Mail - Lilydale Star Mail - 12th March 2024

Hola amigo

Mount Evelyn’s Birmingham Primary School welcomed some international guests to its school grounds last week, with 11 students from Mexico on exchange for most of March.

Getting to experience culture, the environment, some typical Australian adventures and icons of the bush, the students also brought with them a taste of Mexico to share with the school community on Thursday 7 March.

The cross-cultural relationships were blooming as host students learnt about Mexico and vice versa.

To read more turn to page 13

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Legal funds plea

By Mikayla van Loon

For nearly a decade, Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) has gone without a funding increase from the Federal government.

Now the collective body for community legal centres is calling for this to be adjusted in the upcoming May budget review.

ECLC chief executive officer Michael Smith said for essential legal support to be provided to residents in the outer east at either low cost or free, funding needs to double.

“We’d hope they would double the money for our core work. It wouldn’t be a lot of money for them but it’ll be a huge change for us,” he said.

The funding shortfall, while Mr Smith said ECLC will always do what they can to provide the best outcome for clients, has meant the team has had to turn people away or refer them on to other resources because the staff capacity just isn’t available.

“It’s stressful for the team and it’s stressful for the clients who we really want to

help,” he said.

With majority of ECLC’s workload revolving around family violence, and with it an ever increasing demand on community legal services, Mr Smith said funding must reflect that growing rate of inquiry.

“This is really, really urgent, and we need to make the community aware of how important this is,” he said.

With the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) also under review, Mr Smith said he is hopeful that final report

will guide the Federal Government on what funding is required now and long term to ensure vulnerable people can continue accessing essential support as soon as possible.

“With things like family violence, if people don’t get help early on, it creates huge issues later on, and the problems just grow and the stress builds and affects their mental health and their family situation,” Mr Smith said.

To read more, turn to page 5

Sebastian and Camila are just two of the students on the trip on a life time, exploring Australia on exchange. 393506

Trial for crash driver

By Emily Woods, AAP

A teen cannot close her eyes without seeing images of a crash on her way to space camp, while the man who drove the school bus has struggled to return to work, a court has been told.

Croydon truck driver Brett Russell faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 March for a hearing to test evidence before the magistrate decided he will stand trial over the September 2022 crash.

The 61-year-old is facing 80 charges, including dangerous driving causing serious injury and reckless conduct endangering life, after he allegedly ploughed into the Loreto College Ballarat bus.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The bus was on its way to Melbourne Airport to take the teens on the trip of a lifetime to NASA space camp in the US, the court was previously told.

Russell is accused of ignoring warning signs that his B-Double truck, towing two trailers, had lost braking capacity before it rear-ended the bus, about 3.16am on September 21.

The school bus rolled down an embankment off the Western Highway near Pentland Hills, west of Melbourne, with at least 25 students, teachers and the bus driver suffering injuries.

When Russell was interviewed by police in January 2023, he was questioned if he knew about issues with the brakes before the crash and the risks since the truck was towing two trailers.

“So you recognised the risk?” an officer asked Russell, court documents alleged.

“Yes. And I still took the risk, yes,” he replied.

“I couldn’t stop in time.”

Asked why he still drove the truck, he allegedly responded: “Just trying to do the right thing.”

Russell is on bail and sat in the front row of the court on Monday, as several of the passengers’ treating physicians gave evidence on their injuries.

Defence lawyer John Lavery questioned each witness on the psychological and physical injuries of their patients, as Russell planned to contest the seriousness of some.

Psychologist Gabrielle French, who has been treating a year 10 student involved in the crash, said the girl stopped going to school and suffered trauma, anxiety and dissociation after the incident.

“She said ‘every time I shut my eyes I think of the accident, so ... I don’t want to go to sleep’,” she told the court about her sessions with the teen.

The school bus driver has been diagnosed

with PTSD from the crash and has struggled to return to work, his GP Adam Rouse said.

“He still continues to experience flashbacks and nightmares,” he said.

Dr Rouse said he has slowly eased back into part-time work on buses, including driving empty buses, and now drives with passengers up to three days a week.

Loreto College teacher Scott Antonio gave evidence remotely from Ballarat on Tuesday, after suffering soft tissue injuries to his neck and back, and psychological injuries.

He broke down and started crying as he described “constantly hearing voices” of the students, after barrister John Lavery asked him to explain if his nightmares and flashbacks were related to the collision.

“Mr Antonio, Mr Antonio ... they’re not on the bus, we can’t find them all,” he told the court, describing the voices.

“What I see is ... they’re dead.”

Magistrate Keiran Gilligan excused the teacher, as he became too “visibly and uncontrollably upset” due to reliving the trauma.

Mr Gilligan ruled there was enough evidence for a jury to convict him and ordered Russell to stand trial in the County Court.

The truckie, who remains on bail, will next face court on 8 April.

IN BRIEF

Looking for Luke

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate Luke Hawthorne.

Warrants have been issued for the 26-yearold in relation to drug and assault related matters.

Hawthorne is known to frequent Croydon, Box Hill, Knox, The Basin and Research. He is described as Caucasian, about 168cm with a medium build and blue eyes.

Investigators have released an image of Luke in the hope that someone may be able to provide information on his current whereabouts.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential reports online at www.crimestoppers.com.au

Teens arrested for theft

A Croydon boy was arrested in relation to an alleged theft in Ferntree Gully last week, among three other teens.

The four teenagers were picked up in Boronia after attending a supermarket on Station Street, Ferntree Gully, just before 5.30pm on 7 March.

It is believed the group allegedly attempted to steal items from the business, before one of the teenagers allegedly threatened a worker with a weapon. No one was injured.

Investigators believe the group fled the scene on foot, before boarding a nearby train.

Officers arrested the group a short time later in Boronia and seized a machete.

A 16-year-old Beerwah girl has been charged with affray, assault in company, unlawful assault and attempted theft. She was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

The Croydon boy, 16, and aWantirna girl, 14, were released pending summons.

A 15-year-old Hallam girl was release pending further enquiries.

BMW recall

7168 BMW 520i, 740i, i5, i7, iX1, X1, X5, X6, X7, XM cars made between 2022 and 2023 have been recalled due to an issue with the braking system.

Due to a manufacturing defect, signal interference may occur within the electronics of the brake system. If this occurs, a higher pedal force may be required for braking.

The anti-lock braking system and dynamic stability control will not be available.

If this occurred, drivers would be alerted by the brake warning light in the instrument cluster and a message will appear on the central display.

The vehicle remains controllable; however, a higher pedal force may be required for braking and in certain conditions, braking distance may be extended.

A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident resulting in injury to the vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other road users.

If a warning message is displayed on the central display, drivers should follow the instructions provided and promptly contact their nearest BMW Dealer.

Owners of affected vehicles will receive written communication from BMW Australia.

When the necessary parts are available, all vehicle owners will be asked to bring their vehicle to a BMW dealership to have the electronic brake system controller replaced at no cost.

The scene of a collision between a school bus and a truck in Bacchus Marsh, Greater Melbourne, Wednesday 21 September 2022. Picture: AAP IMAGE/JOEL CARRETT

Lilydale crew claims prize

By Mikayla van Loon

Four female pilots from Lilydale Flying School have been awarded second place for an internationally recognised flight challenge which they completed in December 2022.

Completing the British-based Dawn to Dusk competition where they flew around Australia in a day, Amanda Deed, Gail Collins, Theresa MacDonald and Jessica Phillips came second from 15 to receive the CoventryTrophy.

The team also received medals for flying the longest distance, reaching 1905 nautical miles, or 3500 kilometres; the longest distance to be flown in the competition since 1992.

Travelling the distance to attend the award ceremony held at the Royal Air Force Club in London’s Piccadilly on 8 February, it was a night to remember for the group.

“We somewhat knew we’d get the long distance one because Australia is so much bigger than the UK,” Theresa said.

“And then they read out [the entries] in ascending order from number 15 and it got to number three so we thought either we got disqualified or we came one, two or three.”

As only one of two Australian entries in the challenge, with a woman in Queensland submitting an entry that saw her follow humpback whales off the east coast, Theresa said “we’re going to promote it now to try and get more Australians [involved]”.

The team that won was a father-daughter duo who flew around Ireland but Theresa said the extent of the challenges people completed was quite amazing.

“There was quite a vast variation. One of them had followed where the dambusters had dropped the bombs in the war and gone over to Europe,” she said.

“Another one had gone into every airfield in Kent. So there was quite a variety of submissions.”

Theresa said another interesting submission came from a married couple who decided to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary by flying in the shape of a heart and stopping for lunch where they first met.

“It has to be quite unique and I’ve already got two ideas.”

The diversity of the flights wasn’t the only clear thing in the room, with Theresa saying at least 40 per cent of the participants were female.

“I think we were the only all women’s team but there were certainly members from the British Women Pilots’ Association there. We got a great cheer from them when we came down to the podium.”

That figure, Theresa said, was incredible considering the still slow uptake of female pilots.

“Only six per cent of pilots are women which is still so small. It was about five per cent when I started and it still hasn’t really shifted that much.

“I just feel like young girls need to see more of these things out there, if they don’t see it they don’t think they can do it.”

While things are improving particularly in the Royal Australian Air Force with more support for women, Theresa said doubt often stems from school.

As young female pilots Jessica and Amanda are excelling, proving the capabilities of women in this male dominated industry.

Theresa said she hopes to complete more of the Dawn to Dusk challenges in the coming years, with plans already underway.

“Possibly for the longer one I’m thinking of

I’ll go back to the same group but there’s another woman in Coldstream who first told me about this about 15 years ago.

“So she sowed the seed way back then and she’d like to do something so we’re going to do something betweenVictoria and South Australia and she’s already started her research.”

Victoria Road stage two reconstruction starting soon

Stage two reconstruction works of Victoria Road Yering are set to get underway shortly.

With traffic volumes along Victoria Road significantly increasing over the years, combined with increased rainfall, parts of the road pavement had begun to deteriorate.

This road reconstruction will ultimately see the road pavement rehabilitated and strengthened between Coldstream West Road to the driveway of property number 193 along Victoria Road Yering.

Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said having Victoria Road reconstructed was an important step in improving the safety of motorists in the area.

“Victoria Road is a main thoroughfare for locals and visitors, particularly those heading to and from Lilydale, so it’s been due for rehabilitation works for some time,” Cr McAllister said.

“With the stage one works having been completed last year, to have the next stage of these works finished just before the Easter long weekend will be a great result for locals

and travellers to the area.”

“We just ask for your patience during the construction phase and to plan ahead if you are travelling through the area.”

Works are scheduled to commence on Wednesday 13 March and are expected to be completed by Thursday 28 March, with both day and evening works to be undertaken during this time.

During construction, this section of Victoria Road will be closed to through traffic and will only be accessible by local residents, business and visitors who require access to properties in the vicinity of the works.

Stage one of the works took place between Macintyre Lane Yering to Davidson Drive Coldstream and was completed in April 2023.

This project is part of the council’s 20232024 Capital Expenditure Program.

For more information on these works including a map of the impacted area, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Development/Council-projects-works/Victoria-Road-Yering Stage-2-Road-Reconstruction-Works.

Victoria Road Yering will be reconstructed ready for the Easter long weekend. Picture:

The Dawn to Dusk competitors attended the award ceremony at the Royal Air Force Club in London’s Piccadilly on 8 February.

Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Jonathan Legat presented Amanda Deed, Theresa MacDonald, Jessica Phillips and Gail Collins with their second place award. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Legal help fund shortfall

By Mikayla van Loon

Turning people away from accessing essential legal support has become the reality for community legal services in the outer east as funding hasn’t kept pace with demand.

After a decade of minimal funding increases, community legal services are urging the Federal Government to make some significant changes in the upcoming budget.

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) chief executive officer Michael Smith said funding has always been a struggle for community legal services but recent years have proved the most challenging.

“The funding Eastern Community Legal Centre is getting from the Federal Government hasn’t really changed in about 10 years,” he said.

“We’re not really getting indexation and nothing’s matched the growth in the issues we’re seeing from the community.”

Community Legal Centres Australia has put forward a minimum of a $124 million increase to current funding in its 2024 budget submission, a figure Mr Smith said he believes would accommodate the growing demand of services.

“We would have hoped that our funding from the Federal Government would double. We’re only getting about $600,000 from their federal money.

“So we’d hope they would double the money for our core work. It wouldn’t be a lot of money for them but it’ll be a huge change for us.”

The shortfall impact has meant ECLC has had to turn away hundreds, if not thousands, of people every year due to a lack of staff capacity.

“We’ve just got huge demand across our services. A lot of our work is in family violence. We’re helping women in particular, who are desperate for assistance with legal help for things like intervention orders, sometimes family law and children’s issues,” Mr Smith said.

“We’re helping people with infringements and local law issues, people with employment issues and a whole range of other things too but we’re having to turn people away because we haven’t got capacity with our staff.”

Last year, Mr Smith said some contract staff members had to be put off, yet again reducing the ability to help provide legal support to those who need it.

“It’s stressful for the team and it’s stressful

for the clients who we really want to help. We have a fantastic intake team that takes the call, tries to prioritise which clients should get the help from our staff and which clients might be referred somewhere else.

“So when they have to tell people we can’t give them an appointment with a lawyer that they really need because we haven’t got the capacity, that’s pretty tough.”

Mr Smith said an example of the funding models needing to be more flexible and adaptable has been post the 2021 storms that hit the Yarra Ranges and the most recent storm event this year.

“When the storms happened in 2021, we did eventually get some funding to provide some more support around the storm’s work and that funding ran for two years so it has just

run out.

“The staff we had with the extra money for that storm response in the Dandenong Ranges, their funding has just finished. We will be able to adapt to respond with the limited resources we have but if the demand is large, it’s going to be hard to meet that.

“It does show that the funding models need to adapt to have more flexibility and agility because if a big event happens, you can’t wait months for the government to get its act together before you put the extra resources on the ground.

“So we’ll always respond straight away but it is hard when your funding is not very flexible.”

The demand post the February storms has been “fairly limited so far” for ECLC but Mr Smith said sometimes it does take time for people to understand the legal needs they may have, especially when it comes to insurance.

While ECLC hasn’t experienced this yet, Mr Smith said other organisations and people on the ground have heard of many cases of family violence post storms as well, meaning more people may inquire about legal help.

“We know from previous experience with the storms in theYarra Ranges about two years ago, that’s an issue and even back to the bushfires of 2009,” he said.

“We know when these major disasters happen, it affects families in lots of complex ways and things like family violence can get a lot worse in those situations, too.

“Sadly, about 80 per cent of our staff’s work is related to family violence but it does continue to rise when these things happen.”

Pushing for increased funding, Mr Smith said, is not only about the immediacy of helping people now but in the long term as more and more people seek support.

“This is really, really urgent, and we need to make the community aware of how important this is.

“I think people often aren’t aware of what their community legal centres are doing and then also, they don’t recognise their need for legal help until they really need it.”

The National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) review currently sits with the Attorney General in the lead up to the May budget and the adoption of a new NLAP in June 2025.

Anyone requiring legal assistance for storm recovery can find information here, eclc.org. au/wp-content/uploads/Disaster-RecoveryLegal-Help.pdf

Community called on to report illegal firearm usage

By Mikayla van Loon

With thousands of firearms still estimated to be held illegally, Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers are calling on people to speak up to help remove these weapons from the community.

For more regional and farmland areas like those in the Yarra Ranges, Crime Stoppers chief executive officer Stella Smith said even ensuring registered firearms are secured is important.

“We know that farming communities are targeted because there’s a likelihood that there will be guns on a property,” she said.

“So they are a target for criminals. The risk is if the firearms are not secured properly, that a criminal will take them and use them to do harm in the community or to commit further crimes.”

Ms Smith said the risk not only lies with the potential harm to people that could be caused if a property is targeted for a firearm but the link that firearm carries.

“If they take that firearm and use it to commit a crime, and it’s traced back to you, then you’re now answerable to the police,” she said.

Ownership of a gun requires the careful storing of the firearm and its parts under the firearms licensing and registration legislation, with the easiest way to do so being a gun safe.

Ms Smith said one thing she did also want

to make clear “if it’s unregistered, it’s illegal”.

“Any unregistered firearm is an illegal firearm. You can be charged for holding it or you will be likely to be charged for holding onto it.

“The permanent national amnesty was introduced in July 2021. So there is the option to surrender unregistered or in some cases unwanted firearms, so they may be registered to the person who doesn’t want them anymore.”

The amnesty allows someone to surren-

der a firearm and/or its parts to the police or a licensed firearms dealer without prosecution and no questions asked of the person’s identity.

Should someone wish to surrender a gun, Ms Smith said it is always a good idea to call police ahead of doing so “because the last thing we want is anybody approaching a police station or driving around with a gun”.

It is estimated that 200,000 illegal firearms are still present in the community.

Last year, over 5000 firearm related inci-

dents occurred according to the Crime Statistics Agency.

Crime Stoppers took over 1800 reports relating to the concern of firearms which were shared with Victoria Police to investigate further.

“We often receive reports at Crime Stoppers where the person isn’t 100 per cent sure, they’ve got a sense that something isn’t right.

“And that’s okay.That’s what we’re here for. We’re here for the community. So if you have information, I’d encourage you to come forward and report it to Crime Stoppers.”

The most recent joint campaign from both Crime Stoppers and police asks the community to ‘say something before it’s too late’.

Having seized more than 1,500 illegal firearms from criminals in 2023, Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly said any and all reports about suspected illegal activity makes a difference in keeping the community safe.

“We understand the community’s concern when it comes to gun-related violence, and we are taking strong action to target those responsible and prevent further harm,” he said.

Making a report to Crime Stoppers is anonymous either via the website or calling 1800 333 000.

“This is not about who you are. We’re really after the information about where that gun is located,” Ms Smith said.

Victoria Police Superintendent Jason Kelly with Crime Stoppers Victoria representative

Catherine Palermo.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Eastern Community Legal Centre’s chief executive officer Michael Smith is urging the Federal Government to increase funding in the budget for CLCs.

Picture: ON FILE

THE IGET IT , I THINK BIT

Lose yourself at one of Victoria’s renowned galleries or artist workshops. You’ll find plenty to your taste – or not. And that’s the fun of it.

Get curious at cultural institutions like Bendigo Art Gallery.

VISITVICTORIA.COM

Cenotaph upgrade on track

By Callum Ludwig

Cenotaph is set for an upgrade which will fill in the blanks in some of the township’s war history.

The Rotary Club of Wandin was successful in applying for funding from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs ‘Saluting Their Service’ Commemorative Grants Program, with $6000 provided to install a new stone plinth and seven more bronze plaques with the names of more service people from Wandin.

Rotarian Gavan McIntyre said it’s quite a big project that’s been in planning for the past 18 months.

“We decided to take up the mantle but the plaques themselves are about $6000, and then we’ve got to do the stone plinth which has to be installed with a crane,” he said.

“The funding is $6000 from the (Department of) Veterans Affairs, $2000 from Rotary and $2000 from the Wandin Silvan Field Days committee who decided to put some money in, they have in the past helped with community projects and decided it was a worthy project.”

The project is anticipated to be unveiled during the annual Anzac Day mid-morning service held at the Wandin Cenotaph.

Mr McIntyre said he thinks the project is very important and will help people to continue to remember and preserve the service of these people.

“I think this generation, the young ones in particular, they’re all really on top of it and they’re interested in it and they’ll keep the whole thing rolling which is great because I think it had a bit of a flat spot years ago,” he said.

“You’d go to some memorial services and there wouldn’t be many people here, but now you go to one like our last Anzac Day one and there were 400 plus people there, which is pretty good for a little town like Wandin.”

The missing names and details set to be incorporated into the Cenotaph space were compiled by Anthony McAleer OAM and Chris Manders, who set about gathering information of the Wandin residents missing from the memorial, as well as more details about those featured, following the centenary ofWorldWar One.

Mr McAleer said the tradition 100 years ago

when a lot of memorials were created was to only include the surname and the initial of the person.

Now 100 years ago everybody knew who those people on the memorial were, but 100 years later it’s hard to get any details and it’s harder to connect with these people on a personal level,” he said.

“What we’ve done now is include their full name, their rank, the unit they served with, the years that they served and whether they served in the Navy or as part of the nursing service or with the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) or a particular branch of the AIF like the artillery

and for those who died while on active service, it’s got things like the date that they died and the cemetery where they’re buried.”

A similar updating project was carried out at the MontroseWar Memorial, while the newer Seville War Memorial was also designed to include more detail than memorials historically would have.

Mr McAleer said he thinks people gain a better understanding of the local service and sacrifice with the added detail.

“We’ve been lucky that a lot of further information has been provided by things like the

National Archives and such so it was certainly easier to track down and there was a variety of reasons these names could have been left off, like for example, they were living in Wandinthen they moved to New South Wales and enlisted there,” he said.

“It’s not surprising that so many were missed but I think it’s good for us all these generations later to recognise and pay tribute to them by giving more detail and certainly personalising a lot more and allowing people to make that connection with the names of those who served and sacrificed.”

Anzac Day deadline for Seville War Memorial access

By Callum Ludwig

The Seville War Memorial is set to be made accessible just in time for this year’s Anzac Day dawn service.

With support from the Community Bank of Wandin/Seville, the two damaged panels will be removed over the coming weeks alongside the temporary fencing and further plans to replace them are underway,

Despite only two panels set to be standing at the memorial for the foreseeable future, Chair of the SevilleWar Memorial Committee Anthony McAleer said they’ll still have two important stories up there for the community to focus on during the Anzac Day service.

“The dawn services have been getting increasingly bigger each year, we were building on that momentum but didn’t want to have the situation like we did on Remembrance Day where the memorial that we worked so hard for was closed off with no access to it,” he said.

“Our message to the community is to come along and support the service, we’ve certainly put a lot of work into getting a war memorial done for this community and certainly are extremely appreciative of the Bendigo Bank and their support to enable the memorial to be opened enough for Anzac Day for our Dawn Service.”

The SevilleWar Memorial has been fenced off since mid-September 2023 after a vandalism attack left the panels featuring Private Bruce Bethune and Victoria Cross recipient George Ingram shattered.

Chairman of the Community Bank of Wandin/Seville Ray Barrett said while they are happy to support the first stage of replac-

ing the panels, it’s very sad that it got to this stage.

“It is vastly disappointing that these people in the community don’t respect what’s there, so that’s why we wanted to step in and take the two panels down so Anthony can run the dawn service,” he said.

Branch Manager Jackie Butler said she thinks the service is really important for the community.

“It’s built year on year and it was important the residents got something in their own community so they didn’t have to go anywhere else,” she said.

The vandalism incident at the Seville War Memorial has not been an isolated attack in the Yarra Ranges; the Montrose War Memorial was graffitied on the morning of Remembrance Day in 2023 and the Hookey Park War Memorial in Mooroolbark previously had a plaque stolen back in 2016.

Mr McAleer said they want the memorials can overcome the incidents and be restored to their former glory and they don’t want to have mindless vandals to be the ones to destroy that for the community.

“Since we had the memorial unveiled, the Seville community has certainly embraced it but there’s even people coming from outside

of the district to come and see the memorial,” he said. “Number one, because it recognises a person of national significance in the fact that George Ingram was the last Australian Victoria Cross recipient for World War One, but also because it’s quite unique, the whole project was all about creating a public work of art as well as having a a memorial that would educate people,”

“It’s become an icon for Seville.”

Mr McAleer, Lilydale RSL President Bill Dobson and Mt Evelyn RSL President Matt Crymble have been in discussions with Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence to advocate for greater penalties for the vandalism of war memorials, with Ms Vallence having brought up the concern in parliament and told the Star Mail in January this year that it is one of her goals for the year ahead.

President of the Seville Township Group Graeme Black said they hope to increase the security of the memorial when it is restored.

“It’s our hope that by perhaps Remembrance Day we may have the complete restoration,” he said.

“The other thing is that we’re imminently expecting CCTV cameras which will capture this area and the along the highway, these have all been passed and funded by the Federal Government and so we expect that to happen fairly soon.”

On 31 January 2019, $440,000 in funding from the Department of Home Affairs was allocated towards the Yarra Ranges Safety Camera Network following an election promise from former Casey MP Tony Smith set to bring a network of CCTV cameras to Seville, Warburton, Montrose, Monbulk and Millgrove.

L-R: Community Bank Wandin Seville Director Kim Parry, Chairman Ray Barrett, Branch Manager Jackie Butler, President of Seville Township Group Graeme Black and Chair of the Seville War Memorial Committee Anthony McAleer OAM.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

The Wandin

The Wandin Cenotaph is set to receive an upgrade.

Picture: ON FILE

New era for faunal emblem

By Dongyun Kwon

The Federal and State governments want to save an endangered species inVictoria by partnering with a local zoo and group.

Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced the launch of the Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Plan at Healesville Sanctuary on Tuesday 5 March.

The Leadbeater’s possum is one of the most threatened marsupials on the planet and was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1961 in a forest near Marysville.

It was proclaimed the state faunal emblem of Victoria, alongside the Helmeted Honeyeater, in 1971.

Ms Plibersek said she was very excited to announce the recovery plan for Leadbeater’s possum to boost its long-term survival.

“Today’s a really exciting day and a day that many Victorian environmentalists have been waiting for and working towards for many years,” she said.

“Leadbeater’s possum is a critically endangered species and a faunal emblem of Victoria which has been under enormous pressure for many years because of logging but also because of the shocking fires that Victoria has experienced and climate change.

“This is a species really being brought back from the brink of extinction using science conservation and many volunteer hours with support from both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.”

There are two distinct genetic groups of this elusive possum, which are rarely seen by humans and known as forest fairies due to the way the tiny creatures leap between trees.

Highland Leadbeater’s possums live in montane forests in the Victorian Central Highlands, while Lowland Leadbeater’s possums are isolated to a single remnant of floodplain forest and paperbark thickets in Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area.

Zoos Victoria senior ecologist Dr Dan Harley said the recovery plan would set out the three priority actions required for both lowland and highland populations.

“The first is around habitat protection and restoration. Provision of large areas of high quality habitat is essential for the persistence and recovery of population,” he said.

“We have some legacies from the past bushfires and logging which means old trees are scarce throughout much of the highland land-

scape where this possum is found.

“We’ve got a program now to provide nest boxes and artificially created hollows using chainsaws. That increases the den availability for the possums and helps them through this period where old trees are scarce.”

The second action is the conservation breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary which is largely focused on how the team recovers the genetically unique lowland population.

The remnant lowland population shows significant impacts of inbreeding resulting in shorter lifetime survival and decreased reproduction.

“There are fewer than 40 individuals remaining in that population and it’s one of Victoria’s most threatening mammals,” Dr Harley said.

“Conservation breeding is to restore lost genetics and address inbreeding depression.”

The last strategy is setting these populations up for the future in response to climate change and increasing bushfire risk.

“That is about looking at the landscapes and the wet forest estates and working out where the climate refugees are, where are those spaces that will be more buffered from warming temperatures and more sheltered

from bushfires,” Dr Harley said,

“And we will work out strategies for how we can translocate possums into those places to protect them in the future.”

The Leadbeater’s Possum Draft Recovery Plan was originally released by the Federal environment department in 2016 and hasn’t been taken into action for a long time.

Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum president Steve Meacher said he has been waiting for eight years.

“This has been a long journey with several delays on the way and I am looking forward to a new era in the conservation of Leadbeater’s possum,” he said.

“In 2015, Leadbeater’s possum was listed as critically endangered from endangered and since then, we’ve been working on revising the recovery plan which is the plan that sets out the parameters for the survival of the animal into the future.

“We hope the new plan is going to lead the certainty for the future of this important species.”

The new recovery plan was made in partnership with the Victorian Government in consultation with species experts, industry, conservation organisations and First Nations people.

“Today is a very exciting day because it is a step forward with the Commonwealth Government and the Victorian Government committing to work together for the recovery of this adorable species,” Ms Plibersek said.

“I’m delighted to announce a $360,000 contribution from the Commonwealth Government towards those conservation efforts.”

The Victorian State Government has attributed $2 million to the Faunal Emblems Program between 2023 and 2025 for targeted recovery actions for Leadbeater’s Possums and Helmeted Honeyeaters.

Since 2018, $6 million has been dedicated to improving the future of both species.

Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the launch of the Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Plan is a testament to the state’s collective dedication to ensuring the possum’s survival and the conservation of its natural heritage, marking a critical step towards protecting Victoria’s iconic possum species.

“Together with the Federal Government, we share in a commitment to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum and the conservation of its precious environment, laying the foundation for a sustainable future for Victoria’s biodiversity more broadly,” he said.

Minister Tanya Plibersek met a Leadbeater’s possum joey having first health check. Pictures: ZOOS VICTORIA A Leadbeater’s possum.

A Leadbeater’s possum joey.

Yellingbo habitat.

Dandenong Creek clean up

By Gabriella Vukman

The First Friends of Dandenong Creek group (FFODC) hosted a rubbish cleanup on Sunday in efforts to protect the creek’s delicate ecosystem.

The Dandenong Creek runs all the way from Dandenong South, through Kilsyth South and The Basin to Olinda and is the home to various species including the endangered Leadbeater’s possum.

President of the FFODC Anthony Bigelow said, “we had 35 volunteers on Sunday which is actually a pretty good number seeing as rubbish collection is not the top thing people want to do.”

“I extend a big thank you to our partners The Bliss and Wisdom Society, which is a local Buddhist group who came along and helped out.”

“Thankfully, we didn’t actually collect that much rubbish which is a good indication that there wasn’t or hasn’t been as much rubbish being washed down through the creek,” Mr Bigelow said.

The group runs on volunteers and aims to protect the creek and surrounding environment.

Mr Bigelow said, “on a normal year-to-year basis we generally plant around 10-15,000 plants, all local and Indigenous to the area. “

“We run planting events, a national tree day event, a world environment day event all with the intention of returning re-vegetation to the area,” Mr Bigelow said.

The group also installs nesting boxes for a range of species.

“We’ve rolled out over 200 boxes for sugar gliders and we have done the same thing for powerful owls which is another endangered species in the area,” Mr Bigelow said.

“We try to support the local flora and fauna and ask as many people as we can to come along and be a part of that.”

Anyone can volunteer and there are a wide and inclusive range of ways in which people can be a part of the group.

Mr Bigelow said, “there’s the traditional stuff you can do like help out on the planting days or structured survey days or people can help by putting out nest boxes.”

“There is always stuff you can do behind the scenes to support the organisation.”

“Volunteers can either check out our Facebook page or if they’d like to be across things in a more structured way, reach out to us through our website and there is a contact page there and a newsletter,” Mr Bigelow said.

The group started 25 years ago as a mechanism for advocating for the local environment when Melbourne water felled trees in the area, triggering much disgruntlement from the surrounding communities. FFODC website: ffdc.org.au

Register to dispose of chemicals at Lilydale detox event

Community members will once again have the opportunity to clean out unwanted household chemicals from their sheds, cupboards and kitchen sinks by safely disposing of them at the upcoming Detox Your Home event in Lilydale.

Taking place on Saturday 6 April, Residents are required to register to drop off their chemicals at the Yarra Ranges Council Depot, located at 103-105 Nelson Road, Lilydale.

Running for more than 27 years, Sustainability Victoria’s Detox your Home events are a free and convenient service for residents to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals.

Common products such as weedkiller, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, cosmetics, and cooking oil are all materials harmful to the environment and should not be placed in kerbside bins or poured down sinks.

Each Detox your Home event collects around four tonnes of hazardous chemicals, keeping them out of landfill and waterways and making homes safer.

Common chemicals collected at Detox your Home events include:

· Fuels and flammable liquids – turpentine, methylated spirits, petrol, kerosene, diesel, paint thinners.

· Garden – herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, poisons.

· Household – cleaners, bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner, solvents, cooking oil, cosmetics, fire extinguishers.

· Car – wax, transmission fluid, body filler, brake fluid.

Detox your Home events are staffed by expert chemists who identify and sort the chemicals for safe transport back to a licensed facility in Melbourne where they are processed for reuse or safe disposal. Chemicals collected are processed and recovered or recycled wherever possible. With community safety in mind, Detox your Home events are now drivethrough and contactless, supported by a CovidSafe plan. Registrations are essential.

For more information on DetoxYour Home, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome

Filling bags of rubbish and pulling discarded bikes and trollies from around the creek made for a successful day.

Volunteers hit the Dandenong Creek last week to clear rubbish from the banks and surrounding bushland.

Pictures: FIRST FRIENDS OF DANDENONG CREEK

Generosity brings thanks

By Mikayla van Loon

Thanks and gratitude was in the air on Tuesday 27 February as the donors, organisers and recipients of the Rotary Club of Lilydale’s (RCL) wishing tree project gathered.

In honour of all involved to bring the project to life, RCL hosted a dinner of appreciation, bringing together all the groups and individuals who helped in some way.

RCL president Arun Marappan said with the pressures of living for many families in 2023, the club wasn’t sure how people in the community would respond to donating gifts and yet it exceeded expectations.

“Together, as a result of the generous support given by you and yours, just over 1,300 Christmas gifts were donated. A total of $2,600 in gift cards was also donated.

“A wonderful result for the children and young people from struggling families.

“You all made a contribution and ‘put in’ and your efforts and contribution, whether big or small, is appreciated. Every gift is a gift and made a difference to someone at Christmas time.”

Chief executive officer of one of the receiving organisations, Anchor, too shared the concern that donations and goods may fall due to the rising cost of living for all in the outer east.

“Broadly across the fundraising sector, this has been the case and many charity organisations have seen less donations over the past year,” she said.

“So it is so incredibly heartwarming to see the Rotary’s wishing tree project inspiring generosity in the community that goes against the expected trend.”

Mr Marappan said the wishing tree appeal and the support of the community is an example of the Rotary International theme for 2024 - create hope in the world.

Witnessing this on the ground as he handed

Members from each participating business and organisation who could attend the thank you night were presented with a certificate.

Road

out presents, Lilydale’s Proactive Policing Unit senior constable Luke Egginton said it brought joy not only to the children but to him as well.

“[Delivering gifts to] the Lilydale Motor Inn was a special highlight for me. I was able to locate a number of families in the complex, living with young children,” he said.

“They were families that could not afford presents for their kids and were clearly struggling.

“Handing out gifts to the parents, they shared some of the stories of the life challenges

they currently face, and it was clear as to why I was met with tears of joy and appreciation.”

Both Ms Tucker and Mr Egginton said for the people they support and engage with, particularly at Christmas time, it makes a world of difference to know they are visible.

“For families who are struggling, for families experiencing crisis, knowing there are warm and generous people in the community can be life changing,” Ms Tucker said.

“Your efforts are transformative and brighten the paths of many who deserve kindness

and care in their lives.”

While Anchor and the Proactive Policing Unit were the main recipients of the gifts, with so many donated in 2023, RCL was able to provide some to the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service, Anglicare Lilydale and Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Centre.

“Thank you especially to everyone from the businesses, organisations and club members that helped make the 2023 Wishing Tree Appeal a big success,” Mr Marappan said.

Senior constable Luke Egginton spoke of the joy delivering presents bought both him and the recipients.

Cire’s Community Education Manager Jenelle Strachan receiving the organisation’s certificate of appreciation. Pictures: SUPPLIED

One op shop door reopens

By Dongyun Kwon

After about one and a half months of waiting, Coldstream Op Shop has reopened with new owners.

Angela Jones and Rebecca Carter, who were regular customers of the previous Coldstream Op Shop, took over the shop and reopened the business on Monday 4 March.

Ms Jones said she walked into the shop one day and asked John and Rae (previous owners) why they were closing the op shop.

“I mentioned to Rae and John that Rebecca and I had talked about opening up an op shop one day,” she said

“But it was like a hypothetical one day long in the future.

“Because Rae and John knew me and what we’re about, they said‘Well, if you take over the business, then you could have all the stock and fittings’.”

Ms Carter said the first week went well.

“We’re really welcomed by the community,” she said.

“The customers were very grateful that it didn’t close down and disappeared completely.

“They’ve really welcomed the changes because we’ve done a lot of cleaning and made it a little bit more spacious but they also loved that it hasn’t changed too much.”

The profits will go towards supportingYarra Ranges Women’s Network which is a support group for local women that has been run by Ms Carter for a couple of years.

“We were struggling with funding and hav-

ing to go through the grant process which is complex, stressful and has to be done every year,” Ms Jones said.

“So we talked about opening an op shop one day that would fund the service that Rebecca has started, but we just didn’t expect it to be this soon.”

Ms Carter has a social work background and Ms Jones has a counseling background.

They want to reintegrate women back into the community through volunteering or being part of workshops at the op shop.

“After Covid, women have become very isolated and we’re trying to be the change that we hope to see in the Valley and create a place where women can find themselves again, particularly after traumatic experiences,” Ms Jones said.

The current owners want the shop to be the same as the previous one.

“We want it to be cheap, friendly and a community hub which is what Rae and John created,” Ms Jones said.

“We want to carry their legacy.”

Coldstream Op Shop is now calling for volunteers.

“They could do anything they want from an hour to five hours shifts. They don’t have to do customer service, they can be at the back if they want,” Ms Jones said.

The op shop is now operated between 10am and 3pm from Monday to Friday, but the owners are planning to open on Saturday with shorter hours.

“We’re hoping to do it from 10am to 1pm on Saturday as well,” Ms Carter said.

Wandin North Golden Opportunity Shop faces closure

By Callum Ludwig

A much-loved op shop in the Upper Yarra is seeking someone to give it a new lease on life and prevent it from a sad closure.

The Golden Opportunity Shop was first opened in Seville in 2009 before relocating to Wandin North in 2014, has been run by the Anglican Parish of Wandin, Seville and Mount Evelyn and operated by volunteers from in and out of the church community.

Committee member of the Golden Opportunity Shop Glenda Fraser has said they have managed to give back locally and further afield through running the shop.

“Our main aim of the shop was to connect with the community and to give back to the community, a small part of our takings goes back to the church just to help with special projects in the church but the majority of the money goes to community groups,” she said.

“We’ve built up pretty strong relationships with local schools, scouts and guides, the CFA and different welfare groups in the valley, like LinC, Benwerren, the Mustard Tree and Anglicare,”

“We’ve also always tried to do a national fund and in the last few years, because of flooding, because of drought, you name it, we’ve had it all over the country, we’ve distributed quite a bit of money to CWAs (Country Women’s Associations) in Queensland, NSW andVictoria to help with relief and even sent some funds internationally as well.”

Initially based on the site of the current Woolworths in Seville, the shop was forced to move when the site was bought but the shop wasn’t held back, with the next few years seeing their volunteer force more than quadruple and recognition be given for their efforts, including receiving the Rotary Club of Wandin’s Community Service Award in 2017.

Ms Fraser said they are having to give up the shop due to the aging church congregation.

“Churches are facing a real decline, and it’s difficult to get younger people into churches now, so we’re having a bit of a battle at our church to maintain numbers and of course, our populations are getting older and older,” she said.

“The number of people that can donate time to work in the op shop is just reducing and reducing, my husband and I work a lot behind the scenes, doing the things that nobody else can do, because we’re fairly ablebodied but the big crunch has come because

we’re moving out of the area and there’s just nobody to take over the job that we do,”

“So it’s coming to a not very nice finale at the moment, where we are facing the closure of the shop. I’ve reached out to so many different groups but they are getting out of running op shops, so we just keep coming up against brick walls.”

Without a new owner, the Golden Opportunity Shop is set to shut on Friday 26 April.

Ms Fraser said the op shop is all set up and ready to go for anyone who might want to take it on.

“We’ve got a very dedicated clientele who come from near and far, not just local areas and we pride ourselves on running a pretty good shop, but we get good feedback about it, I was working there on Saturday and I had a lady come in and as she was at the counter making a purchase she told me how much she loved it,” she said.

“She was just so full of praise for it and I almost cried and couldn’t bring myself to tell her we were going to have to close,”

“We’ve been really well supported by lots of people from the community because the shop is part of their life, they’ve built relationships with the other volunteers and it’s now almost part of their social structure.”

Ms Fraser encouraged anyone interested in continuing on the life of the Golden Opportunity Shop to contact her at 0433 554 949.

The shop faces closure by the end of April without new ownership.

L-R: Volunteers Denise, Cynthia and Jacqui at the Golden Opportunity Shop in Wandin North. 393597

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Cynthia and Jacqui show off some of what’s on offer at the Golden Opportunity Shop. 393597

Rebecca Carter and Angela Jones (L-R).

Picture: DONGYUN KWON

Croydon Hills to gain a kindergarten

A new kindergarten will open as part of Croydon Hills Primary School in 2026.

The announcement came from children’s minister Lizzie Blandthorn on Friday 1 March that 13 schools across the state would be getting attached kinders.

The 13 new kinders on school sites will create at least 1,600 places for local children, helping to meet demand for three and fouryear-old kindergarten, plus pre-prep, in Victorian communities.

Croydon Hills Primary School was the only one named for the outer eastern suburbs, with Cranbourne Primary School, Gladstone Views Primary School, Kialla West Primary School and Yarrawonga College P-12 just some on the list.

“Connecting kinders with schools offers so many opportunities for our littlest learners –I’m so excited hundreds of children will soon be able to start kinder at their local school,” Ms Blandthorn said.

Locating kindergartens on or close to schools supports children to get the most out of their early learning, makes drop-off more convenient for busy parents and carers, and helps with a smoother transition to primary school.

“We’re building hundreds of kinders at schools across the state, helping to meet local demand for kindergarten and making life simpler for hard-working parents and carers,” Ms Blandthorn said.

Ride the Olinda Trail

The Olinda Creek Trail Committee invites all bike riders to join them on Tuesday 26 March at 9.45am from Mount Evelyn to Olinda.

Hoping to show Yarra Ranges councillors that this extended trail has the community’s backing, the ride will take the proposed path.

Beginning at York and Tramway Road car park in Mount Evelyn, it will finish at the Olinda shopping strip, taking approximately an hour and 45 minutes.

The committee suggests it would be quite easy for eBike riders and fine for strong riders on hybrid bikes. It is mostly off road (including some quiet roads) and existing trails, most in good condition.

Easter fun at The Parents Hub

Join The Parents Hub for its annual Easter event on Sunday 24 March from 9.30am to 11am.

Play on the playground, hunt for easter eggs and say hello to the Easter Bunny with a special visit from the bouncing bundle of joy.

The event is a fundraiser for the Hub and its services, with a cost of $15 per family and $5 for each additional child.

Bookings are essential at theparentshub.com.au/events

Croydon Hills Primary School will open a new kindergarten in 2026.

Picture: ON FILE

Mexican visitors welcomed

By Mikayla van Loon

From the snowy mountain tops of Toluca in Mexico to the lush greenery of the Dandenong Ranges, 11 students have travelled to the outer east as part of an exchange program.

Taking in all the tourism sites of Sydney before making their way to Mount Evelyn’s Birmingham Primary to meet their host families, the students have loved every minute of their time in Australia so far.

Exploring the region with their host families, while getting to learn about culture, the environment and some of Australia’s iconic landmarks and animals, is just the start of this near month-long experience.

Thiago said the trip to Healesville Sanctuary was quite the highlight.

“We went to the zoo yesterday (6 March) and we saw albino kangaroos,” he said.

While excited to see some wombats, Renata said before she leaves Australia she would love to pet one because they are so cute.

For Aranza, 11, learning about day to day life in Australia, as well as First Nations culture has been quite the experience.

“I enjoy being with my family and learning the culture and what they normally do on the weekend,” she said.

“We have learnt about the Gadigal people, the Aboriginal people… I want to learn more about their independence.”

Having heard stories of Australia being filled with many different kinds of spiders, this surprised Ana, who said “there’s not too many spiders” because “I was hoping I will get to see a lot of spiders”.

With much still to explore, Grade 6 student Aleisha, who is hosting a student, said after making a bucket list, her family planned to go camping and to a rodeo to show off more of Australian life.

For Maya, also in Grade 6, it’s the smaller things that have stood out to her.

“Renata says she wears a seatbelt in Mexico

but we always have to remind her,” she said.

“At the petrol station, she’s like, ‘you have to get out, we get it done by other people’.We went inside and she picked out a chocolate because she’s like, ‘I’ve never seen this before’.”

Quickly learning about each other, culture, food and the differences in how people live in other countries, the students said has allowed them to become great friends more easily.

From spicy gummy bears and peanut lollies, Birmingham’s students have also had a taste, figuratively and literally, of Mexico.

Treated to a cultural show put on by their Mexican counterparts on Thursday 7 March, Birmingham students learned of the dances and music traditional to Toluca.

Hoping to travel to Mexico themselves one day, the students said already having friends and some knowledge of the language and customs will make it easier.

With a few weeks left to spend in Melbourne before departing for Dubai, Thiago said there is still much to explore.

“I think I want to see and learn more about the city. I went on the weekend and I saw the river and it’s very nice. There’s a lot of cafes and things and you can just stay there and see the river flow. I think that’s a very nice thing and I want to see more of it,” he said.

The International School-to-School Experience (ISSE) allows students aged 10 to 12 years old to travel to partnering host countries.

Birmingham Grade 1 teacher Meg Liddell said the program allows first hand cross-cultural learnings and said the school was honoured to host students from Anahauc School in Toluca.

“It is an innovative approach for our school and our global education program. Birmingham Primary School has a long and proud involvement with the ISSE,” she said.

“We have previously travelled to and welcomed seven different counties to our school, including the United States of America, China, Malaysia, India, Costa Rica, Peru and Mexico.”

Theboysshowedofftheirhatthrowingskills.

Picture:SUPPLIED

Thefemalestudentsweredressedintraditionalcostumetodancethree differentdancesfromtheirhomecountry.

Picture:SUPPLIED

The11studentsfromAnahaucSchoolinToluca,MexicoputonashowforBirminghamPrimarySchool. 393506

Picture:STEWARTCHAMBERS Thestudentsweregreetedbytheirhostfamiliesattheairport.

WelcomedtoBirminghamPrimarySchool,thestudentsexploredlifeinMountEvelyn.

The world is watching our Facebook fight!

An open letter to Prime MinisterAnthonyAlbanese

Dear Prime Minister, Your first response to Facebook brazenly announcing they’ll stop paying for our news that they use to make a fortune from was…perfect!

“That’s not the Australian way,” you said.

Exactly. Australians hate bullies. Australians fight for a fair go. And this battle is not just a fight for a fair go here - the whole world is watching.

Meta, the trillion dollar tech giant that owns Facebook has built an empire out of content they don’t own. They don’t produce anything. They ‘share’ the great work of others and keep the cash.

The Australian government was the first in the world to call out this scandal, and in 2021 the News Media Bargaining Code forced them to finally pay for news content.

But not anymore.

Meta is betting that if they bully the Australian government, they win the world.

PM, this is a fight for the future of news and democracy. This is fight against fake news and a fight for a fair go for all journalists who hold the powerful to account, all around the world.

Let’s make sure Australia shows Facebook what a fair go is. The world is watching.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Schreyer President Country Press Australia

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Tale of hometown heroes

By Dongyun Kwon

Local author and artist Lucy Hawkins had a book launch event inviting local students at Your Library Healesville.

The book launch event went successfully with about 150 Grade 5 and 6 students from Healesville Primary School and St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, including Hawkins’ daughter who goes to St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School.

Hawkins said her book The Salvager’s Quest is about the journey of two Healesville girls to another planet.

“Two sisters from Healesville found another planet called Planet Beatrice and were embroiled in an exciting quest to save endangered animals on the Earth,” she said.

“[The idea was come up with while] I was watching on the news with the massive bushfires of December 2019 and January 2020 and saw many people were losing their homes and billions of animals were dying due to the bushfires.

“I was pregnant with my second daughter and doing lots of bush walks and I was questioning what kind of world I was bringing them into because the pandemic was about to come to our shores, that’s why I decided to write this book.”

The book launch event was run by Your Library Healesville.

Your Library children’s services officer Rose Herring said she wanted to create a big event in the library that could bring local schools together and would be educational, inspirational, fun and free for schools when she began her role as children’s services officer in late 2022.

“In 2023, I collaborated with Kristen Darrell and organised our first schools’ event with 3 schools and over 270 students,” she said.

“The event was such a success and I decided to try to have a school’s event every year.

“So, in October last year when Lucy Hawkins approached me about her new book The Salvagers Quest, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to run another big event with schools.”

All copies of The Salvagers Quest were borrowed on the day at the library and more have been reserved.

“The students loved that the book was written with characters that were from their hometown of Healesville and it was great to be able to support local schools and promote local authors,” Herring said.

After the author’s talk, the library team ran a 35-minute creative writing workshop session where all students from both schools worked together as a group to create character profiles.

Herring said all students participated in the session, sharing their ideas for what their characters look like, their personalities, strengths, weaknesses and superpowers.

“We put the answers to a vote and the most popular answers became the base for the character profile, we used large flip charts to write up the answers so the students could see their ideas, and we sent the profiles to the schools after the event so they could get writing at school,” she said.

“The exercise was hilarious fun, it gave the kids an opportunity to get involved and hopefully inspired to go home or back to school with ideas for stories of their own.

“Kids spent so much time on screens these days and it was wonderful to see them using their imaginations to create wondrous worlds and characters.”

Hawkins said she got inspired by the students.

“They were so wonderful, interested and respectful and they listened and asked questions, they were really on the ball and had amazing perspectives and were so knowledgeable,” she said.

“They were so creative and their ideas were incredible and I hope they were inspired to keep writing if they’ve got a story in them.”

Hawkins takes after her dad who was a journalist and author.

She worked at Cosmopolitan Magazine and The London Paper in the UK as well as newspapers and magazines around the world.

“Working at Cosmopolitan Magazine was an incredible experience at such a young age, but I realised fashion wasn’t really what I was interested in doing,” Hawkins said.

“I left the magazine and I got a job at a film production company and then worked my way up through production to become an art director.”

When Hawkins became 29, she left London and started her journey around the world.

She went to Mexico to teach English and went to Bermuda next.

“I wrote some articles for the newspaper and wrote a play for the theatre [in Bermuda] and then I went to Argentina and I got a job in an extreme sports and wine magazine,” Hawkins said.

“Then I came to Spain where I was a journal-

ist for a few magazines and got a job as a radio presenter and worked for an English language radio station.”

Hawkins now lives in Healesville with her husband and two daughters and is into painting.

“I was so inspired by all the nature around us, so I painted a series of Australian native birds and animals,” she said.

“Now I make my paintings into greeting cards, print on fabric and tea towels and a few shops sell my things.”

Hawkins collaborated with local artist Clare James for the illustration of the book cover.

“I wanted the two girls of the book to be based on my daughters but they were only babies at the time, so I had to imagine what they might look like when they were nine and 12,” she said.

“I drew the girls and the ship, then Clare with her incredible watercolour skills painted it so beautifully.”

Given how popular it seems to be becoming, the author has decided to make it a series of six books.

‘Dream big and work hard for the dream’ is advice to the young generation that the author, who has had lots of experiences all over the world, would like to give.

“If there is something that you want to do with your life, dream big and make it realistic,” Hawkins said.

“We don’t need approval or a million likes to validate ourselves. If it’s something that you love doing, just do it and watch your journey improve.”

Upper Yarra artist Jerry Osadczuk to launch exhibition

By Callum Ludwig

An opportunity to meet an Upper Yarra artist over a glass of wine is coming up, with any and all are welcome to come for a chat and to see some of his latest works.

Through the YAVA gallery, Woori Yallock resident Jerry Osadczuk will be at Steels Gate Wines in Dixons Creek from 6pm on Thursday 14 March for a launch of a small exhibition of his work.

Mr Osadczuk said the exhibition is a mixture of things he has been working on, with about eight paintings to be on display.

“It is a mixture of abstract and traditional landscape pieces and the inspiration is from western and central Australia, the colours in the paintings are going towards that area,” he said.

“I worked in Kalgoorlie for a while, so

that’s mainly where I liked the colours of the ochres and things like that.”

Mr Osadczuk has a background in Sumie, a form of Japanese ink painting and print-

making which is what inspired him to create the landscape works he does.

“It’s all to do with the wrist action, a lot of people make the mistake of holding the brush like a pen and they think they’re going to draw with it but you’ve got to hold it and you have to have a really limp wrist,” he said.

“It sounds ridiculous but that’s how you get the flow of the thing, almost waving your wrist around to get that flow going, though you still have to know what you’re doing.”

Mr Osadczuk has also twice been a finalist in the Cliftons Art Prize, which invites entries from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore and is awarded for the best works of painting, drawing or photography.

Ms Osadczuk said he does most of his paintings while on the floor.

“The only time I put my paintings on an

easel is when I finish them off, such as if I want to use a few different colours or fill a part in that I thought should be filled in,” he said.

“I don’t actually have a lot of ideas about where I’m going until I see what’s happening once the colours go into each other, because a lot of the time it’s hit and miss and you don’t feel a hundred per cent what’s going to happen because paint’s still wet,”

“That’s why I don’t often and don’t like to do commissions, because I’m not going to do a carbon copy of what you saw.”

Tickets to come to the launch are free but attendees must RSVP prior in order to book their place at yava.org.au/yava-openings/ launch-jerry-osadczuk-at-steels-gate-wines. Canapes are available upon arrival and any drinks are at restaurant prices.

Jerry Osadczuk will be at Steels Gate Wines and happy to chat about his work on Thursday

at

Lucy Hawkins with her book and paintings.

Picture: DONGYUN KWON

The book launch event went successfully with about 150 Grade 5 and 6 students from Healesville Primary School and St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, including Hawkins’ daughter who goes to St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School. Picture: SUPPLIED

The Salvager’s Quest is about the journey of two Healesville girls to another planet.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Event no obstacle to fun

By Dongyun Kwon

A

Animal Aid will host Adventure Dog 2024 at Wandin Park Estate in Gruyere from 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday 7 April.

Animal Aid digital media coordinator Jessica Walley said the event first started in 2018 aiming at a stronger connection between humans and dogs.

“Animal Aid wanted to make a fun event

that helps create the bond between humans and dogs stronger,” she said.

“Since it’s grown over the years, it’s now our biggest fundraiser.”

Adventure Dog 2024 is aiming to raise a $100,000 fund to support Animal Aid’s welfare mission for about 6000 homeless animals it has in its shelter with providing them with desexing, re-homing and vet checks.

Animal Aid CEO Mark Menze said every registration, every cheer and every dollar raised will bring them closer to their $100,000 goal.

“This is more than a target. It’s a lifeline for countless animals in need of care and a forever home,” he said.

Participants and their four-legged friends will run through the diverse obstacle courses with jelly, mud, coloured chalk, balls and foam pits.

Renee Smart participated in last year’s Adventure Dog with her 2-year-old Border Collie Allie.

She said she had a lot of fun last year and is looking forward to this year’s Adventure Dog.

“Last year, I found it on Facebook and thought it would be really fun to get wet and muddy with my dog,” she said.

“We had so much fun last year and I’m still in touch with some participants I met during the event. It was a good bonding experience between me and my dog Allie, and also other people.”

“I already signed up [for Adventure Dog 2024] within 24 hours after it came online.”

For more information, registration or to sponsor a participant, please visit adventuredog-2024.raisely.com

Renee Smart and Allie.

Renee Smart and Allie are ready to get wet and muddy.

Pictures: DONGYUN KWON

Married at First Sight

By Maria Millers

In the 18th century one of the pastimes of the times was to pay a visit to a mental institution to view the incarcerated inmates, like a human zoo. Institutions like Bethlam, Royal Hospital or Bedlam as it was known, encouraged this practice, initially as a source of revenue.

Eventually, as more understanding and better treatment of the mentally ill evolved, this practice was discontinued.

It is tempting to draw a parallel between that early form of voyeuristic entertainment and the reality show phenomenon that is Married at First Sight (MAFS) but, of course, for those taking part in this so called ‘social experiment’ it is a personal choice to participate.

But although there is no suggestion of mental illness among the participants, there nevertheless appears to be vulnerability.

Last Friday was International Women’s Day, a day to reflect on the achievements of women, its theme ‘to inspire inclusion’ and encourage everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life.

Federal government announced that from next year superannuation would be included in paid parental leave as a step towards gender equality for women.

But the media coverage was muted and there was little public discussion.

Instead, on Sunday night, millions of Australians watched Nine’s Married at First Sight the program that has been dominating all ratings across the board, season after season.

The format is to bring together couples that have never met before but have been paired by a panel of experts (a sexologist, two relationship counsellors) as being compatible, put them through a sham wedding and then let the cameras roll as they respond to the many manipulations engineered by producers and the experts.

The success rate of resulting long lasting relationships is very low while the emotional readjustments after the show ends have been often painful and damaging.

This program has faint echoes of traditional match making which is still practiced in some cultures and even today in Australia there is a demand for matchmakers among some ethnic groups as the current program on SBS shows.

While most believe arranged marriages to be coercive the program shows that approached ethically and with cultural sensitivity there can be happy endings. In the case of MAFS, carefully called ‘an experiment,’ the overriding aim is for high ratings to lure sponsors.

The two most pertinent questions are: why are we still watching? And why are there people still wanting to participate?

The first may be related to my opening remarks We are still drawn in by the voyeuristic prurient need to peek behind closed doors.

Maybe in a society where the village well no longer exists to share in the gossip of the day this now serves instead.

And, of course, we all like to revel in the discomfort of others or as the Germans call it, Shadenfreude: the getting of pleasure from someone else’s misfortune as we watch a hapless participant getting drunk or finding herself/himself seen in a less than flattering light.

A Nine spokesperson defended the show and its year in year out popularity because ‘it continues to become part of the cultural conversation that captures the Zeitgeist.’

Have we then become a harsher, shallower, angrier, more divided society where the traditional means of finding love are no longer there?

Marriage has certainly undergone change, many choosing to forego the formality of marriage and choose to live as partners.

But there are still many who regard the coming of two people together as one as a sacrament and undoubtedly would find MAFS sham weddings as deeply offensive.

It is too easy to make value judgments about those who participate or to slot them

WOORILLA WORDS

into a particular demographic, but it is obvious that there are certain shared characteristics, both in the men and women: certain body types prevail, cosmetic enhancements seem obvious in most, as is the universal prevalence of being ‘inked up’.

Tattoos , both visible and hidden abound.

But why after so many painful experiences and the difficulties in picking up their lives post MAFS, do so many still apply to be part of this experiment?

Producer Tara McWilliams admitted: ‘It’s a bit of a mystery, in some ways, as to why people are so open and honest on such a public platform, but we’re very grateful they are.’

Surely, the participants must be aware that they are being exploited and are ready to accept it.

But are they all aware of the manipulation the obvious distorting the truth to suit the narrative.

The deliberate setting up of potential conflicts in alcohol fuelled dinner parties and other settings.

Then clever editing can result in something totally different to what was intended.

We also live in a culture where there is a craving for public validation, the seeking of ‘fifteen minutes of fame’ which promotes the cult of instant and mostly undeserved celebrity status.

One should question the ethics behind the selection process, how the participants are chosen.

One mustn’t forget that programs like MAFS draw huge advertising revenue while at the same time have much lower costs than those who produce drama.

Participants in reality shows are more cost effective than actors and writers.

As well these shows allow the networks to comply with the required 55 per cent Australian content between 6am and midnight on primary channels.

Ultimately we must question the ethics behind MAFS and indeed other reality programs and their obligation to safeguard the welfare of participants from being humiliated just to create a conflict for the titilation of viewers.

Perhaps we should also ask ourselves how different are we from those who visited Bedlam for entertainment back in the 18th century.

Let’s leave the last words on marriage to Shakespeare.

Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle’s compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”

Look back at Empire Day

In a newspaper article during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, among many other titles she was described as The Head of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth, formerly the British Empire, consists of more than 30 countries with an historical attachment to Britain.

Heads of government meet periodically in capital cities of member states and every four years the countries compete in The Commonwealth Games. In the past, celebrations of Empire Day were a special occasion.

Most Australians would probably find it difficult, and perhaps rather quaint, to understand the fervour for the Empire and enthusiasm with which it was celebrated for decades on the 24 May each year, Queen Victoria’s birthday. At the beginning of the 20th century Australians were overwhelmingly of Anglo Celtic heritage.

Looking back

Britain was the mother country; even people born in Australia often referred to Britain as home. So much of the world atlases were coloured red of the British Empire.

Not surprisingly, then, Australians celebrated Empire Day as enthusiastically as any others in the British Empire. In Healesville, as in many other small country towns, Empire Day

was one of the highlights of the year.

Although details differed over a long period, the general pattern of the day remained much the same; addresses by local dignitaries to the schools, lunch in one of the town’s halls.

Sports in Queens Park, entertainment at the hall followed by dancing until midnight for the adults after the children had gone off to bed.

In 1928 for example, after the usual appropriate address by the Shire President, a sumptuous dinner was held in the Memorial Hall, after which adjournment was made to Queens Park where games were played.

Later everyone returned to the hall to see Robinson Crusoe on the screen. In the evening, a fancy dress dance was held and the children completed a most enjoyable and entertaining day at 10 o’clock.

A dance for adults continued until close to

midnight. In later years Boss Christie, dressed as John Bull and carrying a big union Jack looked very grand he led the procession on his fine horse.

The Healesville Brass Band marched and all kinds of dressed up characters and vehicles followed, as well as the assembled school children. The other usual activities followed which made it a very memorable day.

Empire Day continued until 1960 when it was reported by the more politically correct and appropriate Commonwealth Day.

Now, different parts of the Commonwealth remember it at different times of the year, Australia choosing the second week in March to do so. But the fervour, patriotism and identification with Commonwealth no longer exists as it did for Empire Day and whichever day is now chosen, there’s no special fun for children and little celebration by adult either.

Established in 1996, Your Library (formerly Eastern Regional Libraries) is a co-operative of three outer eastern metropolitan councils; Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges.

Your Library’s popular vote PASSION FOR PROSE

Data from Your Library Annual Report shows that, in the year 2022-23, a total of 1,263,008 library visits and nearly 3,178,788 checkouts were made, including loans and renewals.The digital domain remained strong, accounting for 28.6% of Your Library’s total checkouts.

Also in 2022-23,Your Library had 293,529 members, including 23,329 new members, an increase of 52 per cent from the previous year.

The co-op’s branch libraries and reading rooms offered 134,589 PC sessions, with the number of WiFi users reaching 306,061, a whopping 249 per cent from the previous year!

Each year, Your Library collects information about the books that are most borrowed.

On February 14, Library Lover’s Day, the most popular book in 2023, as voted by Your Library’s members, was revealed to be Lessons in Chemistry by American author Bonnie Garmus.

When asked why they loved Lessons in Chemistry, one voter praised: “A true depiction of life for a single mother & working woman in the 1950’s. Well written and touched on relatable themes such as ineq-

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

uity, loneliness, and courage. Relevant for so many individuals.” Another voter described the book as “quirky, humorous and such a good read”.

If you, too, are a fan of this “page-turning, funny, poignant” book, here comes the great news. On Tuesday 21 May, Garmus will be discussing her captivating debut novel at Melbourne Town Hall.

As introduced by The Wheeler Centre: “At her only Melbourne event on her first Australian tour, Garmus [will sit down] with host Astrid Edwards to discuss her breakthrough novel, which has since been adapted into a major TV series starring Brie Larson.”

“Together, they’ll explore her funny and feisty heroine, the surprising fan phenomenon of Six-Thirty the dog, and how the novel’s historical setting sheds light on the truths of today.”

Solaris, starring Sandler

Spaceman

Starring Adam Sandler, Paul Dano and Carey Mulligan

Rated M 4/5

Based on the Czech novel Spaceman in Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar, Spaceman is an atmospheric, deeply touching science fiction drama.

On a lonely mission to study a mysterious cloud in deep space, cosmonaut Jakub Prochazka (Adam Sandler) befriends a spider-like alien being who he names Hanuš (Paul Dano). With its sombre tone, ambient score and themes of introspection in space, Spaceman is reminiscent of Andrei Tarkovsky’s remarkable 1972 film Solaris.

Spaceman’s dialogue has a grounded eloquence found in novels translated properly to film.

Sandler delivers a solid dramatic performance of weary concern and dedication, and Dano has an otherworldly soothing presence as the voice of Hanuš (though, needless to say, this film is not for arachnophobes).

Jakub’s ship is full of authentic, often retrofuturistic detail, and the first act amusingly suggests that when an anomaly like Hanuš appears to you alone and far from home, all you can do is cope and move on.

Spaceman is slow, tender and meditative, and the Chopra space cloud is a pretty fram-

ing-device for Jakub’s personal journey.

The ever-elegant Carey Mulligan plays Jakub’s estranged wife Lenka, and the flashbacks of their relationship are vibrant and surreal but tinged with melancholy.

Through Jakub and Hanuš’s touching bond, Jakub steadily discards his selfishness and comes to value the life he neglected back home.

Jakub’s traumatic past, including his Communist Party informant father, feels a little underdeveloped, and the cinematography is a mixed bag. Plenty of the shots are beautiful, but some are very poorly-framed, with the characters awkwardly out of view.

Spaceman is streaming on Netflix, and in 2024’s biggest cinematic miracle so far, this Adam Sandler movie costarring a giant spider made me cry.

-SethLukasHynes

CARTOON

Wicked looks at what happened in the Land of Oz … but from a different angle.

Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald, green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possession an extraordinary talent.

Wicked is outstanding Kemp’s curtain call

When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns in the unlikeliest friendship… until the world decides to call one“good” and the other one “wicked”.

Your correspondence recommends that you don’t miss it.

Burrinja Theatre

Woman born with emerald, green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent.

When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships until the world calls one “good” and the other one “wicked”.

Appearing at the Regent Theatre Collins St. Melbourne the production is outstanding.

Above the stage there is a giant bat which moves about when required.

A busy stage set with various scenes at rear and stairs etc on each side.

The cast was brilliant. Sheridan Adams was Elphaba the green witch.

A delightful performance really capturing the essence of such a character.

The good witch, Glinda, was given an excellent performance as the bubbly blonde by Courtney Monsmna.

Robyn Nevin was Madame Morrible giving a great interpretation of her role.

The Wizard of Oz was played by Simon Burke who captured the essence of the character with smoothness and excellence.

The balance of the cast caught the finer points of such a musical giving the first night audience “a wonderful evening.

Of course, such a production was greeted with a standing ovation from the Melbourne opening night audience.

A Litle Bit of Blue – Little Wing Puppets.

A detective story, told with puppetry, where you help solve the case.

A Little Bit of Blue is an interactive detective sow for families, told with puppetry.

As well as helping to unravel a mystery, the audience will learn about the extraordinary habits of the Australian Bowerbird and why they are fascinated by the colour blue.

The story begins with a strange disappearance from Mrs Mavis Hooley;s home.

Little things go missing clothes, pegs, teacup, a ball of wool.

But then the thief takes it just one step too far.

Mavis calls in a detective to investigate. A stakeout is required. In the dead of the night the detective indeed finds something peculiar.

The children’s role is to help him solve the case.

Season: Wednesday April 10 at 11am in the Lyre room.

ThePuppetryofPaper Workshop

Scrunch, rip, twist, tear.

This fun workshop is based on Bunraku, a Japanese form of puppetry.

In this workshop, members participants will learn to make a puppet out of paper and the skill bringing it to life a team.

Season: Wednesday April 19 at 12noon in the Lyre Room.

Bryn Jones

Healesville and District Historical Society president

PROPERTY

CENTRAL FAMILY OASIS WITH POOL AND TENNIS COURT

FAMILY OASIS WITH POOL AND TENNIS COURT

TREAT yourself to a tour of this stylish lifestyle property situated on one of Upwey’s finest residential roads, a stone’s throw from Upwey South Primary School, childcare, train station and bus transport. Boasting a landscaped 2,132sqm (approx.) block bursting with features including a swimming pool and tennis court, this property is what fabulous family living is all about.

The striking façade with rich timber and standing seam Colorbond cladding is enhanced with a family-friendly level garden and a single garage. Upon entry, engineered wideboard timber floors and hydronic heating add welcome warmth. At the front of the dwelling is the rumpus room/home office with ample storage and access to the large laundry with stone benchtops and guest WC.

The hub of the home is the open concept living area featuring a custom timber accent wall and a chefs’ kitchen with expansive island, Siemens and Miele appliances, and walk-in pantry. From here you can step out through bifold doors to your own private oasis featuring covered and open decking and views of the tennis court, pool, veggie garden, firepit area, and powered studio.

On the upper level with large balcony, there are 5 unique bedrooms with quality wool carpet and plenty of storage accompanied by a family bathroom with spa tub. Two of these rooms feature ensuites and walk-in robes, including the parents’ retreat with private balcony, dressing room, and luxurious ensuite with egg tub, dual sink vanity with stone benchtops, dual rain showers, and make-up station.

A feast for the senses, this property invites you to explore and make yourself at home. Plan your viewing today.

· 2,132sqm (approx.) property with landscaped gardens

· Tennis court, swimming pool, veggie beds, firepit area, and powered shed Timber and standing seam Colorbond exterior with single garage Versatile and stylish interior with engineered timber floors and hydronic heating

· Magnificent chefs’ kitchen with Siemens and Miele appliances ●

FAMILY LIVING ON OVER HALF AN ACRE

SPANNING over multiple levels, this spacious, ‘pretty as a picture’ home offers a well designed floorplan that will appeal to families of any size. Set on a beautiful and useable half an acre, the property boasts gorgeous, mature gardens and extended flat lawns where children can play and maybe even the adults can join in on a game of bocce or backyard cricket.

There are four bedrooms, the master suite on its own level with updated ensuite, two others with easy access to the main bathroom and the fourth bedroom making an ideal teenagers retreat or home office set up with its own entry.

Two living zones can be found at either end of the home: one being a relaxed TV / lounge area, the other an oversized family room and dining area that is truly special in every way. Bursting with country charm, the kitchen has plenty of bench space, walk in pantry and room for your large fridge – A

small detail that is not always easy to find in older homes!

Timber floorboard, unique bluestone walls and heightened ceilings are just some of the details that make this property so special, leaving you with the feeling that this house is more than just another ordinary home.

A combination of split system heating/ cooling and dual gas log fireplaces work together extremely well to create a cosy and comfortable environment no matter what the weather and on those warmer days, step out onto the large under cover decking and enjoy dinner with family and friends as you take in the peaceful surrounds of your very own property.

Not often will you see a property so perfect for family living – An inspection is an absolute must. ●

sell their much-loved homes. Their efforts have been appreciated and acknowledged, as they have been awarded the Rate My Agent, Most Recommended Agency 2024 in Emerald,

Cockatoo, Gembrook & Avonsleigh. With over 100 years of collective experience in real estate in the area, the Emerald Team works together to achieve exceptional results for their clients and provide a knowledgeable, experienced, skilful and caring approach to helping them along the sometimes emotional journey of buying and selling property.

Samantha Scott joined the team in

2012 and has achieved the honour of Most Recommended Agent in both Emerald and Cockatoo for 2024. Samantha commented that her passion for real estate, experience in sales and customer service and her love of the area and the community, (as she has lived in Cockatoo for 30 years), made the decision to give real estate a go an easy one. Since then, Sam has developed into one of the team’s most successful agents

and works hard and closely with all her clients to achieve the optimum results every time.

Sam commented, ‘I actually love my job more than I thought possible to love work and with the support of the team, which to me are like family, we have a great time, laugh lots and achieve great results for our clients, many of which have now become friends. I could not ask for anything better!’ ●

Bell Real Estate Team in Emerald have been awarded the Rate My Agent, Most Recommended Agency 2024 in Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook and Avonsleigh.

Samantha Scott joined the team in 2012 and has achieved the honour of Most Recommended Agent in both Emerald and Cockatoo for 2024.

4VistaCourt,Gembrook

WalktoGembrookMainstreet &EnjoyTheGorgeousGarden!

Thisprivate& lowmaintenance3 bedroom,2 bathroomhomeis ashortstrollfromthemainstreet. Featuring2 separatedrivewayentries,thereareplentyofpossibilitieswiththishome.Thehomehas anopenplankitchen/lounge/diningroomthatenjoysviewsouttothebackgarden& hasa split systemAC.Thekitcheniswellequippedwitha gasstove &oven&abutlerspantry.Themaster bedroomenjoysitsownsplitsystemAC,BIRs& ensuite.Thereare 2furtherbedroomsbothwithBIRs. Thereisa lovelyfamilybathroomwith ashower&aseparatebath.Thereisalsoductedheating throughoutthehome& plentyofnaturallight.Outsideis adelightinthefullyfencedbackyard.The manicuredgarden& lawnistranquilwithanarrayoffruittrees.Thereisalsoa securitysystemwith

BrennanMileto M 0422996451

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

52PatonsRoad,Macclesfield$1,750,000 -$1,900,000

StylishlyRenovatedHomewithEquineInfrastructureonNearly20acres!

Featuringa 40m*20msandmenage,dayyards,electricfencedpaddocks,hotwash,tack room,floatstorage,hayshed, a3-baybarn,cross-countrycourse,mainswater &a comfortable 4-bedroom,2 bathroom,‘Hamptons’stylehomewithviews &zonedheating& cooling.Thehome has2 loungeareas, adiningarea& entertainingdeck.Themasterbedroomhasa walk-through robe,ceilingfan &ensuite.Theopenplankitchen/dining/livingareahas awoodfire &a 900mmgas stove& anelectricoven,& thelaundryhasa dryingcupboard.Thereare 3furtherbedroomswith BIRs &a familybathroom.Thestockyardshaveloadingramps,thereare5 paddockswithwater,day yards,tackroom,feedshed,hotwashbay,haystorage &machinerystorage.Thereis apermanent creek,a Springfeddam,a chickenrun,anall-weathergraveldriveway, &lockupgarage.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

311-313MainStreetEmerald

20ChurchStreet,Emerald

$800,000 -$880,000

PerfectLocationToDownsizeIntoTheHeartOfEmerald! Thissolid 3bedroom,2 bathroom,brickhomeonjustunder1/4acreisliterally a500mflatwalktoIGA intheheartofEmerald.Somefeaturesinclude:#Flatblock #Landscapedgardens #Fullyfenced backyardfordogs #2 livingareas #Spaciouslounge/diningroomoverlookingtherearyard #Separatekitchen/meals orfamilyroom #Wellappointedkitchen# Spaciousmainbathroom #Hugemasterbedroomwithrobes& (2way)ensuite# Sunnydeckforentertaining #Privatelylocatedontheblockina quietnothroughroad #Plentyofoffstreetparkingforcars& thevan/trailer

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

3 A

39MainStreet,Gembrook $780,000 -$850,000

buildyourdreamhomeorbusiness(STCA)on this1051sqmallotment.Situatedbehind amaintainedhedge,therearetwodriveways,allowingfor plentyofoff-streetparking.Thehomeitselfhas acosyfrontverandah& leadlightfeaturefrontdoor. Enterthehometodiscoverthefrontloungeroomwithopenwoodfire.Thereis amasterbedroom andthenflowthroughtothekitchenwithfreestandingwoodfireandelectricstove/oven.Then discover asecondbedroom.Totherearofthehomeisa generouslaundry,bathroomwith ashower overbath,andmudroom/secondsittingarea.Externallythereisa shedinthefullyfencedrearyard.

KarenPeele M 0419430950

2 A 1 BC

FAMILY HOME AND SEPARATE UNIT ON 1/3 OF A FLAT ACRE

The extensive backyard can be accessed from the veranda via a paved barbecue area shaded by a beautiful tree canopy. The yard has an open grassed area surrounded by shedding and a large secure powered workshop. A tree-lined boundary includes a veggie patch and a mature lemon tree. What home is not complete without a lemon tree?

•฀

•฀

A separately metered self-contained bungalow/unit completes the property with 1 bedroom, full bathroom, lounge with airconditioning, kitchen including breakfast bar, separate parking for 2 cars and covered verandah to the entrance. Private and perfect for growing/extended family or even to generate an income. It also could be a fantastic home office/workspace/studio (subject to council approval).

Experience the peaceful ambience of this neighbourhood, coupled with the convenience of a bus stop across the road, close to shops, schools, and community facilities with Emerald only a 6 minutes drive away.

Don’t miss the opportunity to make this extensive property your forever home. Contact us today to schedule a viewing. ●

18CarrollStreet,WooriYallock

$600,000-$660,000

BeautifulHome,BeautifulLocation Indulgeintheepitomeofeffortlesslivingwiththisimpeccablypresentedthree-bedroomhome.Revel inthetimelesseleganceofthesplit-leveldesign,featuringcathedralceilingsthataccentuatethe flexiblefloorplanwithtwodistinctlivingzones,eachofferingbreathtakingvalleyviews.Thethree robedbedrooms,includinga masterwithdirectaccesstothespaciousmainbathroom,ensure bothstyleandfunctionality.Thisresidencecomescompletewith afrontdeckanda secureprivate yardattherear.Additionalfeaturesencompassa singlecarport,gasductedheating,and asizable storageshedattherear.Convenientlylocated,thishomeinvitesyoutoexperiencetheperfect blendofmodernlivingandnaturalbeauty.Completewiththedreamtenantswholovethishomeas theirown,youhavethesecurityofa 12monthlease(orlongerifdesired).

37CairncroftAvenue,LaunchingPlace$880,000-$930,000

Familyliving,CountryLifestylewithSpectacularViews

Thespectacularviewsarejustthestartofthisbeautifulproperty.Situatedon alargeblockofapprox. 2400sqmandboasting4 bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesplusanensuiteandwalkinrobeinthe mainbedroom.Spaciousmainliving/loungewithseparatefamily/diningareasideallypositioned toshowcasethesensationaleverchangingYarraValleyviews.Thekitchenwillimpresswithquality fixturesandappliances,including abutlerspantry.Stepoutsideandbeimpressedwitha covered entertainingareaanddecking -theperfectspottoadmiretheoutdoorsandpicturesqueValley viewsallyearround.Establishedgardens,lockupgarage/workshopanda picturesqueterraced gardensgivesthekidsandpetsloadsofspacetoexploreandenjoy.Convenientlylocatedcloseto localshops,schools,andtheWarburtontrail,it’s awonderfulplacetocallhome.

DavidCarroll

M 0419539320

Inspection:

4 A 2 B 2 C

29BadenPowellDrive,Healesville $780,000-$840,000

SpaciousFamilyHaven- Supersizedhomeonjustunder1500sqm

Thisremarkablefamilyhomeofferssomethingforeveryone,boastingfivebedroomsincludinga masterwithwalk-inrobeandensuite,alongwitha familybathroomandthreelivingareas.The centrallylocatedkitchenprovidesamplebenchandcupboardspace,overlookinga sizable rumpusroomandadjacentdiningarea.Theopenplanlivingzonesarebothpracticalandinviting, equippedwithtwowoodfiresandmainsgasductedheating.Additionally,there’s aseparatesitting areaoffthediningroomanda spaciousfamilyroomthatleadsouttoa vastundercoveroutdoor space.Thepropertyalsoofferstheconvenienceofdualaccess,ampleoffstreetparking,including spaceforlargervehicles,underhousestorage,and asubstantialgarage/workshopwithpowerand aconcretefloor.Witha myriadoffeatures,thishomeisa mustsee.

RebeccaDoolan

M 0401832068

4DukeStreet,YarraJunction $680,000 -$730,000

SubstantialFamilySpaceina QuietSetting

Thisexceptionalpropertyissituatedona quietstreet,boastinga spaciousflatblockspanningover 800sqmandofferingbeautifulmountainviews.Theapprox.7x14garagecomescompletewitha concreteslab,power,andtwosizablerollerdoors.Additionally,there’s adoublecarport,makingit ahavenforcarenthusiasts.Thewell-maintainedhomeismoveinready,featuringa practicallayout, aspaciousopenplanfamilyanddiningareaequippedwitha splitsystemforheatingandcooling, anda kitchenfittedwithmodernappliances.Extendingthelivingspaceis areardeckingarea andthelow-maintenancebackyard.Inside,therearea totalofthreebedrooms,withthemaster boasting awalk-inrobe,andallroomswithcomfortablecarpets.Convenientlypositioned,the propertyisjust ashortstrollfromtownamenities.Callnow!

RebeccaDoolan

M 0401832068

Inspection: ByAppointment

RealEstateyo uc an trust! We ’r eh er etoh el p

7/1ChandlerRoad,BORONIA

Spanningovermultiplelevels,thisspacious,‘prettyasapicture’homeoffers

$370,000 -$410,000

2 A 1 B 1 C

Whetheryouarea firsttimehomebuyeroraninvestorsearchingfortheidealenhancement ofyourpropertyportfolio,thisunittickstheboxesof abrilliantinvestment.Offeringaneasycare apartmentlifestyleinprimepositiononlystepsfromBoroniaJunctionshoppingand caféprecinctandtheconvenienceofBoroniaStation,thisiswhereliveabilityandlifestyle arematchedtoperfection.

RachelEastwood

M 0401117761| E rachel@chandlerandco.com.au

Magnificent“Lugano”boasts atouchofMediterraneanstylepairedwith

bustling restaurantandentertainmentprecinct,thissplendidpropertyblendsprestigeandpositiontoperfection.

SuzieBrannelly

M 0490506910| E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

97546888

RachelEastwood

M 0401117761| E rachel@chandlerandco.com.au

1689BurwoodHighway,BelgraveVIC3160

www.chandlerandco.com.au office@chandlerandco.com.au

No. 176

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

ACROSS

1 Philosopher, Rene – (9)

6 Ukraine city (4)

10 Indian Ocean country, – Lanka (3)

11 Extreme conservatism or rightism in politics (11)

12 Brings to life (8)

13 Urging, – on (6)

14 Greeting (Ital) (4)

15 Forbidden by law (7)

20 Order (7)

21 Prefix meaning 1 billionth (4)

25 French male name (6)

26 Disparage (8)

28 Disenchant (11)

29 Suitable (3)

30 Directs (4) 31 Banishment (9)

DOWN

1 Send out (6)

2 Curved sword (8)

3 Antenna (6)

4 Journeyed (9)

5 Location (4)

7 Roma is its capital (6)

8 Journey (6)

9 HitchhikersGuide author, – Adams (7)

16 Fanatic (9)

17 List of employees (7)

18 Seasoned smoked beef (8)

19 Impetus (8)

22 Eight-legged animal (6)

23 Time of the year (6)

24 Austrian capital (6) 27 Car (4)

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No. 176

No. 176

No. 176

Hoop to hoop play

By John Thomson

On Monday 4 March Lilydale Croquet Club’s Division 1 Level Play team hosted the Sandringham team at Lilydale.

The weather was perfect, not too hot or cold and just a slight breeze to help cool things down a touch.

Lilydale was fielding its strongest team, in Murray Howlett, Glenn Crook and Craig McCracken, but they were up against two very experienced players from Sandringham.

The first game was the doubles, and Murray Howlett and Craig McCracken paired up. Murray and Craig got away to a good start and did not let their opponents settle into the game at all. Lilydale won 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.

In the first singles Glenn Crook got the jump on his opponent, he also controlled his game winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops

In the next singles game Craig McCracken was taking on Sandringham’s strongest player. This game was a real battle with the players going hoop for hoop. After 12 hoops had been played it was six hoops a piece so the thirteenth and deciding hoop was next. Craig was first to hit up to the hoop and set up well and eventually won the hoop. The scores were Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.

At the lunch break Lilydale had won the day, 3 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 13 hoops. With two singles games to come the question was, could Sandringham come home strong?

In the next singles Glenn Crook played. Glenn has been in exceptional form recently and he certainly took his good form into this game. Glenn controlled this game winning 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops.

In the last singles Murray Howlett was playing. This was a close game with both players at stages playing some very good croquet and at others missing hoops they would normally win. In the end Sandringham won the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.

The final score, Lilydale 4 games 33 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 22 hoops.

Lilydale’s Division 2 Level Play team travelled to Sandringham to play.

The Lilydale team consisted of Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken and Drew Pawley.

The conditions at Sandringham were perfect for croquet, warm temperature and a slight on shore breeze.

In the doubles Alan Jones and Kerri McCracken teamed up. Alan and Kerri have not played together a lot so it was going to be interesting to see the chemistry between both of them.

Alan and Kerri started well and did not give their opponents many opportunities to get into the game. Lilydale 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.

In the first singles Drew Pawley played Sandringham’s captain. This game was close all the way, and after twelve hoops it was all tied

up at 6 a each. This means that the thirteenth hoop had to be played to decide a winner. Both players set up reasonably well but it was Drew who made the most of his opportunity and ran the hoop to win the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.

In the next singles Alan Jones played, and just like the first singles the game went hoop for hoop and again after twelve hoops had been played it was 6 hoops each. The thirteenth hoop was a struggle but just like in the previous game, this time it was Alan who took his opportunity and won the game. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 6 hoops.

At the break, with three games played and two to come Lilydale had secured the win. Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops Sandringham 0 games 15 hoops.

Drew Pawley played first up after the break. The game was close for most of the game but the Sandringham player was able to get a slight break and put their first win of the day on the board. Sandringham 7 hoops Lilydale 5 hoops.

The last singles Kerri McCracken played. This game was also very close. Kerri managed to get a break over her opponent and hold it to the finish. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 5 hoops.

Final scores Lilydale 4 games 33 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 26 hoops.

On Thursday 7 March Lilydale Croquet Club hosted the Sandringham Handicap team.

Lilydale’s team was Alan Jones, Kerri McCracken, Liz Stewart and Mick Crawley.

In the first singles Alan Jones, because of his handicap ranking, was starting 2 hoops behind his opponent. The game was a close game but those 2 hoops were the difference in the end. Sandringham 7 hoops Lilydale 5 hoops.

The first doubles saw Mick Crawley and Kerri McCracken team up. The handicaps were even in this game, and the game was also fairly even until Mick and Kerri were able to get a

break and take the game and hoops to Sandringham ebbed 5 hoops.

In the next singles Mick Crawley was playing. Mick, because of his handicap, was starting 1 hoop behind his opponent. Mick was playing beautifully and it wasn’t long before he had made up that hoop and by the time the game was over had picked up two more hoops as well. Lilydale 7 hoops Sandringham 5 hoops.

The next doubles Alan Jones and Liz Stewart teamed up. This is Liz’s first season, so she will be looking for some guidance from her partner. The game ebbed and flowed but eventually the Sandringham pair got a break, winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.

At lunch the scores were Lilydale 2 games 24 hoops, Sandringham 2 games 24 hoops. You can’t get any closer than that and with 1 singles game and 1 doubles game to come, it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top.

The first game after lunch was a singles, with Lilydale’s Kerri McCracken playing.

Both players are on the same handicap so neither player had an advantage. The Sandringham player got off to a good start and was able to keep the pressure on Kerri all the way through the game, winning 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 3 hoops.

In the last game, a doubles, Alan Jones and Liz Stewart again teamed up. Lilydale had to win this game to give them a chance of winning the day.

Alan and Liz were starting 1 hoop behind Sandringham.The game was close but Lilydale struggled to make up for that 1 hoop handicap with Sandringham winning 7 games to Lilydale 5 games.

In a very close tuff battle over the day the final scores were Sandringham 4 games 38 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 32 hoops.

There were no Level Play games on Monday because of the long weekend.

Finals loom as teams put best club forward

By David Waters

A crisp morning greeted the senior golfers at Box Hill for round six of the pennant season.

The course was very well presented. New paved pathways made movement easier and will help playability in damper months. Extra drainage works have also been undertaken.

Today preferred lies were used when a ball rested on the sanded drain line. Fairways, when you could hit them, were in fabulous condition.

Extraction from the fluffed-up bunkers was generally easy.

As the day warmed, the players thinned out as many finished after playing only 15 or 16 holes. Only seven individual contests were tied after 18 holes. No matches were squared indicating how even the competition is this year.

Churchill/Waverley began the day on top of both ladders, aiming to stay up there for a place in the final.

A mixed result for the club with the gold going down to Eastwood but green holding sway

to win. Both remain at the head of the ladder but dependent on round seven results to play for the prize.

Eastern have stormed home in green group and have maintained second spot on the gold ladder all season, to have strong claims for the play off.

Heritage in gold andYering in green are well placed, also needing wins for an upset.

All teams have had wins which has been very pleasing for all the managers.

At the end of our day, the Box Hill catering staff presented a most agreeable selection. Various meats for the carnivores and salads for the herbivores.Winners and losers, all went home happy.

Results for gold group. Box Hill 5 ½ def Gardiners Run 2 ½. Eastern 6 def Yering Meadows

2. Eastwood 5 def Churchill Waverley 3.

Results for green group. Box Hill 5 def Gardiners Run 3. Eastern 4 ½ def Yering Meadows

3 ½. Churchill/Waverley 4 ½ def Eastwood 3 ½.

Happy golfing at Eastern next week.

Concussion protocols adopted

The AFL has announced new concussion protocols to be implemented at every level of football below the AFL and AFLW, bringing them in line with the Australian Institute of Sport’s Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024.

Under new rules, players will be forced to refrain from playing for 21 days after suffering a concussion, essentially missing three matches.

In a statement on the league’s website, AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said the League’s concussion guidelines were the most stringent concussion protocols in Australian sport and they reflected the AFL’s commitment to player safety at all levels.

“The updated community guidelines represent a significant step in the AFL’s existing record of ongoing improvements to its concussion management strategy that reflect medical research and other learnings over time,” he said.

“We play a contact sport and there is always going to be risk, however over recent years we have continued to take action to strengthen match-day protocols and amend the Laws of the Game to discourage high contact, and we will continue to do so.”

AFL and AFLW players will still only have to miss 12 days of action with the AFL stating that the ‘advanced care settings’ and increased medical oversight for concussed AFL and AFLW players would allow them to continue with the three-stage, 11-step return to play protocols that have been in effect since 2021. This will still apply even if an AFL or AFLW-listed player is concussed while playing at a state-league level such as the VFL, WAFL or SANFL.

Mr Meade said they continue to listen and learn from the medical and scientific professionals and take action to deal with the important topic of concussion and player safety.

“While there are risks of injury in our sport, we will continue to act to reduce and manage those risks, and there are also many very significant physical and mental health benefits of playing our great game.”

The changes come into effect in the wake of further severe concussion news in the AFL, with Melbourne Demons star Angus Brayshaw forced into a medical retirement last month due to the impact of multiple concussions while a landmark seven-week suspension was handed out to St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster for an ‘extremely careless’, ‘very high’ impact and ‘high contact’ bump on North Melbourne co-captain Jye Simpkin in a Community Series practice match, as found by the AFL Tribunal.

The Eastern Football Netball League and Outer East Football Netball League were contacted for comment.

Murray Howlett helped lead Lilydale to a doubles win against Sandringham with his partner Craig McCracken. 309068 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Local footballers will now have to sit out 21 days after suffering a concussion.

Picture: MIKAYLA HAUPT

David Stevens from Yering Meadows the only one to sink a four foot putt on the 3rd.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Barkers out in a thriller

By Peter Stephenson

A new season began at the Kennel at the tail end of a cruel summer, with the mercury reading 36 degrees at kick-off.

A handful of players decided they were never ever getting back together with Knox over the close season and joined Barkers, so there was bound to be some bad blood between the sides. In fact, I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22 players on the pitch at the end would be an achievement.

Sure enough, just 53 seconds had elapsed before Clark and ex-Barker Sam Bircham tangled. The ref showed he wasn’t going to tolerate it and, after handbags at 10 paces, booked Bircham. It was Favor Jentzen who put his mark on the game early, as on two minutes he had a shot held by Naumowicz, then three minutes later, cut in from the left and had a shot blocked. The cards continued on 10 minutes, when something coach Burrows said offended the referee, and he found himself booked.

Knox’s supremacy paid off after 12 minutes when an under-hit pass from Naumowicz was cut out by the lurking Nardella, who hit a simple shot into the empty net for 1-0 Knox. On the quarter hour, Jentzen went down in the penalty area, but the ref waved play on and Barkers could breathe again.

Knox almost doubled the lead with their next attack, as Jentzen sprayed a ball out to the right to find Peter Koskos, whose cross just eluded a forward’s head. Barkers were very careless when, from their own free kick they gave the ball away. Jentzen broke clear, the AR missed the offside, and the shot hit the bar. Then Mateusz Kurzeja hit a snap shot before Scott laid a great tackle but was booked – a decision that would have consequences later.

Just after the half hour, the momentum changed as Aye was chopped down and won a free-kick. The kick was floated to Markley, who

stuck a low shot into the corner of the net for 1-1. Barkers had woken up, and then forced a good low block from Knox keeper Matthew Krstina. Barkers’ tails were up and next, Scott rode a challenge before placing the ball past Krstina to give Barkers a 2-1 lead, and you felt that everything had changed.

Six minutes before the break, Nardella had a shot blocked, and Barkers replied with Clark and Scott combining to set up Aye, who forced a low save from Krstina. However, right on half time, disaster struck for the home side. Knox attacked, and Aye, in attempting to clear, kicked an opponent with his foot high. The ref had no option but to tell Aye it’s time to go, and the red card was compounded by a penalty to Knox. It was Nicholas D’Angelo who put the ball low to Naumowicz’s right to make the half-

time score Mooroolbark 2-2 Knox City.

Four minutes into the second half, Nittoli hit a through ball for Scott, who had only the keeper to beat but Krstina got to the ball first. Barkers were made to pay for this two minutes later when Knox won a corner on the left. The ball was swung in and a glancing header from Daniel Bailey found the far corner of the net for 3-2 Knox. Then Knox hit a long ball over the top for Nardella, who skied his shot clean into the stratosphere.

Naumowicz was working overtime to keep Knox at bay as Bailey and Jentzen had shots saved, but it was a football legend who drew next blood. Barkers won a corner on the right, which was delivered by Cooper. Tronconi headed across the box to Perrin, whose point-

blank header was brilliantly tipped over by Krstina for another corner. When it came in, Tronconi rose like a salmon to head the ball home for 3-3. The crowd went wild as our hero became surely our oldest-ever scorer – I don’t know about you, but he’s feeling (nearly) 42.

Four minutes later, the good work was undone as a Knox cross came in from the right and was turned into his own net by a defender for 4-3 Knox. However, Knox weren’t out of the woods and with five minutes to go, substitute C.Porcaro stole in at the near post to tap the ball home for 4-4. Naumowicz made a superb double save in stoppage time to take the game to extra time. Full time Mooroolbark 4-4 Knox City.

In the first minute of extra time, the ref decided that Knox needed a sporting chance as they had only a one-man advantage. Scott was carded for an innocuous challenge, but with the crowd wanting him to stay stay stay, the ref, who seemingly had a blank space between his ears, had to send off the Barkers captain for two yellows. Barkers, now down to nine men, were under siege, but held out until half-time in extra-time with the scores still level at 4-4.

However, the heat and fatigue finally told on the brave Barkers as Jentzen scored twice in the first eight minutes after the break to finally put daylight between Knox and Barkers at 6-4. Jentzen now turned anti-hero as he ripped his shirt off, earned a second yellow and his marching orders, but as for any disappointment, he will surely shake it off.

Ten goals and three red cards made for a ripper of a game for the neutral fan. Knox progresses to round 4 of the cup, while Barkers regroup to focus on the league campaign, which begins on March 23 with the visit of Hampton East Brighton. Meanwhile, the Barkerettes kick off their Nike FC Cup campaign next week with a home tie against Williamstown – kickoff Sunday 3pm at Esther Park. See you down the Kennel!

Little Athletics bring home State Championship bling

By Jamie Strudley

The Little Athletics Victoria State Track and Field Championships were held over the weekend at a hot, often windy, Knox Athletics Track.

Athletes qualified via their respective region championships ensuring the very best from around the state were in action.

Yarra Ranges Athletics had one of our largest teams competing, with 37 club athletes qualified to compete. We finished the championships with six gold, six silver, four bronze, three fourth place finishes and another four athletes in the top eight. A fantastic weekend of athletics.

The medal haul was led by Micah Friend and Zoe Clarke. Micah, competing in Boys 9-10 Multiclass finished with two gold, two silver and a bronze medal. Zoe, competing in Girls U15 won two gold and one bronze medal from her three events. Other medallists were Brock Peel (one Gold, one Silver), Emily Pincott (Gold), James Chrome-Smith (two Silver), Beau McKinnon (Silver), Tillie Sommers (Bronze), Lanni Aborowa (Bronze).

Full Results are:

Girls U16

· 800m: Kristina Nackovski 2:48.89 (11th);

Girls U15

· 100m: Kayla Paton 13.19 (12th);

· 200m: Kayla Paton 26.77 (11th);

· 400m: Zoe Clarke 61.21 (3rd);

· 800m: Zoe Clarke 2:25.07 (1st);

· 1500m: Zoe Clarke 5:04.68 (1st);

Girls U14

· 100m: Emily Fiedler 13.16 (16th);

· 200m: Emily Fiedler 27.28 (13th);

· 400m: Emily Fiedler 64.41 (14th);

· 1500m: Tori Kincaid 6:10.68 (18th);

Girls U13

· 1500m Walk: Brienna Coffey 9:19.66 (4th);

· High Jump: Mackenzie Graham 1.40m (7th);

· Javelin: Shania Tove 20.27m (16th); Sarina Hathaway 14.89m (21st);

Girls U12

· 1500m Walk: Holly Yorke 8:54.16 (4th);

· High Jump: Emily Pincott 1.50m (1st); Lanni Aborowa 1.40m (3rd); Arizona Peel 1.35m (5th);

Girls U11

· 400m: Caitlyn McKerlie 74.97 (18th);

· 1100m Walk: Lucy Oettinger 7:51.33 (16th);

Girls U09

· 100m: Zahra Lehmann 16.20 (19th);

· 700m Walk: Tillie Sommers 4:08.52 (3rd);

· Long Jump: Zahra Lehmann 3.27m (16th);

· Shot Put: Imogen McMillan 4.52m (15th);

Boys U16

· 800m: James Crome-Smith 2:08.45 (2nd);

· 1500m: James Crome-Smith 4:36.28 (2nd);

· Discus: Wilbur Davidson-Tuck 29.56m (9th);

· Javelin: Wilbur Davidson-Tuck 23.43m (10th);

· Shot Put: Wilbur Davidson-Tuck 8.79m (11th);

Boys U15

· 400m: Mitchell Pointon 58.88 (17th);

· 800m: Mitchell Pointon 2:11.50 (7th); Blake Saloyedoff 2:14.76 (11th);

· 1500m: Mitchell Pointon 4:46.51 (8th); Blake Saloyedoff 4:50.96 (14th);

· Javelin: Mitchell Pointon 25.12m (9th);

Boys U14

· 1500mWalk: Beau McKinnon 8:25.18 (2nd);

· Shot Put: Zac McMillan 10.13m (9th);

Boys U13

· Javelin: Jakob Knapman 19.98m (18th);

· Shot Put: Jakob Knapman 7.86m (20th);

Boys U12

· 1500m: Samuel Thomas 5:12.86 (15th);

· Discus: Zack Paternoster 21.88m (20th);

· Javelin: Ilikimi Tove 28.31m (4th);

Boys U11

· 100m: Koby Stephens 13.68 (10th);

· 200m: Koby Stephens 28.84 (14th);

· 80m Hurdles: Kristian Sultana 13.80 (9th);

· 1100m Walk: Xander Sommers 6:31.91 (5th);

· Long Jump: Koby Stephens 4.33m (5th);

Boys U09

· 800m: Riley Yorke 3:00.44 (14th);

· High Jump: Brock Peel 1.20m (1st);

· Long Jump: Brock Peel 3.94m (2nd);

· Shot Put: Brock Peel 5.10m (19th);

Boys U910 MC

· 400m: Micah Friend 2:02.04 (2nd);

· 800m: Micah Friend 4:52.04 (1st);

· Discus: Micah Friend 8.71m (3rd);

· Long Jump: Micah Friend 1.66m (2nd);

· Shot Put: Micah Friend 4.35m (1st); Mitch Mullens was in action at the latest HVC meeting. Mitch stormed home to record his fastest time of the year for 100m, running 11.12 seconds, just outside his club record.

This week is our celebration round for our little athletics members with invitations for parents to participate in selected events. This will be our final round of track and field action for the season with our presentation day the week following (23 March). Check socials and website for details.

Training for our six-12yo has finished for the summer season, cross country training will start up on Tuesday evenings in April, enjoy the rest! Seniors training (13yo plus) is on Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30pm at Morrison Reserve. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.

Go to lavic.com.au or athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for information about events and registration. Cross Country is coming.

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!

The Barkers faced Knox in what was an enthralling match. Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON