A food-lover’s dream hit Frankston foreshore from October 11-15 - and boy, it did not disappoint! There were squeals of delight as the delicious line-up of Melbourne’s finest food trucks was discovered and drool-worthy food enjoyed. Guests were euphoric and excited as there was so much variety on show they didn’t know where to start.

The Seaside Street Food Festival was hosted by The Food Truck Park next to the pier on the picturesque Promenade at Frankston Waterfront.  Live music and a DJ had the area alive with festivity for the enjoyment of all ages.  Guests enjoyed free entry to the event and feasted their eyes on the market stalls while they feasted on scrumptious food from all over the world.

The Food Truck Park is the home of Melbourne street food, and Frankston was ever so spoilt with this free community event in partnership with Frankston City Council and the 2017 Tourism Event Attraction Program. Crowds wined and dined on a delicious line-up of Melbourne’s finest food, twilight artists’ markets, a craft beer bar and entertainment that flowed over the five-day event.

The Food Truck Park director Frank Rusitovski was delighted to take the trucks on the road. “The food truck culture is a huge part of this city, and now we want to share the love of street food again in Frankston after the huge success in 2016. The festival has doubled its footprint and expanded with twilight markets to attract an even bigger crowd and we thank Frankston City Council again for their support.”

With spring in the air, the public enjoyed a stroll along the pier to walk off those calories after overindulging on the gastronomic delights.  People soaked up the beach vibes and the excitement of summer as they devoured shared plates with friends while planning the next truck to taste-test. The trucks gave visitors the chance to be exposed to multicultural dishes and try food out of their comfort zone.

Frankston City Mayor Brian Cunial was thrilled with the success of the Seaside Street Food Festival. “Spring is the perfect time of year to enjoy exciting outdoor events like this,” Cr Cunial said.

After their taste buds were set alight, guests sat back and watched the sunset as they enjoyed the live music.  It was a vibrant atmosphere that definitely made an impact on the locals and encouraged tourism to the area with its combination of sunshine, seaside views and street food.

Were you there too? Check out our social pictures to see if we snapped you!

Len Dawson has been creatively inclined since he was a child.  Now retired, he’s turned his passion for pets and art into a business.   So if you’re searching for a Christmas present for that special someone who has everything, don’t worry - Len’s got you covered.

Using acrylic paint, he’ll complete a portrait of your beloved pet that captures its true essence and character.  You can supply a photo if you have one that’s suitable, or for $30-$40 Len can take one himself.

Len focuses on capturing the personality traits and quirks of your pampered pooch or pussy cat so they look realistic.  “The character can be lost in a photograph, but I can add an extra twist in the mouth or a sparkle in the eye to truly capture the pet’s character.”

Your best friend preserved in a portrait is also a lovely memento for owners whose pets have moved on. “Pets don’t live as long as their owners, so it’s nice to have something to look back on.”

Len is a true artist who attended art school and channelled his artistic flair as he began working in advertising, completing general illustrations and paintings.  His portraits start at $400 and are completed in quality acrylics on stretched canvas 50cm x 70cm.

LEN DAWSON

T: 0438 892 499

E: [email protected]

The sun is well and truly out in Frankston – just as you should be if you want to enjoy the incredible line-up of exciting family activities on offer between now and into the New Year.

Our city comes alive on Saturday, November 25, for Frankston’s annual Christmas Festival of Lights from 5-10pm in Davey St. This will be the 20th year that the festival has entertained families from Frankston and beyond, and it promises to be an even more magical and memorable evening.  Santa will be making a special visit where all good boys and girls can come and meet him in Santa’s House.  Peppa Pig will also be in town to meet and greet all her many fans, and kids can try their hand at making a Christmas masterpiece inside the North Pole Children’s Activity Centre at Frankston Arts Centre and the Frankston Library, or let their hair down at Rudolph’s Children’s Zone.

Christmas tunes will fill the air from the Entertainment Stage, featuring The X Factor Australia’s Nathaniel, while the Trolls Live show will delight your little elves.  You’ll be able to pick up some wonderful Christmas gifts at the Little Beauty Christmas Market and keep up your energy levels at Gingerbread Lane Festival Dining before the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Fireworks Display delights crowds at 9.30pm. Everyone’s welcome to join in by purchasing a $3 candle from the Andrews Funeral Care marquee.

With a host of other events including Sand Sculpting Australia’s Aladdin & The Arabian Tales  exhibition (discounted early bird tickets are available during November from visitfrankston.com), Australian Beach Games, the Waterfront Festival and the Queen’s Baton Relay, Frankston’s got your calendar sorted this coming summer!

FRANKSTON EVENTS

W:  visitfrankston.com

INSTA: @frankstonevents

FB:  @frankstonevents

Frankston’s Roger Lemke will perform alongside some of opera’s brightest stars at Daytime Music + Theatre’s Christmas Spectacular at the Frankston Arts Centre next month.

Roger is one of Australia’s most successful operatic and concert artists with a career spanning more than 30 years in opera, music theatre, film and concert. He made his operatic debut in 1985 with Victoria State Opera as Schaunard in La Boheme, and with Opera Australia as Schaunard in 1986.  Roger has been a regular performer with the Australian Pops Orchestra and on nationally televised musical events.  He has performed the roles of Old Deuteronomy in Cats, and Javert in the internationally acclaimed 10th anniversary season of Les Miserables, which then toured major cities in Australia and New Zealand.

Roger appears in the ABC’s recording of Baz Luhman’s La Boheme, The Gondoliers and The Gipsy Princess, and on its Classics label. He also made his film screen debut in The Wiggles Movie.  In Frankston he is a voice teacher, vocal coach, auctioneer and adjudicator and performs as a freelance concert and operatic artist.

The Christmas Spectacular is a wonderful mix of traditional Christmas carols blended with some contemporary Christmas songs and a whole lot of laughs in between. It will be led by spectacular tenor Roy Best, international soprano Alison Jones and concert pianist Len Vorster, with Chris McKenna as MC. This will be just the ticket to conclude a magnificent year of daytime shows at the FAC.

The Christmas Spectacular is on Friday, December 8, at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Tickets are $20 and can be booked on thefac.com.au, in person at Frankston Arts Centre or by phoning 9784 1060.

FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE

A: 27-37 Davey St, Frankston

T: 9784 1060

W: thefac.com.au

Overport Park came alive with fun, magic and music during Children’s Week last month as hundreds of families attended the Community Kinders Plus Family Fun Day.

With perfect spring weather, the children were entertained with magic performances in The Dreaming Space, giant bubble workshops, singing and dancing with Hey Dee Ho, face painting, and the animal farm.  Kindergartens throughout Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula hosted hands-on activities for the children such as pot planting, sensory play, rock painting, arts and crafts.

“The day is all about promoting the importance of early childhood education,” said Jane Spencer, the chief executive of CKP, which is responsible for the management of 21 kindergartens throughout Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.  “It’s a fun day where we can showcase each of our kindergartens and talk with new families about the engaging programs we run.”

Jane said the day would not have been possible without the support of sponsors such as presenting partner Telstra Business Centre, major sponsors Modern Visual and KingSwim, along with festival sponsors Mornington Peninsula Magazine, Frankly Frankston, Jamica Photography and Hey Dee Ho Educational Services.

Former Western Bulldogs vice-president Susan Alberti (pictured) will speak at a breakfast in Frankston this month to announce a new employment initiative for young people with autism.

The Susan Alberti Breakfast, on Tuesday, October 31, is being organised by Autism Helper, an initiative of Moveplay Pty Ltd and director Ron O’Dwyer, to raise awareness of the employment challenges faced by young people with autism and to raise money for LabPRO, a new program aimed at supporting these young people to become job-ready and connect with prospective employers.

Ron played with Carlton and Collingwood in the VFL and was president of the AFL/VFL Past Players and Officials Association from 2002-2008. His commitment to supporting young people with autism is based on his own family experience of living with autism.

“Kids with autism do it tough and face disadvantage and exclusion in many parts of their lives,” Ron said. “Governments make significant contributions in providing support and services but much more needs to be done. Like all families living with autism, we know how hard you have to work at self-help.

“We’re giving kids with autism access to professional mentoring services to hone their personal and professional skills so they’re job-ready, and sending the message to all employers that young people with autism have unique strengths and abilities to make a valuable contribution to any workplace as well as their community. We want employers in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula to help us give these young people the opportunities they deserve.”

Susan, a philanthropist, businesswoman and trailblazer for the national AFL Women’s competition, will speak about her career and her passions as well as the tragic personal circumstances that inspired much of her work and philanthropy in support of medical research and services for the disadvantaged.

Helping stage the breakfast is Alan Wickes, who played with Ron at Collingwood and went on to become a player, coach and president of the Frankston Football Club.  Alan later became president of the Victorian Football Association and is the current president of not-for-profit community development organisation Proudly Frankston.

The Susan Alberti Breakfast will be held at Functions By The Bay, cnr Plowmans Place and Young St (7am for a 7.15am start); proceeds will help finance LabPRO’s launch next year. LabPRO is an extension of the Lab Network’s national mentor-based program that has helped establish more than 20 IT and computer clubs - known as Labs - around Australia, including Frankston, Mornington and Dromana, for young people with autism.  Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula will be one of three regions in Victoria to pilot LabPRO next year.

For breakfast bookings, go to autismhelper.com.au

Longbeach PLACE, a Chelsea-based community organisation, is offering an exciting opportunity for talented residents to sell their beautiful creations.

The centre is holding an open day on November 25 from 11am-3pm to celebrate Community and Philanthropic Partnerships Week. It’s a welcome opportunity for Longbeach PLACE to thank its many business and organisational partners and showcase the results of these partnerships to the community.

The centre is eager to offer free market stalls to businesses or community members to sell their unique, beautiful or handmade goods. If you have delicious treats, crafts, homewares, fragrances, body products, plants or other items that you’ve made or grown, then apply for a market stall.    

Longbeach PLACE is welcoming the entire community to the centre for the open day and will be offering a large variety of fun activities, free workshops and presentations, including soap making, knitting, drawing, creative writing, yoga, family history research and online crime prevention. Sausages, hot dogs, barrista coffee and poffertjes will be on sale and you’ll be able to indulge in some old-fashioned fun with a range of traditional carnival games such as ring toss.

To inquire about a market stall or find out more about the open day, contact Carrie Ewin at [email protected] or longbeachplace.org.au/openday  

Now this is exciting!  Australian contemporary artist Steve Salo’s work is coming to the Frankston Arts Centre from October 19 until December 9 and you’re invited.

Salo’s portraits of one of Australia’s most globally recognised and respected theatre companies, Back to Back Theatre, will be on show at the Curved Wall and is set to get hearts brimming. Best known for his emotive portraiture and landscape painting, the largely self-taught Salo has been working full-time as a painter since 2014 after losing much of his art history and materials in a fire in 2013. He has just returned from an art residency in Finland. His Back to Back Theatre Portraits are both beautifully conceived and painted. “I’ve learnt about the amazing creative projection that comes from these people; their sensitivity, fragility at times and their intense focus on their work,” he says.

Based in Geelong, Back to Back Theatre has been challenging the assumptions of what is possible in theatre for around 30 years. This is a group that believes anything is possible and continues to prove it by producing work that inspires, questions and resonates. Steve Salo’s collaboration with the ensemble has resulted in an amazing selection of portraits that reveal the actor’s and artistic director’s souls.

The Curved Wall Gallery is thrilled to show this important collection of work. Open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, and Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Entry is free.

CURVED WALL - FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE

A: 27-37 Davey St, Frankston

T: 9784 1896

W: artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au/Exhibitions_Festivals/Coming_Exhibitions/Steve_Salo

Having languished in development hell for eight years, the arrival of Stephen King’s 1986 novel It on the big screen couldn’t be more timely. Twenty-seven years after the well-received TV mini-series, It returns to haunt a new generation.

Given the source material’s 1138 pages, It is the first film in a planned duology (something last month’s ill-fated King adaptation of The Dark Tower could have greatly benefited from), which allows it plenty of room to breathe.

For the uninitiated, the film centres on seven kids in small-town Derry, Maine who dub themselves “The Losers Club” and battle an evil entity known as It, which can take the form of whatever you fear, though It is most commonly portrayed as Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård – who never appears to be given the opportunity to leave his mark on the role).

Director Andres Muschietti (Mama) shifts the story from the original ‘50s setting to the ’80s and it works like a charm, crafting a coming-of-age story (not unlike King’s Stand By Me) trading on nostalgia.

Clocking in at two hours and 15 minutes, It spends much of the film’s running time focused on The Losers Club individually facing down their biggest phobias.  These moments provide some well-timed jump scares, yet it’s the personal conflicts played out on screen which are arguably more disturbing than the more obvious horror tropes.

Despite playing to convention, It does justice to the novel’s greatest strengths, making it one of the finest King adaptations ever to grace the screen. Bring on Chapter 2!

SCOTT JACKSON Four (4) stars

Frankston Arts Centre offers regular daytime concerts for those who enjoy professional music and a quality theatre experience in one of the best performing arts venues in outer metropolitan Melbourne. These shows are aimed at more mature audiences, delivering quality performances at an affordable $20 a show, with great service, complimentary morning or afternoon tea and an optional lunch for those wanting to make a day of it to catch up with friends.

November audiences will be treated to From Broadway to Ballroom, which stars the 2015 World Dance Council Champions Emma and Rhett Salmon and seasoned opera performers Liza Beamish and Lachlan Baker. Finishing the year off is the Christmas Spectacular, with a wonderful mix of traditional Christmas carols, contemporary Christmas songs and a whole lot of laughs in between. This will be just the ticket to conclude a magnificent year of daytime shows at the FAC and the chance to book into the very popular Christmas Lunch.

The 2018 Series 1 has just been launched and will include such performers as Silvie Paladino and The Australian Ballet School as well as featuring The Pirates of Penzance, the music of Frank Sinatra and a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I with songs and stories.

To book, visit theFAC.com.au or phone 9784 1060.

Peninsula artists affected by mental health issues will have their talents showcased as part of the 2017 Mental Health Week Peninsula Art Exhibition next month.

This annual event recognises not only people who have experienced mental health issues but also their care-givers, family and friends.  Timed to coincide with Mental Health Week on October 8-14, the exhibition uses art as the medium to encourage an understanding of people who live with mental health issues.  Artistic expression can play an important role in the artists’ recovery as they express their feelings and thoughts in a manner that can be rewarding and incredibly healing.

More than 80 pieces of art are included in the exhibition across a wide range of media, including sculpture, painting, photography, drawing and film. To enhance the viewing experience, several artists have also included the inspiration behind their works to share with the audience. This creates a powerful and unique connection between the viewer and the artist and leads to a deeper understanding of the artwork.

“Creativity has given me calm and solace throughout my struggles,” says artist Annabelle Carver. “I found happiness upon every stroke of colour, guiding me to a sense of peace I never knew existed.”

Fellow artist Sherilyn Bohn adds. “I love exploring colour and the flow of lines in my art. It helps me to unfold what I am feeling inside and ‘get it out’. That acknowledgement is a step towards self-awareness and dealing with attitudes and feelings and being able to communicate them.”

The exhibition has been co-ordinated by Wellways Frankston, a leading not-for-profit mental health and disability support organisation whose services cover mental health, disability and community care and reach thousands of people every year. Its work with a diverse range of people with mental health issues and various disabilities brings about positive change. Wellways Frankston also assists them to lead fulfilling and positive lives within their communities, helping them create homes, secure jobs and build meaningful relationships.

The 2017 Mental Health Week Peninsula Art Exhibition runs from Thursday, October 5, to Saturday, October 28, at Cube 37, Frankston Arts Centre, 25-37 Davey St, Frankston. It’s open Tuesdays-Fridays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm, and entry is free.  The public is also invited to attend the Artists’ Soiree on Monday, October 9, from 6-8pm for refreshments and entertainment with the artists. Anyone interested in producing artwork or attending the soirée is asked to contact Wellways Frankston on 9784 6800. To find out more about Wellways and the services it offers, please visit wellways.org

If you could squeeze England’s grisly but great history into an hour, make it humorous and interesting and fill it with some of the country’s most colourful historical figures, would you?

Live Nation and the Birmingham Stage Company have done just that with Horrible Histories: The Best of Barmy Britain. Filled with laughs, quirky characters and quick wit, it’s a horribly funny and slightly twisted version of the history of Britain with the nasty bits left in and will be performed at Frankston Arts Centre on Sunday, September 24, at 11am.

Based on the works of Terry Deary and Neal Foster, Horrible Histories will amaze, appal and delight you as you meet the most famous, infamous and dangerous characters from British history through audience participation.  Songs, facts, funnies and farts will bring the stage alive in this acclaimed West End show.

Frankly Frankston spoke to Robin Hemmings (pictured), who plays Rex and is excited to visit Australia again. Of the play, he says, “It’s ghastly with lots of humour. Really, we’re quite removed from our history, but this is a chance to look back at it with a wink and a nudge.  The show is pretty non-stop; we run around like nutters. It’s a rollercoaster through history. It’s exciting as a performer and an audience member.”

Letting slip some juicy details about the play, Robin told us that the characters are quite insane, yet they all existed. As the show highlights the more horrible side of history, there’s even a skit on the bubonic plague, which highlights how far science has come.

Robin truly relishes his time on stage with Pip Chamberlin, who plays Queenie. “We instantly set up an onstage chemistry, which is perfect for this playful show as we really bounce off each other. We can read each other. It’s like a tennis rally; the electricity is high as balls fly back and forth.”

Henry VIII was Robin’s favourite character to play. He’s a massive historical figure and he got away with so much. However, the show takes the mickey out of him so he’s fun to play. “I got stuck into making him even more absurd.  It is a fun show to perform, but it’s challenging too.”

This introduction to history has garnered great reviews, so it’s an ideal outing for the whole family. The show is aimed at children, but adults can learn (and laugh) a lot as well. You just can’t miss Queen Victoria rapping on stage, so purchase your tickets without delay from thefac.com.au (prices $34-$39.20).

“It was 20 years ago today” - or thereabouts - that the opening notes rang out at the first Frankston Guitar Festival.  Next month guitarists from all over Australia and around the world return for the Frankston Guitar Festival 20th Anniversary Weekend.

From October 6-8, Beach 162 will host blues sliders, rock shredders, folk finger-pickers and metal power-chorders as well as guitar makers, distributors and sellers.  Among the artists performing will be ARIA award-winner Jeff Lang, bluesman Lloyd Spiegel, Jimi Hocking (Angels/Screaming Jets), Roger McLachlan (Stars/Little River Band), Mike Rudd (Spectrum/Ariel), Sam See (Sherbet/Fraternity), Glynn Mason (Chain/Ariel), Phil Manning (Chain), Shannon Bourne (Chris Wilson Band) , Lindsay Field (John Farnham), Barry Roy (Jigsaw/Normie Rowe), Brenden Mason (Madder Lake/Ariel), Mike Elrington (The Advocates), Dave Diprose (Hillbilly Radio), Rob Pappalardo (Blues Head), and Swedish jazz virtuoso Anatholi Bulkin.

For a short but exciting nine years, the Frankston Guitar Festival attracted hundreds of players from Australia and beyond.  Oz legends Tommy Emmanuel, George Golla, Phil Manning, Ross Hannaford and Slava Grigoryan performed around the city, as did the likes of Martin Taylor (UK), Tony McManus (Ireland), Dan Crary (US), Beppe Gambetta (Italy) and David Lindley.  Since its closure there have been several unsuccessful attempts to resurrect the event, so this year organisers are planninga huge party to mark the festival’s 20th anniversary, and lucky punters have a whole weekend to catch up with and hear some of these superstars of guitar.

Tickets are limited and are on sale only from Beach 162, 162 Beach St, Frankston (phone 9783 7109).  Get into the rhythm at the Friday and Saturday night shows with a three-course dinner and show option on offer in the dining area. If you’re more into dancing and snacking, there’s finger food and show tickets for Friday and Saturday nights at the Beach 162 Garden Bar, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons will see individual artists on the Garden Bar stage - and perhaps even a few special guests as well!

Follow the action on Facebook at Frankston Guitar Festival.

Are you a budding young singer, an aspiring adult performer or a senior with a passion for entertaining? Do you want to be the voice of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula 2017?  If you answered yes, you’ve got until September 29 to upload your audition video and register at themusicindustry.com.au

The Voice of Frankston is a solo artist singing competition with three categories: Junior (up to 12), Teen (13 to 20) and Adult (21 and older).  Category winners will receive a cash prize and a sensational marketing package that includes a song personally written for them, a single CD recording and video performance, an interview with RPPFM, and opportunities to perform at local community venues and events.

“The response so far has been amazing,” said Michelle from The Voice of Frankston.  “We’re expecting 200 entries so we’ve got our work cut out for us to choose the top 25.  The audition videos will be played; however, we’ll be conducting a blind audition. We’ll choose our finalists just by listening to their astounding voices.”

The semi-final is on Sunday, October 15, with the grand final on Sunday, October 22.

The Music Industry is a music school, the first of its kind on the Mornington Peninsula. The philosophy is to offer students music tuition with a difference. More at themusicindustry.com.au