries and golf courses, all just an hour away from Melbourne.

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With a host of premium facilities including heated indoor pool, spa, gymnasium, bowling greens, croquet rinks and a stunning golf course, your hardest decision will be what to do next. With the security of qualified nurses on-site 24/7 and a range of accommodation options to suit every budget, make your new year’s resolution a move to Village Glen.

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SARAH BLASKO

Peninsula bound

By Melissa Walsh

O

ff the back of a sell-out event in 2018, The Peninsula Picnic returns on Saturday March 30, 2019 with an unprecedented line-up of Australian music acts, including the one and only Sarah Blasko. continued next page...

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With a reputation for songs that strike with rare immediacy, clarity and purpose, Blasko is as honest and direct as ever about her music, her life and a career that spans two decades.

“I got into music when I was 16 as I thought this was what I wanted to do,” she said. “However it’s not one of those things you go into not thinking 'I definitely want to have a career in this', as it’s so competitive and hard to succeed.”

Succeed she has with numerous awards under her belt, as well as six albums of unparalleled, genre-defining indie-rock and art-pop.

Her most recent album, released last year, ‘Depth of Field’ is the first in Blasko’s storied career recorded entirely in her home-town of Sydney.

Much of the album was written and recorded during a two-week period as artist in residence at the Campbelltown Arts Centre, a cultural facility of Campbelltown City Council in south western Sydney.

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“I will be playing songs from all my albums including the most recent one, which was really inspired by my overall observation of how outward appearance and inner life are not necessarily the same.

The title comes from photography references and that things can look very different depending on the focus. It relates to my own life and I see it so often as people can change so much depending on their circumstances. It depends on how malleable they are,” said Blasko, who started writing poems and little stories when she was a child. “It’s funny. I didn’t really think anything would come out of my writing when I was younger.”

While this is the first time Blasko will perform on the Mornington Peninsula, she has spent some time here in the past visiting friends.

“I remember going on a hike down there once. It was beautiful and near a lighthouse,” said the born and bred Sydneysider.

“I will be playing a range of songs from all my albums, mainly newer songs but definitely old ones as well, and am looking forward to the event on the peninsula,” said Blasko who is humble about her success. “I guess you could say I am mildly successful. For me there was nothing else I felt as passionate about so I had to follow this path. Some people I see are struggling with finding a path, but I was always very single minded. You have to be very self-motivated and have inner drive to do this.”

Blasko was the subject of the ABC commissioned documentary BLASKO – which aired late in 2017 to critical acclaim. She has written music for film, television, theatre and ballet. She has performed with Symphony Orchestras, string quartets, electronic duos and more. She has graced our grandest theatres, our vast festival stages and most intimate theatres.

“There are several landmarks along the way; things I remember fondly as standouts. When I played at the Metro in Sydney and then the Opera House were incredible moments. My family and friends were there and they had been with me the whole journey, so they celebrated with me,” said Blasko who performed at the Opera House with an orchestra in tow.

“At the moment I am working on a commission at the National Gallery of Canberra, as well as working with my all female group, Seeker Lover Keeper, putting out our second album.”

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Blasko will play alongside a line-up of sensational indie rock legends, The Rubens, Tia Gostelow, Latin outfit San Lazaro, and up-and-coming folk artist Fraser A. Gordon, as music lovers will be wooed by the mix of indie sounds, folk rock and soulful tunes at the Peninsula Picnic.

Stepout in style in

The culinary line-up features regional greats and some new faces, including Jackalope’s Rare Hare, Montalto, Green Olive at Red Hill, Max’s Restaurant, Tuck’s Ridge and many more. Wines from T’Gallant, Prancing Horse, Quealy and Kerri Greens, beers from Wild Yak and PIMM’s cocktails will keep picnic lovers cool and satiated for a day of dancing and culinary delights.

A true celebration of local wine and food talent, The Peninsula Picnic seamlessly blends a foodie festival with cellar door tastings, a farmers’ market and the sweet sounds of some of Australia’s best songwriters.

The Peninsula Picnic is on Saturday March 30 at Mornington Racecourse. peninsulapicnic.com.au

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DOJO OF Champions

By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Gary Sissons

I

t takes a certain kind of magic to teach. It’s a mixture of dedication, patience, discipline and respect with a dash of humour. When skills take years to perfect, keeping students motivated is all the more impressive, but sports karate Sensei Peter Hollowood does it with easy confidence because he loves what he does and it shows. He’s mastered the art of motivation. His students work hard, but more importantly, they want to. There is a reason that Peter Hollowood Martial Arts is the Dojo of Champions. continued next page...

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The more I learn, the more I can teach my students

At 37, Hollowood came to karate late in the game. He’d played VAFA amateur football for many years as well as playing basketball, surfing and snowboarding. Sport has always been important to him. He chose karate because of its low impact compared to other sports. He progressed quickly reaching black belt in three years and seven months! He trained every day, twice a day. From his first competition, he was winning. He went on to achieve two National Championships and an Australian Open title.

He started teaching in Mornington in 2004 immediately establishing a winning reputation. “I think my willingness to evolve is the secret. Most instructors get bogged down in what they have learned. I’m always looking to the future, looking for an edge over other competitors. I’m quick to change methods if it benefits my teaching,” he says.

“The more I learn, the more I can teach my students,” Hollowood says. He’s not threatened by giving up his trade secrets. He’s quite continued next page...

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February 2019

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happy to share what he has found to be effective. In fact, he seeks out overseas instructors to share their knowledge in a collaborative exchange.

Karate offers a journey for everyone.

It’s not just a sport, it’s a way of life

His programs start with Little Ninja classes for 3-5 year olds. This program teaches critical skills, such as: coordination, balance, focus and listening which are beneficial in everyday life, but from a sporting perspective, 6 is the ideal age to start learning karate as the student has learned the appropriate focus and listening skills to become an athlete.

Hollowood is most impressed by the self-discipline his students display. They learn for themselves how to do the right thing. This is crucial to developing a moral structure, having strong impulse control and thinking beyond the self; all skills that create good citizenship.

Over the years, Hollowood has consistently produced champion students. Not all students want to compete, but the ones who do are achieving great success. This year alone, the dojo has had seven State champions, 5 National champions and 2 Oceania champions.

Every two years the World Karate Championships are held. Only one student from each country (in each division) can enter and for the past 4 years, Hollowood’s students have competed at that level.

Becoming a champion involves a complex set of skills, but Hollowood narrows it down to six factors: an unbelievable will to win, outstanding skill, a drive to train hard, emotional and financial support, self-discipline and a really good coach with whom

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the student has a close bond and one the student trusts implicitly.

Student mentoring is important at the dojo.

Hollowood invites students who aspire to teach to help with his classes. He provides opportunities for teaching and employment as assistant teachers (Sempai) teaching safety and role modeling along with karate techniques.

Karate’s journey does not always end with a black belt. As Hollowood sees it, that is just the beginning. In the Dan levels (beyond black belt) a student starts considering karate beyond the syllabus developing individual style and identity.

“Karate offers a journey for everyone. It’s not just a sport, it’s a way of life,” Hollowood says. Karate helps with balance, coordination, self-esteem, self-confidence and self-discipline, but it also has proven benefits to focus, concentration, memory and learning.

Hollowood’s dojo is family owned and operated. Son, Dean is a world class karate athlete, teacher and coach. Wife, Julie, the charmer with the infectious smile, runs the business keeping everything organized. She knows everyone and makes all feel welcome. Daughter, Stacey helps with student welfare, but she’s also a masseuse. Her Full Motion Massage studio is onsite so students or parents can train and then relax. It’s no wonder it’s the most successful karate dojo on the Mornington Peninsula. morningtonkarate.com.au

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February 2019

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NINETY ONE YEARS

and Counting

By Melissa Walsh

F

or a true flavour of the peninsula, you can’t go past the Red Hill Show. With its focus on agriculture and horticulture, the 91st annual show at the Red Hill Showgrounds will feature the best craft, food, wine, beer and cider the peninsula has to offer, as well as entertainment for all ages.

pet our farm animal friends or enjoy a close encounter with native wildlife. Don’t forget that once you enter the show almost everything is free including many of the carnival rides and of course the ever popular Australian Mountainboarders are back with demos and free workshops.”

The Mornington Peninsula Paddock, sponsored by MPP (Mornington Peninsula Produce), will be a chance to meet producers from across the peninsula. With foodie Richard Cornish as the illustrious MC and celebrity chef Matt Wilkinson, who will teach us his secrets when preparing a salad from mouth-watering local ingredients, the MPP Stage will be a major focus this year. Matt, a Yorkshire born Melbourne chef and author of such best sellers as Mr Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables is a passionate advocate for ethical farming. There will be discussions on honey, keeping chickens, the 2019 sausagemaking competition, and the 1st Red Hill Show Apple Pie Making competition and much more.

Don’t forget to visit the MP Paddock for the 3rd Cider Show which will take place at the Cider Marquee where visitors will be treated with demonstrations, cider tasting and a chance to meet some of the Peninsula’s best cider producers.

From miniature goats, alpacas, sheep and every animal in between, the Red Hill Show has it all. The heavy horse section including the majestic clydesdales and gypsie cobs are back and with the new shade zone can offer a better viewing of the horses. See the mustering talents of the Futura Working Dogs and the skill of the shearer. Kids can enjoy a puppet show or visit the local Willum Warrain indigenous group. It truly is a community event celebrating the past culture and lost trades.

"Each year we have been adding great music at the show and we are thrilled to have The Jackson Four and Diddy Reyes The Shakers entertaining us this March," added Bec.

We have included more free rides and fantastic attractions for the whole family

“We have included more free rides and fantastic attractions for the whole family”, said Bec Davis, from the Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Society. “Kids can delight in a free pony ride, feed and

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Start planting your radishes, pruning the roses and grooming the alpacas because entries are open and show ribbons are up for grabs. For entries and inquiries, phone 5989 2357, email info@redhillshow.com.au, visit the website redhillshow.com.au or follow the Red Hill Show on Facebook and Instagram.

www.redhillshow.com.au

The 91st

RED HILL SHOW

Saturday, 9th March, 2019

Labour Day Weekend | 8.30am to 5pm

Red Hill Show Grounds - Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill For info visit: www.redhillshow.com.au - Like us on facebook Mornington Peninsula Paddock - Celeb Chef Matt Wilkinson on stage - Local exhibitors & producers - Cider Show Australian Mountainboarders - Animals Galore - Fly Dogs - Sheep Shearing - Working Dogs - Woodchop - Music Wildlife Encounters - Roaming performers - Tractors - Art & Craft Stalls - Carnival Rides and much more...

Admission: Family ticket (2 adults, 3 children 6-17 years) $60; Adults $20; Children 6-17 years $10 5 years & under free; Students & Pensioners $10. Free parking. MOST RIDES FREE with entry!

Proudly supported by our major sponsors: Hillview Quarries, Mornington Peninsula Shire, MP News Group, Our Caravans RV Rosebud, Hastings Mowers, Mornington Toyota, Balnarring Bendigo Bank and Swan St Sales

Create your show experience!

PENINSULAE ssence | 43 February 2019

Peninsula

Photos

Adelphos Tours

Beleura House & Garden celebrated the arrival of the worlds first 108 key grand piano built by Australian piano makers Stuart & Sons. Guests enjoyed a morning tea, before a performance by revered pianist, Ashley Hribar accompanied on cello by Richard Vaudrey.

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Smaller groups welcome.

Website: adelphostours.com.au Freecall: 1300 710 087

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The day also included cutting of the ribbon ceremony by Mrs. Patsy Kirk accompanied by her son Mr. Bill Kirk, both Trustees of The Tallis Foundation, unveiling a new buggy specifically used to ferry elderly visitors around the house gardens. There after, Professor Phillip Hamilton turned the first sod of soil to commemorate construction of new extension to the existing Gatehouse called “The John Tallis Research Wing� a state of the art research facility to replace the current John Tallis Research Building with completion expected in late 2019.

Wednesday 27th February Spina and Benignetti presenting the work of Camille Saint-Saens.

A recital of gentle, sparkling, summer music with champagne and afternoon tea.

Full Price $45 Concession $40. www.beleura.org.au

PO Box 1198, Mornington VIC 3198 Tel 03 5975 2027 Email: admin@beleura.org.au

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Photos

YOUR FUTURE LOOKS ROSY WHEN YOU ADVERTISE IN

Book into the next issue Call Marg on 0414 773 153

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February 2019

They rocked into the night on a beautiful Saturday at the "Under the Southern Stars" rock concert on the Hastings foreshore, featuring the finest crop of Australian rock artists performing all their hits, including the Hoodoo Gurus as the headlining act.

Peninsula

Photos

Mt Martha golf club members enjoyed food & refreshments at the opening day lunch for 2019

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PENINSULA

THE RUBENS AT THE

Peninsula Picnic

By Melissa Walsh

arah Blasko, Tia Gostelow and Jackalope’s Rare Hare have been confirmed for Victoria’s favourite food, wine and music gathering. Coming off the back of a sell-out event in 2018, The Peninsula Picnic returns on Saturday 30 March, 2019 with an unprecedented line-up of Australian music acts, local restaurants, wineries and producers, bringing together

S

Wines from T’Gallant, Prancing Horse, Quealy and Kerri Greens, beers from Wild Yak and PIMM’s cocktails will keep picnic lovers cool and satiated for a day of dancing and culinary delights. In addition to the live music across the day, there’ll be sessions with top winemakers, market stalls from local artisans and kids activities to help you while away the hours among the pristine surrounds of Mornington Racecourse.

the best of the peninsula to the one location, for one day only.

A true celebration of local wine and food talent, The Peninsula Picnic seamlessly blends a foodie festival with cellar door tastings, a farmers’ market and the sweet sounds of some of Australia’s best songwriters.

Lead by indie rock five-piece The Rubens, playing alongside beloved song writing legend Sarah Blasko, indie prodigy Tia Gostelow, Latin outfit San Lazaro, and up-and-coming folk artist Fraser A. Gordon, music lovers will be wooed by the mix of indie sounds, folk rock and soulful tunes across the day. The culinary line-up features regional greats and some new faces, including Jackalope’s Rare Hare, Montalto, Green Olive at Red Hill, Max’s Restaurant, Tuck’s Ridge and many more.

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Tickets are sure to sell out, so head to www.peninsulapicnic.com. au to secure yours now.

The Peninsula Picnic is on Saturday March 30 at Mornington Racecourse, Mornington.

A food,wine & music gathering...

SATURDAY 30 MARCH 2019

THE RUBENS

SARAH BLASKO SAN LAZARO TIA GOSTELOW FRASER A. GORMAN RARE HARE AT JACKALOPE • TUCKS • KERRI GREENS

DOC MORNINGTON • MERRICKS GENERAL WINE STORE • MAX’S RESTAURANT ALATONERO • CASA DE PLAYA • GREEN OLIVE AT RED HILL • STABLES SMOKEHOUSE MONTALTO • POLPERRO • QUEALY • PRANCING HORSE • T’GALLANT • YABBY LAKE

Tickets at peninsulapicnic.com.au

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Arts

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COLLECTIVELY Cool

By Melissa Walsh Photos Yanni

B

ern Cooper and Micah Mills are a cool couple, with a chilled vibe and a love of the arts that has spanned over two decades. It’s no wonder these two decided to create the Southern Buoy Studios last year to support the artistic community on the Mornington Peninsula.

“We consider ourselves a reasonably well grounded couple. Having been involved in art for over the last 20 years, it’s been a realisation of our passion to create this new venture,” the couple said of Southern Buoy Studios. “It is a dynamic space and artistic community that consists of a large gallery space and artist studios.”

The couple started out in the factory next door, Southern Buoy, where they ran their framing business that featured locally sourced, hand finished and sustainable timbers that perfectly complement all types of art. With Micah as the framer and Bern as the printer, and both of them directors of Southern Buoy Studios, they can offer a one stop service to artists, and it is all done from a pure intention of creating a vibrant art space for the community they have come to love.

“It was 2001 when I started that business and our custom frames were well received amongst artist communities for their contemporary design,” said Micah. “Now the business has grown continued next page...

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from a small framing studio into a larger warehouse where we also do fine art printing, professional art supplies and custom size stretched canvas.”

Seven years later it was a natural progression for the young couple to open a gallery and art community after spending so many years dealing with artists and supplies.

“We have lived here all our lives and got to know a lot of artists over those years. We could tell there was a desperate need for a more artful hub in which they could promote and show off their works,” said the couple. “It has been hard work getting up and running but so worth it.”

With Micah as the framer and Bern the fine art printer, they can offer a one stop service to artists, and it is all done from a pure intention of creating a vibrant art space for the community they have come to love.

We have a physical gallery & eight studios where artists can get away to paint

“We have a physical gallery and eight studios where artists can get away to paint. We also have an online element where we envision being able to show off rural and hard-to-access artists to more and more people as well as bringing out each artists unique background to achieve that really important insight into why they paint the way they do.”

While it has been super demanding bringing the two businesses together, Micah and Bern are thriving on the adrenaline.

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“For us to be able to discover new artists and help them commercialise their work through appropriate sizing, framing, spaces to exhibit and finer reproductions all in one place has already paid off for quite a number of our artists,” said Bern, who makes exquisite prints of the artist’s work to display in the gallery. “It’s so good to be giving back. The artists we knew had said they needed somewhere to go and paint, and so this was born. We also have exhibitions coming up like the Portrait Prize, and have done a fundraiser and a branded Elgee Park wine label prize which was won by a young artist. In 2019 we are also really excited to about adding new programs and events to complement the exhibitions, and launching an education program for students and youth.”

While it’s been a stressful year and a half for the couple, they said it has been all worth it.

“It has definitely been a big task. I didn’t have grey hair before”, laughs Micah. “Now we’re coming up with ideas for new exhibitions and ways to help people exhibit their work. It’s all go and we are loving every moment.”

Southern Buoys Studio is at 1/19 Carbine Way, Mornington.

Phone 0401 062 222. www.southernbuoystudios.com.au

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October October 20172017

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BORN AN Artist

By Jay McCarthy-Rivero

I

solation. A lack of ideas. Difficulty staying motivated. These aspects are the traits that come with being an artist, which arguably turn away many individuals from participating in such a profession.

Philippe de Kraan couldn’t be any more familiar with these situations, as he walked into our conference room, carrying some sheets of paper and demonstrating a willingness to be candid in this interview.

Noticing my casual t-shirt and shorts (appropriate for the warm weather on that day), he commented; “You’ve got the right idea wearing that today,” he smiled.

“I’m only wearing a jacket so I can carry my phone and other things in it.” This brief moment indicated to me the character of Philippe; an intellectual whose views and ideas are highly logical. These characteristics of his personality would be exhibited more prevalently throughout our interview.

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Sitting ourselves down into the comfortable leather chairs that occupied our conference room, Philippe asked with curiosity; “Have you got some questions to ask me?”

Upon replying with a definite yes, he gladly replied; “That’s good, you’ve come well prepared!”

As I set up my iPad to display my compiled questions to ask the artist, he took note of the secondary keyboard I had attached to it, asking; “What have you got there? That’s cool; it looks like a big phone.”

Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Philippe says he was “Born an artist, never any good at school.”

“In Europe you are born into art, as the art culture over there is so different to here.”

Philippe’s enduring commitment to art is evident when you inspect the numbers; he has created 400 paintings in his lifetime and held 48 solo art exhibitions premiering his personal masterpieces.

His awareness and knowledge concerning the finer details is reflected when I initially ask him; “You’ve held over 46 art exhibitions displaying your paintings throughout Australia and Europe…”

Quickly correcting me, he states; “No, it’s 48 now.” This attention to detail is undoubtedly an influential factor as to why his paintings replicate the finer details in such a sublime manner.

Philippe’s art career has taken him to parts of Europe, the U.S. and Down Under, which he currently calls home, living on the Mornington Peninsula.

Getting back to the isolation aspect I mentioned before (one of the quirks associated with being an artist), Philippe conducts his paintings in complete seclusion, something that carries a few disadvantages.

“When you’re alone you only have your ideas to play with. You don’t know what others are going to think about your painting until you show it to them.”

As with any individual or group, he has figures who dispute the quality of his work, as well as his “arrogance”, according to Philippe. However,

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one of his recent paintings (and arguably his most ambitious) has failed to garner any form of criticism that has been directed to his past works. Named ‘The Gathering’, it took him around four years to complete; a challenging period for him creatively and getting his ideas onto the canvas.

“When I was doing this painting I would be negative in every aspect. It was very hard to stay coordinated and motivated,” he admits.

“But, my critics have never said a word. Even people who contend me haven’t criticised it.”

Philippe feels this is the case not because they recognise the blood, sweat and tears that he put into it, but for the reason there’s nothing that can be put against it for comparison…and potential scrutiny.

When you’re alone you only have your ideas to play with.

You don’t know what others are going to think about your painting until you show it to them

“They’ve got nothing to compare it with. There’s nothing like it.”

It’s hard to deny the individuality of the painting, with its vibrant colours and 'in-yourface' aesthetics, setting out a story to the reader that invokes personal imagery. It’s also a large behemoth, a key reason behind nobody wanting to buy it.

“It is on a canvas 3 metres by 2 metres, which is very big. I’ve had interest from people in Dubai and London, but overseas people are scratching their heads wondering what to do with it. Not anyone really has the room to put this painting anywhere.”

Philippe feels the painting (which he considers to be “the best work I’ve done”) is suitable in an extravagant building, to match its undeniable quality and $1.6 million price tag.

“This painting could go in a premium hotel or building like the Crown Casino.”

It wouldn’t be fair however to let this art piece overshadow his other work, some of which has been recognised globally. He recently participated in an art competition held by the Los Angeles Vibrant Artists Group, in which he finished second with his painting named the ‘Rhythm of Life”.

“It was another surprise,” he declared. “I entered it, but didn’t expect anything. I was judged by a committee of judges, who are going to write about it in a book.”

LAND , SEA and CITY An exciting exhibition by 20 acclaimed artists inspired by their environment.

More than 40 exquisite paintings, ceramics and porcelain sculpture on sale now.

During the interview, Philippe informed me that he was communicating with New York Art, a gallery based in New York.

Describing the name of the gallery as “stupid” (due to its general title), they have offered him the opportunity to present his work continued next page...

Deb Hutton ‘Bougainvillea’ Acrylic on Canvas 150 x 150 cm ‘This painting explores the feelings on light, colour and beauty of nature’.

GORDON STUDIO GLASSBLOWERS Red Hill

290 Red Hill Rd, Cnr Dunns Creek Rd, Red Hill 03 5989 7073 | gordonstudio.com.au facebook.com/gordonstudioglassblowers

035976 8877 211 Main Street, Mornington i n fo @ n g m o r n i n g t o n . c o m . a u w w w. n i s s a r a n a g a l l e r i e s . c o m . a u Mornington | Noosa February 2019

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on their website (newyorkart.com), at a fee of $149.25 annually.

Furthermore, they will sell his work from their physical gallery on Broadway, and put it on their Artsy website, associated with the exhibition of work in their gallery. They emailed him a contract and at the time of our interview he was going over the details.

At the time of writing, however, Philippe officially confirmed to me that “It’s happening” and he is “extremely interested to go ahead and pick artworks to show/display my art.” It’s another excellent opportunity for him to premiere his work and hopefully attain enhanced demand.

With his pronounced Dutch-accent, Philippe tells me to “relax a little”, which significantly helps me settle and relax into the interview, as this was the first time I’d done a face-to-face interview.

“It’s just a casual conversation between two people,” he kindly reminded me.

“I was astounded. Overwhelmed. To be represented by galleries is a different thing compared to an art exhibition, as it’s not open to the direct public, only to the press.”

Philippe tends to generate some controversy on his views about Australia’s art culture, stating on his website; “There is a mental confusion in this society regarding art culture” and that “we could not care less”. Being an artist himself, however, it’s only appropriate that he speaks his mind on something he’s strongly attached to.

“It’s the culture here. We’re not really entwined with art, and that’s why people don’t care. If I set up my own art exhibition down the road displaying all of my works, I would only probably get ten people

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On his website Philippe has a section dedicated to this issue, under the heading named ‘Statement’, conveying a similar message to what he mentioned in our interview, albeit in more detail.

Despite Australia’s uninspiring attitude towards art, I still felt it was important to ask Philippe for the advice he had for individuals interested in becoming artists themselves, because our publications are delivered widely throughout the peninsula to many different groups of individuals.

Find your passion, follow your passion and believe in it.

Don’t give up

As we continued along, we spoke about another notable success in his flourishing list of achievements; being given the chance to exhibit two of his canvases at the New York Art Gallery, a prestigious and highly acclaimed global gallery. Once again, it seems to have caught Philippe off guard.

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coming in per day. In Europe it’s a part of the culture; it’s like a business that’s taken seriously. You are born into it almost. They have some of the best art galleries in the world, which display beautiful paintings from great artists.”

His answer was hardly unique like his artworks, but it’s still valuable and important nonetheless.

“Find your passion, follow your passion and believe in it. Don’t give up.” Some individuals may dismiss this as what they’ve heard before, but arguably it conveys some messages that should be taken on board and applied in life.

Finding something in your life that you love and makes you get out of bed every morning is often overlooked by many due to factors such as money and ensuring financial stability being their primary priorities. This is clearly justified,. However finding the right balance between your passions and earnings will more likely make you want to get up in the morning.

Finally giving up is something we all do. It’s impossible not to.

However when looking into the crystal ball we need to realise that we’ll be challenged greatly when going after or trying to do something truly special. If Philippe gave up with his ‘The Gathering’ painting, he wouldn’t have been able to reap the rewards of his achievement.

As interesting as his masterpieces, Philippe de Kraan is one intriguing man.

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MORDERN

Conservationist

By Melissa Walsh

S

iri Hayes has quite the connection with the peninsula, growing up with parents who were environmental activists for Western Port in the 1970’s. These days, Hayes creates art work that incorporates both washed-up natural detritus and rubbish as well as work that comments on the impact of human activity on nature, which is part of the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery exhibition ‘In the Valley’.

“My parents, dad’s siblings and grandparents were involved in the conservation and environmental movement in the 1970s, particularly around protecting the peninsula and Western Port Bay from being rezoned as a heavy industrial zone. Amongst many ecologically destructive ideas proposed was to dredge the shallow mudflats of Western Port, with their delicate seagrasses and other natural flora and fauna, effectively killing the whole ecology of the

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area,” said Hayes, whose grandparents Ken and Meredith Hayes, alongside Jo Tilliard, Dr Bill Carol and Lorna Bennett, formed Westernport Peninsula Protection Council which is still active to this day. “My father, Robert Hayes, appeared on current affairs programs standing in the mangroves near Hastings talking about the way these plants, ‘the lungs of the bay’, would be destroyed if the destructive industrial plans were to go ahead. Both my grandparents went on to receive Orders of Australia for their services to conservation, primary industry and the environment.”

As a child, the environmental artist was often immersed in the natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula, particularly Western Port, but always with the backdrop of environmental activism and understanding how our actions can impact the world positively and negatively. continued next page...

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“This attitude has certainly influenced my life and art practice.

I have created work that incorporates both washed-up natural detritus and rubbish as well as work that comments on the impact of human activity on nature,” said Hayes who didn’t really know that her family’s actions were environmental activism. “It was simply a part of my life to care and stand up for nature. My family and their conservation compatriots were able to halt the environmentally destructive development proposed by the short-sighted government of the time and this has inspired in me a willingness to publicly point to where nature is being compromised whether by letter-tothe-editor or in my artwork.”

For ‘In the Valley’ Hayes created new photographic images as well as presenting works from her series ‘Dredge’.

“There are a couple of works from my ‘Dredge’ series that I made in collaboration with my mother who is a contemporary music composer. We made the work about ten years ago in response to the dredging of both Port Phillip and Western Port. We were investigating the ecological effects of these actions on the landscape as well as using the concept of dredging as a metaphor for the artistic process – we dredged the bays for ideas to make work,” she said.

“The figures in 'Geomorphic Listening' and 'Tidal Messages' are the musicians 'Speak Percussion'. In 'Geomorphic Listening' I had a musician holding a glass up to a rock near where dredging would be taking place, as if to listen to what it was thinking, like in the old TV show Get Smart. 'Tidal Messages' portrays musicians catching a planted message in a bottle. The bottle contains a manuscript my mother composed comparing the increases of tidal highs and lows that would increase as a result of dredging to create musical rhythm.”

The MPRG exhibition is being presented as part of CLIMARTE’s ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE 2019 festival, and highlights the beauty and fragility of our natural environment. Observing and

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documenting the changing landscape of significant areas of the Mornington Peninsula, artists Rosie Weiss, Jean Langley, Merryn Lloyd and Siri Hayes reveal their personal connections to the landscape and the strong links to place that exists across generations.

“A key notion for all the artworks is an artistic engagement with place, its history and possible ecological decline due to destructive human behaviour. I’m in the midst of investigating many different approaches that may involve sea grass puppets somewhere near Crib Point, a Neil Douglasesque figure walking goats along Somers beach and revisiting locations painted in Jean Langley’s paintings and in particular the Cairns’ orchards,” said Hayes.

Incorporated into the exhibition will be a series of climate data visualisations, inspired by the exhibition artworks, showcasing the environmental evolution over south eastern Australia. Colours are extracted and translated from selected In the valley artworks for data visualisations of environmental change from early 1900 through to future climate projections.

This project coincides with the Mornington Peninsula Shire moving towards zero net carbon emissions across all its operations by 2021 and supporting long-term climate change resilience across the community.

ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE 2019 is a socially-engaged festival of climate change related arts and ideas featuring curated exhibitions and theatre works alongside a series of keynote lectures, events and public forums featuring local and international guests.

Exhibition dates for ‘In the Valley’ are March 2 to May 5.

For more information: www.artclimatechange.org www.mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

THE COUNTRIES OF

Aboriginal Art

N

ew works for the Colours of My Country exhibition and an illustrated talk features in Everywhen Artspace’s February programme. The new gallery which opened in early January specialises in Aboriginal art. Its inaugural exhibition features a range of works from the thirty Aboriginal-owned art centres that the gallerists, Susan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs, represent.

“We’ve had many compliments about the very wide range and different styles of Aboriginal art,” says Susan McCulloch. “When many people think of Aboriginal art, they tend to think of the dot painting style of the central desert areas around Alice Springs, However it’s a hugely broad art movement and one that’s constantly evolving.”

As authors of the leading reference book 'McCulloch’s Contemporary Aboriginal Art: the complete guide', Susan and Emily have been documenting the growth of Aboriginal art for thirtyand twenty years respectively.

“The work of most of the artists we represent is linked very strongly to their lands," says Susan. “However their interpretations of this are very wide and include some highly sophisticated imagery. A number of artists we show have won major awards and their work is collected by leading public galleries, but we also love showing the work of new and emerging artists as well as a very wide range of others.”

It is these differences and also the differing landscapes and flora that Susan will be exploring in her illustrated talk “The Countries of Aboriginal Art” on February 10. The talk is at 2pm and is a free event, however bookings are essential. The gallery is open daily 10.30-4pm.

EVERYWHEN ARTSPACE A: 1/39 Cook Street, Flinders, 3929 T: 0419 896473.

E: info@mccullochandmcculloch.com.au mccullochandmcculloch.com.au

Colours of my country

New ochres, paintings, barks+ 3D from 30+ Aboriginal-owned art centres

Illustrated Talk: The countries of Aboriginal art Susan McCulloch OAM | Sunday Feb 10 at 2pm | Free event.

Bookings essential | Exhibition current to Feb 28

Julie Yatjitja, My Country, 198 x 152cm.

Courtesy Iwantja Arts August 2018 February 2019

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FINDING Nevo

By Melissa Walsh

P

ersonal, political and passionate, Finding Nevo is an autobiography about gender and everything that comes with it.

Frankston Library is excited to be hosting the young and passionate activist and writer, Nevo Zisin this February as part of the Midsumma Festival.

At the tender age of 21, Nevo is unafraid to delve into the difficult and often taboo topics of gender and sexuality, while remaining relatable and engaging throughout Finding Nevo.

Assigned female at birth, Nevo has had a complex relationship with gender, transitioning to present as male at the age of 17, undergoing different medical interventions and now identifying outside of the female/male gender binary.

The Melbourne Midsumma Festival is Victoria’s premier LGBTQIA+ cultural festival, made for and by communities who live with shared experiences around diverse gender and sexuality.

Nevo works particularly with children as a youth leader and through running programs and workshops in schools, and is also a contact point in the Jewish community for other children and families confronting issues of gender and sexuality in their own lives.

Join Nevo at Frankston Library on Monday 4 February.

This event is free but bookings are essential.

For details and bookings phone the Library on 9784 1020 or book via the library website: library.frankston.vic.gov.au

"A wonderful megamix of hits from 50s to 90s. Gorgeous harmonies, slick chorey, fun show!"

MUSIC

$21

Sunday Telegraph

BOYS IN THE BAND: JUKEBOX REVOLUTION Thursday 14 March, 7.30pm

Elvis, Bee Gees, Queen, Jackson 5, Beatles, ACDC, John Farnham and many more in an all singing, all dancing, high octane concert!

PIRATES TO PINAFORE:

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF GILBERT & SULLIVAN Friday 8 March, 10.30am & 1.30pm Hit songs and scene highlights from all the Gilbert and Sullivan musicals in one sensationally fast paced, hilarious and beautifully sung production.

Tickets: 03 9784 1060 | thefac.com.au

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Tickets: 03 9784 1060 or thefac.com.au

20 YEAR

*Valid Until 28/02/19 February 2019

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February 2019

Eat & Drink

SOPHISTICATED &

Chilled

By Melissa Walsh Photos Yanni

H

e might be only 28 but Leo Howard is a chef to be reckoned with, these days running the busy kitchen at Barmah Park Winery. The talented chef has a real love of food and creates a mouth-watering seasonal menu from the plethora of fresh Mornington Peninsula ingredients.

After working at 'Paringa Estate', 'Play the Fool' and 'The European' in the city, Howard creates his artistic cuisine with seemingly little effort. Each dish is not only delicious but looks enticing, reflecting the chef’s passion for his craft.

Howard spends a lot of time creating the recipes for his seasonal dishes and experimenting with different flavours.

“I like to try different flavours and ingredients to make sure the menu is constantly evolving,” said the chef who was originally trained in the UK where he was born.

I like to try different flavours and ingredients to make sure the menu is constantly evolving

“I started at Barmah Park in June last year and immediately reworked the menu,” said Howard from the kitchen where he effortlessly creates his masterpieces. “I love to use ingredients from the peninsula as we have so many wonderful growers and suppliers. We go picking herbs in Red Hill where I have a lovely supplier who has a small garden.

She just has seasonal herbs which I love. We use eggs from Heritage Barn down the road, amazing quail and duck eggs, local seafood and fresh fish as well as fruits and vegetables.”

“I came to Australia on a working holiday in 2009 and never went back,” said Howard, who is now the proud father of two children. “I love cooking a bit with my kids and actually that is how I started out, cooking in the kitchen with my grandmother.”

For this young and vibrant chef, food and cooking was his passion from a very young age.

“My grandmother was a baker, born in Yorkshire and made all the typical English food like Yorkshire puddings. I loved cooking with her and eating the food and knew I wanted to be a chef as soon as I left school,” he said.

These days, he specialises in fine dining food in a casual atmosphere.

“The cuisine is really broad, with things like steamed rainbow trout, aged duck, pork loin and crab risotto. We are open for breakfast and lunch, and dinner Friday and Saturday night which is a six course continued next page...

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tasting menu. Our food matches beautifully with the Barmah Park wines too,” he said.

boutique vineyard and has a focus on delivering an unforgettable dining experience.

As far as a career choice, Howard says he was hooked from the start.

The seasonal menu is sophisticated and fresh, with something to delight every palate.

“It is the perfect way to combine my love of food with a real passion for a fast paced environment. Its tough work but it’s addictive.”

Barmah Park Restaurant and Cellar Door is beautifully set in a

Barmah Park Restaurant & Cellar Door is at 945 Moorooduc Hwy, Moorooduc.

K I TCH E N ESS E N TI A LS

TRADE SALES DIRECT TO PUBLIC

Direct Hospitality Supplies is your one-stop shop for the best in home and commercial kitchen products We are foodies at heart and stand behind each of the products we sell. Our products ranging from countertop kitchen appliances to cookware, glassware, cutlery, dinnerware and many li�le knick-knacks you didn’t know you needed!

Drop in to see us!

‘Like’ us on facebook and receive a 5% discount (conditions apply)

Opening hours - Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm - We have onsite car parking 71 B A R K LY S T R E E T M O R N I N G TO N, V I C 3931 (03) 5977 2020 | D H S U P P L I E S.C O M. A U

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Eat & Drink

DIGGING THE DIRT ON THE Crittendens

By Edward Verrill

T

he basis for any solid solution.. start at the root of the problem and work your way up. This is the exact approach of the Crittenden family who have found fruit in their holistic approach to vine health.

After 25 years of “conventional� farming - relying on the use of synthetic chemicals to manage the vineyard - started to take its toll of the quality of their grapes they found themselves digging in the dirt for a more traditional approach.

By the early 2000's the Crittenden family, with viticulturalist father Garry at the helm had noticed a year on year increase in the amount of time on the vine that their grapes needed to achieve flavour ripeness. All the while the grapes were gaining excessive sugar and dropping vital acidity, which threatened to throw their resulting wines out of balance. Vines of increasing age are usually prized as they

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can often produce lower quantities of higher flavour concentrated, better quality fruit. However at the vineyard, just outside Dromana, the reverse was becoming apparent.

Faced with this paradox they started researching alternative methods to promote the health of their vines. And so began the journey underground, using organic viticulture techniques, which represented a return to the traditional way of doing things before farming became concerned with quick and easy chemical solutions. By 2008 the philosophy became about eradicating synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers in favour of natural preparations to deter pests, and also having home produced compost, made using winery waste.

Crittenden Estate now finds itself at the forefront of soil health in viticulture in Australia. This may sound like proverbial horse poo but that’s actually, in reality, only very small part of it. The winery

We feel that this is an investment in the future

produces about 60 tonnes of “marc” every year as a by-product of winemaking. Simply put marc is the sticky mixture of grape skins and seeds that’s left after pressing. One tonne of grapes can provide between 200-250kg of marc, so for a winery like Crittenden Estate - who process between 200-250 tonnes of fruit a year - it represents a pretty significant quantity of waste material. However this by- product is also rich in nitrogen, magnesium and other elements that are essential to organic farming, so a huge component of high quality fertiliser is already on-site. While most wineries will pay to have it taken away, the Crittenden family are reaping the rewards of working with this nutrient rich residue, so much so that they have started taking it from other local wineries as well.

The marc is collected straight from the presses in the winery and tipped into a skip on site; once filled, the skip is then moved to

another part of the property where it is mixed with locally sourced horse manure and straw or wood chips. This pile is turned once a month by a digger, aerating it to promote the ferment of good bacteria. Winemaker Rollo Crittenden knows that there’s no way they’d ever be able to buy in this amount of compost (the amount of marc they now receive is the result of some 1000 tonnes of processed grapes in total) but that it has now become a vital ingredient in the surge in soil and resultant vine health in the vineyard.

The steps involved have without doubt increased the work load on the estate. There is the capturing, turning and then finally spreading of the manure on the eleven acre vineyard block on the property but Rollo says it has become a race to the top rather than to the bottom “We feel that this is an investment in the future. It does mean that the cost of our production goes up but so does the quality, and that’s continued next page...

Crittenden Estate WINE CENTRE

Crittenden Estate is one of the Peninsula’s oldest iconic wineries. Family owned and operated since 1982, we are locals passionate about making outstanding quality cool climate wines that reflect this incredible winemaking region.

Described by James Halliday as an outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality, Crittenden Estate was yet again awarded Halliday’s highest rating of five red stars in the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion.

Discover our story at the custom built Crittenden Wine Centre, designed to enable our customers to truly appreciate the caliber of our wines in comfort and style.

Crittenden Estate I 25 Harrisons Rd Dromana VIC 3936 www.crittendenwines.com.au I 5987 3800 I open seven days a week

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where the investment is”. The steps towards soil health also involve growing more diverse plant life than just grapes in the vineyard.

Cover crops such as peas, oats and broad beans are planted between the rows as they help fix nitrogen in the soil and increase its bio mass. For the hotter summer months this is then rolled flat to trap moisture in the soil, and as it dies off, it renourishes the growing environment in the ground below.

What’s more these healthy soils require a fraction of the irrigation they once did. The accolades are steadily stacking up for the Estate's wines and there can be no doubt that this is due in no small part to the radical shift back to these traditional farming techniques.

Sustainability beats at the heart of modern wine trends and the evidence shines in the quality of producers such as Crittenden Estate. They are a 5 red star Halliday rated winery and in 2017 received the trophy for best white wine in show at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show. The proof is on paper but to see for yourself head down to the wine centre, which is open seven days a week for tastings from 10:30 - 4:30. Don’t be deterred from all the mentioning of manure, the compost and cellar door are at opposite ends of the property ... or so Rollo says.

The steps towards soil health also involve growing more diverse plant life than just grapes in the vineyard

In an endeavor to map the leaps in quality of vineyard health, Crittenden Estate are now heavily involved in researching and quantifying the positive effects that the compost and cover crops introduce, and are an internationally recognised forerunner in this field. If the technical details are tough to digest, there is one simple takeout from all of this that’s easily understood, and that’s the enormous environmental benefit. In a time when everyone is thinking local, Crittenden Estate are not only protecting their immediate ecosystem by ditching chemical farming but they are giving back to the very earth that grows their grapes.

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www.crittendenwines.com.au

Wednesday Market Personalities Saroma Natural Therapies was formed in November 1996 and Sara has developed a range of skin care products that assist to heal and nurture.

Creating products using a vegan gel base and 100% pure and natural essential oils, the Saroma range is totally Vegan friendly! The range includes products for Eczema, Cold sores, hay fever, deodorants, sore muscles and sunburn. “Our BuzzBalm containing beeswax is our best seller”, remarked Sara. “It stops the itching and swelling from insect bites or stings.” Saroma also carries an incredible range of pure essential oils and enjoy making up personalised blends for you at the market. Saroma's products are made by hand in small batches to preserve their freshness and unique energy.

“We really enjoy the Main street market and have proudly supported the Mornington Main Street market for the past 16 years”, smiled Sara.

Gaye created Birkdale Stitches as a family business and have been producing a variety of handmade gifts for 25 years. From Poly Cool Bandanas, a perfect solution designed to help reduce dehydration & heat stress by cooling the pulse points throughout your body to handmade ironing board covers in fun, colourful fabrics, Birkdale has it all. “Visitors come from across Victoria for our personalised baby towels”, said Gaye. “Our embroidered hand towels make a perfect gift to send overseas or a as a souvenir of your visit to Mornington”.

When the winter chills hit, aches and pain start, Birkdale’s heat packs provide excellent relief. Gaye even makes them in your favourite footy colours. Come and see Gaye each week at the Wednesday Main Street Market.

The Main Street market is not just about kids and adults, we love our furry friends and Katie with Paws For Raw has 100% natural treats for your puppies. They believe in raw meats to be the most species biological approved diet and treats made from natural products - no grains, no gluten, none of that artificial nonsense! “We started our business because of our two little dogs (well, 1 is little!)”, commented Katie. “Ruby had many health issues on dry/wet food and we were struggling to get her to eat, let alone control the constant itching she was going through. So the research into natural dog health began and thus Paws For Raw was born”. Paws For Raw’s aim is to provide homemade dehydrated treats for you to spoil your favourite four-legged friends!

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CHANGING LIVES

One dish at a time

By Melissa Walsh Photos Garry Sissons

M

It is so important to me to deliver local sustainable ethically farmed produce to everyone

arlene Hoff is a chef, hospitality trainer, entrepreneur, cooking school teacher and owner of 100 Mile Foodie. She is a vocal advocate of Mornington Peninsula produce and uses her growing social media platform to sing the praises of using local, sustainable and ethical food and wine.

Marlene is a force to be reckoned with and her passion for community is inspiring. Peninsula Essence talks to Marlene at her brand-new cooking school and kitchen-garden about how she got to where she is today.

“Ever since I had my children I began to think about where our food comes from, I wanted to give them the best quality food without preservatives. It started me on a mission to buy locally, hence the 100 Mile Foodie name”.

“In truth it is more like a 50-mile foodie,” she laughs. “When the children were little, we would sit around the dinner table and talk about where food comes from. The kids always grew up in the vegetable garden with fruit trees and chickens, and anything we couldn’t grow was bought locally.”

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The idea of knowing where our food came from, how it was raised and the miles it had travelled was, and still is, extremely important to Marlene.

“I read that the average food basket travels 70,000 miles,” she said. “That has a detrimental impact on our local economy, the environment and on our health, both mental and physical. I thought ‘why can’t we just eat like our grandparents used to?’ For them, everything came from within a small radius.”

For Marlene, who always loved food and cooking, making the life changing decision to quit an international banking job and follow her dreams turned out to be one of the best decisions she would ever make.

“It’s funny…I just knew it was time…so when I was 35 I enrolled in a Certificate III Hospitality course in commercial cookery. I started off at Morning Star Estate, Mt Eliza, and then did a whole range of jobs to learn lots of different skills. I always wanted to teach and cook but had no idea the difference good, fresh food could make to people’s lives,” said Marlene who found her passion for teaching by helping create change when she worked for Peninsula Health facilitating community kitchens.

“I paired up with Skills Plus to help refugees and new Australians learn how to cook and be self-sufficient. They learnt to be independent but also earnt a certificate to qualify them for work. It was absolutely wonderful.”

It was while her children were still very small that Stephanie Alexander opened a kitchen garden program at Collingwood College, and Marlene volunteered to help.

“My mum would come over here and look after the children while I drove to Collingwood. It was such an inspiring experience and only strengthened my passion to one day create my own kitchen garden.”

It was 2013 that the official 100 Mile Foodie was born, starting with gourmet preserves that Marlene created from left over fruit at vineyards. Six years later and the business is thriving with the passionate chef ensuring she only uses local produce apart from one or two South Gippsland items she can’t source here.

“My suppliers are Hillock Downs Beef in Rye, Wollumbi Farm for pork in Tyabb, Flinders or Dromana mussels, lamb from Coolart Lamb, Benton Rise Farm for vegetables, Red Hill Cherries, Sunnyridge Strawberry Farm, Main Ridge Dairy, Red Hill Bakery, Red Hill Truffles throughout Winter, and cheese from Red Hill Cheese, Blue Bay Cheese, and Main Ridge Dairy plus many others", said Marlene.

“100 Mile Foodie is multi layered now with tailored catering, kids and adult cooking classes, gourmet preserves and recently a NDIS provider across Victoria. All classes our held from our purpose-built cooking school incorporating a kitchen-garden in Somerville. The kids come along and try all sorts of fruit, herbs and vegetables that their parents who never think they would. My philosophy is let them taste it without having to swallow it. They can always throw it back in the garden or to the chooks to eat if they don’t like it.”

The large back deck was built around ten years ago where the swimming pool once was, and a recent addition is a modern, light

and open kitchen and dining room that looks over the gardens, creating the perfect place for cooking and sharing food afterwards.

“It is so important to me to deliver local sustainable ethically farmed produce to everyone. We must preserve our precious resources for generations to come.”

Winning a scholarship to work with Maggie Beer, her self-confessed ‘food idol’ was a game changer for Marlene, setting her on a journey to discover just how important food is to our health.

“That was three years ago, and her influence started a massive change on my life. First, I loved that she said it took her 20 years to become an overnight success but mainly it inspired me to work as hard as possible to get my message out there that food is essential to our physical and mental health at any age.”

While already on the course to help educate people in the importance of food choices, it was 18 months ago that the tragic death of a young person in Marlene’s community fast tracked Marlene’s call to action.

"I immediately started organising a fundraising event for RUOK with the Long Table in Red Hill. We raised $12,000 for Fusion, an organisation that helps young people. I learnt that the Mornington Peninsula has the fifth highest suicide rate in Victoria and knew we had to help,” said Marlene, who also saw a movie called ‘The Gut Movie’ which helped her understand how much food is connected to mental health.

For Marlene, who has always cared deeply about where food comes from, how it has been raised and the impact it has on the planet, there is an added element now, delving into the philosophy that we really are what we eat. www.100milefoodie.com.au @100milefoodie on Instagram February 2019

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Recipe RAINBOW TROUT WITH BURNT LETTUCE SAUCE, MUSSELS AND QUINOA CHIPS INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 x 100g Rainbow trout fillets (pin boned and belly trimmed) 1 tbspn red miso paste 1 x head baby gem lettuce 1 x small shallot ½ tbspn Dijon mustard 8g balsamic vinegar 8g sherry vinegar 7g capers 150g blanched spinach 200ml olive oil Mussels Pickled karkella (also known as Pig Face or Beach Banana) Quinoa chips Chive oil 8 bronze fennel fronds

For the trout-rub - Âź tablespoon miso into the flesh side of each of the fillets. Let marinate for at least 1 hour before serving.

For the lettuce sauce - Grill the lettuce on a char grill or in a hot pan until exterior is blackened, then allow to cool completely.

In a bar blender, combine all ingredients reserving 150 ml of olive oil. Blend until completely smooth. Then slowly add the remaining olive oil while blending. Season to taste with salt. Put into a piping bag or squeezy bottle and set aside until ready to serve.

Prepare the mussels by scrubbing well and removing the beard from the side of the mussel. Roughly slice the shallot and dice the tomato. To cook the mussels, Heat a heavy based pan on a high flame until it starts to smoke slightly, add a splash of oil and carefully tip in the mussels, shallots, tomato, Thyme and bay leaf. Then add the wine and quickly cover the pot with a lid to

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lock in the heat. Cook the mussels for around 3 minutes on a high flame or until they start to open. Remove from heat and cool, before removing the mussels from their shells and storing the mussels in the remaining juices until ready to serve Steam the trout and mussels Remove from the basket and flip the fish so that the skin is facing upwards. Gently up the skin off from the fillet. It should come away very cleanly and easily.

SERVING SUGGESTION To plate, pipe a good sized dot of the lettuce sauce just left of the centre of the plate. Gently place the steamed trout to the right of the sauce in the centre of the plate.

Arrange the mussels, karkella, quinoa chips and bronze fennel on top of the trout and to finish drizzle some of the chive oil around the plate.

Serves 4

Barmah Park Restaurant & Cellar Door is at 945 Moorooduc Hwy, Moorooduc Phone 5978 8049 barmahparkwines.com.au February 2019

FREE FAMILY EVENT

First Sunday of every month 11am-5pm Join us on 3rd March 2019

Live Music Great Food Beer Garden Kids Activities Beautiful Garden Lounges Pony Rides Free parking

THE ART OF Picnicking Whether it’s a get together with friends, a family outing or romantic date, there is nothing like a picnic. Here on the Mornington Peninsula we have wonderful picnic locations from the humble parks and gardens to the more upmarket vineyards and sculpture parks. Bring your own picnic and rug, a bottle of wine and be ready to relax, or let one of the wineries provide the perfect picnic basket for you. Here’s a list of picnic ideas to suit everyone and all occasions.

SEAWINDS GARDENS, ARTHURS SEAT Seawinds Gardens is just a short drive from Arthurs Seat, providing indigenous and exotic formal gardens plus the sensational William Ricketts sculptures. The views over Port Phillip are some of the best on the peninsula and facilities include disabled access, a picnic shelter with electric barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and walking tracks with views.

COOLART HOMESTEAD AND WETLANDS, SOMERS With a mix of wetlands, a historical homestead and recreational areas, Coolart homestead provides a wonderful ambience for a picnic with the statuesque 1895 homestead as your backdrop. There’s barbecues, picnic tables and expansive lawns for the ultimate picnic destination.

SCHNAPPER POINT, MORNINGTON Located at the end of Main Street in Mornington, Schnapper Point makes for the perfect picnic spot with lots of shade from the towering trees. There’s barbecue facilities, a playground, toilets and plenty of room for all the family.

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POLPERRO WINERY When you picnic in a scenic winery like Polperro, all the hard work is done for you.

Check out the wines before you set out on your picnic to match your gourmet delights prepared by the chef.

Hampers are prepared to-order daily and come complete with all the glassware, cutlery and crockery you need for a stylish picnic.

MONTALTO Vines and sculptures provide an elegant and sophisticated backdrop to the Montalto picnic which is prepared for guests upon booking. Their sites are perfect for groups of up to eight people and ideal for a romantic date or group of friends get together. There will be white linen, amazing wines and incredible food on this sophisticated picnic.

MCCLELLAND GALLERY & SCULPTURE PARK Bring your own picnic rugs, tables and chairs to the well-known sculpture park, immersing yourself in the artistic brilliance on wonderful manicured lawns.

Great for families.

CAPE SCHANCK Why not combine a visit to the famous Cape Schanck Lighthouse with a picnic. Bring a rug or sit at one of the four picnic tables available. There are also toilets beside the car park with baby change facilities.

MT ELIZA REGIONAL PARK A cool place for families to enjoy a picnic, this is home to the Mt Eliza Express train playground, and has barbecue shelters, barbecues, picnic tables, and toilets.

There’s a great lake with ducks and wonderful surrounding walks.

THE BRIARS Situated at Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula, is a beautiful, rural property known as “The Briars,” a delightful old Homestead on 230 hectares, which is steeped in local history, flora and fauna.

Along with many other features it is home to, there are picnic areas and facilities.

GEORGE PENTLAND BOTANIC GARDENS Enjoy the large open spaces, relax on the lawns or at the water’s edge, use the network of paths connecting the main features of the gardens or have a picnic or barbecue with family and friends.

Must try

Dishes

Scallops, pan fried in butter and garlic, served on a bed of squid ink risotto

Twice cooked pork belly, ridge farm carrots, charred nectarines

The Dava Hotel

85 Harrisons Rd, Dromana Ph 5981 8688 www.trofeoestate.com

614 The Esplanade, Mount Martha Ph 5975 1555 www.thedavahotel.com

Roasted pork belly, balsamic onions, radicchio & mozzarella on a hand made base

Fresh Mount Martha, Mussels tossed in white wine, onion, chilli and garlic and served with house made Irish Brown Soda Bread

Trofeo Estate

The Dubliner 65 Octavia St, Mornington 5975 3567 www.dallasdubliner.com

Roasted spiced cauliflower, coriander, pomegranate, slivered almond, preserved lemon

St Andrews Beach Brewery

Many Little Bar and Bistro

160 Sandy Rd, Fingal 5988 6854 www.opentable.com.au

2-5/159 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South 5989 2471 www.manylittle.com.au

the Captains bruschetta grilled sardines, piquillo peppers, capers,lemon zest and fresh parsley on char grilled sourdough- drizzled with EVOO Ranelagh Club 3 Rosserdale Cres, Mount Eliza 9787 0265 www.ranelagh.com.au

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Puzzle

Corner

ACROSS 1. Arched bridge over valley 5. Silver bar 9. Phrase 12. Fair-haired ladies 16. Scions 17. Pilot's code for I 18. Cater to 20. Washday load 22. Hot water burn 23. Leanness 24. Corps de ballet 26. French farewell, au ...

27. Ration 28. Cross-dressers 31. Established custom 32. Cadence 34. Radio crackle 36. Ceylon, ... Lanka 37. Imitate 40. Artificial conception (1,1,1) 42. Short tubular pasta 43. Relation (2-3) 45. Frequent patrons 47. Scent, ... cologne (3,2) 49. Daub 50. Sledge 52. Flee to wed 54. Reconnoitre 55. Beer tankard 56. Engine part, spark ...

58. Positive battery pole 59. Rate 60. A distance 61. Crux 62. I ... if I could 63. Told porkies 64. Heavy (steps) 67. Tart 68. Soon, in the ... future 69. Tooth covering 72. 60s drug (1,1,1) 74. Settling (of earth) 78. Bawl 79. Uncouth boy 80. East-northeast (1,1,1) 81. Debonair 82. Section of journey 85. Came ashore on foot 87. River mammal 88. Unfeigned 90. Allow air in

91. Daze 92. Chain loop 93. Mexican dip 94. Fruit pulp 95. Silly talk 96. Sex And The City's Mr Big, Chris ...

97. In disguise 100. Green with ...

102. Rink 103. Hooting fledgling 104. Dapper 106. Ethiopia's Addis ...

108. Conger 109. Paddle 110. Victor Hugo's ...

MisĂŠrables 112. Small vegetable marrow 116. Japanese currency 118. Defy 120. Actress, ... Thompson 121. Smith & Wessons 123. Loan shark 125. Carbonated beverage 126. Former chat show hostess, ... Winfrey 127. Rancour 128. Gloomy 129. Frogman 130. Hard alloy 131. Yell of pain 132. Biblical king 134. Continually provides 136. Phones 139. Person asking questions 141. Method of working, ... operandi 142. Frozen solid 144. Travellers 146. Harness-racing horse 147. Dessert, ... pie 148. Sticky substance 149. Femme fatale 151. Crack army force (1,1,1) 152. Recaptured 155. Spanish rice dish 158. Deeply desire 159. Kinsman (5,8) 162. Farm birds 164. Eagerly 165. Intertwine 166. Innkeepers 170. NZ native 171. Beginning of the day 172. Shout (4,3)

173. Edible organs 174. Electroshock weapon 175. Bouquet 176. Whiskies & ...

177. Remove contents of 178. Dwelt

DOWN 1. Basses, sopranos & tenors 2. Quitting throne 3. Irrevocable 4. Series of three 5. Well researched (2-5) 6. Fish lung 7. At that moment 8. Passport-holders 9. The ... of Capri 10. Favours owed (1,1,2) 11. Most demented 12. Trade ban 13. Hindrance 14. Car sport (4,6) 15. Anaesthetise 19. Benefit 21. Drink, ... spumante 25. Coronation robes fur 26. Take umbrage 29. Chargers 30. Military helmet (3,3) 33. Intrude 35. Slaughterhouse 36. Very careful 38. Saunters here & there 39. Tinting 41. Dirge (7,5) 42. Specialist 44. Heartbreak 46. Straightens 48. Resounds 49. Towed 51. Auction participant 53. Inters 55. Spread out 57. Flit (about) 60. In vogue, ... mode (1,2) 65. Achievements 66. Senior 70. Stockings fibre 71. Butcher's axe (4,7) 73. Ruling families 75. Impulse 76. Encroaching

77. Tidy 78. 100-year celebration 83. In vain, to no ...

84. Perform (role) 85. Entrance (3,2) 86. Bus terminus 89. Fah, soh, ...

91. Catch glimpse of 92. Jumping over 96. Large tacks 98. Debauched Roman emperor 99. Diplomacy 101. Sighs sleepily 103. Spinster (3,4) 105. Junior 107. Anti-state revolutionaries 111. Engraver 112. Haggard 113. Wards off 114. Pencil rubber 115. Self-indulgent exercises (3,5) 117. Tribute 119. Major computer firm (1,1,1) 120. Fabled land of gold (2,6) 122. Slaver 124. Flying saucer (1,1,1) 132. Sleeping through winter 133. Sales agent 134. Nudged 135. African nation, ... Leone 137. Persona ... grata 138. Dachshunds (7,4) 140. Cost estimates 141. Timidly 143. Autocrat 145. Competitive music festival 150. Poorest of the poor 153. Parched 154. Four-sided shapes 156. Study of body structure 157. Cigarette igniter 158. Servile flatterers (3,3) 160. Obligation 161. Singer/actress, ... Turner 163. Wink, bat an ...

166. Parti-coloured 167. Wagers 168. 0.4047 hectares 169. Blow with palm of hand

celebrate our view of aged care in mornington.

CALL US TODAY FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND TO FIND OUT MORE!

www.villageglen.com.au

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827-829 Nepean Hwy, Mornington VIC

Ph: 1300 VILL GLEN (1300 845 545)

See page 91 for solution February 2019

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on

Moorooduc

Moorooduc is a rural area located in the local government area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

The Peninsua Link now runs through the locality, being the main route between Melbourne and the Peninsula.

The Mornington Railway Preservation Society operates steam and diesel train services from Moorooduc Railway Station on weekends and public holidays.

A short walk from Moorooduc railway station is the Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Moorooduc Primary School (No. 2327) opened on 1 November 1880, on the current site located on Mornington-Tyabb Road. In 2006, the school celebrated 125 years.

Golfers play at the Devilbend Golf Club on Loders Road and Moorooduc Saddle Club is located on Derril Road.

Moorooduc is named from an Aboriginal word meaning "flat and swampy" or "dark".

The first settlers on the Moorooduc plains were timber cutters who brought their bullock teams and camped in tents while they harvested wood. This was brought into Mornington to be shipped from the Mornington jetty to the fledgling township of Melbourne by sea, to be used for building bridges, jetties, railway lines and to fire the bakers’ovens.

Benjamin Baxter won the contract to supply the pylons for the Schnapper Point jetty.

He sourced his timber from the Moorooduc forest, which was well wooded with eucalypts, she-oak, wattle and box.

Moorooduc became an agricultural community with many of the farmers also holding slaughtering licenses.

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The fruit growing industry was important to the Moorooduc district and contributed to the stable prosperity of the area. The blossoming orchards in spring and the fruit-laden trees in autumn attracted many day trippers to the district. First plantings occurred about 1860.

The Two Bays Nurseries and Orchard Company of Moorooduc became one of the biggest retail nurseries in the Southern hemisphere, exporting trees to Argentina and Japan as well as all over Australia.

A small wooden church standing (just) on the Moorooduc Highway south of Tyabb Road is in the process of being converted to a b & b.

This church and was also to be used as the first Moorooduc school.

In 1916 Moorooduc celebrated the opening of their new hall, known locally as “The Brick Hall” to distinguish it from the early “Tin Hall”.

Many descendants of the early pioneers of Moorooduc still live in the area.

Today the median property price for Moorooduc is $1.6million.

Moorooduc is a small Victorian locality within the local government area of Mornington Peninsula, it is located approximately 47kms from the capital Melbourne covering an area of 42.88 square kilometres.

Moorooduc has a recorded population of 1098 residents.

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What to do At the centre of the peninsula, Moorooduc offers a plethora of interesting things to do from checking out the boutique wineries, to the history of the famous Coolstores, to taking a ride on the Mornington Railway which has its home at Moorooduc station. Head down to the many cafes or restaurants and enjoy some of the best coffee in the area, or a fabulous authentic Italian meal at Doppio Zero or family owned winery, Stumpy Gully Vineyard. Moorooduc is truly the peninsula’s hidden treasure.

Photography: Yanni

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EGGS FROM FARM to you omerville Egg Farm is a third generation family owned and managed farm that has been producing quality eggs on the Mornington Peninsula for 40 years. The Napolitano family together with their loyal, hardworking staff are all passionate about the welfare of the hens, the environment and delivering excellent produce from their egg farm straight to your plate.

S

cakes are because the eggs they get from the farm shop are so fresh, generally only a few hours old.

Somerville Egg Farm has had many challenges over the last 10-15 years as it evolves into a leading figure in the free-range egg market.

They have implemented many new systems on the farm, investing in cutting edge equipment and technology to make sure they are the best free range farm on the Mornington Peninsula.

Shop hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays 8am to 12:30pm. The shop is located on the corner of Eramosa Rd West and Binnak Way, Moorooduc. Enter via Binnak Way, second driveway on the right.So, next time you’re heading down to the Peninsula or if you’re from the area, visit them for the freshest farm eggs around – FRESH IS BEST! Somerville Egg Farm – Local Food for Local Tables.

As well as selling free-range and cage eggs wholesale they have a barn door open 6 days a week. Customers are welcome to come along and see the free-range chickens in their natural surroundings and buy truly farm-fresh eggs with lovely golden yolks. While there you may also see the other animals that roam the property, including goats, alpacas, maremma dogs and even a few emus!

Not only are their eggs fresh, they are hormone, chemical & antibiotic free so that you can be assured that you are receiving only the essential vitamins and minerals that eggs provide to your diet. Customers often come in and mention how wonderful their

Have your own hens? Somerville Egg Farm also sells their fresh chicken food. It’s what they feed their girls so you can be assured it’s the best feed you can get. Fowl manure is also available for purchase by the bag.

Please contact us on 5977 5405 or email admin@somervilleeggfarm.com.au.

BA DO RN MOND OR SALES AY 8AM - TO FRIDAY AND S 4:30PM 8AM - ATURDAYS 12:30P M

Tired of stale tasting supermarket eggs? Our farm is family owned and managed. We have been producing quality eggs for almost 40 years, supplying many cafes and restaurants and other businesses on the peninsula. Eggs are collected 365 days a year so you can be assured that you are buying the freshest eggs with the best yolk and flavour from our barn door.

Come and visit our Free Range hens roaming in their paddocks!

ESH FARM FR E EGGS G N FREE RA OLESALE AT WH ES! PRIC

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Real Estate

PUTTING THE "REAL"

into Real Estate

By Melissa Walsh Photos Garry Sissons

T

he Crowder name is synonymous with real estate, and has been since 1952 when Geoffrey Crowder’s father started his own real estate business in Frankston. Since that day, real estate has been ingrained in the blood of a family that have helped change the course and progress of the community.

Geoffrey Crowder, at 78, still works within the business at the Carrum Downs branch of Nichols Crowder.

Peninsula Essence talks to Geoffrey about his life, family and love of the business.

continued next page...

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How did you start out in real estate?

Dad started the business in Frankston in 1952 with my brother, Ian. I joined when I was 17 and went overseas for a few years. Then returned home and got back into it.

When did you get the real estate bug?

You grew up with it, virtually every member of the family has been in real estate one way or another. Even my wife’s family were in real estate in Seaford and his son worked with him for a while too. It’s in the blood, my late brother Ian’s son Jamie runs James Crowder Real Estate in Mt Eliza, and my brother Malcom was in real estate.

What was it like on those early days?

Everyone started out in the rental department which is just the grounding you need, then into sales and then specialise in whatever field. I specialised in commercial property and subdivision.

What are you most proud of in your real estate career as a family?

We have always had a real passion for real estate and, looking back; have changed a lot of the area. In the early days Frankston had no bitumen roads, there was a farrier in the town and very little development. Our family has helped form the growth of the area and it is something I am very proud to be a part of.

What changes have you notice in the growth of the area and how you practice real estate?

There has been a huge amount of change over the years. In the early days a hand shake and word of mouth was enough. These days it is treated as a profession and unfortunately the standards of obtaining a real estate licence are not what they used to be. I went to night school for four years to get my licence but these days you do a three week course to be an agent’s representative.

What are the stand out moments of your real estate career?

A lot of it comes back to the auctioneering which was a real point of difference for our company. At one stage we employed 16 auctioneers when we were running a family business. Mum and dad were 94 and 95 when they passed way and dad, in his eighties, was still coming to my auctions standing beside me and taking the bids.

So now my son takes bids for me or else I stand next to him

How has technology changed the industry and how you do business?

It’s been quite a road and lots of changes in the whole industry.

Becoming much more digital, certain things have left me behind for sure, some I understand some I don’t.

I often think back to when we first started. We didn’t even have a photocopy machine; we copied everything with tracing paper. When you advertised a house it was with sketches or the old Polaroid. We were one of the first ones to use pen sketches of the outside of houses.

What makes a good auctioneer?

You have a five minute grab to get the trust of the audience.

You need to be engaging and work efficiently but then again the auctioneer is the front man. The real work has been done by the sales team getting the people there but there is definitely a real art to it.

Do you remember the first property you sold?

I remember it well. It was a block of land up in Allison road; it was a two acre block and I was about 25. Now all those blocks have been subdivided.

What is the largest property you have auctioned?

I have auctioned a lot of land; one on the top of Oliver’s Hill, the other at the Mt Eliza with a huge marquee, helicopters overhead, and TV crews. In the early days I sold well over 100 acres of land between Humphries Road and Canadian Bay Road.

What have you enjoyed about living on the peninsula?

Dad always said Victoria is the best place to live and the peninsula is the pick out of those places. We have the lot with golf courses, schooling, wineries, beaches, mountains.

How many grandchildren do you have and do you think any will follow the family footsteps?

We have 10 grandchildren, ranging from 23 down to four years of age. I think I’ve spotted one who has the personality, drive and persistence which is the key to a good real estate agent. We will see.

Your Invitation to join our community

Were you surprised that all the kids followed you into real estate?

It is a natural progression I think. I have been able to pass down a lot of information and knowledge to them but more a case of leading by example, by observing and being part of the real estate. In the early days my father read every single letter that went out of that office so it is important to read everything and write a good letter.

What do you do now?

A couple of commercial auctions and work with special clients who like to chat with the older generation rather than the next generation. Usually we go to an appointment with someone my age and someone Michael’s age.

Connecting people, Connecting business, Creating a business community.

Peninsula Business Networking (PBN) is a not-for-profit association that supports and connects people like you, and businesses like yours.

We help you and your business grow, and build and cement relationships that make a difference. Together, we help drive sustainable economic growth on the Peninsula.

We invite you to join our membership community for as little as $75 (annual fee) via: www.peninsulabusinessnetwork.org.au

February 2019

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Delgany

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EXCLUSIVE SEASIDE LIVING S

et among nine acres of park-like gardens within paces of the village, beach and the golf club, this luxury threebedroom apartment delivers the very best of coastal living within exclusive Delgany.

An elite, gated, residential estate for both permanent and part-time residents with a communal gym and outdoor heated swimming pool at your disposal, the property is steeped in history dating back to the 1920s and defined by a Mount Gambier limestone castle designed

by Harold Desbrowe Annear.

Situated within the castle itself, the oversized two-level apartment marries the timeless period charm of marble fireplaces, high ceilings and parquetry floors with contemporary updates executed in seamless accord with the original character.

Two luminous living areas, a separate dining zone and modern kitchen with stone island and all Miele appliances deliver plenty of space and lifestyle convenience, while glass doors off the upper lounge open to a superb alfresco-entertaining deck overlooking the peninsula panorama and bay beyond to enjoy sunset cocktails with friends. continued next page...

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An enormous master bedroom enjoys its own en-suite bathroom, with a full second bathroom, separate powder rooms, splitsystem, Nobo panel heaters, ducted heating and cooling, abundant storage and a triple garage supplying all the extras.

The apartments are the most unique developement that has ever taken place down here

So close to the Portsea Hotel you can enjoy a wine over dinner and stroll home under the stars, the property is exceedingly quiet and has access to a large communal lounge room with fireplace downstairs.

Listing agent Lloyd Robinson says the apartment has a wonderful feel to it, being situated within the castle.

“After it changed from being the hotel, Delgany started development in about 2003 and it involved turning the castle into apartments that fitted around the structure of the building. This meant that no two apartments are the same; they all have feel to them working within the structure of the castle,” said Mr Robinson.

“The one we are selling was part of the vey original first Delgany, the 1926 original castle done by the Armytages. This one is on the first floor and comprises three of the original fire places all working within this apartment. It is all on one level except for the turret with a great alfresco area and view s of the bay.”

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The apartment was listed just after Christmas and has had interest from local and overseas buyers.

“A lot of the people who own these are those who have had bigger houses down here but decided to downsize and stay in the same area. A lot of Portsea properties are quite large; the average size is about half an acre, so this makes really good sense for them. The other people who are representative here there are a lot of expats from London, Singapore and Vietnam; for them this is perfect as there are no ongoing maintenance issue. They come back and it forms their principal place of residence,” said Mr Robinson. “The apartments are the most unique developement that has ever taken place down here. They have a special ambience that encapsulates the feel of the place.”

Asking price is $1.8million to $1.95 million.

Agent: One Agency Peninsula Lloyd Robinson 0414 441 880

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History

BARRAGUNDA AND CAPE SCHANCK Extracted from Ruth Gooch’s book “The Wildest Bit Along the Coast” by Peter McCullough, with the author’s permission.

B

est known these days for its magnificent golf courses, the Cape Schanck locality still features some attractive grazing properties. The most significant of these is Barragunda, the homestead of which was built in 1866 from locally quarried limestone in classically derived and Gothic revival styles .

Substantial alterations over the decades notwithstanding, Barragunda is on the Register of the National Estate.

The Earliest Settlers Cape Schanck became a run in 1838 when a stockman named Thom overlanded some 800 head of cattle from the Monaro district for the talented 28 year-old entrepreneur Charles Campbell of the Duntroon run; Campbell was obliged to look elsewhere after heavy losses of sheep in the prolonged 1837-39 drought and with its attendant plague of the parasitic disease, scab.

The first sales held by the Sydney government for Port Phillip land in 1838 saw Campbell relinquish the Cape Schanck lease after only a few months in favour of 2000 acres of freehold just north of Coburg, the area becoming known as Campbellfield. The lease and

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stock at Cape Schanck were placed on the Port Phillip market and the property was inspected by a new arrival by sea from Sydney, Robert Jamieson. Inspired to buy, he overlanded back to Sydney on horseback and on 1 January, 1839 he purchased on terms from Campbell the ‘Right of Station’ for just under £4000. The purchase included 750 cattle, drays, horses, and six months of stores. On his journey back to Sydney Jamieson had met an old shipmate from the voyage out, Samuel Rawson, and Jamieson spoke in such favourable terms of Cape Schanck that Rawson was persuaded to join him in the venture. He bought in for £1000, the amount being that of Jamieson’s second term payment due on 1 January 1840.

About three weeks after the new camp was established at Cape Schanck it was threatened by a bushfire from the north. The men, including two assigned convicts and a ticket-of leave man, burnt a windbreak around the huts in an attempt to save them, but just when they had given up hope and were carrying their boxes of clothes down to the shore, a sudden change of wind turned the fire on itself and put it out. The change brought wind and rain for the next ten days, and when it subsided Rawson and Thom set off with 20 oxen for the Melbourne market. continued next page...

After a false start when the party became lost, the first sale in Melbourne was accomplished and the party returned to Cape Schanck where they had a ‘jollification’.

In 1839, disenchanted with Cape Schanck, Jamieson explored the Western Port area, taking up a selection at the head of the bay. That year the Cape Schanck run was officially divided into three. The eastern part of the original run retained the name and it was taken up by William Willoby and James Thompson. To the west of Main Creek the new Barrabang run of 17 square miles , including the Cape, was taken up by a young Scot, Elliot Heriot. The third part of the run, named Point Nepean, was taken up by James McDana, but subsequently abandoned.

The Barker Brothers In 1840 Heriot entered into a partnership with others, notably the two young Barker brothers from Buckinghamshire: John, a solicitor, and his physician brother, Dr. Edward. The Barker brothers moved

to the run where they built a house which they called ‘Aylesbury’ after their home town. Sketches show the house to have been a substantial structure, described in 1843 as an ‘elegant country residence’. Its considerable superiority to many of the rough bush huts of the period suggests that the Barkers and their partners knew that they had security of tenure, and that an accusation by the Port Phillip Herald in 1843 may have had some substance. The commercial depression, according to the paper, “could be expected when the government officers, from the highest to the lowest, are gambling in private speculations”; worse, one of the culprits was declared to be Superintendant La Trobe, who was said to be in partnership with the Barkers at Cape Schanck and with Heriot.

Not farmers, the Barkers employed a manager, William Waddell, and he and his family apparently lived in the cottage ‘Barragunda’ which may have been built for their occupancy, although it seems more likely that it was originally built and occupied by Heriot. continued next page...

Below: Barkers' house 'Aylesbury', sketched by Georgiana McCrae, 1844.

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When John Barker returned to England to further his studies, his brother Edward took charge at Barrabang station and held a race meeting on the property in September 1843, inviting between twenty and thirty guests. Edward married at Dandenong shortly afterwards and, when at Barrabang, the couple entertained the likes of Georgiana McCrae and her husband. Georgiana took the opportunity to make several sketches of the Barker homestead and the Cape Schanck area.

It was during John Barker’s absence that Edward had a serious falling out with his neighbour Maurice Meyrick which led to them fighting a duel. (A detailed account of this occurrence was contained in the August 2017 edition of Peninsula Essence.) Prices of both cattle and sheep slumped in 1843 and Edward Barker was able to take advantage of this short depression by purchasing the ‘Right of Station’ of Thompson’s Cape Schanck run (and possibly the stock) in March 1843.

John Barker returned from England in 1844 with his wife Susannah, and took over the lease of ‘Boneo’ (‘Boniyang’) when Maurice Merrick surrendered it. John also became the sole lessee of Barrabang/Cape Schanck in 1845 when Edward moved west to the Wannon River. The Barker homestead at Barrabang was Left: John Barker Below: The original 'Barragunda', circa 1841

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burnt down in March 1845 when some woodwork in the kitchen ignited; the flames spread rapidly and both the dwelling and an adjacent store were soon destroyed. The furniture and stores were saved, but the loss of the buildings was estimated at several hundred pounds. Among the stores rescued was a cask of brandy, ‘which the proprietor was very unwilling to have sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Fire God so, seizing a blanket, which he wrapped around the cask, he dashed with it through the flames and landed it in a place of safety’. Homeless, Barker built a cottage on Thompson’s former Cape Schanck run. It was not until about 1862 that he built a fourteen-room brick two-storey house covered in plaster and gravel adjoining the cottage.

Barker’s run was gazetted on 4 October, 1848 as number 20 in the Western Port District. It had an area of 15 square miles and was estimated to have a grazing capability of 600 head of cattle. He ran sheep also, for he was selling wool in January, 1850, and he ran more cattle than the 600 estimated, for he reportedly had 3000 head on his run in the late 1840’s. The market was unpredictable though: when Barker took 300 fat bullocks to Melbourne in 1848 continued next page...

Above: 'Barragunda', 1855, watercolour by Edward La Trobe Bateman Below: The Barker homestead, built circa 1862. It was renamed 'Clondrisse' in 1902 by a subsequent owner

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he was offered 2 shillings and 6 pence less than the asking price of 17 shillings and 6 pence, so they were driven back to Cape Schanck.

Subsequent to his failure at the Melbourne market in 1848, John Barker is said to have turned his attention to tallow production; he bought a boiler and made a large vat for that purpose. Eight bullocks were slaughtered daily and skinned by the local Aborigines whom he employed.

The matter of land was also uncertain and legislation in the British parliament meant that squatters in certain areas, including Cape Schanck, had to reapply for their leases. Perhaps it was uncertainty of tenure and an unpredictable stock market which prompted Barker to seek another activity: in August 1849 he was appointed District Boundaries Commissioner for the district west of Hamilton.

John Barker was admitted to the Bar in November, 1851 although he did not practise because in October he had been appointed Clerk to the new Legislative Council of Victoria. There followed a long public career of some 40 years. The Cape Schanck properties were administered by managers, and a future manager, the capable teenage Robert Anderson, joined the staff and occupied a frameand-timber hut on Main Creek. By 1858 he had become Barker’s superintendent.

The arrival at Cape Schanck in 1853 of two escaped convicts from Tasmania, Bradley and O’Connor, created a sensation. After landing

Below: Dr. Godfrey Howitt.

Right: Edward La Trobe Bateman

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at what is now known as Bushrangers Bay they made their way to Barker’s station where they found Robert Anderson and another worker, Samuel Sherlock, having breakfast. Claiming that they were survivors off a shipwreck, the escapees were given breakfast, dry powder for their guns, and some tobacco. Sensing that the visitors were escapees, Barker’s men told them that six men out bull shooting were expected shortly; fearing reinforcements were at hand the convicts hurried off (A detailed account of this occurrence was contained in the November 2017 edition of Peninsula Essence.)

Barker still took an interest in farming but legislation led to the inevitability of the loss of a significant part of his vast leases.

Existing holders of pastoral runs could apply for a 640 acre preemptive right, and consequently he was able to purchase that at Cape Schanck (October, 1855) and Boneo (1857) for the regulation price of 20 shillings an acre. The first allotments of the southern peninsula were offered for sale in 1858 and Barker selected about 922 acres at Boneo (including the pre-emptive right) and a further 3963 acres in the south-west corner of the Cape Schanck run. His long public career notwithstanding, John Barker took an interest in his Cape Schanck property for the rest of his life. In later years he would ride around on horseback but in April 1891 he sustained significant injuries from a fall when his horse stumbled in a rabbit hole. Barker died later that year.

Above: 'Barragunda' from the east front, Georgiana McCrae, 1869 Left: Robert and Edith Anderson, March 1867 Below: 'Barragunda' south front, Georgiana McCrae, 1885

Dr. Godfrey Howitt A significant part of the former Barrabang and part of the Cape Schanck runs were selected by Dr. Godfrey Howitt. The entrepreneur J.B.Were purchased 1790 acres of the former Barrabang. By 1860 Were had on-sold the land to Godfrey Howitt whose holdings in the Cape Schanck area were extensive.

Smaller allotments were taken up by people with an interest in the area: artist Edward La Trobe Bateman paid £57 for 64 acres, and his friend Robert Anderson took out a grazing licence for the allotment opposite. At the same time Anderson left Barker’s employ to become Howitt’s manager.

Barragunda Dr. Howitt decided, around 1865, that he would build a much larger residence on his property at the Cape, but further to the south.

The plans were apparently entrusted to Anderson and tradition says that he engaged the architects Reed and Barnes, although there is no surviving record in that company’s archives. Reed and Barnes may have employed Bateman, since they had worked together on other projects. About the same time Anderson became engaged to Edith Howitt, who is known to have visited her father’s property

on previous occasions. Anderson apparently decided that with Bateman’s assistance he would build a large limestone block house in which he and his fiancée would live after they were married.

The wedding took place in August, 1866 and Dr. Howitt is said by family sources to have found out too late that the home which Anderson had erected and for which Howitt was required to pay was a neo-Victorian Gothic extravaganza.

Anderson appropriated the name Barragunda for his new edifice (the name does have a ring to it and is said to have been derived from an Aboriginal word describing the thunderous roar of the sea) and, although there have been alterations, the house still stands. It now has a Historic Buildings Council classification and remains a monument to Anderson’s accelerated upward mobility. Originally there was a rose garden laid out by Bateman, and there were fruit trees described some 20 years later as peaches, figs and mulberries.

As Lambert cypresses were found to withstand the force of the sea wind better than any other tree, imported or Australian, some of these were planted.

In keeping with his new status as a gentleman farmer, Anderson was appointed a Justice of the Peace; and on 26 February, 1869 the Government Gazette announced his appointment to preside at a meeting to elect a Board for the new Roads District of Flinders. continued next page...

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Left: Robert Anderson, circa 1890-95 Above: Anderson's 'Barragunda' with the 1939 north wing added

by Dr. Bell (partly hidden). Edward La Trobe Bateman's rose garden, removed in the 1950's, was some 45 metres in front of the original building

The gentleman farmer and his wife had many visitors, including a kangarooing party which travelled by steamer to Dromana for the Easter holidays of 1871 and stayed at Barragunda. The party shot 230 kangaroos and returned to Melbourne with ’the skins, tails, and a few haunches’. And it was Anderson who was the original applicant for the first school at Cape Schanck; the wattle-and -daub building opened on 23 May, 1870 and was erected by Barragunda employees.

Dr. Howitt died in 1873. His will was complex with provisions applying for 20 years after his death. His daughter Edith Anderson was the major beneficiary and she and her husband were thereby enabled to continue at Barragunda. Edith died of a stroke in 1884 at the age of 50 years. Anderson remarried in 1887 and added an extensive north wing to Barragunda. The new addition was also built of limestone but according to oral accounts - the wing no longer exists - it lacked the style and elegance of the original.

A man of contradictions, Anderson was either admired or hated.

He was remembered by one employee as a heartless man who would flog his horse to gallop up a steep hill, but was appointed an honorary correspondent to the Royal Humane Society of Australasia in 1884. On a more positive note, the annual meeting of the Kangerong Agricultural and Horticultural Society at Dromana gave Anderson an illuminated address in 1898 which expressed its appreciation of his 30 years service as a councillor. And it was to the undoubted credit of Anderson and other farmers in the area

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that they offered agistment for starving stock during the northern Victorian drought of 1902.

In 1908 Anderson retired to Melbourne where he died in September, 1923, at the age of 88.

Subsequent owners After Anderson’s retirement, the 7,000 acre Barragunda was sold to Sir Marcus Whiting and his merchant brother, John Whiting. The following year the Whitings sold about 1,000 acres. John Whiting died in 1913, and over the next decade the run was subdivided into five parts and four of them were sold. The portion containing the house and the 711 acres of land then comprising the station was sold to tar distiller John Munckton in 1920.

Munckton’s ownership was short-lived, and he sold the following year to George Turnbull Bell, described as a ‘gentleman’. Under ‘Gentleman Bell’ the property was proclaimed a sanctuary for native game in 1929.George Turnbull Bell died in 1931, and the property passed to Dr James Riddell Bell and his sisters Constance Fyfe Bell and Margaret Scott Bell, after the settling of their father’s estate in 1939. Almost immediately the property was transferred into Dr. Bell’s name and he and his family used it as a permanent home. The crude additions made to the house by Robert Anderson were demolished and more sophisticated additions commissioned.

The property has changed hands several times since, and some of the land that formed the original run has been re-acquired. This

includes some of the blocks in the small village subdivision in the lighthouse precinct. According to internet records, the most recent sale was recorded in November, 1999. An area of 452 hectares (1117 acres) was sold for $ 6.1 million.

Proposed development On 5 May, 2011 the owner, Chris Morris, under the banner of Colonial Leisure Group, made an application to build a micro brewery, function centre, restaurant, plant nursery, farm outlet and caretaker’s residence on the Barragunda Estate at an estimated cost of $6.8 million. In October the Mornington Peninsula Shire decided to grant a permit for the proposed development, but with 66 conditions.

Subsequent to the Shire’s approval the Friends of Cape Schanck lodged an application with VCAT to challenge this permit.

After a number of mediation conferences conducted by VCAT, the objectors in the appeal reached an agreement with the developer.

Fundamentally, the agreement provided that the planning permit application be amended to substitute new plans which provide that access to the proposed development be via Boneo Road rather than Cape Schanck Road.

The new permit which was issued by VCAT on 4 September, 2012, had an expiry date of 36 months; any extension had to be requested within three months of the expiry date. The developer did in fact apply for an extension and a further 24 months was granted. This extended period has now expired and the permit is no longer valid.

Above: The Cape Schanck Lighthouse from 'Barragunda' Below: The present entrance to 'Barragunda'

Ruth Gooch has published a number of books and peer-reviewed papers. A list of her publications is on her web site www.ruth-gooch. com. Her books ‘Frontier French Island’ , and her history of Cape Schanck, ‘The Wildest Bit along the Coast’, can be purchased at Hastings Newsagency and Petersen’s Bookshop.

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