Western Port News 1st April 2026

Play halted at Red Hill South playground

A PLAYGROUND that closed suddenly last year has prompted community backlash and a petition demanding the shire address safety concerns and reopen it.

The Koopalanda Reserve playground on the corner of Beauford Road and Koopalanda Close in Red Hill South was established over 40 years ago as a requirement of the original subdivision.

Residents state it was closed “without notice” last year after the shire deemed the equipment had become unsafe.

“Playgrounds personify the heart of

local communities; they are meeting places where people gather to talk, unwind and celebrate. Above all playgrounds are places where children can thrive, learn and play,” said resident Ian Coffey.

The shire is believed to be in the process of assessing the status of the playground but residents claim they have not been consulted.

Residents have initiated a petition urging the shire to prioritise the renewal of the playground reserve.

A shire spokesperson told The News

“The Koopalanda Playground was

closed after inspections found the equipment had reached the end of its life and no longer met safety standards”.

“Root intrusion from surrounding mature trees has also made the site unsafe and cannot be addressed without harming significant vegetation.

“Funding for the replacement at the current location or nearby will be considered in the coming months as part of the FY27 budget process.”

The petition can be found at: change.org/ RenewKoopalandaPlaygroundReserve

The Ranch crisis accommodation set to close

unless an alternative is found.

cameron@mpnews.com.au

THE Ranch Motel in Mornington, that has been operating as crisis accommodation, will close for rede-

A joint venture between Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) and Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS), the crisis accommodation was only made possible due to the developer allowing it to be used while finalising plans for redevelopment of the

“For the past five years Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) has operated The Ranch, a 12-room former motel generously provided by a local developer, to support people experiencing homelessness with crisis accommodation. It has done so without any government funding,” said MCSC CEO Ben Smith.

“MCSC are calling for urgent state and federal government intervention to address the growing homelessness crisis in our region. The Ranch has supported approximately 250 people in that time, along with our partner agencies, to provide accommodation and wrap around supports.”

There are 11 people currently residing at The Ranch who were previously experiencing homelessness and that now face the prospect of going back to their cars or a tent

Facing the prospect of zero crisis accommodation on the peninsula, MCSC and SPCS jointly announced the establishment of new crisis accommodation, dubbed “Ranch 2.0”, last year (Peninsula crisis accommodation saved with ‘Ranch 2.0’ The News 3/6/25).

The new accommodation is now fully operational, but only has seven units, all of which are currently full, leaving nowhere for the 11 residents of The Ranch to move.

Smith told The News “The loss of this accommodation resource is devastating, especially given the homelessness crisis we’re in. We’ve lost five lives to homelessness in the past 18 months on the Mornington Peninsula, how many more deaths are needed before we get some help down here? The numbers are off the charts, and our workers are losing hope that anything can change” With no funding announcements forthcoming, local agencies are struggling to deal with the surge in homelessness numbers on the ground.

“This crisis is the equivalent of a bushfire emergency, and yet we’ve barely been given a watering can to put it out” said Smith.

Melbourne Zero, which tracks homelessness across the Mornington Peninsula, states that as of February 2026 there were 138 active homeless on the Mornington Peninsula. That figure is up from 114 in December 2025.

Council pushes jet ski safety crackdown

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors

have backed a push to strengthen enforcement of jet ski regulations, voting to submit a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting in May.

The motion calls on the state government to increase enforcement of personal watercraft rules, particularly around speed limits and safe distances from swimmers.

Council officers said submitting a shire led motion would elevate the issue at a state level and highlight safety concerns shared by coastal communities.

The MAV has confirmed the issue is strategically relevant, noting its impact on community safety and amenity across Victoria’s coastline.

The Association of Bayside Municipalities has also endorsed the proposal, aligning with its strategic goal to “advocate for improved personal watercraft licencing, enforcement and education”.

Jet ski safety has been a key advocacy priority for the shire over 2025/26, following increased complaints from residents and visitors. Council said reckless behaviour, including near misses with swimmers and impacts on marine life, had become a growing concern.

Councillors voted unanimously in support of the officer recommendation at their 17 March meeting.

Cr Michael Stephens said stronger enforcement was critical.

“I support the recommendation that council endorse the submission of this motion to the MAV. In recent years, I’ve seen increasing and consistent concerns from the community regarding the operation of watercraft, particularly jet skis, in close proximity to swimmers and wildlife,” he said.

“While regulations already exist...the key issue being raised by our community is the enforcement. Without effective enforcement, these regulations cannot provide the level of safety and reassurance that our residents expect when using our beaches.”

Stephens said the MAV submission would allow councils to “speak with a united voice” and push for “more consistent and visible enforcement of existing regulations”.

Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said the shire had already written to the Minister and highlighted recent enforcement efforts.

“Operation Summer Safe led to over 100 infringements in a very short period,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of education around rules, including speed limits near swimmers and extended 500-metre coastal restrictions between Martha Cove and Point Nepean.

“But most of all, education so people understand that there’s a change from the 200 metres to the 500 metres,” they said.

He added the advocacy push includes increased police patrols, CCTV, drone monitoring, clearer signage and restrictions on jet skis entering swimming-only zones.

“No boating zones mean no boating. That’s jet skis included.”

Cr David Gill said enforcement remained the biggest challenge due to limited resources.

“Policing is the difficult part; enforcement is the difficult part… it’s just a financial impediment at the moment.”

If supported at the MAV State Council’s 29 May meeting, the motion would strengthen advocacy efforts and increase pressure on the state government to act.

Planned burns for peninsula

FOREST Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) will take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to help reduce the risk of bushfires to communities and the environment, including planned burns on the Mornington Peninsula and French Island.

FFMVic Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tamara Beckett said planned burning is one of the most important tools firefighters use to reduce the size, intensity and impact of future bushfires.

“Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and small fallen branches means fires burn less intensely, spread more slowly and are safer for our firefighters to control,” she said.

“Autumn is generally the best time for planned burns because the weather is more stable and fire behaviour is easier to predict.”

“When the weather and forest conditions are right, we’ll make sure all available crews and resources are out delivering planned burning.”

This year,44 planned burns are prepared and ready for ignition in DEECA’s Port Phillip Region, including the Mornington Peninsula and French Island.

Peninsula burns are planned at Tuerong, Dromana, Arthurs Seat, McCrae and Main Ridge.

“While planned burning is our most effective tool to reduce fuel‑driven bushfire risk, we use many other methods in areas where burning isn’t suitable and as part of a cohesive strategy,” said Beckett.

“We work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to assess humidity, temperature, wind speed and other weather conditions. Burns only proceed when it is safe and conditions are right.”

While planned burning does produce smoke, the smoke is usually lower in intensity and shorter-lasting than smoke from a large, uncontrolled bushfire. Communities are notified in advance so people can take steps to reduce their exposure.

Victorians can register for the latest updates about where and when FFMVic is delivering planned burning at: plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au

Journalists: Brendan Rees: Email: brendan@mpnews.com.au

Brodie Cowburn: Email: brodie@mpnews.com.au

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DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1 PM ON FRI 3 APRIL 2026 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: WED 8 APRIL 2026

Rates waived for McCrae landslide homes

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will waive a year’s worth of council rates and charges for 12 properties impacted by last January’s McCrae landslide.

The decision was made at the council’s 17 March meeting, and was supported unanimously by councillors.

The landslide forced the evacuation of 19 properties after homes became unsafe. While most residents have gradually returned, emergency orders remained in place for some properties, and monitoring and safety assessments continue.

Seven of those properties still had emergency orders in place and have had their 2025/26 council rates and charges waived. The impact of waiving the council rates and charges for the remaining 12 properties is $41,724.35.

Cr Max Patton, who raised a motion last December asking that the council consider waiving the rates following the 14 January 2025 landslide, highlighted the continuing challenges for residents.

“Since the event, in initial moments where residents were asked to leave their homes around midnight of the 14th, residents have endured a number of difficult situations, including forced to find and, in some cases, pay for alternative accommodation for the period they were outside of their home,” he said.

“While at other homes, they had to try and deal with power outages to their properties, including issues with insurance and security, dealing with a

Picture: Yanni

number of robberies throughout those properties as well. They’ve had to have continual liaison with council, the state government, South East Water, their own insurance agencies and all other associated agencies.

“They’ve allowed council geo techs to place equipment on their property, all the way dealing with intense media and public scrutiny of the area.

So while yes, they’re back in their properties, the mediation process is still ongoing and this has significant time and financial burdens associated with it, not to mention the significant psychological stress of an uncertain future.

“At the same time, some of these residents have been undergoing their own rates objection processes, adding additional stress. I think one of the most important considerations in this is that it was not a natural disaster.”

Patton added, “This is a one off

consideration in respect of this manmade disaster. I acknowledge that South East Water are the main party responsible. I think this is an opportunity for us to step into our role as a councillor group and control what we can at this moment while this mediation is taking place”.

Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said he fully supported the officer’s recommendation in waiving the council rates and charges for the 12 properties.

“I actually think that it’s a practical and compassionate recommendation, waiving the rates. I think it’s an appropriate response to an extraordinary circumstance,” he said.

“Whilst we are not at fault, it was a burst water main, this is one way that we can look after those that were heavily affected by extraordinary measures.”

Gatehouse reconstruction documents lodged with Heritage Victoria

Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au

DOCUMENTATION pertaining to the reconstruction of the heritage-listed Norman Lodge gatehouse has been lodged with Heritage Victoria, paving the way for works to begin.

The dismantling documentation was provided by the owner’s consultants in November 2025.

Reconstruction documentation was submitted in late February 2026, following a request for an extension.

The documentation is currently being reviewed and when approved,

works will be required to commence within 90 days and be completed within 180 days of commencement.

The protected gatehouse has been the subject of planning applications in 2013 and 2020 that would have seen the structure deconstructed and moved just metres away to be reconstructed on a concrete slab footing. The future of the building fell into doubt in April 2024 when it was badly damaged after a large eucalyptus tree fell onto it.

Subsequent to that incident, the shire issued a demolition order after a structural engineer’s report identified the building had suffered “total loss of structural integrity” (Demolition order

issued for historic gatehouse, The News 20/8/24).

In June 2024 Heritage Victoria, the responsible authority, issued a notice to show cause under the Heritage Act 2017 to the owners of the Norman Lodge gatehouse requiring a range of works and activities to be undertaken following damage caused by the fallen tree.

On 16 August 2024, a further show cause notice was issued by Heritage Victoria as a precursor to a potential repair order requiring the dismantling and reconstruction of the gatehouse. In response to the August show cause notice, the owner of Norman

Lodge engaged heritage conservation and architectural firm, Lovell Chen. That firm was tasked with closely monitoring and recording the dismantling of the gatehouse.

At the time of the building’s deconstruction, a statement from Heritage Victoria said “The building is being dismantled in accordance with a methodology approved by Heritage Victoria and includes a detailed photographic survey and measured drawings to allow for reconstruction”.

“Salvaged materials including bricks, timber, windows, doors, ceiling roses and other decorative elements are being stored on-site.

“Non-original terracotta roof tiles, general building rubble including plaster and severely degraded timber, are being placed in skips. The roof will be replaced with slate tiles as per its original construction.”

It has been proposed that the gatehouse will be relocated from its original site, based on advice from an arborist, but will remain near the driveway.

A spokesperson from Heritage Victoria said “Heritage Victoria is working closely with the owners, the local council, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the gatehouse is reconstructed and its heritage values are preserved.”

Lighting the way

MORNINGTON Peninsula streets are shining a little brighter, with 3,648 outdated streetlights now replaced with modern LED technology across the Peninsula.

Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said “the new lights are more energy efficient and require less maintenance, which means significant savings over time that can be reinvested into services and infrastructure for our community.”

The project will receive approximately $630,000 from State Government through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

The upgrade is expected to save the shire around $526,000 every single year. Over 20 years, that adds up to $8.3m back into community funds after project costs.

Pingiaro said the project is about creating safer and more sustainable public spaces for the community.

“Reliable streetlighting plays an important role in helping people feel safe when moving around their neighbourhoods at night,” said Pingiaro.

“These modern LEDs provide consistent lighting while using far less energy, helping us improve our streets while also reducing emissions.”

The environmental impact is substantial. By upgrading older lighting technology to highefficiency LEDs, the shire expects to reduce emissions by around 1,067 tonnes CO2-e in the first year alone.

Pingiaro said the upgrade also builds on earlier work to modernise streetlighting across the peninsula.

“Since 2018 we’ve progressively upgraded around 10,000 minor-road lights to LED technology,” he said.

“Together these projects represent our largest emissions-reduction initiative to date and an important step toward a more sustainable future for the peninsula.”

The shire is now exploring further opportunities to improve the lighting network, including adaptive lighting.

Council advocates at meeting for homelessness solutions

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire representatives have met with department officials at Southern Peninsula Community Support to address homelessness and broader community crisis issues on the peninsula.

According to a council report, the meeting provided a valuable opportunity for advocacy, with councillors meeting with Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing, as well as Homelessness Victoria at Rosebud on 16 March, before a public homelessness forum that evening.

“These discussions were constructive and are considered a positive step toward addressing homelessness and broader community crisis issues, which consistently remain among the top priorities for our community,” the report stated.

It also noted that the council “continues to strongly advocate for improved responses to homelessness across the peninsula” and is “actively listening and responding to these concerns.”

In January, Melbourne Zero, which actively tracks homelessness, listed 114 actively homeless people on the Mornington Peninsula as of December. The data lists 88 of those as “sleeping rough”.

In the year to January, there were five reported homelessness deaths on the peninsula (Community leaders demand homeless action, The News 19/01/26).

SPCS CEO Jeremy Maxwell, who was present at the meeting, spoke candidly about the challenges faced by the region, particularly the lack of state government funding for any programs to deal with the issue.

“We have the largest number of rough sleepers in Greater Melbourne and we’re the only local government area that gets no funding for assertive outreach for homelessness,” he said.

“I’ve said that to the Minister, and I’ve said it to Homelessness Victoria. It’s just got to a point where I cannot fathom why.”

He added that both the shire and community organisations were actively lobbying in the Nepean by-election.

The shire’s acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro and CEO Mark Stoermer attended the meeting.

Pingiaro said a homelessness forum held in Mornington later that day was a “tremendous success” with about 450 people gathering for the discussion.

“Council will continue to advocate for state funded outreach workers for our community support centres along with funding for the proposed 22 crisis and transitional homes for women and children on the Mornington peninsula,” he said.

“Council contributes about $1m each year to support local homelessness services, including our three community support centres, Peninsula Community Legal Centre and Vinnies Kitchen, and also supports the Functional Zero response

on the Mornington Peninsula.”

Pingiaro said council had also leased councilowned land in Hastings and Mornington to Women’s Property Initiatives and YWCA for social housing, while a separate Rosebud project with Housing Choices Australia and Good Shepherd is seeking government funding to deliver 22 crisis and transitional dwellings for women and children.

“There are currently 2624 applicants on the local social housing waiting list. This is not something council can solve alone - we need both the state and federal governments to help us support our most vulnerable residents.”

The forum resulted in the Minister committing “to further discussions with council, supporting continued advocacy at the state government level,” the council report said.

Last December the state government said it invested more than $50m on homelessness services in the Bayside Peninsula, which includes the Mornington Peninsula, in the last financial year - more than any other part of Victoria.

By Cameron McCullough

A VOLUNTEER organisation that provides free transport for cancer patients to and from their treatments is facing an uncertain future due to a lack of volunteers.

Southern Peninsula Cancer Transport Group (SPCTG) was started nearly 40 years ago when Sister Carmel McFaull, from The Sisters of the Good Shepherd Order, saw a young woman struggling with a baby and pram in Sorrento trying to make her way on public transport to Melbourne for breast cancer treatment.

Sr Carmel offered the woman a lift and began driving her to the city. Soon, others began to offer to do the drive and, seeing a need for the service, she began gathering volunteers and SPCTG was born.

“We are facing a problem with getting enough volunteers to keep going,” said Mark Killen, the coordinator of the group.

“We’re almost at the point where it is unreasonable to keep asking people in their 80’s to keep doing what they are doing.”

The group services from Portsea to Mornington, picking up patients and taking them to their radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

“Of course, things have changed so much over the nearly 40 years we have been operating,” said Killen.

“At the start, transport tended to be up to the city to places like Peter Mac. Now, we have several highquality providers of cancer care much closer, so the trips don’t tend to be as far.”

Icon at The Bays, Beleura Hospital,

Frankston Public Surgical Centre, Peninsula University Hospital and Peninsula Private all offer cancer treatment services, and Peter Mac has a treatment centre in Moorabbin, negating the need for many of the trips to Melbourne.

“We wouldn’t say no to new drivers, but what we really need are new co-ordinators to manage the bookings and deal with the clients,” said Killen.

“We are really struggling with the administration side of things. It can be quite involved, and you are dealing with people that are going through tough times, so it has become quite a lot of work for the co-ordinators we currently have.”

The nature of having a volunteer organisation with quite a few octogenarians, is that come winter, some of them head north.

“We do struggle for volunteers during the cooler months too,” said Killen.

SPCTG is on the lookout for what Killen describes as “fresh talent” to fill roles, and become committee members to spread out the workload. Failing that, the group will be forced to look at its options, including whether to fold or amalgamate with a service club such as an RSL, Lions or Rotary Club.

Killen, who started as a driver around 15 years ago, and became a

co-ordinator around 10 years ago said the role is emotionally engaging but ultimately rewarding.

“We are dealing with patients that are sick, and families that are under a lot of stress. We can ease their burden by offering them transport. Even if they want to sleep on the journey home. We are there to support them”.

Drivers are reimbursed for their fuel costs, and co-ordinators are provided an honorarium for their role. The service is provided at absolutely no costs for the patients.

Anyone interested can contact Southern Peninsula Cancer Transport Group on 0429 624 375 or email spctg87@gmail.com.

Reunion of Tyabb, Somerville and Hastings residents

RESIDENTS of Tyabb, Somerville and Hastings are welcome to a lively afternoon get-together at the Tyabb Football Club clubrooms on Sunday 12 April between 1pm and 6pm. Anyone who has resided in these towns or surrounding areas are included as many of have moved elsewhere.

Be sure to inform those you know from childhood, schooldays, or work in the area.

Bring along some photos, family memorabilia and enjoy a “trip down memory lane”.

Refreshments will be provided at the kiosk, and the bar open.

Correction

In last week’s article “Shire approves retirement village rate cut and revised waste charges”, we stated “Councillors also voted to remove the due date for full payment of rates, offering four instalments only with the aim to ‘improve cash flow and support ratepayers in managing their obligations more effectively’”. Councillors actually voted to retain the option for the full payment of rates, to be offered in conjunction with the option of quarterly payments.

Esso update

By Rhys Kelly, Long Island Point Plant Manager.

I’m incredibly proud to introduce myself as the new Plant Manager at Long Island Point. After more than 15 years with ExxonMobil, I’m excited to return to a role so closely connected to our operations here in Victoria. My most recent assignment was serving as the Altona Terminal Manager, where I helped oversee the transition of the Altona site from a former refinery into Melbourne’s largest import fuel terminal.

I’m a Monash University graduate with degrees in Commerce and Finance, as well as Mechatronics Engineering —a combination that has shaped both how I approach technical challenges and how I think about the future of our operations. Stepping into this role at LIP, I’m looking forward to working closely with our talented and dedicated workforce as we continue to deliver essential energy for the state.

The recent LIP Family Day was a fantastic opportunity for our team to show the people who support them what they do every day. Opening our gates to family and friends is something we rarely have the chance to do, and it was wonderful to show loved ones a glimpse into the complex, highly technical and essential work that happens at LIP. Many members of our team are proud locals, and it was clear how deeply connected our workforce is to the surrounding community —supporting skilled jobs, contributing to the region’s economy and helping keep energy flowing safely across Victoria. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.

The Gippsland Basin Joint Venture has now commenced drilling for the Turrum Phase 3 project —a $350 million investment demonstrating our commitment to secure and reliable energy for southeast Australia. Once online before winter 2027, this project is expected to deliver significant new gas supply to the domestic market, helping keep Victorian homes warm through winter and the BBQs running in summer.

As I settle into the role, I’m looking forward to spending more time with the team, listening, learning, and building on the strong foundation you’ve all created. Together, I’m confident we will continue to operate safely, reliably and responsibly while supporting the community we’re proud to be part of.

If you have any questions about our operations, please feel free to reach out at consultation@exxonmobil.com.

NEWS DESK

Greens launch their Nepean campaign, candidates work the hustings

Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au

THE Greens have launched their Nepean byelection campaign, with more than 60 supporters gathering in Blairgowrie on Sunday (29 March).

Mornington Peninsula mum Sianan Healy is the Greens candidate, vowing to be a true community representative in Parliament if elected, stating that “Nepean shouldn’t risk Liberals and One Nation who will work for their corporate donors, not their community.”

Healy works for a non profit in women’s health and has a background in research and education in the university sector.

“Together we can build a better and brighter future - one in which we have a say in decisions that affect our natural environment, our living standards, our work and schools and homes,” said Healy.

“Big corporations are ripping off our community and making massive profits while people are falling further behind. The Liberals and One Nation can’t stand up to big corporations and billionaires when they’re funded by them.”

“We’re building a movement that starts in our homes, backyards and beaches - a movement that sends a message all the way to Spring Street: that we won’t be taken for granted any-

more, and that Nepean is ready for change.

“The Greens have the power to make a difference in politics, to build coherent, united representation in Parliament that can lead to real change.”

With less than five weeks until the Nepean by election, Healy joins another five candidates who have signalled their intention to run for the Nepean by-election: Anthony Marsh (Liberal Party), Tracee Hutchinson (Independents of Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate), Darren Hercus (One Nation), Peter Angelico (Libertarian), and Milton Wilde (End Mass Immigration – Reform AU).

Nominations for the by-election close at 12 noon on Thursday 9 April for registered political party candidates and 12 noon on Friday 10 April for independent candidates, with only three candidates having officially nominated so far according to the VEC website. Those candidates are Milton Wilde, Peter Angelico and Tracee Hutchinson.

Liberal Party candidate Anthony Marsh has continued door knocking, again joined by some big names from the Victorian Liberal Party.

In a sign of the importance of the Nepean contest to the Liberal Party, leader Jess Wilson was again down knocking on doors on Thursday, with the pair joined by Upper House MP

Renee Heath.

The deputy leader David Southwick joined Heath and Marsh over the weekend to continue campaigning.

In a social media post, Marsh wrote: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from locals here in Nepean”.

“The road to change starts here, and this by-election is an important opportunity to get results for our community.”

Independents for Mornington Peninsula’s endorsed candidate Tracee Hutchison has also been putting in the hard yards letterboxing and door knocking over the last week stating on social media: “This campaign is about making sure our community is properly represented because, for too long, we’ve been overlooked”.

“Fuel costs are high, public transport isn’t nearly good enough in Nepean, and right now we don’t have a local MP standing up for this community.

“That’s not good enough, and it’s why I’m running.”

One Nation’s Darren Hercus held a breakfast barbeque at Sorrento on Sunday morning, encouraging people to come past and have a bite and a chat.

Peninsula gardener stuns at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

A GARDENER from Mt Martha has made an unforgettable debut at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Andrew Stark was awarded the prestigious Silver Gilt medal for his first ever show garden, Urban Luxe, impressing judges and visitors alike with a modern take on a classic Italian design.

“This is my first show garden anywhere, so I’ve sort of come out of the blocks exploding. It’s pretty unreal,” he told The News

A Mt Martha resident since 1975, Stark has been running Andrew Stark Gardens for 35 years. Known for his busy, booked-out business, he said the flower show was a chance to showcase what he could do on a larger stage.

“Always busy, always booked out for at least a year in advance so it was my time to stick my head up

and say, right guys, here I am at the Flower Show and this is what I can do,” he said.

Stark said his garden blended classical Italian elements, like urns, imported pots, and clipped trees, with contemporary touches such as modern furniture and colour-blocked flowering plants. Measuring 18 by 14 meters, his show garden drew hundreds to Stark’s talks and thousands of visitors over the five day show. The project was a monumental

BELVOIR ST THEATRE TOURS TO FRANKSTON

BELVOIR St Theatre, one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre companies, brings Mandela Mathia’s powerful autobiographical solo show Lose to Win to Frankston Arts Centre for one night only on Saturday 16 May, as part of the 2026 Season and the South Side Festival.

Blending spoken word, song and humour, Mathia (known for The Cherry Orchard) shares his extraordinary journey from South Sudan to Egypt, and ultimately to Australia. Forced to flee his war-torn home as a child, he spent years searching for safety, identity and belonging—before discovering a passion for performance. The result is a deeply personal and uplifting work that speaks to resilience, hope and the human spirit.

“In this country, you think it’s your right to have three meals a day. Me, where I came from?

I think it’s a miracle,” Mathia reflects, grounding the story in lived experience. His performance is both joyful and poignant, offering audiences a rare insight into a life shaped by hardship, perseverance and imagination.

“This show explores my life from birth to Australia,” Mathia said. “It’s about self-acceptance, perseverance, and inspiring people to reinvent themselves and find light at the end of the tunnel.”

Directed by Jessica Arthur (The Wolves), Lose to Win transforms one man’s story into an intimate theatrical experience. Belvoir

Artistic Director Eamon Flack describes Mathia as a captivating performer whose warmth and depth shine on stage, creating

theatre that is both charming and remarkable. A celebration of the South Sudanese community and the power of storytelling, Lose to Win is a moving and unforgettable modern Australian story. Lose to Win plays at Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 16 May at 8pm. Tickets are available at thefac.com.au or by calling 03 9784 1060.

effort, taking more than 14 months of planning and preparation.

“Thousands, thousands, thousands of hours,” he said.

“Every day working on it, every weekend working on it, and then the nine-day build.

He said between 10 and 15 people were working 12 to 16-hour days on the project with Stark personally putting in two days of 21 hours to “get it done”.

In an added thrill, Stark even edged out television personality

Jamie Durie, whose garden The Future Garden received a silver for the same Show Garden category. “I feel fabulous. I’ve looked up to Jamie for years and as this is my first show garden. I gave it everything, and the reward’s there for me.”

Taking out top prize was Matt York who claimed the esteemed City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show with a garden inspired by Victoria’s southern coastline, We the Wild.

Welcome TO THE WORLD

COAST

Parents: Symone & Dillon

Birth date: 24.3.2026

Birth weight: 3590gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Kitty & Nic

Birth date: 23.3.2026

Birth weight: 3580gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Jessica & Robert

Birth date: 24.3.2026

Birth weight: 4265gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Emma & Jake

Birth date: 24.3.2026

Birth weight: 3940gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Yonja & Luke

Birth date: 22.3.2026

Birth weight: 3500gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Bach Ngoe & Linh

Birth date: 24.3.2026

Birth weight: 2940gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Parents: Mutyg & Scott

Birth date: 22.3.2026

Birth weight: 3800gms

Born at: Peninsula University Hospital

Council backs developer stormwater fund

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have endorsed a developer stormwater fund as a permanent initiative, aiming to improve stormwater management and fund Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) projects across the region.

The decision, made at the council’s 17 March meeting, also saw councillors support a $60,000 grant application to the state government’s Integrated Water Management Grant program for 2025–2028.

If successful, the grant would fund detailed design work for priority WSUD projects at Olympic Park Recreation Reserve and Murrowong Reserve in Rosebud, and Dromana Parade Reserve in Safety Beach.

According to a council report, urban development increases impervious surfaces, which generate higher volumes of stormwater runoff and pollutant loads that can negatively impact waterways, coastal environments, and public infrastructure.

All Victorian planning schemes require stormwater from urban development to be managed in an integrated way to mitigate environmental, property, and public safety impacts, while also delivering amenity, cooling, and habitat benefits.

A Stormwater In-Lieu Contribution Scheme, first trialled by the shire in July 2022 for a period of two years, was introduced to replace a Melbourne Water-managed program that would have seen local developer contributions spent in other municipalities.

With a contribution rate of $29 per square metre of impervious area, “the scheme provides an optional mechanism for developers to meet best practice stormwater management requirements where best practice on-site treatment is not feasible, while ensuring contributions are reinvested directly into WSUD projects within the Mornington Peninsula,” the report said.

Cr Patrick Binyon said the scheme provided council with a strong planning foundation.

“It’s a master plan and provides council with a solid base for the implementation of priority stormwater projects. It identifies, quantifies and

then ranks from medium to large- scale water sensitive urban design treatment or stormwater harvesting projects across the shire,” he said.

“The key project objectives include costeffective investment, improving stormwater quality, reducing risks, and maximising opportunities... it secures the contribution that would otherwise be spent out of the shire.”

Cr Kate Roper also emphasised the local benefits, noting drainage would continue to be an issue on the peninsula, especially in some bayside areas.

“This scheme has been very successful... the funding stays here and is going to be spent here,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of drainage problems, and climate change is adding to our challenges. This trial has had marked acceptance, minimal complaints from developers, and clear environmental benefits.”

Cr Michael Stephens added that the scheme had delivered practical outcomes while providing certainty for both council and developers.

“It has been accepted by the developer market and has delivered practical stormwater outcomes through a balanced approach of onsite and off site water sensitive urban design solutions,” he said.

“All contributions remain locally focused... this allows us to invest strategically in projects that deliver greater environmental and community benefit. Endorsing the scheme as permanent strengthens council’s ability to plan and deliver priority infrastructure over the long term.”

Since implementation, about 40 per cent of eligible developments have contributed financially, with 60 per cent of stormwater treatment achieved on-site, the council report said.

Council’s permanent adoption of the scheme is expected to provide certainty for developers, secure locally spent contributions, and deliver a coordinated approach to stormwater management, benefiting Mornington Peninsula’s waterways and coastal environments.

“As of December 2025, the top three priority WSUD projects have progressed from feasibility to concept design, with funding for detailed design proposed through the 2026/27 council budget process using funds already collected in the Scheme,” the report stated.

Violence law reforms welcomed

UPCOMING reforms to Victoria’s family violence laws will help prevent victim-survivors from being wrongly identified as perpetrators, local legal experts say.

The reforms, which are set to come into effect between April and November, include expansion of the definition of family violence to clearly include stalking, systems abuse and animal cruelty; introduction of a two year default duration for intervention orders; and improvement of safeguards to prevent victim-survivors being wrongly identified as perpetrators. New laws are also set to be put in place to ensure young people remain protected by orders after turning 18; prevent intervention orders being made against children under 12; and allow Victorian courts to issue intervention orders for violence occurring interstate.

The Peninsula Community Legal Centre - a free legal service for people living in the Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Casey, Car-

dinia, Glen Eira, and Kingston municipalitieshas welcomed the reforms. PCLC CEO Jackie Galloway said that the legal centre helped 6600 clients last year, with nearly half of them affected by family violence.

“Misidentification and systems abuse remain common issues for PCLC clients. Misidentification can have devastating consequences, including exclusion from the home and separation from children. The trauma can last long after the legal issues are resolved,” Galloway said. “Systems abuse—where perpetrators weaponise court, police or child protection processes—can be exhausting and frightening for victim-survivors. Naming systems abuse in the law is an essential step in stopping it.”

The PCLC has specialist family violence services at the Frankston and Moorabbin courts. For free legal advice about family violence contact PCLC at 9783 3600.

The Guide

TOP PICKS OF THE WEEK

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

RIOT WOMEN

SBS, 9.35pm

Screenwriter Sally Wainwright takes pride in creating authentic, complex and fierce female characters. Her latest project is no exception, focusing on a group of menopausal British women who form a punk rock band for a local talent contest. It’s not long before teacher Beth (Joanna Scanlan), shoplifter Kitty (Rosalie Craig), pub landlady Jess (Lorraine Ashbourne), police officer Holly (Tamsin Greig) and midwife Yvonne (Amelia Bullmore) discover they’ve actually got quite a lot to shout about. The six-part series covers a lot of ground.

GARDENING AUSTRALIA

ABC TV, 7.30pm

Autumn is synonymous with fallen foliage, but leave it to optimistic Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis (right centre) to find a fresh perspective to the season. In this informative episode, he focuses on fiery shrubs that can bring colour to any garden. In Hobart, Hannah Moloney visits her retired horticulturalist dad Justin to see how his small urban plot has blossomed into a plant and wildlife haven in just two years. Meanwhile, Millie Ross focuses on seasonal produce, spending time with a Victorian family who operate a heritage quince orchard.

MONDAY MASTERMIND AUSTRALIA

SBS, 6pm

Despite best efforts from rival networks, the hottest seat on Australian TV remains Mastermind’s black chair. The only thing that could make facing host Marc Fennell’s (below) questioning more difficult is a touch of sibling rivalry – enter Family Week. The hardest quiz show on the box returns for its eighth season with a quartet of families eager to test their knowledge. The Coutinho clan kicks things off in Monday’s premiere, when West Coast Eagles tragic Josh, Luck Charlie Aerin, Thirsty Merc fan Tiarne and their vintage Chrysler Valiantloving dad Kemal go head to head in their categories and a general knowledge round.

WEDNESDAY

Let our family help your family

At

TONIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

ABC TV, 8pm

Zoology, history and hijinks combine in this comedy quiz show filmed in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. This week, Alex Lee (above centre) invites Becky Lucas, Takashi Wakasugi, Bron Lewis and Dilruk Jayasinha to showcase their knowledge. The winner will place a personal treasure on display – will visitors be treated to Lucas’s broken phone, Wakasugi’s dog statue, Lewis’s lock of hair or Jayasinha’s first plane ticket to Australia?

Thursday, April 2

With

(PG) Virginia Trioli meets with Andy Griffiths. 9.00 The Piano. (PG, R) Presented by Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam. 9.50 The Matter Of Facts: Disinformation Versus Democracy. (PG, R) 10.40 ABC Late News. 10.55 The Business. (R) 11.10 Sister Boniface Mysteries. (PG, R) 11.55 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 12.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Aust. (R)

5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Treasures With Bettany Hughes: Switzerland – Stories Through Time. (PG) Bettany Hughes journeys through Switzerland’s mountains.

8.25 Our Medicine. (PGa, R) Dr Robert Blackley treats a pregnant mother.

9.35 Riot Women. (Premiere) A group of women form a punk rock band. 10.40 SBS World News Late. 11.10 In Memoriam. (Malsv) 12.05 Blackwater. (Malsv, R) 2.15 Beyond Signs. (MA15+a, R) 3.15 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. (R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round 4. Brisbane Lions v Collingwood. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking a look back at all the action from the match.

11.00 Kick Ons. Kane Cornes, Josh Jenkins and Jason Richardson debate the hottest topics and preview the upcoming AFL matches.

11.30 Australian Idol. (PGal, R) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 1.15 Damnation. (MA15+asv, R) 2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 RBT. (PGdl, R) Follows the activities of police units.

8.30 Emergency. (Mlm, R) Doctor Glenn Harrison fears a tradie, crushed under 300kg of cement, has brain injuries.

9.30 A+E Crash Scene Emergency. (Malv, R) A vehicle collides with a tractor.

10.30 The Equalizer. (MA15+v)

11.20 9News Late.

11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

12.40 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair.

Friday, April 3

ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7) TEN (10) NINE (9) 6am Morning Programs. 9.30 Cook And The Chef. (R) 10.00 Compass. (PG, R) 10.30

Stuff The British Stole. (PG, R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.55 The Piano. (PG, R) 1.45 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms, R) 2.15 The Assembly. (PG, R) 3.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC National News.

7.30 Gardening Australia.

8.30 Patience. (Mv) A music student is found dead. 9.20 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs, R) Hosted by Alex Lee.

9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ms, R)

10.20 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R)

10.55 Melbourne Comedy Festival: Allstars Supershow. (R)

12.20 Shaun Micallef’s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R) 12.55 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Tommy Fleming: 30 Years Of Song. (R) 10.30 Charmian Clift: Life Burns High. (Ma) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. 2.05 Tommy Fleming Live From Galway Cathedral. (R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Building The Vatican. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo. (PG)

8.30 Secrets Of The Conclave. Looks at the conclave process that elected Pope Leo XIV. 9.40 Lost Secrets Of Jesus. Looks at genuine historical evidence behind the life of Jesus.

10.40 Haigh’s Chocolates: From Bean To Bar. (R) 11.10 Sisi. (Mav) 12.15 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+av, R) 2.05 Nordland 99. (Mals, R) 3.05 Designing Paradise With Bill Bensley. (R) 4.00 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. (PG) Coverage of the annual Good Friday Appeal to help raise funds for The Royal Children’s Hospital. 12.00 GetOn Extra. Lizzie Jelfs, Matt Hill, Simon Marshall and Brent Zerafa dive headlong into the weekend’s best racing. 12.30 Damnation. (MA15+asv, R) When Bessie discovers the grand industrial plans for Holden, Seth and Amelia must decide whether to protect her from the Black Legion.

1.30 Harry’s Practice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 5. Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm. 9.55 NRL Friday Night Footy Post-Match. Post-match coverage and analysis of the NRL game between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm.

10.45 MOVIE: The Foreigner. (2017, MA15+alv, R) A restaurateur seeks justice. Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan.

1.00 Explore TV: Antarctica. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Postcards. (PG, R)

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PGa, R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG, R) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) Andrew Winter helps James and Brendan. 8.40 Location, Location, Location Australia. (R) Follows property experts Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie as they search for the perfect home for two sets of buyers.

9.40 The Graham Norton Show. (Mls, R) Guests include Bruce Springsteen. 10.40 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 11.30 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 2.25pm Bamay. 3.00 Where Are You Really From? 3.35 WorldWatch. 5.35 Inside The Huddle. 6.05 Over The Black Dot. 6.35 The Future. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: Three Fugitives. (1989) 10.20 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. 11.10 Homeland. 12.15am The Change. 1.10 United Gangs Of America. 2.05 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 3.40pm Thomas. 4.15 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Millie Magnificent. 6.05 PJ Masks. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.00 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 My Adventures With Superman. 8.45 BattleBots. 9.35 Gladiators UK. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Going Places. Noon MOVIE: Listen Up: The Many Lives Of Quincy Jones. (1990, PG) 2.00 Tradition On A Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Nula. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Ocean Parks. 7.30 MOVIE: My Neighbour Totoro. (1988, PG) 9.00 Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy. 10.35 Stompem Ground 2022: Yatangal. 11.00 Late Programs. NITV (34)

Morning Programs. 9.10 Discovering Film. 10.00 Flee. (2021, M, Danish, Dari, English, Russian, Swedish) 11.40 Bad Eggs. (2003, M) 1.25pm Porco Rosso. (1992, PG) 3.05 The Boy And The Heron. (2023, PG) 5.20 Howl’s Moving Castle. (2004, PG) 7.30 What’s Love Got To Do With It? (2022) 9.35 Something’s Gotta Give. (2003, M) 11.55 Late Programs.

Saturday, April 4

TV (2)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PG) 12.00 Football. VFL. Round 3. Werribee v Geelong. From Avalon Airport Oval, Victoria. 3.00 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. (R) 4.10 The Matter Of Facts. (PG, R) 5.00 Australian Story. (R) 5.35 Landline. (R)

6.00 Kath & Kim. (PGals, R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) Presented by Tom Gleeson.

7.00 ABC News. A look at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Blue Murder Motel. (M) Vinny and Cole investigate a fun-run attack.

8.15 Top End Bub. (PGs) Ned, Taya and Trevor help Leroy put on a great show for the local footy fundraiser.

8.45 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) Marlon receives a mysterious phone call from his fatally-wounded former boss.

9.45 Frauds. (Mlv, R) Trouble from home catches up with Bilal.

10.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.00 To Be Advised. 5.00 Rage. (PG)

6am ICU. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’s Practice. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon House Of Wellness. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 9.10 Paul O’Grady For The Love Of Animals. (PGa, R) 10.05 Vintage Voltage. (PGl, R) 11.00 Going Places. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 Motor Racing. Bathurst 6 Hour. Day 1. Qualifying. 5.00 Stories From The Cities. (PG) 5.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 5.35 Orphans Of WW2. (PGa)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Edward Vs George: The Windsors At War. (Premiere) 8.25 Magical Train Journeys In Switzerland: Aboard The Gotthard Panorama Express From Lake Lucerne To Ticino. (PGa, R) Documents scenic Swiss train journeys.

9.25 Jersey And Guernsey. (R) Celebrates the natural beauty of Jersey and Guernsey.

10.15 Highclere: The Real Downton Abbey. (R) 11.15 Snowpiercer. (MA15+s, R) 1.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.00 Matched. (PG, R) 3.50 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 Bamay. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Day On The Trot At Royal Randwick and Caulfield Easter Cup. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 8.00 MOVIE: Snow White And The Huntsman. (2012, Mhv, R) A sorceress orders for her former husband’s daughter to be killed after learning she will be defeated by her. Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron. 10.45 MOVIE: Mercury Rising. (1998, Mlv, R) An autistic boy cracks a government code. Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin. 1.00 Devils. (MA15+av, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Tales Of Aluna. (R) 5.00 House Of Wellness. (PG, R)

6.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 6.30 ACA. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday. (PG) 12.00 Open For Inspection. 12.30 Drive TV: What Drives Us. (Final) 1.00 Explore TV Viking. (R) 1.30 My Way. (R) 2.00 The Long Drive For Drought. (PGa) 2.30 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGam, R) 3.30 Epic Builds. 4.30 The

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 A Current Affair.

6.30 The Dog House. (R) A couple dream of different dogs. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. Andrew Winter tempts an Aussie larrikin to move. Neale Whitaker tries to convince Michelle to give up on her dream. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 10.30 Ambulance Australia. (Mdlm, R) Follows dispatchers and paramedics. 12.30 Elsbeth. (Mlv, R) 1.00 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) 1.30 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Race For The Planet. 2.40 Forged In Fire. 3.35 BBC News At Ten. 4.05 France 24. 4.35 PBS News. 5.35 The Mormons Are Coming. 6.45 The Food That Built The World. 7.35 Abandoned Americana. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Transformers. (Return) 10.20 Marcella. 12.10am Race For The Planet. 12.45 The Tara Brown Story. 1.45 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.30pm PJ Masks. 1.50 Kangaroo Beach. 2.15 Peter Rabbit. 2.30 Mister Maker Around The World. 3.00 Play School. 3.25 The Gruffalo’s Child. 3.55 Odd Squad. 4.20 Dino Dex. 5.10 Tummy Tom And The Lost Teddy Bear. (Premiere) 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 Kids Baking C’ship. 8.10 Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking. 8.50 Chopped Jnr. 9.55 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am The Boy And The Heron. Continued. (2023, PG) 8.10 Without A Clue. (1988, PG) 10.15 Something’s Gotta Give. (2003, M) 12.40pm What We Do In The Shadows. (2014, M) 2.15 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of

7.30 Space Invaders. (PG)

8.30 MOVIE: Wonka. (2023, PGav) A young Willy Wonka sets out to build his chocolate empire. Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane.

10.50 MOVIE: The Legend Of Tarzan. (2016, Mav, R)

12.50 Taronga: Who’s Who In The Zoo. (PGam, R) 1.50 My Way. 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PGa) 2.15 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Epic Builds. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

Opus. (1995, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Noah. (2014, M) 10.10 MOVIE: The Elephant Man. (1980, M) 12.40am Late Programs. 9GEM (92) 7TWO (72)

6am Children’s

Sunday, April 5

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Pope Leo’s Easter Vigil. 11.30 Songs Of Praise. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline.

1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 The Piano. (PG, R) 3.30 Inside The Sydney Opera House. (R) 4.30 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli. (PG, R) 5.00 Back Roads. (R) 5.30 Fake Or Fortune?

6.30 Compass: Dear Prime Minister. (PG)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 The Piano. (PG) Presented by Amanda Keller.

8.20 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms) Neha and Debbie team up.

8.50 Frauds. (Mal) An unforeseen disaster derails the gang’s plans.

9.40 Blue Murder Motel. (Ml, R) Vinny and Cole investigate a fun-run attack.

10.25 Top End Bub. (PGs, R)

10.55 MOVIE: Ten Canoes. (2006, Mnv, R) 12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 1.45 Unforgotten. (Mal, R) 3.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.55 Dream Gardens. (R) 5.30 A Bite To Eat. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 9.05 Paul O’Grady For The Love Of Animals. (PGa, R) 10.00 PBS News Compass Points. 10.30 PBS Washington Week. 10.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 11.00 Motor Racing. Bathurst 6 Hour. Day 2. Race day. 5.30 Going

6.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’s Rivers. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Unwrapping King Tut: Secrets Of The Mummy.

8.25 Akhenaten, The Secrets Of The Forgotten Pharaoh. (R) A look at the discovery of a lost city.

9.25 Leonardo Da Vinci: Painter–God Pt 2. (PGadn, R) Leonardo Da Vinci pours his knowledge into a portrait.

10.25 Lost Treasures Of Egypt. (PGa, R) 11.20 Bronze Age Apocalypse. (R) 12.55 Me And My Tourette’s. (Mals, R) 2.00 Matched. (PG, R) 2.50 Mastermind Aust. (R) 3.55 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Round 4. Western Bulldogs v Essendon. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion and interviews taking a look back at all the action from the match.

11.00 INXS: Live At Wembley. (Ml, R) A look at one of the greatest INXS concerts ever filmed, with interviews with band members Jon Farriss and Kirk Pengilly.

1.00 A Friend Of The Family. (MA15+a, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News Sunday.

7.00 60 Minutes. Current affairs program.

8.00 MOVIE: Hot Potato: The Story Of The Wiggles. (2023, PGaa) The true story of The Wiggles, who became one of the greatest success stories in entertainment history. Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook. 10.15 9News Late.

10.45 The First 48: Escape Plan/ Path Of Terror. (MA15+av, R)

11.40 A Killer Makes A Call: Jackson. (Mav, R)

12.35 Oz Off Road TV. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Australian Survivor: Redemption. (PGl) A night of rewards proves too much for some to handle. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Final, Mav) With a Stinger missile and murderer in the wind, the team races to prevent a deadly attack. 9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Mav) The hunt for a murder suspect uncovers a crime with shocking implications. Bruno protects his squad during a raid. 10.30 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) The team investigates the death of a marine’s son. 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 12.15pm Motorcycle Racing. Superbike World Championship. Round 2. 1.20 Jeopardy! 3.25 France 24. 3.55 PBS Washington Week. 4.25 PBS News Compass Points. 5.05 The Architecture The Railways Built. 5.55 Cycling. UCI World Tour. Tour of Flanders. Men’s race. 1.15am Cycling. UCI World Tour. Tour of Flanders. Women’s race. 2.30 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Mister Maker Around The World. 3.00 Play School. 3.30 Isadora Moon. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 MOVIE: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend For Tummy Tom. (2024) 7.05 Let’s Go Bananas! 7.30 The Inbestigators. 8.00 Foxes: Their Secret World. 8.45 Amazing Animal Friends. 9.35 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

6am

Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind. Continued. (1984, PG) 8.00 Howl’s Moving Castle. (2004, PG) 10.15 What’s Love Got To Do With It? (2022) 12.20pm Princess Mononoke. (1997, M, Japanese) 2.50 Mosley. (2019, PG) 4.35 My Neighbour Totoro. (1988, PG) 6.15 Spirited Away. (2001, PG) 8.30 The Miracle Club. (2023) 10.10 Io Capitano. (2023, MA15+, French) 12.20am Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. Noon Over The Black Dot. 12.30 Inside The Huddle. 1.00 Motor Racing. Dakar Rally. Weekly Highlights. 2.00 Dreaming Big. 2.30 Sammy Butcher: Out Of The Shadows. 3.10 Reclaiming The West. 4.10 Tina Turner Live 2009. 6.40 Wild, Smart And Deadly. 7.30 Our Medicine. 8.30 Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy. 10.05 Vacation Plantation. 11.30 Late Programs. NITV

Flavour. 9.15 Sing To Remember:

Dementia. 10.10 Kew Gardens:

By

11.00 DNA Journey. 12.10 WorldWatch. 1.00 PBS News Compass Points. 1.30 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dare To Hope. 3.20 The Cook Up. (R) 3.55 Six: Behind A History Making Achievement. 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (Return)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Inside The Tower Of London. (PG) 8.30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) Game show. Hosted by Jimmy Carr. 9.20 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Hosted by Greg Davies.

10.10 SBS World News Late.

(Mv, R)

10.40 Herrhausen: The Banker And The Bomb. (Premiere, Ml) 11.35 Gomorrah. (MA15+av, R) 2.25 Mastermind Australia. (R) 3.30 Mountain Vets. (Ma, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 4.55

Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

(31) 6am

Programs. 10.10 Play School. 11.00 Bananas In Pyjamas. 11.30 Wiggle And Learn. 12.35pm Fizzy And Suds. 1.25 Kangaroo Beach. 2.25 Play School Science Time. 3.00 Play School. 5.00 Bluey’s Big Play. 6.35 Kangaroo Beach. 6.55 Bluey. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.35 Gladiators UK. 9.35 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.20 Kids Baking C’ship. 11.00 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am My Neighbour Totoro. Continued. (1988, PG) 6.35 The Secret World Of Arrietty. (2010) 8.20 Spirited Away. (2001, PG) 10.35 Animalia. (2023,

6.00 Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show. (PG) The latest news and views. 11.30 Athletics. Stawell Gift. Easter Monday session. From Central Park, Stawell, Victoria. 2.30 AFL Pre-Game Show. Pre-game coverage of the match. 3.00 Football. AFL. Round 4. Hawthorn v Geelong. From the MCG.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGas)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) The top six take to the stage. 9.15 9-1-1. (M) Harry’s first day as a probie proves to be more challenging than Chimney expects.

10.15 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.15 The Agenda Setters: Rugby League. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest rugby league topics.

12.15 Conviction. (MA15+av, R)

1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: A Royal In Paradise. (2023, G, R) Rhiannon Fish. 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) The social experiment continues.

9.15 Footy Classified. (Ml) A team of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

10.15 9News Late.

10.45 100% Footy. (Mal)

Tuesday, April 7

ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7) TEN (10) NINE (9)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Australian Story. (R) 10.35 Planet America. (R) 11.10 The Matter Of Facts. (PG, R) 12.00

ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Death In Paradise. (Ma, R) 2.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.55 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGa, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. 8.00 Foreign Correspondent.

8.30 The Matter Of Facts: The Truth According To AI. (Final, PG) Hamish Macdonald investigates the future of AI. 9.20 Creative Types With Virginia Trioli: Andy Griffiths. (PG, R) Virginia Trioli meets with Andy Griffiths.

9.50 Compass. (PG, R)

10.20 ABC Late News. 10.35 The Business. (R) 10.50 Four Corners. (R) 11.40 Murdoch Mysteries. (Ma, R) 12.30 Long Lost Family. (R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 1.50 Unforgotten. (Ml, R) 4.00 Gardening Aust. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.10 Sing To Remember: Defying Dementia. (PG, R) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 10.55 DNA Journey. (PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 The Great House Revival. (R) 3.00 Trail Towns. (R) 3.35 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (PGs, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10

6.00 Mastermind Australia.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys: Maienfeld To The Rhine Gorge/Sedrun To Schwyz. (R)

8.30 Insight. Presented by Kumi Taguchi.

9.30 Dateline: American Veterans – The War Within. Explores America’s role in global conflicts. 10.00 Rock Legends: Patti Smith. (PGl)

10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Exit. (MA15+adlns)

11.55 Elvira. (Malv, R) 3.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.05 Bamay. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.

8.40 Doc. (Ma) The race for chief resident intensifies as Joan tasks Amy and Sonya with evaluating each other’s case work.

9.40 House Of Wellness. (PG) Insights and experiences that highlight living well.

10.40 The Agenda Setters. (R)

11.40 St. Denis Medical. (PGas)

12.10 Dirty John. (MA15+v)

1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Ml) The couples must make a big decision.

9.30 Footy Classified. (Ml) A team of footy experts tackles the AFL’s big issues and controversies.

11.00 The Hunting Wives. (MA15+alsvv) Starr discovers an unbearable truth.

12.00 9News Late.

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Our State On A Plate. (PG)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 A Current Affair. (R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG)

Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG) Hosted by Rebecca Gibney. 7.30 Australian Survivor: Redemption. (PGl) Alliances are tested. 8.40 NCIS. (Mmv) The team investigates a case involving a man who is shot by the Secret Service outside the vice president’s official residence. 9.40 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.40 10 News+. (R) 11.10 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 2.35pm Forged In Fire. 3.20 Kars & Stars. 3.50 BBC News At Ten. 4.20 France 24. 4.50 PBS News. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy!

7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 James May: Our Man In... Japan. 9.30 Into The Void: Life, Death And Heavy Metal. 10.25 Chasing Speed. 11.20 Brassic. 1.10am WWE Legends. 3.00 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Thomas. 4.15 Andy’s Safari Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. (Premiere) 6.05 PJ Masks. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 8.45 The Slow Mo Guys’ Big Adventures. 9.30 BattleBots. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

11.00 The Knowledge Keepers. 11.30 Te Puna Ora: The Source Of Life. 12.55pm Karla Grant Presents. 1.40 Words Matter. 2.00 Tradition On A Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.30 Ocean Warriors. (Return) 8.35 MOVIE: Coach Carter. (2005, M) 10.50 Late Programs.

ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Mosley. Continued. (2019, PG) 7.05 Kiki’s Delivery Service. (1989, PG) 9.05 My Neighbour Totoro. (1988, PG) 10.40 Barbarella. (1968, M) 12.30pm The Miracle Club. (2023) 2.10 Discovering Film. 3.05 The Great Dictator. (1940, PG) 5.20 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 7.35 The Delinquents. (1989, M) 9.30 Logan’s Run. (1976, M) 11.40 Late Programs. 5.50am Ponyo. (2008) SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs.

Wednesday, April 8

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 11.30 Back Roads. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.45 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 2.20 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 2.50 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.50 Murdoch Mysteries. (PGv, R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Point: Road To Referendum. (R) 9.05 Destination Flavour. (R) 9.15 Sun & Splendour: History Of Marbella. (PGa) 10.05 Kew Gardens: Season By Season. (R) 10.55 DNA Journey. 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.35 Insight. (R) 3.35 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Secret World Of Snacks. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Tonight At The Museum. (PGs) Hosted by Alex Lee.

8.30 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ms) A satirical news program.

9.00 Can You Keep A Secret? (Ms, R) Neha and Debbie team up.

9.30 QI. (Mal) Hosted by Sandi Toksvig. 10.00 Planet America. (R)

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Business. (R) 11.05 You Can’t Ask That. (MA15+, R) 11.40 Murdoch Mysteries. (Mv, R) 12.25 Long Lost Family. (R) 1.15 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Aust. (R)

5.00 A Bite To Eat. (PG, R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 48 Hours: Escape From Chernobyl. Chronicles the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

8.50 Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes. (Ma, R) Explores the story of Chernobyl through a newly uncovered hoard of dramatic footage.

10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Rise Of The Raven. (Masv) 12.10 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (Malsv) 1.55 Classified. (Malv, R) 3.35 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 10.25 Children’s Programs. 2.30pm Daniel Tiger’s. 2.45 The Makery. 3.00 Play School. 3.40 Thomas. 4.15 Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures. 4.40 Ariel. 5.20 Stan & Gran. 6.05 PJ Masks. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago: Dragons Rising. 8.00 Young Sheldon. 8.25 Young Sheldon. 9.55 Pokémon: Diamond And Pearl. 10.15 My Adventures With Superman. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Ponyo. Continued. (2008) 7.45 Discovering Film. 8.45 A River Runs Through It. (1992, PG) 11.00 Undercover. (2021, M, French, Spanish) 1.15pm Mad Max. (1979, M) 2.55 Forever Enthralled. (2008, PG, Mandarin) 5.35 The Ipcress File. (1965, PG) 7.35 Hard Eight. (1996, M) 9.30 Zardoz. (1978) 11.30 Mad Heidi. (2022, MA15+) 1.15am Logan’s Run. (1976, M) 3.20 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Ocean Warriors. Noon MOVIE: Manganinnie. (1980, PG) 1.30 Stompem Ground. 2.00 Tradition On A Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Waterworld Africa. 7.35 Ice Vikings. 8.30 Pro Bull Riding: USA. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Inside The Huddle. 10.30 MOVIE: Ka Po. (2022, M) Midnight Late Programs. NITV (34)

9GEM (92)

6am Morning Programs.

8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 House Of Wellness. 3.30 Harry’s Practice. 4.00 Medical Emergency. 4.30

Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country. 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Judge John Deed. 11.15 Late Programs. 6am Seaway. 7.00 Creflo. 7.30 Thunderbirds. 8.00 TV Shop. 9.30 Newstyle Direct. 10.00 TV Shop. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian. Noon TBA. 1.00 Antiques Roadshow. 1.30 MOVIE: Carry On Constable. (1960) 3.20 MOVIE: The Third Man. (1949, PG) 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow. 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Christie’s Marple. 10.40 TBA. 11.40 Late Programs.

7TWO (72) 6am Children’s Programs. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.30pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family. 5.30 Bewitched. 6.30 Nanny. 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Horrible Bosses 2. (2014, MA15+) 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.45 The 100. 12.40am Love Island UK. 1.55 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City. 2.45 My Way. 3.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 American Resto. 11.00 Storage Wars. 11.30 American Pickers. 12.30pm Pawn

(7)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’s National News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (PGl, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) Hosted by Todd Woodbridge.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PGa)

7.30 The 1% Club UK. (R) Hosted by Lee Mack.

8.30 The Front Bar. (Ml) Hosts Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher take a lighter look at all things AFL.

9.30 Unfiltered. (M) Hamish McLachlan chats with Alastair Clarkson.

10.00 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.

11.00 No Holds Barred: GWS Giants. (Ml)

12.00 Kochie’s Business Builders. (R)

12.30 The Act. (MA15+ans, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 A Current Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides. (PGl, R) The guides head to the Cook Islands.

8.40 MOVIE: Vacation. (2015, MA15+ln, R) A man embarks on a cross-country trip to an amusement park with his family. Ed Helms, Christina Applegate.

10.40 9News Late.

11.10 The Killer Interview With Piers Morgan. (Mv, R)

12.05 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 A Current Affair. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (PG)

7.00 Millionaire Hot Seat. (PG)

7.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 8.30 Elsbeth. (PGalv) Elsbeth battles a wealthy biohacker who will do anything to stay young, including an extreme diet and vigorous exercise. 9.30 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.30 10 News+. (R) 11.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 12.15pm DW The Day. 12.45 Uncovering Incels. 1.00 Question Team. 2.50 The Bee Whisperer. 3.50 BBC News At Ten. 4.20 France 24. 4.50 PBS News. 5.50 Curse Of Oak Island. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Adam Hills: The Last Leg. (Final) 9.20 MOVIE: Enigma. (2001) 11.35 Brassic. 1.25am Dark Side Of The Ring. 2.20 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

(72) 6am Children’s Programs. 8.30 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.30 Bewitched. 11.30 Jeopardy! Australia. 12.40pm Australian Ninja Warrior. 2.30 Nanny. 3.30 Seinfeld.

A family owned business from humble beginnings

WHEN Shane and Max Kelly opted for a career change in the 1990’s, they had no idea that one day, they would become the leading force behind significant change in the Aged and Disability sector.

Together, they chose to become qualified carers to help people in their community living with a disability. They soon noticed a gap in the industry along the Mornington Peninsula, and from a spare room in their Rye home, After-Care was born.

Today, After-Care is a multi-awardwinning company that encompasses strong family and community values which proudly support many local sporting and community groups.

After-Care, a registered NDIS Support Provider and Register Provider of Home Care Packages continue to deliver high-quality in-home support to hundreds of clients living with ageing needs and disabilities each week, so that they can remain living independently in their home and community.

With a dedicated family of Coordinators, Care Managers and Support Workers, After-Care delivers services to all of Southeast Melbourne, as far as Ringwood.

When you choose After-Care to provide your services, you will get:

• Individualised support. tailored to your personal preferences and needs

• A dedicated Care Manager who will visit you in your home and learn about you as a person

• Support Workers who are fully trained and uphold the After-Care family values

• Support when you need it. including after-hours

• High-Quality, safe care

• Assistance with complex health needs

Assistance with keeping your garden beautiful and safe

Our clients and staff say that they feel supported always, and part of the After-Care family.

So what are you waiting for? “Let our family help your family.”

For more information visit www.after-care.com.au.

Victorians missing out on container cash

VICTORIANS are throwing away thousands of dollars in potential refunds every day, with many eligible drink containers still ending up in household rubbish bins instead of being returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic)

New research shows 1 in 5 Victorians are missing out on refunds because eligible containers such as flavoured milk bottles and juice boxes are often overlooked and discarded.

Since CDS Vic launched in November 2023, almost 3 billion drink containers have been returned, putting nearly $300 million back into Victorians’ pockets. But with millions of eligible containers still being thrown away, there is a significant opportunity for Victorians to claim even more.

Flavoured milk cartons and bottles are among the biggest offenders. Despite being eligible for a 10-cent refund through CDS Vic, almost half (49%) of Victorians put these in their household recycling bin.

Another 10% say they throw them in the landfill bin.

Juice boxes and poppers are also frequently misplaced. Around 40% of Victorians put them in household recycling and 14% in landfill, despite these items also being eligible for a refund through CDS Vic.

At the same time, almost one in five Victorians (18%) attempted to return containers through the scheme that are ineligible.

Confusion about eligibility remains one of the biggest barriers to recycling through the scheme, said Matt Davis, CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn.

“Many everyday drink containers, including flavoured milk bottles and juice boxes, can be returned for a 10-cent refund, but they’re still often ending up in household bins instead.”

He encouraged Victorians to check container labels for the 10-cent mark and remember that most aluminium cans, plastic bottles and small beverage cartons are eligible for refunds through CDS Vic.

“Every container returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme helps reduce litter and keep valuable materials in the recycling loop and remade into new drink containers,” Mr Davis added.

What’s eligible through CDS Vic: Aluminium, glass, plastic and carton drink containers 150mL to 3 Litres

• Fruit and vegetable juice bottles, cans and cartons 150 ml to 1 Litre

• Flavoured milk and coffee bottles and cartons 150ml to 750ml

• Water, soft drink, sports drink, energy drink, beer and cider bottles and cans 150ml to 1 Litre

Tip: Keep the lids on as these can be recycled too!

What’s not:

• Plain milk bottles and cartons

• Flavoured milk, fruit or vegetable juice containers over 1 Litre

• Wine and spirit bottles

• Cordial bottles

• Drink containers under 150ml

• Crushed containers

To learn more about what can be returned through the scheme, visit cdsvic.org.au/eligible-containers.

The Enchanted Realm comes to life at the Waterfront

FRANKSTON Waterfront has been transformed into a magical wonderland for the 2026 Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. Open daily from 10.00am5.00pm until Sunday, April 26, it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, imagination, and family fun.

Presented by Sandstorm Events, proudly sponsored by EastLink and supported by Frankston City Council’s Destination Event Attraction Program, this year’s championships showcase more than 400 tonnes of sand sculpted into 16 large-scale installations. From fairytale castles to majestic dragons and mythical creatures, this year’s theme, The Enchanted Realm, invites visitors to step into a world where fantasy and artistry collide.

Fourteen solo sculptures have each been crafted using up to 15 tonnes of sand, alongside an awe-inspiring 65-tonne hero sculpture inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and a 25-tonne interactive piece where guests can step inside for the ultimate photo moment.

A spectacular Govee-sponsored light show will run multiple times daily, transforming the sculptures into a colourful, immersive experience for all ages. Visitors can vote for their favourite sculpture and attend sculptor talks for an insight into the techniques and stories behind each masterpiece. Kids can book sand sculpting workshops, join in the fun of our Sandsational Easter Egg Hunt from April 3-5, and enjoy sand art & bottles, mini golf, a giant sandpit and heaps more family fun.

Tickets are available at the gate and online at sandstormevents.com/sandstorm-events-2026, where you can find the full program. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships promises a month filled with wonder, excitement, and unforgettable artistry.

Nepean by-election

With the Nepean by-election approaching on 2 May, the volume of commentary in recent days reflects a community that is engaged and paying attention.

What matters, however, is not which side dominates the letters page, but the standard of leadership being offered to voters.

At a local level, concerns about the performance of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council have been raised often and by many. Questions around governance, direction and accountability are not trivial matters, and they should not be brushed aside in the rush of campaign rhetoric.

It is entirely reasonable for voters to consider not only what candidates are saying now, but what they have demonstrated over time. Consistency, transparency and genuine commitment to the community should carry far more weight than shifting positions or political convenience.

This by-election presents an opportunity to reflect on the kind of representation the Nepean electorate expects and deserves.

Anne Kruger, Rye

Communications role

Voters in the electorate of Nepean might well remember that, as mayor and with CEO Mark Stoermer, candidate Anthony Marsh brought in a well-known and long serving spin doctor to run council communication.

Until recently he was working in the Liberal Party as chief of staff for the ex-leader of the Opposition in the Victorian Parliament. Why does Mornington Peninsula Shire Council need a highly paid spin doctor?

Rose White, Flinders

Editor’s note: Councillors and the mayor have no role in appointing staff at the shire, with the exception of the appointment of the CEO. The shire told The News that the communications director was appointed to the an advertised position through an open process overseen by the CEO.

Mayor Marsh

Please put mayor Marsh last in the Nepean byelection, because that is where he has put you in his time as a Mornington Peninsula councillor. Anthony Marsh has just left his council role to campaign in the Nepean by-election after promising with hand over heart that he would not be another politician using the council as a stepladder.

I recommend, dear reader, that you closely scrutinise his record.

Having a majority group of six, mayor Marsh used divisive tactics to dominate council instead of judging issues on their merits.

Mayor Marsh and his supporters have shut down council briefings being public, and have banned councillors from publicly questioning officers at Council meetings. Further, they have attacked residents democratic rights by enforcing prior registration for the public to attend council meetings. And, having promised to freeze rates, they then voted for and ensured the largest rate increase allowable.

Please consider this when you cast your vote in the Nepean by-election in May.

Peter Monie, Flinders

Not ratepayers’ role

Mornington Peninsula ratepayers shouldn’t be funding political career moves. It’s time to end taxpayer-funded by-elections.

This issue isn’t make believe, it’s already playing out. In the past two council sessions, councillors pursuing higher office left us exposed to costly by-elections and without representation in their elected ward.

When a councillor runs for state or federal parliament and wins, their seat is vacated. If the councillor does not win then his council seat is saved for him. The cost of replacing them falls directly on ratepayers, money that should be spent on local roads, infrastructure, libraries, and essential services, not on political career moves.

It’s avoidable, and the we are right to tell them so.

Local government is meant to provide stability. Residents expect the people they elect to serve their full term. When council positions are treated as stepping stones, it undermines trust and shifts the burden onto the public.

There’s a simple fix! If a councillor intends to run for another elected office, they should have to resign before nominating. No safety net. No fallback if the campaign fails. If they’re serious about the next role, give up the current one.

It’s about accountability. It’s about respecting the community that put you there in the first place.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has an opportunity to take a clear stand and set the benchmark for councils across Victoria: public office is a commitment, not a career hedge.

Put residents first. Protect public money. Restore trust. Pass a council law that councillors must resign if they elect to run for other offices. There should be no leave of absence from council duties, council duties is what we elected them to do.

Serve your term or step aside.

Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach

Supporting Tracee

I am a rusted-on Labor member. Labor’s policy of not contesting unheld seats in by-elections means we will not be running a candidate.

We are facing this by-election because the Liberal Party undermined its own member, and that member, Sam Groth, showed such disrespect for the people who elected him by not waiting six months before resigning. He and his party have forced the state government to spend millions of dollars on a by-election.

Voters are faced with a choice between a recently drafted Liberal Party candidate, a One Nation candidate, a party that wants to stop action on renewables, a Libertarian candidate who plastered his corflutes illegally across the electorate, a Greens candidate, and the Community Independent, Tracee Hutchison.

I know Tracee will not make things easy for the Labor government; she will challenge it when it is necessary. Tracee is a truly independent and honest candidate with deep roots in the electorate of Nepean. Tracee is not a recent convert to championing local issues.

Like Sarah Race, the Labor candidate for Flinders last election, she has shown up again and again — supporting rebuilding Rosebud Hospital, protecting our natural environment and coastlines, highlighting homelessness and affordable housing, and supporting the arts community.

Her long record of activity on the peninsula is the proof that Tracee will advocate for the people of Nepean and, where possible, work with the government of the day to achieve the best outcomes for our community.

Marg D’Arcy, Rye

Liberal congratulations

Congratulations to the Liberal pre-selection committee for Nepean; they have allayed any concern I previously held that the Liberals were about to slide further down that slippery slope of allowing doctor’s wives to gain some influence in the club. With support for the federal Liberals collapsing after their short lived experiment with female leadership under Sussan Ley and the same thing happen in South Australia with their decimation under Ms. Ashton Hurn, I feel reassured that the power brokers in Nepean have stuck to true Liberal values and nominated a bloke, one of the boys, a genuine political animal who has demonstrated at local council level he is adroit at playing the game of politics with his sleeves rolled up.

For any small “l” liberals who are feeling unheard and frustrated, the upcoming by-election presents a perfect opportunity to send your party a message; Tracee Hutchison, a fantastic independent candidate with a long history of community engagement, will be on the ballot. Her only interest is to represent and improve the community she lives in.

Give her a go. If she doesn’t meet or exceed

your expectations, the next election is only six months away in November. You may be pleasantly surprised to see how much a focussed, determined woman can achieve for her community by doing politics differently.

Gerard Heijden, Rye

Hutchison support

In April, at The Sorrento Writers Festival, Bob Brown, world renowned environmentalist, is speaking. He will be here, in this beautiful place we call home.

How will it look that at Arthurs Seat, a wonderful nature area and a public park, a 25 million dollar commercially operated luge has been approved by the Allen government. (I hadn’t heard of a luge before this one).

What about the bushland, the habitat for animals and birds, a place for people to enjoy? What about the risk of cliffs falling?

We will have to hang our heads in shame.

Let’s support Tracee Hutchison, the independent community candidate, who has called this out.

Amanda Stuart, Blairgowrie

Tracee support

I am writing out of concern for our beautiful area, and in support for Tracee Hutchison, the community independent candidate in the Nepean by-election.

Tracee was born in Rosebud hospital and one of her many goals is to see the hospital rebuilt. The next closest hospital, Frankston, is simply too far for people to travel, especially seniors.

Tracee cares about the environment and is present at many community events. She speaks up for the disadvantaged and the homeless in our community and last year was vocal in her support for funding for the Arts.

She will challenge government decisions when necessary including a strong objection to the proposal to approve a $25m commercially operated theme park at Arthur’s Seat, in spite of 418 submissions and the objection of the council.

In Tracee‘s words:

“A publicly owned State Park belongs to the people, not a commercial business of that scale and it is wrong, because the Allen government chose to ignore us”.

Tracee is a local - she knows our community and she knows this beautiful place, Nepean, that we call home. She was born here and she’s passionate about the area. As it says on her flyer: “Tracee is local, honest, independent”!

Pam Pitts, Rye

Independents effective?

With the election last year of a record number of independents to federal parliament, I have been watching with interest as much as possible of question time, to see just how effective they could be for constituents in their electorates.

There has been a huge difference between true independents such as Rebecca Sharky (Mayo, SA) and Wilkie (Clark, Tas) and the Greens/ Teals/Climate 200 group.

While Sharky asks about housing/cost of living/and the rumoured closing of a defence facility in her electorate and Wilkie asks about the Hobart Stadium/Tasmanian ferry/housing, the remaining mainly Climate 200 group asked about Israel/ Trump/climate change.

So what about now with diesel over $3.10 litre? Sharky joined with the Liberals to call for a freeze on the 44c/litre petrol levy, Wilkie asked about bunker fuel that was needed for shipping and the climate 200/greens/teals group? They went on mass to the Ministers office and demanded an end to the diesel fuel rebate for primary producers and transport companies. Yep. Demanding that diesel be dearer by 50c/litre for farmers and truckies.

Something to think about at the next election. M. G. Free, Mt Martha

McKenzie’s travels

I read with fascination of Flinders MP Zoe McKenzies’ latest overseas excursions (Flinders MP details second European trip for 2026, The News 24/3/26). The most recent was her seventh since taking over from the Liberal Party’s Greg Hunt, whose tenure was characterised by his failure to do anything much at all for Mornington Peninsula whilst preoccupied with his unapologetic quest for power.

Fascination turned to scepticism and disbelief as I went on to read that McKenzie was signifi-

cantly funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), intimately associated with the right wing Christian Democratic Union of Germany, which has a strong interest in cutting back on social welfare funding and frequently aligning with far right votes in parliament.

Zoe also attended an event subsidised by the Meliore Foundation, a philanthropic organisation which supports and encourages programs which educate and encourage fact based discourse at all levels.

Hopefully this involvement will educate her to realise that climate change is not “crap”, as asserted by Liberal Tony Abbott, and that this realisation is further reinforced by her new found expertise in relation to alternative energy programs following her time studying offshore wind projects in Denmark.

At a time of catastrophic climate change related events world-wide, her shift to strong and committed advocacy for climate change amelioration and support for alternative energy solutions would be most welcome.

Can we in future expect to see Zoe McKenzie finally doing something of value for the seat of Flinders as the coalition continues to implode whilst gazing at its navel?

I would also very much appreciate a full disclosure of the cost to taxpayers of all this travel, complete with a cost/benefit analysis. Good luck with that!

John Adamson, Rye

Editor’s note: The article stated that there was zero cost to taxpayers.

Games cancelled

Howard Hutchins enjoyed the Facebook reel produced by Liberal Opposition Leader, Jess Wilson and her fellow MPs who played dressups mocking the cancelled Commonwealth Games bid (Well done Jess, Letters 24/3/26). He felt this would be successful because it heeded Moliere’s advice of laughing at people by making them appear ridiculous.

Arguably, it made “young Jess and Co” look, if not ridiculous, at least flippant.

As the current Member for Kew, Wilson would do better to look back at the successful style of a former Liberal Member for Kew, and Premier, Dick Hamer.

Hamer expanded national parks and shifted the Victorian Liberal Party in a moderate, reformist direction, embracing environmentalism and social reform.

Wilson could show similar leadership in her Party by closing logging loopholes, supporting strong emissions targets, and understanding Treaty.

Moliere also said, “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.” Slow down, Jess, forget the 10-second video clips and start doing the hard work of serious policy rather than easy politics.

Yvonne Parker, Portarlington

Ambulance coverage

Regarding the lack of timely ambulance coverage to certain parts of the peninsula (Claims defibrillators plug ambulance response time gaps disputed, The News 17/3/26), why not get a get a group of locals to train up as volunteer casual first aid responders in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria and request that a vehicle be stationed in the area for their use.

This system operates in other areas of the state and is effective.

The volunteers need to be available and have a pager (supplied) that alerts them to a call out. A roster is an effective way of ensuring availability 24/7.

Time is often critical and the call out is usually backed up by an AV crew who may be another twenty minutes or more away.

The volunteer system has advantages like local knowledge of roads.

I was involved with the former South Eastern Ambulance Service in Gippsland which used this system effectively and it is still operating under the consolidated Ambulance network. Lee Chapman, Safety Beach

Jewish support

I’m a bit behind these days… Make that a lot behind… So I’m only now reading the 27 January letters from Marg D’Arcy and Joe Lenzo. Ms D’Arcy enumerates the money that the Labor government has given the Jewish community and points out it is a “fairly substantive amount of money for a small group” (Action on Antisemitism, Letters 27/1/26).

Mr Lenzo wonders whether the Bondi massacre was, in fact, preventable (Tragedy not preventable, Letters 27/1/26).

The one answers the other.

Almost all of the grant money that Ms D’Arcy listed is earmarked for security.

So that is many millions of dollars to protect and further enhance the security of a tiny population of Australian citizens.

Surely that should stop all Australians in their tracks? Why does such a tiny community need so much protection?

It’s because the Jewish community in Australia is the target of far more threats and violence than any other religious community in Australia.

If Mr Lenzo attended any Jewish event in Melbourne, he would see the resources that VicPol provides to protect these events. Whether it is beachside religious holiday celebrations or weekly services at synagogue, VicPol augments the security provided by private firms and the volunteer Jewish security group.

It seems that NSW Police do not provide the same level of support to Jewish community events in Sydney. As a Victorian, I was gobsmacked to learn that just 3 police officers were deployed to the Bondi Chanukah event.

So the question - in my mind at least - is whether the Bondi massacre would have occurred if NSW police staffing matched Vic police staffing. Could the deaths of 15 people have been prevented?

Finally, it seems very petty for Ms D’Arcy to include in her list the grant given to a Jewish congregation to help replace items that were destroyed as a result of extreme violence.

Bianca Felix, Bittern

Fuelling debate

I imagine that electric car owners are driving around in smug mode at the moment as those of us driving fossil fuel cars are coping with mayhem caused by Donald Trumps ill-advised “excursion” into Iran.

That said the oil shutdown in the Middle-East can, at this point in time, have had very little material impact to fuel supply in Australia yet we are seeing price increases of 60% in past weeks along with service stations being out of fuel entirely.

There can be no reasonable justification for this other than price gouging and opportunism by the oil industry and unfortunately consumers panic buying are their own worst enemies.

The government response, sadly typical with this current government, has been tepid at best trying to offend nobody, particularly the orange fool but succeeding in offending everyone with their lack of action.

At least one group is smiling, electric car retails are being run off their feet by potential customers, at bright spot in a dismal scenario.

Ross Hudson, Mt Martha

Tree canopy protection

In this day and age, and given that 64 per cent of submissions opposed the proposal, it is disappointing that the public land between Woodbyne Crescent and Racecourse Road will be sold for development (Council to sell off reserve walkway for housing, The News 24/3/26).

The developer, however, will be required to provide equivalent “open space in Woodbyne Crescent” and the public land area (1.6 hectares)

equates to roughly four or five housing blocks.

A simple look at Google Earth shows the public land sits in the last corner of a larger block now mostly built out. The Shire’s planning document Our Urban Forest 2024–2034 acknowledges that, “Ongoing urban development through subdivision and development or extension of existing dwellings often leads to the loss of existing trees, trees that mature to a smaller height, and decreased opportunities to establish meaningful landscaping and planting of large canopy trees.”

Approximately 70 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula’s original native vegetation has already been cleared. Given the continuing pace of development, council officers should urgently identify and protect the significant trees on the remaining blocks in this area.

Any new “open space” must include substantial planting, and developments should be required to restore the existing canopy cover on developed blocks. Otherwise, from an environmental perspective, we are going backwards.

Sarah

Brennan, Hawthorn

Who speaks for the trees?

Trees... magnificent trees!

We need some at Dromana Hub plees.

Grasses? We sure have a lot.

They help not a bit when it’s hot -

They don’t eat CO2

Or shade cars and you

They don’t soften the square

Of that big brown affair.

Trees... glorious trees!

Plant us some at Dromana Hub plees. Paula Polson, Dromana

Appeal thanks

The Southern Peninsula Food For All wishes to thank all individuals and businesses for their generosity and whose donations and efforts helped make its Christmas Appeal was a real success, raising a total of $38,899.

The charity was able to distribute over 400 Christmas food hampers to the needy and also new toys to over 460 children in our community over the festive season.

Food For All is a volunteer non-profit organisation formed in 1991 to meet the need for emergency food relief at the time. It is administered by a committee of members from churches and community groups.

President Alan Hawkins said that the members always made that extra effort at Christmas and that the Peninsula Toy Run was again a very enjoyable and successful day for all involved.

The generosity of the Peninsula Aero Club in donating a large number of toys, received as part of entry fees from their December air show, was also much appreciated.

Southern Peninsula Food For All

Community let down yet again

By Simon Brooks I RAN for Mornington Peninsula Shire council

10 years ago to advocate for better planning and spent six years as a councillor finishing in 2024 as mayor. Better planning to me means localised urban design supporting good local development outcomes for residents, businesses and public spaces. It also means sustainable management of our unique green wedge and our significant natural assets. Good planning helps prioritise infrastructure and services for our community and to cater for the millions of people who visit each year.

It is disappointing that the Mornington Peninsula Shire has struggled to undertake the strategic planning necessary to best manage competing land uses and establish planning “guard rails” to dovetail with state government planning and protect community interests as population growth places increasing demand on public assets and resources. In my experience, this unwillingness to develop a strategic land use plan is due to a combination of the shire’s allocation of resources, changing priorities, internal agenda and external influences, overlayed with a lack of focus and discipline and at times a troubled relationship with the state government.

Such shortcomings are amplified by the barriers and decisions made and perpetuated by the state government and its agencies which often appear at odds with good planning principles.

In my home town of Dromana-Safety Beach, we have had significant population growth and private development over the past twenty years with few infrastructure upgrades or strategic planning initiatives to cater for, and guide this growth.

With the exception of the Dromana Pier replacement, larger developments have largely been by the private sector. A good example of this has been the Richies IGA and broader shopping centre development. A poor example has been the VCAT approval to redevelop the BP service station into a larger facility along with a drive-through fast food outlet without requiring any real upgrade of the already inadequate surrounding traffic infrastructure. Better urban planning may have identified a better site for this type of enterprise and flagged the existing site as being unsuitable well in advance of the proposal.

This leads me to the latest example of a significant development fast-tracked by the state government. The Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car upgrade which has been approved by the state government under a variation to its 50 year lease of public land in the Arthur’s Seat State Park.

A business needs to be profitable, however a business with the privilege of operating on Crown land in such a significant place needs to do so with careful guardrails in place. These guardrails should be set by the state and recognise any management plan for the precinct set by the shire. Despite budget funding being allocated in the past to develop a management

plan for the area, the Mornington Peninsula Shire has so far failed to do so, contributing to a lack of consideration or weighting of a variety of environmental and amenity issues in the permit approval process as should occur under the Planning and Environment Act.

Central to this is a concept called “net community benefit”. The state government is required to look at this as a core value when appraising private developments on public land. Net community benefit analysis would look at how you might incorporate public space into a private development; for example incorporating the century-old public walking track under the cable towers rather than excluding public access as has been done. The development’s luge element under the line of the cable chair towers effectively prevents this by excluding public access under the cable towers. It didn’t have to do this; shared access could have been negotiated and risks/liabilities shared.

Assessing development proposals using this lens seeks to provide a win-win outcome for all, accommodating broader community value while supporting viable business opportunities. In my opinion, net community benefit has not been given adequate consideration, nor have other government policies designed to provide development approval guardrails to get the balance right. These have been publicly flagged by others including shire planning officers.

Adherence to these policies is even more important when a significant development goes direct to the Planning Minister for a decision; more so in this case given the fact that our own elected Mornington Peninsula Shire Council forwent the opportunity to take any position on the development proposal; in effect providing a tacit unconditional approval.

One other key element which the Planning Minister appears to have given little consideration to is the Ministerial Direction 22 which discourages development in identified high risk areas due to impacts of climate change; including landslip hazards and fire. The steep slopes of the escarpment are classified high fire risk. I fought the 1997 fire with CFA colleagues as it charged up the hill in seven minutes. In an emergency, evacuating the luge as well as the cable car will add complexity and time. Many lamented the loss of the iconic chairlift and its importance to Dromana and the peninsula. Carrying on the legacy, The Eagle is privileged to be able to operate in such an amazing location on public land, and most wish the operation success. However, there must be a tangible net community benefit as stipulated under the State Planning Policy Framework. If the Planning Minister did consider net community benefit as an element of the development, I would argue that this was given cursory regard.

Poor processes with little accountability continue to erode public trust in government at all levels; something that we really need to be building in order to meet the current social, economic and environmental challenges.

In 2026 we mark our 20th anniversary of fighting for the residents of the Mornington Peninsula. We aim to bring the best coverage possible to inform and connect your community.

We ask for your support to continue producing weekly newspapers to

Mornington - Where the billy no longer boils

Compiled by Cameron McCullough

THE people of Mornington and district

have been somewhat perturbed lately by the action of the Foreshore Committee removing the fireplaces which have been erected for a number of years along the foreshores for the convenience of the picnicking visitors.

The custom of having a billy of water boiled at a fire of your own making has deep seated sentiment among Australians, and the imported man or woman soon becomes infected with the prevailing custom.

And when the Foreshore Committee removed these places, and prohibited any fires being lit on the foreshores, they unwittingly furnished the fuel, and the spark, to set alight a blaze of a kind they scarcely expected.

There had been deep rumblings among a section of the people, and dark hints as to the hot time that was in store for the authors and perpetrators of what was dramatically described in some quarters as “this dastardly act”.

To understand the position clearly, it must be borne in mind that the Foreshore Committee consists of six members, three of whom represent the Progress Association, and three from the Shire Council.

The first overt act of the malcontents took shape in the form of a motion, which was carried, at a meeting of the Progress Association, requesting the members of the Foreshore Committee acting for the Progress Association to take such steps as were needful to restore the fireplaces which had been dismantled.

The debate was very keen and there were a number of lively exchanges.

The attack was led by Mr. Butler and Mr. C Griffith, and the defence chiefly lay with Messrs. F. M. Linley and McArthur, both Shire councillors and members of the Progress Association also.

However, the attacking side has carried what may be described as the outer trenches.

The subject proceedings should prove to be interesting.

***

Fruit and Vegetable Act - Fruitgrowers prosecuted

At Frankston Police Court on Tuesday , 30th March, before Messrs. Conlon, P.M., Grant, Marsh, Gray and Brown, J.’sP., several growers were proceeded against for breaches of the Fruit and Vegetation Diseases Act.

John Dickle, of Langwarrin, was charged under Section 22 (a) of the Fruit Act with having exposed for sale in Frankston on 3rd February, 1926, potatoes that were topped.

It .was stated in evidence that the top layers of the packages consisted of potatoes that would not pass through a 2.1 inch mesh riddle, while 50 percent of those in bottom layers were smaller, some only being the size of marbles. Defendant, who did not appear, was fined 20/-.

William Bond, of Pearcedale was presented on a similar charge in respect to tomatoes exposed for sale on 17th February last.

One case of fruit that was examined was found to contain 2½ inch to 3½ inch fruit in the top layer, but half the fruit underneath was under 2½ inch, some being only 1¼ inch in diameter.

A second case of tomatoes had sound fruit on top, while a number in

the bottom layers were rotten.

Mrs. Bond stated that she packed the tomatoes and put the small ones in to fill up spaces.

Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was fined £1.

John William Parker, of Langwarrin, was similarly charged in respect to a case of apples on February 8, 1920. He was also charged with having exposed for sale apples affected with Codlin Moth, contrary to Section 16 of Vegetation Diseases Act, on same date. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

It was stated the apples on top of one case were 2¼ inch in diameter, while those underneath were only 2 inch. Two other cases were examined were found to contain 21.5 per cent of the fruit affected with Codlin Moth.

Defendant stated in regard to the fruit charge that he put the larger ones on the top to fill up the case.

He was fined 10/- on the first charge and 20/- on the second.

Cornelius Benjamin Creed, of Baxter, pleaded not guilty to a charge of exposing for sale Codlin Moth affected apples in Frankston on 17th February, 1926.

Eight cases were examined and found to contain 28 per cent of the apples affected with Codlin Moth. Defendant was fined £1.

John Henry Currie, of Langwarrin, was also charged with exposing for sale apples and pears affected with Codlin Moth. The offence took place at Frankston on 5th March last when the fruit which was done up in 81b lots, was examined and found to contain 40 per cent affected with Codlin Moth. Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was also fined £1.

PUZZLE ZONE

A DANCE in aid of the Peninsula Ambulance fund was held in the Balnarring hall on Friday, March 26.

The music, which was supplied by the “Big Six” Jazz Orchestra from Flinders Naval Depot, was excellent, in fact the best that has been heard in the Peninsula for some considerable time.

Great praise is due to this orchestra who voluntarily gave not only their services, but practically organised the whole affair.

The supper, which was excellent, was provided by Mrs. Strain, who was ably assisted by her daughter.

Although the dance was not well advertised a good number turned up, and during the evening Mr. W. Sheldon (secretary of the orchestra) Dutch auctioned a 51b cake made by Mrs. Strain and collected 17/- in a very short space of time.

Toward the close of the evening Mr. Jack,. of the Peninsula Motor Ambulance service, passed a vote of thanks to the orchestra, and in responding, Mr. Sheldon said the “Big Six” were pleased to do whatever lay in their power for charity, and would be pleased at any other time to give their services to any local charities, subject to permission of the C.O. at the Depot.

It is to be hoped that we will hear more of this admirable orchestra in the near future.

Dancing finished at 1am and everyone left feeling well satisfied with their evening’s enjoyment. ***

Personal

Mrs. W. G. Wells left for Tasmania on Tuesday last, where she intends

spending a month’s holiday.

Mrs Grimwade, wife of Brigadier General Grimwade, performed, the opening of the Frankston Horticultural Society’s Autumn Flower Show, held in the Palais on Friday last.

Today (Thursday, April 1) .the Minister of Land (Mr. Downward) will celebrate the 79th anniversary of his birth. He is the oldest member in the Legislative Assembly, having represented Mornington for 32 years.

He has been a member of three Governments, Bent Ministry (1908-9), Bowser Ministry (1917-18) and the present Ministry since its formation in November, 1924.

On Tuesday, 30th March, the death took place at “Maxwelton” private hospital, Frankston, of Miss Margaret Elliott. Deceased, who resided on her property off Cranbourne Road was well known locally and highly respected.

She was a prominent member of the Frankston Presbyterian church and played an important part in securing the erection of the church in Frankston.

Miss Elliott was the daughter of, the late Mr. Michael Elliott, at one time manager of the Bank of Australasia at Ballarat.

The funeral took place on Wednesday, the remains being interred in the Frankston cemetery.

The Prime Minister (Hon. S. M. Bruce) returned from Sydney today (Thursday) and is spending the Easter holidays at his Frankston home. ***

From the Pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 1 April 1926

Scoreboard

Mornington under 18 girls blaze a trail for younger pups

melissa@mpnews.com.au

LAST week, players from the U18s girls team at Mornington Junior Football Club came together to celebrate something extraordinary.

A first for the club which has been steadily gaining players and teams over the past 10 years, the inaugural U18s girls team gathered surrounded by their families and friends to kick off the 2026 season.

The girls were gifted one-of-a-kind, pink-accented Bulldogs guernseys by the team’s sponsors which they will wear during their tenure and then be

able keep as a memento.

The night was held at The Royal Hotel in Mornington where guernseys were presented one-at-a-time to each player by the team’s coach Simon Zonneveldt who is in his fourth year at the helm of the same core group of players.

“I was lucky enough to be asked to coach this team a few years back. What started as helping the team and coaching my amazing daughter soon changed into something more. I found an incredible bunch of girls with a passion to play footy,” said Zonneveldt.

The team is also fortunate be supported by a consistent crew of

Mornington Life Saving Club up for award

THE Mornington Life Saving Club has been named a finalist in the prestigious Victorian Sport Awards for its school’s program, highlighting the club’s dedication to fostering sport and water safety in the community.

The annual awards recognise “those who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria,” with Mornington Life Saving Club’s program selected in the Sport and Active Recreation Initiative of the Year category.

The initiative aims to educate young people about water safety while encouraging active participation in lifesaving activities.

Life Saving Victoria’s general manager of member engagement and sport Simon Rickard praised the finalists, saying, “Our volunteer members show incredible dedication to lifesaving and community water safety. We’re delighted to see them being recognised as finalists for the Victorian Sport Awards”. Award winners will be announced on 13 May.

volunteers at every training session and game. The team’s assistant coach is Ginger Parker from the Mornington seniors’ team which creates a perfect segue for the girls should they wish to continue their football journey. Trainer Danielle Grant and runner Travis Reints have also played integral parts in the team for the past five years.

A special guest for the evening was club president, Sam Bramston, who gave a short speech to crowd commending the girls for their efforts in becoming the pioneers for this age group, and for their role in guiding younger players at MJFC.

“The importance of the night cannot be understated,” said Bramston.

“The jumpers you wear come with a bit of responsibility as there are currently two groups of young ladies sitting below you in the U16s and U14s, and hopefully a U10s team, too. You may not see them, but they look, they watch, and they learn from the way you do things.”

After the jumper presentations, the team captain, Chloe Shaw, and vice captains, Izzy Hayter, Jess Gyorosi and Willow Reints were announced as voted on by their teammates.

Zonneveldt went on to say, “The players have made this something more than a team, they’ve made this a community with the player’s friends and family as much a part of what

we are as the players themselves. To get into U18s is a testament to each players dedication to the game and to each other as teammates. They have grown their own bond during my time coaching which is fantastic to watch.”

“This team really care for each other, have lots of fun in trainings and games and really love playing the best sport in the world. I can’t wait to see them play this year!”

With the recent addition of a second oval at Narambi Reserve in Mornington, the club welcomes and encourages new players to join. The season officially kicks off 26 April.

Go get ‘em girls!

Scoreboard

Chelsea’s 10 men walk tall

SOCCER

By Craig MacKenzie

CHELSEA staged a stunning come-from-behind 3-1 win with 10 men against Ashburton United in their State 4 South-East clash last weekend.

Undermanned following the straight red shown to Adam Dunsford in the 67th minute in an offthe ball incident and down 1-0 the royal blues faced a mighty hurdle to record their opening win of the season.

Their get-of-jail-free card came in the form of East Bentleigh recruit Patrick Briggs whose two goals in five minutes turned this contest on its head.

In the 70th minute Briggs made Ashburton pay for not clearing from a corner and his firm low strike made it 1-1.

The 10 men hit the front five minutes later when Briggs cut in from the right and hammered another low shot that beat Ashburton keeper Josh Elford at his near post.

The exclamation mark on a superb comeback came in the 85th minute.

Michael Swinnerton played in ace scorer James Stinson who won the race to the ball with Elford. Stinson was left with the simple task of stroking the ball into the unguarded goal and end Ashburton’s hopes.

In other State 4 news Baxter lost 2-0 at home to King’s Domain on Saturday.

Baxter featured a debutant in 19-year-old winger Nicholas Brigo signed from Bayside Argonauts.

Rosebud used last weekend’s bye for a friendly hit-out against Knox Churches.

The Buds won 3-0 with goals from Brad Vlachy (2) and Ben Craig.

Vlachy is a recent signing from WA club Inglewood.

In State 1 Mornington had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Boroondara Eagles at Civic Reserve last weekend.

The Seagulls went 1-0 down in the 27th minute when a short corner was crossed to the back post and Joe Coveney’s glancing header gave Mornington keeper Kane Runge no chance.

James Kelly came on at half-time and equalised in the 50th minute.

He was put through by Joe Hunt and took a touch before hammering a low shot past Boroondara keeper Ryan Ramsden.

Skye United marked its debut in State 1 with a 3-3 away draw to Doveton on Saturday night.

With Skye gaffer Phil McGuinness away for the best part of six weeks Alex Rojas and Trav Mitchell will be in charge for the opening part of the season.

The hosts led after eight minutes thanks to Zac Postrenga and should have gone further ahead 10 minutes later but sent their spot kick wide.

A frantic five minutes before half-time saw Skye earn a penalty which new recruit Marcus Spivey dispatched.

From the resulting kick-off Spivey put the visitors ahead after following up Varmah Mgoneh’s initial strike.

In the 65th minute Doveton drew level from the penalty spot when Sam Maggs converted but

Mgoneh put the visitors back in the driver’s seat eight minutes later when he pounced on a loose ball to steer it into an unmanned net.

But the Doves grabbed a point 10 minutes from time with a superb strike from distance by Isaiah Joseph after Skye failed to clear its lines.

In State 2 Peninsula Strikers and Brandon Park drew 3-3 at Centenary Park on Saturday after some interesting refereeing decisions.

The day started badly when Tuach Ter came off with a hamstring injury but a minute later a superb Danny Brooks free-kick put the home side 1-0 up.

The home side went further ahead in the 35th minute when Brandon Park keeper Andrew Mensah couldn’t hold a Callum Bradbury shot and Riley Anderton made it 2-0.

Brandon Park hit back in the 53rd minute with a neat finish from Masee Namdar but five minutes later Strikers restored their two-goal cushion when Joel Bowen got in behind the visitors’ defence and finished well.

In the 72nd minute Brandon Park was awarded a controversial penalty which Joe O’Connor easily converted to make it 3-2.

The visitors applied the pressure and Strikers were hanging on until deep into time added when Stefanos Gerondaras scored and the spoils were shared.

In State 5 Somerville Eagles won 2-1 away to Sandown Lions on Saturday.

The visitors struck first when Tom Simmons played a long ball to Max Watson whose excellent first touch set him up to slot the ball past the advancing Sandown keeper.

Shortly after the home side levelled through Lul Puol whose corner was cleared back to him and he struck a fine shot from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.

Somerville’s winner came from Tom Simmons in his first game back from an ACL injury.

Around the 30-minute mark he linked with Tom Pollock who crossed and Watson laid the ball off for Simmons to slide it home.

Somerville will submit a report to Football Victoria with a critique of the performance of one of the official assistant referees along with Veo footage.

Seaford United remains winless after losing 4-2 away to Monbulk Rangers on Friday night.

Seaford was outplayed in the first half and came in at the interval facing a 3-1 deficit.

Matthew Cobb scored for Seaford in the 12th minute running onto Conor McFall’s through ball and finishing well.

The visitors made three substitutions at halftime and were more competitive in the second half but they only scored once through a Has-

san Nazari penalty in the 55th minute after Zain Ahmed was brought down inside the box.

In State 6 Mount Eliza remains unbeaten after Saturday’s 2-0 away win over Pakenham United. Mount Eliza’s opener came from the penalty spot in the 12th minute converted by Michael Wright.

The home side was kept at bay and its fate was sealed in the 89th minute when a poor headed clearance fell to Billy Gowans who volleyed truly to make it 2-0.

Frankston Pines lost 4-0 away to Whitehorse United and Mentone lost 7-2 at home to Old St Kevins.

Eric Ervine and Nikola Varga scored for Mentone.

In State 7 Aspendale made it back-to-back wins with Saturday’s 3-0 home success against Noble Suns.

Taylan Yildirim put the hosts in front in the 36th minute following a fine move with Kailan Smith and Mitch Hodder combining to set up Yildirim’s calm side-foot finish.

Suns pressed hard in the second half but couldn’t break through and in the 72nd minute after being brought down Hodder converted from the penalty spot by sending the keeper the wrong way.

Substitute Dylan Flavelle secured the points in the 84th minute when he raced onto a long ball and slotted it past the stranded keeper.

Mount Martha turned in a much more spirited performance than the previous week when drawing 2-2 away to Lilydale Montrose United last weekend.

Davey Jones put the visitors ahead early when he held off his opponent then slotted the ball into the far corner but just before half-time the Mariners were caught on the break and it was 1-1 at the interval.

The home side came out of the blocks quickly in the second period and took a 2-1 lead but Mount Martha hit back and had Lilydale Montrose on the back foot.

Their pressure was rewarded late in the game via a well-timed run and fine finish from Tom Brewster.

It was a positive sign for Mount Martha which is undergoing a major senior program rebuild under head coach Andy McCabe and football director Gary Talbot.

The club boasts modern facilities at its Civic Reserve headquarters and almost 600 players across its male and female programs.

If you are keen to try out you can attend senior men’s training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.

There are no league games this weekend due to the Easter break however the three remaining local clubs in the Dockerty Cup are in action.

NEXT WEEKEND’S CUP GAMES

Thursday 2 April, 8pm Westvale v Langwarrin, McKechnie Reserve Saturday 4 April, 1pm Skye Utd v Brunswick Juventus, Skye Recreation Reserve

Western Utd v Mornington, Ironbark Fields

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