http://www.rotaryfrankstonsunrise.org.au/

Rotary Frankston Sunrise, 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin (2026)

15/10/2026

Working Together to Tackle Homelessness in Frankston.

Rotary Frankston Sunrise is proud to be working alongside Community Support Frankston, providing a $20,000 grant to help strengthen and grow its Ethical Housing Project Pilot.

Our club was fortunate to be joined by CSF Manager Steve Phillips, who shared insights into the incredible work being undertaken by the organisation, alongside dedicated local volunteers, to support people experiencing hardship in our community.

With homelessness and housing insecurity continuing to affect so many people in our community, initiatives like this are more important than ever. Access to safe, secure and affordable housing can be life-changing, helping people build stability, regain independence and look towards a brighter future.

We recognise the important work Community Support Frankston does to support people experiencing hardship, and we are proud to contribute to a project that aims to make a meaningful difference in addressing the housing challenges facing our local community.

While no single organisation can solve homelessness alone, by working together and investing in practical, community-led solutions, we can help create opportunities for people who need them most.

Thank you to the team at Community Support Frankston for the work you do every day to support our community.

Together, we can make a difference.

20/09/2026

Rotary Frankston Sunrise – Celebrating Jon Christie

We are thrilled to announce our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Mr Jon Christie of Frankston High School.

For the past seven years, Jon has done incredible work helping build and nurture the Frankston High School Interact program, alongside Rotary Frankston Sunrise Past President Peter Cracknell. Jon has created a wonderful opportunity for students who want to give back to their community and make a positive difference in the world. The work they have done and continue to do is phenomenal.

On Friday, approximately 50 Interactors, along with the School Principal and staff, joined us for a wonderful lunchtime presentation celebrating Jon’s contribution. The Interact Board delivered a fantastic presentation and heartfelt speech, while Peter Cracknell provided a moving citation before presenting Jon with his Paul Harris Fellowship - the highest Rotary honour.

This award is particularly significant for our Club. In the past 30 years, Rotary Frankston Sunrise has awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship to only two people outside the Club — Ritchies co-founder Fred Harrison and the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, both recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Frankston community and beyond.

Jon Christie is now our third external recipient, and he is an incredibly worthy addition to that list.

Congratulations, Jon, and thank you for your ongoing commitment to the students of Frankston High School and the wonderful work of Interact. We look forward to seeing the next generation of community leaders continue to make a difference.

Well done, Jon, and congratulations from everyone at Rotary Frankston Sunrise.

16/09/2026

When the Rotary Frankston Sunrise Foundation was established, the vision was to create a lasting source of funding that could make a meaningful difference right here in our community...this year, a $20,000 Foundation grant to Frankston Winter Shelter did exactly that.

The 2026 Winter Shelter was its busiest in five years, with 65 people receiving temporary crisis accommodation over the winter months — double the number who attended in 2025.

When Frankston Winter Shelter applied to our Community Grants program, one of its priorities was establishing an emergency night-shift team. With around 30 volunteers required each day to operate the program, an unexpected absence on an overnight shift could put that night's operation at risk.

Our $20,000 grant enabled the Shelter to put that emergency team in place — helping ensure it could remain open every scheduled night throughout a winter of unprecedented demand.

According to Lara Walton, Project Coordinator, Frankston Winter Shelter, the grant funding came at just the right time.

“It allowed us to establish an emergency night-shift team, which meant that when volunteers became unwell or were unexpectedly unavailable, we could still keep the Shelter open. In our busiest winter yet, that support made an enormous difference — not only this year, but in helping us build a more sustainable program for the future.”

And the impact continues. Remaining grant funds will help continue the emergency night-shift team in 2027 and provide First Aid Training for volunteers ahead of next year's Shelter.

Behind the Shelter is an extraordinary community effort. This winter, 168 volunteers and students contributed more than 6,000 hours — setting up beds, cooking meals, driving, staffing evening and overnight shifts, washing laundry and providing administrative support.

This is what the Rotary Frankston Sunrise Foundation was created to do — turn the generosity and fundraising efforts of our members, supporters and wider community into practical, lasting local impact.

09/09/2026

For the second year, the Rotary Frankston Sunrise Foundation is providing significant financial support to local charities through its Community Grants program, with five organisations selected for funding in 2026–27.

We’re delighted that Pets In The Park Frankston is one of this year’s recipients, receiving a $20,000 Community Grant to help provide free veterinary care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness across Frankston and surrounding areas.

The funding will help cover essential veterinary care including medications, vaccinations and parasite prevention, as well as diagnostic testing, desexing and urgent or more complex veterinary treatment when needed.

Importantly, our Community Grants program is about more than providing funding. Foundation Trustees are partnered with recipient organisations, giving us an opportunity to build relationships and see firsthand the impact of our support.

Rotarian and Foundation Trustee Ross Luxford was particularly pleased to become the Foundation’s point of contact with PITP Frankston. Ross recently visited the clinic, spending time with Dr Lucy and veterinary nurse May and seeing the volunteer team in action.

There was also a lovely personal connection — Ross already knew Lucy, as his daughter is a veterinary nurse who worked with her some years ago, and Lucy was one of the original founders of PITP Frankston 12 years ago.

For people experiencing homelessness, a companion animal can provide extraordinary comfort, connection and stability, yet accessing veterinary care can be financially out of reach. This grant will help PITP Frankston continue providing that care and keeping much-loved pets healthy and together with their people.

We’re proud that, through our Foundation, Rotary Frankston Sunrise can continue investing in organisations making a tangible difference in our local community.

Pets In The Park

02/09/2026

Today we met with Stefanie and Greg from Kindred Clubhouse. What amazing work they do for many on the Peninsula, struggling with mental health issues. Stefanie built Kindred Clubhouse clubhouse in Frankston many years ago, then moving to Hastings, to create a safe place where people living with mental illness can connect, belong and thrive. Greg shared his incredible and brave story, and is now a Kindred Clubhouse board member, helping others.

Rotary Frankston Sunrise Foundation was thrilled to be able to donate $20,000 to Kindred Clubhouse, to keep the lights on and help more people in need.

We appreciate we only play a small part, it's the people like Stefanie and Greg that do the incredible and impactful work. Thank you!

22/08/2026

Just last week our very own Warwick Smith of Breathe Hair-Frankston presented to us, detailing his exciting and ambitious plan to kayak from Tasmania to Frankston.

This is all about putting Frankston on the map for all the right reasons, promoting Mat Mirim's new feature move "Welcome to Frankston" and to raise funds for Frankston City Council's Accessible Beach program.

We had over 40 people in the room with representation from many organisations, including FCC Mayor Sue Baker and Deputy Mayor Cherie Wanat.

Big thanks to our club, and to visitors Mel Day, Dion Woodward, Jessica Merlino, Sally Syle (Gotta Love Frankston), Simone Bonella, Sukhpinder Singh, Mauro Sagginelli, Arthur Proios (E View), Alyssa and Luca (Jodie Belyea's office), Meagan and Karen (FCC) and others who joined us this morning, to raise awareness of this event.

05/08/2026

This National Homelessness Week, the Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise is proud to support the incredible work of Frankston Winter Shelter. As part of our Foundation Grants Program, in partnership with Frankston City Council, we have made a $20,000 contribution.

The growing need to support vulnerable members of our community across the Mornington Peninsula is both real and deeply concerning. Every night, too many people face the uncertainty of not having a safe, warm place to sleep.

We would like to sincerely thank Lara and the entire team at Winter Shelter for the compassion, dedication and tireless work they do to provide safety, dignity and hope to those experiencing homelessness. Their impact on our community is truly inspiring.

We hope our contribution will help provide more beds and support for those who need it most during these cold winter months. Together, through community partnerships and generosity, we can make a meaningful difference.

01/08/2026

Big thanks to members of our club Shane, Ross, JA, Jenny, Jackie and Stuart for their champion efforts demolishing some old sheds at Fusion Mornington Peninsula to make way for new accommodations.

For those not aware of the incredible work the team at Fusion do to support displaced young Australians, see https://morningtonpeninsula.fusion.org.au/

Various Rotary groups on the peninsula have been long time supporters of Fusion. We are thrilled to partner with Gemma, Cara and the team at Fusion and look forward to helping more in future.

26/06/2026

We were recently joined by the always vivacious and infectiously bubbly Charlotte, President of the Frankston Rotaract Club who came to talk to us about what's happening at their club.

It was also a great opportunity to support their initiative as part of Hair Down for Homelessness on June 3 by donating hair products (shampoo, conditioner) that the Rotaractors would then share with individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is a big issue on the Mornington Peninsula and we need to give as much support as we can.

Love to see our Rotarians getting into the swing of things by wearing a wig to show their support.

23/06/2026

We recently held our 2025-2026 Changeover Celebration Dinner where we looked back on the year that was, celebrated our successes and achievements, and acknowledged those who went above and beyond in their service.

HUGE thanks to Dave "Willow" Wilton who steered the club as President for the past two years, and a big welcome to incoming President Dr David Luiz. Willow has done an incredible job at the helm and the club has gone from strength to strength under his leadership; he was very aptly awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his efforts.

Congratulations also to David 'Macca' McKenzie for receiving the Paul Arthur "Quiet Achiever" award, Kim Michod for the Community Service Award, and Shane Thomas for Rotarian of the Year (so very well deserved).

It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and we thank the staff at Frankston RSL for their fabulous care and service on the night. Here's to another wonderful year under our new President Dr David Luiz.

Rotary Frankston Sunrise

15/10/2026

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