Western Port News 21st January 2026

the answer was simple “I love sipping it. If it’s clean and additive free, as El Arquero is, it’s the purest form of alcohol you can have.”

Picture: Yanni

Community leaders demand homeless action

Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au

THE death of Brendan Ryan on 8 January, following another rough sleeper’s death in November, brings the number of homeless deaths on the peninsula to five over the last year.

Community leaders have expressed exasperation at the lack of state government response to the spiralling situation and are renewing their calls for urgent action.

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 lead up to the busy summer period, Mornington Peninsula Shire

mayor Cr Anthony Marsh wrote to the state government asking for them to step in to assist with the rough sleepers at foreshore camping grounds.

The letter dated 18 December from Marsh to the Minister for Housing, Harriet Shing MP, seen by The News, stated “Over the summer period, our region will see a substantial increases

in visitors, particularly along foreshore areas where paid camping sites operate. People experiencing homelessness have already established camps within these foreshore camping grounds”.

“As peak season commences, Council is required to ensure that families and individuals who have paid for these sites are able to safely access them.

“This situation presents a significant and immediate challenge. When asked to move on, people experiencing homelessness are left with no local

alternative options.”

The letter then pointed out the delivery and coordination of homelessness services is a state government responsibility and sought “clear direction on where individuals who are sleeping rough and being moved on from paid camping sites”.

It is believed that shire staff have been moving homeless people around the foreshore area to free up campsites that have been paid for by campers. The News also believes one shire employee was badly injured before Christmas when she was attacked by

a homeless lady’s dog when approaching her about moving from her site. The shire confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details.

A shire employee told The News that because of the attack, the shire has employed “community safety officers”, at the expense of ratepayers. In response to enquiries, the shire issued a statement stating “The shire is strongly advocating to the state government to address the growing issue of homelessness on the Peninsula.

Continued Page 3

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

Raia Flinos: Email: raia@mpnews.com.au

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

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ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915

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Patients accepted at redeveloped hospital

THE redeveloped Peninsula University Hospital has officially opened its doors.

The former Frankston Hospital has been undergoing $1.1 billion redevelopment works. The new 12-storey tower is now open and operational.

Peninsula Health confirmed that it would be moving patients into the new tower on 20 January. In a statement it said “throughout the day, patients and consumers (except those in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Westernport and our PAPU unit) will be transferred from our current building into the new inpatient wards.

“During the move, visits are limited to essential support people only. Once patients and consumers are settled, families and contact people will be called to advise when visiting can resume.”

The new hospital building features 130 more beds, mental health and

Australia Day on the Peninsula

oncology services, 15 new operating theatres, and a rooftop helipad. It also contains new maternity, obstetrics and paediatric wards; a women’s clinic; a special care nursery to support new babies; endometriosis and pelvic pain multidisciplinary clinic services; an advanced laparoscopic gynaecology specialist; and an allied health team including physiotherapy.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the new hospital building last weekend. She said “we promised Frankston a bigger and better hospital. That’s what we’ve delivered, and more.”

“Here’s what we believe: wherever you live in Victoria, you deserve the best standards of healthcare for you and your family. Frankston’s new hospital is proof,” she said.

Health infrastructure minister Melissa Horne said “once fully operational, this supports more than

Mornington Peninsula Shire is proud to support a range of

Dromana celebrations

Dromana Australia Day Committee Incorporated

Entertainment and activities, including rides and face painting for children. Everyone welcome.

Mount Eliza celebrations

Rotary Club of Mt Eliza

Animal farm, reptile show, face paint, free sausage sizzle, live music and native plants. Everyone welcome.

Mount Eliza Swim Classic, Land Down

Under concert (24 Jan)

The Ranelagh Club

Community swim at Ranelagh beach and Aussie rock.

Mount Martha Annual Diamond Swim (MMAD)

Mount Martha Life Saving Club

Community swim for all ages and abilities.

Mount Martha celebrations

Rotary Club of Mount Martha

BBQ, flag raising and Volunteers’ morning tea.

Our Survival Day at The Briars

Our Songlines

An Aboriginal-led event that offers a safe, culturally empowering space for First Nations People and their allies.

Rosebud festival and fun run

Rosebud Australia Day Association

5 and 10km fun run followed by entertainment and family fun on the Village Green.

Sorrento street party

Rotary Club of Sorrento

Live music, free food and water. Face painting, bubbles and balloons for kids.

35,000 extra patients every year.”

Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke also visited the hospital last weekend to celebrate the completion of major works. He said “what a huge moment for our community – we have delivered them the hospital we promised, and it will support locals for years to come. We have one of the world’s best hospitals right here in our backyard.

“It’s more than just a hospital. It’s central to our health and education precinct here in Frankston, providing care, but also an education partnership with Monash University, training medical students locally.”

Pregnant people who go into labour on 20 January can contact the Peninsula Health Pregnancy Assessment Unit on 9784 7959 for instructions on how to reach the maternity unit on level five of the new tower.

Reminder:

Another death shines light on homeless inaction

Continued from Page 1

“Despite the shire going above and beyond our duty, the delivery and coordination of homelessness services is a state government responsibility which needs to provide urgent investment in crisis accommodation, outreach services and long-term social housing”.

Victoria Police have been taking an empathetic approach to the situation, acknowledging it is not a crime to be homeless or to sleep in a public place.

“Our first priority is always talking to the person to understand the root causes of the issue,” said a Victoria Police spokesperson.

“We know we can best help by putting people in touch with essential services that address their individual needs”.

But Jeremy Maxwell, CEO of Southern Peninsula Community Support, told The News that they are completely overwhelmed by the situation.

“We’re the only ones down here doing dedicated assertive outreach to connect with rough sleepers but have to rely completely on community donations to do that,” said Maxwell.

“We’re the largest rough sleeping area in Melbourne yet the only ones not getting funding from the state government. It is remarkably inequitable. It seems to me it’s the mindset of the state government that everything stops when they get to the peninsula.

“But then to rub salt into the wound, they launch a ‘short stay tax’

that rips big dollars out of the peninsula, only to pump that money back into affordable housing elsewhere.

“Our continual gripe is that we just continually get left out of the equation. We have every problem that a regional area has yet we get no funding. Completely ignored and forgotten”.

Even groups that have patiently advocated for action for homelessness action have changed their language in response to the spiralling situation and are demanding stronger action.

Southern Women’s Action Network have long campaigned for action on homelessness and are frustrated by the lack of action.

Judith Couacaud Graley, chair of “Women for Housing Justice”, a sub-group of SWAN, and herself an ex-state Labor MP has called on the Premier to visit the peninsula to see the situation for herself.

“The dreadful news about more rough sleepers deaths in our community is very sad but makes so many of us working to raise the critical issues of housing and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula feel very angry,” said Couacaud Graley.

“To tell you the truth we have done so much work, we are volunteers, and we really want, desperately need, to see our work turn into a bigger response from both the state government and agencies that they help fund like the Salvation Army.

“It’s more than time for them to cough up our fair share of funding, help our community support centres and for other agencies to get out of

their offices do some work on the ground that will stop this crisis getting even worse.

“We seriously ask -how many more people in our community members, have to die ?

“We know the Premier has a lot on her plate at the moment but we fear that her colleagues and department officials are not doing enough and it requires the Premier herself to intervene and fix the problems.

“SWAN Women for Housing Justice members would like the Premier to visit the Mornington Peninsula and see for herself how bad it is in our community for people without a place to call home. It’s a crisis that she needs to urgently help us fix.

“No more lives lost please Premier”.

Council to Homeless Persons is urging the state government to lift Victoria’s amount of social housing to meet the national average within a decade. The state’s independent infrastructure advisor, Infrastructure Victoria, last year recommended the government build 60,000 additional social housing homes by 2040.

The organisation is also reiterating its call for increased investment in assertive outreach services, which are designed to find rough sleepers and connect them with the services they need to get support and a pathway to secure and safe housing.

Revamped community animal shelter opens

A NEWLY redeveloped Community Animal Shelter and Pound has officially opened in Mornington, delivering a purpose-built facility designed to prioritise animal welfare, comfort and long-term wellbeing while animals wait to be rehomed.

Mornington Peninsula Shire said the project had been designed with animal health, happiness and quality of life at the centre.

“Every animal deserves comfort, care and hope while waiting for their forever home. We’re proud to unveil our completely transformed Community Animal Shelter and Pound - a purposebuilt sanctuary that puts animal welfare at its heart,” the council said in a media release statement last week.

Dogs are now housed in larger kennels that exceed industry welfare standards, featuring improved natural light, underfloor heating, enhanced airflow and sound-dampening materials to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Cats will benefit from a dedicated isolation room designed for the treatment of infectious conditions, ensuring animals requiring medical care can recover safely. The shelter has also expanded habitat options for pocket pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits.

A new community-focused adoption space provides a welcoming and relaxed environment where prospective owners can spend time with animals, supporting stronger connections and better adoption outcomes.

The Watt Rd redevelopment also provides benefits for staff and students, creating safer and more efficient workspaces while expanding opportunities

for those training for careers in animal welfare.

Council said the investment strengthened the community’s ability to care for vulnerable animals now and into the future.

Sustainability has been a key focus of the project with a 29kW rooftop solar system to power daily operations, electric vehicle charging stations to support a future fully electric ranger fleet, and high-efficiency systems for heating, cooling and hot water.

Rainwater harvesting has been installed to reduce reliance on drinking water, and recycled materials such as reclaimed bricks, asphalt and kennel panels were used throughout construction.

Mayor and Briars Ward councillor Anthony Marsh said the upgrade reflected the care and commitment behind the project.

“I had the chance to see the upgraded facilities firsthand, and the care and thought that’s gone into them really shows,” he said.

“The animals are in very good hands, and a huge credit goes to the dedicated team who work every day to make this such a positive, safe and welcoming place.”

Residents can follow updates from the Community Animal Shelter on Instagram at instagram.com/communityanimalshelter.

Prince St bus stop to go-ahead despite backlash

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

A PROPOSED bus stop on Prince St in Mornington will go ahead despite strong opposition from residents, with Mornington Peninsula Shire expected to fund and build a new footpath to support the change.

The decision follows months of community concern from Prince St residents who argue the narrow residential road is unsuitable for buses due to safety, accessibility and amenity concerns.

Their objections were first aired publicly last year, with residents describing the proposal as “a catastrophe waiting to happen” and citing a lack of consultation.

Residents with mobility issues/ wheelchairs are forced to use the Prince St roadway to travel despite there being no footpaths (Residents say proposed bus route a ‘catastrophe waiting to happen’, The News 19/11/25).

The Prince St stop forms part of a broader reconfiguration of Mornington Peninsula bus services, including a new route connecting Hastings and Mornington and upgrades to the 784 and 785 services. While widely welcomed across the community, the decision to route buses along Prince St has proven controversial.

Mornington MP Chris Crewther said he supported the expansion of bus services but not the Prince St alignment.

“We’ve been advocating to get services to Beleura Village, Peninsula

Grange, Mornington Holiday Park, St Macartan’s Primary School and the racecourse,” he said, but added, “these other changes around Prince St – most if not all of Prince St residents are opposed to it.”

Crewther said residents had inundated the Public and Active Transport and Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams with objections, however he confirmed the state government had written to the shire saying the new bus stop would go ahead and would need council investment to build a footpath.

He said residents had consistently argued there were alternative nearby routes that would avoid Prince St altogether.

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“It’s good they are rerouting into other areas but it’s not necessary that they had to go along Prince St – there were other alternative nearby routes and that’s what residents were advocating for,” he said.

In Parliament on 12 November last year, Crewther raised the issue directly with Williams calling for an update on timeframes for the new 886 Mornington–Hastings service and the 784 and 785 upgrades and urged the government to listen to Prince St residents.

“I have been contacted by many, many residents along Prince St in Mornington who will be impacted by the new route for the 784 going down their street,” he told Parliament.

“It is a street that has little to no disability access. It has no footpaths… They received zero consultation. They received no direct mail. The first they found out about this was in the last couple of weeks.”

Despite the objections, the Department of Transport and Planning has indicated the changes are progressing, but council infrastructure will be required to support the stop.

A letter obtained by The News from Williams to mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, dated 9 January, stated Bentons Rd and Prince St “were selected as part of the proposed route to better spread coverage across the local area and avoid duplication with existing bus services that already operate along the Esplanade”.

“By designing the network to serve different streets rather than running multiple routes in the same corridor, the new proposal delivers a larger and more equitable catchment providing additional residents with the opportunity to walk to a bus stop closer to home,” the letter read, noting affected resident were notified and all feedback received.

“Concerns around the lack of a footpath network near proposed bus stops does not preclude the necessity of a bus stop for residents to access public transport, however footpaths on Bentons Rd and Prince St are the responsibility of the appropriate road authority, in this case the Mornington Peninsula Shire,” the Minister wrote.

Earlier this month a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said, “We are planning improvements

to Mornington Peninsula bus services, including a new route connecting Hastings and Mornington for the first time.”

“Public consultation on a range of improvements was completed last year with any changes to the local network to be finalised and announced in coming months,” the spokesperson said.

Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said while improved bus services were welcome, the cost burden on council was a concern.

“I absolutely welcome new bus stops and services in the Mornington area but I do always worry when councils are expected to pick up the new infrastructure bill,” he said.

The state government committed $36m in the 2023–24 Victorian Budget to improve bus services in growth areas, including the Mornington Peninsula. The changes form part of Victoria’s Bus Plan, which has already upgraded more than 126 bus networks and delivered more than 11,000 extra weekly services statewide.

For Prince St residents, however, the focus remains on the immediate impact of buses on their street. With the route now set to proceed and council preparing to construct a footpath to address accessibility issues, many say they feel their concerns have been acknowledged too late, and only after the decision was effectively made.

The government has been contacted for comment.

Fraser to play host to sixth Webex Players Series Victoria

WEBEX Players Series Victoria has a new host who would love to win its sixth staging at Rosebud Country Club, starting on Thursday.

Former Olympian Marcus Fraser, one of Victoria’s best performed professional golfers on the world stage in the past 20 years with victories on four different Tours, now has his name attached to a tournament that has become a very popular stop for players on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.

Another high-quality field will be back on the Mornington Peninsula contesting the unique format which sees men and women professionals go up against each other on the same golf course, vying for the one trophy and a share of the $250,000 prizemoney pool.

Fraser replaces fellow Victorian Geoff Ogilvy as tournament host with the former US Open champion now busier than ever with his new role as captain of the International Team for the Presidents Cup later this year.

“It's really exciting. Geoff has obviously done a great job since the inauguration of the event and I’ve been great mates with Geoff for a long time,” Fraser said.

“To take over from him, and have a tournament with my name attached to it so close to home, it's pretty cool and not something I ever thought would happen.

“I love Rosebud, the golf course, the great members down here and I've enjoyed playing this event every year since it's been on.

“I think there'll be a few extra butterflies on the first tee Thursday, but I'm sure we'll settle

into it and there'll be a bit of extra motivation.

“We'll try to get in the mix come Sunday afternoon and we'll definitely throw everything at it and see what we've got.”

It’s the men who hold the advantage after the five Webex events staged so far on Rosebud’s superb par-70 composite course.

Queenslander Brad Kennedy claimed the inaugural edition in 2021 followed by Victorian Todd Sinnott in 2022. Korea’s Min

A Yoon broke through for the women with a record score of 24-under-par in 2023 before New Zealander Kazuma Kobori holed a putt on the final green to make it 3-1 for the men in 2024.

Last year, Michael Wright triumphed in a playoff against Jak Carter.

After practice days, junior and women’s clinics and the pro-am in the lead-up, this year’s tournament gets underway on Thursday.

On the weekend, following the 36-hole cut on Friday evening, the main field will be joined by the players in the All Abilities and Juniors events, giving spectators the chance to see the best of Australian golf across three separate events.

Webex Players Series Victoria forms part of both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia with the field chasing valuable ranking points on the end-ofseason Order of Merit.

Entry to Webex Players Series Victoria is free for spectators with the final two rounds available on Kayo and Foxtel.

EVENT

SCHEDULE

TUESDAY • Practice Day (all day)

• Webex Women’s Classic (3pm)

• Mentor Session Juniors (4pm)

WEDNESDAY • Pro-Am (Noon)

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Webex Players Series Victoria First Round

Webex Players Series Victoria Second Round

Webex Players Series Victoria Third Round • Junior Series First Round

• All Abilities First Round

Webex Players Series Victoria Final Round

• Junior Series Final Round

• All Abilities Final Round

• Presentations (6PM approx.)

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Entrance is FREE

Parking available at Car Park C

Live Scores: golf.com.au or via the PGA of Australia app

BROADCAST TIMES

Live on Kayo and Foxtel

Saturday: 3pm-6pm and Sunday: 1pm-6pm

MAP – VENUE OVERVIEW

Kelsey Bennett player profile

Kelsey Bennett has two big goals firmly in her sights this year - securing a win on the Ladies European Tour and earning LPGA Tour status for 2027.

But before she can start working on those targets, one of Australian women golf’s rising stars will tee it up as one of the favourites in Webex Players Series Victoria at Rosebud Country Club on the Bellarine Peninsula, starting on Thursday

A win at home – in an event where men and women compete for the same prize on the same course - would start the year off quite nicely.

The 25-year-old says it simply feels good to be back in Australia for a run of tournaments, including four events co-sanctioned by the WPGA Tour of Australasia and Ladies European Tour, highlighted by the women’s Australian Open and Australian WPGA Championship.

“It’s so nice to actually just be in Aus,” said Bennett.

“It’s sometimes a bit trickier playing so close to home, but I’m most definitely looking forward to it and having my team out there and all that sort of stuff.

“It’ll be nice to be able to play with some

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Christopher Wood 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit leader

Su Oh 2025 Vic Open champion

Cam John 2025 Queensland PGA champion

Justice Bosio Ladies European Tour member

Michael Wright 2025 Webex Players Series Victoria champion

Kelsey Bennett Ladies European Tour member

Harrison Crowe 2025 National Tournament winner

Jenny Shin LPGA Tour member

Matias Sanchez 2025 Webex Players Series SA champion

Lydia Hall Former Ladies British Masters champion

family and friends around, too.”

Reflecting on her 2025 season, Bennett is quietly pleased with how things unfolded in her rookie season on the LET.

Still learning the demands of life on tour, she finished as the highest-placed Australian at 20th on the Order of Merit.

Her ambitions for 2026 are clear. A win on the LET would be a significant breakthrough, while LPGA status remains the longer-term prize.

With no direct pathway to the No.1 tour in women’s golf from the LET, Bennett plans to attend Q School, knowing a top-10 LET Order

of Merit finish would earn her a place in the final stage.

“Obviously anything’s possible, so I’m just going to keep sticking to my processes, take it week by week, day by day and not get too ahead of myself,” she said.

“Just try and give myself the best opportunity to achieve those goals.

“My coach (John Serhan) and I are trying to become that little bit more professional every year and really dial in the swing a bit more. There’s definitely a couple of things in there to work on.”

New safety signs at dangerous beaches

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

NEW safety signs have been rolled out at some of the peninsula’s most dangerous beaches under a trial aimed at reducing drowning risks.

The signage initiative, led by Life Saving Victoria (LSV), will be in place across summer at some of the state’s most dangerous beaches, including both patrolled and unpatrolled locations on the Mornington Peninsula.

Through the Coastal Safety Signage Project, the “high-impact warning signs” follows research showing that certain sign designs are far more effective at communicating hazards to the public.

Beaches included in the trial are those with a history of tragic incidents: Gunnamatta Beach, Rye 16th Beach, Mills Beach, Woolamai Surf Beach/Anzacs, Kilcunda Beach, and Forrest Caves Beach.

The signs combine a skull-andcrossbones symbol to signal danger with a real-life image of a person in distress, and a message highlighting that drownings have occurred at the location.

“Research undertaken at Cowes, the Mornington Peninsula and other locations with members of the public indicated that a sign showing an image of a man in distress in the water and a sign depicting a symbol similar to the fire danger rating, alongside some

translated warnings and symbols were the most impactful of those signs tested,” LSV said.

“These sign designs have since been installed at patrolled and unpatrolled high-risk beaches on the Bass Coast, including Phillip Island, and the Mornington Peninsula.”

Local lifesaving clubs and councils have been key partners in the project, including Woolamai Beach SLSC, Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club, Bass Coast Shire Council, City of Casey, Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire, and Belgravia Leisure.

“Together, we can make Victoria’s beaches safer for everyone,” LSV said.

Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Paul Pingiaro said, “I think everyone attending the beach should understand drowning is an actual real risk not a perceived one, and whilst Mills Beach looks extremely calm there is a known traditional rip through there, so I welcome the signage there”.

“I would like to remind everyone who visits the Mornington Peninsula and gets on their watercraft, whether it be paddle boards or kayaks, to always remember to wear a lifejacket because they save lives.”

Pingiaro thanked LSV and Volunteer Marine Rescue for stepping up at a busy time and keeping the community safe.

Cr David Gill said while he welcomed the new signage, the number

of drownings on the peninsula remained unacceptably high and argued that greater investment in education and warning systems was needed.

He praised the work of volunteer lifesavers, particularly at high-risk beaches such as Gunnamatta, saying they faced some of the most dangerous conditions in the country.

But he criticised state government funding rules, noting that this masthead does not receive the state’s water safety campaign because it is based in metropolitan Melbourne. This is despite the region accounting for about ten per cent of Victoria’s coastline and having the highest number of swimming pools, and the largest number of drownings of any municipality.

MASTER OF SATIRE GERRY CONNOLLY TAKES CENTRE STAGE

Start the year with laughter, music and theatrical brilliance when legendary Australian entertainer Gerry Connolly brings his irresistible stage presence to Frankston Arts Centre.

For over four decades, Gerry has built a remarkable career as a comedian, actor, impressionist and pianist. Best known for his razor-sharp satirical impressions of public figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Ministers and international leaders, he first honed his talents at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and hasn’t looked back.

Audiences and industry insiders alike praise Connolly’s masterful blend of comedy and musicianship. On his celebrated satire, he once said, “I love her… I hate her,” referring to his decades-long take on Queen Elizabeth — a mix of affection and irreverent artistry.

Gerry has delighted audiences across Australia and beyond with his one-man shows at the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Comedy Festivals and the Edinburgh Fringe. He’s also a familiar face on television, with appearances on Fast Forward, Hey Hey It’s Saturday and Kath & Kim, as well as his own series, The Gerry Connolly Show.

His versatility extends to theatre and music: he’s performed with the Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, starred in productions such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and toured nationally in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. His original cabaret creations, including The Rise and

Disguise of Elizabeth R, showcase his unique ability to lampoon the powerful with intelligence, charm and musical flair.

This Daytime Music & Theatre performance promises an unforgettable mix of wit, music and masterful performance.

See An Audience with Gerry Connolly on Friday 13 February at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm. Tickets at thefac.com.au or call 03 9784 1060.

New housing village for families escaping violence

Brendan Rees brendan@mpnews.com.au

charity Fusion Mornington Peninsula preparing to build The Village - a development designed to support young women and young families fleeing domestic and family violence.

Construction is expected to begin early to mid this year at the former Balcombe Army Barracks site in Mt Martha where Fusion already supports young people experiencing homelessness.

The project will deliver six standalone therapeutic family homes, a village centre with shared spaces and support rooms, onsite carer accommodation, and landscaped communal outdoor areas across the 2.5-acre property.

Fusion team leader Gemma Hughes said the project has been a decade in the making, but the scale of need had grown far beyond what the community first imagined.

“For the past ten years this was a dream in our community as there was no supported housing for young people with children. And now, we never imagined it would be at such a catastrophic need,” she told The News

The peninsula now carries the highest rates of rough sleeping in Victoria,

with youth and family homelessness rising sharply. Behind the figures are students, apprentices and young parents, many displaced by family violence, housing insecurity and complex trauma.

Hughes said most families Fusion supported were single mothers escaping violence.

“It began with young women. We have maybe one per cent of single fathers or probably two or three per

cent which are partnered. Everyone else is a single women escaping family violence,” she said.

“Their choices are they remain with their violent partner because they have a roof over their head. They escape into homelessness because they can’t afford any other accommodation. Both situations will have their children removed by Child Protection. It’s real systematic injustice,” Hughes said.

RESORT LIVING EVERY DAY. RETIRE IN SOUTH GIPPSLAND.

FAMILIES coordinator

Jaclyn Jenkins, lead caseworker

Sophie Joy, and Fusion team leader Gemma Hughes at the charity’s Balcombe Army Barracks site. Picture: Yanni

The Village has been designed as long-term, trauma-informed supported housing not short-term crisis accommodation.

Families will live onsite alongside mentors and trained staff, led by Fusion’s families coordinator Jaclyn Jenkins, with access to parenting support, financial literacy programs, life skills training and therapeutic care.

Hughes noted “this is therapeutic supported housing for people who

need to remember how to parent and feel safe. Crucially, the model keeps families together,” she said.

“If they’ve already been removed, Jaclyn and her team support them and work with Child Protection to have their children placed back in their care.”

The project also continues the long legacy of the Balcombe site, which has served the peninsula for more than 80 years from a World War II training ground, to hosting US Marines, to shaping more than 7500 young tradesmen through the Australian Army Apprentice School.

Today, that tradition of service is being renewed through a build powered by the local community. Businesses, trades, philanthropists and volunteers have already committed materials, funding, time and expertise.

While Fusion currently supports families using off-site properties provided by generous locals, Hughes said those arrangements fell short.

“Those houses, they’re not adequate enough due to the complexity of family violence and the isolation surrounding a woman who has escaped, so The Village is exactly that, it’s a village.”

As planning approvals and engineering reports are finalised, Fusion will continue operating its existing youth housing from the barracks, ensuring the site remains, as it has always been, a place where young people are protected, supported and prepared for the future.

Balcombe Army apprentices return home

By Brendan Rees

FORMER members of the 36th intake of the Balcombe Army Apprentice School (AAS) at Mt Martha – the final class to graduate in 1981–have gathered for a long awaited reunion. About 100 former apprentices out of the roughly 300 who enlisted in that intake attended the event on 10 January. The day’s events began at Mornington before the group made their way to Mace Oval, with the group including former Regimental Sergeant Major Ray Hartigan. The celebrations continued at the Dava Hotel in Mt Martha for refreshments and socialising.

Many members reflected on joining the school as young teens - just 14 to 16 years old at the time.

Among the graduates was Mark Horner, who joined at 16 to learn carpentry.

“We got world-class trade training from a really good bedded down system,” he said, reflecting on the blend of military drill, trade lessons, and guidance that shaped him and his fellow “boy soldiers”.

Horner said COVID postponed their 40th reunion plans but added it was great to be back with the crew after all these years.

The AAS was a post World War II training institution established at Balcombe Army Camp, Mount Martha, in 1948. It provided a unique combined military and vocational training program for youths from around Australia, who enlisted typically between 15 and 17 years old to complete multi year apprenticeships in trades. Graduates also earned recognised trade qualifications alongside their army training.

In 1982, the school relocated to Latchford Barracks at Bonegilla before eventually closing in 1995.

New agency to boost outdoor recreation and jobs

A SINGLE agency for outdoor activities has been formed, merging the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and the Game Management Authority (GMA) into the Outdoor Recreation Victoria (ORV).

Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced the change in December, which aims to simplify access to bushland, waterways, and recreational activities while keeping all existing staff in their jobs.

ORV will initially focus on promoting activities such as fishing, hunting, boating, four-wheel driving, and off-grid camping. Over time, the agency plans to expand its reach to support a wider range of outdoor recreation opportunities. The agency will serve as a central point of information for bushland and waterway users, offering a streamlined digital hub, the state government said.

In addition, ORV will establish a Land Access Panel, made up of both stakeholders and government representatives, to enhance public access to Victoria’s parks, waterways, and recreational areas.

The government said it would consult with industry stakeholders and introduce legislation to formally establish ORV on 1 July 2026.

More than one million Victorians currently participate in fishing, hunting, and boating.

According to the government, the new agency aims to encourage even more residents to take up four-wheel driving and camping - activities that support tens of thousands of jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity across the state.

“The excellent work of the VFA and GMA will be expanded to support even more outdoor enthusiasts through Outdoor Recreation Victoria – creating better experiences for Victorians, visitors, and businesses,” Dimopoulos said.

“Outdoor Recreation Victoria will unlock opportunities for more Victorians to access the great outdoors - while ensuring all jobs are retained.”

Hospital workers want pay rise

Brodie Cowburn brodie@mpnews.com.au

HEALTHCARE workers are scheduled to gather at Frankston Hospital on 20 January to call for better pay. The demonstration takes place on the same day that the hospital’s new 12-storey building officially opens its doors.

The Health Workers Union’s negotiations with the state government for a pay rise have reached an impasse. The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association is locked in negotiations with the Health Workers Union, with assistance from the Fair Work Commission.

On 12 January the HWU announced that workers would close one in every four hospital beds, cease cleaning of non-clinical areas, and suspend the training and onboarding of new staff.

A statement from the HWU read that it “rejected a below-inflation pay offer in December and has repeatedly sought to meet with the government to avoid escalation, but has received no acknowledgement or engagement from the minister’s office.”

Health Workers Union lead organiser, Jake McGuinness, said “this industrial action is an unfortunate necessity because of the Victorian Government’s consistent and callous disregard for essential workers’ needs.”

“These bans are targeted and carefully designed to protect emergency and critical services, but they will cause widespread disruption,” he said. He confirmed that the bans

don’t apply to emergency care, and that children and pregnant mothers are exempt from the surgery bans.

The HWU’s strike is scheduled to run from 7am on 14 January until midnight on 1 February.

A statement from a Victorian Government spokesperson read that the “Department of Health continues to work with the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and the Health Workers Union to minimise disruption to critical patient care.

“We will always back our dedicated healthcare workforce and the extraordinary care they provide to Victorians who need it most. Hospitals have contingency plans in place to maintain critical patient care and safety during this protected industrial action. Emergency care and essential clinical procedures will continue.”

The Guide

TOP PICKS OF THE WEEK

FRIDAY

THURSDAY IN FLIGHT

SBS, 9.20pm

Charting the desperate exploits of a flight attendant who is blackmailed into smuggling drugs for a criminal gang, this nerve-shredding crime thriller is such a turbulent journey that it will leave you reaching for an oxygen mask. In Thursday’s increasingly claustrophobic instalment, Jo (Katherine Kelly, left) rushes to Sofia in Bulgaria when her wrongly imprisoned son Sonny (Harry Cadby) is stabbed. While keeping vigil by his bedside, Jo gets caught up in a second attempt on Sonny’s life and struggles to trust the mysterious Cormac (Stuart Martin).

MOVIE: THE DEATH OF STALIN

SBS WORLD MOVIES, 8.30pm, MA15+ (2017)

Armando Iannucci (creator of Veep) directs this absurdist parody, based on actual events involving dictator Joseph Stalin’s (Adrian McLoughlin) death and its aftermath. Nothing is sacred when Iannucci brings his razor-sharp writing to the forefront, and audiences can only sit back in horror as these real-life monsters square off in a frantic struggle for power.

Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor (right), Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale play it straight, but that only makes the satire much more powerful.

MONDAY

AUSTRALIA DAY LIVE

ABC TV, 7.30pm

A live spectacle from the steps of the Sydney Opera House that celebrates the diversity of Australia’s cultures, communities and laidback lifestyle, this annual concert is one hot ticket. Jeremy Fernandez (right), Megan Burslem and John Foreman have saved a spot for ABC viewers as an exciting line-up of talent takes the stage. Cody Simpson, Kate Ceberano, William Barton, social media sensation Jude York and supergroup The Fabulous Caprettos all feature before an aerial show over Circular Quay. The event will also pay tribute to those affected by December’s Bondi Beach terror attack, and introduce Australians who will share their stories with the nation.

SATURDAY CALL THE MIDWIFE

ABC TV, 7.30pm

This period drama moves into the 1970s with its trademark care and compassion to unpack the social issues of the era in its 14th season. In this episode, there’s a new arrival at Nonnatus House in the shape vaccination clinic. As always, the beloved

Let our family help your family

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Thursday, January 22

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (7)

(10) NINE (9) 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 The Weekly. (Ml, R) 11.00 Gardening Australia: My Garden Path. (R) 11.10 Changing Ends. (PG, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Miss Austen. (R) 2.00 Restoration Aust. (PG, R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (R) 3.25 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (PG, R)

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

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Grand Designs Transformations: Coburg Shag Manor And Burnside Coach House. Two houses are transformed.

9.00 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. Amanda and Alan renovate the bathrooms.

9.30 Goolagong. (Final, PG, R) Evonne Goolagong Cawley competes at Wimbledon.

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 Always Was Tonight. (R)

11.25 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R)

12.10 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.00 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 2.25 Smother. (Mals, R) 5.00

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

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Designing Paradise. (PG, R) 10.00 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Living Black: 50 Years Of SBS Indigenous. (R) 2.05 New Zealand From A Train. (R) 3.00 Going Places. (PGa, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (PGs, R) 4.15 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Playing Cupid. (2021, PGa, R) Laura Vandervoort. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies: Celebrity Specials. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. 6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 5. From Melbourne Park. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 5. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Toronto Airport Uncovered. Delta Flight 4819 crash-lands at Toronto Airport.

8.25 Robson Green: World’s Most Amazing Walks. Robson Green heads to Scotland.

9.20 In Flight. Jo rushes to Sofia when Sonny is stabbed.

10.15 SBS World News Late.

10.45 Before We Die. (Malv, R)

11.40 This Town. (Malv, R) 1.55 The Eco Show. (PGaw, R) 2.55 My Name Is Reeva: I Was Murdered By Oscar Pistorius. (Ma, R) 3.45 My Unique B&B. (R) 4.20 Bamay. (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) Harper is honest with her mum. 8.30 MOVIE: Marry Me. (2022, PGals) A heartbroken pop star spontaneously weds a stranger from the audience while live on stage. Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, John Bradley. 10.50 Boyzone: Life, Death And Boybands: When All Is Said And Done. (Mal, R)

11.50 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 2. Highlights. 12.50 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. (PG, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 5. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 5. From Melbourne Park.

12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)

1.00 Next Stop.

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)

GolfBarons. (PGl, R)

Today Early News.

Today. 6.00 10 News+. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 Attenborough’s

Friday, January 23

ABC (2)

NINE (9) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Muster

Dogs: Where Are They Now. (Final, R) 1.45 Goolagong. (Final, PG, R) 2.40 Classic Countdown Extras. (PG, R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.25 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat. (Final, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 All Creatures Great And Small. Mrs Hall and Mr Bosworth clash.

8.20 Art Detectives. (PGv) A wine expert dies during an exclusive tasting.

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

9.35 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ml, R)

A satirical news program.

10.05 A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse. (Madl, R)

11.00 ABC Late News.

11.15 Smother. (Mal, R)

1.00 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv)

5.00 Rage. (PGadhlnsv)

ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS (3) SEVEN (7) TEN (10)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 Designing Paradise. (R) 10.00 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Living Black: 50 Years Of SBS Indigenous. (R) 2.05 New Zealand From A Train. (PGaw, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.40 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: You May Kiss The Bridesmaid. (2021, PGa) Tori Anderson. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. (R) 3.00 The Chase. (R) 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Great House Revival: Rockhouse. A couple restore a modest Georgian farmhouse.

9.30 Isle Of Wight: Jewel Of The South. (R) High Sheriff Kay Marriott attends the annual steam fair where she joins in all-female Morris dancing.

10.20 SBS World News Late.

10.50 Sisi. (Mans, R)

11.45 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+ansv, R)

1.35 Silent Road. (Mav, R)

3.30 Sinking The German Fleet. (PGav, R)

4.30 Bamay. (PG, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Morning Programs. 1.25pm WWE Legends. 2.30 Mastermind Aust. 3.35 BBC News At Ten. 4.05 France 24. 4.35 PBS News. 5.35 If You Are The One. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Embarrassing Sex Stories. 9.50 Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next? 10.50 Sex Tape Germany. 11.45 Shoresy. (Final) 12.20am Homeland. 1.20 Sex Before The Internet. 2.15 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.15pm Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.40 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior. 7.40 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.05 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.25 My Adventures With Superman. 8.50 Robot Wars. 9.50 TKO: Total Knock Out. 10.30 Merlin. 11.15 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Arabian Inferno. 11.00 Going Places. Noon MOVIE: Manganinnie. (1980, PG) 1.30 Stompem Ground: King Of Hearts. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.30 Living Black. 6.00 Bamay. 6.40 Arabian Inferno. 7.30 MOVIE: Rabbit-Proof Fence. (2002, PG) 9.20 MOVIE: Mad Bastards. (2010) 11.00 Late Programs.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Challenger. 10.30 Seven’s Cricket: The Spin. An expert panel examines all the big news and issues with a deep dive into the world of cricket.

11.15 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 3. Henley Beach to Nairne. 140.8km. Highlights. From South Australia.

12.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

12.45 Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30

6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 6. From Melbourne Park. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 6. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 9News.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 6. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 6. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R) Maggie empathises with a patient whose mother is afraid to consent to her son’s risky surgery. Ripley treats someone from his past. Ahmad questions herself after her actions have unexpected consequences.

1.00 Next Stop.

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 GolfBarons. (PG, R)

6.00 10 News+.

6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R)

7.30 Selling Houses Australia. (R) The team transforms a single mother’s property. 8.40 Love It Or List It Australia. (R) A couple and their three small kids are feeling cramped in their current home and want to replace the pool with a sizeable backyard. 9.50 The Graham Norton Show. (Mls, R)

6am

Morning Programs. 6.50 Oink. (2022, PG, Dutch) 8.15 Mermaids. (1990, PG) 10.15 Within Sand. (2022, M, Arabic) 12.25pm The Sitting Duck. (2022, M, Hungarian, English, French) 2.40 Five Flights Up. (2014, PG) 4.20 Mary Shelley. (2017, PG) 6.30 Barefoot In The Park. (1967, PG) 8.30 The Death Of Stalin. (2017, MA15+) 10.30 The Problem With People. (2023, M) 12.25am Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

Saturday, January 24 ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PGadhlnsv) 7.00 Wknd Brekky. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer. (PGadhlnsv) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Call The Midwife. (PG, R) 1.30 Art Detectives. (PGv, R) 2.15 All Creatures Great And Small. (R) 3.10 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.00 Becoming Human. (PG, R) 5.00 The ABC Of... (PG, R) 5.30 Dr Karl’s How Things Work. (R)

6.00 Back Roads: The Great Australian Road Trip. (R) Presented by Heather Ewart.

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

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

7.30 Call The Midwife. (PG) Shelagh and Sister Veronica help a disabled child.

8.30 Vera. (Ma, R) Vera investigates after a student is violently killed and dumped at the foot of three mythical monoliths.

10.05 Goolagong. (Final, PG, R) Evonne Goolagong Cawley competes at Wimbledon.

11.00 The Jetty. (Ml, R) Ember tries to protect her family.

12.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.30 France 24 English News. 8.00 DD India News Hour. 9.00 The Eco Show. (PGaw, R) 10.55 Puppy Secrets: The First Six Months. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Figure Skating. ISU European Championships. Highlights. 4.00 Sailing. Sail Grand Prix Perth. Highlights. 5.00 Plat Du Tour. (R) 5.05 Going Places. (R) 5.35 Our Tiny Islands. (Premiere)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Secrets Of Britain’s Historic Houses: Peacocks And Elephants. Kedleston Hall’s Peacock Dress gets a makeover.

8.40 Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys: The Adaptable Arosa Line. (PGn, R) Looks at the Arosa Railway.

9.40 The Secret DNA Of Us: Surry Hills. (PGa, R) Marc Fennell and his team head to Surry Hills.

10.50 Scottish Islands With Ben Fogle. (PG, R) 11.55 House Of Promises. (Ma, R) 3.30 Gestapo: Hitler’s Secret Police. (Ma, R) 4.30 Bamay. (PG, R) 5.00 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. Carrington Stakes Day, Caulfield Australia Day and Coastline BMW Sunshine Coast Cup Day. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 MOVIE: The Sound Of Music. (1965, G, R) On the eve of World War II, a novice nun becomes a governess to a large Austrian family. Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer. 10.40 Air Crash Investigations: Control Catastrophe. (PGa, R) A look at the case of Air Astana Flight 1388. 11.40 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 4. Highlights. 12.40 MOVIE: A Job To Die For. (2022, Mav, R) A woman lands her dream job. Revell Carpenter.

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 It’s Academic. (R)

5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

6.00 Let’s Eat With George. (R) 6.30 Drive Safer. (PG, R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 7. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 7. From Melbourne Park. 6am Morning Programs. 6.30 Camper

6.00 9News Saturday.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 7. From Melbourne Park. The event will award a record-breaking $111.5 million prize pool, a 16% increase on last year and the biggest ever in the event’s history. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 7. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)

1.00 The Gulf. (Madlsv, R)

2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop. (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands Summer Series. (PG)

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. A couple in Essendon want to renovate their home.

8.40 Sort Your Life Out. (PGa, R) Stacey Solomon and her team help families declutter and transform their lives. 9.50 Ambulance UK. (Madl, R) Someone threatens to use a nerve agent. 11.00 Matlock. (PGadl, R) The team takes on an arson case. 12.00 Elsbeth. (PGa, R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power. 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Mastermind Aust. Noon The Rap Game UK. 3.00 Heroines. 3.45 BBC News At Ten. 4.15 France 24. 4.45 PBS News. 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 The Legend Of Bigfoot. 7.35 Abandoned Americana. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons. (Return) 10.20 Marcella. (Return) 12.10am WWE Legends. 1.45 Dark Side Of The ‘90s. 2.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.20pm Dino Dex. 4.45 Gardening Australia Junior. 5.10 Thomas. 5.40 Super Monsters. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.30 Hard Quiz Kids.

Sunday, January 25

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Always Was Tonight. (R) 10.30 New Leash On Life. (Final, PG, R) 11.00 Compass. (PGa, R) 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Maggie Beer’s Big Mission. (R) 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now. (Final, R) 3.15 The Assembly. (PG, R) 4.00 Poh’s On The Road. (R) 4.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Australian Of The Year 2026. Hosted by Leigh Sales.

8.45 The ABC Of: Evonne Goolagong Cawley. (PG, R) David Wenham explores the life of Evonne Goolagong Cawley through footage from the ABC archives. 9.15 The Jetty. (Final, MA15+a) Ember tries to uncover the truth about Amy. 10.20 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 11.20 MOVIE: Wake In Fright. (1971, Masv, R) 1.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 1.55 Smother. (Mal, R) 4.30 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

Programs. 10.00 MOVIE: Thomas And Friends: The Mystery Of Lookout Mountain. (2022) 11.00 Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.30 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 7.55 MOVIE: Spy Kids 3: Game Over. (2003, PG) 9.15 Fresh Off The Boat. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 The Eco Show. (R) 11.00 Puppy Secrets: The First Six Months. (R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 12.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Motor Racing. Best of Dakar Rally. Highlights. 4.00 Figure Skating. ISU European Championships. Part Two. Highlights. 5.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 5.35 Our Tiny Islands.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Once Upon A Time In Space: Politics Always Wins. (PG) The Mir’s reign in space comes to an end. 9.30 Pompeii: The Last Mysteries Revealed. (Mans, R) Archaeologists continue their mission. 10.20 Putin And The West: The Next Chapter. (PG, R) 11.30 Black Gold. (PGal, R) 1.05 Building The Impossible. (PG, R) 2.00 Rise Of The Nazis: The Downfall. (Mav, R) 3.10 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R) 4.05 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R) 4.30 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS Science Technology Health Show.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s

6.00 NBC Today. 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: City Slickers II. (1994, PGlsv, R) 2.30 Air Crash Investigations: The Accident Files. (PGa, R) 3.30 Better Homes And Gardens Summer. (R) 4.30 Cows For Cambodia. (PGa) 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Cricket. Big Bash League. The Final. 10.30 Big Bash League Post-Game. Post-game coverage of The Final. 11.00 7NEWS Spotlight. Liam Bartlett goes undercover with the Aussie operatives working to expose vile online predators. 12.00 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under. Men’s. Stage 5. Stirling to Stirling. 169.8km. Highlights. From Adelaide. 1.00 Temple. (Premiere, Malv)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

NITV (34) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Escape To The Country. Noon Australia: The Story Of Us. 1.00 Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 1.30 Harry’s Practice. 2.00 South Aussie

6.00 Hello SA. (PG, R)

6.30 Explore TV: Trade Routes Of The Middle Ages. (R) 7.00 Weekend Today. 10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 8. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 8. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 9News Sunday. 7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 8. From Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 8. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 The First 48: Cruel Intentions. (Ma, R) Detectives in Mobile, Alabama, investigate the murder of a mother of two and unravel the deadly plot that took her life.

1.00 Next Stop.

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 GolfBarons. (PG, R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 What’s Up Down Under. (a, R) 8.30 Buy To Build. (R) 9.00 Key Ingredient. (R) 9.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (PGal, R) 11.00 Mixed Martial Arts. UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett. Prelims. 1.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 1.30 Lingo. (R) 2.30 Basketball. NBL. Round 18. Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers. 4.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) 5.00 News.

6.30 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 8.30 NCIS: Sydney. (Mv) When a young girl finds the body of a former US Navy officer floating in the harbour, the team is led to an 18th-century sailing ship hosting a pirate-themed wedding. 9.30 Law & Order: SVU. (Return, Mav) A new chief of detectives puts Benson to the test. An off-duty Fin tries to stop a crime. 10.30 NCIS: Origins. (Mav, R) Gibbs starts his career at Camp Pendleton. 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning

Programs. 2pm Mastermind Aust. 3.00 Heroines. 4.00 France 24. 4.30 PBS Washington Week. 5.00 PBS International Affairs Show. 5.30 Cycling. ProVelo Super League. Round 1. SA Kick It. 8.30

Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Eating. 10.15 The Grudge. 11.45 The Gentle Art Of Swedish Death Cleaning. 2.45am NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.50pm Rugby League. Koori Knockout. Wiradjuri Aboriginal Connections v Walgett Aboriginal Connections. Replay. 2.50 Rugby League. Queensland Murri Carnival. Replay. 3.50 Stompem Ground: King Of Hearts. 4.20 Sing About This Country. 6.30 Lagau Danalaig: An Island Life. 7.30 The Idea Of Australia. 8.30 Kindred. 10.10 History Bites Back. 11.10 Late Programs.

6am

Bicycle Thief. (1948, PG, Italian) 6.55 Princess Caraboo. (1994, PG) 8.40 Explorers. (1985, PG) 10.40 Operation Napoleon. (2023, M) 12.50pm Body Heat. (1981, M) 2.55 The Movie Show. 3.30 Discovering Film. 4.30 Whisky Galore. (2016, PG) 6.20 Roman Holiday. (1953, PG) 8.30 Maggie Moore(s) (2023, MA15+) 10.25 Charlie And Boots. (2009, M) 12.20am Late Programs.

Transforming Spaces SHOWROOM OPEN MON – FRI 7:30AM to 4:30PM SAT 9AM to 12PM

Monday,

January 26

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 Australia Day: National Citizenship Ceremony. 10.15 Vera. (Ma, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 The Great Australian Bee Challenge. (R) 2.00 Restoration Australia. (R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.25 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.50 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.25 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.25 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Australia Day Live. (PG) A celebration of music, lights and fireworks.

9.30 Hard Quiz: Battle Of The Has Beens. (PG, R) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

10.10 Dr Karl’s How Things Work: Guitars. (R)

10.40 ABC Late News.

10.55 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (Ml, R)

11.25 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 12.15 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 4.55 A Bite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

Programs. 9GEM (92) 7TWO (72) 6am Children’s Programs. 8.00 Jeopardy! Australia. 9.00 Surfing Aust. 9.30 Big Rigs Of Oz. 10.00 Soccer. English Premier League. Nottingham Forest v Arsenal.

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6.00 Morning Programs. 2.00 Where The Dreamings Come From. (R) 2.10 Going Places. (PG, R) 2.43 NITV News Special: Day 26 2026. 2.45 The Cook Up. (R) 3.15 NITV News Special: Day 26 2026. 3.17 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PG, R) 4.03 Jeopardy! 4.28 NITV News Special: Day 26 2026. 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Mastermind Aust. (R) 5.30 NITV News Special: Day 26 2026.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 The Colleano Heart. (PGa, R) Looks at the Colleano family. 9.10 Stock Aitken Waterman: Legends Of Pop. (Ml, R) Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman reflect on the success they had in 1987.

10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Like Water For Chocolate. (MA15+sv) 11.50 Clean Sweep. (MA15+s, R) 1.50 Pagan Peak. (MA15+av, R) 3.35 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R) 4.05 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.35 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Nikki And Nora: Sister Sleuths. (2022, PGav, R) Hunter King. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Kerrie’s apology is too little, too late. 7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGl) Hosted by Lee Mack. 8.30 9-1-1. (M) In honour of Bobby Nash’s sacrifice, the 118 comes together to dedicate the firehouse in his memory. 10.30 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous: No More Grannies. (MA15+asv, R) 12.00 Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce. (MA15+s)

1.00 Conviction. (MA15+v, R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

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

6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.

10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions.

11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 9. From Melbourne Park. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 9. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 9News.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (al) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Matlock. (PGal) Matty and Olympia find out that the executive committee has flown in after a security breach. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.30 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 11.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 3.20pm Mastermind Aust. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Lost Gold Of The Aztecs. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 James May And The Dull Men. 9.25 Under The Banner Of Heaven. 10.40 MOVIE: The New Boy. (2023, M) 12.50am Dark Side Of The Cage. 1.40 Everything’s Gonna Be All White. 2.40 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.15pm Peter Rabbit. 2.35 Daniel Tiger’s. 2.50 The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.15 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.40 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 TKO: Total Knock Out. 9.10 The Crystal Maze. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Whisky Galore. (2016, PG) 7.50 Roman Holiday. (1953, PG) 10.00 Girls Will Be Girls. (2024, M, Hindi, English) 12.10pm White Squall. (1996, M) 2.30 Discovering Film. 3.20 Walk With Me.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 9. From Melbourne Park. This year’s tournament marks the 114th Australian Open and first Grand Slam event of 2026. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 9. From Melbourne Park.

12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)

1.00 Next Stop. (PGa, 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 GolfBarons. (PG, R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

Tuesday, January 27

ABC (2)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.00 The Search For The Palace Letters. (PG, R) 11.00 Human. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 2.00 Restoration Australia. (PG, R) 3.00 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PGa, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30

7.30 7.30. 8.00 Dr Karl’s How Things Work: Bread.

8.30 Human: Discovering The Americas. (PG) Humans set foot on the Americas for the first time.

9.30 Grand Designs Transformations: Coburg Shag Manor And Burnside Coach House. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Whiteley Art Scandal. (Final, Mls, R) 11.45 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (R) 12.35 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.55 Gardening Aust. (R) 5.00 A Bite To Eat. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 9.00 For The Love Of Dogs. (PG, R) 10.00 Paddington Station 24/7. (PGa, R) 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 2.00 Auschwitz: The Hidden Traces. (PGavw, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Inferno: Letters From Auschwitz. (PGavw, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Who Do You Think You Are? Gina Chick. (Ma, R)

8.30 Portillo’s 200 Years Of The Railways. (PG) Hosted by Michael Portillo. 9.40 Aerial Australia. (PGaw, R) An aerial exploration of Western Australia. 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Exit. (MA15+adls) 11.55 DNA. (MA15+a, R) 1.40 24 Hours In Emergency. (Ma, R)

2.30 24 Hours In A&E. (Mal, R) 3.25 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PG, R) 3.55 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.25 Bamay. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

Programs. 2.20pm Mastermind Aust. 3.20 Kars & Stars. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Lost Gold Of The Aztecs. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 James May And The Dull Men. 9.25 Under The Banner Of Heaven. 10.35 Casketeers Life & Death Across The Globe. 11.30 NFL Classics: After Further Review. 1.10am We Need To Talk About Cosby. 2.20 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 1.20pm Octonauts. 2.15 Peter Rabbit. 2.45 The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 4.15 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 4.40 Vida The Vet. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 Hippo Watch With Steve Backshall. 9.15 Planet Weird. 10.05 Merlin. 10.50 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

Unleash The Beast. 9.30 Hunting Aotearoa. 10.30 MOVIE: Smoke Signals. (1998, M) 12.05am Late Programs. NITV (34)

SBS (3) SEVEN (7) TEN (10)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: For Love And Honor. (2016, PGa, R) James Denton. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away. (PG)

A shocking diagnosis is revealed.

7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGal) Hosted by Lee Mack.

8.30 Doc. (Mav) Amy’s past comes back to haunt her when a desperate father sacrifices everything to secure his daughter’s heart transplant.

10.30 St. Denis Medical. (PGal)

11.30 Autopsy USA: Aretha Franklin. (MA15+a, R)

12.30 MOVIE: A Jealous Friendship. (2021, Mav, R)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R)

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

NINE (9)

6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.

10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions.

11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 10. From Melbourne Park. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 10. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 9News.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 10. From Melbourne Park. The local hopes for this year’s Open are Alex de Minaur and Maya Joint. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 10. From Melbourne Park. 12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)

1.00 Next Stop. (PGa, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Destination WA. (PG)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R)

4.30 GolfBarons. (PG, R)

5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (al) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Matlock. (PGad) As Olympia and the team take on a wrongful death case, Matty meets with a mysterious woman from Senior’s past. 10.00 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

6am Morning Programs. 8.00 Million Dollar Minute. 9.00 Medical Emergency. 9.30 NBC Today.

Importance Of Being Earnest. (1952) 7.40 Walk With Me. (2017, PG) 9.20 Kindred. 11.05 Haute Couture. (2021, M, French) 12.55pm Charlie And Boots. (2009, M) 2.50 Dean Spanley. (2008, PG) 4.45 Gurrumul. (2017, PG) 6.35 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982, PG) 8.30 Perfect Days. (2023, PG, Japanese, English) 10.50 The Last Emperor. (1987, M) 1.55am Late Programs. 5.50 The Movie Show. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 The Big Wet. 11.00 MOVIE: Fantome Island. (2011, PG) 12.30pm Ningla A-Na.

Wednesday, January 28

6am The

Agatha Christie’s Marple. 10.40 Late Programs. 9GEM (92) 7TWO (72) 6am Children’s Programs. 8.00 Seinfeld. 9.00 Nanny. 9.30 Addams Family. 10.00 Bewitched.

ABC TV (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 News. 10.05 Meet The Penguins. (R) 11.10 All Creatures Great And Small. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 TBA. 1.00 Miniseries: The Cry. (Final, Mals, R) 1.55 Restoration Aust. (R) 2.55 Would I Lie To You? (PG, R) 3.25 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30.

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG) Hosted by Tom Gleeson.

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

9.00 Bowie: The Final Act (2025) (Ml, R) Looks at David Bowie’s artistic resurrection.

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Jetty. (MA15+, R)

11.50 Grand Designs: House Of The Year. (PG, R) 12.40 Long Lost Family. (PG, R) 1.30 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

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

6.00 Morning Programs. 10.50 Mountain Vets. (PG, R) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Cycling. Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Women’s Surf Coast Classic. 2.00 WorldWatch. 3.00 Living Black: 50 Years Of SBS Indigenous. (R) 3.05 Going Places. (PG, R) 3.35 Plat Du Tour. (R) 3.45 The Cook Up. (R) 4.15 Ocean Wreck Investigation. (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 JFK: The Making Of A President. (Mav, R)

8.25 The Jury: Murder Trial UK. (M) The juries retire to decide their verdicts. 9.20 Weight Of The World. (MA15+a, R) Examines the drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro.

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Face To Face. (Mals) 11.50 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (MA15+s) 1.30 Golden Boy. (Mdln, R) 2.25 24 Hours In Emergency. (Mal, R) 3.20 Craig & Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. (PGn, R) 3.50 Barkley Manor. (PG, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 2.50pm The Makery. 3.05 Play School. 3.40 Fizzy And Suds. 4.15 Andy’s Aquatic Adventures. 5.40 Kangaroo Beach. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.25 Paddington. 6.45 Ben And Holly. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.50 Adv Time. 9.35 We Bare Bears. 9.50 Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia. 10.10 My Adventures With Superman. 10.45 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Morning Show. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Just Add Romance. (2019, PGa, R) Meghann Fahy. 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away. (PG) Leah’s world crumbles.

7.30 The 1% Club UK: Rollover. (PGl) Hosted by Lee Mack.

8.30 MOVIE: The Sapphires. (2012, PGalsv, R) During the ’60s, four talented Aboriginal singers learn about love, friendship and war. Miranda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy.

10.40 Air Crash Investigations: Cockpit Catastrophe. (PGa, R)

11.35 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

12.05 Wolfe. (MA15+av)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today. The latest in news and current affairs.

10.00 Australian Open Tennis Pre-Show. Featuring highlights, interviews and opinions. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Day 11. From Melbourne Park. 4.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Afternoon 11. From Melbourne Park.

6.00 9News.

7.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Night 11. From Melbourne Park. This will be the 39th year the event has been held at Melbourne Park. 11.00 Tennis. Australian Open. Late Night 11. From Melbourne Park.

12.00 Chicago Med. (MA15+mv, R)

1.00 Next Stop. (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 GolfBarons. (PGl, R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today.

6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer. 7.30 I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (al) Hosted by Julia Morris and Robert Irwin. 9.00 Elsbeth. (PGav) A murder investigation at a famous New York toy store spirals into a hostage crisis. 10.00 10’s Late News. Coverage of news, sport and weather. 10.30 10 News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 11.00 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) Hosted by Stephen Colbert. 12.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 3.15pm Mastermind Aust. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.50 Lost Gold Of The Aztecs. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 James May And The Dull Men. 9.25 Under The Banner Of Heaven. 11.05 MOVIE: The Year Of Living Dangerously. (1982, M) 1.10am Tales From The Territories. 2.05 NHK World English News. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

6am The Movie Show. 6.25 The Return Of The Soldier. (1982) 8.20 Perfect Days. (2023, PG, Japanese, English) 10.40 My Father’s Mexican Wedding. (2023, M, Spanish) 12.40pm Sing Street. (2016, M) 2.40 The Movie Show. 3.20 Discovering Film. 4.15 Finding You. (2020, PG) 6.30 The Three Musketeers. (1973, PG) 8.30 The Whale. (2022, M) 10.40 I

Iconic French Island Homestead - Expressions Of Interest Invited

THIS landmark property on one of Victoria’s most extraordinary landscapes is being offered to the market for the very first time.

The Iconic French Island Homestead at 156 Coast Road represents a rare chance to secure not just a home, but a legacy, a place where privacy, nature and freedom converge in a way that simply cannot be replicated on the mainland.

French Island is one of Victoria’s last untouched frontiers, a pristine, off-grid sanctuary just a short ferry ride from the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island. With 70% of the island designated as National Park, residents enjoy a level of tranquillity and natural beauty that feels worlds away, yet

HOME ESSENTIALS

remains surprisingly accessible and without council rates payable!

Key benefits of owning property on French Island:

• Unmatched privacy - no crowds, no traffic, no suburban sprawl.

• A self-sufficient lifestyle - solar power, rainwater and wide-open land.

• A thriving eco-community - ideal for conservationists, creatives and those seeking a slower pace.

• Abundant birdlife & wildlife - including one of Australia’s largest koala populations.

• A protected environment - strict

development limits preserve the island’s character and your investment.

• A true escape - yet only 15 minutes by ferry to the mainland.

• Cost of living savings – No power bills or council rates

French Island offers something increasingly rare in Victoria: space, serenity and freedom.

The Property: A Homestead of Character and History.

Set on a generous parcel of land along Coast Road, this 6 bedroom homestead helped pioneer the essence of island living and its timeless rural architecture creates a warm, welcoming retreat.

ADDRESS: 156 Coast Road, French Island FOR SALE: Expressions of Interest Close 5pm 20th February

DESCRIPTION: 6 bed, 2 bath, 3 car, 4.05ha

Whether you envision a private residence, an eco-tourism venture, or a multi-generational estate, the possibilities are as expansive as the landscape itself. Complete with natural spring and established fruit trees, this off-grid self-sustainability dream could become your reality.

Exceptional Value This close to Melbourne. Property on French Island remains one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets - especially when compared with the soaring prices across the Mornington Peninsula.

Whether you’re seeking a lifestyle change, a private retreat, or a strategic long-term investment, 156 Coast Road stands alone.n

Relaxed Coastal Living Just Moments from the Shore

SET within one of Somers’ most tightly held and highly sought-after pockets, this character-filled family residence delivers the perfect balance of space, comfort and an effortless coastal lifestyle, just a short stroll from the beach.

Recently updated and thoughtfully configured, the home showcases a generous

HOME ESSENTIALS

upstairs living zone that flows to a large balcony, capturing leafy outlooks across the rear yard and adjoining reserve.

At the centre, a well-appointed kitchen features a new induction cooktop and oven, catering easily to family living and entertaining alike. Outdoors is where the property truly shines, with an in-ground solar-heated

swimming pool, separate spa, outdoor fire pit and shower creating a private, resort-style sanctuary for year-round enjoyment. Splitsystem air conditioning, gas ducted heating and a substantial 9kW solar system ensure comfort and efficiency in every season.

Secure off-street parking comfortably caters for a boat, caravan or trailer, further elevating

ADDRESS: 52 Kennedy Road, Somers FOR SALE: $1,750,000 - $1,850,000 DESCRIPTION: 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car, 790m2

AGENT: Candice Blanch - 1300 077 557, Homes and Acreage Real Estate, Shop 1A/3000 Frankston - Flinders Rd, Balnarring

COASTAL 6 BEDROOM GEM ON 10 ACRES

the home’s lifestyle credentials. Positioned alongside Kennedy Road Reserve, with beach access at the end of the street, the General Store a short 770-metre stroll away, and easy access to Somers Primary School and Western Port Secondary College, the setting delivers an enviable coastal way of life just minutes from Balnarring Village.n

156 Coast Road, French Island, Victoria 6 BEDS,

Expressions Of Interest Invited

Expressions of Interest are invited for Cummgwyndwrr, a rare coastal estate directly opposite the bay on French Island. Just an hour from Melbourne and a short ferry trip, this unique property combines rich history, sustainable living and endless opportunity.

Held in the current family for over 112 years, the residence began as a two room cottage in the early 1900s and grew into a six bedroom homestead with a ballroom that once hosted island dances and gatherings. Today, it offers complete off grid living with modern solar systems, abundant water supply and thriving orchards.

Property Highlights:

• No council rates - rare financial advantage

• No power bills - Off grid power system including back-up generator

• Six bedrooms across two levels

Historic ballroom and expansive rumpus/billiard-room

• Versatile Outbuildings/Storage/Workshop Space

• Elevated dam with bay views, natural spring and bore

• Extensive fruit trees including citrus, stone fruit, berries and avocado

• Furnished sale (with select exclusions)

Future Potential:

Ideal as a private retreat, eco tourism venture, wildlife sanctuary, or cultural venue, Cummgwyndwrr is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a coastal estate that is both a legacy and a lifestyle.

Expressions of interest close 5pm Friday 20th February.

Please contact exclusive resident licensed agent Phil Bock on 0438 497 715 for details on the expressions of interest process, or to arrange a private inspection.

More effort on cleaning up

As a resident of many years here on the Mornington Peninsula, seeing the lack of care from the local shire in maintaining the suburb of Dromana has been really disappointing.

We’ve been inundated with thousands of visitors this summer and the main pavement thoroughfare is incredibly dirty. It has been in need of cleaning for well over 12 months now.

Residents submit requests for maintenance and things take months to be addressed.

The urination from dogs, mashed in food and graffiti covering many surfaces of the sidewalk and side streets definitely isn’t the welcome I’d be expecting over summer.

A lack of bins and clean up personnel has only added to the degrading of the area.

Many locals have spent the early hours of the mornings cleaning up after others.

We can’t keep repeating this year on year.

Adam Richmond, Dromana

Beach rubbish

Sadly Safety Beach has become a refuse tip particularly on days of high visitation.

The rubbish left on the beach, and approaches thereto is disgraceful. Broken gazebos, chairs, plastic, used tissues, bottles, cans, fruit peel, leftover take-way food, despite the beach being a designated no smoking area, lots of cigarette butts.

There is no hope for the planet while this continues.

Last year I collected a bucket full of broken glass from bottles smashed and thrown overboard by people in boats who fail to realise it washes up. Some of it is dangerously sharp.

As for council’s beach cleaners they haven’t been seen for four weeks.

I see in The News there is a boosted police presence on the peninsula (Police boost presence amid summer safety operations, The News 13/1/25). I’ve seen them but they just ignore the jet skis along the shore in the no boating zone near Balmoral Avenue and the boats moored and passing through the no boating zone. Even the water police do nothing about them. Why not?

Thus the ratepayers pick up the cost of clearing the beach bins because council decided not to charge a fee to non residents for beach parking whereas Port Phillip, Bayside and Kingston Councils all do have a beach parking charge for non-residents.

Lee Chapman, Safety Beach

Accurate framing

I am writing in response to comments by Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh regarding Sam Groth’s decision to step

lead the party from behind the scenes. Sam made a good impression from the time he was elected to parliament. He has conducted himself with decorum and good manners at all times and his leadership potential is obvious form the fact that he was able to advance so quickly in the party hierarchy.

Regardless of one’s party preference, he had all the hallmarks of being a valuable representative and his departure is a sad loss to us all on the Peninsula.

Barry Rumpf, McCrae

Homelessness inaction

For the past two years Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) has been advocating to all levels of government to secure attention and increased funding to address the housing and homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula.

Without question we urgently need crisis accommodation. We need more affordable permanent housing. We need more far more funding for our local community support centres.

We have met with state Ministers including Minister for Housing Harriet Shing, and Federal Representatives, including Minister for Housing Claire O’Neill, Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness Josh Burns and most local politicians including Zoe McKenzie, Jodie Beleya, Tom McIntosh, Chris Crewther, Paul Mercurio, as well as the Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO, mayor and many councillors.

We have held two Round Table forums bringing together politicians with community groups and service organisations who work across the housing and homelessness support sector to discuss both short- and long-term solutions.

But sadly, little progress has been made, while the issue has become even more critical.

In the last two months two more rough sleepers have died on Rosebud foreshore, making a total of five homeless people who have passed away on our beaches, in just over 12 months.

oil and gas. While fires were burning, the Albanese government approved another coal-mine extension. In this disappointing context, we need to thank all those willing to fight fires, and we need to turn off the coal and gas tap if we want safe summers for our kids in the future.

Amy Hiller, Kew

Bondi response

Bondi was a crime. The response to it was a disgrace.

Within hours, the Liberals did what they do best: they exploited the dead.

Before the blood was dry, Liberal politicians and commentators rushed to frame Bondi in ways that advanced their preferred causes, often without evidence, sometimes in direct contradiction of emerging facts.

Words like antisemitic and Islamophobic were deployed not to describe motive, but to prevent serious inquiry and escalate fear, shut down debate, polarise communities, and convert tragedy into attempted political capital.

The same Liberals vigorously opposed an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament denouncing it as divisive, unconstitutional, and morally improper now openly entertain the idea of special legislated actions for the Jewish community. Collective representation is unacceptable when sought by Australia’s first peoples, but suddenly reasonable when it aligns with populist political convenience.

Either a nation believes in equal civic citizenship, or it does not. Selective endorsement of communal voices is not principle; it is opportunism. It corrodes social cohesion while pretending to defend it.

What was absent throughout was the language we already possess and understand: murder, racism, hate crime, criminal responsibility. These terms are legally grounded, morally clear, and socially unifying.

away from politics.

In his post, the mayor framed Groth’s resignation primarily as a reflection of broader political pressures, including a decline in the quality of debate and the impact of public scrutiny on families.

While these are important considerations, Sam Groth himself made clear that a key factor in his decision related to internal party dynamics. In his public statement, he noted that some of the pressure on his family came from within his own party and that having to “fight against your own team” made it difficult to put the interests of his constituents first.

This distinction matters.

Presenting the decision only as a response to general political conditions risks obscuring the specific internal pressures that influenced Mr Groth’s choice, which in turn can make accountability and institutional learning more difficult.

The issue is particularly relevant at the local level. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has faced challenges related to governance and internal culture.

Recent council events, including procedural restrictions on debate and motions reported in the media as targeting colleagues rather than improving governance, underline the importance of accuracy, transparency, and factual framing by public leaders.

Leaders have a responsibility to reflect on the reasons people give for stepping away, even when those reasons are uncomfortable. If accurate and transparent framing cannot be applied in public commentary about others, it raises questions about whether the same standards are upheld closer to home.

Healthy democratic institutions depend not only on respectful debate, but also on honesty, accountability, and careful communication about the underlying issues.

Anja Ottensmeyer, Mount Martha Sam Groth

I find it very sad that a man of the calibre of Sam Groth has been forced to resign from parliament due to petty back biting of some of his fellow members in the Liberal Party.

After a moderately successful career as a professional tennis player, Sam presented himself as a likely candidate for party leadership which, no doubt, made some of the old brigade feel uneasy or threatened.

This behaviour is, I believe, typical of the born to rule attitude of far too many Liberals in the higher echelons of the party and is a key element to their lack of success in recent elections. Just look at the collection of failures who now

With the glory days of summer here and many people spending their holidays at our beautiful towns, villages and beaches, our local government area is currently at position one for the number of rough sleepers in the state.

There has been a lot of talk, a lot of promises - when are we finally going to see some action? We need our fair share of housing funding and support now.

Diane McDonald, Southern Women’s Action Network facilitator

Climate and fires

Lawrence Marshall raises the issue of firebreaks (Longwood fires, Letters 13/1/26). But climate change has reduced the safe window for such burns. Between 2023 and 2025, the CFA responded to several hundred incidents each year caused by escaped burn-offs. And under extreme fire conditions, embers readily jump firebreaks. Regrettably, changes to the Australian landscape since settlement have increased fire risk. The shift from less flammable, moist forests to drier, shrub-dominated vegetation, particularly after logging or land clearing, has created more dangerous conditions, especially when combined with a warming, drying climate across southern Australia driven by climate change. Why are we still approving new fossil fuel projects?

New thinking is required. “Green firebreaks”, promoted by Greening Australia, use strategically placed, low-flammability native vegetation to increase moisture, reduce wind speeds and slow the rate of fire spread. They also deliver cobenefits by enhancing biodiversity and sequestering carbon.

Greater investment is needed in early detection and rapid suppression. Satellite imaging, drones with infrared cameras and AI-driven predictive analytics can improve the speed and accuracy of detecting fires at earliest stages. German startup OroraTech, for example, uses mini satellites in low orbit to capture thermal images day or night. Incompatible radios during the recent Walwa fire show we still have a very long way to go.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn

Bushfire sentiments

It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see your front-cover image of CFA members from the peninsula heading off to support their fellow Victorians fighting fires.

Heartwarming, because there are people in our communities willing to risk their own safety to support and help others.

Heartbreaking, because these bushfires and other extreme weather events are being supercharged by climate pollution from burning coal,

The real damage we suffer is the partisan attacks rather than a cohesive response, which become more and more Trumpistic every day.

Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach

Sanity returns

Last Monday I didn’t have to run the gauntlet,as happened since Christmas, when going to our local shops at Balnarring.

Sanity and courtesy are slowly returning to our little piece of heaven here on Westernport Bay. It’s safe again to stand and chat with the locals and not being rushed off your feet.

I know, the tourist boom is great for local businesses, but it’s nice to fall back into sleepy hollow mode.

Cheers and happy New Year to all.

Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach Barley-Charlie@almost 90

On acting: One can only do one’s best; not to be compared with other interpretations, be it critics, fellow actors or stray dogs. Others, though unlikely, may do as well, some (perish the thought) even better?

Get this right and watch your feet, firmly implanted square on the ground. But when? 60, 70, 80? The answer, eventually the reality, is a nonsense, as in comparisons are odious.

I use acting (self connection) which bye the bye, I rarely got right in over 1600 attempts (stage) and yet, it applies to all walks in our lifetime; one a wizard with a screw driver complete with a nasty cut on his hand, right or left, the other wondering as to the screwdriver’s purpose? The best example surely, the skills (or otherwise) of car drivers. Unimportant? Possibly, according to female members of my family, better than Cliffie (?) but sometimes healthy to think outside of the current three power mad circle of leaders; Putin, Trump and that Chinese chap with the smiling face, not forgetting Netanyahu and Ukraine’s little fellow up for re-election, and our bloke (Albo) scurrying for his peace flag.

Also our female federal leader perhaps (no offence) considering her true spot in life, an Anti cancer official, a female hive of activity, not to exclude a small number of insignificant males, possibly AFL Melbourne followers?

What’s that old saying “You wouldn’t be dead for quids.” OR was it from Timothy?

“The time will come when people will follow their own desires, and follow leaders who will tell them what they are itching to hear.”

PS: Still in hiding, let me know when they head back to Sin City. Happy 2026.

Cliff Ellen, Rye

Silvers Circus celebrates 50 years

IN January 2026, something extraordinary is rolling onto the Mornington Peninsula.

Silvers Circus – one of Australia’s most iconic and longest running circuses- is celebrating an incredible milestone: 50 years of setting the standard, bringing wonder and wow to adults and children alike, and being Australia’s Greatest Circus!

And there’s no better way to mark this golden anniversary than under the air-cooled comfort of our famous big

top, right here in Mornington!

The 2026 season brings a production that reflects exactly why Silvers has stood tall for 5 decades. What can you expect from them this year? Well, pure amazement, as always! Feminine acrobats defying gravity and flexibility, adrenaline driven guys who use horse power to defy logic. And Fluffy & Spike our resident dinosaurs are back to excite the little ones. Sparkle, spangles, magical moments and jaw dropping feats, everything and more

Silvers is known for. Add all that together and you have a captivating show from start to finish. They mesh the traditional with the new, honouring the classic circus magic people love while introducing fresh acts that excite today’s audiences.

Whether you’re seeking a family outing, a summer holiday memory, or a night or pure wonder, Silvers Circus delivers an experience that simply can’t be replicated. And speaking of wonder, did you know Silvers now

has its very own bar? Yep, The WunderBAR! Open in the foyer before, during and after the show. A perfect complement to your experience. Because keeping the audience comfortable is a priority, they’ve planned showtimes to dodge the summer heat and keep the experience cool from the moment you step inside. That, plus our air-cooling fans keep the temp cool and the only discomfort you’ll feel is when Mewin is flipping on The Wheel of Steel meters in the air - at

speed!

Silvers Circus will be performing at Mornington Racecourse from January 22 to February 1.

For a sneak peak of what to expect jump on our Instagram or Facebook. For showtimes and prices jump on their website silverscircus.com.au.

To purchase tickets, you have 3 options; online via Ticketmaster, call us on 0413880044, or you can always buy good seats 40 mins prior to showtime from our on-site booking office.

Sculpted Sounds Music Festival

ON Saturday, 7 March, McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery will transform into a sonic sanctuary as Sculpted Sounds debuts. This oneday festival has an impressive lineup set against native bushland and world-class sculpture.

Leading the charge is Ball Park Music, the Brisbane indie-rock icons whose latest album Like Love soared to number one on the ARIA charts in 2025. With five ARIA Top 5 albums and platinum singles under their belt, expect a set brimming with euphoric energy and heartfelt lyricism.

Sharing the spotlight is Sarah Blasko, a voice that has shaped Australian music for over two decades. Her seventh album, I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain, is a raw, poetic journey through grief and renewal. Blasko’s performance promises to be an emotional high point.

Adding soulful depth is Melbourne’s The Meltdown, masters of gospel-infused blues and timeless soul. Their upcoming release, Perseverance, delivers shimmering guitars and warm horn arrangements, a soundtrack to resilience.

For a touch of vintage charm, Queenie and Hank bring golden-age country duets into the modern era. Eloise Thetford’s honeyed tones meet Henry Wagons’ fireside baritone in harmonies that feel nostalgic yet fresh. Guiding the day is Wagons himself as Master of Ceremonies.

Sculpted Sounds is a rare chance to experience Australia’s most compelling artists in one unforgettable setting. Music lovers, this is your stage, book tickets now via mcclelland.org.au.

PUZZLE ZONE

ACROSS

1. Revise

5. Not new

7. More charming

8. Cultural pursuits

9. Fossil fuel

10. Car accident

11. Instant

13. Towards the inside of

14. Injure 18. Dwell 21. Gaffe, ... pas 22. Bravery decorations 24. Lead-in 25. Festival

26. Unconscious state

27. Subject matter

28. Become ragged

Conclude

Weaponless

Supermarket lane

Pass (law)

Paint-removing tool

Spiny creatures, sea ...

Enforced (payment)

THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE... AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

12. Scold persistently 15. Nonprofessional 16. Worry 17. Less full

19. Day before, ... of 20. Subjugate 22. Languished 23. Chopped in cubes

See page 27 for solutions.

Fools Rush In Where Angels FIFA Tread

By Stuart McCullough

I’M responsible. If only I’d said “yes” instead of “no”, things might have worked out differently for all of us. It was one of the those sliding doors moments where if I’d made a different split-second decision the world might be better off and I could have ended up as Gyneth Paltrow.

The truth is, I’ve been winning a lot of awards recently, and I’ve run out of places to put them. I can barely move from one end of the house to the other without tripping over some prize or other. That’s why, when FIFA called, offering me their inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize”, my response was a big fat “no”.

Some people – snobs mostly – have snidely suggested that FIFA has no business in giving out something like a peace prize.

Granted, their day job is to administer a sporting code, but to me it’s only natural that they should be interested in matters of international diplomacy ahead of, for example, a reasonable World Cup draw or ensuring that a bucket of chips at a match doesn’t require a second mortgage. That wasn’t my problem.

Others have complained that the creation of a FIFA Peace Prize represents an abrupt change of course, straying far from their core business. I disagree. It’s not that FIFA has made up an award out of nowhere, it’s that no-one had really done enough to deserve it before now.

FIFA has been running since 1904 and I can’t really think of anyone in the past 122 years who has done more

to deserve a FIFA Peace Prize than myself. Granted, there’s been the odd individual over the past century that’s meant well, but FIFA has earned the right to be picky. I regret saying “no”. It’s just that

there’s been so many other accolades coming my way recently that I may have overreacted. There was the “Lego Prize for Contributions to Nuclear Fusion” last July (I had to assemble the trophy with help from a

twelve-year-old. It took ages).

That was followed by the “Flora Margarine Award for Contributions to Intergalactic Harmony” and the “Hairhouse Warehouse Endowment for Mathematics”.

By the time I was given the “Red Rooster Trophy for Achievements in Advanced Puzzle Solving While Blindfolded”, I’d reached my limit.

So when FIFA reached out to me, I’d had a gutful and told them, in no uncertain terms, to get on their bike.

Having spent good money getting a trophy built, FIFA went and gave the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to someone else. When I learned who they’d ultimately chosen, I immediately wondered how many other people had rebuffed FIFA before they found someone willing to accept. I can’t be sure, but I suspect the answer to that question might be “nearly everyone”.

And so it is that President Donald J. Trump was given the trophy that I, and possibly everyone else, had rejected. He seemed overwhelmed at the presentation. Indeed, he’d reacted like someone who’d never had the thrill of getting the “Flora Margarine Award for Contributions to Intergalactic Harmony”.

The trophy, a golden globe balanced on the fingertips of disembodied hands, could politely be described as “gaudy” and, to that extent, will blend in with the décor in the Oval Office.

Rumours that the President refused to believe that the award was not made of chocolate and attempted to eat it are little more than a rabid left-wing conspiracy and those teeth

marks belong to somebody else. Probably Stephen Miller.

It’s not entirely clear whether President Trump realises that FIFA and the Nobel Committee are not the same thing. I’m semi-confident that he’s mistaken Greenland for North Korea. But a misunderstanding of that kind is nothing compared to what he thinks getting the award actually means.

When you reach the pinnacle, where can you go? Nowhere. Which is why it’s best to step back and quit while you’re ahead.

Now that President Trump has been bestowed with the ultimate accolade that is the FIFA Peace Prize, he can retire from anything that might bare the faintest resemblance to peace. Put simply, now that he has an award, there’s simply no point in being peaceful anymore.

I don’t know if there’s a FIFA War Prize, but I suspect that President Trump thinks there is and he’s committed himself to winning it. After all, what’s the point of a peace prize without a war prize to match it? Like a saltshaker without a pepper one to match, these things really ought to come in pairs.

This, I feel, accounts for what can only be described as an “overtly aggressive” start to the year. Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Denmark and the Chair of the Federal Reserve are all now part of one man’s obsession to add more silver or, perhaps “gold” ware to his trophy cabinet.

It’s going to be a long, strange year. stuart@stuartmccullough.com

Frankston Traders’ Association hold their monthly meeting

Compiled by Cameron McCullough

THE monthly meeting of the Frankston Traders’ Association was held at “The Tangerine” last night (Thursday). In the unavoidable absence of the president (Cr. J. Bradbury) the vice-president (Mr. C. J. Pope) occupied the chair. Other members, present were: Mrs. T. Marshall, Messrs. C. Meredith, L. Davis (secretary), C. Parnell, Moore, McFarlane, Royle, J. Nolan, H. Hiscock, G.Apthorpe, H. C. Barclay, and L. J. Ward.

On the right side

A balance-sheet of the recent carnival, concerts, etc., was presented by Mr. C. Meredith and proved to be very satisfactory.

The chairman stated that though perhaps the result financially was not so good as was anticipated, it had left the association with a surplus, and paved the way for better results for next year’s carnival.

The money is to be kept in a separate account, and will be called the “Foreshore Fund,” and used when necessary for the improvement of the foreshore.

A number of accounts were passed for payment, among them being an amount of 30/- to Mr. Dalrymple, who gave a week’s service in connection with the merry-go-round.

Vote to fire brigade

Mr. Apthorpe moved that a donation of £2/2/- be given to the Fire Brigade for the very active part they took in the New Year’s Eve procession. This was agreed to.

Helpers thanked It was decided to write a letter of thanks to Major Conder and also to Mr. J. D. Jennings for the arrangements made by them for the

broadcasting of Frankston from 3LO Melbourne.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. G. Apthorpe for the excellent work he had rendered to the association in organising the procession and concerts held throughout the holidays.

Delegates to conference

A letter was received from the Affiliated Suburban Traders’ Council, notifying the date of next meeting, and requesting that delegates be notified to attend same.

Messrs. Nolan and G. Apthorpe were appointed delegates.

Mr. Parnell, moved that the levy of 1/- be made on all members, to be paid to the Affiliated Council. Seconded by Mr Apthrope and carried.

Vote of sympathy

It was unanimously decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mr. Tierney, who has been an inmate of Sister Campbell’s private hospital, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Shire hall question

Mr. Pope stated that he had been following up the matter of the proposed building of new municipal chambers. He thought the ratepayers should have been consulted before the Council took the action they did, in selling old building.

Mr. Pope thought the hall was on the proper site at present, and was of opinion that it should remain there as the Shire Hall.

After further discussion the matter dropped.

Kananook Creek

Mr. Pope said that the matter of doing something to the creek was urgent. It had been recently stated that Frankston was the queen water-

ing place. If it was to remain so they would have to do something that would do away with the offensive smell that came from the creek.

There were people in Frankston during the holidays who remarked they would not visit the place again on account of the condition of the creek.

Mr. Pope said the health authorities of Melbourne should be advised and asked to take some action.

Mr. L. Davis said he understood the matter was in the hands of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission.

Mr. Royle intimated that a recent complaint had been made to the health authorities who replied that there was no danger of disease from the creek.

Rechabite conference

Two delegates were appointed to attend a meeting which is being arranged by the Shire president (Cr. Wells) to organise a welcome to the large number of delegates who are visiting Frankston to hold their Rechabite conference early in March.

Messrs. C. J. Pope and H. C. Barclay were appointed.

Best dressed window

Mr. G. Apthorpe proposed a vote of congratulation to Mr. C. J. Pope on having won the competition for the best dressed window. This was carried by acclamation.

Mr. Pope, responding, said he thought the dressing of the windows had done a lot of good.

A great number of people had spoken to him on the attractiveness of the shop windows, and said a decided improvement was noticed by them.

Mr. Pope thought the association should be congratulated on having arranged the competition.

It was reported that the winner, Mr. Thexton, who guessed the nearest number of votes received for the best dressed window, had spent the prize of £1/1/- for the benefit of the Boy Scouts who are at present at camp at Balnarring.

Traders picnic

Mr. Apthorpe suggested that before the summer months passed a traders picnic might be arranged. He thought it would be a very fine thing.

This met with the approval of the members present.

Mr. Nolan moved and Mr. Hiscock seconded that the matter be placed on the notice paper to be discussed at next meeting. Carried. ***

Frankston-Dandenong Road

The councils interested in this thoroughfare have been concerned lately in regard to its bad state of repair.

Mention was made of this road by Cr. Young at the last monthly meeting of the Cranbourne Shire Council, he stating that a great deal of the damage was caused by heavy lorry and tourist motor traffic.

At the Frankston Shire Council meeting it was agreed to co-operate with the Country Roads Board to suggest the tarring of the road. The Cranbourne Council is being asked to join in the deputation. ***

Personal

Miss Joan Grant, daughter of Mr. J. Grant, Baxter, won a full scholarship for the Central Business College recently.

Cr. J. L. Pratt is still on the sick list. His many friends will be glad to hear of his complete restoration to health.

Mr. T. Marshall, who has been spending a fortnight’s holiday at Daylesford, returned home today (Friday) after a very enjoyable trip.

Rev. W. J. Coulson, who has been appointed to the charge of the Frankston Presbyterian Church, will commence his ministry here on Sunday next.

Mrs. T. Lewis, who is residing at Elmore with one of her sons for health reasons, has been spending a holiday at Frankston. She will be returning to Elmore this week.

We are pleased to learn that Mr. W. H. Tierney, of Young Street, who has been under the care of Dr. Johnson, is much improved in health and was able to return to his home on Wednesday last.

Mr. J. Nihill, who was engineer to the Borough of Carrum for two years, has been appointed engineer to the Blackburn-Mitcham Shire.

His successor at Carrum is Mr. Harding, of Numurkah.

Her many friends will be pleased to learn that Mrs. Bell, wife of Mr. F. S. Bell, of “The Glebe,” Cranbourne Road, Frankston, who has been an inmate of Sister Campbell’s private hospital, suffering from pneumonia, was well enough to return home this week.

Miss Winnie Hallenan, who was in St. Pancras private hospital for a fortnight under the care of Dr. Maxwell, has returned home, but is still far from being well. Her many friends will be glad to learn of a decided improvement within the next day or two. ***

From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 22 January 1926

Scoreboard

Kangaroos pick up important win, Somerville in fine form

By Brodie Cowburn

PROV INCIAL

LANGWARRIN has kept their season alive with an impressive win over Red Hill, as MPCA cricket returned for 2026 with double-header action.

Red Hill hosted the Kangaroos at Red Hill Recreation Reserve in oneday cricket on Saturday. Langwarrin batted first, and looked refreshed and revitalised after the Christmas break.

After initially stumbling out of the gates to 2/10, Langwarrin took control of the game. Skipper Matthew Prosser came in and smashed 88 from 87 deliveries.

Langwarrin’s middle order was in fine form. The Kangaroos ended up scoring 8/227 from their 40 overs.

Red Hill struggled during their run chase. After a middle order collapse they were 8/96.

A late knock of 46 from 33 by Thomas Lewis helped Red Hill put a more respectable total on the scoreboard, but they still fell comfortably short of victory. Red Hill was bowled out for 162.

Half-centuries from Tom McDer-

mott and Billy Humphrey helped ladder leaders Pines grab a win over Heatherhill on Saturday.

Pines set Heatherhill a target of 194 to chase down. At 8/118 they looked in huge trouble, but a strong showing from the tail kept Heatherhill in contention.

Despite brave performances by Tyler Neal and Shaun Miller, Heatherhill was bowled out for 174. Pines won by 20 runs.

Mornington beat Dromana by 58 runs on the road last weekend. Sorrento also started 2026 with a bang, smashing Baden Powell by nine wickets. Zac Wood took 5/14 for the Sharks.

PENINSULA

SOMERVILLE have continued their winning ways in the new year, picking up a win over Balnarring on Saturday.

Somerville hosted the 40-over match last weekend. The home side batted first, and put 194 runs on the scoreboard.

Nick Mann top-scored for Somerville with an unbeaten 79 from 97 deliveries. Kiefer Peries scored 48 from 89.

Balnarring’s Xavier Warmbrunn led from the front with a knock of 60, but he didn’t get enough help from his teammates to wrap up the win. Balnarring finished their 40 overs 28 runs short of victory.

Jacob Evans was the pick of the bowlers; he took 4/40.

Mt Eliza held on for a tight win against Moorooduc last weekend.

In huge danger at 7/74, Mt Eliza ended up scoring 8/167 from their 40 overs. Reuben Higgins saved the day with a late knock of 67 not out.

Moorooduc came close to chasing down their target, but time ran out. They finished their 40 overs at 4/159, succumbing to an eight run defeat.

Skipper Liam Walsh top-scored for Moorooduc with 64.

Seaford defeated Long Island in a hard-fought contest on Saturday. Old Peninsula got the better of Rosebud.

DISTRICT

CRIB Point beat Rye in a thriller on Saturday.

Rye batted first at Crib Point Recreational Reserve, They scored 161 runs from their 40 overs - Satheesh Sivakumaran Fernandu top-scored

with 62 from 55 deliveries.

Matthew Blake bowled well for the Magpies, taking 5/35 from his eight overs.

Crib Point had to fight hard, but they eventually got over the line for a thrilling one-wicket win with just two balls left to spare.

Carrum Downs’ total of 214 was enough to beat Flinders last weekend.

Flinders hosted the match at BA Cairns Reserve. Carrum Downs batted first, scoring 214 from their 40 overs.

Gordon Waterfall hit 81 from 97 deliveries. Robert Johnston also impressed with an unbeaten 63 from 67.

Flinders came close to chasing down their target, but couldn’t get the job done. Flinders ended up at 7/198 from their 40 overs.

Main Ridge beat Boneo by three runs in a thriller on Saturday. Seaford Tigers also picked up a win on Saturday, beating Carrum by six wickets.

SUB DISTRICT

BAXTER and Tyabb continued their

strong seasons on Saturday with wins over Skye and Mt Martha respectively.

Skye Reserve hosted Skye and Baxter. After winning the toss Baxter batted first, and put 206 runs on the scoreboard.

Mark Cooper and Priyantha Kumara each scored half-centuries for Baxter. An impressive bowling effort from Trav Campbell, who took four wickets, helped keep Skye in the hunt.

Skye was bowled out for 144 in reply.

Tyabb held on for a narrow ninerun win over Mt Martha.

The Yabbies batted first, and set Mt Martha a target of 187 to score to win. Tyabb openers Sashin Dilranga and Ryan Regan scored 57 and 44 respectively to get their side off to a strong start.

Mt Martha opener Travis French hit 75 from 82, but didn’t get enough support from his batting partners. Mt Martha ended up all out for 177 after 40 overs.

Frankston YCW were nine-wicket winners over Pearcedale on Saturday. Tootgarook beat Delacombe Park by four wickets later that day.

Scoreboard

Woolf, Briggs hit local scene

SOCCER

By Craig MacKenzie

RYAN Woolf and Patrick Briggs were announced as new signings by local State 2 and State 4 clubs respectively last week.

Both have been plucked from State 5 competition last year with Woolf winning Pakenham United’s best and fairest while Briggs was an ever-present in East Bentleigh’s State 5 East championship-winning side.

Woolf has joined Peninsula Strikers while Briggs has switched to Chelsea. Strikers’ joint coaches Ross Wallis and Stephen Duffy have been forced to rebuild the senior squad after an exodus of players following the resignation of head coach Scott Morrison.

Strikers have flirted with promotion for the past few seasons but player losses this pre-season have been huge. Faraz Zenoozi, Kyron Kerr, Jamie Davidson, Stevie Elliott, Jaiden Madafferi, Ethan Goulding, Joel Bowen, Campbell Steedman, Sam Maggs, Tom Wood, Cooper Andrews, Bailey Head and Jordy May have either joined other clubs, are training with other clubs, or stopped playing.

Woolf, who plays as a central defender or right back, has a second-to-none chance to cement his spot in the new line-up and it’s one he intends to grab with both hands.

“Yes there’s a huge hole to fill and we need to bring that chemistry together quickly,” Woolf said.

Injury has played a significant part in the teenager’s career to date.

Ankle ligaments, an MCL tear, rib and groin injuries and problems with hip flexors and hamstrings have been part of his journey to Centenary Park but under the astute supervision of strength and conditioning guru Kosta Drak he’s confident that his body will be stronger than ever when the opening to the league season comes around.

Woolf won Pakenham’s best and fairest last season in remarkable circumstances.

“I’ve learnt a lot through injuries and last season I had to manage a persistent groin problem by having cortisone injections to stop the pain down my right side.

“I only played 13 games then a knee injury ended my season.”

Woolf’s football journey started off as a five-year-old at Casey Comets. When he was 11 he trialled successfully with Dandenong City and played in the club’s under-12 NPL boys’ side.

Woolf chalked up nearly 200 games with the Croatian-backed club as he rose through the age groups eventually playing in the under-18s under Dean

Woolf captained each under-age side he played with during his last four seasons at Dandenong before injury sidelined him.

When Woolf was ready to play again (after COVID and injury recovery) Alburey had moved to Pakenham and was quick to sign up his former captain.

Woolf’s switch to Strikers was facilitated by a family contact who recommended him to Duffy.

“Stephen invited me down before pre-season started and I’d heard good things about him as a coach and as a person so I went down there and ended up signing a few weeks later.”

Woolf didn’t play in Sunday’s friendly against Kingston under-23s which Strikers won 7-2 but should be available for matchplay soon.

Kingston turned up with a makeshift squad propped up by juniors and had its keeper sent off in the first half so Strikers lent one of their keepers to the visitors.

Strikers’ goals were scored by Matt Harrington (2), Riley Anderton, Laiq Haidary, Ali Noor, Jerome Valadon and Hayden Schreck.

In State 4 South-East Briggs became the fourth addition to Gus Macleod’s Chelsea squad with last week’s announcement.

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He follows the signings of Victor Cruz De Faria (from Monash University), Michael Swinnerton (Collingwood City) and Marcus Anastasiou (Somerville Eagles).

There have been losses though.

It’s likely that Adam Bartosy may step away from the game this year while Matthew O’Neill is trying out with an NPL under-23 side.

“I haven’t fully finalised my decision but I’ve got another job in the sporting industry that is the same days and nights as soccer which is frustrating,” Bartosy said.

“However that’s my career path and unfortunately I have to make a decision at some point.

“It’s only for this year so who knows what the future holds.”

Bartosy has been appointed Head of High Performance for the under-16 boys’ and girls’ program at Sandringham Dragons Football Club and head trainer for the Dragons.

Briggs started playing with Mornington’s sub-juniors but broke his leg as a nine-year-old.

When he returned he played at Mount Eliza then joined Bentleigh Greens at under-14 level before switching to Oakleigh under-16s.

His next move was to South Springvale where the then teenager made his senior debut.

“I’ve had a long history with a persistent groin injury but the last couple of seasons I’ve played the most games since turning 16 so I think I’ve got over it now,” Briggs said.

“I lost my passion for the game because my body was letting me down so much but I’ve learned to manage the groin problem with three gym sessions a week and I’m much more in control of it now.”

Briggs plays wide left and last season made 21 appearances for East Bentleigh.

Despite winning the title by a fivepoint margin there was no promotion –one of the quirks of Football Victoria’s leagues restructure – but Briggs wasn’t fazed.

“Look it was tough but we achieved what we set out to achieve and we had the best group of guys –people that I’d played with at Oakleigh, Bentleigh and South Springvale matched into one team so the chemistry was there from the start.

“Just to have that memory for everyone to look back on means a lot and winning the league was still special for us.”

Having his coach Evan Pagoulatos switch to Bentleigh United Cobras and a lack of enthusiasm for travelling to and from his Mount Eliza base to East Bentleigh prompted Briggs’ move to

the royal blues.

So did his close friendship with Chelsea midfielder Ryan Scott.

“Ryan asked me to come down and have a few sessions before Christmas and when they offered me a spot I decided to sign.

“From what I’ve seen so far there are some really good players there so hopefully we can enjoy playing together and be successful.

“I know the club has ambitions and I’d like to think we can challenge for the title.”

Still in State 4 Baxter released its preseason schedule last week.

On Saturday 7 February v. Rowville Eagles, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm; Saturday 14 February v. Mount Eliza, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm; Saturday 21 February v. Seaford Utd, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm; Saturday 28 February v. White Star Dandenong, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm; Saturday 7 March v. Casey Panthers, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm.

In State 1 South-East news Mornington released its pre-season friendlies schedule last week.

On Saturday 24 January v. Eastern Lions, Gardiner’s Creek Reserve, 10am; Wednesday 4 February v. Springvale White Eagles, Serbian Sports Centre, 7.30pm; Saturday 21 February v. Ballarat, Trekardo Park, 3pm; Friday 27 February v. Knox City, Egan Lee Reserve, 7.30pm; Friday 6 March v. Sydenham Park, Keilor Lodge Reserve, 7.30pm; Tuesday 10 March, v. Berwick City, Jack Thomas Reserve, 7pm. In State 5 South-East news Seaford United released its pre-season friendlies schedule last week:

On Thursday 22 January v. Skye Utd, 7.30pm; Saturday 31 January Wallace Plate; Saturday 7 February Pakenham Cup; Saturday 21 February v. Baxter, Baxter Park, 1pm and 3pm.

Finally Frankston Pines hosts the Billy Baldwin Memorial Day on Saturday with games starting at 11am and full bar and canteen facilities available. Pines also released its pre-season schedule last week:

On Saturday 7 February v. Rosebud, Monterey Reserve, 4pm and 6pm; Saturday 21 February v. Somerville Eagles, Monterey Reserve, 4pm and 6pm Saturday 4 March v. Lyndale Utd, Monterey Reserve, 4pm and 6pm; Saturday 14 March v. Ashburton Utd, Monterey Reserve, 4pm and 6pm.