Sorrento News

25/06/2025

As 60 artworks are being installed at And Gallery Australia & for Saturday’s big announcement of the winner of AUSTRALIA’S RICHEST ART PRIZE we had a sneak peak.

Everyone is welcome for the announcement at the Gallery in Morce Avenue at 2pm Saturday 28th June.

The exhibition is open to view from 28th for 10 weeks.

All artworks are for sale and entry fee to view the exhibition is $10

25/06/2025

Australia’s Richest Art Prize Launches in Sorrento – $125,000 Winner Announced This Weekend

The inaugural Sorrento Art Prize (SAP) opens this weekend with the announcement of a game-changing $125,000 cash prize – the richest art prize in the country.

From the 1200 entries 60 finalists have been selected, the Who's Who of the Australian Art world and here in Sorrento we will get the chance to view the finalists' works.

Opening this Saturday 28 June to 31 August 2025, the exhibition is showcased at & Gallery Australia in Sorrento Village.

Designed to be more than a prize, the Sorrento Art Prize (SAP) is a bold new initiative that aims to support Australian artists while driving cultural tourism to Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA, one of Australia’s most respected art historians and critics and judge for SAP.

Grishin is the author of more than 30 books, including the seminal Australian Art: A History, and over 2,000 articles, reviews and essays. He served as senior art critic for The Canberra Times for 46 years and is Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University.

While the $125,000 award will be announced at 2PM Saturday the People's Choice Award of $5,000 will be announced when votes are tallied at the end of August.

Details on website https://www.andgalleryaustralia.net/sorrento-art-prize-1

Gallery Australia

Australia’s Richest Art Prize awarding $125,000 to a worthy artist.28 June - 31 August 2025 Opening Weekend EventsThe Sorrento Art Prize opens to the public 28th June at 10.00am Tickets are $10.00 for adults and Children under 15 freeChange of Locations for our SAP events VIP Viewing and celebrati...

23/06/2025

Bone-chilling cold and dense fog were no deterrents to volunteer members from the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad taking part in a joint exercise this weekend at Lake Eppalock.
SPRS Members Dennis Manning, Jai Felenski and Scott Curtis-Griffiths braved the elements. They arrived Friday evening for a briefing at the Bendigo SES headquarters and then participated in two different rescue scenarios on Saturday.

It was a cross-training event between Marine Search and Rescue and SES with the Police and EMV (Emergency Management Victoria) also in attendance.

👏👏👏

22/06/2025

What a night!
Thousands of people enjoyed a relaxed community atmosphere last night to come together on a brisk winter’s evening and mark the shortest day of the year for the Sorrento Fire Night.
It’s the second year of the FREE event and overall organisers,mostly volunteers, did an awesome job. 👏👏🔥
Thank you for the hours that went into getting last night off the ground and the local businesses and suppliers who contributed.
It’s very easy for those who haven’t run events on such a scale to criticise the very long queues, distance to the toilets and Burnie not wanting to fully go up in flames and to those people that are bagging the event on social media maybe they can sign up next year and be part of the organising committee.
Again a big thank you to those who were part of Fire Night 2025 and for the thousands who attended 👏🔥🌟

21/06/2025

🔥🔥🔥What a day and night for it! Sorrento Fire Night on the foreshore is getting its final touches.

It’s a FREE community event.

Lots of kids entertainment and food and drink choices for everyone.

19/06/2025

Just in from the Sorrento Netball Club 👏👏👏

This week we celebrate a wonderful member of the Sharks family, Brooke Fankhauser, reaching the incredible milestone of 150 games.

Joining Sorrento in 2015 in the U17’s. For her first season, Brooke was awarded the Spirit of Sport Award on behalf of the Blue-Ribbon Foundation. This award recognised a player for their fairness, performance, sportsmanship and teamwork, a theme that has carried on throughout Brooke’s Shark years.

She was a key member of the U17’s Premiership team in 2016. Best & Fairest in C Grade for 2018. Playing C grade between 2017 - 2019, making her debut in B grade for the 2021 season and becoming an integral aspect of our B Grade team since. Receiving the B Grade Coaches award in 2022 and Captaining B Grade in 2023 and 2024. Brooke is as steady in her commitment as her contribution to the club, co-coaching D Grade in 2024.

She is the quiet achiever, the player her opponents chase but can never quite catch and is always the first to celebrate others. Brooke is there for the team above all else. Composed, agile and humble, both a person and a teammate we couldn't be prouder to be celebrating this amazing milestone with, congratulations Brooke.

18/06/2025

Details for Saturday’s big fire night!

Schedule: Entertainers and music from 4pm, Bernie is expected to be lit between 7:00-7:30

Let's get prepared!

Accomodation: Our local accommodation is selling out. Book now to lock in your stay (and for many, to save yourself the need for parking on the day).

Parking: If you are looking to drive, we highly recommend Morce Avenue. It is home to our largest single parking area, for both free and paid parking. A multi-level carpark can be found just off Morce Avenue (neat & Gallery).

Food and Drink: We have a lot more options onsite this year with a mix of savoury and sweet as well as exciting new drink options. Our local venues of Koonya Hotel, Italico and The Baths will all be open (meals can also be pre-ordered at The Baths).

Safety: Please take care around the roads and look out for your community.

Family: There are a number of additional kids activities and services this year including face-painting, braiding, glow in the dark fairy floss and neon toys.

16/06/2025

Sorrento is the home to the biggest art prize in Australia and the winner who will take home $125,000 will be known on 28th of June.

To think of all the established art awards in Australia such as the Archibald , none of them have the prize money of SAP the Sorrento Art Prize.

And Gallery Australia & has been closed to the public this week for the massive installation of the works from the 60 shortlisted artists and it’s a who’s who of the Australian art scene.

To read about the artists head to the gallery website the &And Gallery socials.

To be part of the history making event there is a gala party opening on June 28 for $80 a ticket.

10/06/2025

Portsea Polo is back in 2026 with organisers promising a world class event on Valentine’s Day Feb 14.

The Portsea Polo was cancelled in COVID and is now back after being rested for 5 years.

In 2002 the Polo began as a charity event to raise money for the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the event only attracted a few hundred spectators in its first year.

However the event began to grow, drawing in 5000 spectators in its fifth year and selling out for the first time.

The 2026 version will be a supercharged event with Portsea kicking off the international F3 Polo series globally.

To go on the wait list for tickets and to find out more click the link. https://premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=PSPOLOWAIT

And the official site https://www.portseapolo.com.au/

08/06/2025

One for the diary - the official opening Gala for the Sorrento Art Prize on June 28 from 7pm till 11:30.
Book at
www.andgalleryaustralia.net

05/06/2025

The Dominator hits the ton!

This week we celebrate one of our OGs, the steadfast goaler of our A Grade side, the Dominator as her teammates call her (and foes alike).

Domi first stepped onto the court in 2017 as an U17 player, with her consistency and poise under the ring quickly pushing her upwards, stepping up to play in A Grade in 2018.

In 2019 and 2022 she was awarded Most Improved player, a theme she has never dropped throughout her time with the Sharks, going from strength to strength every season.

In 2024 she was named Captain for our A Grade side, a well deserved title to a player who has consistently driven up and back from Melbourne each season to continue to play with us. As Captain she led the squad to their first Premiership win and not only that, she was also named as a member of MPFNL Team of the Year.

2025 has seen her return to her captainship, with her calmness in the face of immense pressure, ability to pull in even the craziest of lobs and drive to the ball, the choice was only natural.

Domi is now considered a home grown talent in both title and spirit, admired by teammates and club members alike. We couldn’t be prouder of everything she has achieved and continues to achieve in the red and white.

Congratulations on 100 games Dom 🦈

04/06/2025

Walk or donate this weekend for the babies who never made it home.

Walkers on a very special mission will pass through Sorrento front beach at 2:45 pm on their way to Portsea this Sunday and you’re invited to join.

“This Sunday 8th June, marks 6 months since we met our beautiful Billie — and almost 6 months since she took her last breath in my arms. In her honour, we’ll be walking from Rod Laver > Mornington > Portsea over two days (7th & 8th June) as part of a 100km journey raising funds and awareness for NICU families and infant loss,” says Dani Reilly

The walk came about by the dedication and drive of local Emma Ring whose nephews Sonny and Bobby were born as micro preemies at Monash Children’s NICU. Sonny is now thriving at school, while Bobby passed away at 6 months old, after a life that left an incredible mark on everyone who loved him.

The walk is for every baby who never made it home. For every family walking through the hardest days with courage and love.

If you’d like to support, you can donate via the GoFundMe (for@monashchildrenshospital NICU) or Billie’s Besties (for NICU) links below…

💛 https://billies-besties.raiselysite.com
💛 https://gofund.me/f3dda905

And of course, you’re welcome to join us — approx times below.