Mail - Mountain Views Star Mail - 6th June 2023

Park plan revived

By Callum Ludwig

Following the announcement that Victoria’s native forestry industry will be shut down from 1 January next year, 1.8 million hectares of land previously slated for timber harvesting needs a new purpose.

The Great Forest National Park (GFNP) proposal which materialised from the Yarra Rang-

es could be the possible solution.

Founding member of the GFNP proposal and Toolangi resident Sarah Rees said she was somewhat surprised to see the abrupt end of Victoria’s native forestry industry.

“A lot of money and time and effort has gone into finding solutions for this forest and naturally, we were, on the one hand, overjoyed,

but with great consideration and empathy also for those who are employed in this sector,” she said.

“They have to undergo, in some cases, quite radical changes to their lives so my sympathy for them is strong.”

The GFNP idea came to life in the most destructive of circumstances for forests in the

RT Edgar

Yarra Ranges, following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. It was seen as a way to save what forest remained and protect the biodiversity, including critically endangered species like Victorian faunal emblems; the Leadbeater’s Possum and Greater Glider.

Ms Rees said the proposal has been a long process.

Continued page 3

From left: Professor David Lindenmayer, Rick Ridgeway and Sarah Rees at the entrance to the Myrtle Gully Walk in November 2022.

Picture:

PAGE 9

IN BRIEF

Power price to spike

By Parker McKenzie

Energy prices are set to rise by 25 per cent across Victoria, with businesses throughout the Yarra Ranges already feeling the cost pressures.

The Australian Energy Regulator announced on 25 May its final determination for the default market offer, a price safety net that “protects consumers from unjustifiably high prices and applies to household and small business customers,” with wholesale energy prices driving retail electricity prices higher.

Victoria’s Essential Services Commission also confirmed energy prices in the state will rise around 25 per cent.

On 25 May, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said when the AER provided the government with a forecast in 2022, Australians were facing price rises of between 40 and 50 per cent.

“That’s why the Government acted in December to cap coal and gas prices and why we worked with states and territories to deliver up to $3 billion in direct relief for the most vulnerable households and small businesses,” he said.

“In the longer term, we are getting more renewables in the grid through Rewiring the Nation and the Capacity Investment Scheme because the cheapest form of energy is firmed renewable energy: and this will take pressure off bills and help shield Australians from vola-

tile international energy prices.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Casey MP Aaron Violi and Shadow Minister for Energy Ted O’Brien visited Aussie Growers Fruit in Seville on Monday 29 May to discuss the impact of rising energy costs for businesses around the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

Mr O’Brien said food businesses across the country “are feeling the pain of Labor’s energy bills.”

“This business alone has seen their energy bills jump by $200,000 since Labor has come to

office: that’s up to 50 per cent increases in their energy bills,” he said.

“The Coalition put the importance of supply and industry at the centre of its policies. We’ve been saying from day one with the Labor Government, we need more supply, more supply, more supply, especially of gas, but instead, the Labor Party has been ideological and they have attacked the gas industry.”

Mr Violi said after talking to local businesses like Aussie Fruit Growers and Yarra Valley Hilltop, they made it clear rising energy prices have already had “a massive impact on businesses in Casey and it is going to get worse.”

“Yarra Valley Hilltop is just one of the hundreds of businesses, particularly in manufacturing and food manufacturing, which are high-energy industries,” he said.

“They are representative of so many manufacturing businesses and I’ve worked in the industry: They use a lot of energy, but their energy bills have gone up over 50 per cent in the last twelve months.”

Mr Violi said the government has failed to live up to promises at the 2022 federal election to reduce power prices.

“the government promised the Australian people 97 times before the election that they would reduce power bills by $275,” he said.

“The Prime Minister promised that reduction 30 times after Russia invaded Ukraine, so he can’t say that the circumstances changed.”

Potential propelled for national park

From page 1

“What came to the public in 2013/14 as a result of the Black Saturday fires was a push to conserve the last unburnt and unlogged areas, to ensure species persist in the landscape, we protect our water, we keep our best carbon stocks in the land and ultimately to also rebuild and reenergize regional communities with recreational opportunities,” she said.

“In 2015 the Andrews Government set up a Forest Industry Taskforce and we deliberated over this land with industry for several years, ultimately resulting in a process for industry to ensure that any transition was done so in a just and timely way.”

The Victorian Government indicated in its timber industry announcement that an advisory panel would be set up to make recommendations on what to do with the new land, with indicated options including identifying what qualifies for protection in National Parks, opportunities for land management by Traditional Owners and what could be allocated for recreational activities such as camping, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and four-wheel driving.

Ms Rees said a lot of this land hasn’t recovered well post-fires and logging.

“There are invasive species problems, as we know with the deer and so we were really buoyed by the idea of the recreational

investment also offered by the last week’s announcement, clearly the Andrews Government isn’t talking about locking up and leaving it,” she said.

“What will also be important is the deployment of people who are really good at managing this land to get out there, we’ve got to keep our fire breaks open, we’ve got to keep our roads open so hopefully we will see jobs increase, not decrease.”

The GFNP proposes adding an additional 355,000 hectares of forest to the existing 170,000 hectares of protected forests in the Central Highlands to form the park, which would span north to south from Eildon to

Yellingbo and east to west from Baw Baw to Kinglake.

Ms Rees said she has no doubt the voices supporting the campaign for the park will grow in volume.

“Our work will be, as it always has been, to keep advocating for the park and its values and now, having a broader voice across other areas, to assist there as well,” she said.

“We will expect to be part of the government’s process moving forward, as many groups will, and my understanding is there will be a public submission process, so everyone will get a say.”

A Victorian Government spokesperson said forestry workers, their families and communities are their immediate priority.

“We do not take the decision around an early transition out of native timber harvesting lightly, but the uncertainty from ongoing litigation and severe bushfires cannot continue,” they said.

“As part of the transition, the Government will be required to deliver a program of land management works to manage the 1.8 million hectares of public land to support new social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits for all Victorians. We will work with local communities and Traditional Owners to deliver the largest expansion to our forests reserve system in our state’s history.”

Man rescued after falling from Seven Acre Rock

Emergency services were paged to a rescue on the night of Friday 2 June at the Seven Acre Rock lookout in Gembrook.

The patient had fallen over the cliff edge from the lookout and was checked over by Ambulance Victoria before ropes teams from Wandin Fire Brigade, Monbulk Fire and Rescue (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria and Victoria Police repelled down to the ledge the patient was on.

Crews managed to get him up to the safety of the top of The Rock with support from Gembrook Rural Fire Brigade and the Upper Yarra SES Unit, with an air ambulance and a police helicopter also at the scene.

Once the patient was on the rock, all services banded together to conduct a relay of the stretcher until the patient was off the rock face and able to be loaded into Upper Yarra SES’ waiting mule.

The patient was gently manoeuvred down the path back to a waiting ambulance and left in the hands of paramedics.

Myers Creek Road blocked on Sunday

SES and other emergency services sprang into action over the weekend at Myers Creek Road in Healesville on from around 11.30 am Sunday 5 May to clear a felled tree and power lines that had blocked the road.

The road was shut down and drivers were redirected while arborists and the power company worked to clear the scene.

SES posted to social media asking people to avoid the area and seek an alternative route while the work was being done.

By 1.30pm the road was open again and vehicles were free to access the area, with a remarkable response from all involved.

Two lost items in Healesville

Police are looking for the owner of a hand-held GPS device that was recently found in Healesville and handed into the Healesville Police Station.

Police are asking if you believe you are the owner, to please contact the Healesville Police Station on 5962 4422 to arrange collection.

To collect the item you must be able to provide proof of ownership.

The search is also still on for the owner of a small turtle charm that was located in Healesville in April this year.

Lilydale Police are currently in possession of the charm and if you are the owner of the item or have information, please contact Lilydale Police on 9739 2300.

Night works completed on Warburton Highway

Works commenced with little notice on Tuesday 30 May, with the Department of Transport and Planning working in the same area on the night ofWednesday 31 May and further east on Thursday 1 June.

Between the hours of 8pm and 5am, motorists faced detours of different parts of the Warburton Highway iN Seville and Woori Yallock respectively as patching works were done.

Detours were in place as works were done.

Areas such as the Toolangi State Forest are a key component of the Great Forest National Park proposal. Picture: ON FILE

Casey MP Aaron Violi talking to an Aussie Fruit Growers employee. Picture: PARKER MCKENZIE

Keep your recycling loose.

Fatal crash at Coldstream

By Tanya Steele

A driver has died in hospital after a serious collision in Coldstream on Saturday 27 May around 1pm, involving three residents from Yarra Junction. Coldstream, Gruyere and Wandin CFA responded to the collision on Killara Road near the Coldstream airport and assisted on the scene. Captain Sean Bethel from Coldstream CFA said the circumstances leading to the accident are still unclear.

“We had six vehicles in attendance and we were on scene for nearly an hour and a half, then went back later to clean the scene,” he said.

“Our condolences are with the family at this time.”

It is believed the male driver veered onto the wrong side of the road, clipping one tree before crashing into another.

Mr Bethel said he is urging people to take it easy driving on the road and there’s no rush to get anywhere.

“If you are tired or not feeling well, just pull over,” he said.

Victoria Police confirmed that the driver, who was a 63-year-old from Yarra Junction, died at the hospital later that day.

A spokesperson from Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to an accident at around 1.10 pm and three people were assessed at the scene.

The rear passenger, a 12-year-old male in secondary school from Yarra Junction suffered

upper body injuries and was taken in a serious but stable condition to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The front passenger, a 27-year-old male also from Yarra Junction did not require emer-

gency treatment or transport.

Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or anyone with dashcam footage is asked to contact

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www. crimestoppersvic.com.au

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see https://www.police.vic.gov.au/roadsafety-0.

Six brigades needed to extinguish Chum Creek blaze

By Callum Ludwig

The combined firefighting force of the Healesville, Toolangi, Badger Creek, Yarra Glen, Dixons Creek and Coldstream brigades was required to battle a building blaze in Chum Creek on Tuesday 30 May.

An eyewitness said the flames could be seen from the house on Healesville-Kinglake Road near Arthurs Road at about 1pm.

Toolangi CFA Captain Dawn Hargot was on the scene making sure there was a steady supply of water and said they received a pager for the structure fire from the controlling brigade Healesville.

“On the road, we heard they had requested additional trucks which meant they needed the extra help to put this out and hopefully try to save whatever we can up there,” she said.

“Once we got on scene, it was a case of organising the truck for the best delivery of water, to keep water up to the house and to keep water up to the firefighters on the ground, which is what we are doing now.”

As many as 11 emergency vehicles were on the scene of the fire, with Victoria Police helping temporarily close the road and Ambulance Victoria personnel on standby to attend to firefighters.

Ms Hargot said the bushy and steep terrain did make things difficult.

“It does to a degree, but at the same time, we’re well-practised in giving directions on how to get our resources up to speed so they

Senator Linda White

can actually help,” she said.

“We received directions on the way to back our trucks up the driveway so that we have really easy access to hook trucks up.”

Trucks from supporting brigades rotated

YOUR VOICE IN THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE

in and out to keep supplying water up the driveway of the property, with a fire salvage unit also on the scene. The incident was deemed under control at 1.42pm with the fire investigator arriving at 1.45pm

Smoke billows from the fire.

Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIGFiretrucks raced to the scene.

Police blocked off the road from the Healesville direction.

Police are still investigating circumstances surrounding the crash.

Picture: ON FILE

Never Stop Learning

Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates

Voice for the generations

By Tanya Steele

Yarra Ranges Council hosted an in-person event for National Reconciliation Week, with a packed live theatre at The Memo with powerful Indigenous keynote speakers, interviews, q and a, a live panel and musical entertainment on 1 June.

Brooke Wandin, a proud Wurundgeri woman, opened the event with aWelcome to Country and spoke about her connection to Healesville.

“Ilovethisplace,Iamsodeeplyrootedhere, I doubt I will live anywhere else,” she said.

Mayor Jim Child, who made a speech, acknowledged the importance of reconciliation and said he is supporting people to have an open mind at the upcoming referendum on an IndigenousVoice to Parliament.

“Together we can all build on our reconciliation journey as a municipality a state and a nation,” he said.

Ms Wandin said that recent media and news coverage can be hard to hear and while there is no doubt that many changes have occurred in Australia and for the better, there is still progress to be made.

“However, the more things change, the more they stay the same, I choose to speak at this event, I have friendships and relationships with you and others all across this region, a place where I feel safe,” she said.

She said she felt a responsibility to this country and her ancestors, family and the continuum of her people.

The event featured powerful speeches by two keynote speakers, — Rueben Berg and Aunty Jill Galagher — pre-recorded performances by Djirri djirri dancers and live music by Pirritu - Brett Lee and didgeridoo and yudaki player Kiernan Ironfield.

Proud Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg, representative for the metropolitan region First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, said he was strangely reminded of the 1937 aspirations of the Australian Government when they decided that Aboriginal people who were not full blood should be absorbed or assimilated into the broader population.

“I am reminded that sometimes when the government fails, that is actually a good thing,” he said.

Mr Berg said that the aspirations of First Nations People are leading us as a nation towards the realization of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Australian Government is actually just complying with what the rest of the globe has recognized.

“Victoria is already kicking goals in that area and we have made some really significant progress along the lines of voice, treaty and truth,” he said.

“Here inVictoria, we already have aVoice in the First Peoples Assembly.”

Young Richmond footballer and Tiwi man Daneiil Rioli was interviewed in person by Nelson Aldridge a Taungurung man and Yarra Ranges Council Cultural Recovery Coordinator.

Mr Rioli said how important family and culture are to him and talked about his time on Country and how he felt when he first moved to Victoria and lived in Ballarat away from his home in the Tiwi Islands.

“I was homesick at first whenever I spoke to Mum and Dad on the phone from Ballarat,” he said.

“Moving to the big smoke was new to me and I got lots of friends from the footy community, it is different but it is going nice so far.”

Mr Rioli said returning to home and Country was really important the community there doesn’t see him as a football player.

“They see me as Daniel and keep me grounded, I love going home,” he said.

Nikki Madgwick, proud Worimi Biripi woman and Engagement Team Leader at Oonah Health and Community Services presented the work the organisation has done throughout the outer east of Melbourne since it began in Healesville in 2009.

“Originally the view was we would be in Healesville and service the Yarra Ranges, amazingly we have been able to broaden our delivery to a huge catchment,” she said.

OONAH presented a snapshot of their

activities along with a video presentation of their Youth group which connects primary school-aged children with cultural education and learning about seasonal plants and bush tucker at Badger Weir led by Darren Wandin, Wurundjeri man.

Aunty Jill Gallagher, proud Gunditjmara woman from western Victoria, addressed the audience with a moving and powerful speech and said she was happy to see so many people in the room.

As a former treaty commissioner, along with other Aboriginal leaders she designed and developed the First People Assembly that Victorians see today.

Ms Gallagher said she is often asked whether having an Aboriginal Voice in parliament will be divisive and her response is that there is already division in this country.

“We have to look at recent times, Stan Grant had no choice but to resign due to that division, when one of Australia’s most distinguished and revered journalists decides to walk away from their profession, as a direct result of racism, it is clear that something is still very wrong in our society,” she said.

“We have suffered that division — that racism — for the last 230 years.”

Ms Gallagher said that intergenerational trauma has placed a severe burden on families and communities and discussed the brutal colonisation of south east Australia.

“Our children, our parents, our mothers, our fathers, our uncles, our aunties, our Elders, we’re all impacted heavily by colonization,” she said.

“It’s about Australia, having an Aboriginal voice, all Australians and the benefits that it will bring to you,” she said.

Ms Gallagher said people it is not about making today’s generation feel guilty, but that people should stop being bystanders.

“We have got to make change and you can help us do that, our communities still feel the impacts of the crimes against humanity that were committed in this country in the name of colonization,” she said.

The event concluded with a panel of discussion with Aunty Lea Jones, Dr Andrew Peters, Aunty Jill Gallagher and Rueben Berg.

People can watch the recorded livestream at: www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/ Events/Be-a-voice-for-generations

The panel discussion at the conclusion of the event featured Aunty Lea Jones, Dr Andrew Peters, Aunty Jill Gallagher and Rueben Berg.

Picture: YARRA RANGES COUNCIL

Tiwi man Daneiil Rioli was interviewed in person by Nelson Aldridge a Taungurung man. Picture: SUPPLIED

Performer Pirritu (Brett Lee) closed the event with cello player Doug.

Picture: YARRA RANGES COUNCIL

Vic seats won’t fall: Dutton

By Parker McKenzie

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has rejected that his party’s opposition to a constitutionally recognised IndigenousVoice to Parliament will affect the re-election chances of MPs in marginal seats, despite the majority of Victorians supporting the change in recent polling.

All polling done by Essential, Roy Morgan and Newspoll in 2023 have reported that over 50 per cent of Victorians support a yes vote on the referendum; this, combined with the electorates of Deakin and Casey being two of the most marginal in Victoria after the 2022 federal election, could create a precarious political situation for the Liberal Party.

When asked by the Star Mail about the Liberal party’s position on The Voice potentially affecting the re-election chances of MPs in marginal seats, Mr Dutton said it wouldn’t.

“I believe very strongly that in our business, the public expects us to be honest and to adhere to our values and to stand up and argue for what we believe in,” he said.

“If you sit on the fence in politics you end up believing in nothing and you end up, I think frankly, being a burden to your own community.”

Mr Dutton argued that constitutional recognition would receive overwhelming support, but currently Australians “don’t know the detail and we don’t know that’s going to provide the practical outcomes of Indigenous Australians that we all burn for.”

Deakin MP Michael Sukkar holds his seat, which covers Croydon and Mooroolbark, on a margin of just 0.19 per cent or just 375 votes, while Casey MP Aaron Violi entered parliament in 2022 on a margin of 1.48 per cent.

Mr Violi said he didn’t believe the party’s position on The Voice would affect his reelection chances in the future.

“Ultimately, people vote and decide on a lot of different reasons. I’ve engaged with the community quite deeply and had a community forum in partnership with a group called Democracy Co yesterday,” he said.

“It was very clear from that meeting that there are different opinions on The Voice and also people are frustrated that they don’t have the information.”

Between October and December, Australians will vote on the following question: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by estab-

lishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

Mr Violi said if the referendum fails this year, the blame will fall squarely on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“There is bipartisan support for constitution recognition and there is support from the Liberal Party for local, regional and national voices, but you need to understand the detail

is really important,” he said.

“I was speaking to a well-known, well-respected, local, indigenous Wurundjeri leader just last week, and he doesn’t support theVoice and many in his community don’t support the Voice because the only information they’ve heard is through the media.

“When I asked if I could share his story, he didn’t want his name used for fear of repercussions for him and for other people. It’s quite

sad that the people in Australia feel that they can’t voice their opinion.”

The Labor Party and Prime Minister Albanese made implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart an election commitment at the 2022 federal election, which included a constitutionally recognised Voice to Parliament.

The next federal election will be held during or before 2025.

Funding made available for flood planning

By Callum Ludwig

The Victorian Government has made funding available for local councils facing flood risks to help keep their mapping, planning and preparation up to date.

Minister for Water and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny revealed an investment of $22.2 million on Tuesday 30 May to encourage councils to fast-track their flood studies and preparation, particularly after the October 2022 floods that hit multiple regions across the state.

“We appreciate this funding becoming available from the State Government, and will take it into consideration when undertaking projects, like the development of our Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in coming months,” said Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures at Yarra Ranges Council Kath McClusky.

“Flood mapping catchment prioritisation will be a key part of the SWMP once it gets underway, and we will share more with the community as it progresses.”

In areas of the Yarra Ranges such as Lilydale, Seville, Coldstream and Mooroolbark, close to 75mm of rain fell in around an hour and a half, with a five-minute window of rain falling at an astonishing 120mm per hour on Tuesday 26 October 2022.

“We’re helping any remaining local council to fast-track updates to their flood maps

and other data to ensure we have the best information on the risk of flooding,” said Ms Shing.

“These flood studies will support emergency management activities, planning decisions and individual landowners living on the floodplains.”

$10 million of the funding package will complete an estimated 32 flood studies over five years, $5 million will fast-track the scoping process for more flood mitigation efforts over three years, $3.9 million over two years will help implement 40 flood studies into planning schemes and $2 million is put aside

to help councils engage crucial landholders, builders and industries.

“We’re making sure the latest flood data is being reflected in Victorian planning schemes, to help create safer and more resilient towns across flood-prone parts of our state,” said Ms Kilkenny.

Flood planning funding has been made available by the Victorian Government.

Picture: ON FILE

Opposition leader Peter Dutton, Casey MP Aaron Violi and Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien visiting Aussie Growers Fruit in Seville on Monday 29 May.

Picture: PARKER MCKENZIE

Gold for ‘ribbons of green’

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council’s sustainability efforts received a big acknowledgement of their success with a recent win at the LGPro Awards for Excellence, recognising the best work done by local councils across Victoria.

Council’s Ribbons of Green program was awarded Best Sustainability Initiative, beating out Darebin City Council’s Rewilding Darebin and Strathbogie Shire Council’s Greening Euroa Project.

Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures at Yarra Ranges Council Kath McClusky said they are extremely excited to receive an award from LGPro, celebrating the Ribbons of Green program.

“Ribbons of Green program offers native plants and land management support for private properties over one hectare, schools and community groups, with the goal of restoring habitats for wildlife across the Yarra Ranges,” she said.

“We aim to plant 60,000 native plants each year through this program, which helps to protect and enhance biodiversity in birds, animals and insect life. Since the program started in 2007, we have planted about 921,483 plants.” Applications are accepted up until the end of September each, with the free plants delivered in the winter/early spring of the following year.

Ms McClusky said one of their key roles in Local Government is to protect and enhance our natural environment.

“It has flow-on benefits for waterways, agriculture, for community members and the flora and fauna that call this region home. Ribbons of Green offers community members an easy and accessible way to help us achieve this goal,” she said.

“This program has thankfully been taken up by about 700 properties since it began, covering most of the region. We’re always looking for more property owners to be part of the program,”

“I’d like to congratulate our staff who have developed this program and thank our landowners who have taken part so far.”

Anyone interested can find out more at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ribbonsofgreen.

Super Sunday for the environment at anniversary day

By Tanya Steele

Local environment group Healesville Envi-

ronmental Watch Inc or HEWI had a “Super Sunday” on May 28 with their 21st anniversary planting at Coronation Park and screening of the environmental film “The Giants” at The Memo all in one day.

Penny Richards, a HEWI committee member said despite the weather it was wonderful to get out and do some planting.

28 volunteers and three council bushland management team members got over 700 plants into the ground from species like Hop Goodenia to Bidgee-widgee.

Coronation Park and the Brungergalk (Watts River) waterway have been the site for an ongoing revegetation project by HEWI for many years, and it has transformed over time from being used as a caravan park to a beautiful open space loved by the community.

“I think it’s been a wonderful transformation of a space that was very rundown and weedy into a community asset, it is now this wonderful park with walking tracks and lovely vegetation,” Ms Richards said.

HEWI has collaborated with members of the community, other community groups, the Council and Melbourne Water over time to protect the river and platypus habitat by revegetating the banks of the area and park surroundings.

Ms Richards said that spending time planting at the event was a reward in itself.

“It’s definitely the social interaction and that feel-good feeling of putting plants in the ground,” she said.

“It’s also that you’re contributing to revegetation, carbon recapturing and taking climate change action.”

The group used a system of marquees to

provide shelter from the rain while they worked and enjoyed a cuppa and morning tea after.

The second event for the day for HEWI was a showing of the film “The Giants” at The Memo in recognition of World Environment Day.

80 people attended and enjoyed afternoon tea and a chat afterwards. HEWI, local Landcare groups and Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum had displays and handouts at the screening Ms Richards said they had a few new members sign up on the day.

“It’s a beautiful film, it’s well worth seeing,” she said.

The Giants is a film about the life story of Bob Brown and the story of the forest and Ms Richards said the film is a real call to people to protect the environment.

“It was pretty amazing, it was juxtaposed with the story of the forest, how forests operate, and the whole ecosystem function of forests and it has a really powerful ending,” she said.

The film will also show at the Warburton

Centre on 3 June at 1pm.

Arts

HEWI are continuing their strong work with a special session at the Healesville Library about the platypus and being a citizen scientist forWorld Environment Day on Monday 5 June from 2pm to 3pm.

Ms Richards said anyone in the community who is keen on the environment is welcome to join HEWI.

“We are always looking for new members,” she said.

HEWI and other environmental groups said the turnout to the film was wonderful. Lou Sbalchiero and Karen Garth from HEWI on the day.

The park planting saw over 700 plants go into the revegetation project which has been running for over 21 years.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Yarra

Ranges Council’s Ribbons Of Green program has been planting native flora throughout the region since 2017.

Picture: FILE

Current hours are 8.30am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 3pm Saturdays.

Looking after your health

Yarra Junction Medical Centre is pleased to announce they have recently been joined by Dr Manjula Rathnabharathie.

Dr Manjula has been welcomed by Dr Colombage, Dr Channa Weerasekara, Dr Brahma Malapurathattil, Dr Bin Shi, Dr Kim Ngan Le, Dr Leela John and Dr Kumara Jayasinghe to provide much needed medical services in the Upper Yarra Valley.

Yarra Junction Medical Centre is a bulk-billing Medical Centre located on the Warburton Highway in Yarra Junction.

The clinic has been looking after the people of the Upper Yarra Valley and surrounds for more than 40 years.

After the flooding in October 2022, the clinic has finished the restorations and is now back to full service, with the new carpeting giving the clinic a fresh new look

LocatedintheYarraJunctionshoppingarea, they have ample on-site parking available for patients. Patients visiting us via public transport can catch the 683 bus route which stops nearby on Warburton Highway. Being located

on the intersection ofWarburton Highway and Little Yarra Road, the clinic is in a perfect location for patients from Yarra Junction, Launching Place, Don Valley and Wesburn.

The doctors are assisted by Practice Nurse’s Chanduni, Kate, Kim and Michelle and together they are helping patients with complex health needs and health assessments as well as other general nursing duties.

Also located on-site is Dorevitch Pathology, Glenister Podiatry, Hidden River Counselling Services, provisional psychologist Jasper

Eames and Dr Michael Jones Cardiologist who along with his team from Rural Cardiology consult and perform stress echocardiograms in the practice each month.

Current hours are 8.30am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 3pm Saturdays.

Well experienced and friendly reception staff are there to help you with your appointments and enquiries, appointments can be made by calling 59671606 or bookings can be made any time via the Hotdoc app or visiting www.hotdoc.com.au

Dr Manjula Rathnabharatie, Registered Nurse Chanduni, Dr Channa Weerasekara, Dr Kumara Jayasinghe, Practice Manager Alison, Receptionist Lana and Dr Bin Shi. 320152 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Property code is essential

By Callum Ludwig

AgricultureVictoria is reminding horse owners they must register for a Property Identification Code (PIC), an important measure for protecting their ponies.

All Victorians with livestock, including horses are legally required to hold a PIC, an eight-character code that assists in contacting and tracing owners and their livestock, particularly in the event of an emergency.

Agriculture Victoria’s Manager Livestock Traceability Ben Fahy said in a statement that PICs provide horse owners with an extra level of protection during emergencies.

“If there’s a flood, fire or disease outbreak, we may need to reach out with concerns specific to your animals, or for emergency relief and recovery activities within an impacted area,” he said.

“Getting a PIC is quick, easy, and free via the Agriculture Victoria website – all that’s required is your contact details, the number of horses and the parcels of land where they’re kept.”

In the last two years, Yarra Ranges horse owners have had to tackle the June 2021 storm event and the October 2022 floods which threatened properties all over the region.

Treasurer of the Seville Pony Club Katie Gray said in an emergency, every second counts.

“Many pony club families suffered extensive damage in last year’s floods such as washing away of arena sand and foundations, washing away of gravel driveways and some member houses suffered extensive damage and are now considered unliveable,” she said.

“Though not pony club horses, there were a number of reports of flooded properties with horses having no dry ground to stand on. At the pony club, we had damage to our riding facilities, with extensive loss of sand, damage to the base of the arena and damage to drainage.”

Horse and livestock owners are encouraged to regularly update their PIC details when circumstances change, such as a change in address, the addition of new species of livestock or changes to personal details.

Ms Gray said storms and bushfires are two other emergencies that horse owners may face locally.

“In the significant storms of 2021, we had over 20 trees down with some on fences. There is a risk that horses can escape when fence lines are not secure and they can also become spooked with trees falling, high winds, thunder, lightning and run through fences and at times escape properties,” she said.

“Whilst we haven’t had much of a bushfire

scare in the last few years, prior to that we had a number of watch and act alerts. For pony club families this can mean loading up horses for transport and or leaving some horses behind.”

Ms Gray recommended that for any animals left behind, owners should consider removing rugs and writing mobile numbers on the horses.

When livestock is transferred between owners, whether sold, given away or bartered, the PIC of where the animals are kept must be included in any advertisement.

Ms Gray said for the purpose of the speed of communication, a PIC code is important.

“Having a PIC streamlines the process of contacting landowners of natural disasters that may affect them and this should make it easier

and faster to get in touch in emergencies,” she said.

“AlsoupinNewSouthWalesandQueensland, they have had issues with disease outbreaks such as Ross River and Hendra virus, a PIC code would be very helpful in contact tracing.”

Local horse owners can register for a PIC at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/horsepic or by calling 1800 678 779.

New research examines young people’s role in disaster

New research from Victoria University, in partnership with Youth Affairs Council Victoria, has found young people are eager to assist during times of natural disaster preparation and recovery but often have few opportunities to be involved.

Associate Professor Fiona MacDonald, who alongside VACvic looked at the experiences and views of young people affected by the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20, found many felt overlooked during time of crisis.

“When young people are included in disaster management, there are benefits for themselves, their peers, community, and the environment. Yet as they increasingly seek opportunities to engage with issues that will impact them and their futures, they often find they are sidelined,” she said.

“Young people in the study reported they heard adults talking to them instead of with them, and not seeking their perspectives about what they needed to rebuild their own resilience for future events.”

She called for decision-makers to change the narrative about young people and to regard them as capable and constructive agents of change in their communities, instead of vulnerable and passive victims.

The research examined the success of a youth empowerment pilot program developed in regional Victoria with YACvic following the bushfires, which aimed to support, upskill and build confidence of young people through local advocacy projects.

Research from the program about ways young people can be better engaged during natural disasters recommended providing opportunities for young people to assist with rebuilding and clean-up to develop local skills and a sense of community contribution, ensuring government-funded youth workers and spaces are established in areas prone to natural disasters and ensuring young people are meaningfully included in governance committees that make decisions about disasters.

Prof MacDonald recommended government, community organisations and educational institutions establish formal structures to provide opportunities, alongside recognised training for young people to get involved across all levels of natural disaster planning and management.

More information about the study can be found at sciencedirect.com/science/article/ pii/S2212420923000316?via%3Dihub

The Seville Pony Club was hit by flooding last year.

Pictures: ON FILE

Flooding through Seville in October 2022.

Wood skill taken for a spin

By Callum Ludwig

The Eastern Woodturners are holding an exhibition throughout June in the Ray Oliver Gallery at the Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead.

The Eastern Woodturners meet at Mont De Lancey twice a month to work on various projects.

President and Life Member of Eastern Woodturners Charlie Chamberlain said the group has been around for 30 years.

“We have been based at Mont De Lancey for 14 years, we were MaroondahWoodturners before that.We have 28 members, mostly older fellows of different skill levels,” he said.

“The work on display comes from mostly the more-experienced turners, and we all have different ideas about the way we do things.”

Woodturning is a craft where the artists use a wood lathe and hand-held tools, rotating the wood around and allowing the wood to be shaped.

Mr Chamberlain said it is great to have their works shown off in the gallery and he hopes it will promote the club and keep membership up.

“We run classes for beginners, which are very reasonable because they’re done on a voluntary basis, so none of the people who run the classes have to get paid,” he said.

“The best thing to do is to come and have a lesson, don’t buy expensive equipment and then decide it’s not for you, that’s why we have our taster courses.”

Eastern Woodturner’s taster courses are three hours long and provide attendees with a range of equipment and materials to test out before they decide if they’d like to become a member.

Mr Chamberlain said it is a small group with a big heart.

“It’s a very social group, and the knowledge that the older ones or the more experienced ones have got, they are only too happy to pass it on to the newer members,” he said.

“I’ve been in the group 26 or 27 of its 30 years, I started by taking up French polishing and furniture restoration then decided I needed to make some pieces so took up woodturning and haven’t looked back.”

Anyone interested in the Eastern Woodturners group can find out more at www.easternwoodturners.club/.

Teacups raised to fight cancer at Mont De Lancey

By Callum Ludwig

Mont De Lancey’s Historic Homestead hosted a Cuppa for Cancer event on Thursday 1 June in support of the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea initiative.

Attendees enjoyed a fantastic spread and bought up raffle tickets to support the effort and have a chance at winning a prize.

One of the event organisers Natalie Pye said this is the 21st year of a fundraising event in the Wandin community.

“It’s a great venue for it here, we did have it at the hall in Wandin for a while but here it is a bit more personal and cosy, and we are just trying to catch up and raise as much money as we can,” she said.

“Personally, my mum has had six lots of cancer and two of the other girls that help coordinate the event have lost or know someone that’s had cancer, it’s important to everyone because I think not one person hasn’t been affected by cancer.”

As ofThursday 1 June, $8,140,404 has been raised by 22,053 registered Biggest Moning Tea events.

Ms Pye said for those with cancer affecting someone close to them, support is very important.

“Especially if it’s, a close partner if you’ve lost your favourite person, it’s quite lonely, and even if you’ve got family around, it’s still lonely if you’ve lost someone that you’re with every day,” she said.

“The donations are just mind-boggling every year, we’re shocked by the generosity, it’s just lovely.”

Nola Sharp from Wandin Toastmasters was the event MC and has also freshly baked the scones each year, getting up in the early hours of the morning to have them ready to go.

The event followed the Craft A Cure for Cancer group’s exhibition which ran throughout May in the Ray Oliver Gallery, with items

still available for purchase.

Lorraine Dunbar is from the group and said members make whatever crafts they like to, from toys and baby items to hats and scarves and sell them to raise money for the Cancer Council.

“We’re up to $92,00 overall doing this and

they are wonderful to us here, having us up in the gallery for a whole month,” she said.

“My daughter died from cancer in 2000 at 35, too young and you feel like you’ve got to do something, fight back any way you can. There’s not much you can do, but all you can do is maybe help efforts like the Biggest Morning Tea where we can.”

From left: Lorraine, Nola, Alison, Carmel and Natalie.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

The Eastern Woodturners exhibition. Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIG

Woodturners have submitted a range of different works.A case of carved pens.

Hard at work on tea break

By Callum Ludwig

The Student Representative Council (SRC) at Cire Community School inYarra Junction used all their organisation skills to host a Biggest Morning Tea event on Thursday 1 June.

Hosting a raffle among students and staff, organisers have nearly raised $300.

Wellbeing specialist at Cire Community School Keisha Van Straalen helped the SRC with the event and said the students had been amazing.

“We’ve been running around like headless chooks all morning, but these students are wonderful, the things that they can achieve and the things that they can do is amazing,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of students, families and staff have been impacted by cancer, almost

everybody has in their life and we thought it was a really great cause and an opportunity to bring everyone together and to raise some money.”

SRC students were hard at work, collecting donations, dishing out food and operating the coffee machine.

Kya was carrying a plate of croissants and said students polled the school to find out what they would like.

“We have sushi, croissants and even zucchini cupcakes with no zucchini because we didn’t have any.”

Matt was collecting donations and said it was a good responsibility to be given.

“You’re learning from it, how to organise an event for over 60 people and it’s a good feeling when everything and everyone comes together.”

Local school recognising critically endangered species

By Tyler Wright Macclesfield

Primary School students and staff are raising awareness of a local critically endangered species with a new whole-school mural project.

Artist and education support staff member Charmaine Kvalic will paint an image of a Helmeted Honeyeater on a three by four metre wall at the front of the school alongside interested students.

“We’ve had a pretty long standing association with [Friends of] the Helmeted Honeyeater, and the mural is a connection to sense of place,” Ms Kvalic said.

Currently working on a replica to scale on paper, Ms Kvalic said students will be able to help paint on the wall from Term Three.

“That cartoon is on materials that I found around the school...It’s painted on cartridge paper with poster paint,” Ms Kvalic said.

“We also have kids that apply to be ambassadors with the Friends of the [Helmeted] Honeyeater. helping with planting and growing plants and general cleanup of the area… following the creek bed along from Yellingbo up to Macclesfield.

“It also helps with their knowledge of conservation and environment, and if we do this, hopefully the birds will come this way.”

Wild Helmeted Honeyeaters are found in Yellingbo’s Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area, with 20 born in captivity at Healesville Sanctuary recently released into the Yarra Ranges National Park as part of a conversation program.

The total population of Helmeted Honeyeaters at census date of 1 March 2022 was estimated at 168 individuals, with only three small, semi-wild populations established in streamside swamp forest to the east of Melbourne.

Conservation efforts for the animal through the Victorian Government’s Faunal Emblems Program, are being delivered in partnership with Zoos Victoria, Parks Vic-

toria, Friends of the

University, University of Melbourne, Yarra Ranges

Shire Council, Cardinia City Council, Greening Australia,Trust for Nature and the continued contributions of volunteers.

FOHH co-president Virginia Wallace said the project at Macclesfield Primary School shows the “passion that the local community has for saving their unique wildlife”.

“As an organisation, we do work very closely with the local schools because we believe that educating young people in some of the issues that are faced by our wild and native environment and our natural environment is very important if we want to look after it for the future,” Ms Wallace said.

“They’ll have a good understanding from a young age and they’ll be able to take their passion with them through their life.

“They’ll talk to other people about it, because that’s when people get on board.”

Not a mural painter, Ms Kvalic said the art project is also helping her - as well as students - step outside their comfort zone.

“My background is in art and art therapy, so I use a lot of art and art based projects as a connection with the children,” she said.

“I’ve got a small studio set up down the back in the Enviro Centre. If someone’s feeling a bit ‘bleh’ they might come and find me and we’ll go and do a little bit of painting.

“It’s a nice way for me to connect with the children...and, of course, when you’re doing something as big as this, everyone wants to have a look and everyone wants to have a go.”

Helmeted Honeyeater (FOHH), Melbourne Water, Monash

Back row: Macclesfield Primary School students Zac, Harrison and Peter (back row) with artist and education support staff member Charmaine Kvalic. Front row: Chase, Kayden, Isabelle and Alex. 338648 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Zac, Charmaine Kvalic and Peter. 338648

From left: Kya and Loki getting food out to their guests.

Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIG

Matt was in charge of collecting donations.

SRC representatives draw the winning raffle tickets.

Zara was hard at work on the coffee machine.

Runners hit the Silvan trail

Rapid Ascent’s Trail Running Series will return to Silvan in 2023, with the event beginning on Sunday 4 June at Yellow Gum Park in Plenty Gorge.

Runners will be treated to a rewarding run in a beautiful natural setting with each course offering spectacular views from the top of the valley. The Medium and Long course will also cross the Plenty River in ankle-deep water, adding to the adventure component of the race… after all #BitumenIsBoring.

Participants can choose from three course options, including the long course spanning an impressive 24km, the medium course covering 13km, or the 7km short course. Entries are still open online until race morning.

Organisers are excited to kick-off the 2023 Series, now featuring a condensed three-race format and promising new and exhilarating experiences for trail running enthusiasts.

“We’ve created a Series that runners can resonate with – getting people off-road and into natural settings with all abilities catered for,” Rapid Ascent general manager Sam Maffett said.

“By providing a welcoming environment, food, coffee and family activities; and showcasing little-known trails – we’ve pulled to-

gether all the good bits that make trail running so good!”

Boasting longer long course options and a new handicap format at Silvan, the continued popularity of trail running is proven by the Series’ entering its 13th year.

Runners are encouraged to enter one race or seize the ultimate challenge by participating in all three races as a Series Gold Runner who receive exclusive perks, including a sports bag, discounts, and much more.

The Trail Running Series stands out with its breathtaking wilderness locations, providing participants with an unforgettable adventure –all within a one hour drive of Melbourne.

The race schedule includes the following scenic locations: Plenty Gorge this Sunday 4 June, Anglesea on 9 July, and Silvan on 6 August, where the new handicap format will be introduced.

Competitors will run on little-known trails, down fun single tracks that pass through scenic landscapes of towering gum trees, trickling creeks, fern-lined valleys and native wildlife.

For more information about the event and how to secure your entry, visit the official website at trailrunningseries.com.au

Toes tapping for teacher’s bittersweet Irish farewell

By Tanya Steele

A well known Irish dance teacher will finish up her time in the Yarra Valley after many years of teaching in the community, the school’s annual ceilí was bittersweet as the community said farewell against a backdrop of Irish jigs, reels and laughter.

Michelle Bilton held her annual ceilí dance (Irish folk dancing) in Wandin North on Saturday 3 June and also celebrated 27 years of teaching in the Yarra Valley with her Irish dancing school Bilton Academy in Mt Evelyn.

“I love a ceilí and it’s always the highlight of the year,” she said.

The ceilí dance had attendees young and old, silent auctions and a dance demonstration by some of Bilton Academy’s current students, with music by the Galway Bay Boys which kept everyone out of their chairs.

Current students and parents of Bilton made a speech on the night and presented Ms Bilton with flowers in thanks for her efforts with the school.

“We’ve loved every minute of it, we’ve loved working with Michelle and love being part of her family and we wish her all the best for what’s ahead of her,” a parent at the event said.

Students acknowledged the greater impact that Ms Bilton has had on their lives, helping foster a strong passion for Irish dancing.

“We’re excited for the new adventures that

COMMUNITY DIARY

COMMUNITY DIARY

Free Holistic Open Day at The Wellspring Warburton

The Wellspring Warburton is having a Community Open Day on Saturday 10 June, offering free taster sessions of Yoga, Dance, Breathwork, Massage, Counselling and other holistic activities and therapy that will benefit the community’s mental and physical health.

await you, you have undoubtedly made a lasting impact on the lives of countless young dancers at Mount Evenlyn and you have inspired a new generation to embrace this rich Irish tradition,” the students said.

Ms Bilton has taught classes all throughout the valley in Healesville, Toolangi, Yarra Junction,Wandin, Lilydale and Mount Evelyn.

“I started teaching in Healesville because that’s where my kids were going to school,” she said.

“Over my time in the valley, I have been lucky enough to organise and witness hundreds of my dancing students participate in a variety of dancing competitions and celebrations, with some of them even going on to pursue their own dancing careers on a global scale.”

What started as a small school, with Ms Bilton and two close friends sewing dresses and costumes in her living room has evolved into hundreds of current and past students who have created not only a dancing club but Ms Bilton said it was more like a second family now.

“My students have annually danced in numerous displays, including Tesselaars Tulip Festival, the Lavender Festival, Yarra Glen Cup Races and even on the snow fields up in Mount Buller,” she said.

“We also stayed at the army base in Puckapunyal where my dancers stayed the night and met some of our military corps, they (the

The schedule for the event looks like this:

· 9am - 9.45am - Qigong with Sara Clarke

· 10am - 10.45am - Restorative Yoga with Katherine Spargo

· 11am - 11.45am - Breathwork workshop with

Jodie Smart

· 12pm - 12.45pm - Mother Earth Sound Medicine (Sound bath with plant music) with Catherine Marty

· 1pm - 1.45pm - Chakradance with Sandra

Rosa

· 2pm - 2.45pm - Creative Reflection (Creative arts therapy taster) with Miranda Rose

· 3pm - 3.45pm - Yoga for menopause with

Anthea

· 4pm - 4.45pm - Intuitive Flow Yoga with Crystal Tan

· One-on-One Sessions (25mins session):

· 9.50am to 11am (2 slots) - Pellowah Energy

Healing with Shiva

· 10.05am to 11am (2 slots) - Intro Counselling/Relationship sessions with Craig

· 10.10am to 1:35 pm (6 slots) - Focusing Therapy with Sara

students) hilariously tried to straighten my hair.”

Ms Bilton said there have been so many highlights in her time teaching, including getting students to state and world championships, watching them place in nationals and worlds and dancing in the community.

“My daughter Shea Bilton-Gough went on to dance in the UK and then travelled the world as supporting and lead dancer in a number of Irish Dance productions like Celtic Illusion and Celtic Fusion,” she said.

Ms Bilton also taught well known Celtic dance magician Anthony Street who continues to tour worldwide with his show, Celtic Illusion: Reimagined.

Ms Bilton grew up in the Mt Eliza and Frankston area and learned to dance from a young age, becoming a student teacher in her early 20s.

“My mum was Irish and I learnt from Geraldine O’Shea Ryan - she’s really well known in the Irish dancing community,” she said

Ms Bilton will move further out into Yarrawonga mid year and plans to continue teaching when she has settled in and is looking forward to holding a ceilí dance there next year.

“Come up and pitch a tent, it will be great,” she said.

Ms Bilton has loved her time in the Yarra Valley. Picture: TANYA STEELE

· 11.15am to 12:55 (3 slots) - Chi Massage with Eszter

· 11.10am to 12:50pm (3 slots) - Numerology with William

·

1.25 pm to 3pm (3 slots) - Choice of Reiki or Life Alignment with Malini

· 1.10pm to 4pm (4 slots) - Energetic Healing and Blue Lotus Foot Baths with Simone Bookings are necessary and can be made here: www.trybooking.com/CIJOY

Organisers ask anyone who books to attend if they can, and if you can’t make it for any reason, please cancel your booking to allow someone else to benefit from these sessions.

Engagement open for Bluegum Reserve

Engagement is open for plans by the Council to renew the playspace at Bluegum Reserve, Badger Creek and a preview concept plan is available for residents to view and comment on at the Yarra Ranges Council website.

Council is seeking public feedback on a

number of items for the draft design and engagement closes on 11 June.

The public is being asked to give thoughts on features and artwork for the public space in a series of drop-down options, including colour schemes for the playspace soft fall rubber and concrete blends.

The engagement commences after a draft design was developed and incorporated feedback given in Stage 1 of the Bluegum Drive Playspace project.

Bluegum Reserve Playspace is valued by the local community and the site is commonly used by all ages for playing, walking and health and fitness.

Previously the public had told Council that the playspace currently does not meet public needs and requires a more diverse range of equipment to suit and entertain all ages.

Prior feedback also included a need for the peace to be safe with open grasses space, with more seating and park furniture.

The public also requested a natural structure designed playspace with access to the creek and accessible play equipment.

Rapid Ascent’s Trail Running series will return to Silvan on 6 August,with runners able to enter up until race morning.

Picture: RAPID ASCENT

WHAT’S ON AROUND THE VALLEY

Fascinating flicks to view

By Callum Ludwig

The Warburton Film Festival is coming up, spanning three days from Friday 16 June to Sunday 18 June.

A selection of eight films produced locally and around the world will be on show at the Warburton Arts Centre over the festival weekend.

President of the Yarra Ranges Film Society Vivienne Bond said it’s a refreshing change from visiting a mainstream cinema.

“The current offerings in mainstream cinemas now seem to be very limited, to the large blockbuster films, the fantasy films or the large franchises like Marvel,” she said.

“While there’s nothing wrong with that, we seem to be lacking the variety of films that are made about real people that somebody has to actually write a meaningful script and a meaningful story for.”

The following eight films will be screening as part of the festival:‘Lost in Melbourne’ (Australia), ‘Farewell, Mr Haffman’ (France), ‘The Quiet Girl’ (Ireland), ‘A Stitch in Time’ (Australia), ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ (Australia/USA), ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ (Bosnia and Herzegovina), ‘Marcel The Shell with Shoes On’ (USA) and ‘A Son’ (Tunisia).

Ms Bond said film festivals provide a different experience and greater variety.

“People look at a film and say, oh, ‘We’ve got one from Bosnia, what do filmmakers do there? And I think they get a real surprise that

there is so much good work coming out from those countries,” she said.

“It’s just completely different to the usual American offerings.”

The Show Us Your Shorts (SUYS) competi-

tion will also be running as part of the festival, with the best short films by aspiring filmmakers being screened before the feature films. The prize winners will be awarded on Sunday 18 June.

Ms Bond said the return of the festival after

Covid last year was terrific.

“We were concerned that even though we were allowed to run the festival again, a number of people would stay away because they were still worried about the pandemic or just weren’t used to getting out of their homes and going places,” she said.

“Particularly with the way streaming and home viewing has been used and is still being used, there were some doubts whether people would embrace a film festival, but they did and it was just a marvellous feeling.”

More information about the films, screening times and a booking link can be found at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/ Events/Warburton-Film-Festival-2023.

A lifetime of artistry to be celebrated at The Memo

By Tanya Steele

Renowned Yarra Valley artist Jane Fitzherberbet will have her life’s work celebrated in an exhibition at The Memo in June.

A career spanning five decades will showcase the well known Yarra Valley artist’s work in “Journey: A Lifetime of Artistry”

The exhibition will include some older pieces from the beginning of her journey as an artist, unveiling work the public has not seen before.

Daughter Kate Fitzherbet said it’s a broader retrospective than they’ve done in the past because it includes many of her ceramics.

“She was a studio potter for about 20 years and It really traces her journey as a creator,” she said.

Jane passed away at 91, in 2021 in Healesville, her last solo exhibit to the public was in 2018.

Kate said her mother as an artist experimented with many different mediums, moving from ceramics to others like silk and then settling later onto acrylics and oils.

“She was always experimenting and trying new things and trying new ways of put-

ting paint on canvas and board and charcoal and she used to make a lot of her own tools, so she could scrape and poke and wiggle and squiggle and do all the things she was trying to do to get the imagery in,” she said.

Jane used objects like credit cards to get clean lines, scrapes and flicks into her paintings.

Old sticks, pieces of foam and wire would be crafted onto paintbrushes to get different textures onto the canvas.

Kate said that her mother was always creative and as a child she and her sister we had some wonderful times making stuff with her.

“Her creative tendencies came out in the thing she did with us, we once made this extraordinary mural out of paper mache in our playroom,” she said.

Jane’s philosophy was to ‘leave it to the observer’s own imagination to find meaningful content in my paintings’.

Selections of her art are known for intense

colours and evocative lines and imagery and this exhibition will showcase some of Jane’s responses to world events.

“Mum had a really good eye for colour, a really good understanding of it and she mixed colours beautifully,” Kate said.

“She expressed her anger and frustration through these, events such as the Bushfire aftermath and the invasion of Iraq.”

Jane mostly didn’t name her work but some of these pieces were named because of the significance of her responses to them.

Kate said that some of Jane’s other work was quite different because they were very much in flow pieces.

“She’d start and she said often she had no idea where she was going to finish up, but after a little while, that painting would take over and just lead her on,” she said.

She was much loved by her family who want to continue to share her work with the community.

“She lived such a wonderful and extraordinary life,” Kate said.

The exhibition opens at The Memo Healesville on 16 June.

Picture: JANE FITZHERBERT,REVOLUTION 1,UNDATED, OIL ON CANVAS,© ESTATE OF THE ARTIST

From left: Laurie Hastings,2022 SUYS winner Mawgran Shaw,Maggie Sail and Jacob Waxman.

From left: Laurie Hastings,Janine Hosking (director of The Eulogy),Vivienne Bond and Sally Ahern at the 2022 Warburton Film Festival. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Not a great third outing

Infinity Pool

Starring Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth

Rated R18+ 3.5/5

The latest sci-fi horror film from Brandon Cronenberg, Infinity Pool is a compelling, gruelling experience, yet falls short of Brandon’s prior films.

James (Alexander Skarsgard), a struggling writer, plunges into a macabre, hedonistic subculture in the island nation of Li Tolqa.

Antiviral and Possessor, Cronenberg’s first two films, are extremely dark satires of celebrity culture and the acting process (respectively), but Infinity Pool satirises wealthy tourists committing crimes abroad, mixed with mild

Group among the awarded Kemp’s curtain call

Congratulations:

The annual Victorian Drama League Awards proved to be a successful evening for Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre taking home two awards and nominated for eight other awards.

BestActor: in a minor role in a Drama: Lachlan Glennie as Philip Welch in The Deep Blue Sea.

Best Actress in a Drama: Angela Glennie as Hester Collyer in The Deep Blue Sea

Other nominations for awards were:

· The Gold Award – The Noel Bennett & Chris Curchward Perpetual Trophy David DareThe Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Lighting Design in a Comedy Drama –Craig Pearcy - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Costume Design in a Comedy Drama –Maria Sanders - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Actress on a minor role Drama – Francesca Carl - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Supporting Actor in a Drama – Philip Lambert - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Actor in a Drama – Ben Freeland - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Director in a Drama – Alan BurrowsThe Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Drama Production - The Deep Blue Sea.

· Lyrebird Awards

· The Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre won an unprecedented 13 awards from 42 nominations.

And the winners were:

· Best in comedy – Marinda Backaway for The Full Monty.

· Best Production – The Full Monty.

· Best Sound in comedy – Katie-Jane for Cosi.

· Best Lighting in Comedy – Craig Pearcy for Cosi.

· Best Costume in a Comedy – Maria Smedes for Cosi.

· Highly Commended Performance in a Comedy – Robert Clark for Cosi.

· Best Performer in a Supporting Female Role

– Jennifer Pacey for Cosi.

· Best Performer in a lead Female role – Adrienne George for Cosi.

· Best Performer in a lead Male role – Mark Crowe for Cosi..

· Best Director in a Comedy – Katie-Jane Amey for Cosi.

· Best costume in a Drama – Maria Smedes –The Deep Blue Sea.

· Highly Commended Performance in a Drama – Lisa Upson for The Deep Blue Sea.

· Best Performer in a Supporting Female Role

– Drama – Francesca Carl in The S=Deep Blue Sea.

Congratulations to all the above and for readers don’t forget your local theatre.

The next show at Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre is Joana Murray-Smith’s thriller Switzerland.

musings about life without morality or consequence.

James starts as a somewhat bland everyman, but this allows us to project ourselves

onto him and see how easily we could be seduced into an exciting, sadistic system. After a hit-and-run incident, the first act introduces Li Tolqan justice in the form of doubling, wherein an exact clone of the criminal is executed in their place. Now able to act with impunity, James enters a harrowing, well-paced spiral, and much of the suspense comes from James clinging to his humanity, as charm and shame from rich friends coax him into further acts of depravity.

Mia Goth is captivating as Gabi, the ringleader of James’ transformation, shifting effortlessly from temptress to spoiled brat to madwoman.

Infinity Pool has Cronenberg’s trademark

grotesque, neon-tinted imagery and droning electronic music, but lacks complexity. Antiviral and Possessor feature deep characters and unfolding conspiracies, but in Infinity Pool the doubling sci-fi plot-device largely takes a back-seat to James’ debauched decline. Some horror fans will find Infinity Pool engrossing but simplistic (and the climax, with its petty, bullying tone, feels almost trite).

Among recent third movies from auteurs, Infinity Pool is not as good as Nope or Men but better than Beau Is Afraid. Tense, disturbing and well-crafted but less sophisticated than Brandon Cronenberg’s other work, Infinity Pool is playing at select Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

A review of Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk

Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk, by author, poet and musician Sasha LaPointe, is recommended to our readers by Seattle UNESCO City of Literature.

Winner of the 2023 Pacific Northwest Book Award, Red Paint tells the heartwrenching story of an Indigenous artist struggling to reclaim her heritage. Sasha’s narrative is both honest and intimate: “I have always wanted a permanent home, a place to feel safe... I wanted some place I could truly call mine.”.

When Sasha was a child, her parents had to work long hours wherever they could find jobs.

The family moved around a lot, often staying in barely habitable church attics and trailers, dangerous places for a young girl.

Having been raped at the age of ten, Sasha learntto run away. Years after her teenage homelessness, she learnt how to look after herself, to work and pay bills, and to study. When her boyfriend proposed marriage on her 30th birthday, she said yes.

However, when Sasha was studying creative nonfiction at the Institute of American Indian Arts, her childhood agony came back

CARTOON

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

to haunt her, prompted by an assignment requiring students to write a personal essay exploring their most traumatic memory.

With that essay turning into a thesis and then a book, Sasha’s nightmares became far more intense and terrifying than those that she was used to in her younger years. She was plunged into a “spirit sickness” with life-threatening symptoms such as frequent fainting and loss of breath.

“How long are you gonna let your trauma be your entire life?” Sasha’s husband screamed at her.

“It’s like all the women in your family, your mom, your grandma, you all have the same thing, you’re all sick.”

Both before and after this confronta-

tion, Sasha experienced some of the most profound losses that any woman could ever imagine and/or endure. Yet, it is when she started retracing the footsteps of her grandmother and great-grandmother that she slowly began to understand her entire history, her identity, and the origins of her feelings of distrust and displacement.

At one stage she offers these powerful and compelling words: “I hate the word ’brave’. Like I hate ’victim’, ’survivor,’ or ’squaw.’ I was tired of the names white people had given us... Call me a writer. Call me a riot grrrl. Call me Coast Salish or poet. Call me a girl who loves Nick Cave, and night swimming, and ramen, and Old Bikini Kill records. I no longer wished to be called resilient. Call me reckless, impatient, and emotional. Even Indigenous. Call me anything other than survivor. I am so many more things than brave.”

In Sasha’s culture, the red paint, made by rolling chunks of red clay around in one’s fingertips, is only for the healers. When she finally got to wear the red paint, it was a reminder of where she came from, with the power of healing already in her veins, like it had belonged to the generations of women before her.

PUZZLES

No. 136

QUICK CROSSWORD

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.

ACROSS

1 True (8)

5 Takes footage online (6)

10 Available over the bar (2,3)

11 Male name (9)

12 Football strike with the head (6)

13 Ways (7)

14 Uncivilised (8)

15 Art of dwarfing shrubs or trees (6)

18 Classic Nabokov novel (6)

20 Most distant (8)

21 Impulse (7)

24 Marks or courses left by moving bodies (6)

27 Social exclusion (9)

28 Articles (5)

29 Actors with small roles (6)

30 Brings to life (8)

DOWN

1 Upon (4)

2 Principal church of a diocese (9)

DECODER

3 Very quick (5)

4 Rail around ship’s stern (8)

6 Comic book villain (7)

7 Egyptian capital (5)

8 Provisional (9)

9 Period (4)

14 Maryland city (9)

16 Most pungent (9)

17 Large Australian spider (8)

19 – Maslany, star of Orphan Black (7)

22 Small in French (5)

23 Go by ship (4)

25 Adage (5)

26 Egyptian goddess (4)

WORDFIT

9-LETTER WORD

T F

SUDOKU affect, afflict, AFFLICTED, afield, cafe, calf, clef, cleft, cliff, daft, deaf, deft, delft, face, faced, facelift, facet, facile, fact, fade, fail, failed, fate, fated, feat, fecit, felt, fetid, fiat, fief, field, fife, file, filed, filet, flat, flea, fled, flit, leaf, left, lief, life, lift, lifted, tiff

“s”. 23 words: Good 34 words: Very good 46 words: Excellent Today’s Aim: 3 LETTERS AND ASH ATE BUT CAN CIA EGO ERA EVE GEM HAT HEW HOE MAR MET NAP NIT ORE OUR PER ROE RUE SHE 4 LETTERS AHOY AMID AVID DRYS FLAT FLEE GAME HERS IDLE OAKS PORT SACK SALT SEAT SEEM 5 LETTERS ABATE ADEPT AFTIE APART ARENA AREN’T AURAL CREPE CURIO DEEMS DOSED DROLL ENTER ERASE ESSAY FORCE GENUS HORDE ICIER IRATE MATTE MAUVE MENUS MUSED OGLED PAPAL PASSE ROACH SAVVY SEEDS SIEGE SLEPT SOAPS SOUPS STAMP STEEP STEMS STOUT SWIPE TIRES TOTEM TREES TRUED VICAR WIPER WREAK 6 LETTERS ESTATE GLEAMS PRESTO SLEETS 7 LETTERS CUSTARD DEADEST DEPLETE GUITARS NETWORK NOWHERE 8 LETTERS OVERSEES SIDELINE TORTUOUS UNTRUEST 11 LETTERS ACCOMPANIST INSENSITIVE 12 345678910111213 1415 1617181920212223242526 Z Q K I J R N S O T H D X E P Y C W U L F G B M A V 09-06-23 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com 567492831 954361278 745689123 491738562 276845319 682173945 823516497 318927654 139254786 easy medium hard 782146539 869724153 453912687 391257864 514398726 176485392 645839271 237561948 928673415 378492615 815239467 637518924 159673842 926784153 584926371 462851739 743165298 291347586 1 14 7 20 2 15 8 21 3 16 9 22 4 17 10 23 5 18 11 24 6 19 12 25 13 26 MV HERITAGE & HERITAGE FUNERALS Lilydale 9739 7799 Healesville 5962 1600 HERITAGE PIONEERS CHAPEL 1414 Healesville/Koo Wee Rup Road, Woori Yallock 5964 6500 Head Office: 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna 9800 3000 info@ heritagefunerals.com.au www.heritagefunerals.com.au This week’s crossword proudly sponsored by The Heritage Family 1157336-CB40-14

I E L A C

No. 136

No. 136

No. 136

VINTAGE CHARMER WITH VIEWS

WELCOME to this stunningly renovated home in the heart of Warburton, offering a truly remarkable living experience for its fortunate new owner. This beautiful property presents an opportunity to own a gorgeous period home with the option of two or three bedrooms, depending on your needs.

Step inside and be greeted by the elegance of this charming residence. The large bathroom boasts a luxurious spa bath and a separate shower, providing the perfect retreat for relaxation, in addition to the outdoor bath with hot and cold running water for a special outdoor experience while surrounded by serene tranquillity.

The light-filled and airy kitchen features a captivating picture window, adding a touch of visual delight to your culinary endeavours. Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of the 1900’s vintage home, complete with timber panelling, high ceilings, and sash windows that exude a sense of nostalgia and romantic charm.

Indulge in the breathtaking natural surroundings as you venture outside. A stroll up the hill, rewards you with an aweinspiring eagle-eye vista of the majestic mountains, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Situated on an approximately half-acre allotment, and in a prime location in the heart of town, you’ll have easy access to the village shops and the renowned Warburton Trail and Yarra River, inviting you to embark on leisurely

HOME ESSENTIALS

Address:

Contact:

weekend adventures. Imagine starting your day with a delightful bike ride, followed by a delectable gourmet breakfast in town, and then in the afternoon, take a leisurely stroll to the nearby river and indulge in a refreshing dip in the warmer months – a perfect way to unwind and embrace the idyllic lifestyle Warburton has to offer. Don’t miss out on this delightful opportunity to make this exquisitely renovated property your own. Contact us today to arrange a viewing and experience the sheer elegance and charm that awaits you in this magnificent Warburton home. ●

PREMIER LIFESTYLE SANCTUARY

‘WILKY PARK’. North facing, quiet and private. Stunning views on 8.55 hectares.

The Residence:

The stylish double brick residence offers:

· 4 bedrooms, the main with full ensuite and walk-in robe

· Several living spaces, light, open and airy, overlooking courtyard and pool

· There is an option for an elderly parents’ suite with separate access, or a home office.

· Central kitchen, granite benchtops, induction cook top, dishwasher, wall oven, servery to dining room and walk in pantry

· Bathroom with bath

Infrastructure:

· Paved entertaining area

· Inground solar heated pool

· Tennis court

· Chook shed

· Veggie patch

· Cat run

· Dam, tank and bore water

· 19 paddocks – agistment (potential income)

· Oversized floodlit arena 30 x 80m

· New shed 8 x 18m, concrete slab/power/ water

· Tack/wash bay area

· Day sheds

· Set up for eventing horses - excellent, secure turning area for floats

· Agisters have separate access with dual access to the property (sealed off Kennedy Road)

· Additional shedding

A property that will impress on inspection, take your time, take it all in. It really is a special place, that is set up with the best facilities, especially for equine pursuits. Please note: this property has dual access, your GPS may take you to 110 Kennedy Road, Macclesfield instead. ●

ATTENTIONFIRSTHOMEBUYERS&INVESTORS

‘TREETOPS’CIRCA1910ONHALFANACRE

GREATLOCATION,WALKTOTOWN

Thisbricktwo-storeypropertyona1200sqmmostly flatblockhasalottoofferand includes3bedrooms-themainwithretreatand ensuite,astudy/diningroom,2 bathrooms-oneisrenovated withasoakingtub,shower&vanity,theloungewith open fireplace,spaciouskitchenand Eurolaundry,ahuge deckoverlookingthefenced rearyard,twocargarageand carport.Nothroughroad,greatlocationwithinwalking distancetoMonbulk,schools,cafesand agood varietyofshopsand businesses.

MickDolphin 0429684522

PRICE,POSITION&POTENTIAL

TayTing 0417302112

MINUTESTOBELGRAVE!

Thischarmingresidenceretainsmanyofitsperiodfeatures &somenewcreature comforts.Offeringhigh(ornate&strapped)ceilings,chandeliers,hardwood floors& doors,OFPwithcastironburner,woodpanelling,Frenchdoors,customdrapery,Juliette balconyfrommaster,study/gamingnookin2ndbedroom,claw footbath,2living spaces,lounge/diningwith fireplace,sealedreturndriveway,secondaccessforcaravan/ boat,cubbyhouse,veggiepatch,under-housecaraccess,workshop&storage.

MickDolphin 0429684522

JanBrewster 0409558805

LOvELyOuTLOOKON½ANACRE

BELGRAVE 100MARTINSTREET

CHARACTERHOMEINATRANQUILASPECT

$530,000-$570,000

2 A 1 B 2 C

Lookingforaprojectinaprimelocationwithaveryaffordablepricerange?This 2-bedroomhomeonan872sqmblockwithstunningviewshaslovelycharacterfeatures throughout,atranquilaspect,beautifultieredgardens&walkingdistancetoBelgrave Central,schoolsandpublictransport.Thehomecurrentlyhasabuildingorderplacedon itwhichwouldneedtoberectifiedbythenewowner,whichincludesstructuralworksto thesubfloorarea,thiswillrequireabuildingpermitforthecompletion.

JanBrewster 0409558805

SituatedinabeautifulpartofSelby,prettyandpeaceful,lookoutoveryourreardecking andseevisitingKookaburrasandRosellasinthetrees.This homefeaturesBIR’s,astudy, 3separatelivingspaces,onedownstairswhichcouldbeafabulouswork-from-home spaceorteenageretreatwithseparateaccess,alargelaundry(withalaundryshoot) andabathroom.Thecentralkitchenboastsstainlesssteelappliances.youhaveoff-street parking,agardenshed,½anacreofestablishedgardens,fruittreesandlawns.

0429684522 JanBrewster 0409558805

4 A 2 B 3 C

UNIQUECHARACTERCOTTAGE

3 A 2 B 1 C

SELBy 68TEMPLEROAd $750,000-$825,000

A WONDERFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME

THIS property presents a one-of-a-kind chance to own a successful Airbnb or your own idyllic country retreat.

Tucked away on a peaceful tree-lined street outside of Warburton, this charming home radiates tranquility and offers a refreshing breath of fresh country air.

Boasting two bedrooms with enchanting windows and abundant natural light, the home’s delightful bathroom features timber paneling and a large claw foot bathtub overlooking the private gardens.

Throughout the weatherboard house, you’ll find a wealth of character, from the floorboards to the high ceilings to the threequarter wraparound verandah that adds a rustic touch. The spacious open-plan living area is perfect for entertaining, with large doors opening onto the decking, a cozy lounge warmed by a crackling fireplace, and the convenience of split systems.

The kitchen features a large breakfast bench, dishwasher, electric cooking, and sliding doors that lead to an extended undercover living space for the whole family to enjoy.

The backyard boasts over 1200 square meters of cottage gardens, easy access and parking, a carport, garage, and a neighboring pipeline that adds extra privacy and space.

Whether you’re looking for a perfect weekend getaway, a B&B investment, or a place to call home, this property is a mustsee. ●

Serenecountrylivingonjustunder3acres

Thecharmofthishomesteadstylebrickhomeon11584squaremetres,completewithashady bullnoseverandaissettowarmyourheart.Withsoaringceilingsthroughout,boastingtwospacious livingareaswithfourgenerouslysizedbedroomswithbuilt-inrobes.Thesprawlingmasterbedroom iscompletewithawalk-inrobeandfullensuite,offeringatouchofluxuryandprivacy.Thelight filledkitchenoffersanabundanceofcupboardandbenchspace.Theseparatelivingareasmake forconvenientfamilylivingandoffersareversecycleairconditionerandtwoslowcombustion woodheatersensuringyear-roundcomfort.Outside,astunninglocationwithwildlifeinabundance, backingontotheWooriYallockcreeknaturereserve.Otherfeaturesonthispropertyarelock-up shed,doublecarport,hayshed/stable,fruittrees,andplentyofspaceforthehorsesandkidstoplay.

18SurreyRoad,Warburton$690,000-$755,000

SurreyRoadaddresswithbrickhomeonover1000sqm!

Thisbrickhomeissetonover1100sqmofgorgeousrollinggreenland,mountainviewseithersideand theiconicWarburtongolfcourseonlyahopskipandjumpaway!Featuring3greatsizebedroomsallwithrobes.1bathroomwithadjoiningtoilet-easyaccesstobathroom/toilet/laundry-whichalso actsasamudroom.Thebackyardwithmountainviews-itliterallyfeelslikeyoucanreachoutand touchthem-it’sstunning!Veggiegardens,sittingarea,gazeboreallycompletesthebackyard.The backyardisfullyfencedandenclosedtokeepanimalsandchildrenandsafe,doublegatesinfront ofthe1cargaragegiveyouaccesstotheyard.Extrasincludebackundercoverareathatisvery privateforentertaining,ceilingfansthatretractthroughout,splitsystemsx2,gasductedheating andplentyofstorageinthekitchenandextracupboards.

30StationRoad,Warburton

VintageCharmerwithSpectacularMountainViews

$700,000-$770,000

Thisbeautifulpropertypresentsanopportunitytoownagorgeousperiodhomewiththeoptionof twoorthreebedrooms.Thelargebathroomboastsaluxuriousspabathandaseparateshower, providingtheperfectretreatforrelaxationinadditiontotheoutdoorbathwithhotrunningwaterfor aspecialoutdoorexperience.Thelight-filledkitchenfeaturesacaptivatingpicturewindow,adding atouchofvisualdelight.Completewithtimberpanelling,highceilings,andsashwindowsthatexude asenseofnostalgia.Indulgeinthebreathtakingnaturalsurroundingsasyouventureoutside.Withan awe-inspiringeagle-eyevistaofthemountains,allowingyoutofullyimmerseyourselfinthebeauty ofnature.Situatedonanapproximatelyhalf-acreallotment,andinaprimelocationintheheartof Warburton,don’tmissoutonthisopportunitytomakethisdelightfulpropertyyourown.

TonyFanfulla

M 0419870513

nspection: Sat11.00-11.30am

SamanthaPrice M 0438795190

225BigPatsCreekRd,BigPatsCreek$900,000-$990,000

WelcometoParadise

Seton1&1/2acresinthemostpicturesquesettingisthisbeautifullyrenovatedhome.Surrounded bytreesandwithaspringfedpermanentcreekrunningthrough.Therecentrenovationmeans everythinginthehomeisbrandnewandneverused.Thisincludesnewcarpetsinthefourlarge bedroomsandallnew fixturesinthetwowellequippedbathrooms.There’stwolargelivingareas, oneoneachlevel,bothwithbeautifulnewhardwood flooring.Thebrandnewkitcheniswell appointedwithstainlesssteelappliancesincludinglarge5burnerstove,rangehoodanddishwasher. Filteredmountainviewscanbeenjoyedfromthefulllengthdeckupstairswithaccessfromthe masterbedroomandlivingarea.Extrasincludeairconditioninginbothlivingareas,slowcombustion woodheater.Trulyaspecialpropertyidealasapermanentfamilyhomeorforweekendenjoyment.

QUALITY, SIZE AND TIMELESS APPEAL

A PICTURE of perfection awaits at ‘Greenwood’, a much loved, Federation Harkaway home, built and engineered to an outstanding level of detail and offering a traditional, period style home that boasts elegance on every level.

Spacious and solid, there has been no compromise on quality, offering 4 bedrooms, home office (or 5th bedroom), dual bathrooms and a versatile floorplan to meet any family’s requirements. Large living zones extend over two levels, giving you a comfortable lounge room with ornate gas log fire, a sun filled dining room, spacious TV / meals area and an oversized rumpus/studio with separate access that also boasts an entertaining area and bedroom.

Ideal for in-law accommodation or work from home options, this extensive floorplan has been superbly executed to allow for a variety of uses. Allowing plenty of bench space to cook and prepare, the Blackwood kitchen is highlighted by a Smeg oven, walk in pantry and an abundance of storage and has been positioned perfectly with direct

access out onto the expansive decking where entertaining can be done with style and sophistication.

With 10ft ceilings, gleaming spotted gum floorboards and timber sash windows, you will discover many ‘olde world’ features throughout. Bay windows with leadlight features are beautiful examples of the intimate design whilst hydronic heating, multiple split systems, ceiling fans and an abundance of storage options make this home a practical choice.

Outside, the tiered 1923m2 block has been meticulously maintained boasting a well fenced rear yard, sealed circular driveway and extended parking options that include both a double garage with loft storage space and also a wide double carport.

Only minutes from Wellington Road, Burwood Hwy and surrounded by great schools and a close, caring community, ‘Greenwood’ has quality, size and timeless appeal. ●

4 A 1 B 2 C

Thismagnificent10-acrepropertyculminatingatscenicWooriYallockCreekisa breathtakingportionoftheDandenongRangesnottobemissed.Punctuatedbyaquality craftedmudbrickandweatherboardresidence,thisisacountry-feelpropertyimmersedin exquisitelocalfloraandfauna.

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen

M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

78-78AHumeStreet,UPWEY $1,650,000-$1,790,000 TWOTITLESANDTHREEDWELLINGSINPRIMEPOSITION 8 A 4 B 3 C

Thisuniquepropertyoffersanoutstandingopportunityforinvestorsandbuyerssearching formulti-generationalspace.Boastingasprawling8,586sqm(approx.)allotmentwith2tiles, 3dwellings,andpotentialtosubdivide(STCA),thisisaone-offchancetosecureamultiresidencepropertyofimpressiveproportions.

ContactBradforaninspectiontoday!

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen

M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

26AMonbulkRoad,BELGRAVE

2 A 1 B

$500,000to$550,000 CHARMINGCOTTAGEINCOVETEDLIFESTYLELOCATION

Withaperfectpositiononly500mfromBelgravetownshipandapicturesque945sqm (approx.)allotmentwithelevatedoutlooks,thispropertyaffordsownersatree-change lifestyleinatop-tierlocale.BurstingwithcharacternearBelgraveStation,PuffingBilly Railway,andthebustlinglocalshopping,caféandentertainmentprecinct,youcanpark thecarandeasilyenjoyallthishighlycovetedneighbourhoodhasonoffer.

SuzieBrannelly

M 0490506910| E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

27TheCrescent,SASSAFRAS $1,450,000-$1,590,000 HISTORICHILLSHOMEINEXCLUSIVELIFESTYLEPOCKET 5 A 2 B 3 C

Steepedinhistoryandsurroundedbylushgardens,“Kalamunda”remainsasmagnificentas ever.Constructedin1924andcarefullyupdatedformodernliving,thishomeencapsulates elegantHillsliving.Thisluxuriousresidenceevokesasophisticatedandserenefeelduein parttoitsenclosedverandahwithrichJarrahflooring.Atonewithitssurrounds,gorgeous gardenandvalleyviewsframethishomesoyouwillfeeltuckedawayfrombusylifethe momentyouarrivehome.

GlennChandler

M 0418410689| E glenn@chandlerandco.com.au

SuzieBrannelly

M 0490506910| E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

Six for young star Smith

Wandin headed to the home of Upwey-Tecoma for their Round Seven clash in the AFL Outer East Premier Division.

The third-placed Tigers were looking to claim a scalp and continue their finals surge, with the Doggies keen to retain their spot and an unbeaten run that has them in first.

It was tight in the first quarter, with only a goal separating the two sides in Wandin’s favour, 3.19 to 4.1, 25.

In the second quarter is where the competition’s ruthless ladder leaders set themselves up for the win, stretching out to a halftime lead of 31 points.

The Doggies’ dominance continued in the third quarter as they piled on 6.4 to the Tigers’ 1.5 and the game slowed down in the final quarter, Upwey-Tecoma kicking four straight to Wandin’s 1.5 to bring it back to a 47-point final margin, 10.9, 69 to 17.14, 116.

Young Pup Connor Smith was the standout player, showing his speed and skill with six goals in the forward line covering for the injured Aaron Mullet and Jordan Jaworski while Wandin’s midfield controlled the contest from the outset.

Smith, Todd Garner, John Ladner, Cody Hirst, Patty Bruzzese, Patrick Hodgett and Andres Baker were the top Dogs for the day.

Joining Smith on the scoreboard were Clinton Johnson with 3 goals, HarrisonVan Duuren and Baker with 2 and P Hodgett, Ladner, Hirst and Brodie Atkins all kicking a solitary goal.

Warburton-Millgrove prove tough to beat in the wet

By Alex Woods

The morning started off with the Under 17s at Morrison Reserve. Conditions weren’t ideal, wet and wasn’t fun if you took a tumble. It started with a 3-4 score at the quarter time break the Burras’ way. Coming into the last quarter the 17’s had a leave of 6-11, but during Powelltown did secure themselves a few goals to slowly creep towards the Burras. They held on to the end and secured a 10-13 victory. Tahlia Thornton, Layla Ata and Hannah Darwall were all named top performers, Tayah Humphrey put up 9 goals, Tahlia Thornton with 3 and Hannah Darwall entering the circle and shot 1. The team remains undefeated and on top.

D Grade was next, it had been a few weeks since this team last played, so it was good to get another run in. A good start to the match having a 4-10 lead at the first break. At threequarter time the lead was extended to a 13-22 game. The D Graders carried on till the end claiming another victory on 15-24. Nicole Cervasio, Tamin Crunden and Cam Partel were all named in the bests with Cam Holland shooting 12, Cam Partel with 9 and Tayah Humphrey with 3. D Grade also sits on top undefeated.

C Grade was next, in a bid to claim a victory against Powelltown. C Grade went down by 2 goals the last time they met and they were out to try and reclaim the win. They started strong but unfortunately were down 8-6 at quarter time. It was a closer game throughout, down by 1 at halftime and then even by the last break. Big last quarter to be had, but unfortunately it wasn’t WarburtonMillgrove’s day. The girls were only 3 goals short but put in a great effort. Melanie Hancock, Ruby Kelly and Bianca Fraser were all named top performers for the match. Mel Hancock put up 16 goals and teammate Ella Meerkotter with 14. Well done girls. Reserves started off the morning at Eastern Ranges in Kilsyth. A nice 0-28 start for the boys against rivals Powelltown. By halftime, the score was 1.1-7 to 6.7-43. Both teams contributed 1 goal each in the 3rd quarter. Powelltown put away 4 goals in the last quarter to Burras’ 2, but they were able to hold on to the lead right until the final siren to secure another win. Caelan Flynn, Ben Gray, Joshua Read, Aaron Pye, Tarkyn Nicolandos and Marcel Kocher were all named in the bests for the match. Josh Read contributed 4 goals, Damien Egan and Cody Ladewig both had 2

and Marcel Kocher and Matt Sidari both had 1 each. They also sit undefeated on top of the ladder.

B Grade was up next in another fight for a victory against Powelltown. They started strong and had an even score at the first break 9-all. Powelltown had a stronger 2nd quarter shooting 15 goals to Burras’ 8. The halftime score was 17-24, the 3rd quarter was strong with the girls coming back to be 2 goals own at the last break. They took control into the fourth quarter and gained a lead but unfortunately, a few errors cost them as Powelltown regain possession of the game and secured a 4-goal victory. 45-41 was the final score with Chelsea Barnard, Alexandra Woods and Jordana Butcher all named top performers. Alex

Woods also put up 20 goals, Jordana Butcher with 15 and Emily Hay with 6.

A Grade finished off the netball for the day. A closer start this time with a score of 13-16 at the first break. By halftime, the Burras had a 6-goal lead but still could be anyone’s game, Powelltown slowly got closer, only being behind by 4 goals at the last break. The Burras took control of the final quarter shooting 13 to Powelltown’s 7. The final score was 5444 with Bianca Daniels putting up 27 goals, Karly Wappett with 18 and Shae Gee with 9. Ashlyn Elliott, Ally Langdon and Selina Fotia were all stars of the match for A Grade’s win.

The Seniors finished off the day with a tough battle. Burras claimed the win last match but it was still going to be a tough fight

to continue the run. The boys started strong having a 16 to 33 lead at quarter time. They held onto a 20-point lead at halftime. After the main break, it was all Burras from there. Defensive pressure was on and the boys converted their possessions into goals. The boys kicked 5.4 in the 3rd quarter to Powelltown’s 1.2. The last quarter was just as big with Burras keeping Powelltown to only 1 goal while kicking another 2.4. The final score was 7.648 to Burras 15.14-104, Ben Pretty, Shawn Andueza, Bailey Humphrey, Jack Farrugia, Liam Westlake, Patrick Huynh were all named best on, Bailey Humphrey kicked 5 goals. Jack Farrugia and Liam Westlake both had 3 goals and Tom Barr with 2. Trent Elliott and James Iacono both had 1 goal each.

Another win on the board for Wandin.

Picture:

Warburton-Millgrove was strong with four wins over rivals Powelltown.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Healesville action at home

By Anne-Marie Ebbels

All Healesville team were in action at home this week against Officer and ROC, except the Vets who travelled to Gembrook.

It was a tough day for all the netball grades with players missing due to sickness, so numerous players were required to play a couple of games.

The A Grade game scoreline belied how fierce the game was. Healesville matched the ROC toughness in the first quarter and were going goal for goal initially.

A couple of turnovers in the middle of the quarter saw ROC race to a 14-goal lead at quarter time.

The remaining quarters were much the same with the ROC height and pressure earning them turnovers which Healesville couldn’t win back.

Ultimately, ROC were winners by 54 goals. In another tough game, Healesville B Grade were solid in the first quarter, but a blistering second quarter by ROC scoring 24 goals saw them go to the main break with a 35-goal lead.

Healesville managed to get on the scoreboard more often the second half, but ROC were relentless on their way to a 70-goal win.

The C grade team had a number of personnel changes to cover for players going up and found it hard to get into a rhythm during the game.

The defence end held up well, but Healesville couldn’t capitalise on the turnover generated in the defensive end.

ROC defeated Healesville by 36 goals. In the worse of the weather conditions, the D Grade game started in the rain.

It was tough start with Healesville goalless in the first quarter.

The weather conditions improved, but ROC had the advantage throughout the game and ran out eventual winners by 32 goals.

The Officer Seniors were out of the block quickly in the first quarter and Healesville struggled to find any answer to stop the opposition scoring and Officer went into the first break with a healthy 25 point lead.

A reset a quarter time saw Healesville come out and start to win the ball and counteract the Officer runners scoring four goals to one in

the second quarter narrowly the Officer lead to three points at half time.

The Healesville team continued to apply the pressure in the third quarter and kept Officer goalless to go into the final break 22 points up.

Officer dug deep in the final quarter and

outscored Healesville.

Healesville hung on for an 11 point win.

The Reserves, after their win last week, had a game they would rather forget.

Healesville were outclassed by a young and fit Officer team.

Healesville were kept scoreless in the first

half and final got onto the scoreboard in the third quarter.

Officer were winners by a massive 139 points.

After a 4-week break, Healesville played the late game at Gembrook.

Accurate kicking in the first half kept Healesville in the game against their more wayward opposition, going into the half time break one point up.

Gembrook dominated the play in the third quarter keeping Healesville scoreless and Gembrook went into the final break 21 points up.

Healesville worked hard in the final quarter and outscored the opposition, but couldn’t bridge the gap and eventually went down by 20 points.

The Women’s team played Olinda-Ferny Creek for the second time in three weeks. Healesville continued to show why they are the league leaders and dominated the game from start to finish.

Danielle Carrucan kicked two goals to put herself second on the league goal kicking list for the Women’s Division One competition. Healesville ran out winners by 32 points.

Results

Football

· Veterans Healesville 4.3 defeated by Gembrook 6.11 Best N Whitmore, C Adams, M Hay, B Boote, D Creed, A Peters

· Men Reserves Healesville 1.2 defeated by Officer 23.9 Best T Campbell. J Mansfield, R Hargreaves, C Boeder, S Larose, J Poyton

· Men Seniors Healesville 10.12 defeated Officer 9.7 Best D Senior, M Jones, M Donegan, N Mende, L Oliver, S Gebert

· Women Seniors Healesville 5.4 defeated Olinda 0.2 Best S Morris, E Cianci, C Wilsmore, I Stock, D Carrucan, I Renouf

Netball

· A Grade Healesville 19 defeated by ROC 73

Best: J Agnew, J Milne, M Erickson

· B Grade Healesville 16 defeated by ROC 86

Best: H Blackney, I Smith, A McMaster

· C Grade Healesville 9 defeated by ROC 45

Best: T Pinkster, M Dougherty

· D Grade Healesville 4 defeated by ROC 36

Best: J Petersen, S Aloi, E Birch

Pink Sports Day raises tidy sum for fight against cancer

By David Ball

Yarra Glen were finally able to host a game at their home ground with the day being a dedicated Pink Sports Day in support of the Breast Cancer Network.

Taking on Yarra Junction who had a new coach in command for the second time, the visitors started with intensity and hit the scoreboard to take an early lead.

Yarra Glen settled and as their midfield lifted they took control of general play.

If not for some errant kicking for goal, the River Pigs would have been more than the 4 points in front at quarter time.

4.8 to 4.4.

In the second quarterYarra Glen were well on top, but once again missed some straight forward opportunities to be leading 8.14 to 5.6 at the main break.

Josh Hawkins and Chris Beattie combined for some great goals, with Jayden Schille and Callum Morison on top in defence.

The River Pigs outscored the Eagles 3 goals to 2 in the third to take control of the game, leading by 34 points going into the last quarter.

Thetwoteamstradedgoalsuntillateinthe last quarter whenYarra Junction slammed on some late goals to close the gap to 21 points.

Final scoresYarra Glen 15.22 toYarra Junction 13.13.

Best players were Ben Ashton, Jimmy Marks, Josh Hawkins, Jayden Schille, Chris Beattie and Callum Morison.

Goalkickers were Josh Hawkins 3, Jimmy Marks 3, Marcus Kikidopolous 3, Chris Beattie 2, Anthony Harman 2, Ben Ashton and Sam Wood.

The Yarra Glen reserves started in slightly wet conditions after some early morning rain.

Yarra Junction handled the ball well and were able to take a 5 goal lead into quarter time.

The Eagles produced a very even 4 quarter performance whilst Yarra Glen showed only patches of good football.

Will Duff was great on the wing with Richard Gurney providing some spark in the midfield and up forward.

The Junction forwards were too strong in the air as they marked and goaled consistently through the 4 quarters.

It was great to have some returning senior players helping out to fill the team for Yarra Glen.

Best players were Will Duff, Richard Gurney, Graham Ely, Jordan Goodburn, Regen Daniel and Cam Tait.

Goalkickers were Braedon Crombie, Will

Duff, Troy Beath and Jordan Goodburn.

Next week Yarra Glen has a bye before travelling to Broadford on 17 June.

The Yarra Glen Netball D Grade started well on a wet court and led 9 to 4 at quarter time.

They were consistently handling the ball and moving it better than Yarra Junction to end up winning every quarter to finish with a convincing 40 to 15 victory.

Best players were Melissa Erickson, Sam Chetcuti (26 goals) and Kim Christian.

The C Grade girls started strongly, moving the ball crisply and defending strongly to be 13 to 3 up at quarter time.

Their good form continued in the second quarter as they stretched their lead to be 23 to 8 ahead at half time.

Yarra Glen continued their clean ball movement and their goalshooters converted well throughout the second half to finish up winning well, 38 to 15

Best players were Zoe Collins, Sarah Orlandi (29 goals) and Courtney Cochrane.

In B Grade Yarra Glen faced some early pressure from Yarra Junction and had to work hard to create their 11 to 3 quarter time lead.

The second quarter saw the Yarra Glen girls lift to a new level, shutting down the Junction ball movement to keep them scoreless for the quarter.

At the other end Yarra Glen added 15 goals to be 26 to 3 ahead at half time.

The second half saw Yarra Junction kept to just 3 goals in each of the last 2 quarters. Great defence and good conversion saw B Grade running out victorious, 41 to 9.

Best players wereTiah Large, JasminWood and Casey Wandin-Collins

The A Grade game was a great contest in the first quarter with both sides scoring 14 goals.

Yarra Glen was missing Maddy Hargrave in goals but had a great replacement in Georgia Crundale. It did take the Yarra Glen girls a little while to adjust to a different goalshooter and at half time Yarra Glen was just 2 goals up, 31 to 29.

The third quarter saw Yarra Glen assert their authority as they improved their defensive pressure.

At three quarter time they had moved out to be ahead 49 to 41.

The last quarter was cut short as an Ambulance was needed to attend to Yarra Glen’s centre Alana McGurgan.

In falling backwards she was knocked out, hitting the court hard.

Yarra Glen had added 6 goals to 2 to win, 55 to 43.

Fortunately, Alana is recovering well.

Best players were Kayla Toomer, Lara Wandin Collins and Georgia Crundale (42 goals).

Next week all 4 teams have a bye, with A, B and C travelling to Broadford on 17 June.

The Pink Sports Day was an outstanding success thanks to the support of Yarra Junction, The Yarra Glen Community and many local businesses.

In all over $10,000 was raised to support the Breast Cancer Network Australia in honour of Sandra Wood, a much loved mother to Sam and Jasmin and wife of Peter, who sadly passed away recently due to breast cancer.

Connie Mecuri shooting a goal.

Picture: KYLIE ROWE

Over 10,000 was raised in honour of Sandra Wood. Picture: REBECCA BEATTIE

SPORT

Dragons taste first loss

By Sarah Morton

Healesville U8 Dragons recorded their first loss of the season 3-2 on Saturday.

The boys played a brilliant game against Berwick with lots of shots on goal, and great passing and defending, but luck wasn’t on their side.

Both Healesville goals were scored by Hudson.

The U9 Redbacks were switched on right from the kick-off against Berwick Spirit.

The boys played with plenty of attack and determination, holding good team structure and great defence.

The whole team looked for space and passed the ball to teammates in good position.

Billy scored his second hat-trick for the season and Arlo chimed in with two goals for a comprehensive 5-0 victory.

Some great individual runs by Max and really solid defensive game from Ash, who consistently denied Berwick’s attacking forwards were also highlights.

Overall, it was a fantastic team effort with everyone contributing for the whole game.

Healesville U10 Reds ended their game 4-1 down to Blackburn Osprey, but a determined performance from the Reds made Blackburn work for their goals, holding Blackburn to just one goal in the second half.

Healesville U10 Whites put on a dominant performance on Saturday winning 8-1 against the Blackburn North Crocodiles.

A slight change in formation and higher focus on defence and midfield pressure yielded immediate results with the activation of the mercy rule coming in the first fifteen minutes of the game.

Healesville’s pressure did not relent, and the goals kept coming from outside the Box.

Ardi’s feints and dribbling netted two early goals to set Healesville up.

Some wonderful striking of the ball outside the box from Arthur, Zak – with two glorious bombs hitting the net, and Austin complementing his Best on Ground performance.

Healesville did well to force turnovers and control the ball.

Evan did a fantastic job as sweeper, fast and controlling the ball well at top speed.

Flynn Mc played well in the wings with his foot skills and his delivery to the forwards was brilliant.

Flynn F showed some real determination in foiling oncoming attackers.

Arthur’s patience on the ball really looked silky and calculated!

Healesville Captain Robbie was lively and poured on the pressure whenever the ball was in his vicinity.

Will had some great runs up and down the wing to prove more than a handful at both ends of the ground.

Healesville goal-keeper Harley kept a clean sheet to half time until he took to the field.

The second half saw Jon in goals doing an amazing job including saving a penalty from the spot.

The decision-making vision and execution were top shelf from the entire team.

Healesville U12s played a very entertaining 1-1 draw against Mooroolbark at Morrison Reserve.

Chances and close calls for both teams had the parents of both teams cheering from the sidelines for most of the game.

A goal for Alex and a great penalty save by

Horse Talk: Weekend trial of dressage works out well

By Anita Prowse

Last weekend saw the annual UpperYarra Pony Club (UYPC) Dressage Jackpot, run for the first time over Saturday and Sunday. This allowed UYPC some more entries, enabled more tests to be ridden on the sand and the ability to keep on top of things much easier and will be something UYPC will continue as it was definitely deemed a successful trial.

Jackpot results were:

· PC G2 winner – Ella Tosh on Carronade, Yarra Glen PC

· PC G3 winner – Sarah Laukart on HSV Charisma, Upper Beacconsfield PC

· PC G4 winner – Audrey Murphy on Emerald, Cockatoo and District PC

· PC G5 winner – Lilly Kitto on Finding Nemo, Seville PC

· PC G6 winner – Harper Falls on Mikani Midnight Gambler, Ringwood PC

· OPEN ADV winner – Skye Wright on Kamber Pryderi

· OPEN G1 winner – Fern Wright on Kamber Merfyn

· OPEN G2 winner – DianneWilkinson on Riverbend Wahine Te Nui

· OPEN G3 winner – Jaimee Simpson on Darwin Park Spyderman

· OPEN G4 winner – Kerrie Bellett on Silkwood Eclipse

· OPEN G5 winner – Louisa Smith on Harkaway Lodge Genna

· OPEN G6 winner – Monroe Bellett on Oakey Thanks to all competitors, judges and volunteers who make the events so enjoyable and fun to organise and run.

Theo were Healesville’s highlights.

Healesville U14s mixed came out firing this week.

Yarra Valley are always an even match, and Saturday’s game finished no different.

It took 20mins for Healesville to break through going into half time 1-0 up and put another in 10 minutes into the second half.

But as expected Yarra Valley came hard, scoring a penalty.

However Healesville held on for their 1st victory of season!

2-1 winners!

TheU14HealesvilleGirlsWhiteteamplayed exceptionally well on Saturday in both defence and attack with a 2-0 win against Berwick.

The two goals scored by Ava and Olive were both cracking shots scored from outside the box.

Well done Healesville!

The Healesville Senior Women’s team came back fighting this week against Blackburn to dominate the game with a 6-0 win.

The first goal came early with a cracking run from Ava Holman, whilst Captain Sarah Cunnian booted an unstoppable goal moments before the half time whistle.

Special mention to first time goalkeeper Caroline Moura with several epic saves keep-

ing Blackburn at bay.

The goal opportunities came quickly in the second half as Sarah scored again with a strike from outside the box.

Kiera Steventon brought the score to 4-0 with a brilliant cross which bounced in off the post, and you could hear the cheers from the sideline for double trouble sisters Debbie Stewart and Courtney Campbell who took home the last two goals, with Courtney outplaying two defenders to smash hers into the net.

Healesville Reserves lost 8-3 to Whitehorse Utd in the Presidents Cup.

Healesville had plenty of good moments in the game.

Two goals from Steven Campbell and a goal for his nephew, U14s Will Watson, had the crowd cheering loudly.

But a few late goals for Whitehorse made the score line blow out.

Healesville Seniors had an agonising loss to Monbulk in the Parry Cup.

John Caloutas’ first ever goal for the seniors and two goals from Brian Winrow had Healesville leading 3-2 with 15 minutes to go.

However, a younger Monbulk side piled on the pressure and scored two late goals to knock Healesville out of the competition.

Healthy field hits course at Warburton Golf Club

By Ron Hottes

Wednesday 31 May, Stableford:

Another healthy field, allowing for A and BGrade winners, saw an A-Grade win to the very talented Clinton Toohey, who posted a healthy 35 points. ‘Mr Consistent’ James Campion, was pipped by Clint on a tight countback, as he also recorded 35 points. But the big news comes with the B-Grade results, where the ever-popular Ineke DeGraaf also won on a countback. Her result of 36 points means that Mrs DeGraaf has bragging rights in that household, at least for a week Henk. Well done, Ineke. Glen Forbes was the unlucky runner-up, recording a 36-points card too. If you accrued 32 points or better, you can claim your ball next time you are in the Pro shop. NTPs went home with the ever-accurate Jaqui Hall (3rd), Ross Machar (5th), Michael Hibbert (9th), Clinton Toohey, (12th) and the ageless Alan Johnston (15th).

Saturday 3 June, Stroke and Monthly Medal:

The June medallist just happens to be Robert Ferguson, who posted a very creditable Nett 66 in tough conditions. Rob’s round was very consistent over the whole 18 holes (and that is the secret to winning a medal).

Josh Hin was the B-Grade runner-up with a noteworthy Nett 68. Now, in A-Grade, the winner had a direct piece of advice for Your Loyal Scribe. Late on Friday afternoon, Darryl Ward was asked if he was playing the next day, and he said he was. It was cheekily suggested that he needed to do something handy so he could be talked up in this ar-

ticle and he promised he would. He delivered, as his Nett 72 won him the A-Grade prize, so great job,Wardy. Although, he only snuck in on a tight countback, because Neil ‘Mr Scotland’ Leckenby also posted a Nett 72. Well done, bonny lad. NTP winners were Steuart Hawke (3rd and nice to see him back), James Campion (9th), John Hall (12th) and to Alan Johnston (15th).

Olivia and Daisy from the Upper Yarra Pony Club.

Picture: ALICIA TRIPODI

Warburton Golf Club results.

Picture: FILE

The U14 Mixed team won the game 2:1 against Yarra Valley.

Pictures: GLEN MORRISYarra Valley is always an even match,and Saturday’s game finished no different.