February 2012

SUMMER LOVIN'

We take in the sights of Mornington with TV presenter and local, Brodie Harper

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY CORMAC HANRAHAN

It's shortly after opening time and the town of Mornington is warming up to another ideal day by the bay. Along the town's sunny Main Street, traders welcome the first customers and alfresco seating areas fill up with patrons of all ages.

Among it all enjoying a morning coffee at one of her favourite spots, Café 115, looking relaxed, happy and glamorous all at once, sits model and TV personality, Brodie Harper, together with husband Heath Meldrum and their much-loved cocker spaniel, Jack.

For the past five years, as a presenter on Channel Nine's popular Postcards program, Brodie has been showing Victorians the best bits of their state, from the high country to the coast and everywhere in between.

But today, on a break from filming over the summer, she takes time out to show us why she proudly cites the town of Mornington — a little over an hour's drive south-east from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula — as her favourite place to be, and not just because it's her home turf.

"It's just so peaceful and beautiful, has great food, a great beach and really nice people. It's exactly what you want from a country town, there's a great strip of shops with everything you need without being too busy, and it's dog friendly," says Brodie.

This last point is especially important to the pair, who are unashamedly besotted by their four-legged family member. "He's so much fun, he begs us to take him surfing all the time," says Heath, who also models and is a personal trainer to V8 Super Car drivers.

The pair met almost a decade ago at a restaurant when Heath chased Brodie down the street after receiving "a number" of flirtatious smiles from her from across the room. "When she turned to go and smiled one last time like that, I thought, I've got to go over there and at least say hello," recalls Heath with a cheeky grin.

Fate has indeed been kind to Brodie, who at 19 was approached in a shopping centre by a modelling agency representative who suggested she put her natural good looks to use.

After six years modelling for print and TV, she appeared in a commercial for the Queen Victoria Market, and quite by chance again, a producer at Channel Nine saw the spot and knew immediately Brodie's effervescent personality and beaming smile would be a perfect match for Postcards.

"You get some luck but you still have to work really hard. I've always put 100% into everything I do and as long as you're positive and happy, as well as hard working, I think good things happen," she says.

Finishing our coffees, we take a stroll down Main Street, Mornington's heart and soul, and check a few of Brodie's favourite shops. First stop is Minzenmays, a third-generation jewellery store that first traded in Palestine, more than 100 years ago. Arriving in Mornington in 1948, the family business manufactures its own unique pieces, specialising in Australian pink Argyle diamonds, while also stocking exclusive labels such as Kenzo of Japan and Ole Lynggaard from Denmark.

Towards the beach-end we stop by Fiona's of Mornington, a mother/daughter-run fashion boutique that caters to a high-end market with European labels such as Hoss from Spain, Twin Set and Pianura Studio from Italy, as well as Australian designers like Moss & Spy from Sydney.

Continuing down the street — Brodie and Heath stopping at intervals to chat to friendly locals — the quiet-until-now Jack starts to get excited as we come alongside the couple's car, atop which are strapped two over-sized surf boards.

Heath explains they're stand-up paddle-boards. With Jack shaking with excitement, we continue the short distance to the real jewel in Main Street's crown, Port Phillip Bay, to give them a go. Nestled in the curve of the bay, Mornington Beach is protected from southerly winds by high cliffs at its back. Brodie paddles her craft, with Jack perched on the nose. Joined by Heath, the trio paddle about looking for stingrays, dolphins and other marine life.

While life is going swimmingly for Brodie — happy in love, work and community — she's well aware not everyone's planets are quite so well aligned, and spends much of her time helping raise the profile and funds for various charities, including Keep Australia Beautiful, the National Breast Cancer Network, and the Shane Warne Foundation.

Over the summer break from filming, Brodie and Heath don't feel the need to go too far from the bayside community they call home. When the working year kicks back into gear again, Brodie will be sticking to the formula that has so far brought much happiness and success.

"I'll just continue to live life like I always have: working hard and enjoying what I do, and just take on board whatever life throws at me because I'm blessed with an amazing opportunity and live in a wonderful place."