Mail - Lilydale Star Mail - 26th October 2021 by Star News Group

Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

Lilydale

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Lilydale crossing project update

Men’s shed builds Santa a new seat

Caravan parks flooded with bookings

Year 12 students have final hurrah

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Marijana and Jaymi from Bean Seen Cafe were excited to welcome back customers to dining in when the lockdown ended. 254880 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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For 262 days, metropolitan Melbourne faced the toughest and longest lockdown in the world, making the taste of freedom sweeter than ever. Cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as hairdressers, were the first to emerge from the stay-at-home orders, as the restrictions placed on people lifted on Friday 22 October. Yarra Ranges residents didn’t waste any time getting back to normality, making bookings for breakfast, lunch and dinner wherever they could get in. But while the excitement for patrons was obvious, cafe owners said the stress of density limits, policing vaccinations and staffing, had made the return to dining-in quite stressful. Bean Seen Cafe part owner Jason Seach said he was very happy to be open again and the response from the community was overwhelming. “As soon as the lockdown ending was announced we started getting bookings and I’m actually booked out for the next four days so that’s a positive sign,” he said. “I’m happy with it from a business point of view but it’s just the whole double vaccination thing. How we have to police that, it’s a little bit of an issue.” Mr Seach said his staff had been quite apprehensive about having to turn people away had they not been fully vaccinated. “That’s probably the hardest thing. In hindsight, I’ve just finished most of the service today (22 October) and I’d say 99 per cent of people were pretty good, which takes the pressure off a little bit. Continued page 3

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IN BRIEF Covid testing site crash

New finishing day

A traffic controller from Mooroolbark has been injured after a vehicle lost control at a Covid-19 testing site in Cranbourne. Police were called to the Thompson Road site, which is set up inside an old retail building, following reports of the crash on Monday 18 October about 5.30pm. Investigators have been told the driver of a Subaru sedan was called upon to move his car forward by one of the traffic controllers when he moved off at speed and struck the controller. The 32-year-old driver’s vehicle continued on before it crashed into the back of a Ford which crashed into a Nissan which then crashed into another Ford. It’s believed the Subaru then also spun and crashed into a Toyota in an adjacent lane. The injured man, a 22-year-old from Mooroolbark, was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm and other injuries. The Lysterfield South driver underwent a preliminary breath test and was required to attend a station where he returned an evidentiary breath test result of 0.076. Investigators are also awaiting the results of a blood test after the man returned a positive oral fluid test for drugs. He is expected to be charged at a later date with numerous traffic offences. WorkSafe are also investigating the incident.

By Mikayla van Loon After a mandated shutdown of construction and Covid-19 scares, the new dates for completion for the Lilydale and Mooroolbark level crossings have been decided. Both projects should now be finished by Wednesday 17 November, with crews working around the clock to ensure this target is reached. Level Crossing Removal Projects (LXRP) had to push the completion dates out from the original finish date of 25 October due to the two week halt placed on construction. “The project is progressing well, despite the two-week construction shutdown, and we are on track to ensure the two dangerous and congested level crossings are a thing of the past,” LXRP program director Steve Brown said. The date was further impacted by Covid-19 cases which began to appear on 15 September at the Lilydale crossing. On Thursday 14 October, more cases appeared at the level crossing removal projects but this did not interrupt work. Two workers at the Maroondah Highway and Manchester Road level crossing projects tested positive to Covid-19 but CovidSafe measures ensured those people were quickly identified to notify close contacts and carry out deep clean. “Strict CovidSafe protocols are in place at every Level Crossing Removal Project work site, in line with the Chief Health Officer’s orders. This includes the requirement that all staff working at our sites have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose,” an LXRP spokesperson said. With staff still able to keep the momentum going, works have been progressing quite rapidly and the new stations are taking shape. The new rail bridges at each site have been completed, with 92 beams lifted into place above Manchester Road and Maroondah Highway. The road has also been lowered by one metre at the Maroondah Highway project to

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A new date for completion has been announced for the Lilydale and Mooroolbark Level Crossing Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Removal Projects. 251069 ensure the appropriate clearance is met for vehicles travelling through the intersection. Visually the new stations and platforms can now be seen, with the station buildings and platform canopies installed. Crews have also installed the steel decks for the new station platforms at both sites, which when finished, will include new stairwells, lifts, lighting, and CCTV. By the time 17 November rolls around, 60,000 trees, shrubs and grasses will have also been planted at the stations. “When this project is completed the

Mooroolbark and Lilydale communities will have access to world class train station facilities with undercover areas, lifts, stairs and new open space for locals to enjoy and importantly, the two dangerous and congested level crossings will be a thing of the past,” Mr Brown said. The existing stations will remain closed and buses will continue to replace trains between Ringwood and Lilydale until Tuesday 16 November. Local road closures will also remain in place during this time and road users are asked to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

Freedom day brings ups and downs From page 1 “You just see what’s happening in Sydney and stuff like that, cafe people getting abused and all this sort of stuff but it’s been alright today.” Although still not at full capacity with current density limits, Mr Seach has a positive attitude about opening up. “It’s something. It’s a start, it’s in the right direction. I mean, we’ve got restrictions on us with the capacity that we can have, I’m still not at capacity but it’s enough to start with and it’s better than takeaway.” Many hospitality businesses also made the decision to remain takeaway only due to a lack of staff being fully vaccinated.

The confusion for the industry came after Premier Daniel Andrews announced last week at a press conference hospitality workers had to be fully vaccinated to serve fully vaccinated customers. Seville’s Branded Burgers and Bar opened on Friday and noticed a spike in walk in’s due to being one of few businesses in the area open for dining in. “We had bookings and a lot of people walking in when they saw that we were open because there was a lot of places in the valley that weren’t open,” Gina Braidner, co-owner of the business said. However Ms Braidner said they may need to close or reduce their opening hours this upcoming weekend due to a staff shortage.

“Everyone was so excited to get out, it was a huge weekend, but moving forward in all honesty, I don’t know if I can open next week because I don’t have the staff to do it,” Ms Braidner said. The restaurant is down two key workers, one due to having one vaccination and the other is unwell. “What we’re actually debating is do we just do breakfast and lunch for dining in and then close for dinner, which would be the most stupid business decision ever in in the world because dinners are a busy time - so this is what I’m up against. “If we were to close to minimize hours when would I do that? There’s no real good time.”

Yarra Ranges CIU detectives have put a call out for information regarding a theft and deception from earlier this year. On Thursday 14th January a wallet was stolen from an unlocked car parked at Lillydale Lake. A credit card from the wallet was then used to make purchases at numerous service stations in Lilydale. Detective Senior Constable Kellet is seeking the identity of two individuals who may have information about the theft. Anyone who may have information are encouraged to contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9739 2401 or if you wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or www. crimestoppersvic.com.au

Highway Patrol report It has been a busy first weekend out of lockdown on our roads for Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol, as people got back to work and enjoyed some freedoms. A 51-year-old male driver was pulled over by police on Anderson Street Lilydale, where he returned positive result for illicit drugs He is to be charged with the offence and receive a 12-month minimum loss of licence if convicted. In Bayswater, a 35-year-old male driver was detected speeding at 95 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. He received a $591 penalty notice and three-month licence suspension. A 32-year-old female driver was detected speeding at 102 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Maroondah Highway in Coldstream. She returned a positive Preliminary Breath test (PBT) for alcohol and accompanied police for an Evidentiary Breath Test (EBT) showing a result of 0.077. The driver was fined $363 and three demerit points for speed and a $545 fine, as well as a sixmonth licence suspension for drink-driving.

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Rubbish clean up comp By Mikayla van Loon

Steve Kentfield, Rob Larson and Rob Ringholt from the Croydon Men’s Shed have built a chair Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS. ready for Santa’s arrival in December. 254911

Olinda Creek is strewn with rubbish and Grant Bannister is hoping to help change Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS that. 254879

Building Santa’s seat By Mikayla van Loon The countdown to Christmas is on. It’s time to start preparing for family gatherings, gifts and where to go to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. Three men from Croydon’s Men’s Shed have been busily working away in their workshops to build a chair specifically designed for Santa when he is ready to visit us here in the Southern hemisphere. Approached by the Croydon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Steve Kentfield, Robert Larsson and Rob Ringholt have spent the last few months designing, building and painting a chair just right for Santa Claus. “We received an email from them asking if someone could help them out and that they were choosing someone to help build them a Santa chair for the Main Street Croydon,” Mr Ringholt said. Mr Larsson said the chair will be used for Main Street’s Christmas festivities in December but the chair is ready to be handed over in the next few weeks. With no real specifications, except a photo and it needing to be colourful, Mr Ringholt said the structural elements were completely up to them. “So from the picture Rob sketched something and then we had to worry about, of course, the weight distribution and where the kids are going to sit to make it safe, so it’s probably over engineered somewhat,” Mr Ringholt said. Croydon Men’s Shed takes on about three or four community projects like this one each year.

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Back to school! School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony for Badger Creek Primary School students and staff. See page 7 for more back to school excitment.

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School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy

Centre in the lead up to Christmas. Many locals far and wide were able to keep up their Christmas tradition in getting a family photo with ‘The Real Santa’ who they had grown to love. The unlikely tandem tallied upwards of $30,000 from their family Christmas photos and then selected four charities to each receive

$8400 to help make the lives of children better. The four recipients of the funds included: Backpacks 4 Vic Kids, A Better Life For Foster Kids, HeartKids and Chum Creek’s Good Life Farm. The organisations shared how the funds had already been put to good use. Backpacks 4 Vic Kids CEO and founder Sally Beard told Star Mail the donation came as a “delightful surprise”.

“We’re very, very grateful on behalf of the children, whose lives that it will impact,” she said. “We have absolutely put that money to good use.” Ms Beard shared that the $8400 donation from Branded is aiding 112 children in need with care packs filled with toiletries, spare changes of clothes, a toy and more. Continued page 2 12477022-SN06-21

It’s February, but Santa Claus’ gifts keep on coming for several charity organisations who benefited from a partnership between Saint Nick and Seville’s Branded Burger Bar. The burger bar came to the rescue when they partnered with Santa, who had seen his role replaced at Chirnside Park Shopping

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“It’s the projects like this that make it a lot more fun, we’ve all got our own ideas or things we want to do in the shed but when things like this come along, it’s a bit extra, so you’ve given something back,” Mr Kentfield said. Mr Ringholt said the Men’s Shed is always up for a challenge and are happy to offer their services to community organisations. “I’m sure lots more things would come along if local communities and so on knew that the Sheds can do this kind of stuff, rather than maybe going to professional carpenters and paying full rate for it,” Mr Kentfield said. One of the ongoing community projects Croydon Men’s Shed undertakes each year is building the baby coffins for Red Nose Australia and SIDS Treasured Babies in Mooroolbark. Mr Ringholt said members make about 45 boxes a month or around 500 a year which are then distributed across Australia. “We make the boxes and paint them and then this group of ladies in Mooroolbark fit them out with a bit of bedding and clothing and what have you. So we are heavily involved in that,” Mr Larsson said. “We’ve managed to do that in lockdown. We’ve got members in Croydon North and Lilydale that cut them all up and make them and then we’ve got a member that’s out in Coldstream that has been painting them.” Mr Larsson and Mr Ringholt agreed they have never turned down a job when it involved a community in need. “Because of Rob and the rest of the committee and some of the guys, if we can put stuff back into the community, we will do,” Mr Larsson said.

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“One of our things with the kids is not just karate, we teach respect and we also teach how to look after things,” Mr Bannister said. The competition is an extension of that teaching and Mr Bannister said taking rubbish home or picking up rubbish is a small but important step to ensure the environment and creeks remain healthy. “One thing that really worries me is the amount of plastic going into our seas. Now, that all comes from us and if all the shires got together, we could stop a lot of the plastic going down the Yarra which would be fantastic. “I went walking yesterday and I could see bits of junk floating down [Olinda] Creek. And I thought it’s just little bits people throw [in the creek], even if it’s a little bit just take it home, it’s not a hard thing to do.”

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Seeing an ever growing rubbish problem around Lilydale, Grant Bannister decided to do something about it. Although, he didn’t think he could do it alone and so he put the call out to his Bukido Karate family to spread the word about a rubbish clean up competition. “I do quite a bit of walking, not just around the lake but other streets as well and I’m so sick of seeing all the bits of plastic, we do pick up a lot ourselves and there’s some amazing groups of people who walk around and pick up rubbish,” he said. “I thought well this is going to be a good idea, I’ll do this but I have to make it worthwhile for people to do it so that’s why we settled on the $500.” Anyone from the Yarra Ranges can enter by submitting a minute long video of themselves picking up rubbish and disposing of it in the correct manner. The videos need to be shared on Facebook using the hashtag #bukidocleaninguptheyarraranges and entrants also need to fill out a form by going to the Bukido Karate website’s competition tab. Mr Bannister said the competition will run until December and Yarra Ranges Councillor Tim Heenan is on board to draw the winner. “He said he’d do the final judging for us. If we get quite a few, we’ll get it down to about five or 10 that he can look at and he can make the final judgement.” While 75 per cent of the students at Bukido Karate are children, Mr Bannister said he hopes people of all ages get involved, particularly people outside the karate circle. Part of Japanese martial arts culture requires students to ensure the dojo or the space they practice karate is clean before starting class.

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Pine Hill Caravan Park park manager Darren Milner is excited to see it full of people as bookings role in. 254877 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

There’s so much to do in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges that it’s hard to pick which way to go first. 254877

Caravan parks booked up By Mikayla van Loon The itch to get away from home after months of lockdowns and restrictions has seen local caravan parks filling up with bookings for the weekends ahead. With lockdown coming to an end on Thursday 21 October at 11.59pm, Lilydale’s Pine Hill Caravan Park business manager Sruthy said calls started as soon as the announcement was made. “We are getting a lot of bookings. As soon as Dan informed us that you can open up then we started getting flooded with bookings,” she said. Yarra Ranges Tourism CEO Simon O’Callaghan said this was a theme across the shire. “Phones have been ringing off the hook for

accommodation and attractions which is fantastic news for the region,” he said. Although many places have already booked out for the weekends ahead, Simon said some will remain closed until the 80 per cent vaccination rate is reached because due to staffing and costs, it would not be viable for them to open yet. While Pine Hill’s bookings are mostly for the Melbourne Cup weekend, Sruthy said there have been a couple come through for the first weekend out of lockdown. From Friday 29 October onwards, many of the cabins, powered and non-powered sites are booked out and Sruthy cannot wait to see the park buzzing with people once again. “We are very much looking forward to it and we will be really excited to see the whole park booked out,” she said.

Sruthy also said she is excited to show off the many improvements that have been made to the caravan park. “We’ve set up a playground area for kids to play in which we didn’t have before. So that’s all ready for the kids to start playing. “And then we’re getting the information center put in so Sue [marketing manager] will be giving information to people who want more information about what things are around the Yarra Valley.” With interstate and even regional travel on the backburner for some time still, travel within metropolitan areas is the only option. Simon said the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges have so much to offer people and he hopes people flock to these areas as an escape from being at home. Having suffered some of the biggest losses

in the state off the back of a record year in 2019, the Yarra Ranges tourism sector is eager to see visitors return, to experience the beauty and culture of the region. Simon said however, it will take some time for businesses to recoup funds and build back up to the 2019 level but businesses are “desperate to get back” after what has been quite a mentally tolling time. Pine Hill Caravan Park has been preparing for the summer season by building 10 more cabins which should be ready from the end of January or early February. “Summer is our busy season and last summer it wasn’t that busy because we had Covid, so this summer we’re really looking forward to getting people in,” Sruthy said. “All of a sudden, after all this time, we’re just getting bookings through, it’s really good.”

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Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

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The Wiggles even made an appearance for the MLMC students last day of school.

Nerves and excitement had started to settle in for many of the students as they head into exams.

Celebrating the final day of learning was best spent with friends.

End of a schooling era By Mikayla van Loon The end of is nearing closer and closer for the class of 2021 and even though they only just returned to on campus learning, Year 12 students celebrated their final day at school last week. Mount Lilydale Mercy College (MLMC) students had a day of fun and reflection on Tuesday 19 October to mark the last official day of learning before heading into exams. To make it as memorable as possible, students dressed up, had award presentations, fun activities and a long lunch. But the best part for most students was being able to share those celebrations with their friends. “It’s been good to be on campus today as obviously this year and last year we have been at home a lot so it’s really good for everyone to be able to spend their final day on campus,” Mitch said. “I am really happy to spend the last day of school on campus because it has given me the opportunity to thank my friends and my teachers for all they have done for me,” Andre said. Charlotte and Shae said seeing their friends again and celebrating together made the day all the more enjoyable. Although it was essentially the last day of school, Shae said in the lead up to exams she would be going to campus to study. “I am a little bit worried about my exams but I feel my teachers have prepared me so it is just about getting them over with at this stage,” she said. Mitch also said he was feeling a little anxious about his exams but hoped his preparations would be enough to carry him through. “I am feeling a bit stressed about my exams but they should be fine because I have been doing a lot of practice exams and will continue to do that,” he said. Six years of schooling has led to this and whilst the nerves have settled in for some, others are excited to get started on their exams 6 MAIL

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Costumes were essential for the final day celebrations and these students went all out. beginning with English on Wednesday 27 October. “I am feeling quite confident about my exams, I am not in a state of stress and I feel excited and ready to take them on as all our education has led to this,” Andre said. “My preparation will be mainly doing prac-

tice exams and getting feedback from my teachers.” Even though these Year 12 students have been on a rollercoaster ride for the last two years of their schooling life, there is no doubt they have handled it with resilience and grace. MLMC principal Philip Morrison said he

Pictures: SUPPLIED was so proud of the achievements of the 2021 class and knows they will go on to do great things. “As the class of 2021 leave us today, we know that they are ready and they will impact the world with their gifts, talents and service,” he said. mailcommunity.com.au

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Keeping fruit fly at bay By Renee Wood The Yarra Valley’s defence against Queensland Fruit Fly has been bolstered following the State Government’s announcement it will be putting millions into fighting the pest. The Yarra Valley action group is one of three who will share in $2.9 million worth of grants part of the government’s Fruit Fly Strategy 2021-25 which was developed with industry and is set to empower the community. Agriculture minister Mary-Anne Thomas said she looks forward to seeing how the grants will support regional fruit fly coordinators on the ground to manage the pest.

“Fruit fly can build up in home gardens and unmanaged lands, leading to problems on productive farms – that’s why we are empowering industry and local communities to lead the management of Queensland fruit fly,” she said. Kylie Ammerlaan from Yarra Valley Agriculture said they will receive almost $1.6 million to support the regional coordinator and the delivery of the strategy for the next two years. “It includes fruit flies surveillance and central trapping projects, workshops and information sessions with schools industry, not for profit organizations, local government, and the general community as well as growers, where fruit fly protections are identified,”

Ms Ammerlann said. Ms Ammerlann said thankfully the pest isn’t endemic to the region and up until recently the Yarra Valley has been fruit fly free but hot spots have been found near Healesville Warburton and Silvan. “I would say the numbers have been pretty stable the last couple of years. We have noticed them popping up in different spots but the response has been good and we’ve been able to manage the outbreaks really quickly and we haven’t had reoccurring events.” New projects will commence in the new year part of the new strategy, including removing unwanted fruit trees on public land and pi-

loting a method for an on farm waste management system to test in a commercial setting. The regional coordinator will continue working with the community, with residents and landholder’s participation paramount to the success of keeping fruit fly out. “Workshops with community groups, gardening groups, some men sheds - those really ground level programs and permaculture groups.” “We really tried to get the message taken up by community because obviously communities are a big part of trying to manage fruit fly, we can’t do it without everybody doing taking a part in surveillance program.”

Crowds to return to Healesville racing By Renee Wood Healesville Racing Club is getting ready for a summer filled with crowds now restrictions have eased on the state. The club has announced the picnic race meet marked for November 20 will go ahead with more events to follow for the season. Club secretary Chris Young said he’s looking forward to having crowds back trackside. “Having lost the first Derby Day meeting, it will be nice to welcome crowds back,” Chris Young said. The club is still waiting on the final information to come through for the Covid safe policies but currently it believes the event will go ahead under tier two public event restrictions. “All patrons will need to be double vaxed and QR check-ins as normal. I’m not sure of densities but regardless whether it is 1 person

per square metre or four square metres - either will be fine at Healesville with the size of the course. “ “For the November 20 meeting, patrons will be separated from the racing industry bubble side but we believe meetings after that will be as per last season.” A crowd of around 1500 is expected for the event, with marquees, umbrellas and general entry available. The last event held by the club was The Golden Thong at the end of March and its Derby Day event on October 30 was scratched. The next key dates after the November meet will be December 11, January 8 and 30 2022 and March 26 2022. Mr Young said the region will see many economic benefits from crowds returning to the not-for-profit club. “It’s pretty well impossible to get accommodation in the local area on the weekends

we race, taken up by race attendees. Likewise all the hotels and restaurants have very good trade on the Saturday night after the races and of course the wineries and the RACV Club look forward to increased patronage on the race weekends.” “We use a local caterer Essential for all on course catering plus several local food trucks. Also the likes of Rotary, who do our parking as a paid gig, several of the local footy clubs who often run raffles and every year we support many local not for profit groups financially with donations.” And it’s just in time for the festive season with clubs and businesses gearing up for the annual Christmas celebrations trackside. “Many footy clubs hold their sponsors days and fundraising events at the races (we help out with subsidised entrys etc) and of course the big one is the December 11 meeting for Christmas parties and bucks and hens parties always very popular at Healesville.”

Crowds will be trackside at Healesville Racing Club’s next meet on November 20. Picture: ON FILE

We’re getting ready for summer. We all have a part to play in keeping communities safe this bushfire season.

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What you can do: Visit the Yarra Valley Seasonal Employment Hub and discover the wide variety of opportunities available in the area.

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MAIL 7

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Creatives share on film By Renee Wood The Covid-19 pandemic has left its mark on the history books, remembered for its upheaval of society and changes to daily life. The creative sector has been one of the biggest hit, faced with closed events, limiting community connections and a large move towards an online way of life. But there has been times of opportunity and growth, with artists drawing on their creativity and natural surroundings to find strength and perseverance - and this is the story that’s being told through a new documentary about creative women in the Yarra Ranges. Director Pearley Jones set out to archive this moment in time for creative women through a documentary, a project supported by the Yarra Ranges Council. Now after months of filming and editing, the live launch of ‘Women Artists Documentary : Creative Ladies in the Hills and Valleys’ will be held on Wednesday 27 October. Ms Jones said she’s excited to be sharing the film with the broader community. “It’s been such a great team effort, we’ve had such wonderful artists participate in this project, and have also had a wonderful collaborative and if the watch for we need to share this, and we need to celebrate the story in collaboration with Yarra Ranges Councillors who have supported it with funding,” Ms Jones said. Videographer Vanessa White worked with the director to capture five women and their stories - Alana Langan a Designer Stylist from Upwey, Clair Bremner an artist from Warburton, Nikki Browne an artist from Healesville, Claire Murray an floral designer from Belgrave and Ilana Greener an illustrator from Sherbrooke. “My vision for the documentary was to archive local artists experience of lockdown. I wanted to showcase raw talent because art-

Alana Langan filming with Vanessa White and Pearley Jones for the upcoming documentary on creative women from the Yarra Ranges. Picture: SUPPLIED ists have been negatively impacted by lockdowns and in the Covid experience and I also wanted to showcase the beautiful area that we live in.” But the documentary’s path also leads down a place of wellbeing and hopes to invites viewers to nurture their creativity. “I’m encouraging people to consider their

own well being. That’s by investing in creativity, social connection in local communities, and also with nature, or other things that they love. There could be animals, it could be unique hobbies. But there are many ways you can create a life of happiness, even if that’s online at the moment, by considering your well being and giving it a priority.”

Ridgefield is a country garden of about 1.2ha bordering a vineyard with beautiful views in all directions.

“I would encourage all people to embrace creativity, to express themselves, to self soothe, and to find joy. It’s not just an escape, I think it’s a genuine expression of your feelings and emotion and it’s an opportunity to connect with other people and share your talents and your voice with other people.” Upwey resident Alana Langan was filmed for the story and shared her story as a creative designer within her business Ivy Muse. “It’s the silver lining, having something come from the pandemic that’s beautiful and hopefully sharing our work inspires other people and also normalises how we all felt through the pandemic as well. I think it’s a really beneficial reason to do something like this documentary,” Ms Langan said. In the film, Ms Langan dives into how her family fed gratitude into their daily rituals and ‘just keep swimming’ became a mantra to live by. “It’s super hard and it sucks, and sometimes you just want to go out and just have a normal life again, but it’s focusing on really being grateful one day at a time that got us through.” Each of the five creative stars also addressed where they live and how nature and the Yarra Ranges plays a vital role in their work. “Writing my recent book, it was all about cultivating well being at home with plants and it really is an expression of so much of what I have experienced here living in the hills. “It’s about being able to have windows that you can see through clearly that you don’t have any furniture or any objects in the way so you can enjoy that view - it’s all of that kind of stuff that’s connected with nature and what your environment is around you, as well as connecting with plants indoors.” The documentary will be available through the live launch on Instagram handle @pearleyjones on Wednesday 27 October at 6.30pm.

Bentwood is an interpretation of a modern country garden that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and has been created by its owners over the past 16 years. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Green thumbs to enjoy Victorian open garden events By Renee Wood Although you may have had months of potentially pottering around in your own gardens, there’s still nothing quite like visiting an open garden and drawing inspiration from magnificent displays created by green thumbs. Now for all local garden gurus can return to events, with Open Gardens Victoria announcing its return as restrictions ease on outside gatherings. Chair Liz Fazio said the organisation is very excited for its long-awaited return, holding events through to December. “It’s been a long pause for us, we stopped opening in March 2020. We have had a few that we managed to open in the autumn season this year but we’ve had so many sort of false starts,” Ms Fazio said. Two gardens in the Yarra Valley will be some of the first to be showcased November 6 and 7 at Ridgefield in Coldstream and Bent8 MAIL

Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

wood in Gruyere. “I think particularly when we’ve all being waiting for each other’s company, it’s going to be a lovely way of being outside together.” Visitors to Ridgefield are invited to stop and smell the roses, with 450 bushes to take in on the property. There’s also structural elements, a birch walk down to the crab apple lawn and views to get lost in are other features of the garden that was originally designed by Robert Boyle in 1997. “The whole ethos of the design was to preserve the views as much as possible, but give some windbreaks to the garden because it is quite a windy site. “Deep beds filled with shrubs and drought tolerant perennials surround the house and a series of Mediterranean.” On the same weekend, Bentwood in Gruyere will also be open to the public. The owners have developed the property into a gardeners wonderland since taking

ownership of the hundred year old home in 2000. ‘It’s a garden that reflects the owners taste so it’s been influenced by gardens they’ve visited in Australia and overseas, they lived overseas for a while. “It gets very wet in winter and very dry in summer, it hasn’t got lots of additional water so they’ve managed to do well by building up the soil and by choosing plants that will do well. It uses hedges for framing the landscapes and it’s got lots of different sorts of hedges.” Low maintenance, soil health and plant choice all important to the owner - recycled structures and sculptures also add to the atmosphere of the garden. An art exhibition and a beekeepers talk will be held at Bentwood and there’s also a micro flower farm tucked away in the paddock visitors can admire. Until the gardens open, there’s still plenty of online content on the Open Gardens website, the organisation kept busy through the

lockdowns by bolstering its online presence. “I’ve actually been quite amazed that for a voluntary organisation, we’ve managed to do lots of things in the meanwhile. “We’ve done online things like having competitions, plant of the month, we introduced the kids corner and last year we did a whole series of virtual garden tools, which were absolutely fantastic.” The new form of online education could take on a new life within the organisation after the pandemic. “So that’s going to be an ongoing part of our program and it’s got the benefits that people who might not be able to get to an open garden can go online and get taught gardening skills, so it’s just another string to our bow and we see it as an ongoing important part of the program.” For those attending the open gardens, please visit https://opengardensvictoria.org. au/coming-open-gardens to find out more about tickets and state requirements. mailcommunity.com.au

OPINION

Working on a Will Making a Will might be something you haven’t given much thought to, but it is one of the most important things we can do to protect the people and possessions we care about. It is estimated that more than half of all Australians do not have a current and valid Will that reflects their wishes. People without a Will are leaving themselves and their families at risk of significant unintended problems later. For example, quirks in the law could mean that assets of couples without children will not be divided evenly between their surviving family members or that family members who have greater needs are not properly provided for. At the very least, it can mean that difficult financial and legal issues need to be discussed and negotiated by close family members during a time of grief and sadness. A Will gives you the chance to make decisions about things that are important to you. This could include your wishes around the guardianship of children, care of pets, who will

Legal

matters Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre receive sentimental items and funeral instructions. It also offers you a chance to have important conversations with people about these issues. Whilst there are resources like Will kits available, they can be difficult to complete accurately, and at the very least should be checked by a lawyer to make sure they are valid. You can contact Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) for referrals to appropri-

ate professional services. If you already have a Will, it is worth checking it every now and again to make sure it still reflects your wishes and accounts for any significant changes in relationships, new family members, or changes in assets. Locals can also find out more at Eastern Community Legal Centre’s free event with Eastern Regional Libraries online at 2-3:30pm Monday 22 November. The session will include other aspects of future planning including powers of attorney. Book now at www. tinyurl.com/planningyourfuturewithECLC or by phoning 1300 737 277. During this time of social distancing, ECLC continues to offer free legal, social and financial assistance by telephone and video call to people living in the eastern region of Melbourne, including across the Yarra Ranges. Please call 1300 3252 00 (1300 ECLC 00) or email eclc@eclc.org.au to find out how we can assist you.

CARTOON

Hidden gem of a theatre Kemp’s curtain call Like many other community theatres, in 2013 a group of theatre friends got together to agree on a type of theatre they would like to have in the Lilydale area, forming ARK Theatre Inc. They were offered a chance to present a show at the Lilydale Heights College Performing Arts Centre. A remarkable centre with one of the largest stages width wise in the local theatre circuit. This can lead to some difficulties but Ark soon overcame these little problems. The company produces a variety of productions ranging from radio plays, pantomime, one act plays, short play festivals, musicals, cabaret style shows as well as traditional theatre. As the theatre is part of the school, rehearsals can be held twice a week but sets and plays can only be put on during school holidays. Each year Ark Theatre holds a One Act Play Festival. This is well attended with companies from across Victoria putting on shows. Your correspondent has had the privilege of attending these shows and thoroughly enjoyed them. Ark Theatre began with Mission Statement and a set of values which is underlying and paramount to the unique nature of Ark Theatre. Two younger members got together and founded YouthARK and have produced several successful productions. Although the theatre is relatively new the members are all experienced in local theatre and the company is certainly one not to be missed. The theatre has a good foyer and a bar as you enter. In the Festivals this is very popular and also food is available. You are welcomed by the front of house staff on entry, and this makes a great feeling to be welcomed and to enjoy the overall evening. Of course, Ark Theatre, like all local theatres, is subject to Covid-19 lockdown so watch this column for news on the company reopening. mailcommunity.com.au

Vampire movie sucked dry Night Teeth Starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan and Lucy Fry Rated MA15+ Night Teeth is a bland, toothless horror-thriller. Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), a student and chauffeur, must drive two vampire women around Los Angeles. Night Teeth has solid performances, Benny grows more bold and assertive as the night progresses, and he has a touching bond with Blaire (Debby Ryan), the kinder of the two vampires. However, this bond is offset by the unavoidable fact of both vampires – not just Zoe (Lucy Fry), the cruel one – being murderous monsters. Like Bright, a Netflix urban fantasy film from 2017, Night Teeth has extremely vague world-building. The plot is driven by a nebulous conflict between humans and vampires, but the broken truce, the supernatural social structure and even the villain’s plans are incredibly poorly-defined. A bad script, limp suspense and lazy worldbuilding can be forgiven in a B-movie if it has good action, but Night Teeth has hardly any action scenes whatsoever. For that matter, the only decent fight scene is moronically shown in the background of the scene. Alfie Allen leaves no impression as the blandly posh main villain, and Night Teeth updates the traditionally aristocratic portrayal of vampires in popular culture with a tacky neon party aesthetic. Night Teeth is available for streaming on Netflix, but you deserve a scarier, better-made horror movie for Halloween. - Seth Lukas Hynes

All about storytelling and healing PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN Written by renowned Indigenous Australian storyteller Boori Monty Pryor and beautifully illustrated by Rita Sinclair, Story Doctors is about storytelling as a way of healing. Not just to heal relations between peoples and communities, but also our relations with ourselves. Pryor had a long career communicating Indigenous Australian culture to school students and adult groups throughout Australia. He performed dances, played didgeridoo, told stories and even acted in film and television, before turning to writing books. Many know of Pryor’s Shake a Leg, a celebration of food, dance and cultural understanding that won the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Children’s Fiction. Others know him as the creator, writer and narrator of Wrong Kind of Black, the Australian web/TV show nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Short Form Series in 2019. But Pryor is also the inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate. His transition from storytelling, performing and dancing to writing is noteworthy, as he believes written words are meant to convey the wise voices of nature and culture, Stories are meant to heal. Hence “Story Doctors”: “The pharmacies abound, above and underground, green shoots so small, to trees so tall. Helps breathe in all our glories, the medicines in our stories. That stony face, our storied place.” Our land is full of stories. The “nature vs. nurture” debate aside, reader are encouraged to “drink the stories through your eyes” by observing the rhythms and rhymes of this land. Not just today’s beats and tones, but also yesterday’s melodies and hymns. The colourful illustrations reveal how the ancient hills and sparkling creeks were turned into endless pastures grazed by livestock and scarred by fences and chains. There’s a hint of a name “King Billy”, which may refer to Jimmy Clements, an Indigenous elder from the Wiradjuri tribe who walked for nearly a week from Gundagai to Canberra to attend the opening of the Provisional Parliament House in 1927. When told to “move on” by police, Clements explained he was there to demonstrate his “sovereign rights to the Federal Territory”. It was the first recorded instance of Aboriginal protest at the Parliament. Or, “King Billy” may refer to William Lanne, the last “full-blood” Indigenous Tasmanian. After his death in 1869, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal Society of Tasmania fought over possession of Lanne’s remains. A local surgeon named William Crowther broke into the morgue and decapitated the corpse, before sending Lanne’s skull to London “for scientific purposes”. To make a long story short, Crowther later became Premier of Tasmania. But surely these stories are not the focus of Story Doctors, because: “Doctor’s orders, there are no borders. When it comes to we as one, belonging’s said and done... Our future is the past. Will learning from it last?” Our task is to learn from the past and create positive visions for the future, because stories are meant to heal. Rather than building walls and widening gaps, stories are all about respect for ourselves and each other. Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

MAIL 9

THE LOWDOWN Q&A

10 MAIL

Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

Pearley Jones is the director of a new documentary focussed on creative women in the Yarra Ranges. What is something people don’t know about you? I am a Francophile. I love French arts, culture and heritage. I am slowly learning the French language, and plan to visit France next year. Tell us about your role as a director? As a director creating new works, you need to have a cool head, warm heart and a sense of humour – as there will always be hiccups while filming and in post production – but somehow with a team approach, problem solving and listening to your intuition, it all comes together in the end. What has been your most memorable moment in your time in your role? Why? In 2020, I was awarded a residency at a chateau in Normandy, France, for my original song submission called The Chateau. Winning a creative competition on the international stage affirmed my commitment to an artistic career. It has encouraged me to share more music, stories and film, which invoke joy, hope and connection in the lives of others. What do you love most about living in the region? I love the people. They are warm, friendly, kind, generous and laid back. I enjoy the arts scene, local markets and our quaint cafes, eateries and shops. The natural beauty all around – forests, lakes, farms, orchards and more – also make it a delight to live in this ‘neck of the woods’. How are you keeping sane during lockdowns? My daily walk immerses me in nature, and provides a space to think, pray and relax. Maintaining social connections with family, friends and neighbours – over the phone, the ‘fence’ or the internet – also helps to nurture and sustain a positive mindset. What are some of your hobbies? I enjoy walking, bike riding, swimming and

reading. My ‘happy place’ is to create new music, poetry and lyrics in my studio. I also enjoy hosting friends and family for a meal – and look forward to sharing our home with loved ones once again. What event, past, present, or future, would you like to witness? There are so many great musicians I would love to see perform from a bygone era such as The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. However, right now, to experience the dulcet tones of a crooner in a New York jazz bar or the buzz of a Broadway show would be a little slice of heaven for me. Who do you admire the most? Mother Teresa. She is a universal mother and role model who left a legacy of kindness, generosity, humility, simplicity and hope. Mother Teresa made a courageous commitment to love life and each person she encountered. Favourite book or movie you recommend? My favourite book is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It is a beautifully illustrated coffee table book, which addresses the theme of friendship in a gentle, heart-warming and humorous way. Even better, as a picture book – it’s a quick read – and somehow is enjoyed by everyone from two years old through to 102. What is an important issue in the region you think needs exposure? Loneliness needs to be addressed as a local and national issue, as it impacts negatively on people’s quality of life, health and wellbeing. The pandemic escalated social isolation and disconnection. Many people realised how important meaningful relationships are for their sense of belonging, purpose and quality of life. Now is the time to reconnect, participate and invest in the social fabric of our community, to ensure we thrive both individually and collectively.

THREE … ways to be creative 12516657-SG42-21

CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar 3 Meadowgate Drive CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar 158 Nangathan Way CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar 11 The Mall KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Churinga SC, Russo Place KILSYTH Coles Supermarket 520-526 Mt Dandenong Road KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette87 Colchester Road KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Canterbury Road Kilsyth KILSYTH TSG Tobacco Churinga Shopping Centre Mt Dandenong Road LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC 51-59 Anderson Street LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Castella Street & Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre 7 Hardy Street LILYDALE Eastern Laundries. 2/4 Williams Street East LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre 1 Jarlo Drive LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale 346 Main Street LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths 31 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway LILYDALE Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE 7 - Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road LILYDALE Coles Express 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe 251 Main Street LILYDALE Round Bird Can’t Fly 170 Main Street LILYDALE The Lilydale General 110 Beresford Road LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery 96 Main Street LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe 178 Main Street LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe 222 Main Street LILYDALE Gracious Grace Castella Street LILYDALE Melba Coffee House 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies 7/75 Cave Hill Road LILYDALE The Mustard Tree Cafe 3/28 John Street LILYDALE Freda’s Cafe 2 Clarke Street LILYDALE Barry Plant Real Estate 88 Main Street LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate 164 Main Street LILYDALE Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate 281 Main Street LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate 111-113 Main Street LILYDALE Grubs Up 1 Industrial Park Drive LILYDALE Olinda Creek Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Crown Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road MONTROSE IGA Supermarket 916 Mt Dandenong Road MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent MOUNT EVELYN Red Robin Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale 138 York Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket 15 Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar 38 Bellara Dive MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart 108 Hayrick Lane MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark 103 Cardigan Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Express 2 Cambridge Road MOOROOLBARK Mooroolbark Coin Laundrette28 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real Estate Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK L J Hooker Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road

with Director Pearley Jones

Experiment Find a creative task whether it be drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and just give it a go. You never know it may be something you’re naturally gifted at!

Research Take a deep dive into the history books and discover an artist and their craft. Finding out about different paths and how others have started can be helpful to seeing connections with your own creativity.

Learn The internet is filled with tutorials that can lead you down a path of learning a new creative task. Even if you don’t use the skills, watching other creatives may provide a direction towards another idea. mailcommunity.com.au

SHOP LOCAL MOOROOLBARK

Bec, Courtney, Tony, Brenda, Jade, Aleisha and Jodie from Mooroolbark Wool have been serving the community for 30 years. 244736

Business has a great yarn For 30 years Mooroolbark Wool has been supplying locals with only the best in all things wool, sewing and crafting. Host to a vast array of products from yarns and patterns to ribbons and buttons to puzzles and gifts, Mooroolbark Wool is every crafty person’s dream and delight. The store’s selection of yarns come from both Australia and abroad, meaning the quality is second to none and the different colours and types are endless, making sure you can find what you need for your next project.

Owner Jodie Caldwell says aside from the products found in store, customers are always greeted by friendly staff, who care about the community. “We have friendly, knowledgeable staff and we all go the extra mile to help customers,” she says. Being a part of the community has always been an essential element of Mooroolbark Wool and that is why they run The Yarra Valley Wool and Handicraft Show. “We are a family business with strong ties

and involvement in the community,” Ms Caldwell said. As the festive season approaches us yet again, consider supporting small businesses by shopping local and investing in the community. Mooroolbark Wool has a huge range of giftgiving items, ranging from kids and adult 2D and 3D puzzles, to board and card games, kids toys, diamond art and other fun goodies that are sure to keep your loved ones entertained this festive season.

Striving to give customers the best prices for the highest quality products and delivering accurate information through the most welcoming service possible, Mooroolbark Wool knows what their customers want and need. Find Mooroolbark Wool at 6-8 Brice Avenue Mooroolbark weekdays from 9am to 5.30pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. For more information or product availability, call 9726 7291, visit www.theaussieknittingco.com or email info@ theaussieknittingcom.au.

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Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

MAIL 11

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 052

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

easy

9 7 5

7 8 6 4 5 3 7 5 2 1 2 5 8 3 9 2 6

4 9

6 1 6 9 2 5 7 5

medium

4 6 8 9 7 2 4 3 1 3

4 5 6 7 8 14 16 17 18 20 21 23 25

ACROSS To the power of three (5) Life forms (9) Scoundrels (7) Of a number (7) Waterer (9) Workshop machine (5) Depressants (7) Fears (7) Extra motorcycle seat (7) Fall (7) Semiconductor (5) Stone age (9) Researcher (7) Feeling (7) Distributes (9) Snoozes (5)

1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 22 24 26 27 28 29

No. 052

Beginning (5) Produced (9) More dextrous (7) Rooster’s walk (5) Favourable outcome (7) Best features (9) Costs (9) Led astray (7) Fissure (7) Long odds winner (7) Wife of a duke (7) Harbingers (5) Fertile spot (5)

DOWN Held (7) Scattered over (9) Lag behind (7)

1 2 3

DECODER

No. 052

4 8

2 9

QUICK CROSSWORD

8 1 6 7 9 6

hard

3 7 4

1 5 4 8 5 3 2

1 4 1 6 7 8 4 5 1 8

10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

V K HOB J P I NCWX F V K 15

T S Z D A R Y GMUQ E L 5

9-LETTER WORD Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

Today’s Aim: 19 words: Good 29 words: Very good

8 7 6 4 5 9 3 2 1

1 7 3 2 4 6 5 9 8

5 4 8 9 7 1 6 2 3

39 words: Excellent

9 6 2 4 8 7 3 1 5

4 1 5 3 6 2 9 8 7

3 8 7 1 5 9 4 6 2

7 3 1 6 2 4 8 5 9

2 5 6 8 9 3 1 7 4

8 9 4 7 1 5 2 3 6

9 5 1 7 3 2 6 8 4

4 3 2 8 1 6 7 5 9

6 2 4 3 8 1 9 7 5

1 9 5 6 2 7 8 4 3

7 8 3 5 9 4 1 6 2

5 6 9 2 7 3 4 1 8

2 1 7 9 4 8 5 3 6

3 4 8 1 6 5 2 9 7

5 9 6 7 8 3 2 4 1

1 7 2 9 4 6 8 5 3

3 4 8 2 1 5 6 9 7

9 2 1 3 5 7 4 6 8

8 6 7 4 9 2 1 3 5

4 3 5 8 6 1 9 7 2

2 5 9 6 3 8 7 1 4

7 1 4 5 2 9 3 8 6

6 8 3 1 7 4 5 2 9

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

B L

3 LETTERS ALL ARE AVO BIB BRA CIA EAR EBB EEL ELF END EVE FIR ICE INS KEN MES NIT ORE OUT PEA RIP SAC SUE TIE WEB 4 LETTERS AILS AWES EMIR FOAM GIGS GOAT ICES IRIS ITEM KERB MINE MOWS SAGE TALC TEAK

TEES TENT WEED 5 LETTERS ABHOR ADOBE ADORE AGILE AGREE ALONE AMBLE ARISE ASSES AWAIT CLUMP CRAFT DEMON DIALS EDGED EERIE

No. 052

ENDOW ENTER FACET FADED GAMMA GLOOM GOATS GONNA GRASS ISLAM IVIES KIOSK METRE MIAOW MORON MOVIE PARKA PRESS RAKED ROBIN SALAD

SEEDS SHAVE SWEPT TEARS TRIES UTERI VENUE 6 LETTERS DETAIN TEMPTS 7 LETTERS ICEBERG INSANER

LOOKOUT NEARING TERMITE TESTING 8 LETTERS ANOINTED DEPLORED DETECTOR LOITERED 10 LETTERS AMALGAMATE ENORMITIES

abet, able, abut, albeit, album, ambit, amble, bail, bait, bale, balm, bate, beam, beat, beau, belt, beta, bile, bite, blame, bleat, blue, built, embalm, iamb, imbue, IMMUTABLE, labium, lamb, limb, mumble, mutable, table, tabu, timbal, timbale, tuba, tube, tumble

6 2 9 5 3 8 7 4 1

hard

medium

easy

1 8 4 9

WORDFIT

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TOWNHOUSES NOW AVAILABLE OFF THE PLAN THIS boutique development of just 8 spacious townhouses that offer a thoughtfully considered and clever design will appeal to those looking for a lowmaintenance, contemporary property. Presenting an exciting lifestyle opportunity by easily accessing a long list of exceptional amenities and transport links; you are just steps from the recently upgraded Lilydale train station and bus interchange, Lilydale Marketplace, Lillydale Lake, Lilydale High School and an excellent array of quality restaurants and cafes. A refined blend of materials welcome residents’ home to John Street Lilydale – brickwork, render and timber accents define the facade, while a neutral colour palette marks the entrance to a series of unique and highly resolved 3-storey residences that each comprise 2 robed bedrooms, a luxury bathroom, designated study zone as well as a ground-floor and first-floor powder room. A unity of laminate timber flooring and stone in the kitchen crafts a captivating open living space, its inviting nature elevated by plenty of windows which sees floods of natural light filling the space. Sliding doors allow for a seamless transition to

the balcony entertaining area. Incorporating 40mm stone benchtops and stainless-steel appliances including an electric oven and gas cooktop, the gourmet kitchen makes an elegant statement. Sleek and modern, the bathrooms are adorned with full-height tiling and floating stone vanities. Offering an easy-care and well-connected lifestyle, additional highlights include split-system heating and cooling, video intercom and security alarm system, visitor parking and a single auto garage with internal access and storage area. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 1-8/2C John Street, LILYDALE Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Gerard Kennan, 0413 139 231 and Andrew Houghton, 0409 438 526, RT EDGAR - YARRA VALLEY

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Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

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PRIME POSITION - BEAUTIFUL HOME THIS immaculate three-bedroom home showcases modern spacious living and quality appointments in a small boutique development. Situated in beautiful leafy Yarra Glen, within an easy walk to shops, parkland and primary school. The appealing exterior and environment is matched by a thriving landscaped garden. This beautiful residence will impress from beginning to end. The interior feels modern, contemporary, spacious and comfortable throughout the single-level floorplan. The home offers a spacious open plan living area adjoining the well planned kitchen. The generous dining/family area opens up through a glass sliding door to a delightful alfresco where you’ll enjoy the perfect space for casual entertaining or to unwind with a quiet drink from the local wine region. The kitchen is well equipped to handle

everyday meals or entertaining friends and family. Featuring stainless steel appliances including; electric oven, dishwasher and rangehood, all white cabinetry, stone benchtops, breakfast bar, pantry, soft-close cupboards/drawers. Thoughtfully designed, all three bedrooms are robed for storage convenience. The master comprises a walk-in robe and full ensuite. The main bathroom services the further two bedrooms The tiled laundry is fitted with ample storage and bench space, in addition to affording direct access to the year yard. Other beneficial inclusions are gas ducted heating, reverse cycle air-conditioner and remote double garage. This superb property will impress. Ring Sharyn on 0412 052 946 to book your private inspection. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 4 Panorama Close, YARRA GLEN Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $780,000 to $830,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Manning, 0412 052 946, STOCKDALE AND LEGGO, LILYDALE, 9735 3999

Warburton

$700,000 - $770,000

Yarra Junction

$650,000 - $715,000

Original and gorgeous

Charming 3 bedroom character home

The 3 bedroom home, L shaped lounge and dining and a galley style kitchen, big front balcony to sit in the sun and enjoy the view. On over 1/2 a sunny acre, the lawn is lush, the fruit trees are abundant. In this beautiful location you have a piece of history & prime real estate. Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment only, see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

Charming home with polished timber floors, high ceilings and decorative features, 2 large living zones, 3 bedrooms, master with access to the gorgeous main bathroom. Outside a lock up workshop & double carport, just a short walk or drive to the local shops or Warburton Trail. Contact: Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment only see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

Yarra Junction

Don Valley

$540,000 - $590,000

$460,000 - $500,000

Townhouse living in a great location with stunning views!

The Perfect Weekend Getaway

Neat as pin, stunning 2 bedroom townhouse modern open plan living, plenty of space and open to the rest of the living areas With 2 sliding doors opening onto your private court yard. Located minutes walk to the Rail Trail along with Gladysdale bakehouse and then a short stroll to town. Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment only, see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

Situated in a private, bush setting, off grid back to basics. The property has no power connected ( NO POWER AVAILABLE IN THE AREA) no mains water (tank water only), 1 bedroom & huge open living/lounge room & kitchen area. Outdoors offers covered decking over 1/2 acre, tranquil lifestyle. Contact: David Carroll 0419 539 320, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment only, see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

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5966 2530

3407 Warburton Hwy, Warburton com.au

5967 1277

2457 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction

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Contact agent for address This appealing and well-planned home on approximately 4 acres, has high quality fixtures and fittings and is set in a quiet pocket of Healesville, amongst other quality acreage properties, and only 20 minutes’ walk from the centre of town. The home features 3 spacious bedrooms (the Master is zoned for privacy and features a marble tiled ensuite and WIR). The family bathroom is centrally located to service the other 2 bedrooms and there is also a powder room conveniently near the back door. There is a grand open plan lounge and dining area, and a stunning feature kitchen with marble benchtops and splash- backs, stainless steel appliances, and walk in pantry. Further living space is provided by the large family room plus wonderful alfresco entertaining area. There is also a large study or home office sensibly placed near the front door. A large laundry with plenty of cupboard and storage space plus a double garage with internal access complete the home. To complete the “I wants” the driveway branches to the side of the house and arrives at everyman’s dream - a 12mx12m American Barn style shed with mezzanine and large hoist, plus it’s own bathroom and kitchenette. For your comfort and security the home has secruity cameras, alarm system, gas ducted heating, wood fire and split system. There are just too many additional features to mention here. A wonderful home for the executive family, car enthusiast, tradie or someone working from home. Come and see for yourself. Open for private inspections only. Call Sharyn on 0412 052 946 to book your private inspection.

315-317 Warburton Highway Wandin North

Auction on Site 12pm Saturday 27th November 2021 4.55 Hectares (11.24 Acres) An outstanding opportunity here beckons for the purchaser, looking to take full advantage of abundant infrastructure whilst enjoying all that country living has to offer, just a short walk to Wandin North village and 10 mins drive from Lilydale train station. Seemingly, with tremendous appeal to all types of trades people, landscape gardeners, truckies and plant operators or simply those looking for a premier “lifestyle property”, this outstanding location provides easy access to all points in the Yarra Valley within a reasonable travelling time. A spacious well graveled yard provides a good turning circle for heavy vehicles and plant whilst there is an abundance of undercover storage and work area provided from the (20m x 9m x 4m high) and (21.5m x 10.5m) lockup steel sheds. Northerly facing land is all gently sloping to flat and pasture is subdivided into 6 paddocks of various sizes, some with loose boxes, sure to please the fastidious horse enthusiast. Not to be sold short when comparing this property’s attributes, the home too, has so much to offer the large or extended family. Added to the original, renovated section of the home is a fully self¬ contained 2 Bedroom Unit, giving a total of 5 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 separate Living Rooms, 3 Bathrooms and 2 Laundries. Outside is an impressive Games room along with 2 double car ports and another of 2 lockup single car garages Services include Solar power into the grid, 3 Phase power on to the Central Shed, Town water, Natural gas central heating and hot water with 3 Electric split systems and a Coonara wood heater guaranteeing year-round comfort in the home. Terms 10% Deposit on signing Balance 60 Days Inspections Strictly By Appointment

The team at Stockdale & Leggo Lilydale Di Bambury, Sharyn Manning, Richard Taylor and Max Manning Helping you sell or buy the perfect property in Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Mt Evelyn, Coldstream and throughout the Yarra Valley & beyond. With our team of dedicated real estate professionals guiding you every step of the way, you can feel confident knowing that you’re getting the very best advice and service possible. Get in touch with us today to speak with one of our friendly staff! Whether you’re purchasing a new property or gearing up to sell your current one, you’ll want to get help from a real estate professional who knows the area like the back of their hand. With our real estate agents, that’s exactly what you get. Managing Your Investment Property With over 130 residential reforms that came into effect at the end of March you need an experienced and well informed property manager who can help you ensure you get the advice you need and that you and your property get the care and protection you need Whatever it is you’re looking for, we at Stockdale & Leggo Lilydale can make sure that your experience is second to none – guaranteed. Call us today on 9735 3999 to speak with one of our friendly professionals and hear how we can help you! Or call Max on 0419 777 595, Richard on 0407 081 957, Di on 0408 908 597, or Sharyn on 0412 052 946 We see more than property.

12518943-CG44-21

Healesville $1,650,000 to $1,750,000

281 Main Street Lilydale P: 9735 3999 mailcommunity.com.au

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12493650-AV19-21

Outstanding Service | Exceptional Results Your Local Real Estate Experts

9727 5300 mailcommunity.com.au

SALES PEOPLE WANTED • Senior Sales People x 2 • Personal Assistants x 3 • Trainee/Cadets x 1

Our four offices are gearing up for a massive post lockdown spring selling season! Contact Greg Earney on 0438 305 687 for a confidential chat.

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No experience is ok, we will teach you our way Exciting, rewarding and challenging work in an essential industry Secure salary of $56,000 plus generous bonus package (no debits/credits) Rewards in proportion to your own skills and effort True career opportunity with scope for management and business ownership Great team atmosphere Highly ethical and respected company with a 59 year history of success First class training Leaders in Real Estate technology REIV Agency of the Year award winners 2017, 2018, 2019 Professionals Australia Company of the Year 2020

Croydon

Mooroolbark

Lilydale

Mt Evelyn

12516533-LB41-21

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SPORT

Calls for players By Mikayla van Loon After a successful first year playing, the Mooroolbark women’s veterans football team are looking to expand for next season by recruiting more players. Player and assistant coach Alison Fitzgerald said given many of the players hadn’t even touched a football before, the team took it in their stride and had an enjoyable inaugural year. “For our first season together, we had an absolute blast. We didn’t get a win on the board at all but I guarantee you every single game the girls came off the field so happy,” she said. “We just improved so much from the start of the season to the last game basically and this was noted by the other teams in the competition too.” Now the team are looking to recruit new and enthusiastic members to join the fun for their second season. “A big lesson that we learned from last season, we played 16 aside on the actual ground and even though we had about 22 registered, we were scrounging every week for players,” Fitzgerald said. “We definitely want to have a really big list this year to help combat struggling each week.” Fitzgerald said ideally the team would like to get a roster of 30 players for the 2022 season, knowing that some won’t be able to commit to each week because of work or injury. Almost all players have re-signed for next year and five more women have already signed on to play.

The Mooroolbark women’s veterans team places a large focus on having fun, while maintaining fitness and learning the game that is football. Picture: SUPPLIED Although early, the Mooroolbark women have started their preseason training but the Mustangs have their sights set on playing the Super Nine Tournament happening on Saturday 27 November. “It’s basically just a bit of fun where we play nine on nine in a short, sharp version of football basically. “Obviously, over 35 it’s easy to lose your fitness. So we are just looking at keeping the momentum going but also having that little goal in mind of being prepared for the Super Nine Tournament.” While Fitzgerald said the team takes their training and playing seriously, for the most part it is just about having a bit of fun with friends.

“Our main main thing really is about having fun and we were a team that were noted for always having a lot of fun on the field this season,” she said. The Mooroolbark veterans team is not the only group of women looking forward to the 2022 season, with a senior girls team joining the competition next year. “So we tried last season but we couldn’t get enough girls, so this season with the under 18s from last year moving up, we actually have enough for a senior competition,” Fitzgerald said. With the help of former Mooroolbark seniors premiership player and AFLW skills coach Anthony McDonald, as well as senior coach Dom Ciancio, the focus next year is really on building the women’s teams. “So we’ve got coaches on board this year who will really be able to assist with building the skills of the women. “From Mooroolbark’s point of view, we feel that the women’s program is going to have a really great crack this year and we’ve got the support structure of a lot of those coaches who have specific skill sets. “I think what we’re trying to do is express to the wider community the professionalism of Mooroolbark Football Club and the culture that we have down here and that the women’s football very much is about having fun and really enjoying the game.” For inquiries about joining the veterans team Alison Fitzgerald can be contacted on 0411 121 043 and for the senior girls team, Dom Ciancio can be reached on 0425 835 555.

Yarra Valley Equestrian Park hopeful funding will arrive next year for phase one By Renee Wood The Yarra Valley Equestrian Park has been unsuccessful in its bid for the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund but the not-for-profit is hopeful next year will bring new opportunities to get phase one of the master plan off the ground. Currently the Melba Highway site in Yering is being used by equestrian clubs and is owned by the Lilydale Hunters club, with a master plan created last year waiting to be put to work if funding comes through. The latest funding federal submission was for phase one, that would see roads, parking, an indoor multi-purpose arena, a jumping arena, powered camping sites, cross country course, horse accommodation, clubhouse renovation and landscaping. President Geoff Sinclair said close to $3 million dollars will be needed for the first stage and $1.25 million has already been pledged by clubs, riders, groups and businesses all keen to see the development. “A quarter of a million dollars of our own funding has gone to prepare the economic studies and the plans, to get it to this point - it’s

shovel ready,” Geoff Sinclair said. “So really a government just needs to tick off on it and they’re going to build a world class regional equestrian center right here in the middle of the Yarra Valley that’s going to be here for our children and grandchildren to come.” The committee has so far funded a feasibility study and the master plan, which lays out more phases. The total cost expected to be around $15 million, seeing 35,000 patrons visit annually. “That would be exceptional with stables and a massive indoor arena, a 150 seat function room overlooking the Yarra Valley - it would be tremendous, a world class regional equestrian centre, but even stage one will be something that will be one of the best regional equestrian centres around.” Once built it’s expected to be a huge asset for sport , currently 10,000 Yarra Ranges residents participate in Equestrian who have to travel to Werribee or Borneo for large competitions. Mr Sinclair said riding for disability would also be a feature offering at the development, which currently has a 12 month waiting list

and no local facility. “If you think about women in sport, if you think about people from six years old to 70, riding for disability - there’s a tremendous life long thing in horses. “This is a world class regional equestrian facility, we have an enormous benefit not only for 10,000 equestrians in the Yarra Valley, but an enormous tourism and sport economic impact.” The committee is hopeful the tourism benefits will also drive the government’s desire to support the project next year - in an election year. “The governments are really keen to get business back up and running, and infrastructure is one of those things. We hope we can fit into those state government tourism and sporting molds.” “The only way we’re going to get the funding is if the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the state government and the federal government support it financially. “And they have this highly unusual situation where the community clubs and individuals have already put in half the money.”

Yarra Valley Equestrian Park is hopeful next year will bring more funding opportunities after missing out on the Building Better Regions fund. Picture: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

A new report has revealed cycling boosted the economy by $6.3 billion in 2020. Picture: ON FILE

Cycling in billions In an Australian first, a report spearheaded by We Ride Australia has found that cycling’s direct industry output as part of the Australian economy was $6.3 billion in 2020, which includes $3.4 billion direct value added to Australia’s GDP. The WeRide Australian Cycling Economy Report by Ernst & Young (EY) has been launched by the Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP from Parliament House in a virtual broadcast with Parliamentary cycling champions, Dave Sharma MP, Dr Hon. Andrew Leigh and Dr Helen Haines and supported by the international Cycling Executives community and a significant national audience. It revealed the economic activity directly generated by bike riders, organisations, local and state government provision of infrastructure to events, research, and sport and recreational cycling. Stephen Hodge, Director - National Advocacy for We Ride, said the report reconfirms cycling as an industry with a significant economic footprint and booming participation in Australia. “As a large and diverse sector, bike riding touches almost every family in every community.” David Larocca, EY Oceania CEO, said, “In a time when we are focusing on our economic recovery post-Covid, it has been great to see the work of our team again provide new data as part of the report on cycling’s economic contribution. As a bike rider myself, I am particularly interested to see that cycling directly supports the employment of 34,295 jobs across Australia.” “Giving context to the impact of the sector, the $3.4 billion of direct value add to our GDP is more than three times the Australian motor sport industry ($1.0 billion 2019) and level with the Australian thoroughbred racing industry,” Mr Hodge said. “We’re very pleased that the report by EY substantiates the significant value of investment in infrastructure and programs that allow more Australians to ride. “With 4.62 million Australians riding a bike in a typical week and 10.19 million riding in the last year[1], the numbers of Australians choosing to ride a bicycle is a massive opportunity we can build on. “It was particularly pleasing to observe that the data highlighted that 28 per cent of bicycles were purchased for children, let’s invest to allow them to develop healthy, active habits for their future health and well-being! Highlighting the value of cycling across the nation, cycle tourism and services contributed $1.168 billion to the overall figure. Cycle tourism is a rapidly growing market, especially in Australia’s regions. “The full economic value is even greater when we include the benefits of improved health, environmental benefits or the positive impact on traffic from more people riding. Tuesday, 26 October, 2021

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