COMMENT
Food and wine festival on society’s menu FRANKSTON is ready to embrace and enjoy an annual wine and food festival, according to Jim Young, president of Frankston Wine and Food Society. It’s a dream of the society’s new leader and he is looking at various ways such an event could be staged. “To me it’s a natural. We have quality raw materials on our doorstep … great restaurants, inventive chefs and superb peninsula wines,” Young said. “And the interest in our society, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, tells me that Frankston is ready for bigger and better things on the food and wine front.” Young says his festival idea is in its infancy and requires backing and expertise from the society’s administration and members. “We have a strong base of around 90 members and that has given us certainty when negotiating lunches with restaurants and winemakers over the past decade. “When you add the number of guests our members bring to each lunch, you realise the level of interest in the society. “In fact, the numbers we generate for functions creates a few headaches because it becomes a challenge to find suitable venues. “Staging a festival would be a big step up for us, but we have an excellent track record in organising food and wine events, “Groups like ours are a great support to the hospitality and wine industries, still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s ban on Australian food and wine exports. Wineries are now looking for other outlets for promotion and sales, so we both benefit. “And our membership strength gives us bargaining power for great value events while regional venues have certainty when taking our bookings.” The society brings together wine and food lovers four times a year for lunches that reflect the
Menu masters: It’s smiles all round for the 10th birthday of Frankston Wine and Food Society with founders Rob Thurley (left), Max Butler and Kevin Johnson. Picture: Supplied flavours of each season. Chefs at different venues create a menu matched to preselected wines which are discussed on the day by guest winemakers and industry experts. Over the decade society members have met winemakers from the Mornington Peninsula and across Australia. International wines have also been served, reflecting the society’s efforts to foster a global view of wine as well showcasing local and national wines. Members pay $95 annually and the society operates on a break-even, non-profit basis. Other member events include wine appreciation get-togethers, a Christmas party and a Member’s Old Bottle evening. Young is quick to point out the benefits of membership, including the subsidised lunches. “If members attend our seven annual events, the value of their savings is $140. “And usually at the end of lunches the wines enjoyed on the day are offered to members and guests at attractive discounts. “At one event members and their guests were offered membership of Treasury Wines cellar
door club. “Some guest winemakers make one-off offers that mean substantial savings for members and guests.” The society was launched in 2013, an initiative of the Proudly Frankston Campaign. Proudly Frankston, led by Alan Wickes, OAM, gathered community groups in an effort to promote Frankston as a regional centre and push employment opportunities, particularly for young people. Society co-founders Kevin Johnson, Robert Thurley and Max Butler were mentored by the acclaimed Melbourne Cricket Club Long Room Wine & Food Society. Johnson says that after more than 40 events, the society has earned a reputation for “excellent dining experiences”. Society membership is open, and anyone interested may contact Jim Young, 0418997080, or email james.young@bigpond.com Check the society’s website for details of past events, including venues, menus and winemakers, frankstonwinefoodsociety.com.au Tony Murrell
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Southern Peninsula News
10 August 2022
Saving on power costs MORE Victorians can receive bill relief and cut their energy costs with the state government’s $250 power saving bonus, already taken up by one million households. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced an extra $205 million for the program, where every Victorian household can receive $250 to find a better energy deal on Victoria’s Energy Compare website. Since 1 July, one million Victorians have applied for the one-off payment. All Victorian households are eligible for the $250 payment, including the nearly 400,000 concession card holders who previously claimed the payment under an earlier phase of the program. The $250 power saving bonus is available until 30 June 2023 and there are no caps on the number of households that can receive the one-off payment. User data shows that over the past 12 months, seven out of every 10 users saved an average of $330 by switching energy offers. Households can claim the $250 payment by heading to the Victorian Energy Compare website and comparing energy offers to see if they can get a better deal, or by engaging with a participating community outreach partner. The energy compare website is the only free and independent online energy price comparison service available to Victorian energy consumers. Other programs helping households and businesses to slash energy bills include Victorian Energy Upgrades, which provides upfront incentives for low-cost-to-free energy efficient products, and Solar Victoria, which offers households and businesses discounted solar panels, batteries and efficient heating and cooling. To apply for the power saving bonus and for more information go to: compare.energy. vic.gov.au