Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 19th September 2023

By Mikayla van Loon

Since the start of September, changes to the way medications are dispensed to customers has begun causing somewhat of a headache to pharmacists.

Amcal Lilydale co-owner Frank Kazantzis said while the push for the 60 day dispensing policy was strong, the education of customers has been weak, seeing those in need of longer scripts unsure how to access it.

“The government seemed to be quite happy

to promote the benefit to patients but not actually explain to them what they needed to do which is a little frustrating,” he said.

“There really wasn’t any understanding in the community about how it works. For us, rather than seeing a lot of the scripts, it’s more having the conversations with customers and explaining to them exactly what it means for them.”

Concerns are also growing about who is getting access to 60 day dispensing, which Frank said was meant for people who are stable and

Garden oasis

Nestled in the streets of Lilydale is a secret garden, overlooking the expanse of the Lake and Dandenong Ranges.

With pathways winding all through the lush green foliage, a sense of calmness is bestowed upon its visitor, of which there are expected to be hundreds when the Tuscan inspired garden opens to the public for Open Gardens Victoria on Sunday 1 October. Owner John Findlay has spentyearsplantingandcaringfortheacreblock site that was once a rocky slope. It has now been transformed into an oasis amongst suburbia.

To read more turn to page 9

John Findlay’s Tuscan inspired garden Orvieto will be featured in the Open Gardens Victoria weekend in October. 360501

have required the same prescription over a long period of time.

“We’re seeing doctors write 60 day scripts for people that are starting on a new medication or writing a 60 day script with minimum repeats,” Frank said.

Discussions between the Federal government and the major pharmacy bodies in Australia have begun early to establish the next community pharmacy agreement, something Frank said he hopes will address some of the issues pharmacists have with the 60 day

dispensing policy.

“We’re hoping that as it rolls out the government response to the data flowing through shows that maybe some more restrictions need to be put in place. So if they are prescribing 60 day scripts that they are also for the full six months repeat or 12 months repeat.”

Community pharmacy agreements also address the return pharmacies get from the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) and the renumeration for immunisations.

For the full story, turn to page 3

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Locals barking for a park

By Mikayla Van Loon

A petition for a fully fenced dog park within the Elizabeth Bridge Reserve (EBR) in Kilsyth has been lodged with Yarra Ranges Council.

Lead petitioner Shelley Large submitted the petition at the Tuesday 12 September council meeting after gathering over 700 signatures.

“Kilsyth is more like our neighbours in Maroondah and Knox than the rural areas of the Yarra Ranges,” she said.

“Fully fenced off dog parks are the norm in these other local government areas and are expected in the suburbs of Melbourne.

“Kilsyth has a higher than average ownership of dogs and the Elizabeth Bridge Reserve is a favourite place to go.”

In 2021 there were 25,185 dogs registered in the shire but with 70 per cent of the population residing in just three per cent of the local government area (LGA) it is likely the majority of the dogs also live within the urban parts of the municipality.

As a volunteer instructor at Croydon Dog Club and a former member of the behaviour team at Animal Aid, Ms Large said she understands off lead dog parks can be controversial but in the urban areas where backyards are minimal, they are necessary.

Having previously had access to the oval at EBR until it became a training and playing space for local sporting clubs, Ms Large said the restrictions placed on dog owners were confusing.

“The oval of Elizabeth Bridge Reserve has been the off-lead section but the council has not been clear about how the oval will be shared with sporting groups and this has a negative impact on dog owners and our sporting groups,” she said.

“The council website now says until 3pm weekdays and [dogs] are not allowed at weekends. This is not much benefit to dog owners

in the workforce and causes confusion.”

Ms Large said the petition for a fully fenced space was not just about dog owners themselves but for other users of the reserve.

“Many locals use the EBR and not all are dog lovers.We as dog owners want other users’ rights and for those people to feel comfortable that there is a separate space for dogs that does not negatively impact on other people’s sense of safety.”

Commenting on the fenced section of the off-lead park currently at EBR, Ms Large said the dangers of dogs still running out onto Durham Road is a risk.

“Durham Road is a busy road and gets busier with each extra development in the area.

“The council and the community are seeing an explosion in medium density housing, where the big backyard is replaced with small areas or no garden with many locals no longer having a backyard and probably more dogs living in the area. The EBR is where they exercise their dogs.

“I appreciate that the council wants well controlled dogs in the park, particularly in unfenced off leash areas but if this is a priority, and it should be, what responsibility is the council taking for providing space for caring dog owners to train their dogs?

“Yes, we can all go to Eastfield in Maroondah but that doesn’t suggest the Council supports its own community to train and exercise dogs responsibly.”

Proof of this, in a relatively short time, Ms Large said is the new gated dog park at Kimberley Reserve in Chirnside Park which is being used by Kilsyth residents.

“The seemingly sudden secure gating of Kimberley Reserve as a trial means there is some form of evidence gathering to measure the impact.”

Councillor Richard Higgins thanked Ms Large for her endorsement of the Kimberley Reserve fencing.

“You’ve just supported a battle I had with various people for a long time about gates on Kimberley Reserve, so thank you very, very much. I look forward to seeing a gated dog park for you,” he said.

Councillors voted unanimously to pass the petition onto the appropriate department within the council to investigate further.

“It’s one of those cases of local knowledge, feeding into the council to make better decisions,” Cr Andrew Fullagar said.

“So we certainly welcome that and if we can come to some sort of compromise or a good solution then good on you.”

The petition for a fully fenced dog park at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve has been lodged with the council. 341230 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Durham Road runs next to dog park, with gaps in fencing allowing dogs to escape onto the road. 341230

Script for concern

By Mikayla van Loon

Concerns have been realised since the introduction of the 60 day dispensing policy earlier this month, with a Lilydale pharmacy already seeing the downfalls of the new system.

Amcal Lilydale co-owner Frank Kazantzis said in just two weeks since the policy was brought into practice on Friday 1 September, pharmacists have been kept busy educating community members.

“We have been talking to people about 60 day scripts, there have been a lot of questions. It has mostly been people coming into the pharmacy expecting to or raising the question of ‘do I get two months now’,” he said.

“[They have been] thinking it was this automatic granting rather than understanding they had to go to the doctor, and the doctor had the discretion to prescribe them a 60 day script or a 30 day script. So there really wasn’t any understanding in the community about how it works.”

Despite these conversations giving the pharmacy a chance to explain what the 60 day dispensing policy means financially for them, the PBS and the supply chain, Frank said it has caused some frustration.

“It’s just been more of a workload of having to manage the expectations of people and have these conversations and explain these details over and over again,” he said.

“The government seemed to be quite happy to promote the benefit to patients but not actually explain to them what they needed to do.”

Although not yet seeing a large influx of 60 day scripts, Frank said he expects this to increase over the coming months having spoken

with local doctors about prescribing habits.

“For most people, they will be asking doctors for a 60 day script and I think from most doctors, I don’t expect that much pushback,” he said.

“It’s really going to be patient driven. If people want it, then they’re going to get it.”

Sixty day scripts are only available to people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, endometriosis and high cholesterol to make the affordability of ongoing medication needs cheaper.

Concerningly though, Frank said within pharmacy forum groups it has become clear doctors are prescribing scripts to patients who may be unstable in their medication usage.

“We’re seeing doctors write 60 day scripts for people who are starting a new medication or writing a 60 day script with minimum repeats, there might be one or two repeats rather than the full six months or 12 months worth and it’s kind of suggesting this person isn’t stable,” he said.

“These contradictory prescribing habits that we’re seeing don’t really go in the same ethos as what this was brought in for. [It] was for people who are stable, have been on the same medication for a while and don’t need to check in with the doctor for another 12 months.”

Frank said he hopes as this rolls out further, the government “notices that and puts some restrictions on how doctors can prescribe” so that habits across the country don’t lead to “medication misadventures”.

These changes should also be discussed as part of the community pharmacy agreement (CPA) that has been brought forward by more than a year.

This year, all Australians will be invited to make history by saying ‘yes’ in a compulsory referendum to alter Australia’s Constitution by enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Constitution is the founding legal document of our nation, providing the basic rules for the government of Australia. The Constitution is our nation’s birth certificate.

Over many years we have spent a lot trying to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, but we haven’t got better results.

If the referendum succeeds, the Voice to Parliament means Indigenous Australians will be consulted and give advice to Government

Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey told AAP he hopes the negotiations with the federal government will ensure pharmacies are remunerated fairly for medicine dispensing and can continue to operate sustainably under the new scheme.

“We thank the prime minister and the health minister for hearing our concerns, and 60-day dispensing, along with other reforms, will now be dealt with in the normal way under a community pharmacy agreement,” he said.

The CPA is a five year agreement defining how much pharmacies will be reimbursed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Having heard early talks, Frank said he is worried there won’t be more money put into the dispensing process but rather through other avenues, even though dispensing for most pharmacies is their primary income.

“That being the majority of our business it really needs to carry its own weight, we can’t be adding more revenue streams just for the sake of adding more work.”

Other key items Frank hopes are included in the CPA are uncapped medication checks and better remuneration for immunisations.

Leading into the March CPA deadline, Frank said he feels quite comfortable in knowing the Pharmacy Guild and other advisory bodies understand what is impacting pharmacies most.

“[The Guild is] going into the new agreement with a fairly good idea of what all pharmacists out there are hoping to achieve and they’ve got a pretty good radar as to what’s realistic, as well, and what works in government.

“So I’m quite confident in the guild and even the PSA and the other pharmacy groups with their ability to advocate for us.”

to design better solutions for issues that affect them.

This will lead to better outcomes for Indigenous Australians in health, employment, and education – because we know when Government listens to people, we get results.

For most of us, saying ‘yes’ won’t change much. But for Indigenous Australians the Voice will bring about tangible change. There is nothing to lose, but so much to be gained.

Mooroolbark car fire

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a car fire that occurred in Hayrick Lane Mooroolbark at about 3.45am on Sunday 17 September.

Investigators are seeking CCTV footage from residents who live on Hayrick Lane - between Orrong Road and Aston Avenue - that captures Hayrick Lane from midnight until 4.00am on Sunday 17 September.

Police are also keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9739 2401 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Youth arrests

A man and three teenagers have been arrested following a series of cigarette and alcohol thefts earlier this month across Melbourne suburbs, including Mooroolbark.

Eastern Region Crime Squad arrested the four in Amayla Crescent, Carrum Downs on Tuesday 12 September.

A Pakenham boy, 17, has been charged with various counts of armed robbery, robbery, shop steal, unlawful assault and driving while disqualified.

The Pakenham boy will appear before a children’s court.

A Wheelers Hill boy, 17, has been charged with various counts of robbery, shop steal, handling stolen goods, unlawful assault, theft, committing an indictable offence while on bail and assaulting police.

He will appear before a children’s court.

An 18-year-old man from Mount Waverley has been charged with handling stolen goods and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

He appeared before the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 13 September.

A 17-year-old youth from Hampton Park was interviewed and released pending further investigation.

The series relate to up to fourteen incidents across suburbs including Camberwell, Preston, Mooroolbark, Heidelberg Heights, Bentleigh East, Wheelers Hill, Doreen, Laverton North, Alphington, Aspendale, Caulfield South, Carrum Downs, Burwood.

Victoria Police has established a dedicated operation in response to a recent increase in offending at packaged liquor outlets and supermarkets across Melbourne.

As part of Operation Cubed, local police and detectives from Southern Metro, NorthWest region, Eastern Region and specialist units including PORT, AirWing and Dog Squad will be targeting known offending hotspots and using all available intelligence to detect and deter offending.

Police intelligence indicates that a small cohort of youth offenders are involved in this recent offending.

The proactive operation will run each day and remain ongoing for as long as required.

Lilydale theft identity

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a theft at a business on Hutchinson Street Lilydale around 3pm on 5 May.

The alleged offender is described as Caucasian, in their mid-50s, medium build and around 148cm tall.

Investigators have released an image of woman who may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lilydale Police Station on (03) 9739 2300

Amcal Lilydale owners Megan and Frank Kazantzis are starting to see the confusion of 60 day dispensing. 345781 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Future locked for reserve

By Mikayla Van Loon

Adoption of the Kilsyth Recreation Reserve master plan has been formalised after Yarra Ranges councillors unanimously voted for its approval.

The decision was handed down at the 12 September council meeting, with the projected timeline for works to be completed ranging from 2026 to 2035.

In the short term, funding of $230,000 has been reallocated in the council’s 2023-24 budget to demolish the existing but dilapidated tennis clubhouse and courts.

“It is unfortunately going to remove the entout-cas tennis courts but they’re in very poor shape,” Cr Len Cox said.

“Nobody’s wanted to use them for many years and in fact will be replaced by a lot more landscaping and pleasant areas for people to sit around in.”

The delay in delivering the other aspects of the project has been attributed to the purchase of 150 Cambridge Road Kilsyth, with limited capital available in the Walling Ward public open space fund.

The master plan will seek to improve the sports ground, lighting, access to public toilets, have better parking and traffic flow, create a multi-use plaza, add a multi-lined court suitable for netball finals and design a public open space for leisure use.

These future plans are based on the council obtaining the required funding through state and federal government grants.

“There’s an issue of not quite enough money in the budget for them at the moment but that will occur in the next few years and I look forward to seeing the vast improvements on this reserve,” Cr Cox said.

Impressed by the strategic plan, Cr Sophie Todorov said she believes the design “has a lot of strength in its leverage for future funding” to deliver the elements proposed.

“It’s just so pleasing to see that it’ll be used for more than just formal sport and it will be a

William Matthews

great community open space area, which will encourage having many different members of our community of all different demographics, current and future demographics to be able to use that space,” she said.

“What I really appreciate about it is it has proposed activities and open spaces at no cost, including things such as the picnic areas, the pumptrack, the multipurpose court, which is really important to encourage accessibility for community members.”

With the draft master plan having been out for consultation from February to March this year, the council received feedback from 41 people, 75 per cent of which currently

use the reserve.

Feedback identified walking paths, seating, picnic shelters, a sensory garden, a playspace, pump track and access to public toilets as the main features people would like to see.

The inclusion of lighting around the multi purpose court was also suggested during the consultation process, which was regarded as having merit by the council to extend the usage hours.

Estimations of cost total $3.9 million, with $2.3 million of the forecasted to come from the council’s budget and the rest supplemented by funding grants.

AFL Outer East and Eastern Ranges have

also committed $65,000 to upgrade the timekeeper’s room, scoreboard and coach boxes, as well as the storage shed.

“This sporting area is actually the oldest in Kilsyth. It’s been a sporting facility, certainly for as long as I’ve been living in the area, and I believe for a lot longer than that,” Cr Cox.

“It was the centre of Kilsyth for football and cricket and still, it has football and cricket played on it.

“What we’re talking about is a proposal for the future development of the area and with that future development, there’s going to be quite a [few] changes made to it.”

Kilsyth Recreation Reserve is the prime location for formalised sport in the area but will soon offer much more. 319961 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

The coaches boxes are set to be upgraded as part of the master plan. 319961

The dilapidated toilet block will be improved for community use. 319961

Disputed permit go ahead

By Callum Ludwig

A planning permit application for a multi-million dollar dwelling in Coldstream has been approved by Yarra Ranges councillors after a lengthy debate at the Tuesday 12 September council meeting.

The application for the 193 Victoria Road property was first submitted in December 2021 with plans including a helipad, golf course, function centre, indoor recreation centre and restaurant, with the scope since reduced to a residential dwelling only.

The revised application still includes a number of atypical features of a residential dwelling, with the council planning report noting a bar, cinema, art gallery, a 19-car garage, basketball court, separate male and female toilets change rooms and bowling alleys, as well as golf cart parking, a winter garden and a roof garden.

Coldstream resident Ms Price’s property is 924 metres away from 193 Victoria Road and she spoke in objection to the application, supported by some other neighbours in attendance, and said they were showing strong opposition to this particular planning application.

“Where it is said to be a dwelling, you are being absolutely misled as to what this planning permit is about… there are a number of exceptionally unusual features, ” she said.

“Why on earth are there men’s and women’s bathrooms attached to each of these entertainment features, features that you would see if you went to any one of the wedding venues further out in the Yarra Valley.”

“This car gallery, apart from being completely absurd, 19 cars with a viewing window that you can see from outside of the house, is exactly the type of space which, without those cars, is a wedding venue.”

In consideration of objections raised, the planning report identified additional land uses of the original application were no longer on the plans and not to be considered by the council. If they were to be proposed again at a later date, they would need to be reassessed on their planning merits.

Ms Price said it was of cold comfort to residents to say if what they suspect does come true, then there’ll be an investigation.

“By then it is too late because the impact on us will be irreparable,” she said.

“You need to naturally know who is the applicant, the true person or persons who seek this permit to be issued because, at the moment, it’s all smoke and mirrors.”

The application was submitted by consultancy firm Urbis on behalf of asset management company APH Holding. The applicants

named in the original company are a Ms M Bateman and a J Govenlock. No applicants or representatives from APH Holding or Urbis spoke at the Tuesday 12 September meeting.

When contacted, Urbis confirmed that they formerly represented the applicant for this application but at the time of the meeting, no longer represented the applicant and were unable to comment. APH Holding was also contacted for comment.

Deputy Mayor and Melba Ward Councillor Sophie Todorov asked Yarra Ranges Council’s director of planning and sustainable futures Kath McClusky if the potential for a disingenuous application should hold any weight in their decision.

Ms McClusky said council’s officers must consider the application that’s in front of them.

“We note that the initial application had a number of elements to it, it has been amended and the amendment request is for a dwelling so the officers have to consider it as a dwelling under the Act,” she said.

“In terms of who the applicant is, Urbis lodged the application so from a planning perspective we don’t really take that into consid-

eration who that it might be, we can’t look at it too much into that.”

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar asked Ms McClusky to clarify that there is no rule that prevents the inclusion of features such as the bowling alleys, cigar rooms or team rooms.

Ms McClusky said that was correct but it’s to be used for the people living in the house.

“It’s once that you have the broader community accessing facilities on site that that’s where it becomes a problem,” she said.

“But if you wanted to have a cigar room, a movie theatre in your home, that is permissible.”

Chirnside Ward Councillor Richard Higgins asked what was preventing the applicant from reapplying and expanding back to the golf course and the other features once it was built.

“There’s nothing prohibiting them from reapplying, but it would be subject to a new assessment and to a further decision in the chamber,” Ms McClusky said.

“There’d be a number of other challenges that they would need to overcome and a lot of information. I suspect that may be part of the

reason why they abandoned part of their initial proposal, but again, I would be speculating.”

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham asked what the process would be if the applicant was to start using the property commercially without reapplying.

“We would start through activating compliance action, we would write to them, we would ask them to show cause to explain what’s been going on-site,” Ms McClusky said.

“We would advise that they need to bring the land into compliance and if all else fails and that doesn’t happen, well, we end up in court.”

Further questions discussed the potential impact of noise pollution and the effect on the landscape and amenity of the area. Due to the property being used for an existing dwelling, there was no need for a farm management plan or a supporting agricultural piece for the property.

An amended motion was put forward with two additional conditions relating to lighting, limiting the uplighting of the walls and impacts of light spill.

After putting forward the amended motion, Council Mayor and O’Shanassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said they were going to make a decision tonight and it was to support his motion.

“I think this is going to become an issue for our compliance people because this is the only way that this building can be actually supervised once it’s built, that it’s built for a dwelling purpose and the dwelling purpose only,” he said.

Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton, Cr Fullagar and Cr Higgins all added that they would be supporting the motion, with Cr Fullagar ‘reluctantly supporting’ it, Cr Skelton saying that they ‘are not here to vote with our conscience and our heart on planning matters’ and Cr Higgins saying he’d ‘be not doing my job properly’ if he didn’t support it.

Walling Ward Councillor Len Cox was the only councillor to vote against the motion and said prior to the vote that the application didn’t seem to be right to him.

“I’ve been looking at this for a few days and for the life of me, I’d love to be able to agree with the motion that’s before us, but I just can’t,” he said.

“It just seems to me wrong when a planner has someone come along with an application for a house and no matter what it looks like, no matter how big it is, if he says it’s a house, then it’s got to be looked at as a house,”

“I struggle to believe it’s just a house, it’s disappointing that the applicant didn’t come in because there was a lot of questions we could have asked.”

Nugent is new Emergency Management Commissioner

By Callum Ludwig

A former Yellingbo local has officially started a new role, leading the way inVictoria’s emergency response.

Rick Nugent APM started a five-year term as the new Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner on 11 September, having been Victoria Police’s Deputy Police Commissioner since November 2018.

Mr Nugent said having grown up in regional Victoria, he understands the challenges regional and rural communities can face when it comes to emergencies.

“I look forward to my term as Commissioner and working with all our great people across the sector and the community, including those in regional areas, to keepVictorians safe before, during and after emergencies,” he said.

“If you haven’t already, download the VicEmergency app and know where you can receive emergency information, including your local emergency broadcasters.”

Mr Nugent enters his new role with a wealth of experience, having led police operations during the Covid-19 pandemic and the October 2022 floods as State Police Commander, with other leadership involvement in the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires, large-scale protests, sporting events and a range of critical incidents over 35 years withVictoria Police.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes joined Mr Nugent at the State Control Centre for the latest Seasonal Bushfire Outlook on Wednesday 13 September.

“Mr Nugent has provided exceptional leadership in community safety and brings decades of experience to a role that is of vital importance to the safety of Victorians,” Ms Symes said.

“We need to do everything we can to keep communities safe this fire season and bushfire preparedness is the best way to do it.”

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) are urging residents to have a bushfire survival plan and to prepare their properties ahead of a dry spring, with three years of La Nina conditions meaning the potential for grass-

fires is high.

EMV is working with agencies such as CFA to ensure incident management teams and Level Three State Control Centres are prepared this bushfire season.

For more information on how to prepare for fires and other emergencies download theVicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic. gov.au.

L-R:RickNugentasAssistantCommissionerwithSergeantTomWilkinsoncelebratingthe openingoftheWarburtonPoliceStationin2018.

Thecurrentresidenceat193VictoriaRoad,Yering.

Picture:STEWARTCHAMBERS

Amendment brings hope

By Callum Ludwig

An amendment discussed at the Tuesday 12 September Yarra Council meeting to Council’s Planning Scheme could help a local family return to their home if approved by an independent Planning Panel, appointed by the Minister for Planning.

After submissions were received from an exhibition of the amendment (Amendment C217), councillors voted unanimously to support the motion.

Kalorama resident Natalie Guest spoke at the meeting and said her family have fully supported preparing an amendment to update the current Yarra Ranges Council Planning Scheme.

“My family lost our home in Kalorama 825 days ago on the 9th of June 2021 in a devastating windstorm. Our insurance company informed us after the inspection of our ruins that this was deemed a catastrophic event and my family and I are in our third rental property since the loss of our home,” she said.

“The accommodation funds provided by our insurer were for the two years’ coverage of our policy. This means we currently pay $1325 per week to keep a roof over our family’s head, the cost being rent and a mortgage on our non-existent home.”

Amendment C217 will simplify the structure of the Erosion Management Overlay Schedule 1 (EMO1) to create new exemptions for minor buildings and works and vegetation removal as well as change the tolerable risk criteria from Low to Medium in particular circumstances, which would allow the Guest family to rebuild on their property.

Ms Guest said under the current Yarra Range Planning Scheme, they would have to walk away from not only their family home and community but gain a huge financial loss.

“I’ve personally collected 488 signatures in support of this change, we have been continually updated by the planning team throughout the past year,” she said.

“The three of us are craving some positivity, some shining light on what has been the most devastating time of our lives,”

“We look forward to receiving Council’s continued support and advocacy throughout the rest of this process, it will not go unnoticed by your thousands of Hills and Yarra Ranges constituents.”

Residents whose properties are within an Erosion Management Overlay will have been sent a letter to advise them of the amendment.

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar and Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton thanked Ms Guest for her bravery, perseverance and advocacy on the issue.

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham

put a question toYarra Ranges Council’s Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures Kath McClusky if there is anything the Council can do to expedite the process.

“The key thing we can do is advocacy, we’ve got some preset panel dates, so the panel hearing will happen pretty quickly. As soon as we get the panel report, we will make sure that we bring that back to the Chamber as quickly as possible so we can do everything at our end to get it into the minister’s office,” Ms McClusky said.

“I think there are some joint advocacy efforts we can have with local members to push this as a matter of priority so that it can be approved and I believe the minister’s office is aware of this amendment as well, so hopefully that will help us in this instance.”

Within the Yarra Ranges, large parts of Mt Evelyn, Monbulk, Wandin East, Warburton, Kalorama, Kallista, Sassafras, Ferny Creek, Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey, Tecoma, Belgrave, Selby, Tremont and Mount Dandenong and small parts of Montrose, Seville, Launching Place and Millgrove are subject to an EMO.

Cr Fullagar said the planning scheme was obviously a huge beast and it travelled slowly.

“800 days is an extraordinary amount of time and let’s hope it’s not another 800 days, we don’t want that so let’s get this motion through and I’ll ask other councillors to support it,” he said.

Cr Skelton said she feels very comfortable that this is going to lead to a very balanced and very responsible outcome for the ability to live in our area of the hills particularly.

“Those who’ve been through it this time you know, it’s cold comfort for them I’m sure, but if we get this through and happening, it is going to mean that the next time we don’t have a bunch of people that can’t rebuild and that is worth its weight in gold.”

NatalieGuestatherKaloramaproperty. 290422

TheWarburtonareahasalsobeensubjectto multiplerecentlandslips.

Picture:ONFILE

Heartbreaking vandalism

By Callum Ludwig

A disgraceful act of vandalism has devastated and infuriated members of the Seville community and veterans of the Yarra Ranges.

In the morning of Friday 15 September it was discovered that the Seville War Memorial had been attacked, likely with a blunt object, shatterering the glass panels.

Derry Aulich from the Seville Township Group said they were appealing for anyone from the community to come forward if they saw anything.

“We’re devastated after fundraising for over seven years for the memorial to have been hit with such senseless vandalism,” he said.

“I’m lost for words, it’s just mind-boggling that anyone could even do this to such an important thing for the community.”

The most damaged panels after the outward-facing panel honouring Bruce Bethune and the inward-facing panel about Victoria Cross recipient George Ingram. They could cost as much as $100,000 to replace.

Bruce Bethune’s nephew Alistair Johnson was the one to discover the offence and said the emotions that went through him were disbelief, anger and disgust.

“My mother and grandmother never had the opportunity to visit my uncle’s grave in Papua New Guinea. To us, this is where we remember my uncle,” he said.

“I’m just disgusted that somebody would desecrate what is basically a memorial to my uncle and the only place that we can remember him, I come down the road every day and I glance at it.”

Mt Evelyn RSL president Matt Crymble said the memorial was a sacred ground.

“Mt Evelyn RSL are absolutely disgusted with what’s happened, we condemn this vandalism and we don’t understand why anyone would do it,” he said.

“Those four individuals that are up there now defended the land and the way we live today, and someone’s attacked that, hopefully, we can find the perpetrators and they can be punished by law.”

The Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) is investigating the incident, with Crime Scene Services attending the site after the damage was discovered.

Senior Sergeant at Lilydale Police Station Mark Knight said police are disappointed in the reprehensible behaviour of the person or persons who committed this crime.

“To do this against such a magnificent monument that was put there to honour our magnificent men and women who went off and fought in different wars, we are bitterly

disappointed,” he said.

“We are seeking the general public’s assistance on this, trying to identify any persons of interest to assist us with our inquiries.”

Anyone with any information or CCTV footage is urged to contact Yarra Ranges CIU 9739 2401 or submit a report anonymously online to Crime Stoppers.

Nominate a young person in Celebrating YOUth Awards

Yarra Ranges Council is encouraging community members to take notice of young people doing great things for our community, and nominate them for the Celebrating YOUth Awards.

The YOUth Awards, held in December, is a youth-led event to celebrate the contributions and achievements of young people, aged 12-25, who live, work or study in the region.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said that Council wanted to hear about young people improving their communities, helping others or creating art.

“We have a really fantastic cohort of young people in the Yarra Ranges who volunteer their time and put their skills to use to benefit everyone – it’s one of the many brilliant things about our region,” he said.

“But it’s not often that we take a moment to celebrate that work, and the way it benefits us all. This is where Celebrating YOUth comes in.

“This awards night will be a chance to say thank you and to give some well-deserved recognition to young people doing great things.

“Now we want to hear from you – if you know young people in your community who jump at a chance to help, who advocate for others or are creating incredible things, let us know.

“If someone came to mind while reading this, then it’s worth nominating them and

telling us why you think they’re great.

“It only takes a few minutes to nominate someone for deserved recognition and nominations are open until 22 October.” Award categories young people can be nominated for are:

· Resilience and perseverance.

· Passionate advocate.

· Young entrepreneur.

· School or community improvement.

· Arts, music and culture.

The award assessment panel will assess the approach of the young person:

· How they achieve their goals.

· The impact and reach of their work.

· How unique they have been in what they do.

· Their dedication.

All nominees will be invited to attend the December event.

TheYOUth Awards are funded by the State Government’s FReeZA and Engage! program.

To make a nomination, go to yarraranges. vic.gov.au/Community/Youth/CelebratingYOUth-Awards-Night

Recipients from the 2022 Yarra Ranges YOUth Awards.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

Bruce Bethune’s panel has been shattered,less than a month from the anniversary of his death.

PIcture: CALLUM LUDWIG

Small holes litter the glass where the attackers struck. PIcture: CALLUM LUDWIG

The panels could cost up to $100,000 to replace. Picture: SUPPLIED

‘Ribbiting’ frog talk held

By Tanya Steele

Residents across the Yarra Ranges got the chance to learn about all things amphibian for their gardens in Lilydale on Thursday 14 September.

David De Angelis is an environmental consultant who works in the frog and reptile space - he is an environmental educator, who also consults in ecology and frog conservation.

Mr De Angelis took the audience through frog-friendly gardening tips and tricks to encourage nativeVictorian amphibians into people’s backyard spaces.

“It’s about creating new habitats on your property and then also improving conditions for frogs in the garden,’ he said.

“A lot of the talk was fairly broad to cover

the variety of garden spaces people have.”

Frogs are particular about the structure of their habitat and Mr De Angelis said the focus of the talk was on promoting local plant species that frogs would be attracted to.

Frogs, despite the need for ponds for breeding, also spend some time in their adult lives away from water on the land.

Different fog species prefer different habitats in and around the pond environment and the layers of the environment surroundings are also very important.

“The structure within the garden is important, as is providing things like logs and leaf litter,” Mr De Angelis said.

Brown tree frogs are one of the more common local frogs in the Yarra Ranges and Mr De Angelis said they prefer clumping rushes.

“Things with strappy or long broad leavesthey love to hide in those big dense clumping plants,” he said.

“They also have the ability to climb up into them.”

Frogs such as the common froglet or the pobblebonk “bango” frogs don’t have pads on their toes and prefer a different habitat set-up.

“The structure that is important for them is things that lie low on the ground, ground cover plants and low growing plants, also rocks and logs for them to sit on and hide under,” Mr De Angelis said.

Aquatic plants are also very important for developing tadpoles and Mr De Angelis said that the submerged plants give both food and hiding places for the young frogs.

“The submerged plants help oxygenate the

water and tadpoles love to eat the decomposing vegetation and algae,” he said.

Another focus of the talk was research that has improved understanding of what habitat features local frogs prefer or rely on.

“Keeping about half of the water surface exposed to sunlight and avoiding planting too much overshading vegetation around a pond could help limit infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus, as well as benefit the development of tadpoles and growth of submerged plants.” Mr De Angelis said.

The event was hosted by Yarra Ranges Gardens for Wildlife, which is an ongoing program which allows residents to get assistance to adapt their home gardens in small but key ways to encourage more local critters into people’s backyards.

Spotted Marsh Frog.

Pictures: DAVID DE ANGELIS Southern Brown Tree Frog.

Green oasis will be open

By Mikayla van Loon

Up on one of the hills in Lilydale sits a hidden garden oasis drawing on the influences of Tuscany to create a lush and cooling gem in the middle of suburbia.

Named after Orvieto, a village in the Tuscan region of Italy, owner John Findlay said he’s used alpine plants, little conifers and cedars dotted with fruit trees, exotic plants and flowering trees to make it blend together.

“Because I had the land I just planted it out to make it as interesting as I can. It’s not a pretty flowery, formal garden, it’s a hillside garden,” he said.

Amalgamating three blocks of land off Summit Road, John has worked with the slope of the hill and the sturdiness of the ground to create a marvel at every turn.

Now this treasure will be opening to the public for the first time in five years as part of Open Gardens Victoria on Sunday 1 October.

Having last supported the Red Cross, John has gone with a local group to fundraise for this year, with Yarra Valley Singers being the beneficiary of the open day.

Providing an extra treat of scones, jam and cream as both morning and afternoon tea, John said all the profits will be donated to the Singers group for their performances and continued ability to offer the community joy.

“The money from the scones goes to the charity because I provide all that,” he said.

“So if you like cheese and herb scones or grandma’s scones, as they call them, there’ll be about 350 scones for the day.”

From the entrance to the property, visitors will walk up the driveway hill before taking a left turn into the greenery.

The pathway weaves through birches and rhododendrons before opening up into

an alpine garden.

Using a cyclic gardening philosophy, John said initially the garden was in no shape to plant anything, hitting rock at every moment.

“I couldn’t plant things where I wanted to plant them because I’d hit rock so over the years I’ve bought in manure and straw and when I cut back things, I just put it on the garden and then cover it up with manure. My garden is like a worm farm,” he said.

Also using the tuscanite rock that was salvaged from the excavation, John has formed natural retaining walls and garden beds throughout, recycling what was taken from the earth.

With miniature versions of the sequoias of the dawn cypress, or redwoods as they are better known, and more exotic species like the boab tree, there is always something to spot on the walk up the hill.

Bench seats are positioned in just the right spot to take in the sprawling garden to take in the contrasting leaf forms of the maples, magnolias, black bamboo, and some lush leafy shrubs such as Eupatorium and Alocasia.

Shaded by towering 90-year-old pine trees, the dense garden provides a cooling effect during the summer, the perfect oasis for its owner.

Upon the summit of the hill, visitors will be met with the most exquisite panoramic view of Lilydale, seeing the historic Cave Hill Quarry and Lillydale Lake, as well as overlooking the Dandenong Ranges.

Orvieto will be open from 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday 1 October only, with a $10 entry fee and $8 for the scones and complimentary tea or coffee.

Find this hidden gem at 37A Summit Road Lilydale. To find out more, go to opengardensvictoria.org.au/Orvieto-2023

John

Springing into The Elms with Open Gardens Victoria

By Mikayla van Loon

The expansiveness of The Elms, a 10-acre property in Wonga Park, is the perfect escape to a traditional spring garden, blooming with bright coloured bulbs and flowering blossoms.

Gathering its name from the elm-lined driveway that enters the property, owners Sharon and George Kepper have curated a well-established garden over the 40 years of living there.

Opening the garden to visitors for the first time in a number of years through Open Gardens Victoria, Sharon said in just one weekend last time, 1100 people walked through the gates.

“I do enjoy seeing everybody enjoy the garden,” she said.

First beginning to replant the now rose garden, Sharon said it just continued to develop and grow, especially as gardening became more of a pastime for her.

“Originally it was just a mishmash of a native garden and I said to George, I can make this garden look much better,” she said.

“The very mature trees that were here, I worked around them and…I put the rose garden in quite a while ago probably back in maybe in the 1990s.”

After rebuilding their family home in the early 2000s, Sharon said the garden took on a new life yet again.

“Gardens are always changing. I probably started developing it properly in the early ‘90s, just doing bits and pieces and then changing things and then knocking the house down and making a big mess and starting again, and so it’s definitely been a work in progress,” she said.

The intentional landscape design by Jim Fogarty highlights the natural curvature of the land and the views of the valley.

Taking in the vastness of the five acre site, Sharon has created sections of bursting colour using typical spring flowers of peony roses, tulips, daffodils and violets.

Birch trees, Japanese maples and gums form the leafiness of the canopy, with manicured grass bringing flow to the large area.

The centrepiece of the garden however, is the extraordinary lake designed by esteemed gardener Phillip Johnson, surrounded by some of Australia’s best native plants.

“All the plants around the lake are all native. Phil Johnson only plants natives but the rest of the garden is not native,” Sharon said.

“It’s a nice combination because it’s nice

to have the natives to bring the birds and then I’ve got my roses. I couldn’t do without my roses.”

The trickling sound of water and croaking of frogs is a nice backdrop to experience the garden in its full glory.

“It creates a nice atmosphere and it’s very cooling in summer,” Sharon said.

Exploring the fan-shaped block and each of its pockets of beauty, visitors will be met with peaceful tranquillity and thoughtful positioning of the various natural elements. The garden will be open for visitors on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 October from 10am to 4.30pm. The Elms is located at 38 Dudley Road Wonga Park.

The Elms was the vision of owner Sharon Kepper. 360485

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Stone steps and pathways connect the different sections of the garden. 360485

The lake created by Phillip Johnson is the centrepiece of the five acre landscaped garden. 360485

Findlay has worked with his sloping land to create a dense hillside garden. 360501

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Work together for platypus

By Tanya Steele

What lies on the horizon for the much-loved Australian platypus was chewed over by experts recently in a national conference held in Healesville from 29 to 31 August.

The ’Future of Platypus’ event was held at Healesville Sanctuary and brought together platypus researchers, vets and wildlife managers to share new knowledge on Australia’s favourite water-dwelling monotreme over three days.

Over 100 experts from across Australia and some from the USA and Denmark attended the event and Healesville Sanctuary Director Ross Williamson said it was the first national conference since 2019, and there was a lot to share, particularly after the devastating Black

Summer fires and the enormous floods of the last two years.

“We were able to hear about the latest research into the biology and behaviour of the species, and the results of populations surveys which tell us what impact these landscape scale events are having,” he said.

Yarra Riverkeeper Charlotte Sterrett attended the conference and was impressed by the calibre of research and information presented - she is a part of the the Yarra Riverkeeper Association.

“If you went there, as a beginner, with an interest in platypus, you learnt everything from platypus biology, to why are they so uniquefor example we learnt about mating periods and how they make their burrows,” she said.

The Yarra Riverkeeper association is about to commence it’s month long inaugural Birrarung Riverfest on 24 September - which will host a number of events designed to inspire people to be more connected to their local waterways and will include platypus monitoring.

“The are more active at dawn and dusk,“ Ms Sterrett said.

Rehabilitation and reintroduction is at the forefront for zoos across Australia and Ms Sterrett said there are a number of successful breeding programmes that are introducing platypus back into the wild.

Notably, platypus were returned to the wild in Royal National Park in NSW, after being locally extinct for 50 years.

“In between the 1940’s and 1990’s they were

unable to breed any platypus in the wild,” Ms Sterrett said.

Humans have a large impact on the platypus and Ms Sterrett said they can be one of the biggest threats to the animals.

“Urbanization, we put in dams and weirs, we pollute the waters, we reduce the amount of water into rivers – one of the worst threats to them is not having water, reduced stream flow has a big impact and also not having enough trees and habitat,” she said.

“There were around 6,500 killed during the Black Summer bushfires, which is really terrible - while they’re in the water most of the time, they do nest and burrow on land.”

Mr Williamson said that the future of the platypus is by no means secure.

Tuesday 19th Session 1: 2.30pm

Wednesday 20th Session 1: 10.30am Session 2: 7.30pm

Thursday 21st Session 1: 2.30pm

Friday 22nd Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 7.30pm

Saturday 23rd Session 1: 2.30pm Session 2: 6.30pm

Sunday 24th Session 1: 11.00am Session 2: 3.00pm

Tuesday 26th Session 1: 2.30pm

Wednesday 27th Session 1: 10.30am Session 2: 7.30pm

Improvingcapturesuccesswithfykenets.

Theconferencewasheldoverthreedaysfrom29-31August.

Pictures:CHARLOTTESTERRETT

A toast to the Yarra Valley

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the beloved spring wine festival Shedfest is returning to the Yarra Valley in October.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October, wine lovers will be treated to an unforgettable weekend of wine tastings and a range of delicious bites at eleven family-owned, boutique wineries across the Valley.

Falling just after Daylight Savings begins, it’s the perfect way to enjoy the warmer weather with your whole family, best friends, and even your fur babies (with most venues

being dog-friendly)!

A decadent and diverse selection of meals (all under $20) will be available at each winery, with menu offerings ranging from homemade apple pies and cheese platters to classic Italian fare and slow-cooked brisket.

Kids and those with special dietary requirements won’t miss out either, with most wineries catering for both. If you would like to enjoy more than a complimentary tasting of a certain drop, there will be glasses and bottles of wine to purchase.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary, some wineries will also be offering exclusive deals and experiences for guests, including a Spicy Burger Challenge at Tokar Estate - where chilli lovers can win a bottle of wine if they conquer the entire burger – as well as a Gelati Cart at SOUMAH and Coffee Van at Yering Farm Wines.

For just $35 for a single day or $50 for a weekend ticket, patrons will have access to complimentary tastings at participating wineries and receive a souvenir wine glass to keep.

VIP tickets are also available, where patrons will receive a weekend ticket, souvenir glass, meal voucher, glass of wine and bottle of wine for $110.

A percentage of proceeds from this year’s Shedfest event will go to local community groups, with the event having raised over $100,000 shared amongst local schools and organisations since its inception.

Tickets are available now via shedfest.com.

Shedfest is making a return this October, celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Pictures: SUPPLIED Shedfest is a kid-friendly event, with free entry for children.

Perfect day for water play

By Callum Ludwig

Water play parks around the Yarra Ranges reopened in beautiful spring sunshine on Friday 15 September much to the fanfare of a number of families who got out to enjoy them.

The water play areas in Lilydale, Seville and Warburton are a free and fun way for families to cool off and play, especially with the hot conditions predicted this year.

Keysborough residents Andrew and Gillian were visiting the areas with sons Alex and James and stopped by the Seville Water Play Park along the way.

“We thought we’d come out today and were already heading out to the Yarra Valley anyway and then we’ve got this good weather so it was good timing that it was the opening

day,” James said.

“You can bring a picnic along and make it as cheap as you want, all the kids need is a bucket and some water and they are happy, we will be back.”

“If you went to the pool, you’d have to pay to get in so it’s great especially at the moment when things are tight for people,” Gillian said.

The Seville Water Play Park is located next to the Recreation Reserve and War Memorial with parking on Monbulk-Seville Road, Warburton Water World can be found at 20 Woods Point Road, Warburton and the Lilydale Lake splash pad can be found near the play equipment at Lilydale Lake.

Libby and Meghan were supervising some splash-filled fun at the Lilydale Lake splash

pad after the last day of Term Three and Libby said it’s great having something close to home.

“It’s something different for them to do that’s active and outside so yeah, we’ll probably come more and more over summer,” she said.

“It’s not something you have to book in to do or plan in advance, you can just show up on a nice day, it would be great to have even more of these around.”

The active season for local water play parks runs until 28 April 2024, with jets turning on between 8am-10am, depending on location and turned off at 8pm.

If the temperature is forecast 35 degrees of higher, the water jets at the play parks will stay on for an extra hour, keeping the fun going un-

til about 9pm.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child encouraged community members to have a back-up plan when visiting water play parks on warm days, weekends and public holidays.

“Our water play parks are very well loved, but this also means that we get a tremendous amount of tourists and locals flocking when the temperature rises,” he said.

“When we pack our bags to head to a water play park, many people will be doing the same. Consider back up plans – including driving out to another park nearby, another outdoor playground, or one of our outdoor pools when they open closer to summer,”

“And of course, please make sure children are always supervised around water.”

CheersTo20YearsofShedfest!

The

L-R: Alex and James at the Seville Water Play Park.

Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIG L-R: Grace, Macey and Morgan at the Lilydale Lake Splash Pad.

EDINBURGH SHOWCASING CHARLIE

A chocolate adventure

Are you ready for an extraordinary journey into a world of pure imagination? Edinburgh College is proud to present “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical,“ a captivating production that will transport you to the whimsical wonders of Wonka’s candyfilled universe. This enchanting experience is brought to you by our incredibly talented primary and secondary students, and it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

But what makes this production even more special is how it showcases the incredible music program we offer at our school. At Edinburgh College, we are dedicated to nurturing the musical talents of our students from Year 5 through to Year 12.

For our younger students inYears 5 to 8, our Edinburgh College Band program introduces them to the world of music, where they learn to play wind instruments such as the flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and percussion. These budding musicians have the opportunity to perform in various settings, from chapel services to on-campus concerts and even at local public events.

As our students progress to Year 9 and beyond, they can explore more advanced music options, including our performing arts program and music performance courses. We offer beginner and intermediate band programs, and we’re especially proud of our advanced senior band. Our Senior Concert band, comprising the best students from Years 7 through 12, is a testament to the excellence of our music program. They not only perform locally but also embark on exciting overseas and interstate tours. Currently, they are on a tour in New Zealand, showcasing their exceptional talent to audiences abroad.

Backing our talented young musicians is an extraordinary team. Our choreographer,

Natalie Plummer, brings her creative genius to the stage, ensuring that every movement and dance sequence is a visual delight. Musical director Emily Stanley works tirelessly to orchestrate enchanting melodies that will resonate in your heart.

For those students seeking individualised instruction, we provide private instrumental and vocal tutors to help them hone their skills

and reach their full potential.

Furthermore, our talented band students are invited to play a vital role in the School Production, where their musical talents support the actors on stage, making it a highlight of the year for both performers and audiences alike.

So, when you attend “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical“ at Edinburgh Col-

lege, you’re not just experiencing a fantastic show; you’re also witnessing the incredible talent that our music program nurtures. Join us for an evening of enchantment, music, and pure imagination. Get your golden tickets today at karralyka.com.au and be part of this magical journey on 2 to 5 October 2024! Matinee and evening performances available. See you at the theatre!

Edinburgh College in Lilydale is bringing to life the classic tale of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical. Picture: EDINBURGH COLLEGE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Introducing a local artist

By Dongyun Kwon

A long-time Healesville resident has opened an exhibition ‘Spirit of the Valley’ at YAVA Gallery & Arts Hub.

Di King, the artist of the exhibition, focused on conveying the essence of all that has made this region her home for many years.

Everything in Yarra Valley was her subject including LaLa Falls, Steavenson Falls, resplendent valley views, and even the local people.

“Yarra Valley itself was my focus for this exhibition,” she said.

“It’s just all my surrounds like the cooks in Healesville Hotel, Badger Weir, the waterfalls, cattle and sheep.”

There are some points visitors have to think about to get themselves immersed in the exhibition when they are there as what King focused on while she was painting.

Viewers are recommended to find some factors which make them marvel ‘wow’.

“Artists like to create their work with a wow factor,” King said.

“It is about the balance, composition, perspective and tone.”

King sometimes paints three to four paint-

ings of the same subject with different lights because the light can change composition of each painting.

Framing is also intentional in her paintings.

King wants to draw the viewers in by giving them a feeling that they are looking at the paintings through a window.

Local visitors should easily relate to the paintings because they may have seen it in their area.

“I really tried to depict what we have here in the Valley,” King said.

“It’s not just about the gum trees and the rivers, but also about our activity.

“It is about our grapes and the vines, people’s working and their happy moments.”

One of the interesting points of her career is the fact she was a keypunch operator, data processor, computer operator and bank teller.

An artist demonstrating their work in a

shopping centre opened her eyes up to what she really wanted to do for the rest of her life.

King said she later found out that her previous experience was actually crossover with her art career.

“Even when I was a keypuncher, I was able to design Christmas cards for the company,” she said.

King also got a chance to paint nine Australian celebrities for a charity auction in 2005.

The celebrities were Bruce Rowland, Julie Anthony, Peter Brocklehurst, Marina Prior, Hugh Jackman, Rhonda Burchmore, James Morrison, Tommy Emmanuel and Graeham Goble.

She met all of them in person except for Hugh Jackman.

“I was given permission to use his photo to paint by his agent,” she said.

The experience led her to be on Good Morning Melbourne as well.

“That was a bit scary, but I went on with Graeham Goble,” King said.

“It was a very exciting radio interview.” Spirit of the Valley is on until 8 October from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm at YAVA Gallery & Arts Hub.

Poetic Portraits exhibition features writers over 50

By Tyler Wright

Cathy

Ronalds

found being a part of this year’s Over 50’s festival was “inspirational“.

The joint project from RMIT University,Yarra Ranges and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum saw the Olinda-based photographer take portraits of 20 writers over 50 to be included in the Poetic Portraits exhibition, set to launch later this month.

Warburton

filmmakers to screen their hotel doco

By Callum Ludwig

The last 100 days of a much-loved Fitzroy hotel captured on film by two Warburton locals is set to screen in a documentary at the Warburton Arts Centre on Saturday 7 October.

Originally meant for 9 September, a broken projector has given everyone another chance to come along and learn about the history of the Brooklyn Arts Hotel and its effervescent owner Maggie Fooke.

Filmmakers Belinda Lloyd and Larry Lawson helped shoot the footage at the request of Ms Fooke and Ms Lloyd said they both knew Maggie and knew how special the place was.

“It was a funky, quirky, unusual hotel for artists and lovers of the arts run by Maggie Fooke, who’s a Cannes-screening filmmaker, a polymath, landscape architect and a cultural activist who set it up totally on her own terms,” she said.

“Larry and I are mates and were in town for the Melbourne Film Festival and booked a few nights there for the first time. When we arrived at the hotel, Maggie walked into the room, sat down on the end of the bed and said ‘Hi I’m Maggie, I’m heading up to Castlemaine for the weekend, so you’ll be here pretty much on your own,”

“Larry and I just looked at each other and we were like, ‘What is this place, this is awesome’.”

The first unsuccessful screening was held with a Q&A with Mr Lawson and Ms Fooke herself, who will be unable to attend the October screening in person due to be-

ing overseas but hopefully will be able to Zoom call in.

Ms Lloyd said she came into the filming process expecting to be a coffee runner and to learn from Ms Fooke, but quickly realised that wasn’t going to be the case.

“She really didn’t have the time and energy to make a feature film on top of this massive change in her life, packing up a hotel and figuring out what’s next,” she said.

“We just wanted to capture as much as possible and we talked a lot, Maggies was great at the spontaneous camerawork and her interview style is very vibrant so there’s an interesting contrast between my more measured, spacious approach and Maggie’s let’s just pick it up and see what happens”

Originally hoping to film every guest that visited in the hotel’s last 100 days, the film’s vision also saw a shift to focusing on Ms Fooke as Ms Lloyd and Mr Lawson wanted to capture what she created and her way of being because they ‘all wanted a bit of Maggie’ when they stayed there.

Ms Lloyd said the projector mishap highlighted to her the value of a small town having its own cinema.

“It showed me how lucky we are in Warburton and how I wish for myself that I thought earlier about how can we really protect, value and support this resource given we are such a small town,” she said.

“People actually left the non-screening saying it was such a great afternoon, it was such a great conversation and connection and that they want to see the film more than ever now.”

“You can only create a portrait as far as the other person is willing to be vulnerable, so it’s this real dance of vulnerability between the subject and the photographer,“ Ms Ronalds said.

“It was really inspiring meeting so many different creative people who were writers, but also practice other art mediums, and have so much lived experience.“

Working within the confines of the Lilydale Civic Centre, Ms Ronalds made it her mission to depict her subjects in a way that didn’t simply show “happy ageing people“.

“I didn’t want it to feel like an advertisement for a retirement village,“ she said.

“I really wanted there to be some honesty to the portraits, and I wanted each person to feel seen.

“A lot of the participants related a lot to nature, so, it was quite easy to find beautiful trees and leafy backdrops to weave that in.“

Ronalds said each of the writers - who come from suburbs across the Yarra Ranges - all brought a “great sense“ of honesty to the shoot, and an ability to articulate what inspires them to write, as well as a strong understanding of their relationship with ageing.

“I was fairly upfront with people about that and just said ’the more you share with me, the easier it’s going to be for me to create the portrait;’ and they were really honest and shared really personal things with me, some of them,“ she said.

“That helped a lot in terms of understanding how to kind of reflect their humanity back in the photographs, and also helped break down those polite barriers to overcome.

“They really jumped in and told me where they’re at in a matter of fact way, and that really helped.“

Yarra Ranges is one of five communities participating in the program this year, after a pilot program in Frankston in 2022 saw the program gain the support of Australia Council for the Arts to engage with five different communities acrossVictoria in 2023.

ParticipantsappliedthroughanEOIprocess, with Yarra Ranges Council receiving more than 60 applications for 20 places in the program.

Fatoula Reynolds.

Those who signed up to the project were invited to participate in poetry workshop - led by poet and psychologist Jennifer Harrisonwhere they would each produce two poems as a way to express and share their experiences in a safe, creative environment.

Poets Jessica L Wilkinson and Cassandra Atherton also helped coordinate the project, with local writer Lorelei Vashti taking on a role as mentee during the process.

The Yarra Ranges Over 50’s Festival is set to run throughout October; offering a diverse range of activities, events, and workshops designed to promote active ageing and foster social connections.

A wide range of activities like: music performances, art exhibitions, bike rides, walking sport events, social events, arts and crafts, history talks will mark the occassion; with a total of 110 events open to the public.

Ms Ronalds said she hopes people can see ageing from another perspective after viewing the Poetic Portraits exhibition, which will launch on Friday 29 September 2023 and run from Mondays to Fridays until Wednesday 31 January 2024.

“Even if it’s just a new perspective that they might not have seen before, I think that would be amazing,“ Ms Ronalds said.

“I definitely saw [ageing] from a new perspective by participating and making these portraits of these people.“

To find an event near you during the Over 50s Festival, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Over-50s/Over-50s-events

L-R: Warburton filmmaker Belinda Lloyd and Brooklyn Arts Hotel owner Maggie Fooke.

Picture: SUZANNE PHOENIX

Gallery manager Vanessa Flynn (left) and Artist Di King (right). Picture: DONGYUN KWON

Donkeys on show again

By Callum Ludwig

The Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival is set to make a triumphant return in January 2024, nine years since its inception in 2015.

The event is the brainchild of Linda Jay, owner of the Donkey Shop in East Warburton, with the last edition raising funds for the Donkey Society ofVictoria and the UpperYarra SES Unit.

Ms Jay said due to the success of the last event, she probably gets asked once a week when the next one would be.

“I organised the last one entirely on my own and it was a lot of work and I just sort of didn’t think I had the capacity to do it again, but I’ve got a helper who has stepped in to take on a lot of the other jobs and so between the two of us, we’re going to try and make it work again,” she said.

“The aim of the festival is to introduce the world to donkeys, to educate people about donkeys, to educate donkey owners about how to care for their donkeys, to demonstrate the versatility of donkeys and to get people to bring their donkeys out of the paddock and engage their brains into doing activities.”

Ms Jay has lived with donkeys all her life, with her parents having bred and trained them while she was growing up and getting her own once she had the land for them.

Ms Jay said there’ll be a large gathering of donkeys competing in events, ranging from showing to jumping and obstacle courses to fancy dress.

“There’ll be donkeys in the yard for people to walk yo and have a look at, or donkey rides to enjoy. I’ll also have guest speakers, a vet and a farrier and a few other speakers who will talk about the care, wellbeing and training of donkeys,” she said.

“Last time we had a jumping castle and pin the tail on the donkey and a few side shows, there’ll actually probably be a slightly larger element of side shows this time as well, because the person who’s helping me, that’s his specialty.”

Over 2000 people and 40 donkeys attend-

ed the 2015 festival. Attendees next year can also look forward to a live performance from zydeco band Harmaniax.

Ms Jay said last time, people enjoyed seeing that donkeys can do stuff because a lot of people assume they sit in a field and do nothing.

“Donkeys have a bit of a bad rap when it comes to how they’re portrayed in film and television and stuff like that, they’re always portrayed as being stupid or stubborn and it’s actually completely the opposite,” she said.

“You need to train a donkey with a different approach to a horse, but once you have their love and trust, you can pretty much get them to do anything. And they love to get out and about and do things.”

Anyone wanting to get involved in the event can contact Ms Jay at info@thedonkeyshop. com.au or (03) 5966 9091.

CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar 3 Meadowgate Drive

CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway

CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway

CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway

CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar 158 Nangathan Way

CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar 11 The Mall

KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Churinga SC, Russo Place

KILSYTH Kilsyth News & Lotto 520 - 528 Mt Dandenong Road

KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette87 Colchester Road

KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Canterbury Road Kilsyth

KILSYTH TSG Tobacco Churinga Shopping Centre Mt Dandenong Road

LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC 33-45 Hutchinson Street

LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC 51-59 Anderson Street

LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Castella Street & Maroondah Highway

LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre 7 Hardy Street

LILYDALE Eastern Laundries. 2/4 Williams Street East

LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre 1 Jarlo Drive

LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway

LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale 346 Main Street

LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths 31 Hutchinson Street

LILYDALE BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway

LILYDALE Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway

LILYDALE 7 - Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road

LILYDALE Coles Express 469 Maroondah Highway

LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe 251 Main Street

LILYDALE Round Bird Can’t Fly 170 Main Street

LILYDALE The Lilydale General 110 Beresford Road

LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery 96 Main Street

LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe 178 Main Street

LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe 222 Main Street

LILYDALE Gracious Grace Castella Street

LILYDALE Melba Coffee House 33-45 Hutchinson Street

LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies 7/75 Cave Hill Road

LILYDALE The Mustard Tree Cafe 3/28 John Street

LILYDALE Freda’s Cafe 2 Clarke Street

LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate 164 Main Street

LILYDALE Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate 281 Main Street

LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate 111-113 Main Street

LILYDALE Grubs Up 1 Industrial Park Drive

LILYDALE Olinda Creek Hotel Maroondah Hwy

LILYDALE Crown Hotel Maroondah Hwy

LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street

MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road

MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road

MONTROSE IGA Supermarket 916 Mt Dandenong Road

MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road

MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road

MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street

MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent

MOUNT EVELYN Red Robin Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road

MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent

MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road

MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale 138 York Road

MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket 15 Brice Avenue

MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar 38 Bellara Dive

MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart 108 Hayrick Lane

MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark 103 Cardigan Road

MOOROOLBARK Coles Express 2 Cambridge Road

MOOROOLBARK Mooroolbark Coin Laundrette28 Manchester Road

MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real Estate Brice Avenue

MOOROOLBARK L J Hooker Brice Avenue

MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road

MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road

Fiona and Ross picking up speed in their donkey-powered cart.

On the obstacle course.

Linda Jay is bringing back the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival in 2024. Picture: VAL REES

Rising costs of GP

The cost of living is making life difficult for local families. They’re feeling it at the supermarket checkout, at the bowser, in higher rents and mortgage repayments and in their energy bills.

But one issue I am consistently hearing right across our community is the cost of accessing healthcare and visiting the GP.

Despite the electorate of Casey spanning over 2,400sqm, we don’t have a single hospital emergency department within our boundaries. For residents in the UpperYara, Dandenong Ranges and remote areas of theYarraValley, the distance to healthcare is a major concern.

To make things more difficult, it’s getting harder and harder to see your local GP.

Our community has one of the lowest numbers of bulk billing clinics in Australia, with just four of the 34 local clinics now offering bulk billing.

Since Labor came to government, bulk billing rates have dropped consecutively every single month. The latest data reveals bulk billing rates are at their lowest since 2013, with

From my desk

Federal Member for Casey

local residents out-of-pocket an average of $40.10 for every visit to the GP.

This out-of-pocket cost is sadly expected to rise, with the state Andrews Labor Government recently introducing yet another tax.

This time, a tax requiring independent GP’s to pay payroll tax, which will inevitably see costs passed on to patients who are already struggling to pay the bills, let alone cough up enough for an unexpected GP appointment.

It’s been estimated GP’s will have to hike

prices up by a further $15 to $20 to cover the new state tax, taking the total out of pocket cost to around $60.

With costs increasing and bulk billing rates falling, this is a worrying double hit for patients.

The Albanese Labor Government was elected on a promise to‘strengthen Medicare’, yet all of the data is pointing in the opposite direction.

They’ve reduced Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions from 20 to just 10. Less than half their promised urgent care clinics are operational and 70 telehealth items have been cut from Medicare.

I’m deeply concerned that these decisions will leave many people unable to access the healthcare they need. It’s time Australians looked at Labor’s actions, not their words.

I’m proud that a Coalition government is committed to restoring the full 20 Medicaresubsidised mental health sessions. I’ll continue fighting for affordable access to healthcare for all Australians.

Blue Beetle entertains A charming detective story

A review of Holy Ghost by John Sandford Holy Ghost, by U.S.-based bestselling author John Sandford, is the 11th in a series of 12 books featuring Virgil Flowers, a charismatic detective working at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Flowers is tall, athletic, in his late 30s, with “longish blond hair and an easy smile” for a cop. He wears jeans, cowboy boots, and t-shirts featuring obscure rock bands. He loves fishing, and often tows a boat while on duty“in case an emergency fishing opportunity should jump out in front of him”. He is also a photographer and writes for outdoor and hunting magazines

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

Classical works reimagined

Kemp’s curtain call

Lilydale Athenaeum theatre

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again)

This is the September play from LAT and there must be something about the Dandenongs, as your correspondent mentioned recently about the humorous play The 39 Steps put on by The Basin Theatre, this play from LAT is also exceedingly funny and thoroughly enjoyed by the opening night audience.

Three actors introduce themselves to the audience. Two on stage then they question the audience about Shakespeare. A humorous reply was given, and it reinspired that the audience member was actually one of the three.

The production began with a parody of Romeo & Juliet, followed by a caricature of Titus Andronicus as a cooking show.The rest of the first act summarises most of the other plays.

Blue Beetle

Starring Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine and Susan Sarandon

Rated M

4/5

Blue Beetle is an exciting, moving, character-driven superhero movie.

Mexican law student Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) unexpectedly bonds with an alien weapon called the Scarab, becoming the superhero Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle explores themes of loyalty, strength through hardship and imperialism, the latter through main villain Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) seeking to claim and appropriate ancient technology that doesn’t belong to her.

Jamie’s family are all well-developed and endearing, and Jaime’s devoted family life, his growing abilities as Blue Beetle and Victoria’s resolve to steal the Scarab’s secrets all feed into each other in the brisk, energetic narrative.

Blue Beetle has an unabashedly nineties vibe, with its bright colour palette, plucky young heroes and Power Rangers-inspired action. The basic plot and Blue Beetle’s character design are reminiscent of the 1991 film The Guyver (including the note of body horror in Jaime’s initial transformation).

The action sequences are dynamic, creative and well-composed, and Jaime’s haphazard first flight as Blue Beetle is full of fun physical comedy, but the final battle, which feels more like a fight between robots than humans with heightened abilities, is a slight let-down. The bone-crushing intensity of the fights also clashes with Jaime’s honourable aversion to killing.

Blue Beetle exists in an odd limbo: one of the final films in the outgoing Snyderverse, but absorbed into James Gunn’s new DC Comics film era. Thankfully, Blue Beetle is very entertaining on its own terms, with almost no connection to the broader franchise baggage.

Blue Beetle is a character-rich, deeply moving superhero adventure, and is playing in mostVictorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

This unorthodox detective arrives in Wheatfield, Minnesota, a town of about 650 people that is only one hour’s drive from his own place. Five months earlier, the dying town gained a new life thanks to the supposed appearanceoftheVirginMaryatthelocalchurch.

Trouble is, as religious pilgrims and tourists arrive in droves, much to the delight of local businesses and residents – someone also decides to start shooting. By the time Wheatfield is in close resemblance to Midsomer in Midsomer Murders or Saint Marie in Death in Paradise, Flowers is getting desperate, “running around like a chicken with my head cut off”.

A former journalist and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Sandford has an intriguing style as a crime novelist. He presents the who, where, what, when, why and how, but spares no time for probing the hearts and minds of his characters. As such, the story consists almost entirely of dialogues and descriptions of people, locations and events.

This style can work if the plot is excellent –and if the dialogues are witty enough to adequately reflect the often quirky characteristics of the characters involved. Luckily, we have

CARTOON

both in the book. The result is an intimate portrayal of life in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s petty business but tolerates it with kindness and humour. (That is, of course, until common decency is breached and someone ends up being seriously injured or killed.) This is also a small town in America where everyone owns at least one gun and shooting, like buying groceries, is a part of daily life. One character has 40 guns, because: “There’s a day coming in this country when you’re gonna need a gun to survive. That’s why I’m living here in Wheatfield. It’ll take the dictator’s men a while to get here, and that’ll give us time to organise.” Indeed, when asked whether he would rather give up guns or women, that character replies:“I’d say, sure, women are important, but guns are fundamental. You know, our Constitution doesn’t even mention women, but it does mention our right to bear arms.”

Thus Holy Ghost makes interesting reading, in the way that one aspect of a nation’s culture is laid bare on the table, sliced and diced, for everyone to see. It would be fun to discover whether the other books in the Virgil Flowers series take the same approach.

The idea is to perform all 37 plays in 97 minutes. This they succeeded in and added some more time explaining the stories to the audience. There was a lot of audience participation including two members taken on stage with a young lady to play Ophelia and a gentleman to run backwards and forwards across the stage.

The three players were Ian Frost, Justin Stephens and Tom Fitzgerald. Each gave excellent performances. From playing gentlemen, ladies and very swift costume changes much to the amusement of the audience.

The actors wore normal dress in the first scene but then changed to authentic Shakespeare era for the rest of the evening. A great night of theatre and a fun night out.

CPP CommunityTheatre

Oliver

From the story by Charles Dickens join Oliver Twist as he navigates all the trials and tribulations that London has to offer, searching for lover, family and – most importantly – a place to belong. Content warning: The production of Oliver touches on themes of domestic abuse and violence.

In consideration of other patrons and the cast, children under the age of three will only be admitted to the theatre for the matinee performance.

· Season: Friday October 6 – 23.

· Venue: Mahon Theatre 46 Great Ryrie st. Ringwood.

· Bookings: tickets@cppcommunitythaeatre.com.au

The Bakery @ 1812

Phantom Call

This is a rags to riches tale, which begins with a seance attended by an unsuspecting group of very amateur spiritualists and one very sceptical and unwilling participant.

Imagine receiving horse racing tips from the “other side” which can actually prove to be on the money.

This is an entertaining and very funny romp, which perhaps uncovers a different side to each of their personalities.

· Season: October 5 – 28.

· Bookings: 9758 3964.

PERFECTION ON A FLAT 1/3 ACRE

SITUATED in a premier location on a completely useable 1352m2 is this beautiful, character home that is surrounded by colourful manicured gardens and is presented with pride by the owners.

Quality built and boasting stunning presentation, you will be taken by the Tasmanian Oak floors, picture windows that offer garden views and French doors that lead out from both living areas.

There are two big living rooms, both have an ornate fireplace as a centrepiece creating the most welcoming atmosphere for any occasion. Whether you are relaxing in the family/meals area or celebrating a birthday, Christmas or other special event, this is a property that sets the scene for treasured memories to be made.

The kitchen is bathed in natural light and also benefits from the beauty that frames every window and has wall oven, gas and electric hotplates and a Bosch dishwasher.

Double doors lead out to the covered and paved outdoor entertainment area and rear yard allowing the best of indoor/outdoor living. There is a large dining room that could also serve as a fourth bedroom if required.

All bedrooms are generous in size and have exquisite decor. A box bay window adds beauty to the luxurious master bedroom which also comes complete with a full ensuite and walk in robe. The remaining

bedrooms have their own zone and are serviced by the family bathroom.

Ducted heating and evaporative cooling ensure year round comfort.

Outdoors the attention to detail and added extras continue with a double remote garage, brick paths that lead around a vast array of colourful plantings, expansive grassed areas, raised veggie patch and the cutest workshop/ shed complete with its own verandah.

All just a stroll to the Emerald Lake Park where walking trails, water sports, cafes and our iconic Puffing Billy can be found; there is nothing to do here but move in and enjoy. ●

FOCUS

STUNNING YARRA VALLEY VIEWS

ESCAPE to the tranquillity of the Yarra Valley with this stunning property offering breathtaking views on approximately 3 acres of land. This well-maintained home features 2 bedrooms plus study. The formal lounge and dining area offers a cosy space for relaxing, while the spacious kitchen features stone bench tops and a double oven, perfect for hosting family and friends.

In addition to the main living area, the downstairs area has been previously used as an Airbnb and comprises of 1 bedroom, a lounge living with kitchenette, bathroom, and toilet. This offers an excellent opportunity for additional income or for accommodating extended family, friends, and guests.

The property boasts a 7-metre tandem carport, veranda with exceptional views, 12 panel solar system, solar-boosted gas hot water service, and 90,000 litres water storage, ensuring all the modern conveniences are catered for. The powered 11 x 8 metre shed offers plenty of storage space for vehicles or equipment, while the lush gardens and vast under-house storage complete the package. This property presents an ideal opportunity to own a beautiful home in a highly sought-after location. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to secure your own piece of paradise in the Yarra Valley. Contact us today to arrange an inspection. ●

PERFECT PROPERTY FOR A QUICK FLIP

THIS family home has so much to offer it’s new owners. With 4 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms this sturdy brick home is located on a remarkably flat 1403 sqm corner block. This home is inviting from the moment you enter. With it’s high ceilings, two living areas, open plan kitchen/dining, and clever floorplan with the master bedroom at the opposite end of the home to the further 3 bedrooms.

This first loungeroom offers an open fire place and is located near the master bedroom. The master bedroom is vast, with triple built in robes and an ensuite with toilet and shower. The kitchen and dining room are open plan, with exposed beams providing character in the dining area. The kitchen has a dishwasher and electric oven and stove top.

The home flows through to the large second loungeroom with parquetry flooring

and another wood fire heater. There is then a hallway with the laundry with separate yard access, a further toilet, and then 3 good sized bedrooms 2 of which have built in wardrobes.

Externally there is a well maintained low maintenance garden, miscellaneous sheds, and then off the second entry is a double lock up garage with power, concrete floor, and a pedestrian door. There is also a lean too attached to the shed for all your storage needs.

This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

SensationalLifestyle&ProfitableFarmingOpportunityforaFarmer,Investoror Couple!

Situatedon60stunning,private&peacefulacresyouwillfind50acresofanimmaculate,successful &profitableCherryFarm+10acreswithapprovedplansandpermitsforanexecutive,familyhome. Thefarmconsistsofapproximately20,000cherrytreesandover$1,000,000ofinfrastructureincluding fullbirdnetting,anoff-gridamenitiesshed,amachineryshed,astorageshedandacontractor designatedcampsitewithcaravanandaccommodation.Thefarmiscurrentlybeingrunsolelyby acouplewhoworkfulltimeduringharvest,beingNovembertoJanuaryandbetween1-3daysper weektheremainderoftheyearwiththeassistanceofcontractorsforthepickingandpruningwhen required.

49PakenhamRoad,Cockatoo$730,000-$770,000

Beautifullyrenovatedhomewithgorgeoustreedoutlook,andsocloseto town!

Thisfantasticfamilyhomehas3bedrooms,allwithBIRs,&2lovelybathrooms.Thefreshlypainted homewithopenplankitchen/dining/lounge&plushcarpetinallbedroomsistheepitomeofmove inready!ThekitchenisequippedwithInductionelectricstove&oven,stonebenchtops&agreat Laundry/butlerspantry.Thishomewillbecosy&comfortableyearround,withzoneablereverse systemductedheating&RefrigeratedCoolingthroughout&efficientHeatPumpforhotwater.Enjoy theviewsacrosstotheCockatootrees,&theconvenienceofbeingonlymomentsfromCockatoo mainstreet.Extensivelandscapinghasbeencompletedoutside,withplentyofoffstreetparking available.Thegardenbedsarefreshlyplanted,&thereisagardenshed.Thisblockhasdualaccess.

8BerrysRoad,Emerald$900,000-$990,000

BeautifullyPresentedFamilyHomewithPeacefulViews!

Thisfantasticfamilyhomeoffers3bedrooms&2bathroomsonawelllaidoutlandscapedblockon over½anacre!Thishomeisprivatelypositionedbelowtheroad,withadoublecarport.Enteringthe homeyouwillenjoytheopenplankitchen,loungeroom&welllaidoutfloorplanwithabedroom nearthefrontdoor&thenthemasterbedroom&thirdbedroomattheotherendofthehome.The lightfloodsintothehomethroughthelargewindowsofferingviewsintothedistance.Thishomeis warm&invitingwithaWIR&ensuiteinthemasterbedroom.Thereisalargereardeckingjustwaiting tobeenjoyedinsummer!Thelaundryislocateddownstairswithdirectaccesstothebackyard,and thereare2largeroomslocateddownstairsofferingpotentialforaconvenientworkfromhomeoffice orprivateteenageraccommodationwithseparateaccess.

IfYouWanttoWalktoEverythingthisFamilyHomeistheOneforYou!

Literally150mfromtheheartofEmerald,this4+bedroom,familyhomehasgorgeousviews&room forall!TheMasterBedroomisdownstairswithensuite&WIR,withadressingroom/potential5th bedroom.Downstairsare3internal&2externallivingareas,anopenplankitchen/diningarea withpantry/utilityroom&aspaciousfamilyroom/rumpusroom.Thereisanentertainingdeck&an undercoverentertainingareawithbuiltinbar.Upstairsare3freshlypainted,robedbedroomswith newcarpets,arenovatedbathroom&viewsfromeverywindow.Withgasheating,airconditioning, asplitsystemupstairs,astudy/homeoffice&elegantplantationshuttersthroughout.Outsideisa 6x8mlockupgarage/workshopwithremotedoor&adjacent,highbay7x8mdoublecarportperfect forthecaravanorboat&plentyofextraparkingforthetrailer,guestsandfamily.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

26NobeliusStreet,Emerald$940,000-$1,020,000

AaronDay M 0407365994

BrennanMileto M 0422996451

SPACIOUS ENTERTAINER IN A QUIET AREA

TUCKED away amidst a lush Australian native garden, this impeccably constructed family residence boasts an array of living spaces, including a separate lounge, formal dining area, a retreat room, and a family/ meals area.

The exquisite kitchen features an impressive Euromaid 5-burner cooktop and boasts a generously sized island bench adjacent to the meals area and an expansive walk-in pantry providing ample storage space for your small appliances.

The real showstopper here, however, is the breathtaking expansive view, a sight that must be experienced in person to truly appreciate its beauty. The master bedroom is a spacious retreat in itself, located at one end of the house and boasts a walk-in robe and ensuite.

The other three well-proportioned bedrooms with built-in robes are situated off the retreat room. An additional entrance leading into the retreat room makes it an ideal space for teenagers and a perfect fit for a growing family.

With 9-foot ceilings enhancing the sense of spaciousness, beautiful Tasmanian Oak floorboards, extensive verandahs, an outdoor alfresco area and a double garage with remote access that provides sheltered entry to the home, and a garden teeming with native wildlife.

This home is perfect for both family living and entertaining. Comfort is assured with gas ducted heating and a slow combustion wood heater. Step into this haven, leave the hustle and bustle of the world behind, unpack your belongings, and start living your life.

Positioned at the end of a tranquil no-through road, yet conveniently close to all amenities, this home is a true masterpiece. ●

Address: 40 Joffre Parade,

12AuhlRoad, Emerald

FAMILYHOMEAMONGSTLEAFYSERENITY

FORSALE.

GUIDE $870,000-$930,000

INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT SueColic 0421772610

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

132RedRoad, Gembrook

GREATHOMEINCENTRALLOCATIONON1ACRE

FORSALE.

GUIDE $700,000-$760,000 INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT GayleBarrot 0408195767

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

17NettletonRoad, Monbulk

LIVEFREEANDEASYONOVER11.5ACRES

FORSALE.

$1,500,000-$1,600,000

59684522

20AmbroseStreet, Emerald 4 A T 2 B T 2 C T

PERFECTIONONAFLAT1/3ACRE

FORSALE.

GUIDE $1,000,000-$1,100,000 INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT GayleBarrot 0408195767

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

SPACIOUSFAMILYHOMEONAPRIVATE3,630M2

FORSALE.

CHARACTERCHARMINTHEHEARTOFTOWN

FORSALE. GUIDE $650,000-$695,000

ByAppointment

JustinBarrot 0438683781

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

7GembrookParkRoad, Gembrook

ENTERTAINERSDELIGHTINAPARKLIKESETTING

FORSALE.

GUIDE $1,150,000-$1,250,000 INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

25GembrookLaunchingPlaceRoad, Gembrook 5 A T 2 B T 4 C T

40JoffreParade, Cockatoo

SPACIOUS,SUNNY&SOWELLPOSITIONED

FORSALE.

GUIDE $1,420,000-$1,490,000

INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

SPACIOUSENTERTAINERINAQUIETLOCATION

4 A T 2 B T 2 C T

FORSALE.

GUIDE $900,000-$950,000 INSPECT ByAppointment

CONTACT SueColic 0421772610

BarryPlantEmerald 59684522

QUALITY FAMILY LIVING

PERCHED proudly in an enticing cul-de-sac, this home provides stylish yet easy living in the ever-popular Yarra Junction village. Located within walking distance to the local schools, shops and public transport, this desirable home offers a spacious and light filled environment, ideal for entertaining, for family enjoyment and quality living.

Large bedrooms are one of the many features of this gorgeous home. The master, feeling like a retreat at the front of the home has a spacious walk-in robe and a lovely ensuite with modern clean lines, large shower and vanity with ample storage. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are well proportioned to house large beds and furniture, with double robes and room to move.

The open-concept design of this contemporary residence affords you the freedom to configure your living space as you desire. Whether it’s hosting grand dinner parties or unwinding with your favorite leisure furnishings, this versatile layout has room for it all.

The kitchen takes centre stage with its ample island bench, where you can seamlessly interact with the family or guests while spreading out and cooking up a storm. The adjoining meals zone opens to a rear deck, an ideal setting to while away the hours, dine and enjoy the mountain views.

Lovely, neat and manageable gardens offer a wonderful space for outside enjoyment, room to plant some veggies if you desire, or just enjoy the low maintenance and pretty space currently on offer.

Convenient internal access is provided from the double lock up garage, so no need to get wet on a rainy day running inside with your groceries, and there is plenty of extra off street parking on the block.

A lovely home, in a brilliant location where you will enjoy living for many years to come. ●

4bedroombrickhomeonahuge1/2acre

Bigfamilyhome,onlyafewyearsyoungfeaturingtwolivingareas,4bedroomsandaworkfrom homeoffice.Setonafabuloushalfacreofland(2406sq.m)withTWOTITLESandgoodvehicle accessviaseparatedriveways.Thebrickveneerhomehasadoublegaragewithinternalaccess, andthereissomuchspaceoutsidewithlawnareas,veggiegardenandplentyofroomforthekids toplay.Masterbedroomwithensuiteandwalkinrobe,continuedownthehalltotheheartofthe homebeingthekitchen,completewithwalkinpantry,islandbenchandbigopenplanlivingarea. Thereisapowderroomandfamilybathroom,agorgeousprivatealfrescooffthelivingareathatalso givesyoufullaccesstoyourbigbackyard!Theaddedbonusofgasductedheatingforthosecold winternights.Youwilllovethisentirepackage!Callnowforinspection.

Qualityfamilylivinginconvenientlocation

Perchedproudlyinanenticingcul-de-sac,thishomeprovidesstylishyeteasylivingintheeverpopularYarraJunctionvillage.Locatedwithinwalkingdistancetothelocalschools,shopsand publictransport,thisdesirablehomeoffersaspaciousandlightfilledenvironment.Themaster,feeling likearetreatatthefrontofthehomehasaspaciouswalk-inrobeandalovelyensuitewithmodern cleanlines,largeshowerandvanitywithamplestorage.Bedrooms2and3arewellproportioned tohouselargebedsandfurniture,withdoublerobes.Thekitchentakescentrestagewithitsample islandbench.Theadjoiningmealszoneopenstoareardeck,anidealsettingtoenjoythemountain views.Lovely,neatandmanageablegardensofferawonderfulspaceforoutsideenjoyment.A lovelyhome,inabrilliantlocationwhereyouwillenjoylivingformanyyearstocome.

4/24LittleYarraRoad,YarraJunction$510,000-$560,000

Convenientlowmaintenance&privatelivinginaprimelocation!

OnlyminuteswalktothetownshipofYarraJunctionandallthatithastoofferincludingShopping, Doctors,SportingFacilities,PublicTransport,RailTrail,LittleYarraRiverandmore-youwillfind thisbrickunittuckedawayatthebackofacomplexofonly4-soquietandprivacyisassured. Consistingof2bedrooms,semiensuite,singlecarportwithgardenshedandsecurestorageroom -somethingtolikeforeveryone.Updatedkitchenalongwithopenplanlivinggivethefeelingof space,anupdatedbathroomwithfloortoceilingtiles,disabilityaccesswithhandrailsandwalkin spaciousshowerandplentyofroom.Splitsystemheatingandcoolinghasallclimatestakencareof. Extrasincludesolarpower,walkinpantry,largeprivateyardwithgardenshedandsecurefencing andgates.Callnowforinspection!

LeahBannerman M 0448924266

Inspection: Sat2.30-3.00pm 2

PrivateandConvenientlyLocatedFamilyHomeon4acres(approx.)

Thisexcellentpropertyoffersarurallifestylewiththeluxuryofabeautiful3yearoldhomeforyouto loveandenjoy.Thehomeprovides4largebedrooms,theopulentmastershowcasingalargewalk inrobeandabeautifulensuitewithdoublevanityandwalkinshower,andthefurtherbedroomsall withspaciousbuiltinrobes,ceilingfansanddoubleblinds.Thehomeisideallyzonedwithfamilyliving inmind,with3ofthebedroomsintheirownwingwithlivingroom,splitsystemheatingandcooling, largebathroomandseparatepowderroom.Storagehasbeenwellcateredforwithalargewalkin linen,inadditiontotheextensivecupboardsinthelaundry.Thekitchenisanychef’sdream,witha hugestoneislandbench,stylishfarmhousesink,luxuriousbutlerspantry,qualityappliancesandopen inplan.EnjoyYarraValleylivingatthispropertynow!

2895WarburtonHighway,Wesburn$890,000-$975,000

7BlackmoreStreet,ChumCreek$1,150,000-$1,250,000

PHAREMA LODGE –PEACEFUL AND PRIVATE

SITTING proudly on a glorious 2.5 acres approx of peaceful, private and fully useable land, this much loved property has been the home of one family for over 35 years and has been the backdrop to many beautiful memories, events and family traditions.

Drenched in natural sunlight, the four bedroom (or three plus home office) home is spacious and versatile, offering a floorplan that consists of three living areas, central kitchen with timber benchtops and eating area and two bathrooms (semi ensuite to master bedroom).

Ducted electric heating runs throughout as well as refrigerated cooling whist in the lounge room you will be delighted to find a wood fire – Perfect for those colder winter nights.

Outside, ‘Pharema Lodge’ offers the complete package.

Lush green lawns, a sealed, circular driveway, barn style mechanics shed with pit, double carport plus 2 stables and a studio/ rumpus room with workshop.

All of this plus a picturesque dam and good fencing tucked privately away behind remote gates on your arrival.

In a sought after address, within a stone’s throw to the Belgrave South Primary School and main street, you will discover a world of adventure at ‘Pharema Lodge’.

Tank water only

Septic system

· Solar panels installed ●

Withadesirablelocationonly750mfromcafes,shopping,andUpweyStation,this2,015sqm (approx.)propertyhasthepotentialtobeaveryprofitableinvestment.Alreadyadorned witharesidencereadyforrentalorrenovationplusexclusiveNRZ2zoningforsubdivision (STCA),thisisanexceptionalopportunityinanoutstandinglifestylelocation.

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen

M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

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

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen

M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

$580,000-$640,000 OVERHALFANACREWITHVALLEYVIEWS

21AMaskellsHillRoad,SELBY

Ararefind,thiswellcaredfor,clearedandvacantblockof2311m2isinabeautifulpartof theDandenongRangesandoffersnearbyvalleyviews.Prettymaturetreescreatealovely canopyaroundtheboundaryandwillgivecolourandheightforyourgardentocome tolife.Buildyourdreamhome(STCA)totakeinthesurroundinggreeneryandenjoythe peaceandprivacyofthissoughtafterlocation.

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

GlennChandler M 0418410689| E glenn@chandlerandco.com.au

PUZZLES

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

1

DOWN

1

4

2

DECODER

WORDFIT

9-LETTER WORD

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once.

colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

gins, girt, gist, grin, grins, grist, grit, iris, nisi, rigs, ring, ringgit, ringing, rings, rinsing, rising, sign, signing, sing, singing, siring, siting, sting, stinging, stir, string, STRINGING, tiring, trig

William Matthews Funerals

24 HOUR SERVICE - ALLAREAS 9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au

No. 151

No. 151

No.

Athletes excel on the tan

By Jamie Strudley

The Melbourne weather really turned it on for the final round of the XCR23 season. The sun was shining and the atmosphere was high for the much loved Tan Relays.

Yarra Ranges Athletics had eight teams competing alongside over 300 other teams from throughoutVictoria with all athletes keen to test themselves on the world renowned Tan Track.

Liv got the Div 2 Women off to a flying start running a 15s pb before handing over to Kellie, who showed she has some serious speed even if she does enjoy running 100 plus kms on the mountain trails. Maddie continued her strong form storming around theTan to run 20s faster than she did last year. Going into the last leg the girls had a 1min12s advantage over 2nd place but this didn’t stop Brigitte from running the fastest time of the day for our Yarra women and helping secure first place for the Div 2 women by over 90 seconds!! Amazing team effort girls.

The fun didn’t stop there though for our open women with our Div 4 team, made up of Grace, Abi and Lis all having amazing runs to claim second place.

Our under 20 women, Zoe, Mia and Lily hung on nicely for 6th place. Our under 20 women have had an incredible season winning the overall team title.

Our Div 2 Men have had a huge season in their first year in Division 2. The boys worked well together with Harry and Max getting the team out to a good start both running PBs. Jared, Chris and Ash held strong in the middle stages, also all running big PBs before James flew home in the final leg to claim 6th place.

We also saw some familiar faces back for a fast lap of the Tan, with Caleb McInnes, Liam Russell and Ky Harris making an appearance. Our Div 6th Men flew around for 3rd, with the Div 7 teams placing 7th and 13th whilst our under 16 men came 18th. Great running from all!! Results are:

· Women Div 2 4x3.83km 1st Olivia Twining:

13:37, Kellie Angel: 13:29, Madeline Laven:

14:19, Brigitte Rice: 13:25

· Women Div 4 3x3.83km 2nd Grace Muller:

15:45, Abi Hyndman: 15:01, Elisabeth Coffey:

17:42

· Women U20 3x3.83km 6th Zoe Clarke: 14:59, Mia Strudley: 17:14, Lily Clarke: 17:21

· Men Div 2 6x3.83km 6th Harry Norman:

11:16, Max Savill-Bentley: 11:41, Chris Grundy: 13:32, Jared Byrne: 13:15, Ashley Bennett:

13:23, James Laven: 12:15

· Men Div 6 4x3.83km 3rd Matthew Morrison:

14:13, Ky Harris: 14:40, Liam Russell: 14:09, Michael Clarke: 15:05

· Men Div 7 4x3.83km (I) 7th Caleb McInnes:

13:21, Mike Willey: 16:12, Jamie Pointon:

16:53, Jamie Strudley: 17:20 (II) 13th Logan

Dutton: 15:41, Bryan Ackerly: 17:17, Carolyn

Rosenbrock: 18:16, Craig Hewitson: 18:31

· Men U16 3x3.83km 18th Mitchell Pointon: 15:56, Sam Rice: 14:42, Finn Rossthorn: 15:18

Attention now turns to the Track & Field season which starts for both our senior and Little athletics athletes on Saturday 7 October. Any new little athletics members are welcome to come to our “Come & Try Day” on this Saturday, 23 September, from 9am Training continues for all club members on Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30pm at Morrison Reserve. Yarra Ranges Athletics

welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.

If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the fun of track & field registration is now open. Go to www.lavic.com.au or www.athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics. org.au for information about events and registration.

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org. au or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!

New state records and personal bests for archers

By Rae Hudson

On Saturday 19 August, Yering District Archers hosted a combined Indoor 18 metre and 25 metre competition at its popup indoor venue inWandin East.

This was attended by members from Yering District Archers, Sherbrooke Archers, Kew City Bowmen, Southern Cross Archery, Twin City Archers-Gippsland, Moorabbin Archery Club, Yarra Bowmen, Peninsula Target Archers andWaverley City Archers.

40 archers in total shooting 30 arrows at 18m and then 30 arrows at 25m, to receive a combined total score. It was a fun day, everyone laughing and joking in

between shooting arrows.

The 25m distance has not been shot in Victoria for over 13 years, so for many it was an exciting challenge to set new personal bests and for some, new state records.

Yering had a shooter as young as 10 and up to late 70s early 80s.

Archery is a fun sport for all ages and abilities. It can be as cheap or expensive as you make it.

If you’re interested in giving archery a go please contact your nearest club as most of us run a come and try session, either Saturday or Sunday mornings for a nominal fee, all equipment supplied, run by qualified coaches.

Tan relays Womens Div 2 winning team Brigette, Olivia, Kellie and Maddie.

Pictures: SUPPLIED James Laven on the final leg of the Div 2 Mens relay.

U20 XCR Team Champions featuring Zoe, Maddie, Mia, Brigette and Rori (not pictured).

Archers from all over the eastern suburbs came to compete in an indoor tournament hosted by Yering District Archers.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

All ages were represented with some as young as 10.

It was the first time the 25 metre distance was shot in 13 years. Checking the targets for new personal bests.

SPORT Bulldogs show their bite

By Marcus Uhe

Wandin emphatically stamped its ticket in the Outer East Football Netball League Premier Division grand final on Saturday thanks to a menacing 93-point thrashing of Woori Yallock at Yarra Junction.

11 goals to two in the Bulldogs’ favour after half time saw the margin grow from 39 at the half to the eventual 93 at the finish, the Bulldogs kicking 23.21 159 to the Tigers’ 9.12 66, with Woori Yallock held goalless in the final term.

Only poor kicking spared the Tigers early in the contest as Wandin’s pack of midfielders flexed their muscle in the middle.

Connor Smith made a seamless return to the side after missing last week’s semi-final withVFL commitments, his speed and ball use coming to the fore in the early stages.

But Woori Yallock were up for fight early, going goal-for-goal for much of the opening quarter led by star midfielder Kody Busoli.

But the longer the quarter played, Wandin’s class came to the fore.

Goals to Joel Garner and Jordan Jaworski late in the term proved telling as a sign of things to come, but 5.9 to 4.1 at quarter time meant the Tigers were still in the contest.

Three goals in the opening five minutes of the second term saw the margin quickly grow to 33, Pat Bruzzese’s waltz from the middle and bomb from inside the centre square a clear highlight.

The Tigers kept fighting but struggled to score when inside 50, Wandin’s backs covering all potential scoring routes.

They managed to kick three late in the quarter, one due to an interchange infringe-

ment, cutting the lead to 27, but quick replies from Aaron Mullett under duress and Tom Hinds after the siren meant the Bulldogs had wrestled-back any momentum.

The Tigers kicked the first of the third term through Josh Neal, firing as many remaining

bullets in their clip before soon running out of steam.

The Bulldogs were at their brutal best, however, with another five goals in the term to their rivals’ only two, growing the margin to 59 at the final break.

In the battle betweenWooriYallock’s system andWandin’s stars, stars shone bright on every line.

Slick ball movement saw them move the Sherrin with ease across the ground, piling on the pain with every major.

The final seven goals of the contest ensured Wandin’s third-highest team score of the season, extracting revenge for the corresponding game in 2022 and priming them for a grand final tussle against Narre Warren next week.

11 individual goalkickers, led by Joel Garner’s five, Mullett’s four and Tom Merlino’s three, saw the Bulldogs share the scoring load, while John Ladner and Todd Garner were resolute in defence.

Neal finished with three for the Tigers, JordanWilliams and Bailey Syswerda, tasked with manning Mullett, recognised for their contributions in yellow and black.

Having come so close just two weeks ago to getting the better of the Magpies, Wandin will like its chances of winning its first premiership flag since 2018.

With Smith and Garner relieved of VFL duties and Mullett having regained fitness following a severe hamstring injury, Nick Adam has as close to a full squad to pick from as he’s had all year.

Narre Warren won two of the three meetings between the sides this year and will be fresher having not played in Saturday’s heat, but all signs suggest a belter of a contest on Saturday afternoon.

The first bounce at Officer Recreation Reserve will take place at 2.20pm, with the Premier Division netball decider between the same two combatants beginning at 12.10pm.

Mt Evelyn through to the last Premier shot of season

Premier Division - Preliminary Finals

A Grade Narre Warren and Mt Evelyn put on an enthralling contest in the preliminary final.

The Rovers got out to a three goal lead by quarter time before NarreWarren levelled the scoreboard at half time.

The two sides were still tied at three quarter time but it was the Magpies who managed to edge ahead in the final term and progress to the grand final against Wandin next week.

· Narre Warren 46 def Mt. Evelyn 43

· Best players and goal shooters not recorded

B Grade

· Mt. Evelyn 52 def Upwey-Tecoma 48

C Grade

· Narre Warren 33 def Wandin 22

D Grade

· Narre Warren 35 def Wandin 34

Division 1 - Grand Finals

The A Grade grandfinal pitted minor premiers Seville against second-placed Emerald.

Seville had only lost one match for the year to date but were stunned in the opening quarter where the Bombers grabbed an 18-7 lead.

With their confidence up, Emerald then continued to win every quarter and make a clinical statement in their 21 goal win.

A Grade

· Emerald 62 def Seville 41

· Best Players and Goal Shooters not recorded Seville and ROC have very strong netball programs and those teams faced off in the B, C and D Grade grand finals.

Seville made up for losing A Grade by claiming the other three senior premierships. B

·

·

in the Grand Final.

Wandin met in the C Grade

High-fives all round for Wandin, through to its first senior football grand final since 2018. 359431

Picture: GARY SISSONS

1MM9ZN

1 OWNER 4WD DUAL CAB UTE IN IMMACULATE CONDITION WITH SPORTS AUTO 6 SPD TRANSMISSION, 5 CYL TURBO DIESEL

$9,990

1 OWNER LUXURY SEDAN WITH VERY LOW KMS, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ECONOMICAL 1.8 LT MOTOR, CURTAIN AIRBAGS, ABS BRAKES, STABILITY & TRACTION CTL, FULL ELECTRICS, CRUISE CONTROL, CLIMATE AIR CONDITIONING, LEATHER INTERIOR, HEATED FRONT SEATS, ALLOY WHEELS, FRONT & REAR FOG LAMPS, SERVICE BOOKS, SILVER METALLIC DUCO, RWC & WARRANTY.

$39,990

CONDITION WITH SPORTS AUTO 9 SPD TRANSMISSION, ECONOMICAL TURBO

2.0 LT 180 KW PETROL MOTOR, LEATHER INTERIOR, ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS, CRASH AVOIDANCE WITH BRAKING, BLIND SPOT SENSOR WITH ACTIVE ASSIST, FRONTAL COLLISION WARNING, LANE KEEPING ACTIVE ASSIST, FRONT AND REAR PARK SENSORS, REAR CAMERA, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, ELECTRIC BOOT, RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, AUTO LED HEADLIGHTS, RAIN SENSING WIPERS, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, TINTED WINDOWS, SAT NAV, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, SUNROOF, DIGITAL RADIO RECEIVER, MERCEDES SERVICE HISTORY, SILVER METALLIC DUCO, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, RWC & WARRANTY.

$18,990

1 OWNER VEHICLE WITH FULL DEALER SERVICE HISTORY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, MIVEC 2.0 LT MOTOR, CURTAIN AIRBAGS, ABS BRAKES, STABILITY & TRACTION CTL, FULL ELECTRICS, CLIMATE AIR CONDITIONING, CRUISE CONTROL, ALLOY WHEELS, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, REVERSING CAMERA, REVERSING SENSORS, PRIVACY GLASS, MAPS VIA APPLE CARPLAY / ANDROID AUTO CONNECTIVITY, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, VOICE COMMAND, LIGHTNING BLUE METALLIC DUCO, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, RWC & WARRANTY.

2016 Lexus NX 200t F Sport 1IC4KY

$37,990

FULLY OPTIONED AWD LUXURY WAGON WITH SPORTS AUTO 6 SPD TRANSMISSION, TURBO 2.0 LT PETROL MOTOR, LEATHER INTERIOR, ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS WITH HEATING AND COOLING, BLIND SPOT SENSOR, REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, 360 CAMERA, FRONT AND REAR PARK SENSORS, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, SAT NAV, SUNROOF, HEAD UP DISPLAY, DRIVER SEAT MEMORY SAETTING, LANE KEEP ASSIST, RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRIC TAILGATE, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING, AUTO HEADLIGHTS, RAIN SENSING WIPERS, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, TINTED WINDOWS, SPORTS SUSPENSION, FULL SERVICE HISTORY, WHITE DUCO, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, RWC AND WARRANTY.

$39,990

1 OWNER VEHICLE IN IMMACULATE CONDITION WITH LOW KMS, COMPLETE DEALER SERVICE HISTORY, SPORTS AUTO 5 SPD TRANSMISSION, TURBO DIESEL 2.4 LT MOTOR, 3100 KG TOWING CAPACITY, DUAL ZONE CLIMATE AIR CONDITIONING, FULL ELECTRICS, SAT NAV, AUTO HEADLIGHTS, RAIN SENSING WIPERS, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, LEATHER INTERIOR, ARB COLOUR CODED BULL BAR, DRIVING LIGHTS, HARD LID, TUB LINER, TOW BAR, BLUE METALLIC DUCO, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, RWC & WARRANTY.

$39,990

1 OWNER 4WD 7 SEAT WAGON WITH SPORTS AUTO 8 SPD TRANSMISSION, TURBO DIESEL 2.4 LT MOTOR, 3100 KG TOWING CAPACITY, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, LEATHER INTERIOR, ELECTRIC / HEATED FRONT SEATS, 360 CAMERA, FRONT & REAR PARK SENSORS, RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, BLIND SPOT SENSOR, FRONTAL COLLISION WARNING, REAR DIFF LOCK, AUTO LIGHTS & WIPERS, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, CRASH AVOIDANCE WITH BRAKING (LOW SPD), MAPS VIA APPLE CARPLAY / ANDROID AUTO CONNECTIVITY, TINTED WINDOWS, TOW BAR, FULL SERVICE HISTORY, BLACK METALLIC DUCO, RWC & WARRANTY.

$72,990

TOP OF THE RANGE 7 SEAT HYBRID AWD WAGON WITH FUEL EFFICIENT ELECTRIC / PETROL MOTOR, RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, LEATHER INTERIOR, COOLING / HEATED FRONT SEATS, AUTO LIGHTS & WIPERS, SAT NAV, APPLE CARPLAY / ANDROID AUTO CONNECTIVITY, 360 CAMERA, BLIND SPOT SENSOR, LANE KEEP ASSIST, FRONT & REAR PARK SENSORS, CRASH AVOIDANCE WITH BRAKING (LOW & HIGH SPEEDS), TINTED WINDOWS, GREY METALLIC DUCO, BALANCE OF 5 YEAR NEW CAR WARRANTY.

$15,990

LUXURY WAGON IN AS NEW CONDITION WITH SPORTS AUTO 6 SPD TRANSMISSION, TURBO 1.5 LT MOTOR, CURTAIN AIRBAGS, ABS BRAKES, STABILITY & TRACTION CTL, FULL ELECTRICS, CLIMATE AIR CONDITIONING, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTO HEADLIGHTS, RAIN SENSING WIPERS, ELECTRIC PANORAMIC SUNROOF, REVERSING CAMERA, REVERSING SENSORS, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, APPLE CARPLAY, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, HEATED FRONT SEATS & DOOR MIRRORS, LOW KMS, RED METALLIC DUCO, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, BALANCE OF 7 YEAR NEW CAR WARRANTY.

1 OWNER VEHICLE WITH FULL DEALER SERVICE BOOKS, SPORTS AUTO 6 SPD TRANSMISSION, 5 STAR ANCAP SAFETY RATING, PARTIAL LEATHER, HEATED FRONT SEATS, REVERSING CAMERA, REVERSING SENSORS, FULL ELECTRICS, CRUISE CONTROL, ALLOY WHEELS, AUTO HEADLIGHTS, LED DAYTIME LAMPS, CLIMATE AIR CONDITIONING, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, SAT NAV, REMOTE ENGINE START, KEYLESS ENTRY WITH BUTTON START, LOW KMS, WHITE DUCO, RWC & WARRANTY.

2004 Holden Astra CDX TS SQQ856

2018 Mitsubishi ASX 1MZ6LQ

2015 Holden Cruze SRi 1YG9OM

2021 Haval H2 1TS2ZJ $25,990

2017 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed 1JX1ZY

2021 Toyota Kluger Grande CNV659

2015 Mitsubishi Triton Exceed AED054

2018 Ford Ranger FX4

2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class AYL982