Three years ago, Chantelle Ross lost her son Jamerson to a hit and run in Hastings. Today, she's the reason 10,000 people on the Peninsula no longer grieve alone.
Recognised as Mornington Peninsula's 2026 Citizen of the Year, Chantelle has transformed personal tragedy into something Jamerson would have been proud of – a powerful force for community healing that's reshaping how families experience loss.
"I didn't think it was survivable," Chantelle says of that day. But surrounded by family and friends, she had a realization: not everyone has that support. There were parents out there feeling the same unbearable pain, completely isolated.
So she got busy living (Jamerson's motto), now the driving force behind Projex J.
Now, through monthly support groups, annual fishing competitions giving away 100 rods to local kids, and Get Busy Living Day, Chantelle keeps her son's legacy alive while giving people hope.
It's become a village. Bereaved parents, siblings, families all helping each other carry the pain. "It's not just about Projex J supporting the community," Chantelle says. "It's about those within this club supporting one another. That's what makes me the most proud."
Projex J Support Groups (free & open to community):
- Grief Support Group: Bentons Square Community Centre, First Wednesday of each month, 5:30pm
- Bereaved Parents Together Group: Hastings Community Hub, First Monday of each month, 6pm
- Youth Grief Support Group: Hastings Community Hub, First Monday of each month, 6pm
Watch the full video below to hear Chantelle's story.
