It is fair to say 2025 packed a punch across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. From schools and courtrooms to paddocks, beaches and the council chamber, there was no shortage of heavy stories.
Through all of it, readers kept turning to STPL News for straight answers, local detail and space to talk things through. As we start the new year in one piece, here is a look back at the stories you read most on stplnews.com.au in 2025, along with one late development that could reshape Mornington Peninsula Shire in 2026: the appointment of state monitors.
A big year for tough stories close to home
A clear pattern runs through the most-read pieces of the year. Stories about the safety of children, the treatment of animals, financial abuse of older residents, serious crashes, dangerous behaviour and the way council is run all drew strong and sustained attention. These were not abstract issues. They were about real people, in familiar streets, whose lives changed in confronting ways.
1. School principal charged over child abuse material
Langwarrin Park Primary School Principal Charged with Possessing Child Abuse Material
Published: 8 February 2025
The most-read story of 2025 revealed that Langwarrin Park Primary School principal Richard Barren had been charged with possessing child abuse material. The article set out what families had been told in a letter from the Department of Education, confirmed that acting principal Deb Harrow had stepped in, and explained that many details could not be released because of the ongoing court process.
For local parents, this was a deeply unsettling story. It raised hard questions about safety, oversight and trust in a place that should be one of the safest environments children spend time in.
2. Mount Eliza horse welfare fight reaches a turning point
RSPCA and Police Raid Maxine Fraser’s Mount Eliza Property in Major Win for Community and Animals
Published: 15 March 2025
For years, locals had raised concerns about the welfare of horses in Mount Eliza. In 2025, that long-running campaign reached a key moment when RSPCA inspectors and Victoria Police raided the property of Maxine Fraser and removed animals, including a mare and foal. The story captured a sense of relief and vindication among advocates who had spent months documenting conditions, lodging complaints and pushing for action.
It became one of the year’s most shared pieces, reflecting strong community feeling around animal welfare and enforcement.
3. Landscaper jailed for fleecing a Bittern pensioner
Former Peninsula Landscaper Jailed for Fleecing Pensioner of Nearly $200,000
Published: 19 April 2025
In Bittern, a 69 year old pensioner was left almost penniless after former landscaper Jarrad Garth drained close to $200,000 from her accounts. By the time the offending was uncovered, just $39 remained.
Your response to this story showed how strongly locals feel about older residents being exploited. The report walked through the County Court sentencing and the impact on the woman’s final years, putting a human face on financial abuse that can otherwise stay hidden behind legal terms and numbers.
4. Police publish a “wanted” list for the region
Wanted on Warrant: Frankston, Mornington Peninsula and Surrounds
Published: 28 January 2025
Early in the year, a visual round up of people wanted on warrant across Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and nearby suburbs drew heavy traffic. The article brought together photographs and details released by Victoria Police and invited the public to assist by providing information.
The strong response suggested locals want practical, specific crime updates that relate directly to the streets and shopping centres they use every day.
5. Somerville Central gun scare and community anger
MUST WATCH: Community Outrage as Teens Released on Bail After Somerville Central Gun Scare
Published: 3 June 2025
At Somerville Central Shopping Centre, two teenagers using imitation firearms caused a serious scare for shoppers and staff. After they were charged and released on bail the same day, community reaction was swift and angry.
The story combined video, court details and public response. Readers engaged with questions about how imitation firearm incidents are handled, what consequences are appropriate and how safe people feel doing everyday things like buying groceries.
6. Hastings Club collapse and questions over support
Hastings Club Collapse Raises Questions Over Council Neglect
Published: 23 July 2025
For decades, the Hastings Club has been a sporting and social anchor in Western Port. Its closure and eventual collapse in 2025, after long-running delays to building repairs, hit a nerve.
The article unpacked the timeline, the impact on local clubs and groups, and the criticism directed at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s handling of the issue. It tapped into a broader concern that Western Port does not always receive the same attention as other parts of the shire, and it kept resurfacing in community conversations throughout the year.
7. Landslide destroys a home in McCrae
Landslide Destroys McCrae Home, Emergency Evacuations Ordered
Published: 12 January 2025
A landslide in McCrae early in the year destroyed a home, injured a resident and triggered evacuations and road closures. The story reported what was known at the time about the cause, the emergency response and the advice for neighbours.
It also prompted a wider discussion about slope stability, drainage, heavy rain and planning controls in hillside areas across the Peninsula.
8. Staff cuts at Mornington Peninsula Shire
Mayor Swings the Axe: 30 or More Staff Face Chopping Block
Published: 1 August 2025
Inside Mornington Peninsula Shire, a major internal restructure became one of the year’s standout governance stories. Locals wanted to know which areas might be affected, how services could change and what it said about the direction of the council under Mayor Anthony Marsh.
It was one of several pieces where readers signalled they were watching council decisions more closely than in previous years.
9. Two serious water incidents at Safety Beach
Safety Beach Not So Safe: Two Incidents in an Hour Leave Three Injured
Published: 6 January 2025
At the start of summer, two separate watercraft incidents within an hour at Safety Beach left three people injured and in hospital. The report provided a clear account of what had happened and how emergency crews responded.
It also fed into a larger pattern: strong reader interest in practical coastal safety information, especially during busy holiday periods.
10. Fatal Hastings e bike collision
E bike rider charged over fatal collision in Hastings
Published: 28 May 2025
Rounding out the top ten was coverage of a fatal collision on Frankston Flinders Road in Hastings, where local grandfather William Lothian died after being struck by an illegally modified e bike. The story detailed the charges laid against a Hastings man, including dangerous driving causing death, and highlighted growing concern about high powered, modified e bikes being used on roads and shared paths not designed for those speeds.
State intervention at Mornington Peninsula Shire: monitors appointed
Ratepayers to Foot the Bill as Mayor Claims Credit for Monitors
Published: 27 December 2025
Right at the end of the year, a major development in local governance arrived. The Victorian Government appointed municipal monitors to Mornington Peninsula Shire to scrutinise decision making, culture and processes, and to report back to the Minister for Local Government.
The move followed months of concern about staff cuts, community satisfaction, transparency and the handling of issues such as the McCrae landslide and other high profile matters. The appointment means ratepayers will fund the costs of the monitors while they are in place. It is likely to be one of the big local stories shaping 2026, as residents look for clear answers on how the council is operating and what will change.
Looking ahead, with a bit of relief
If 2025 felt heavy at times, that is because it was. The most-read stories were often the hardest: children let down, animals suffering, older residents exploited, serious crashes and major institutions under pressure.
But that is not the whole picture of the year. Alongside the tough headlines there were fundraisers launched at short notice, neighbours checking on each other, volunteers turning up in all weather, and community groups stepping in when things went wrong. Local clubs fought to keep programs alive, families rallied around people doing it tough and readers repeatedly shared information to help keep others safe and informed.
So yes, it has been a hard year across Frankston and the Peninsula. There is also some relief in knowing we made it through another one together, still standing and still asking the hard questions when they need to be asked. And as always, we will be keeping them accountable.
