Peninsula Essence September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

FREE

PENINSULA Living & visiting on the Mornington Peninsula

As Rare As A Unicorn •The Voice Of The Peninsula • On Your Bike • No Walk In The Park Peninsula Palooza • Vision In The Stars • Step Back In Time • Good Vibrations • A Passion For Portraiture Blackspot, A Creative Hub • A World Of Flavour • A Slice Of Heaven • Sweet Spot The Ghosts Of Sorrento • Modern Hamptons • Grand Hotel Mornington (Part 2)

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contents 49

Leading 10. As Rare As A Unicorn

Kristen Leknius and Simone Leyden, CEO of the Unicorn Foundation, talk about the insidious NETs cancer.

14. The Voice Of The Peninsula

Home & Garden Feature

Father of two, a family man, and a rock’n roll star according to his five year old.

18. On Your Bike

Brad Clarke, mountain bike cyclist and national champion.

22. No Walk In The Park

Barbara and Julie, in their 70’s on a mission to complete a coast to coast 309km walk.

26. Peninsula Palooza

A one-day celebration of independent music, artisanal food and craft breweries.

28. Vision In The Stars

Peter Norman, a Mornington astronomer who continues to teach his passion to this day.

32. Step Back In Time

St Mary’s primary school in Hastings, celebrating 100 year this month.

Arts 42. Good Vibrations

Dan Byrne discovers the therapeutic musical sounds of a handpan.

76

44. A Passion For Portraiture

70 year old Polish refugee artist, now calling the Mornington Peninsula home.

48. Blackspot, A Creative Hub

Must Try Beers

The Styne family have created an independent Mornington gallery supporting local artists.

Eat & Drink Proudly published by

68. A World Of Flavour

Interview with Mt Martha chef, Lyndal Barnes from the restaurant ‘Mr Curtis’

71. A Slice Of Heaven

The re opening of the home of Sorrento’s famous vanilla slice.

Writers: Melissa Walsh, Andrea Louise Thomas, Peter McCullough Photography: Yanni, Gary Sissons Creative: Dannielle Espagne, Sam Loverso Publisher: Melissa McCullough Advertising: Brooke Hughes, 0409 219 282 or brooke@mpnews.com.au Marg Harrison, 0414 773 153 or marg@mpnews.com.au

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).

PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. www.pefc.org

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Love and generosity at the chocolaterie and Ice creamery in Flinders.

Focus On Sorrento 82. Facts & Coffee Safari 83. What To Do 86. Article: The Ghosts Of Sorrento

Real Estate 89.Modern Hamptons

Phone: (03) 5974 9000 Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931 www.peninsulaessence.com.au facebook/peninsulaessence instagram@peninsulaessence

72. Sweet Spot

History 92. Grand Hotel Mornington (Part 2) Cover Image by Yanni The Southern Brown Tree Frog is a common visitor to gardens all over the Mornington Peninsula. Unlike most frogs the Southern Brown Tree Frog can live in drier areas away from water. This little beauty, only 4cm long was photographed using a 100mm macro lens as it tried to balance on a delicate tree branch.

September 2019

Every Month 7. Peninsula Events 8. Peninsula Styles 38. Social Photos 70. Recipe 75. Must Try Dishes 78. Crossword

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Brighton Land Rover 229 Nepean Highway Gardenvale 03 9595 9999 brightonlandrover.com.au Moving to 363 Nepean Highway Brighton East later this year.

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Peninsula events

September

STEEL: ART DESIGN ARCHITECTURE

September 1- 29 STEEL: art design architecture is a major exhibition exploring innovative ways that steel is being used by artists, designers and architects in Australia in the 21st century. A material of such great potential, steel influences nearly all aspects of our lives, rendering the ingenuity, craftsmanship and skill of those working with it practically invisible.

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

WOMEN'S HEALTH WEEK ART EXHIBITION

FASHION POP BOUTIQUE FASHION SHOW AND DINNER

WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY WALK 2019

SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY

September 5 Fashion Pop Boutique is supporting the Save the Box campaign dedicated to raising awareness of gynaecological cancers. Join Melissa, Jo and Amelia for a night of fashion, dinner, drinks and entertainment with silent auctions, door prizes and gift bags. Tickets available through Event Brite (search FASHION INTO POWER) Manhattan in Mornington, 2/55 Barkly Street, Mornington Ph 9784 1051 www.fashionpopboutique.com

September 5 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Join us for Women's Health Week 2019, where local artists will present an exhibition inspiring healthy lifestyle for all women.

Free health resources, guest bags and giveaways, art exhibition, live music, finger food, drinks, raffle prizes and silent auction.

The Nook Gallery & Studios, 18 Progress Street, Mornington www.artxhealth.com

ST MARY’S, HASTINGS CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

September 13 Come along to St Mary’s for their centenary celebrations with an open day at school, displays, school performances, speeches and lots of fun.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, 69 Marine Parade, Hastings Ph 5979 1959 www.smhastings.catholic.edu.au

2019

September 15 Tour the Eco Living Display Centre for inspiration, ideas and sustainable solutions for your home. The retrofitted building displays solar passive design, thermal mass, hydronic heating, heat pump technology, solar power, battery storage, solar hot water and ventilation (HRV). See a range of options for insulation, window coverings, glazing, energy-efficient lighting and appliances.

Visit stalls about bees, composting, solar and more. The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mount Martha www.mornpen. vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Environment/ Eco-Living-Display-Centre

September 15 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM As part of its commitment to positive mental health and suicide prevention, Mornington Peninsula Shire is hosting the walk in partnership with Chasing Change, a community led initiative made up of passionate volunteers including those with lived experience of suicide.

Mornington Park, Schnapper Point Drive (Bottom of Main Street), Mornington

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September 2019

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MORNINGTON CYCLES The Specialized Turbo Creo SL is a brand new lightweight performance road bike with pedal-assist electric assistance. This bike will flatten out your climbs and open up the Mornington Peninsula roads to more riders by providing assistance when they want it to ride longer and adventure further then ever before.

Mornington Cycles 1/54 Main St, Mornington Ph: 5975 8055 www.specialized.com.au

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MINZENMAY Available at Minzenmay Jewellers the Bulova Curv watches are the only type of their kind in the world.

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152 Main St, Mornington Ph: 5975 2439 www.minzenmay.com.au

EVERYWHEN ARTSPACE Ceramics from Ernabella Arts such this soft-hued work by Tanya Williams feature at Everywhen gallery’s spring showing

A ROOM WITH A VIEW Stuck for a unique gift idea? Well look no further. These life-size Victory hand candles, available in naughty and nice hand gestures, are for sale at A Room With A View Dromana Shop 4, 277 Point Nepean Rd, Dromana Ph: 5981 8033 www.aroomwithaview.com.au

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From neutral palettes and rattan textures to edgier homewares and bold hues. There certainly is something for everyone this season.

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September 2019

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AS RARE AS A Unicorn

By Melissa Walsh Photo Gary Sissons

W

hen Kristen Leknius turned 40 she was not feeling like the vibrant, bubbly woman who had her life before her. Kristen, like many others, had been struggling with baffling and chronic symptoms of illness for three years prior; illnesses doctors and specialists could never seem to cure. It took five long years before the peninsula woman was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), a cancer so rare that many general practitioners were not aware of it. Peninsula Essence talks to Kristen Leknius and Simone Leyden, CEO of the Unicorn Foundation, about the insidious cancer that has taken too many victims, including Simone’s sister, Kate. continued next page...

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September 2019

Kristen Leknius and Simone Leydon: two strong peninsula women inspiring and helping others through the Unicorn Foundation.

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The problem with this cancer is the symptoms are common in other illnesses

“I had been ill for five years before the cancer was discovered, and by that stage the tumour was well advanced and had metastasised into my liver,” said Kristen, a mother to two girls. “The problem with this cancer is that the symptoms are common in other illnesses.

I had irritable bowel, fatigue, weight loss, rashes under my arms and in the groin and ulcers in my mouth. They were just general symptoms that got worse over time.”

CEO of the Unicorn Foundation, Simone Leyden, says Kristen’s story is all too common, and one she and her family have experienced firsthand.

“My brother, Dr John Leyden, and I started the Unicorn Foundation in October 2009 due to the experience with our sister. She was diagnosed in 2005 with pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma and liver metastasis. She had been a healthy 29-year-old girl working in the corporate world and embracing life when she was struck down with it. It took our family by surprise that she had an incurable, inoperable and rare cancer and we decided to do everything in our power to help her,” said Simone who runs the foundation from her home office in Blairgowrie. “With my brother, who is an anaesthetist in Sydney, we were able to navigate the system and track down doctors and experts overseas. We found the best care was here at Peter MacCallum. Anyone diagnosed with this cancer knows there is no remission, no cure and this is for life so we found ourselves searching for treatments and getting access to drugs for Kate.”

After a couple of years contacting politicians, doctors, and carrying out research, the brother and sister team decided they should help others going through the same crisis.

“We started to think about all those people who have this illness, but no one to help them, so we launched the Unicorn Foundation in October 2009 with a big gala dinner,” said Simone, who had a six week old baby at the time. “We attracted 500 guests and the funds went towards patient care, research and raising awareness.”

As the organisation took on a life of its own, Simone decided to quit her corporate job and donate her time to helping others through the Unicorn Foundation, which was aptly named after the mythical animal.

“My brother is the doctor and I am the marketer,” said Simone with a laugh. “Unicorns, by their mythology, were hunted for their horns which were thought to have antidotes, and we are looking for an antidote to the disease. Just like the disease, the unicorn is also rare.”

Celebrating ten years since the Unicorn Foundation began; Simone is proud of the achievements they have made but says there is still so much to do.

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September 2019

“After setting up the board, and deciding to dedicate myself to it full time, we started an international organisation which now extends to New Zealand. We had just started our support groups when Kristen came along and has been involved ever since,” said Simone, who describes the not-forprofit medical charity as like a family. “Our role is important to the lives and outcomes of neuroendocrine cancer patients around Australia, and around the world, and we are proud to be a genuine and compassionate support as much as a provider of important information and direction. We have a clear mission to assist and support patients and carers; lobby for new, appropriate treatments and investigations; raise awareness and knowledge of NETs within the medical community and general public; and encourage and support Australian research in the area of neuroendocrine cancers.”

For Kristen, the support has been invaluable and she has been able to help support others through her journey.

“I started going to the support meetings the year after I was diagnosed and, in 2011, I gave my first speech in front of 500 people. I had been able to have access to an experimental treatment which had a miraculous effect and has put me into remission for the past eleven years. For me, it was important to do the speech at the gala dinner and tell about my journey. I had seen a young single mum the year before who stood up and talked about her cancer. She died that year and I wanted it to be a tribute to her,” said Kristen.

“Everyone around me was dying so I felt it was important to tell my story of how the treatment had worked well so far.”

With such strong women as Simone Leyton and Kristen Leknius, the foundation has been able to help about 1900 patients per year.

However, it is actually 3400 per year when you take into account all the cancers related to NETs. “Everyone is living with a NET tumour. If you don’t suspect it, you can’t detect it,” said Simone. “Unfortunately most people suffer for five to seven years before it is diagnosed.”

The Unicorn Foundation 10th anniversary gala dinner will be held at Myer Mural Hall on Saturday October 12.

“We will showcase and highlight our milestones and achievements over the last decade,” said Simone. “It is a wonderful night of unforgettable food, wine and entertainment, including a live auction and raffle.”

The journey for the Unicorn Foundation started with their first gala dinner ten years ago, and funds raised from that event enabled the foundation to address the large unmet needs within the NET cancer community. Over the last ten years the Unicorn Foundation has provided support, and resources to thousands of patients and families diagnosed with NET cancer around Australia.

www.unicornfoundation.org.au

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THE VOICE OF

the Peninsula

By Melissa Walsh Photos Supplied

H

e’s only 36 years of age but peninsula lad, Lee Harding, has already been on prime time television twice, with Australia Idol and The Voice, won golden and platinum awards for his songs and albums, performed alongside such greats as Shannon Noll, and INXS, played the MTV Awards, as well as flown over to Iraq and entertained the troops there. He is the father of two, a family man, and a rock’n roll star according to his five year old daughter, Blaize. Peninsula Essence talks to Harding about life, love and his passion for music. continued next page...

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September 2019

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“The Voice came about after they approached me on messenger out of the blue last year,” said Harding, back home with his family in Carrum Downs. “I decided to have a chat to them but wasn’t sure at first about doing another show. I then changed my mind and thought it would be fun.”

Working with Boy George was great. He is a lot more introverted than you imagine but taught us so much

It had been 14 years since the rock’n ’roll singer had performed on national television in the third season of Australian Idol, and he has never looked back. His debut single “Wasabi” was a smash hit and debuted at number one on the Australian music charts, managing to remain in the Australian singles top 50 for twenty-two consecutive weeks and finishing as the eighth highest single in the end-of-year ARIA singles charts for 2006.

“I was a different person then; a lot more naive and with a totally different look and attitude. It was an awesome experience but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it again.”

It wasn’t long before Harding took the leap of faith and went along to do the blind audition which was another great decision for the talented performer.

“We flew to Sydney for the blind auditions in February and I was able to take my family with me. My little girl was so excited, but she didn’t realise it was going to be on television. In the end, she became more famous than me,” he said with a laugh.

For Harding, it has always been about the music and, as a young man, there was nothing else he wanted to do.

“A lot has changed over the years, and I think I have been able to evolve and change as an artist by being out of the spotlight for a while.

So being able to come back with a different look and sound was a great experience,” said Harding, who has never lost the drive or passion for performing or writing songs. “I wasn’t the same spikey haired punk kid as before. I am a 36 year old family man so my music has changed too. “ Harding says the experience of being on The Voice was incredible, and he is proud to have done it.

“Working with Boy George was great. He is a lot more introverted than you imagine but taught us so much,” said the singer. “I also learnt a lot from the other contestants who were all amazing.

There were no egos amongst any of us. We all just got in there and supported each other.”

Lee Harding has just released new music on Spotify.

“The songs are all written by me and the band and we are really proud of them,” said the singer. “It is so exciting to be writing our own music now; another way we are evolving and growing as artists.”

Follow Lee on Insta: @leeharding1 or Facebook: @leehardingmusic

“Before competing in Australian Idol, I was at a bar to see one of my favourite bands, Bedrock. They shuffled their line-up and invited me to join the group as the lead singer which was amazing,” said Harding, who still performs with the band to this day. “I had been going to see them since I was 16 and was a loyal fan of their music. We still perform at gigs every week with band members Aaron Bateman, Dylan Boyd, Mick Spencer, and Simon Holmes.”

These days, Harding is not only one of Australia’s leading entertainers and front men; he manages to maintain a balanced life with his wife, Nicole, six year old daughter and baby son.

“We perform regularly at Crown and have other gigs across Victoria so I have to be away from the family some nights,” said Harding. “I am lucky enough to have a very understanding wife.”

The young couple were high school sweethearts and have now been together for 20 years.

“We are definitely living the family life after having our first baby six years ago and our second one just four months ago,” said Harding, who has a magical way of combining the family life with the rock ‘n’ roll career.

For Harding, doing The Voice was a way for people to see how he has evolved as a singer and a person.

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Lee with his band, Bedrock.

September 2019

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Brad Clarke: Owner of Mornington Cycles, mountain bike cyclist and national champion.

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September 2019

ON YOUR Bike

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons & supplied

H

e races on a mountain bike through rocky tracks, deep crevices and steep descents on some of the highest peaks in the world. His legs and arms ache. He is thousands of miles away from home. He is hungry, exhausted and sometimes starved of oxygen and he loves every minute. He is Brad Clarke, mountain bike cyclist and national champion, who has competed in national and international events, including the UCI mountain bike world championships. Having worked as a professional mechanical engineer for V8 racing, Clarke found his way to the Mornington Peninsula and opened Mornington Cycles, a lifelong dream, where he combines his love of cycling with an adventurous spirit that just won’t quit.

“It is awesome to be on the peninsula at Mornington Cycles and I work with a team of experienced riders who have a knowledge across all the cycling disciplines,” said the 43 year old cycling champion, who came in third in South Africa’s Absa Cape Epic race last year, and recently finished the 'bc' bike race in Canada.

The latter is a seven-day mountain bike stage race held in British Columbia, traditionally held in early July.

“There are about 600 racers in the 'bc' and we ride an average of 50 kilometres a day on race routes that are 75 per cent single track,” said Clarke. “It is very intense. Some tracks are just rugged and brutally hard and not knowing the track ahead of time makes it more challenging. I came 14th overall and won the over 40’s category.”

Even though Clarke says some races can be physically and mentally demanding, it is a challenge that he loves and he is always looking for the next one.

“All of these are amazing adventures and a way to constantly challenge myself,” said the father of two. “My wife and family are incredible and very supportive. They come along to as many of the events as possible.”

Although he hasn’t lived on the peninsula, Clarke says members of his family have lived there and it was the ideal place to open the bike shop.

“Some of my family have been on the peninsula for decades. I still remember, as a toddler, walking up Main Street Mornington with my grandmother. I spent a lot of my school holidays down here with both my sets of grandparents living here. It is like a second home for me, so opening Mornington Cycles in October 2016 felt like coming home,” said Clarke, who has always been a cyclist but got serious about it six years ago.

“I love riding but it turned from a hobby to something competitive six years ago. I decided to start taking it more seriously and had a relatively quick progression in the early days when I started getting results,” said the champion cyclist, “It was then that my competitive side took over, and I engaged a coach who has helped me enormously.”

As a ten year old, Clarke’s parents bought him a BMX bike and he had his first taste of riding competitively. Yet it was after he had his family that the bug really hit. continued next page...

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Book into the next issue Call Marg on 0414 773 153 marg@mpnews.com.au

September 2019

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You are literally at maximum effort at the top of the climb so you are a bit dizzy and get blurred vision.

“I was 36 before I really got back into the riding. I didn’t want the 'dad bod' and decided to start getting fit. The first competition I did was in Lysterfield and I did really well.

Not long after, I saw a magazine article about a 16 week training program and I decided to do it. I followed it religiously and got excellent results,” he said.

These days, Clarke’s cycling has become a lot more structured.

“That’s one of the great things. You become more time and energy efficient when you follow a stricter program for training.

With the equipment on the bike you can measure all the output and power, unlike in the early days when I used to wear a heart rate monitor to measure my progress.”

Always pushing himself to improve, Clarke is taking on the big guns with the Mountain Bike World Championships in Quebec.

“It is a single race and I am proud to represent Australia. There will be representatives from most of the nations there,” he said of the arduous race which is short but a very difficult terrain to manoeuvre. “I love the challenges of a high intensity race. This one is roughly an hour and a half long and I sit around 98 per cent of my maximum heart rate for all that time. It is very high

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intensity and can be quite painful at times, in terms of the lactic acid and the amount of effort you have to put in. Everything hurts; particularly the lungs because of the amount of oxygen you have to take on in a course like that.”

As challenges go, this world championship is like no other with a course that has three climbs that each go for about four minutes, before a technical descent where the riders negotiate gardens and rocky terrain.

“You are literally at maximum effort at the top of the climb so you are a bit dizzy and get blurred vision. You have to navigate a technical section and then you go back up and do it again,” said Clarke, who qualified by competing in the Australiana and Oceanic titles which made him the current Australian title holder after winning all three titles this year.

Follow Brad on Instagram for his daily cycling updates or go in and chat to him at Mornington Cycles, 1/54 Main Street, Mornington. Phone 5975 8055. www.morningtoncycles.com.

Brad races in South Africa's Absa Cape Epic last year.

September 2019

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September 2019

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September 2019

NO WALK IN THE Park

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons & Supplied

E

very morning for three weeks, Barbara Lorback and Julie Gregory woke to their alarm, showered and headed down for breakfast at a charming little English Bed and Breakfast.

The travel companions, both in their 70’s, enjoyed a hearty meal, chatted to the establishment owners and then set off on their way to explore the countryside. However, for the Mornington girls, this trip was no walk in the park. The pair was on a mission to walk across the country alone, doing the Coast to Coast Walk, the UK’s most iconic long-distance walking route that spans 309 kilometres; a trek that is usually done by people half their age.

“We walked from the Irish Sea at St Bees across the famous Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors; all the way to the North Sea at Robin Hood’s Bay,” said Barbara and Julie, who met at a walking group in Mornington. “We both love an adventure and decided we should do it while we still can. Many people in our age group don’t get the chance.”

With Barbara in her hot pink jacket and Julie in her bright purple, the two were on a mission to complete the walk, no matter how long it took.

Being novices, the girls had spent weeks preparing for the trek, walking long distances most days and doing endurance hikes along unmade paths.

“We did the Birdrock steps on a regular basis, walked for kilometres at a time most days, and walked up Arthurs Seat in preparation,” said Barbara and Julie. “Yet one of the biggest shocks doing the trek was the amount of rocks we had to walk on.”

There was only one time that was a little scary and that was going through the Yorkshire Moors which was so barren and desolate, and not a soul in sight

“We had heard about this walk you can do through Raw Travel and decided to check it out but had no idea it would be as difficult.

They didn’t tell you that on the brochure,” said the girls of their hike that took 21 days from beginning to end. “We bandaged our feet every morning with tape, talcum powder and toe socks and didn’t get one blister. We brought some good backpacks and bright jackets so we could be easily spotted, and did some preparation before we left, but nothing could have prepared us for the rocks.”

Beginning their hike from St Bees, with a probable eight hours of walking in sight for the first day, the girls packed their lunches in their backpacks and headed out on their adventure.

Pictured: Julie (left) and Barbara (right)

“We used vans for our luggage which wasa great idea. They are local people who take your big cases from one venue to the other,” said the ladies. “We saw quite a few people doing the trek with their large backpacks and not coping all that well.”

“We could not have been prepared for those rocks,” said Barbara. “We got very much over rocks and pebbles. There were rocks under your feet constantly; sharp, lumpy rocks."

Traversing some of the most beautiful terrain England has to offer, hikers do the coast to coast walk from one end of the country to the other, while some do small parts of the trek.

“The countryside was like a picture post card, walking through farmyards past sheep and cows, across hillsides and brooks,” they said.

“We went in spring for the wildflowers and the weather was just perfect We did get misplaced a few times as there wasn’t much signage and often it was steeper than we expected.

But we would ask a local farmer who would often send us off with instructions like ‘pass the stand of trees on the top of the second hill, go across the cattle grid and take the road to the left’,” they said with a laugh.

“There was only one time that was a little scary and that was going through the Yorkshire Moors which were so barren and desolate, and not a soul in sight,” they said of the walk that meanders across all manner of peaty bogs, rock-strewn hills, rivers, quarries, meadows, trails, tracks, farms and derelict mines. continued next page...

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“Each day ends at a village with overnight accommodation at a pub, or a quaint Bed and Breakfast where the people were lovely. One night we arrived at a town where they were having a scarecrow festival. It was a quaint little village with people dressed up everywhere, celebrating and having a wonderful time.”

Barbara and Julie had followed in the footsteps of Alfred Wainwright, the famous fell walker and guidebook writer, who started the Coast to Coast Walk in 1973. They had made themselves proud and their families proud, and proved that growing old is optional.

With 21 days of walking under their belts, finally Barbara and Julie arrived at Robin Hood’s Bay, taking a deep breath at the recognition of the achievement they had made. They wandered down to the water’s edge, through the narrow cobble lanes and fisherman’s cottages crammed together in the secluded harbour, reached in their pockets, and threw in the pebble they had picked up from St Bees beach all those weeks before.

Julie & Barbara's adventure was booked through Raw Travel, 3 Main Street Mornington.

Ph: (03) 5976 3763 www.rawtravel.com

Top: Barbara and Julie at "The End" of the walk Bottom and right: Some of the sights from their adventures abroad.

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September 2019

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PENINSULA Palooza A

n inclusive, family friendly festival celebrating the best independent producers of beer, cider, wine and spirits on the Mornington Peninsula is coming this October.

Peninsula Palooza is a one-day celebration of independent music, artisanal food and craft breweries, distilleries and wineries showcasing the best of the bayside coastal bounty. There’ll be food trucks along eat street, kids entertainment, brewers and distillers masterclasses and more, including the opportunity for the kid at heart to ‘dunk the brewer', as well as getting up close and personal with the producers of over 200 craft beers, ciders and spirits from the region.

Peninsula Palooza creates an all inclusive atmosphere with a low and slow BBQ demonstration and a landmark local lineup of eclectic artists that is sure to ignite good vibes and good times for young and old on the grassy knoll.

Local headliners include Quarry Mountain Deadrats, The Ben Smith Band, Rob Papp & Brothers In Blues, The Distance, Matt Katsis, Alex Hughes and the Shipfaced Pirates. Expect live music from 1pm til close, roaming entertainers, live radio broadcast, door prizes, raffles and more.

Feast on a grazing platter from an assortment of producers of cheese, cured meats and breads and wash it down with a tasting paddle.

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September 2019

Your early bird $25 ticket includes your own festival cup to reduce your carbon footprint and a tasting paddle from the sample bar.

The brainchild of Jetty Road Brewery and headed up by former venue operators Nick and Kat O’Brien, the event has come to fruition organically from the opportunity to support and showcase a region of independent producers.

“We just realised that the Mornington Peninsula needed something like this. It's a natural progression for us with no offering in this space on the Mornington Peninsula that celebrates the increasing number of artisan producers.” said Nick.

“The Peninsula Palooza is a chance to celebrate the cultural richness of the great range of independent producers that we have right here” continued O’Brien.

Limited early-bird tickets are available from now until late August from Tixstar.

Peninsula Palooza with be held from 12pm-8pm on Saturday, 5th October at the Mornington Racecourse See peninsulapalooza.com.au

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VISION IN THE Stars

By Melissa Walsh

H

e’s 87 years of age, and legally blind, but you would be hard pressed to find someone with more vision than Peter Norman, a Mornington astronomer who continues to teach his passion to this day.

“I studied physics at the University of Melbourne but sadly we were never taught astronomy,” said Mr Norman from his Mornington home that he has shared with his wife, Doreen, for nearly 60 years.

In 1957 as a science teacher at Casterton high school, Mr Norman received a request from the Astronomical Society of Victoria to report any details of auroras sighted, because the sun was due to be stormy that year. For that same reason, Russia launched the first spacecraft, Sputnik which was accidentally detected by a new radio-telescope in England. It was these events that began the space race, radio astronomy and Peter’s interest in astronomy. continued next page...

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September 2019

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Astronomer Peter Norman teaches astronomy at U3A. Photo: Gary Sissons.

“President Eisenhower immediately ordered the modernising of all science and maths text books. He also established NASA and made all their space movies freely available to all secondary schools of the western allies. When teaching physics and maths at University High School in 1958, I took groups of students to Melbourne Observatory to see the stars of our universe,” said Mr Norman, who moved to Mornington with Doreen two years later. “We bought a block of land here and decided this was where we wanted to raise our family. I had discovered Mornington while I was in the army.

We had to drive down to Portsea and, on the way back, stopped at Mornington. I wandered down to the pier and looked at the beautiful bay and decided this was where we should live.”

When he saw that the Mornington High School had bought a telescope after he started working there, Mr Norman thought it would be a good idea to start an astronomy club with the students.

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September 2019

Mr Norman then went on to gain his PhD in physics and work as a senior physics lecturer at Monash University, but always came back to the sky.

As I was no longer able to drive a car, the students came to my home for classes

“I began lecturing science and astronomy at Frankston Teachers College in 1971 and made my own telescope when I joined the Astronomical Society of Frankston,” said Mr Norman, who had found his passion in the stars. “I had studied my bachelor of science, bachelor of education and nearly completed a master of arts and history of philosophy but it was when I learnt that trigonometry really started from astronomy that I thought it should be taught in schools.”

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Always one to take on a challenge, Mr Norman became the president of that society for the next thirteen years, setting up an observatory in the college grounds which was used by the astronomical society.

“During the last forty years I have presented many research papers at physics and amateur astronomy conferences throughout Australia, and had articles published in international journals,” said Mr Norman who has also published two text books, one with his wife, Doreen as co-author, on Medication Mathematics for nurses.

Becoming legally blind was never going to stop Peter Norman, who teaches astronomy courses at the U3A to this day.

“I was asked to provide a short course in astronomy here in Mornington, and have continued the tradition for the last 27 years,” he said with a laugh. “As I was no longer able to drive a car, the students came to my home for classes. When I teach astronomy through the U3A, I teach the story of astronomy starting with the ancient Aboriginal legends. I do eight lectures over two months, and the students are fascinated.”

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Humpback Whale Photo: Thomas Kelley August 2019

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STEP BACK IN Time

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons

I

t’s been 100 years since the doors opened at St Mary's primary school in Hastings and the school has seen a myriad teachers and students come and go. Originally named Immaculate Conception, the school was blessed and opened in 1917. Yet, it did not begin to operate as a school until 1919. The first class started with eleven pupils. Today, the school has 130 students and is watched over proudly by Principal, Jason Micallef.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating the centenary of the school in September with some fabulous activities in mind for our big event on Friday September 13,” said Principal Micallef, who has been with the school for two years. “It has been wonderful to join a school with such unique offerings and to be part of the centenary celebrations is an honour.”

“One of the activities we are doing with the children is having a day where we step back in time to show what it would have been like back then,” said Principal Micallef, of the school that began with one building.

“We are going to take the school back 100 years and get the children to dress up as if they were going to school in that era. continued next page...

For Principal Micallef, teachers and students, school life today would be very different from 100 years ago.

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St Mary's principal Jason Micallef.

September 2019

Our classrooms will be like stepping back in time and the children will get an experience of everyday school which in those days was much more regimented. They will get a sense of what it was really like then as well as it being a lot of fun.”

equipment in the classrooms and lessons were very different.

Pupils would have sat at long wooden benches made from narrow planks usually with no back. At the front of the classroom would be a large wooden blackboard on a floor stand.

The original school was the current library; which had two classrooms and served the community and its children well for many years. When the school opened during World War One,

“St Mary’s has changed and grown dramatically since then but still maintains a small enough number of children and staff to provide personal attention,” said Principal Micallef. continued next page...

St Mary's Catholic school 2019.

The original school at Hastings.

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Friday 11 October, 10.30am & 1.30pm

A celebration of 100 years of great Australian singers and their songs, along with the fascinating stories of these Australian icons.

57 Main Main Street, Mornington Ph: 5975 3235 57 Street, Mornington 5975 3235Tickets: 03 9784 1060 or thefac.com.au

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September 2019

“While we may be a small school, we are at the forefront with our philosophy and modern approach to our children’s education. The school has seen all manner of changes from extension and growth of the buildings to our philosophy for teaching.”

We motivate the students to learn and use their own initiative

Under Principal Micallef ’s direction, the school has taken a more forward thinking and progressive approach to teaching, with excellent results.

“In the last few years we have made changes to our approach to do with the art of teaching,” said Principal Micallef, who came from progressive schools. “We motivate the students to learn and use their own initiative. We look at how they can learn more effectively and what influences positive learning environments so that students take an active part in their learning.”

Class of 1931 at the immaculate conception, Hastings.

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September 2019

St Mary’s celebrates their 100 year anniversary on September 13 with a school and community mass, followed by an open day at school.

“We are doing other activities to commemorate the event but the main day is on Friday the 13th, starting with a whole school mass and then an open school which will show where we have come from and where we are now. We will have our master plan on display and there will be plenty of fun and informative activities.”

www.smhastings.catholic.edu.au

St Mary's school students, Hastings 2019.

Pricipal Micallef with current day St Mary's students.

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Photos

Smart Business Solutions hosted an evening at Rare Hare for clients with guest speaker property tycoon, Tim Gurner.

Committee 4 Mornington Peninsula presented to the Shadow Cabinet on Monday July 29 at Rosebud RSL followed by a community morning tea.

Smart Business Awards

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September 2019

Born at The Bays Hospital Trusted by generations for over 80 years The Bays has one of the finest maternity units in the region.

Each year we bring around 500 new babies into the world.

It's a great start in life for the next generation.

When you choose to have your baby with us you'll be taken care of by the finest professionals in the latest facilities.

The first days of your baby's life are unforgettable. Spend them at The Bays.

Our Obstetricians Dr Kelly Griffin - (03) 5970 5353 Dr Andrew Griffiths - (03) 5976 5257 Dr Keith How - (03) 5976 6630

Dr Petra Porter - (03) 5976 5266 Dr Sarah Roberts - (03) 5970 5353 Dr Amy Swanson - (03) 5970 5353

Book your maternity tour on 5976 5262 or online at thebays.com.au The Bays Hospital Vale Street, Mornington VIC 3931 Phone 03 5975 2009

September 2019

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Wednesday Market Personalities Grant Santvoort from Sharp Traveller is your local knife sharpening guy and grew up right here in Mornington. A trained chef, Grant decided on a career change when his wife was posted as a Remote Area Nurse to WA 11 years ago. Investing in knife sharpening machines, he began his business which continues to grow. Grant prides himself on his service to his local community and has been a volunteer firefighter for the past 22 year in Bitten and 25 years prior to that in Pearcedale. “I offer general knife sharpening services for all types of knives from commercial chef to fishing knives”, said Grant. “It doesn’t stop there, I also sharpen garden shears, secateurs, axes, chisels, shovels, mulcher blades and scissors”. Grant will put a new lease of on life to your old broken, chipped or bent knives so consider him before throwing them away. It is wonderful to have him every Wednesday at the top of the market offering immediate and professional service.

Kristy from Sprinkles, Spice & Everything Iced gave up her work in the corporate world to focus on her talent and love of baking. Popular at the market for her delicious cupcakes, she can bake made to order swee sweatt treats for any occasion. “Baking was something that I developed a passion for when asked to bake a birthday cake for a friend”, said Kristy. “I found it so relaxing and would bake for my work colleagues weekly”. She now spends her time baking and hitting markets around Melbourne and the Peninsula on weekends. Originally starting the business in 2015 from her parents Mount Martha kitchen before moving to Caulfield, Kristy is a one-stop-shop from the baking, decorating, delivering and social media. “My dad is a wonderful help on market days, and I couldn’t do it without the family” said Kristy.

“The support of my customers mean I can continue to do what I love every day".

Sue from Creative Craft Dreams makes handmade babies clothes, fabric toys, babies blankets, Christmas crafts and more. With her family, she moved to Mt Martha about 9 years ago and has had a stall at the Mornington Main Street Market for the past 8 years.

“I’m a self-taught ‘craft-a-holic’ and i have a passion for making things mainly for babies, be it sewing, crocheting or knitting”, laughed Sue. “This is the only market I sell my handmade items.

I love the atmosphere the market brings, enjoy meeting new people and the friendship with the other stall holders”. So for that cute hand knitted cardigan and matching hat for your little one, you can’t miss ifatyou Sue’sstall stall.each week. visitvisit to Sue’s

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September 2019

GEE RYAN (GERALD) EXHIBITION Love One Another and Care For Our Planet

Saturday 14 September - Sunday 22 September 2019 Gee Ryan (Gerald) has painted naturally since childhood and is primarily interested in the power of colour to celebrate the mysteries that surround us.

His paintings reflect his central belief that, in order for humanity to achieve a peaceful and lasting future, each of us needs to live our life in accordance with two principles: love one another .. and .. care for our planet.

Please come for opening drinks & meet the artist, Saturday 14 September 2019 at 12 noon, at Ridgecrest Private Gallery, 333 Barkers Road, Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula.

Exhibition continues until Sunday 22 September 2019.

Gallery open daily 10am to 5pm.

Email: gee@geeryan.com

All welcome

Gee and his paintings at Ridgecrest Private Gallery, Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula. (Photo by Will Salter.)

Arts

GOOD Vibrations

By Melissa Walsh

D

an Byrne has always loved music but he had no idea how therapeutic it could be until he discovered an instrument on YouTube called the handpan which is a harmonic drum. Dan was in a rehabilitation centre when he made the discovery and it has helped to change his life.

These days, the young Rosebud man is devoting his time to sharing the healing, therapeutic and meditative benefits that transpire from the cymatics produced from a handpan.

With his company, Cymatic Harmony, Dan’s aim is to help connect people to their peaceful, mindful and creative inner self.

“It is incredible that the benefits of using the handpan can have.

I have seen it in myself and watched others be transformed,” said Dan from his studio in Rosebud. “This is developed through the advantageous effects which occur whilst playing and bonding with the harmonic drum. Cymatics is a term which describes how a vibrational frequency influences certain subjects or matters due to the energy created. Our human bodies are predominantly made up of vibrating energy, which is one of the many reasons handpans can have such a positive result on our mental and physical state.”

Since he purchased the first drum, Dan now has a large selection of handpans that he performs with.

“I have shared the sounds of this beautiful instrument at numerous locations including but not limited to music festivals, disability centres, rehabilitation centres, aged care facilities, child care centres, and street busking,” said Dan, who has received wonderful feedback from his performances. “It is incredible how the music transforms people and allows them to feel things they have been keeping buried deep down inside. I am honoured to be able to share the music and experience with anyone and it has inspired and motivated me to promote and distribute the instrument on the peninsula and around Australia.”

There are still very few handpan makers, roughly less than a hundred in the entire world.

We are all made up of energy and vibrations.

Connect people and you connect the planet

Originally called the “hang”, the handpan was invented in 2001 by a small company in Switzerland. The handpan or “hang” is a convex steel drum played with the hands and tuned with multiple notes. In the 1970’s, the Trinidad steel drum sparked a phenomenon throughout Europe by flipping the custom hand-hammered metal pan from a concave to a convex position. Each of the seven to eight notes were then made profoundly sensitive to the lightest touch, allowing musicians to play the instrument by hand. These days it is called the handpan and has become popular for its beautiful and mysterious tone and unique scales.

For Dan, who originally purchased a handpan for his own mindfulness and stress relief, it has become a daily part of his meditation. “I am one of these people who find it hard to switch my brain off but the sounds and vibrations of the harmonic drum automatically transport me to that meditative state,” he said.

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September 2019

“I purchased my first handpan online from Indonesia and, since then, I have bought several more. I get them from a company called UGUR and they are precisely tuned and forged,” said Dan of the handpan maker he has created a wonderful relationship with. “UGUR is an extremely high-quality stainless steel handpan maker.”

Dan says there are different types of steel used to create handpans however Cymatic Harmony has connected with the stainless-steel pans.

“I prefer stainless-steel due to the sustainability and the length the resonance lasts for when playing the instrument. We have also discovered that due to the extent of the length which the sound holds, it creates a dreamier effect than other types of steel,” he said of the handpans that are made in many different scales and tunings. “Cymatic Harmony currently has four different scales available.”

Dan’s philosophy is quite simple.

“We are all made up of energy and vibrations. Connect people and you connect the planet.” www.cymaticharmony.com.au

Dan Byrne brings Cymatic Harmony to the peninsula.

September August 2019 2019

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Fay Plamka, award-winning artist, commercial and court illustrator.

A PASSION FOR Portraiture

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons

F

ay Plamka is an award-winning artist, commercial and court illustrator, jeweller, tapestry designer, and teacher.

Having arrived in Australia 70 years ago as a post-war refugee from Poland, she now calls the Mornington Peninsula home.

“I love being on the peninsula and came down here for the first time in 1997,” said Plamka from her home in Tootgarook.

“Unfortunately my mother became ill and so I had to move away to look after her but returned five years ago and it is wonderful.”

Faye studied art at the National Gallery School of Victoria, then at the Bezalel Academy of Fine Art, Jerusalem, finally spending two years in Austria as assistant to the visionary Ernst Fuchs, a leader of the renowned Vienna School of Fantastic Realism.

With every wall of the artist’s home covered in works of art that show the history of her life, her home is more like a gallery than a house.“I have always loved drawing and painting and remember as a child constantly drawing when I had the chance,” said 71 year old Plamka, who was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany, and came out to Australia with her family when she was 18 months of age. “My parents did not really believe in art as a career and so insisted I go to university to be a diplomat. I spoke four languages so it was a career I could have had.”

These days, Plamka continues to draw, paint, and create but from the quieter back streets of a tranquil southern peninsula town and talks to Peninsula Essence about life as an artist and her incredible journey to get here.

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September 2019

With the determination to be an artist all consuming, Plamka soon took herself out of the course and enrolled in art school in Melbourne.

something very relaxing about painting and drawing and it is all I have ever wanted to do. To be a full time artist does take discipline though. You have to treat it like a job.”

“Art was all I ever wanted to do, and the course taught me skills and gave me some incredible connections. Unfortunately, my parents didn’t like the kind of people I was hanging out with so they sent me to art school in Israel. My sister was engaged to a nice Jewish boy and I hadn’t even dated one so they thought this would be a good thing.”

Plamka paints in oils and watercolour and draws in every medium; she makes jewellery, uses nature and people as her inspiration, and has always had work in the art world.

As fate would have it, Plamka ended up being offered a job at one of the newspapers there so her career took off.

“I have spent a lot of years as a court artist as well,” said Plamka, who recently did the court drawings of George Pell. “I was approached by the ABC and Channel 7 many years ago and have continued to work on various cases.”

I have always been good at portraits and love painting people from life, including figurative work.”

“I made amazing connections over there and did portraits from life of all the big people in Israel like Moshe Dayan, an Israeli military leader and politician. When I came back to Australia, I started working in advertising and did a lot of portraits during that time. Being commissioned by the Art Centre, I did many portraits for them as well as one for Philip Adams,” said Plamka who sees advertising as the Vatican of the Renaissance. “Just as the Vatican commissioned people which kept artists alive and creative, I see advertising in that same way. It allowed me to earn a living and feed my children and gave me extra skills.”

Describing herself as a realist painter, Plamka says her passion is portraiture. “I have always been good at portraits and love painting people from life, including figurative work,” she said. “There is

Living on the peninsula has allowed the artist to slow down a little and these days she spends her time mostly painting and drawing at home or in art groups, with the vision of exhibiting in the future.

Drawing has always remained central to Plamka’s work and her skills and versatility have earned her an enduring reputation as one of the top commercial illustrators and portrait painters.

She has won many national and international awards, including the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MADC) President’s Award. In the London International Advertising Awards of 1989, Fay won first, second, third and fourth places from a field of 7000.

You can find Fay Plamka’s art on Instagram and Facebook.

Friday 3rd September Joe Chindamo and Zoe Black Lullabies from Around the World Tuesday 24th September Tony Lee Bach, Haydn, Liszt and Rachmaninov Recitals begin at 1.30pm and are followed by afternoon tea.

Email: admin@beleura.org.au or Tel: 5975 2027 to book.

www.beleura.org.au

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Regeneration S

tories of inheritance and the season of renewal at Everywhen this spring A new exhibition called

ReGeneration: established and emerging talents of Aboriginal art features at Everywhen Artspace this spring.

Special highlights are paintings and ceramics by artists of Australia’s oldest community art centre, Ernabella Arts in the APY Lands, SA and paintings from Papunya Tjupi at Papunya, NT - the inheritors of the famous western desert painting tradition.

With more than 40 works from these and a number of other Aboriginal-owned community centres around Australia, the exhibition focuses on the importance of stories being passed down through generations as well as a celebration of spring.

“ReGeneration implies both the significance of the older generations passing on stories to new and emerging artists and also a celebration of the renewal of spring time,” says co-curator Susan McCulloch.’ It’s a very uplifting and joyous time of year in many parts of the interior, especially throughout Central Australia, the southern desert areas of the APY Lands and the ‘Bush Mangarria Tjuta’ by senior Papunya artist Doris Bush Nungurrayi that documents the many different types of bush tomatoes and other food that was plentiful when she was a young girl.

Pilbara as wildflowers burst into bloom, birds and bees flock to nectar-bearing blooms and animals emerge from their winter hibernation.”

This annual renewal is reflected strongly in art says Susan McCulloch - especially in paintings and weavings which are often characterised by a sense of freshness and brilliant colouration.

As well as newer works she says works in the show demonstrate the importance of heritage and family groupings in Aboriginal art with strong links seen between works by some of the more famous established artists such as the Kimberley’s Patrick Mung Mung, Papunya artist Doris Bush Nungurrayi, Utopia artist Minnie Pwerle and those of their younger relatives.

“The exhibition includes works by three generations of artists that show both great continuity of tradition and innovation within that tradition.”

ReGeneration opens with a curator’s floor talk on Sunday September 29 at 2 pm and runs to November 25.

EVERYWHEN Artspace 1/39 Cook Street, Flinders, 3929 Open daily 10.30-4 T: 03 5989 0496 E:info@mccullochandmcculloch.com.au mccullochandmcculloch.com.au

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THE VISTAS OF WOOL & Silk

N

issarana Galleries is celebrating the coming of Spring with two incredible art exhibitions that will captivate all visitors. The free form abstract expressionist style of Graham Jones continues until September 15 followed by a hugely exciting exhibition by one of Australia’s leading fibre artists.

Latvian born, award-winning fibre artist, Zetta Kanta, uses only natural fibres for her tactile wall-hangings. Working from home in rural Gippsland, she uses wool and silk from local producers to create impressionist-style, modern wall-hangings and tapestries that resemble paintings, rather than a non-woven fabric.

“My tapestries offer a twofold sensory experience. They are soft to touch, they visually soften the space and they are perfect acoustic solutions for modern buildings, where many sound reflecting materials are used.“ The natural wool and silk landscapes are mesmerizing due to their design, their unique style and medium. They offer the perfect alternative to the traditions of oil and acrylic paintings. Like all great creative minds Zetta is not restricted to one medium, she will also exhibit her natural clay and charcoal paintings on canvas.

Zetta’s work is favoured by architects and interior designers to complement and enhance homes, building foyers and offices. She

Zetta Kanta

holds yearly exhibitions and installations throughout Australia and has attracted a genuine following for her work. Her work has been exhibited internationally in the USA, Germany and Asia.

Zetta Kanta Solo Exhibition is on from September 27 – October 21.Opening Celebration on Friday, September 27, from 5.30 -8pm.

NISSARANA GALLERIES Open seven days, 10am-5pm, or after hours by appointment A: Ground Floor, 211 Main St, Mornington T: 5976 8877 M: 0474 496 222 E: info@ngmornington.com.au W: www.nissaranagalleries.com.au Art Money available: www.artmoney.com

'SILENT ORIGINS‘

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Pictured: Cameron, Allan and Lynne Stynes at Black Spot Gallery and Studio.

BLACK SPOT a creative hub

By Melissa Walsh

C

ameron Stynes has always been creative, drawing and painting whenever he had the chance. So, when he and his family started talking about creating a gallery and studio space, it was a lifelong dream coming to fruition. That was three years ago and since then Allan and Lynne Stynes and their sons Cameron and Travis, have created their independent gallery in Mornington where they continue to support local artists.

“With our eclectic mix of pop art, modern and abstract, realism, portraiture, photography, music and sculpture, we are here to promote the diverse talent on the peninsula,” said Cameron, who has always wanted to have a place for himself and other artists.

“The thing I love about painting is that I can truly be myself. I don’t care what other people think. It is very liberating.”

Black Spot Gallery and Studio in Milgate Drive was two years in the making, with the family opening the gallery in June, 2016.

“Every piece of art starts with a single black spot so I thought Blackspot would be the perfect name for our gallery and studio,” said Cameron who loves the freedom of expression that being an artist affords. “I have other artist friends who inspire me every day with my work and I think an environment like this is the ideal creative hub.”

Allan, (a builder), Lynne, (a medical receptionist), Cameron and Travis, worked tirelessly to create the gallery space which has seen hundreds of artists’ exhibit their works.

“I had always wanted a warehouse to renovate,” said Allan, who built the entire interior in a stylish industrial design, with help from his sons. “Maybe I have a bit of creativity like Cameron. We had the factory built and then fitted it out ourselves.”

The family turned out to have a perfect combination of talents with Allan the carpenter, Cameron an artist with art contacts, and Lynne and Travis bringing the hard work and dedication that has followed their careers.

“We all worked so hard to get the gallery up and running and are proud of the space we have to offer our clients,” they said of the gallery that offers an art space for exhibitions, studios upstairs for casual or permanent hiring, kitchen facilities and a bar downstairs for exhibition openings.

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Cameron describes his work as modern and abstract with influences from pop culture, motorcycles and tattoos and it was his idea to call the gallery Black Spot.

Black Spot Gallery and Studios are available for exhibitions, book launches, workshops and any creative endeavour. The studios are for hire for artists, creatives or office space.

“We are looking forward to our upcoming exhibitions with a pop up pottery workshop in November,” said Allan. “In the meantime, if you love art and all things creative, call in to the gallery and we would love to show you around.”

Black Spot Gallery and Studio is open weekdays 1pm to 5pm, Saturdays 10am to 2pm, and Sundays and other times by appointment.

Black Spot Gallery and Studio is at 20 Milgate Drive, Mornington. Phone Allan on 0418 321 620.

HOME & GARDEN

feature

5

Low-Cost TIPS FOR A GREEN

HOME RENOVATION

Style

MY HOME

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS

BE A WINNER WHEN YOU SELL

Latest

INTERIOR TRENDS

& MORE

Photo: Waterson Build

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5 LOW-COST TIPS FOR A GREEN HOME RENOVATION

By Steve and Suzanne Burke

I

f you are about to embark on a home renovation project, you have the perfect opportunity to start living a greener life. With some smart choices you can plan a green home renovation that saves money in future costs AND reduces

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your impact on the environment. The three mantras to living a more sustainable life are reduce, reuse and recycle.

The easiest way to achieve a green home renovation on a budget is to focus on the first mantra – reduce.

HOME & GARDEN feature Think about our precious resource: water.

It is no secret that one of our most precious resources in Australia is water. It stands to reason then that anything we can do to reduce water usage is the first place to start when looking for ways to make our homes greener.

Reduce energy use and reduce bills.

It seems the only way is up with electricity bills. Looking for ways to decrease energy use in our homes is great for the environment but great for your budget too. We all know that turning lights off and switching appliances off at the wall switch are good ideas, but there are also some simple things we can do while renovating too.

So how can we achieve a greener home renovation by reducing water and energy use without busting the renovation budget?

1. REDUCE WATER USAGE IN THE SHOWER You can try taking shorter showers, but for many of us long showers are a hard habit to break. The best way to reduce water usage in the shower to simply restrict the water flow. You can completely replace your showerhead with a new water-saving showerhead. Or you can install a flow restrictor onto your existing showerhead. This will slow the flow of water and is the cheapest and easiest option.

2. REPLACE OR MODIFY TAPS TO SAVE WATER Replace old taps – especially if they are leaky - around the home with new taps that restrict the water flow. A great lowcost alternative to replacement is to screw on aerators to the end of each tap. This is a simple DIY project that will reduce flow rate while aerating the water and decrease your daily water usage.

3. SAY GOODBYE TO THE OLD DUNNY Did you know that the humble old-fashioned dunny is flushing away 10 to 12 litres of precious water at a time? Older toilets only have a single-flush button, whereas modern toilets have a dual-flush system which greatly reduces water wastage.

A light flush with a modern toilet can use as little as 3 litres and a ‘number 2’ flush around 6 litres.

A new toilet could save tens of thousands of litres of water per year. Keeping old fixtures such as the old dunny no longer make sense economically or environmentally.

4. SAVE WITH LED LIGHTING An essential part of many home renovations is an overhaul of the electrical system (always get a licenced professional in) to bring it in line with modern safety standards. Install LED lighting at the same time and get rid of all of your old traditional light bulbs. LED lights have a slightly higher purchase price, but this is offset by the benefits they deliver over time. Benefits are reduced energy usage and lower maintenance and replacement cost due to their longer lifecycle compared to traditional light bulbs.

5. CHOOSE WHITEGOODS WITH HIGH ENERGY RATINGS Choose appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators and freezers with a high energy rating.

These can significantly reduce your daily household energy use. The whitegoods market is competitive and you should have no trouble finding an affordable appliance that also has a high energy rating. With washing machines and dishwashers, look for those that also have a high water rating.

Saving the planet, one household at a time Reduced energy use lowers our carbon footprint and ultimately helps each of us to play a small part in protecting the future of our planet.

There are stacks of other ways to make your home renovation greener and this is an area where homeowners are increasingly showing more interest. Many of us now realise that green initiatives not only reduce our impact on the environment by also deliver great ongoing cost savings.

Steve Burke and Suzanne Burke are co-authors of Nail Your Renovation Without Getting Screwed (Woodslane Press $34.99), a new book packed full of expert renovation advice and tips so you avoid becoming a building horror story. They are also owners of Amerex Renovations and Additions, an award-winning renovation company with over 20 years of experience. Find out more at www.amerex.com.au

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HOME & GARDEN feature

STYLE MY HOME: BE A WINNER WHEN YOU SELL Selling your home can be incredibly stressful. It is the largest financial deal most people undertake. Abode Styling Group will ensure that your property stands out amongst the other properties for sale on the Peninsula.

There are two critical challenges in selling your home: •

Making your property ‘stand out’ to buyers in a crowded property market

•

Working with your real estate agent to increase your properties value

The truth is, the agent’s opinion of the sale price is formed on the first day they visit your property. We all would like to be able to sell the property quickly with an easy sale negotiation, however, it is hard for an agent to sell at a price they don’t truly believe.

This is where Abode Styling Group comes into play. Our stylists are experts at preparing your property so that it looks its best to buyers, and to lift the overall appearance of your property, thus making it more valuable. We work to increase agent expectations for the sale price, and ensure buyers remember your property for its beauty. As a result, you will start the sale process with a committed and believing agent, who will point out all the details that can help buyers fall in love with your home.

At Abode we visualise your house as buyers will, and set the scene so that buyers can imagine living there. Our staging solutions help exhausted buyers "mentally move in" and feel that when they move in for real, they'll be able to kick back for a while and relax.

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Driving around chasing open house times is exhausting. At Abode we create a strong image for your home so that it shines above competing properties. Our edge is that we customise our designs to suit the home, and the type of buyers that your home will attract.

As a seller you are interested in two things: getting the right price; and completing a sale in a reasonable time frame.

Staging a home for sale is proven to be the best way to achieve both these outcomes.

A 2018 study of the sale of 4,270 staged properties found that 85% of professionally staged properties sold for between 6% - 25% more than comparable properties in the same suburbs.

And of course time is money! The longer your property is on the market the longer you have the holding costs and the longer you are held back from moving on to your new home.

Our packages cater for all properties, from a budget, partial stage of a three-bedroom home, to a six bedroom palatial home, we do it all!

At Abode, we set ourselves the goal of halving the expected time between listing your property and completing the sale.

This might sound ambitious but international research clearly shows staged properties sell 2 to 2.5 times faster than unstaged properties.

Stage your property for sale with Abode Styling Group – it will be the best investment decision you will make this year!

Abode Styling Group www.abodestylinggroup.com.au Insta: @abodestylinggroup / FB: abodestyling

THE LEADING STYLISTS for homes on the Peninsula Whether you are styling to stay, or styling to sell, Abode Styling Group specialises in property styling, interior design, architectural and project management services.

TO DISCOVER HOW STYLING CAN BENEFIT YOU call 0422 606 242 or visit www.abodestylinggroup.com.au

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HOME & GARDEN feature

MAKING YOUR DREAMZ A REALITY The team at Aqua Dreamz truly understand how important the dream of owning and building your very own pool really is. For 15 years, they have prided themselves on quality, communication, and excellent work practices to bring the best pools to the peninsula.

A traditional family owned and operated company, Aqua Dreamz has a reputation as a well presented, professional team with the number one aim of delivering your dream pool.

Company owner, Joel Kean, says every customer’s needs are their highest priority.

“Whether we are building high quality basic pools to architecturally designed pools, we make sure each client’s dreams become a reality, with the service to match” said Joel.

“We place great importance on safety, quality and customer satisfaction ensuring you have a pleasurable experience working with us,” said Joel, who works with a team of highly skilled professionals.

Aqua Dreamz are licensed, registered building practitioners with a VBA, Master Tradesman Members of the Master Builders Association of Victoria, and SPASA Builder members.

“All of these qualifications give you the confidence and peace of mind we meet all legal requirements and all relevant Australian standards, comply with domestic building code, contracts and insurances,” said Joel.

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From the detailed proposal through to the finished product, Aqua Dreamz goes above and beyond the usual effort to ensure your dream becomes a reality.

“From the initial site inspection and meeting with you through to discussing and researching the best products and design functionality for your pool we can also assist with everything from design and landscape architecture and also undertake the paving, decking, fencing all relevant permits, protection works or any other local council and engineering requirements to make this a smooth, pain free process,” said Joel.

Simply put, Aqua Dreamz are the one stop destination for all aspects of your pool build with their relationships within the industry dealing with quality architects, designers, landscapers, fencing and suppliers of the latest energy efficient equipment.

“We also believe it's a very personal decision to be made, you want to know that the person building your pool who will be in your own private backyard is trustworthy and approachable so your very comfortable knowing if something is of concern you can easily discuss it without hesitation and receive a confident and honest answer to that concern,” said Joel.

Aqua Dreamz www.aquadreamz.com.au Insta: @aquadreamzpl

D E S I G N E R SW I M M I N G P O O L S

0 4 1 9 5 0 8 4 1 8 | W W W. A Q U A D R E A M Z . C O M . A U aquadreamzpl

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HOME & GARDEN feature

LUXURY LIVING ON THE PENINSULA He’s a local agent with more than 14 years of great results and happy clients and loves his job promoting the peninsula and its wonderful real estate. Sam Danckert spent a lot of time on the peninsula growing up visiting his grandparents and now raises his own family here and runs Danckert Real Estate in Mt Martha.

“I worked in Melbourne for two years for a dynamic agency and wanted to bring that kind of forward thinking and experience to the peninsula,” said Sam who has become a respected and known agent with an approachable and trustworthy character. “I love the peninsula and particularly the Mt Martha and Mornington area leading down to the southern peninsula where I have fond memories growing up, and a strong affinity with the area.”

The Director and Auctioneer of Danckert Mt Martha, Sam is an active member of the community and has developed some cherished connections with his business.

“When entrusted to sell a vendors home, my focus is on delivering a result that clients will be delighted with and one that I can be proud to put my name to,” said Sam. “After working for the Melbourne agency, it has been wonderful to come back and offer the same service on the peninsula. Mt Martha, Mornington and surrounding areas have undergone a

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significant population growth since I returned and it has been amazing to be at the forefront of that. It is a very sophisticated market now as a lot of Melbournians have made their way to live down here. It is a much easier commute to work and so the demographics have shifted significantly with lots of young families. This is also reflected in the growth of business in Main Street Mornington and Mt Martha Village.”

Sam says that home prices have risen since peninsula link opened.

“The popularity of Mornington and Mt Martha has grown as well,” said Sam who is based in Mt Martha. “I am really motivated to work with vendors selling beachside Mt Martha.

When I have a listing, I handle it exclusively and in that way my business is unique. I also have a sales consultant, Ian Ross, who came from Audi Mornington and has a strong customer service background.”

Danckert Mt Martha currently has some exclusive properties for those looking for beachside living.

Danckert Real Estate is at 9 Howey Road, Mt Martha Village.

Phone 5904 6446. www.danckert.com.au

APR 18 GUIDE C O M P L I M E N TA R Y

use your camera to scan the QR for full details

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DANCKERT R E A L E S TAT E

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HOME & GARDEN feature

DON'T SIGN UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN LIVING DESIGN Living Design Double Glazing provides their customers with superior quality, energy efficient, windows and doors that are manufactured locally from Rehau German engineered window and door systems.

Always keeping ahead of the times, Living Design Double Glazing recently welcomed the arrival of two new top-of-therange European window and door processing machines, that will guarantee a consistent top quality product, every time.

“Our new machines will automate part of our production line, increasing our manufacturing capacity, allowing us to keep ahead of the industry lead time of 6-8 weeks from deposit to install, and guarantee a precise and high standard of finish,” said Kim Larmour of Living Design Double Glazing.

"This high quality equipment is the latest in European window and door manufacturing technology and will ensure Living Design Double Glazing continues to offer their customers the best possible finished product in Australia.

“We are in our fifth year of manufacturing and installing, in and around the Mornington Peninsula, where we continue to offer the local community a top quality product and service when it comes to Upvc framed windows and doors, “said Kim. “We are setting ourselves up for the next ten to fifteen years, with the best new machinery and hiring more local staff to keep up with demand".

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Living Design is committed to providing a tailored window and door package designed to meet each individual customer’s requirements. If you are considering replacing your windows and doors or insulating your home from the heat or cold, from a single window, to a new front door, or a full house or development, don’t hesitate to contact us.

“Rehau worldwide has been supplying window and door manufacturers with the latest in window and door technology for over 40 years and have one of the top tried and tested Upvc products available to, and specifically for, the Australian market,” said Kim. “Our products are available to view at our factory showroom anytime Monday to Friday 8.30am till 5pm or alternatively by appointment at weekends, making us and our products available to you at your convenience,” said Kim. “We offer a customer friendly approach to sales, with no hard sell from our salespersons. We will give you an honest price for a top quality, affordable product with 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed.”

Living Design Double Glazing is at Factory 2, 7-9 Lyall Street, Hastings.

For enquiries, phone Kim Larmour 041 222 1767 or contact@livingdesigndoubleglazing.com.au www.livingdesigndoubleglazing.com.au

WINTER IS HERE...

Improve the look, comfort and energy efficiency of your home For a NO OBLIGATION free quote call 5909-8040 or Kim on 041 222 1767

Non Flammable - BAL29 All Products Australian Made in our factory All Products Internally Glazed as Standard Enhanced Security

REHAU is a global leader in the UPVC window technology market. They supply High Weather Formula Window/Door frames – specifically designed for Australian conditions.

We are a 5 star accredited REHAU manufacturer and installer based on the Mornington Peninsula.

Maintenance Free (No Painting ever) Non Corrosive Cyclone Rated/Weatherproof Eliminate Draughts Energy Efficiency Noise Reduction Sustainability Fully Welded Frames Affordable Dust Proofing 10 Year Unconditional GUarantee locallY owned & operated

Factory showroom open to the public: Factory 1, 7 Lyall St, Hastings www.livingdesigndoubleglazing.com.au Cool Gray 11 PMS 368

HOME & GARDEN feature A SORRENTO STUNNER Waterson Build is a family run residential and commercial construction business that specialise in architecturally designed, custom built and sustainable homes. With their excellent reputation in construction and personalised collaborative approach, it’s little wonder the team at Waterson Build were asked to collaborate with architect, Nicholas Murray, to create a Sorrento stunner for the owner-architect.

“Nick and I met to discuss building his home that he had designed and we both had the same vision,” said Waterson Build owner and builder, Ryan Waterson. “The property at 9 Park Road started before Christmas in 2018 and hand over was completed by the following December. We ensured it is the epitome of first class fittings and finishes, with barn feature trusses, pitched lined ceilings, Kustom timber floors, Gaggenau appliances and a beautiful limestone fire place.”

Ryan Waterson had always wanted to build, starting with BMX jumps in his parents backyard and selling his first residential development in Bendigo before he was 21 years old. These days, the well known builder has a reputation on the Mornington Peninsula for outstanding work.

Residential and commercial construction specialising in architecturally designed, custom built and sustainable homes. > New Homes > Extensions > Renovations > Swimming Pools

> Commercial Construction > Town Houses > Concrete Construction > Project Management

WATERSON BUILD

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“We moved to the peninsula over ten years ago and since then have been working on architecturally designed homes across the region,” said Ryan. “I enjoy working personally with clients and architects from the first consultation to the final handover and treat every home as if it were my own. The Sorrento property is a great example of our attention to detail and I am lucky enough to have developed a solid team of professionals and trades that work as a cohesive group. I am passionate about quality finishes and take inspiration from contemporary coastal styles and working with sustainable, innovative materials.”

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 9 Park Road is a prime example of the outstanding quality of Waterson Build, being sold privately with a $2.9-$3.1 million price guide.

The single level beach house has a timeless design and a stunning list of luxury appointments. Impressively presented throughout, the four bedroom, three bathroom residence offers multiple living areas perfect for large scale entertaining and is ideally situated within a short walk to bay and ocean beaches and the township’s main street.

If you are interested in contacting Waterson Build for a discussion on building your next home then please contact us on – Phone: 0419 556 972 Email: info@watersonbuild.com.au https://www.watersonbuild.com.au

WATERSON BUILD

TRANSLATING INSPIRATION INTO REALITY A Fresh Touch Interior Design And Decorating is an intimate colour, interior/exterior design and decoration practice, consulting in both the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne.

Designer Michelle Fieldsend, a trained nurse, and originally from NSW, moved to Ashburton in Victoria 20 years ago, but after she and her husband became empty nesters, they decided it was time for the sea change. Having visited Tootgarook several times before, they decided to make the move and give the peninsula a try. “Within three weeks, we were hooked.”, she says.

Always planning renovations and clearly having a knack for decorating, Michelle, at 39 years young, decided on a career change and studied interior design and decoration at TAFE. During her first year of studies she was crowned FIAA Young Interior Designer of the Year, 1999. This would be the first of many nods and accolades including countless features on houzz.com.au, and in prestigious publications such as Home Beautiful and Living etc. Magazine.

Having spent over 20 years in the industry, Michelle continues to give patrons the individualism they crave. She adds, “Rather than following trends, my approach is to create a unique identity for each scheme, reflecting my clients’ individual taste, personality and lifestyle. At the same time, offering affordable design solutions, be it for new or existing spaces.”

Included amongst their enduring clientele are GROLLO Homes and now also FORME Homes, where A Fresh Touch assists their clients in the selection of materials, finishes and colours for the exterior and Interior.

Whether small or large scale, A Fresh Touch interior design and decorating can go from turning a single room into a beautiful, useful space, to adding a fresh look to every inch of your home or office For a consultation please contact Michelle 0408 559 105 www.afreshtouch.com.au

Translating Inspiration Into Reality Encompassing a broad range of styles and trends to create a reflection of your personality and style.

Colour, Interior/Exterior Design and Decoration practice, consulting in both the Mornington Peninsula & Melbourne.

Contact Michelle on 0408 559 105 or visit afreshtouch.com.au Images: www.mayphotography.com.au

September 2019

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HOME & GARDEN feature RECYCLED GARDEN ORGANICS COMPOST AND MULCH Solo Resource Recovery is a 100% Australian owned and operated waste management company that has been providing efficient waste solutions for government, business and households for over 85 years.

On the Mornington Peninsula we specialise in the collection, transport, processing and disposal of all forms of waste including garbage, recyclables, organic waste, commercial waste and trade waste. Solo also manage waste disposal facilities such as waste transfer stations, recycling plants and landfill operations also. We provide services to municipal, commercial and residential customers in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia with waste collection and disposal operations just commencing in Western Australia.

Our waste services have always been based on innovation – delivering proven technology at great value for our customers.

We have had many firsts here in Australia, such as the first side loading residential garbage truck for residential green waste collections, residential garbage, and recycling collections; the first divided wheelie bin and truck; the first private company

to have independent quality certification; and the first municipal waste collection service with carbon emissions offset.

We are pleased to offer quality products for your mulching and compost needs, processed and matured from recycled garden organics; (tree and shrub prunings, grass clippings, fallen leaves and general garden waste) from the Mornington Peninsula.

Both products are certified to Australian Standard AS4454 By supporting our products you will be making a significant contribution towards a major reduction in waste to landfills, returning carbon to soils and greatly assist in improving our urban environment.

You can collect these products from the Morningtion Peninsula Shire Transfer Stations at Rye, Tyabb and Mornington, or we can arrange a delivery if you wish.

For further enquiries and orders please contact us on 1300 858 656

Compost & Mulch

Produced from 100% recycled “garden organics” from the Mornington Peninsula (tree & shrub pruning’s, grass clippings, fallen leaves and general garden waste)

Dig In Compost soil conditioner is fully composted premium product that will improve the physical structure of soils including increased aeration, greater water-holding capacity and effective drainage and increased soil organic carbon.

Mulch is a soil conditioning mulch blended with course and fine organic particles and mineral zeolite to create a graded conditioning mulching zone into the soil. It provides an effective, attractive and long-term decorative garden covering. It allows excellent water penetration through the mulch into the soil and with finer particles to blend at the soil surface encourages ideal conditions for the introduction and population of beneficial micro organisms within the soil.

Please contact us on 1300 858 656 By supporting our products you will be making a significant contribution towards a major reduction in waste to landfills, returning carbon to soils and greatly assist in improving our urban environment.

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EPITOME HOME IMAGES

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS

Do you have an Airbnb property that’s struggling for bookings?

Are you a property manager trying to capture the beauty of your properties with your iPhone and it just isn’t doing the job? We're here to help.

For those with smaller houses or apartments looking to maximise their current space, or for those who are down sizing, the team at Fold out Furniture offer some wonderful small space solutions.

Epitome Home Images is a small company with over a decade of professional experience in photography. We use the power of imagery to help increase your holiday bookings and focus on highlighting the uniqueness of your space to create the warmth people want to experience when they’re holidaying.

Wall beds or other wall furniture can provide a cost effective and innovative way to get more use out of the room you have, allowing it to be transformed without hassle.

We don't make your home look like you're trying to sell it, so we focus a lot on details and features that fill a home with life and personality.

We're reliable, punctual, friendly and affordable but most importantly, we understand the worth of great photography when it comes to showcasing your home to it's finest. We listen to your ideas and work with you to create images based on your needs.

For more information about our property photography services contact Shari on 0404 098 307 www.epitomehomeimages.com

Wall beds fold up out of the way during the day, creating multifunctional rooms, enabling you to turn a study into a bedroom with ease or make a studio apartment appear more spacious.

Or perhaps you are seeking flexible holiday home sleeping options? Installing a wall bed means that you do not have to sacrifice living space in order to provide comfortable beds for guests and family.

With a showroom conveniently located at the Frankston Innovations Centre, Fold out Furniture offers a range of wall bed solutions, to suit any space.

To check out the range of furniture visit the website at www.foldoutfurniture.com.au or visit the showroom at Frankston Power Centre, 111 Cranbourne Road, Frankston.

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Professional Photography Services for Holiday Homes, Businesses and Real Estate at Affordable Prices Contact Shari on 0404 098 307 or shari@epitomehomeimages.com

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Fold Out Furniture specialises in DIY and customised wall beds and small space living solutions, with displays now open in Frankston at the Home Innovations Centre and in Oakleigh East at the Home Ideas Centre. See our full product range at www.foldoutfurniture.com.au, or call us on 0499 99 9931 for more information. Reclaim your space in 2019!

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HOME & GARDEN feature

ECO STYLE Natural, organic materials such as wood floors, stone, copper, concrete, clay and granite will bring an earthy and serene ambiance to any space. Decor trends for 2020 will feature elements that are made from eco-friendly sustainable materials.

EMBRACE YOUR CURVES Soften interiors with curvy shapes and organic, rounded edges. Hard lines and sharp edges of post-modern minimalist design are being shadowed by sweeping contours and natural waves.

WALL TO WALL Wallpapers in florals, botanicals and palms will continue to be everywhere you look. Albeit a little less wild, green leaves and other exotic plant prints with a vintage vibe are making a comeback.

A TOUCH OF GREEN Greenery in your living space is beneficial to both your physical and mental health and trends say the bigger the better. Concentrate new fan favourite plant varieties cacti, succulents, ferns, banana and olive trees in one space.

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INSPIRED BY NATURE Nature inspired tones will be hugely popular this season. Shades of green, mint in particular, will be the colour to watch in 2020.

It's all about creating calm and relaxed vibes with shades of ocean blue, coral and terracotta also at the forefront.

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Interior Trends

Come on in and browse the range.

Available at Sorrento Furniture from mid September

10 Bennetts Rd, Mornington info@sorrentofurniture.com.au (03) 5975 0344 September 2019

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Whether it is bespoke furniture, or expert reupholstery, we craft our pieces with love and care.

Together we will create furniture that you will love for a lifetime.

10 Bennetts Rd, Mornington info@sorrentofurniture.com.au (03) 5975 0344

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A WORLD OF Flavour

By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons

L

yndal Barnes has been in hospitality for her entire life, from working overseas in kitchens to having her own restaurants in Melbourne and on the Mornington Peninsula, including her beloved Mt Martha restaurant and wine bar, Mr Curtis. While the peninsula girl has travelled extensively, her favourite place to cook is at her restaurant upstairs which she started seven years ago.

“I just love living on the peninsula and being able to work here is a bonus,” said Lyndal, who is passionate about bringing tasty dishes to the peninsula. “I cook every day and am constantly looking for new and exciting ingredients to add to our menu.

I particularly love Asian flavours and travel to Springvale to get authentic ingredients.”

The tapas style menu at Mr Curtis includes mouth-watering delights like the favourite mini ginger chilli chicken burger with chipotle and mango chutney, the grilled saganaki, and Spanish prawns. All of the dishes are good for sharing.

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“We have certain dishes that we keep all year long and some people come here just for those. I love things like our tostadas which are light and delicious, made with avocado, shredded chicken, mayo, black beans and jalapenos. They have just a touch of spice and lots of fresh ingredients,” said Lyndal. “One of my other favourites is the lamb cigars, fragrant lamb mince wrapped in filo pastry with a mint yoghurt dressing.

Describing the restaurant as a home away from home, Mr Curtis has been named after Lyndals’ youngest son, Curtis. “As a baby he always looked older so we nicknamed him Mr Curtis,” she said with a laugh. “The boys love coming here after school sometimes. In fact it is like their second home.”

With hospitality in her blood, the former owner of Brass Razu saw all the scaffolding around the building one day and decided to find out about the venue. “It was just being built and originally designed for offices but I thought it would be a great restaurant,” said Lyndal who has run kitchens internationally and saw a gap in the market in Mt Martha.

For Lyndal, it is all about good quality ingredients no matter what the dish.“We only use free-range meat and organic breads as the quality of ingredients is paramount to the taste of the dish,” said Lyndal. “We do a lot of Asian menu nights, where we do my favourite which is papaya salad. It is refreshing and zesty with a bit of bite. We also do the authentic Vietnamese spring rolls in lettuce, and add a touch of Middle Eastern flavour on our Moroccan nights.”

“We are all cooks here and get in and help each other. Because the kitchen is so small it has been an evolution of food. We make our own pastes and do curry nights every Wednesday. The left over curry paste is used in our burgers.”

Mr Curtis is upstairs over looking the bay. It is a great place for a light meal, cocktails with friends and has a good selection of local and international wines.

Mr Curtis is at 4/42 Lochiel Avenue, Mount Martha.

Phone 5974 3637. www.mrcurtis.com.au Pictured: Lyndal (left) and Samantha (above).

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!

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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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Recipe

Pinch salt 2 avocados chopped 2 tomatoes chopped

Tostada chicken:

I packet round corn chips

1 poached chicken breast (pulled apart) 1 cup black beans (already cooked) 1 cup of diced jalapenos 2 tablespoons jalapeno juice 2 tablespoons lime juice 4 tablespoons of whole egg mayo Pinch salt

Guacamole base:

Method

½ bunch coriander Splash of tobasco sauce to taste

Mix chicken with all ingredients Place guacamole on a chip Place tostada mix on guacamole

Juice of 2 limes

Top with a dash of sriracha sauce.

TOSTADAS Ingredients

Âź red onion

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Mr Curtis 4/42 Lochiel Avenue, Mount Martha. Phone 5974 3637 www.mrcurtis.com.au September 2019

A SLICE OF

Heaven

By Melissa Walsh

T

he home of Sorrento’s famous Vanilla Slice, Just Fine Food, will reopen its doors in September as the Vanilla Slice café.

To celebrate the new name and renovations, the Vanilla Slice Café is holding an eating competition like no other. Melbourne’s best competitive eaters will line up with greedy amateurs hoping to be crowned the Vanilla Slice Champion.

Sean G, owner of the iconic café said, ‘With the help of Billy Boyd, founder of Competitive Eating Australia, we have got an impressive line-up of competitive eaters that are willing to take up the challenge of eating as many of these very rich slices as they can in 10 minutes. It’s not easy to eat these quickly, the pastry is crispy and the filling soft. It’s going to get very messy.”

Whether you call them ‘gâteau de mille-feuilles’ or ‘snot blocks’, stuffing them down your throat as fast as you can for ten minutes is no easy feat, even though there is a prize of $100 for the winner and bragging rights as the Vanilla Slice Champion.

If you prefer to eat your Vanilla Slice in a more sophisticated manner, these iconic Aussie treats will be freshly baked and ready to purchase with a percentage of sales going to RUOK? Day. The Vanilla Slice Café is located at 23 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento.

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SWEET Spot

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By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni

L

ove and generosity are at the heart of Leanne and Ian Neeland’s success. Their Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery opened in Flinders on Boxing Day 2018. They’ve won over locals and visitors alike; not only with their delectable treats, but also with the way they approach business. “Our brand is about abundance and generosity in everything we do,” Leanne says. “Our tasting bowls are our marketing budget. We give away $250,000 in chocolate every year.”

After Leanne and Ian married, they travelled the world looking for business opportunities, but ultimately realised that Australia, and Victoria in particular, was the place to be. They decided upon a chocolate business because it gave them the opportunity to put their own stamp on a universally popular product. It was also good business sense because chocolate has a long shelf life, produces almost no waste and has the widest audience of practically any product.

They opened their first chocolaterie (French for chocolate factory) in the Yarra Valley in 2012. They had 1200 visitors on the first day and that trend continues. They see 800,000 visitors a year. Their second chocolaterie opened in 2016 in Bellbrae (near Torquay). It enjoys the same level of success. Now with the Flinders shop, the couple have hit the trifecta of premium locations. Across the three businesses they employ 220 local people bringing job opportunities to the community and a travel destination to visitors.

Largely responsible for their Midas touch is the quality of their products. Leanne and Ian employ the best European chocolatiers, source the finest ingredients and offer an encyclopaedic range of chocolates and ice cream. Every product is hand crafted. The truffles, in addition to being petite works of edible art, melt in the mouth. The freeze-dried chocolate covered strawberries dissolve on the tongue. Nuts are crunchy and fresh under their chocolate coats.

The ice cream and sorbet are second to none. Every product oozes quality. Everything is handmade, packed, labelled and decorated with panache.

Their collection of gourmet chocolate bars with exotic flavours like Violet and Forest Berries in white chocolate, Lemon, Lime and Mint in dark chocolate and Macadamia Nuts and Salted Caramel in milk chocolate are all packaged in beautiful boxes featuring iconic Mornington Peninsula scenes painted by local watercolour artist, Wendy Hall. This kind of attention to detail, recognition of local place and unique variety really set the brand apart. continued next page...

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Sustainably sourced cocoa and ethical farming practices are very important to Leanne and Ian. They source 80% of their beans from Africa and 20% from Asia - all coming from 100% sustainable farms. While that means paying a substantial premium, they feel it is well worth it to improve the lives of cocoa farm workers in third world countries. They partner with an organisation called Cocoa Horizons. It supports cocoa farmers through education and sustainable business practice models.

Each generation of chocolate connoisseur has a different palate.

Generally, the youngest go for white chocolate, as it is the sweetest.

Middle-aged buyers tend to go for milk chocolate and the older generation prefer dark chocolate.

Leanne and Ian even send their chocolatiers to Africa to see first hand how the farmers are going.

Products are not the be-all and end-all of the business.

Comprehensive chocolate making workshops are offered for all ages and types of groups. Chocolate and ice cream events throughout the year bring together makers, community and out of town visitors too. The Chocolaterie serves as a gathering place, gourmet experience and tourist destination.

Chocolate making is a complex process. It takes a lot to get it just right. It’s not only the best ingredients and machinery that matter.

It’s the best people too. Leanne and Ian bring their chocolatiers over from France and Belgium because in Europe chocolate making is a diploma course requiring a four-year apprenticeship. (There is currently no similar training program in Australia.) This way they know they are hiring expert chocolatiers who then share their knowledge with the rest of the team.

All their chocolates begin with premium Belgian couverture.

To this they add over 1000 locally sourced ingredients to create a remarkable range of products. Everything from production to packaging is hand crafted with care. Kilo for kilo their Rocky Road is the most popular, but dollar for dollar, their truffles win out.

GLASS HALF FULL? TOP UP YOUR SALES BY ADVERTISING IN

Book into the next issue Call Brooke on 0409 219 282 brooke@mpnews.com.au

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Their hand-made ice cream and sorbets are also very popular. They sell 3000 to 5000 litres of ice cream per week! All flavours come from their own in-house recipes. No matter what they sell, it’s pretty certain that the customer is going away happy.

Despite the scale of their success, Leanne and Ian are still hands on across all of their businesses - making, sharing and teaching - a true labour of love. As Ian says, “Everything we do is based on love.”

And you can taste it.

45 Cook St, Flinders VIC 3929 P. 5989 0040 www.mpchoc.com.au

Must try

Dishes

Green beans with crispy pork and spiced nuts along with slow braised beef cheek served with Szechuan spiced cauliflower Green Olive at Red Hill 1180 Mornington Flinders Road, Main Ridge Ph 5989 2992 www.greenolive.com.au

Pesto chicken pizza with semi-sundried tomato, red onion, brie and basil St Andrews Beach Brewery 160 Sandy Rd, Fingal Ph 5988 6854 www.standrewsbeachbrewery.com.au

Tartare of dry aged Gippsland venison with pickled kohlrabi, bitter sweet radicchio, riberries, spiced Red Hill pear and fresh truffle RACV Cape Schanck Resort Trent Jones Dr, Cape Schanck Ph 5950 8000 www.racv.com.au

Housemade veal and chicken terrine with red onion jam, pickled almonds and crusty bread

Fried corn fritter balls served on avocado salsa

Pink lady apple, wood sorrel granita, avocado

La Petite Bistro @ Brooklands of Mornington

Round About Cafe

Polperro

19 Shaxton Cir, Frankston

150 Red Hill Road, Red Hill South Ph 5989 2471 www.polperrowines.com.au

99 Tanti Avenue, Mornington Ph 5973 9200 www.brooklandsofmornington.com.au

Ph 9785 6091 www.roundaboutcafe.business.site

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Peninsula’s MUST-TRY BEERS NEW ENGLAND RYE IPA

THE STRAPPER AUSTRALIAN LAGER

HIX DOUBLE CHOC PORTER

This is a ‘Dainton-ified’ NEIPA, with Rye and Blood OJ. This beer is super fruity, orangey, cloudy and so very easy to drink. Fruity, hoppy fun! Woo!

A unique South East Australian draught lager style of soft bitterness and fresh fruity flavour, brewed with heirloom Australian barley and hop varieties.

Rich porter style with loads of dark malts and cocoa, giving a subtle chocolate flavour.

6.5% Alc/vol. Yummy!

DAINTON BREWERY AND TAPHOUSE 560 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Carrum Downs Ph 9775 0334 dainton.beer

ST ANDREWS BEACH BREWERY 160 Sandy Road, FIngal Ph 5988 6854 standrewsbeachbrewery.com.au

HICKINBOTHAM OF DROMANA 194 Nepean Hwy, Dromana Ph 5981 0355 hickinbotham.biz

PALE ALE

COCONUT IPA

PALE ALE

Crafted to be a sessionable pale ale with a crisp and clean palate, underpinned by a subtle satisfying bitterness. Tropical and citrus aromas.

A big fruity IPA delivering tropical notes of mango and passion fruit with a heap of toasted coconut thrown in the mix, subtle malty base and restrained bitterness.

TWØBAYS Pale Ale was the first beer released by Australia’s first dedicated gluten free Brewery and Taproom. It’s a beautiful, easy-drinking Americanhopped beer.

JETTY ROAD BREWERY 12-14 Brasser Avenue, Dromana Ph 5987 2754 jettyroad.com.au

SMART BROTHERS BREWING 4/1071 Frankston - Flinders Rd, Somerville smartbrosbrewing.com

TWØBAYS BREWING CO 1/2 Trewhitt Ct, Dromana Ph 5910 0880 twobays.beer

BLOOD ORANGE

All Aboard The Brew Bus Finally the Mornington Peninsula and Bayside suburbs have their own Brewery Bus Tour Service and it’s about bloody time!

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September August 20192019

Peninsula’s MUST-TRY BEERS MORNINGTON PALE

KÖLSCH GOLDEN ALE

WEST COAST IPA

An American-style pale ale, with both citrus and passion fruit aromas, showcasing American hops. A flavoursome, seasonal ale with a light smooth palate.

Kölsch, our Golden Ale is one!

Famed in Cologne, Germany for its brightness, clarity and easy drinking style, a classic pale that finishes like a lager.

Our take on a West Coast IPA with restrained bitterness and huge dry hopping - showcasing Mosaic, Citra and Galaxy hops.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA BREWERY 72 Watt Rd, Mornington Ph 5976 3663 mpbrew.com.au

RED HILL BREWERY 88 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South Ph 5989 2959 redhillbrewery.com.au

MR BANKS BREWING CO 12 Hi-Tech Place, Seaford Ph 9786 9905 mrbanksbrewing.com.au

IPA

EAST COAST SESSION IPA

BOX 54 GOLDEN ALE

This is your sunset in a can.

Presenting golden honey in colour, punchy U.S. hops of El Dorado and ekuanot gives notes of tropical fruits, melon and guava.

The East Coast IPA is Classic US style IPA that at only 5.5% is highly sessionable, fresh & bursting with aromatic hops.

A summer style ale that is fresh and full of flavour. Brewed exclusively with Galaxy hops for bright tropical flavours and wheat malt for extra body.

JETTY ROAD BREWERY 12-14 Brasser Avenue, Dromana Ph 5987 2754 jettyroad.com.au

RED HILL BREWERY 88 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South Ph 5989 2959 redhillbrewery.com.au

ST ANDREWS BEACH BREWERY 160 Sandy Road, FIngal Ph 5988 6854 standrewsbeachbrewery.com.au

All Aboard The Brew Bus

Create your own brewery/winery tour or choose from one of our packages!

See our website for details: brewerybustours.com.au or call 0421 308 296

September August 2019 2019

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Puzzle

Corner

ACROSS 1. Promontory 5. ... went up the hill (4,3,4) 11. Spell of hot weather (4,4) 15. I am, ... are 16. Meadow (poetic) 17. Confederacy 19. Lolls 21. Formerly Ceylon, Sri ...

23. Very well-off 25. Half-diameters 27. Electrical pressure 28. Rumba-like dance 30. Had to repay 31. Hold in high estimation 32. Common 33. Carnival 34. Preschool play area 35. Nuisance emailer 36. Roman dress 38. Wound crust 40. Compassionate 42. Historical ages 44. Interrupting cough 45. Potters' ovens 46. Terrible tsar 48. Painting supports 49. Portent 50. Congers 51. Moistens (meat) 52. Equitable 53. Brazil's neighbour 54. Ooze 55. Satisfactory 56. Law-abiding 58. Small letters (5,4) 59. Wobble (on brink) 61. Lustre 63. Actor, ... Danson 64. Chinese callisthenics, t'ai ...

65. Capri & Wight 67. Hoisting machine 69. Unsuitable 71. Wall graph 73. Diva, ... donna 74. Keen for action, ... to go 76. Midday sleep 78. Mounds 80. Figure (out) 82. Misfortunes 83. Coronation insignia 85. Feigned 89. Dictators 91. Winter or spring 93. Compete

94. Affection 96. Choux pastries, chocolate ...

98. Period before, ... of 99. Forensic ID check, ... test (1,1,1) 100. Willingly accept (new theory) 102. Substantial 103. Rowing championships 104. Absorbs (5,2) 105. Drilling platform 106. Broadcasting frequency (1,1,1) 107. Mosquito & bee 108. Side building 110. Deciduous tree 112. Strangely alluring 114. Firearm report 117. Unoccupied 120. Sneeze sound (1-6) 123. Curved-bill bird 125. Begin voyage, set ...

127. Paltry 128. Stockings 131. Marina craft 133. Pacifies 134. Rationale 135. Archfiend 136. Approval (3-2) 137. Out of style 140. Marriage vow (1,2) 141. Pair 142. Old Testament prophet 145. Famous gift, ... Horse 147. TV charity appeals 148. Felonies 150. Classic portrait, ... Lisa 151. Obsolete VCR format 152. Three-piece combo 153. Rip 154. Neater 156. Chamber 158. District 160. More plentiful 162. Territory 163. Anorak 164. The N of NB 165. Babbles 166. Noticed 167. Skim swiftly 168. Cipher 170. Heavy-duty farm vehicle 172. Buried Italian city 173. WWII fascist 174. Confused assortment 177. Doorbell trigger 179. As a gamble, on ...

180. Acute anxiety 182. Flight staff 183. Established practice 185. Scratches out 187. Solid ground, ... firma 188. At an angle 189. Misplacing 191. Untrue statement 192. Compass direction (1,1,1) 193. Authorised 194. Rumpled 195. Sets of documents

DOWN 1. Assist (4,3) 2. Fashionable, ... mode (1,2) 3. Attention 4. Changed fabric colour 5. Romeo's lover 6. Want badly 7. Cinema gangway 8. Welsh poet, ... Thomas 9. Intimate (thoughts) 10. S American animals 11. Damage 12. Allocation 13. Include 14. On end 18. British anthem, ... Queen (3,4,3) 20. Renounce 22. Suffer (over) 24. Fight instigators 26. Long-haired hunting dogs (5,7) 29. In ABC order 37. Headlong surge 38. Burn slowly 39. Overeating 40. Patellas 41. Analyses 43. Oxygenate (water) 44. Snowy peaks 47. Back of neck 57. Contactable (2,4) 60. One or the other 62. Scraping by, ... out a living 66. Gain knowledge 68. Slaying 69. 12th of foot 70. Ocean's flow 72. Artistically (pleasing) 73. Interest rate units

75. Quizzes 77. Cake layer 79. Temporary debarments 81. CD brand (1,1,1) 84. Showy flowers 85. Smiled mockingly 86. Retaliates for 87. Spiritualists 88. Towered over 90. Stifling 92. Once more 95. Intended 97. Keyboard operator's complaint (1,1,1) 101. Gent 109. No trouble 111. Carry 113. Kick out 115. Moves closer to 116. Shout 118. Charged atoms 119. Panache 121. Hard-earned cash 122. Stops 124. Furnaces 126. Organisations 129. Gym garments 130. Commercial traveller 131. Veils 132. Cap & coat rack (3,5) 138. Single-celled organism 139. Numerical records 143. Isolates 144. Shirked 146. Cain's biblical brother 149. Tomato variety 155. Information banks 157. Alfresco (4-3) 159. Tennis bat 161. Shipboard emergency floats (4,5) 165. Socially refined 169. Confines 171. Betrayed, ... on 172. Sulked 175. Livestock sheds 176. Hymn, Amazing ...

177. Overalls, bib & ...

178. Diagonal weave 181. Cover with gold 184. Discontinued (project) 186. South African political party (1,1,1) 190. I have (1'2)

Premium Retirement living on the mornington Peninsula.

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

www.villageglen.com.au

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September 2019

335 Eastbourne Road, Capel Sound VIC

Ph: 1300 VILL GLEN (1300 845 545)

See page 87 for solution September 2019

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Friday 18th October 2019

Mornington Golf Course Tallis Drive, Mornington

REGISTER NOW

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All funds raised on the day go to Groomed to Go Inc., trading as Dress for Success South East Melbourne and Smart Blokes, to help support our programs for women and men.

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Our consultants specialise in planning all types of International and Domestic Travel  Family Leisure Holidays  Independent Tours  Sports and Event Travel  Group Touring  Business, Conference Travel  Luxury River Cruising  Adventure Tours and more!

MORNINGTON TRAVEL Tel: (03) 5975 1099

72 McLaren Place, Mornington www.morningtontravel.com.au admin@morningtontravel.com.au ATAS ACCREDITED TRAVEL AGENT

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hen was the last time you returned home from a holiday feeling really great? Mentally refreshed, physically healthier and ready to take on anything?

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Whether you are new to long-distance walking or a seasoned hiker, RAW Travel will support you all the way. They’ve got training guides, free events and expert tips to help you choose a trip that’s right for you.

Located right in the heart of Mornington, next to the Cinema, their friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you with up-to-date advice and resources to help you plan a walking holiday that suits your timeframe, interests and fitness.

Choose from easy to challenging walks in Japan, Spain, Portugal, Patagonia, Nepal, England, Switzerland, Italy and France!

Visit RAW Travel’s Information Hub at the beach end of Main Street to enjoy a coffee and chat with passionate walkers who've walked the world!

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Open 9am–4pm Monday to Friday September 2019

ph: 5973 5413

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on

Sorrento

Sorrento is located 91 km south-west of Melbourne, near the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula.

Sorrento has a population of 1,592 (2016 census), and an area of 7 square kilometres.

Sorrento is a popular tourist destination on the Mornington Peninsula, nestled between Portsea and Blairgowrie. It is situated on a thin strip of the Mornington Peninsula, facing Port Phillip in the north and the open waters of Bass Strait in the south.

Sorrento's commercial centre is located at the bay end of Ocean Beach Road. This wide, attractive boulevard features a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes with its major landmark being the multi-storey Continental Hotel which was built out of limestone in 1875 and currently undergoing renovations.

The crescent-shaped Sorrento Front Beach is flanked by an attractive foreshore area with lawns, shelters and English trees, plus a couple of small jetties. The sheltered waters make it ideal for swimming and other water activities.

At the western end of Sorrento Front Beach is Policemans Point and the Sorrento Pier which is used by a passenger and car ferry which links Sorrento to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Sorrento was the site of Victoria's first official European settlement which was established

by Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins in 1803. A monument honouring this historic event has been erected at Eastern Sister which is located near the south-eastern end of Sorrento's bay coastline. There is an elevated coastal walkway which leads to an information centre and several lookouts which provide scenic views across beach and bay.

At the north-western end of Sorrento's bay coastline is Point King where Lieutenant Murray, on his exploration of Port Phillip in 1802, raised the Union Jack and claimed the land for the British. There is a monument to commemorate this event and a scenic coastal track from which splendid views along the coast in all directions can be enjoyed.

Sorrento Historic Park, located on Point Nepean Road overlooking the bay, is a lush oasis which was first established in 1870. It features European trees, colourful garden beds, extensive lawns, BBQ facilities, a rotunda, children's playground and walking tracks. Scenic views of Policemans Point, the surrounding beaches and across the bay can be

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enjoyed from the park which extends to the cliff tops.

The main point of access to Sorrento's ocean beach is from the southern end of Ocean Beach Road. The coastline here consists of stretches of sandy beach which back onto sand dunes and rocky cliffs.

Another scenic area to explore along the ocean coastline is Diamond Bay. Some spectacular views can be enjoyed of the coastline here with its many rocky outcrops and sandy beaches. It is protected by the Mornington Peninsula National Park where there are several walking tracks and stairways providing access to the beach below.

Australian singer Tina Arena released a song "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)" in 1995. The song is about Arena's childhood memories of summers past with her family at Sorrento beach in Victoria, Australia.

Darbys Rock off the back beach was named after John Darbyshire who was marooned there during a king tide.

Dame Nellie Melba sang to raise funds for cemetery gates which rusted over time and were taken down and dumped at the tip from where they were souvenired and used as a garden ornament.

Coffee Safari

Freshly brewed coffee is a must-have for weekends away and the Mornington Peninsula's coffee haunts are second to none. Here are just a few to check out when you head down to this beautiful part of the world.

The Boss's Daughter 174 OCEAN BEACH RD

In the heart of Sorrento, this lovely café offers a great coffee selection, all-day brekkie, all in laid-back surrounds with street side seating.

Smashing Sorrento

119-125 OCEAN BEACH RD

Federal Senator John Button, State MP Vince Heffernan, and Dame Zara (Holt) Bate are buried in the cemetery.

Specialty coffee and tea with cold dripped coffee, freshly squeezed juices and unique brunch menu, all delivered by friendly, professional staff.

Hannie Rayson’s well-loved Hotel Sorrento, which premiered onstage in 1991 and was made into a feature film in 1995, explored some immediately identifiable terrain for many audiences when it first appeared.

The Sisters Kitchen Garden Cafe

Median property price for Sorrento is $1,380,000.

Breakfast with outdoor and indoor seating in a cosy setting. Excellent choice for coffee, cake and light breakfast or brunch.

George Coppin 'The Father of Sorrento' led a colorful life including stints as an actor. G.S. Coppin was a prime mover in the development of Sorrento.

His theatrical talents were considerable but as an entrepreneur he left an indelible mark on the seaside town. Coppin was not only involved in land sales, but also encouraged the development of paddle steamer links between Sorrento and the capital of Victoria and even a small steam train to transport visitors' to the area from the Bay beach jetty to the Ocean Beach.

149-151 OCEAN BEACH RD

Rusty's Cafe Bar & Grill 3293 POINT NEPEAN RD

Chilled and relaxed café with great coffee, breakfast options galore and a meal if you prefer.

What to do Whether it’s strolling the artists trail, or along millionaires walk, swimming with the dolphins, checking out the historical sites or even doing a bit of ghost spotting, there is always something to do in Sorrento. Discover the Sorrento back beach or take the ferry to Queenscliff, stroll along the Sorrento foreshore and pier and up to the gardens at Watt’s Cottage. Try Sorrento’s famous vanilla slice or head to one of the many restaurants along the main road in the town that brings together a mix of rich history, beach and lifestyle, as well as a hive of galleries at your fingertips.

Photography: Yanni

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Sorrento

BEACH HOUSE RENTALS Sorrento is popular year-round for its eclectic array of retail stores, lively café scene, historic limestone buildings, and beautiful beaches, with the rugged ocean and golden sands of Bass Strait at one end of town and crystal-clear waters of Port Philip Bay at the other.

Beach House Rentals have holiday properties in Sorrento and surrounds, including Portsea, Blairgowrie and Rye, ranging from designer-style apartments, to luxury estates with tennis courts and swimming pools that look like they’re featured in the television series ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.’

There are properties to suit every budget, from coastal shacks through to some of the Mornington Peninsula’s most magnificent coastal retreats, and everything in between.

Properties are spotlessly clean and flawlessly maintained. Beach House Rentals have always focussed on ensuring guests have a great holiday and return again.

Sorrento has great shopping opportunities, with homeware stores, designer labels, art galleries, and quaint boutiques where you never know what you might unearth.

On the culinary front, the Mornington Peninsula packs a diverse variety of experiences.

At award-winning restaurants and cafes, chefs and cooks serve the best of the region’s bounty, with fresh local produce making a short journey from ocean and farm to table.

Hike along some of the region’s 100-kilometres of walking tracks or go on a dolphin swim, which departs from Sorrento Pier.

For those looking to make a booking or an inquiry, Beach House Rentals can be contacted at 03 598-44578 or by email at bookings@beachhouserentals.net.au.

For more information; www.beachhouserentals.net.au

Aside from its famous beaches, Sorrento and surrounds are popular for anything from wine tasting and a round of golf to a spot of retail therapy.

MARLENE MILLER ANTIQUES As you wander along the glamorous Sorrento shopping strip you simply have to visit Marlene Miller Antiques, an Aladdin’s crave of unique and unexpected treasures.

As soon as you walk into the shop there is so much to see, with two stories of antiques and bric-a-brac from lovely old tools, crystal and fine china to fur coats, hats, dining furniture with chairs by Jacob and Josef Kohn (established in 1849), hat boxes, old leather suitcases with great labels, as well as a great variety of lovely lamps to give your home that special ambience.

Upstairs is a great range of books dating back to the 1700’s, prints and paintings, along with various interesting bits and pieces.

Known by reputation for her fabulous jewellery with lots of old (including Gold Rush jewellery which was actually made during the Gold Rush)and mourning jewellery which was created to mourn the death of a loved one and became popular in the 1800’s, along with newly created hand-made pieces by Melbourne’s top jewellers.

128 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento t: 03 5984 1762 m: 0438 537 757 e: marlenemiller3@bigpond.com Specialising in antique jewellery, as well as newly-made jewellery by Melbourne’s top Jewellers

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Marlene Miller Antiques has been in Sorrento since 1985 and has been in her present purpose-built building for the past 10 years.

Marlene Miller Antiques 128 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento 5984 1762 or 0438 537 757

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beach house rentals 47A Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento PH: 03 5984 4578 beachhouserentals.net.au September 2019

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THE GHOSTS OF Sorrento I

f you love history and have a penchant for all things slightly spooky, Sorrento is the ideal place to visit. With so many rich stories of the town, it is likely a historical tour might turn into an unexpected ghost sighting. If you've ever felt the hair on the back of your neck stand up, felt a breeze or cold spot when there wasn’t anything there and thought, "Maybe it’s a ghost," - it could just be. Just ask any business or shop owner in the streets of Sorrento, and most will have stories of personal experiences with ghosts. Owners of stores and venues up and down the street tell tales of their own or others sightings, baffling noises and objects moving. With so many wonderful as well as tragic stories in Sorrento, it seems that some of the spirits have not moved on.

MARLENE MILLER ANTIQUES is home to a female ghost, wearing a blue dress with a blue hat. Marlene decorated the mezzanine floor especially for her, where she is surrounded by books and a comfortable rocking chair. She used to have the store next door and the ghost moved across with her. Many times Marlene has gone upstairs and the big chess piece in the middle of the room has been moved.

There are four or five ghosts in MORGANS BAR, which is the old morgue, SORRENTO PARK, and outside

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THREE PALMS RESTAURANT. At Three Palms, legend tells that a little girl was abducted from the home many years ago and she will not leave now. There is a little boy on the hill, Matthew, who comes out and just wants to play. And at the old CONTINENTAL HOTEL, George Coppin, the Father of Sorrento, pops in occasionally and is quite the character.

An enigmatic and charismatic character, actor, comedian, parliamentarian, entrepreneur and politician, George Coppin began a steamer company which landed trippers from Melbourne at Sorrento Pier where they were transported by steam tram to the beach and rotunda where they could enjoy the walkways and lookouts. George Coppin also built much of the town. He can be sensed as you walk through the streets of Sorrento and his ghost resides at the four story limestone building he built in 1875.

The cinema too, which resides in the ATHENEUM THEATRE, was added 90 years ago, is said to be home to a ghost or two. An usher once observed an elderly lady dressed in white with stark white eyes sitting at the back during a children's movie. But when the usher spoke to the cashier, no seniors had bought tickets to this movie.

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Real Estate

MODERN Hamptons 108 Hurstwood Road, Sorrento

F

resh and inviting, this recently renovated, modern Hamptons style home on 806 square metres is privately positioned adjacent to Sorrento golf course and just moments from restaurants, cafes and beaches.

Filled with light and style at every turn, this two storey, four bedroom home includes a master bedroom with walk-in robe and en suite, three bath home provides generous accommodation and impressive opportunity for lifestyle and entertaining.

Open-plan living, kitchen and dining areas are surrounded

by French doors that open out to a decking area. There are two separate outdoor entertaining areas at the front to overlook the leafy view of the fifth hole at Sorrento golf course. The second living area at the rear expands out onto another two outdoor entertaining areas, and there is a separate studio or bed sitter and a spectacular landscaped garden lined with citrus and native plants.

Agent: RT Edgar, Portsea Phone: 5984 4500.

Other features include timber floors, white wood panelling, open fire place, three reverse-cycle heating and cooling systems, central heating, stainless-steel kitchen appliances, brand new wiring and plumbing, security system, sewerage connection and private driveway lined with Manchurian pears.

September 2019

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September 2019

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E ssence E ssence ssence ssence | E ssence

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September 2019

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History

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September 2019

IT'S A GRAND OLD PUB

By Peter McCullough

T

he Grand Hotel has dominated the Mornington skyline for the last 130 years. In the last edition of Peninsula Essence, we brought you its colourful history up to the end of World War Two. The Downes Brothers

On 12 April, 1948 the licence for the Grand was transferred to Allan and Arthur Patrick Downes. The Mornington Post reported that in the weeks following this transfer considerable improvements had been made to the property: excellent progress had been made in having the backyard cleaned up and on one side twenty-two flower beds had been established. However the Mornington Shire Council had served a notice for the removal of several bungalows in the backyard but this presented some difficulty for Mr. Downes as the bungalows housed twelve of his staff and most of them were from Melbourne.

Another problem faced by the licensee was to police the hotel after the bars were shut; there was a back gate and the old galvanized iron fence on both sides was in a dilapidated condition with holes in many places. This may have been the excuse offered in the Mornington court in July, 1948 when Allan Downes was fined two

Part Two (Continuation from August edition)

pounds ($4) for having permitted liquor to be drunk on licensed premises during prohibited hours.

The desire to get the house in order was perhaps taken a step too far when Allan Downes decided to remove the tower which had been a landmark for 60 years. There had been speculation as to its future as it had a list and swayed considerably in windy weather.

This somewhat unnerved the licensee as his sleeping quarters were immediately below the tower. The story goes that it would have cost seventy five pounds to have the tower made safe, and fifty pounds to have it removed. In August 1948 the tower was transported to the tip.

In the same month Mr. Maddern, accompanied by his architect, visited the hotel to discuss proposed extensive alterations with the licensee. By November it was reported that fifteen hundred pounds ($3,000) had been spent and the hotel modernized. The Mornington Post reported: “Many beneficial alterations have been made to the bars, while liberal bestowal of paint brightened up the hostelry. In the bars the counters have been surfaced with new linoleum, and one section has been made to give more privacy to businessmen who desired to discuss business with their clients.� continued next page...

Left: The Grand Hotel, circa 1900.

Below: The Grand Hotel, following the removal of the tower, in 1948.

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Even though Allan Downes had made a genuine attempt to clean up the backyard after taking over the licence, a fire ignited there in a heap of rubbish one night in February, 1949. The fire caused quite a blaze and guests in night attire watched the firemen at work, while other residents of Mornington were noticeable in pyjamas.

The Mornington Post reported that Stan Hutchins (pictured left), captain of the Mornington Fire Brigade, cut a bold figure as he dashed up the street; with one hand he was endeavouring to put on a boot and in the other he held an obstinate sock. Scaling the galvanized iron fence proved difficult for Stan as his trousers became caught and only the timely aid of another fireman saved him from an awkward predicament.

In November, 1949 the licensee was forced to hose down a rumour that the Grand Hotel had been sold to Mr. R. M. Ansett.

In the same month The Argus reported that a thief had entered two unlocked bungalows at the rear of the property, which the Shire had ordered to be removed eighteen months previously; one hundred and thirty pounds ($260) worth of clothing and eight pounds, ten shillings ($17) in cash were stolen.

later. The Bongiorno family, which included five children, lived upstairs. There were bedrooms along the front of the hotel and the family's private living quarters were at the back. There were also two large lounge rooms upstairs, one a guests' TV lounge and the other a private lounge for family use. Boarders occupied some of the upstairs rooms; their numbers varied but some of them were there for quite long periods.

Vic Bongiorno made many alterations in his four years at the Grand Hotel, including the addition of a popular and well-used Games Room adjacent to the Public Bar. He also built a Beer Garden adjacent to the Games Room. An old well in the open area was filled in with building rubble.

In November, 1968 it was reported that the Grand Hotel was to undertake a complete facelift, a renovation that would alter the complete appearance at the approach of the shopping centre in Main Street. The full length of the double story verandah was removed and the facade of the building was painted. Apparently there was a long-standing demolition order on the verandah and in the end the shire removed it without Vic's agreement.

Peninsula Hotels bought the freehold from the Bongiornos on 27 April, 1970 for $135,000 and John James (Jack) Gardner of that company took over the licence on 1 July, 1970. Freehold ownership passed to K.V.Walsh Holdings on 18 October, 1972 and two days later Kenneth Vernon Walsh became the licensee. On 3 August, 1973 he applied for a permit to build a drive-in bottle shop at a cost of $41,569 at the rear of the hotel.

Allan Downes and his son Barry were made Life Governors of the Royal Children's Hospital in July 1953; this was in recognition of money raised for the hospital. Allan's brother, Arthur, died early in 1953 and consequently Thomas Leslie (“Bill”) Cooper took over the licence on 2 November, 1953. Previously he had been “Mine Host” at the Royal Hotel on the Esplanade.

The licence was transferred again on 1 May, 1956 to Ray and Norm Baker; in fact it was the Baker family as the hotel was run by three brothers plus their wives and parents. They all lived upstairs.

When a letter from 'Disgusted' appeared in the Peninsula Post on 27 January, 1960 criticizing the behaviour in “a Mornington hotel”, specifically the disturbance of the peace and quiet by children running around, Ray's wife, Betty, was quick to respond. She wrote: “In your last issue 'Disgusted' claims that the atmosphere in the hotel is detrimental in every physical, social and moral manner. It is difficult to understand why he would ever enter a hotel himself.

Surely parents of children are just as entitled to a drink as 'Disgusted' is. Or are we hotelkeepers expected to refuse them because they are accompanied by a child? Further, if beer is spilled on the tables, the staff in any properly conducted hotel will wipe it up.” The next transfer of the licence took place on 3 December, 1961, this time to Grand Hotels Mornington Pty. Ltd. with Harry Thompson as nominee.

In 1963 the “backyard” of the Grand Hotel (and of other shops in Main Street) was acquired by the Shire to be made into a carpark between Barkly and Blake Streets.

The Bongiornos On 3 November, 1964 the licence was transferred to Victor John Bongiorno and his wife, Ettilia, with the freehold acquired six days

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September 2019

Above: Vic Bongiorno (left) with patrons of the Grand Hotel, circa 1965.

Below: The Grand Hotel, after the verandah was removed and the hotel painted. Photo: Paul Bongiorno.

Bernard John Taylor On 23 February, 1976 Bernie Taylor swapped his career in the computer industry to become proprietor of the Grand. He originally planned to stay for a month and then move someone else in but things didn't work out so he stayed on.

Above: The Grand in 1979, after the first of a series of renovations by Bernie Taylor.

Below: The original brickwork, now exposed, adjacent to the main entrance.

Exactly two years to the day after Bernie Taylor took over, major alterations and renovations took place. The cost was $250,000 and it took eight months to complete. The main alterations were an additional saloon bar and a bistro to replace the dining area, and the public bar was enlarged. The upstairs was converted into offices and a function room.

Since 1976 when Bernie Taylor took over the Grand Hotel he has set about sympathetically renovating the facade and modernizing the interior, without losing touch with the past, with major renovations taking place in 1978, 1988, 1995, 2003 and 2014.

Today in the lounge bar off Main Street the original brickwork has been exposed while furnishing the restaurant in the traditional style necessitated the manufacture of two chandeliers of the old gaslight type to match the dĂŠcor. Another feature of the lounge is the preservation of two large windows which were part of the original building but were obscured by the 1919 extensions, which Bernie discovered during earlier renovations.

While the closing of the railway line to Mornington in 1981 was a setback, the development of the Wednesday market which took place during Bernie's ten year term (1983-1994) as President of the Chamber of Commerce brought many people to shop in the town. continued next page...

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Left: One of the original windows, which had previously been hidden from view by extensions in 1919.

Below left: Restoration of the tower in October 1986.

Above: The Cruze Club, November 1989.

From the outset it was one of Bernie's aims to reinstate the tower, and this was achieved in 1986. When Bernie applied for the permit to rebuild the tower, the Council granted it without cost as they felt it was an important project for the promotion of Mornington.

All the tradesmen charged only for materials; their labour was free.

Even the architect who drew up the plans for the tower did it at no cost; it was truly a community effort.

Over the years further developments have occurred. In 1988 the Cruze Club opened upstairs which led to 24 hour trading. The renovations to establish the Cruze Club significantly modified the upstairs layout. A lounge and dance floor replaced the function room, bars were relocated and some of the remaining bedrooms were converted into offices. A DJ console was constructed in the area occupied by the original staircase.

In 1991 the Pub Tab opened in a space beside the then bottle shop on Main Street and in September 1992 poker machines arrived at the Grand Hotel giving rise to the need for a Gaming Room and further changes. In June, 1994 an application for a verandah addition to the front of the hotel, and the use of a section of pavement under the verandah for alfresco dining, was approved.

Bernie Taylor’s forty five years on the peninsula have been characterized by an enormous commitment to the local community.

Apart from his decade as chairman of the Mornington Chamber of Commerce, his core involvement has been with, but not limited to, The Bays Hospital, St. Macartans Primary School, Mornington Primary School, Mornington Soccer Club, Mornington Football Netball Club, Mornington Cricket Club, Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Mornington Life Saving Club. Bernie has always endeavoured to put back into the community: “We consider any charity or community request.� In dollar terms, the owners of the Grand Hotel contribute annually in excess of $125,000 to a wide variety of community organizations.

Wherever a person travels in Mornington they will find evidence of the Grand Hotel's generosity and commitment to the community.

Bernie and Susan Taylor ensured that their three daughters were

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September 2019

Above: Bernie Taylor (right), with his son-in-law Cameron Price and daughter Pir. Below: The Grand Hotel in 2019.

introduced to the less glamorous side of the family business in their mid-teens. They worked in all areas of the hotel: the bars, bistro, nightclub and gaming room. As a result, on 23 February, 2004, 28 years to the day after Bernie arrived at the Grand, his youngest daughter, Pir, took over as General Manager. She was the seventh

female licensee of the Grand Hotel since it was built, and the first in more than fifty years.

With his daughter and son-in-law now managing the Grand Hotel (Cameron Price was named as licensee in 2012) Bernie Taylor can relax and be well satisfied with his achievements. continued next page...

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Above: The photo of the 'levitating' woman.

Left: The official story of the 'ghost' of the Grand, as displayed.

The Ghost at the Grand.

In the early days of the Grand Hotel the licensee would put a lantern in the tower each night so that fishermen who might still be out in the bay would be able to find their way back to Mornington. One night he apparently over-imbibed and neglected his responsibility with the result that a local fisherman became disoriented and drowned.

The fisherman who died is believed to have lived at the Grand, and several incidents that have occurred over the years suggest that he still does.

Bernie Taylor recalls the night when he was talking downstairs with three of his friends; Bernie and one friend were having a glass of beer, one was having a soft drink and the fourth member of the group was having a coffee. Suddenly they heard footsteps upstairs. Two men ran to the back stairs and two to the front stairs. They went up and met in the middle of the upstairs area. No one could be found. It could have been boards creaking in the old hotel, but all were convinced it was the fisherman.

Pir Taylor-Price says that many of the staff have also had 'experiences' and that there are certain areas, particularly the cellar, which they avoid when working alone.

A photograph that has been a feature of the Grand Hotel for many years is that of the 'levitating' woman. It has been moved on several occasions on the request of staff members who have been spooked - probably because of the perceived existence of the "ghost" at the Grand. *** Reference: Moorhead, Leslie -“Mornington. In the Wake of Flinders.�, Stockland Press, 1971.

Acknowledgement: I am indebted to the Mornington and District Historical Society which allowed me to borrow from an unpublished manuscript on the Grand Hotel and who were particularly helpful in providing photographs.

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