Think Local Stars

A passionate foodie from a young age, owner of Ceylon Girls Café and Bar in Frankston, Angela Lord is (as labelled by the Eat Drink Mornington Peninsula Magazine) a “culinary genius in the kitchen”.
The venue’s savoury dishes and coffee, cocktails and an extensive wine list have earned the café its must-visit reputation. Sri Lankan expats travel from across Melbourne and interstate for Angela’s food, renowned for its authenticity. There’s also home delivery up to 15km, and her catering services for events big or small are in high demand.
The menu at Ceylon Girl's is a journey through Sri Lankan and Burgher culinary traditions. Angela has recently been joined in the café by her sister, Mary Anne, and brother-in-law, Susantha, a talented pastry chef specialising in street food and who helps prepare classic dishes such as crispy hoppers, string hoppers, fish and beef buns, and village meals.

https://www.ceylongirlscafe.com.au/

Pictured: Angela Lord

Another Playne Street gem, You Group Victoria are training experts delivering accredited training programs such as behaviour change, mental health first aid and alcohol and drug programs to the Frankston City community.
The team consists of like-minded professionals who have a broad range of qualifications and years of experience working in various roles across the Justice, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Community Welfare Sectors.
Owner Deb McQueen, who is dedicated to connectivity and collaboration within Frankston City, said You Group aims to reduce educational gaps.
“We are passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and skills to improve and advance their overall health and well-being.

You-Group also runs SMART recovery sessions every Tuesday for anyone in the community who would like support around changing any addictive behaviours.

Visit www.yougroup.au to find out more.

Pictured: Dan Gibb, Deb Mulqueen and Kate Hendry.

Input Fitness Health Club on Cranbourne Rd, isn't just a gym; it's a vibrant community.
Owned and operated by a local family, Input is more than just a business – they are a passionate advocate for health, wellness, and community connection.
Owner Darren said offerings are designed to empower individuals of all fitness levels to achieve their goals.
As proud residents of Frankston Darren, Lisa, Marlee and Henley are committed to contributing to the growth and vitality of their beloved neighborhood, creating a space where families can thrive, friendships can flourish, and health and happiness are at the forefront.
“Supporting independent local businesses like Input Fitness Health Club isn't just about purchasing products or services; it's about investing in the heart and soul of our community. When you choose to support local, you're not only helping to sustain livelihoods and fuel economic growth, but you're also fostering a sense of belonging and pride in your neighborhood,” Darren said.
“From creating job opportunities to preserving the unique character of our area, every dollar spent at a local business like ours makes a difference.
“By supporting us and other independent local businesses, you're not just making a purchase – you're making an investment in the vibrancy, resilience, and prosperity of Frankston and its residents. Together, let's build a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.”

Visit www.Inputfitness.com.au

Pictured: Darren Hewitt

Schipper Constructions, a family-owned and run residential construction company in Seaford, specialises in custom home renovations including, bathrooms, kitchens, decking's, extensions and more.
Their team of highly skilled builders and carpenters possess a wealth of expertise in creating bespoke interiors and exteriors that exceed clients' expectations.
From concept to completion, Schipper Constructions works closely with homeowners, architects, and designers, ensuring a collaborative approach to every project.

Visit www.schipperconstructions.com.au to find out more.

One of the longest standing hair salon’s in Frankston City, Langwarrin Design Line in Turner Road has stood the test of time when it comes to business longevity.

In May 1986, Deborah Wilson opened Langwarrin's first hairdressing salon and has continued to service the needs of her clients ever since. Including herself, she now has a team of five working at the salon; Freyja, Jess, Harmony and Lacey. A proud L’Oreal professional colour salon, Langwarrin Design Line also stocks products such as Eleven, Bondi Boost, Olaplex and L’oreal for its loyal and new customers.
Deb said she chose to have her salon in Langwarrin because she’s Langwarrin born and raised.
“I have always loved being in Langwarrin growing and changing here, creating fashionable hair throughout the trends, exploring new heights with hair and training our future hairdressers with experience so they can alsospoil members of our community,” Deb said.

Visit www.langwarrindesignline.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Deb Wilson

Whether you’re a business owner in need of support with financial growth or an individual seeking advice on work related tax deductions, TJS Accounting in Carrum Downs offers a full suite of financial services with its expert team of bookkeepers, accountants and financial planners.

And they’re all about local.
“While we service clients large and small from all over Australia, we love that the bulk of our clients live and operate their businesses locally,” says Melanie Perry, co-owner of TJS Accounting.   

“There is something special about clients being able to pop past the office on their way home from work for a cuppa and face-to-face catch up with our friendly advisors. While it can be common in the financial services industry to outsource work to offshore teams, at TJS we firmly believe in hiring locally. “
TJS believes having an on-site team with a physical presence is hugely important in gaining a better understanding of their clients’ needs, thus fostering stronger working relationships, and ultimately – better outcomes for their clients.
“Like us, our clients have either grown up or raised their own families in Frankston City. It was a natural choice to start a business here, knowing there would be such wonderful support from the local community. With an array of long-standing, successful businesses to admire in the area, it is a pleasure to see them continue to thrive.
“It is important to us that the community Think Local first, because success breeds success. If local businesses band together in support, we can continue to build Frankston up to be the place everyone travels to for the very best of what we have on offer.”

Visit www.tjsaccounting.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Tory O’Brien and Melanie Perry

Netfocus IT brings comprehensive tech solutions and networking support for Business + Home + Devices in the heart of Frankston City.
Established in 2005, Netfocus IT is led by Jason and Elizabeth McDonald who based their business operations in Frankston for the past decade, relocating to a dynamic new space at 50-52 Wells Street in September 2023.
The store is a colourful celebration of the duo’s commitment to business growth and innovation, their affiliation with the Apple brand, and a firm belief that Netfocus IT brings value to Frankston City through industry diversity and its support offering to the community.

Co-owner Elizabeth McDonald said being an Apple Authorised Service Provider and Apple Authorised Reseller is just one of the services they provide which sets them apart. 
“Our store offers fully qualified support including warranty non-warranty servicing. For Apple users within Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, our location and expertise alleviate the need for unnecessary travel beyond the district for complete tech support,” Elizabeth said.
“Our diverse qualifications also benefit business clientele, with our multi-facetted team specialising in cloud and on-premises server and networking support across integrated Microsoft and Apple platforms seamlessly.”

Visit www.netfocusit.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Jason and Elizabeth McDonald

Practice manager, turned florist, Rose from A Florist in Seaford has bunched her life experience skills together to create a humble, calm and welcoming place for the community to buy their flower arrangements and giftware.
Rose became a florist eight years ago and fast forward to early 2023 when she took over the Nepean Hwy florist. Since then she hasn't looked back and has injected her passion for customer service and connection with people plus her Business Management degree knowledge into her new florist and gift boutique.
"I work on it with a lot of passion, fresh flowers delivered every couple of days, quality is important, customer service and satisfaction is just as important, I want to make people feel they matter and they are cherished," Rose said.
Rose has lived in Frankston City for 32 years and loves being a part of the Frankston City community. "Kindness and compassion and making people's day, that's what shopping local means to me."

Visit www.afloristinseaford.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Rose Nahem

Gloform is an Electrical business and has been servicing its customers in general electrics, lighting, data and security since 2016.
Its founders Joyie and Blake Wood are passionate about business, the electrical industry and especially lighting.
Creating custom lighting designs for their customers, supporting local businesses is important to them. One example, Gloform designed and installed the lighting arrangement for the Warhammer store in the centre of Frankston.
Electricity is a modern concept and exciting, Gloform wants to help people harness it to improve their quality of life. They just want to make your electrical dreams come true!

Visit www.gloform.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Kyle Greig, Blake Wood and Joyie Wood

Proudly bought to you by Katie Tsakos, cosmetic tattooing and beauty specialist, Flawless Features is located in the heart of Seaford. Katie has been operating in Frankston City since 2017 and is passionate about her work as a trained and certified cosmetic tattoo artist, specializing in Microblading & Feather brows.
Katie is also a certified makeup artist specializing in all occasion makeup, from bridal parties, high end fashion, photo shoots or a school formal.

Katie and her team of beauty and cosmetic specialists are now also offering services such as Scalp Micropigmentation,  Brow Lamination, Lash Lifts, Facial Waxing & Tinting, Eyelash Extensions and teeth whitening, making Flawless Features a one stop shop for all your Cosmetic Tattooing and Beauty necessities.

“We love to making our clients feel fantastic and always welcome new customers with a smile,” Katie said.

Visit www.flawfeatures.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Kate Tsakos

Banks Brewing chose Seaford as the perfect home for the brewery back in 2015 for many reasons.  

Situated halfway between Melbourne and Portsea gave them the ability to service both the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne.  

But the main reason for choosing Seaford, said owner Chris, was that there was no local brewery within the Frankston municipality at the time.
“That is something we sought to change. We now offer the great people of Seaford and the surrounding suburbs their very own Local made beer and brewery,” he said.  

Since 2016 Banks has grown into a great local brewery which hosts many birthday parties, work functions and social outings and has been highly regarded within craft beer circles as one of Australia's best breweries.
They have even been ranked within the Top 10 Australian Breweries on Untappd (the world's largest beer rating platform) for the past three years, currently holding down the number six spot. 

“This we believe is due to quality and innovation being at our forefront and our main ethos. We believe in continuously perfecting our craft to make our beers the absolute best they can be and that is something that will never change. Never compromising on ingredients or process is at the heart of core values,” Chris said.

Visit www.banksbrewing.com.au to find out more.

Pictured: Banks Brewing