Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 2nd April 2024

Cire Community School hosted its official Monbulk campus opening on Thursday 28 March, launching a new era of education in the Dandenong Ranges.

With MPs and Cire’s management staff in tow, the official opening saw students talk with pride of their new school ground nestled in the trees,

Acquiring the former Mountain District Christian School campus at the beginning of 2023, the school was able to accept enrolments for the new arm of Cire’s education portfolio for 2024.

With a term under their belt, campus principal Brad Turner and Cire’s Executive Manager of Education Peri Dix said it was a pleasure to be welcoming fresh faces to the cohort.

To read more, turn to page 8

After years of assisting at Monbulk Road accidents, residents say it’s... Still road to ruin

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Patch resident Coralie Jenkins has deep concerns for the dangerous road on which she dwells.

Mrs Jenkins has been living on the Monbulk Road for the past 40 years and the number of accidents she has been witnessing seems to be continuing after four decades.

“The accidents have just been ongoing,” she said.

“They make such a noise, we often run down to see who’s injured, in the past we’ve taken out blankets and things until an ambulance arrives.

“We assisted where we could but then we found it was recurring.”

Mrs Jenkins said as expected during wet weather, the accidents seem to increase - especially cars coming from Monbulk.

“I don’t think it’s just speed, I think it’s the camber in the road that throws the cars out when they’re coming around the corner but I’m not an engineer,” she said.

“We always slow down for our driveway and

we’re always cautious of that bend, but other people who may not be familiar with the road may not be as cautious - it’s most certainly not just speed.”

The speed limit for the road was 80 km/h but over the years this has been adjusted down to 60 km/h.

Continued page 3

Daniela De Martino MP, Cire Board Chair Julian Carle, Monbulk Campus Principal Brad Turner, Ben Carroll MP, Aaron Violi MP, Cire CEO Gus Seremetis and Cire Executive Manager of Education Peri Dix at the opening. 396247

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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Locals know they live on road to ruin

From page 1 “It didn’t stop the accidents from occurring,” she said.

Each year when the drains are dug out to remove the weeds - it becomes deeper and bigger.

“If the car gets thrown a little bit, then they’re hooked on the edge and that’s what takes them down into the drain - they don’t get a second chance to get out of it,” she said.

In recent times, barriers were built along the road to prevent cars from rolling down into the creek.

“It’s a shame the barriers are not extended past our driveway because when you come to the bottom of our driveway that’s where the cars will go over the edge, if they extended the barriers it could prevent the cars going over the edge,” she said.

Mrs Jenkins said VicRoads put up a sign 35 km/h for the bend but it got driven through a few times and it hasn’t been replaced again.

In the five year period to June 2023, there

have been 16 reported crashes along Monbulk Road between Perrins Creek Road and OlindaMonbulk Road with two resulting in serious injury and zero fatalities.

Mrs Jenkins said she has tried contacting VicRoads to report the incidents but the callwait time is too long.

The accidents they have been witnessing over the last four decades have troubled them.

“It’s quite disturbing because you don’t know what you’re going to confront when you go down there,” she said.

Fortunately most of the times there are no serious injuries to the drivers but serious damages are almost certain for the cars.

“It would be good to consider that insurance companies would unite together and put pressure on VicRoads to fix this problem, which would save both drivers and insurance companies a lot of pain and suffering - financially and emotionally,” she said.

“Much less eliminating road closures and congested traffic building, whilst cars are be-

ing extricated.”

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said it is everyone’s responsibility to look out for others and share the roads safely.

“Safety is our number one priority and we welcome community feedback about ways we can improve transport connections on Monbulk Road,” they said.

“We urge motorists to drive to the conditions, particularly in areas they might not be familiar with, and we will continue to monitor safety along Monbulk Road.”

The neighbours on Monbulk Road, especially Mrs Jenkins, often end up cleaning big pieces of car parts that tow trucks leave behind.

She said some of these parts are too big to fit into their bins and it becomes more rubbish in her garden.

The Department of Transport and Planning will continue to monitor this location.

IN BRIEF

Coles Easter plush toys recalled

A set of assorted Easter plush toys for sale at Coles from 26 February to 20 March this year have been recalled due to posing a choking risk for young children.

The Coles Easter bunny squeezer pals in blue, grey and purple colours, Coles Easter light-up bunny and Coles Easter light-up chicken products do not comply with the mandatory standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months of age.

Children may be able to access the polyester filling because of faulty stitching, which poses a risk of choking, suffocation or death to young children if they can access the polyester filling inside the plush toys and put it in their mouths.

Consumers should stop using the toys immediately and store them out of reach of children.

Return them to any Coles supermarket or Coles Local store for a full refund.

Coles Online customers can receive a full refund or credit by contacting Coles Online Customer Care on 1800 455 400 and should then securely dispose of the toy.

For more information contact Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562 between 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Boronia man caught in Operation Nexus

A Boronia man is among six men who had their Easter celebrations soured his long weekend after having their vehicles impounded in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Before the long weekend even got started, Highway Patrol officers detected a 24-year-old Malvern East man allegedly driving unlicensed along Browns Road in Clayton, about 9.15am on Thursday 28 March. He was intercepted and had his vehicle impounded at a cost of $913.

A short time later a vehicle was stopped at a PBT site on Mitcham Road in Mitcham. The driver allegedly returned a positive preliminary breath test. He later returned a reading of 0.162. The 49-year-old Boronia man had his license immediately suspended and his car was impounded at a cost of $1042.

Officers later observed an alleged disqualified driver on Burke Road in Kew, about 12.15pm. A 45-year-old Mornington man had his vehicle impounded at a cost of $913.

Police then observed a suspended driver travelling along Victoria Crescent in Mont Albert, just after 1pm. A 21-year-old Box Hill man was spoken to and had his car impounded at a cost of $913.

Highway Patrol officers detected an alleged unlicensed driver on the Eastern Freeway in Blackburn North, about 11.15am on Friday 29 March. A 29-year-old Launching Place man had his car impounded at a cost of $950.

Overnight, police observed a Ford Falcon travelling at a fast rate of speed on the Monash Freeway in Chadstone. Officers allege the vehicle was detected driving at 149km/h in 100 km/h zone, about 12.30am on Friday 29 March.

The driver, a 22-year-old Greenvale man, had his vehicle impounded at a cost of $896. His three passengers were left to find their own way home.

All six men will appear in court at a later date.

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The frequency of accidents on Monbulk Road are concerning residents.

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Corruption clean-up starts

By Callum Ludwig

The Victorian Government has taken the first step in response to the July 2023 Operation Sandon report from the Independent Broadbased Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), which was sparked by allegations of corrupt conduct involving City of Casey councillors and a property developer.

The State Government has accepted 32 of IBAC’s 34 recommendations either in full or in principle, with one accepted in part.

“Victorians deserve to have trust in the state’s planning system, and we’re accepting these recommendations as part of our work to make sure good decisions are made faster – and more transparently,” said Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny.

A review of the Planning and Environment Act announced as part of last year’s Housing Statement is anticipated to update the guidelines for councils to streamline and strengthen decision-making criteria as well as tighten anti-corruption measures.

“Victorians rightly have high expectations of their local councillors, and these changes will support councillors to serve the interests of their communities,” Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne.

An Inter-departmental Taskforce is set to be created, chaired by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and also featuring senior representatives from the Department of Transport and Planning, Department of Government Services, Victorian Public Sector Commission, Local Government Inspectorate and the Victorian Electoral Commission. The Taskforce will report back on any findings within 18 months.

Reforms of the Local Government Act announced in November 2023 are also set to include mandatory training for elected representatives (including on conflicts of interest), introduce a Councillor Code of Conduct across the state and strengthen the powers of the Min-

ister for Local Government to address councillor conduct.

“Yarra Ranges Council takes governance and Councillor training responsibilities seriously and supports any measures that contribute to strengthening governance practices and Council decision making across Victoria,” said Yarra Ranges Council CEOTammi Rose.”

“We are currently considering all the Sandon recommendations.”

Other IBAC recommendations include: Local Government Victoria developing a Model Transparency Policy and ensuring it and Model Governance Rules are clear on the importance of open government and deliberation

Updating Model Governance Rules to expressly prohibit councillors voting ‘en bloc’ (all at the same time) at meetings and require meeting minutes to state the names of coun-

cillors who spoke on a motion and voted for or against it

Implement a requirement for councillors to undertake mid-term refresher training on governance, leadership, and integrity

Removing statutory planning responsibilities from councillors and instead introducing determinative planning panels where a local council would have been the responsible authority.

Debate rumbles on over religious discrimination laws

By Callum Ludwig

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) had its‘Maximising the Realisation of Human Rights: Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws’ report tabled by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus in Federal Parliament on Thursday 21 March, in response to continued debate among politicians about the religious freedoms of schools and institutions while not breaching sex discrimination laws.

The ALRC recommended that religious schools and institutions can continue to prefer to employ a person of the same religion where it is‘reasonably necessary and proportionate’ to building a‘community of faith’ but may not discriminate against staff or students based on attributes protected in the Sex Discrimination Act (SDA).

“For the law to narrow the circumstances in which it is lawful for religious schools to discriminate against students and staff whilst preserving their capacity to maintain a community of faith, manages the intersection of human rights according to the international law obligations Australia is obliged to respect,” said ALR President Justice Mordecai Bromberg.

Under current Federal Law, schools are able to discriminate against staff and students based on their sexual orientation, pregnancy or marital status, though most state and territory governments already have laws in place regarding this. Victoria amended the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 in 2022 to prevent religious schools and bodies from discriminating against people based on the above.

The ALRC report is expected to reignite the push for a new Religious Discrimination Act and amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government have called for bipartisan support from the Coalition to pass the reforms and avoid a ‘culture war’. The Religious Discrimination Bill 2022 that was first introduced by the former Morrison Government in 2022 before being

passed by the lower house the next year was shelved due to concerns from religious school organisations that it didn’t go far enough, while others were also concerned the bill wouldn’t protect transgender kids from expulsion based on their identity.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus issued a statement following the release of the report to state that the government would seek to

enhance protections in anti-discrimination law in a way that brings Australians together.

“The Australian Law Reform Commission’s report tabled today is not a report from the Government. It is advice to the Government, and we will continue to consider it,” he said.

The Australian Human Rights Commission, Equality Australia, the Public Interest

Advocacy Centre and the Law Council of Australia are among those who have come out in support of the ALRC’s recommendations; while the National Catholic Education Commission, the Australian Christian Lobby, Christian Schools Australia have all come out against them. The Executive Council of Australia Jewry, the Australian Sikh Association and the Australian National Imams Council have all come out backing the search for a ‘fair’ solution, compromise and ‘striking the right balance’.

Casey MP AaronVioli is a proud alumni of a local Catholic school, Mount Lilydale Mercy College, one of 13 Mercy Education schools in the country inspired by Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy.

“No one in Australia should be discriminated against based on their race, religion, sexuality, identity, disability, age or otherwise,” MrVioli said.

“I have engaged with many religious school leaders in our community over the past year and heard their concerns around protecting choice in education.”

Shadow Attorney General Michaelia Cash was provided Labor’s draft bills, which haven’t been released publicly, and released a statement on Monday 25 March criticising the ‘strict conditions’ imposed on the Coalition, such as preventing them from distributing it to third parties, and the ‘lack of transparency in not releasing them publicly or calling for an inquiry.

“My own experience at Mount Lilydale Mercy College has led to my fundamental belief that parents should have choice in education, whether they’re choosing a school on religious grounds, for its sporting achievements, for its great reputation in the arts or similar, it is so important that Australian families have choice in education,” Mr Violi said.

“There appears to be substantial changes to the religious discrimination legislation that was introduced by the Coalition in 2021, so we are giving those changes the scrutiny they require.”

Attorney-General of Australia Mark Dreyfus said the ALRC recommendations are still to be considered. Picture: ON FILE

32 of IBAC’s 34 Operation Sandon recommendations have been adopted in full or in-principle.

Picture: ON FILE

Push for community group

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Residents in Sassafras, Ferny Creek and Tremont gathered on Monday 25 March for a community meeting to discuss about the region while also giving an input to form a Township Group.

Close to 45 people attended the event which was held in the evening at Sassafras Mechanics Institute with light refreshments.

Township groups are independent community organisations created by and for the community – they often advocate for local issues, provide a forum for sharing information, lead and support community projects as well as applying for Grants for events and projects.

In the meeting each group chose their area of focus which included emergency planning, festivals, events, advocacy, markets and more.

Currently there are no representations in Sassafras, Ferny Creek or Tremont and a few locals.

The main purpose of the meeting was to generate some interest in establishing a sufficient township group for the Sassafras, Ferny Creek and Tremont area.

Yarra Ranges Council provides insurance, mentoring and a quarterly network where Townships can share ideas and gain funding.

Yarra Ranges councilor Andrew Fullagar said he was delighted to see so many people turn up to the meeting.

“We thought we might get half that number, but that just shows people are interested up in the hills,” he said.

“We work through questions like what’s important to people, what they love about living in the Dandenong and in the hills.”

A newly invigorated group has recently been established for Belgrave and Tecoma and they have plans to support a centenary for Tecoma this year as well as many other projects.

There are also existing township groups in the Hills region in Upwey, Kallista and Kalorama with other groups further afield in Montrose, Kilsyth, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Mt Evelyn and throughout the Yarra Valley.

In the meeting each group chose their area of focus which included emergency planning, festivals, events, advocacy, markets and more.

“What stood out for me were the passion and the energy in the meeting and following

from that I think there is some strong interest to take the next step which will be to generate little projects or interest groups,” Cr Fullagar said.

The group is an incorporated association with an elected committee empowered to make decisions and provide leadership in the area.

There were advocacies for this region to have better telecommunications, improved

response in natural disasters or support events that get people together in the strong community spirit.

Cr Fullagar said the people he meets are generous, thoughtful and community minded.

“Sassafras, Ferny Creek and Tremont are amazing communities filled with creativity, rich history, strong environmental principles and advocacy for a better future.”

Residents from Sassafras, Ferny Creek and Tremont held a meeting to generate community township group. Picture: UNSPLASH HANNAH BUSING

Council asks for community members to engage

By Dongyun Kwon YarraRangesCouncil(YRC)isaskingforcom-

munity members to share their thoughts, time and expertise to help develop the 20252029 Council Plan.

Councillors endorsed the commencement of the community engagement at the latest YRC meeting on Tuesday 26 March.

By the end of October, in the year following a council election, every council is required to develop a four-year strategy to work towards the community’s vision.

Mayor Sophie Todorov saidYRC is launching community engagement on which forms the council plans to help inform the council’s strategic direction for the next plan.

“We’re happy to listen to our community members,” she said.

“We want to hear from as much of the community as possible so that we can accurately capture the priorities and needs of everyone who lives and works in the Yarra Ranges municipality.”

Wendy Wright was the first community member who shared an opinion regarding this year’s community engagement.

Ms Wright said the nominations for the community engagement deliberative panel should be different this time to be more representative.

“I feel that the number of nominations received in the 2021 panel was very low and I think is extremely disappointing,” she said.

“I do question the value of and the cost of that whole process if we’re only going to get 183 people nominating for a panel because I don’t think you could expect to get representation from across all of the Yarra Ranges.

“I’m hoping that that will be very different to last time [and also] hoping that we’ll be

able to hear how many people nominate before decisions are made.”

In response to the question, Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton said despite the small number, the 2021 panel gave a lot of information about the key things that the council grappled with.

“[With the asset management plan] there were so many people who had never engaged with the council before and got different

feedback which was wonderful,” she said.

“I’m very hopeful that the next one will get that same level of engagement.”

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said she would put her best effort into getting more community members engaged with this year’s community engagement process.

“Hearing from our submitter [Wendy Wright] tonight again, it’s always such a reminder about making sure that we get a diverse, large and strident community voice to help us craft the right council plan is really critical,” she said.

“If we could get 10 per cent of the community to participate in this process, that’s about a thousand people out of 116,000 people, that really would be something to feel very proud of, so I’m putting that figure in my head and I’m going to work towards that.

“We’ve had greatly increased engagement and all of the democratic opportunities of the council and I’m hoping that translates into great voice, representation, challenge and curiosity throughout this process.”

Between March and May, Council staff will hold pop-ups across the region at events and popular locations, to gather a wide range of perspectives from locals and visitors.

The 10-year Asset and Finance Plans will also be developed by this engagement.

Plan responds to help plea

By Gabriella Vukman

A new‘StormWater Management Plan’ is in the works for theYarra Ranges Shire, and residents are waiting to discover whether this plan will be the solution to their flash-flooding problems.

Announced March 12 during Council minutes, the Yarra Ranges Council are working on a new‘StormWater Management Plan’ that has the aim of addressing the flooding that occurs throughout the shire. The Council has confirmed that they will be seeking community feedback later this year but residents and flood victims fear that they are not being heard and that this may be too late.

Kallista resident and advocate for the ‘Kallista Flood Watch Group’ Karen Kestigian said, “We have been fighting flash floods in Kallista for over a decade.”

“The volumes of water are huge and even though the flash flooding may only last 20 minutes, there is so much water that our homes get flooded and it is devastating.”

“I would like to know what the criteria and parameters are around the new ‘Stormwater Management Plan’ and if Kallista, not being a known flood-plain, is included,” Ms Kestigian said.

Ms Kestigian has been rallying for the maintenance of several roads in her area in order to prevent water damage and in 2022,‘The‘Roads for Recovery Funding strategy’ promised 300M to seal roads across Victoria, however in 2023, this funding was withdrawn.

“We don’t feel heard. The Council isn’t listening to us,” Ms Kestigian said.

The state government has acknowledged the need for water management on Monbulk road in Kallista and has committed to sealing parts of the road. Kallista residents fear that these works on Monbulk road will be to no avail so long as roads up and downstream remain as they are.

Ms Kestigian said, “We are advocating to theYarra Ranges Council to get Gleghorn road, Emberson road and Rivington avenue sealed and drained as part of their Stormwater Management Plan because the outcome on Monbulk road will be terrible because it will still be taking on volumes of water.”

“So far, the Yarra Ranges Council have told us that we are under consideration, but this is not something that can be glossed over. This needs to be included in the new plan,” Ms Kestigian said.

Federal Member for Casey, Aaron Violi said, “Unsealed roads and inadequate drainage infrastructure are causing devastating flooding in Kallista.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s decision to rip over $100 million from road sealing projects in the Yarra Ranges is absolutely devastating, especially for the Kallista township where residents are experiencing unnecessary damage to homes and businesses due to unsealed roads and inadequate drainage,” he said.

“Gleghorn Road, Emberson Road and Rivington Avenue are just three of 22 unsealed roads in Kallista that would have been sealed under the Roads for Communities program, funded by the former Liberal government,” he said.

Other residents of the Yarra Ranges Shire are also concerned about whether their flooding issues will be addressed.

Michelle from Lilydale Flood Watch group said, “We want to know if the Council’s new StormWater Management Plan deals with the effects of their recent housing plan proposal for Lilydale.”

“There have been massive issues with the drainage and flooding management of the current infrastructure in Lilydale but the Council has proposed 7,500 new homes before releasing a management plan.”

“There are five people on my street who are in wheelchairs and they cannot exit their home when it floods. The flood damage is devastating now but it will be worse with thousands of new homes. People have been trying for twenty plus years to get the Council to do something and they haven’t,” Michelle said.

TheYarra Ranges Council were contacted regarding the content and parameters of their new plan and were asked whether their housing proposal for Lilydale as well as flooding in areas that are not flood plains such as Kallista are included in the plan.

The Council issued the following statement and did not provide further comment.

“We are currently working on our Draft Stormwater Management Plan, which considers how stormwater impacts the different areas of Yarra Ranges, including the Dandenong Ranges, known floodplains and areas inundated by stormwater in recent years. The document will outline how Council will manage Stormwater and identify priority Actions for Council along with advocacy priorities for the State Government.”

Councillors endorsed the commencement of the community engagement at the latest YRC meeting on Tuesday 26 March. Picture:

Flooding on Gleghorn road. Picture: SUPPLIED

New school, new

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

A new community-based Monbulk campus was officially opened on Thursday 28 March for students from Prep to Year 12.

Cire Community School is a unique school that welcomes and acknowledges students from all backgrounds, especially recognising trauma-informed approaches – meaning acknowledging the general impact of trauma on students’ behaviour, learning and wellbeing.

Most students at the community school have experienced some sort of discrimination and stigma, the teachers and staff ensure all learning are incorporated in all aspects of policies, procedures, and practices and to ensure students have positive memories from their schooling years.

By having a trauma-informed practice, teachers and staff have a better understanding of how a student experience may impact their present learning and behaviour.

The school’s slogan is, ‘We embrace diversity and empower young minds,’ – further priding itself for creating a safe and welcoming space for all students to play, learn and grow.

Cire Monbulk Campus Principal Bradley Turner said there’s so much they can offer here, and they are so lucky to have this beautiful campus.

“A really exciting event to be part of today, we’re very proud of all of the work we do here with our young people and in supporting our community and to be able to officially recognise the opening,” Mr Turner said.

The principal said the school had a long waitlist with students in need of the sort of education Cire offers that they haven’t been able to find.

“By opening this campus and having a bigger space we are offering more young people to benefit from what we do,” he said.

“We’ve already had about 130 young people who are new to Cire Community School.

“As beautiful as this place is, the most exciting part about this campus is just the sheer number of young people we’re able to welcome in who can benefit from our learning model

and have a schooling environment where they feel safe and supported.”

The school’s curriculum is based on three levels, junior, middle, and senior years – with each student developing their own pathway plan that includes individual learning goals.

The Cire difference compared to other public, or community school is it has smaller class sizes, meaning more educators to student ratio simultaneously offering designated safe space for self-regulation.

State education minster Ben Carroll said this is an important school for young people that don’t necessarily fit in the mainstream model of education.

“I’m here to see firsthand and open up the Cire Community School Monbulk campus,”

Mr Carroll said.

“This is a school that has a real focus on wellbeing and tailored support, we’ve supported it as a government, and they continue to do wonderful work.”

“The facilities are excellent, the school leadership here is excellent, meeting the executive leadership, the principal - these are people that have a passion for education, they know how to make young people live a purposeful life.”

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino said everyone learns differently and students should receive the right help and support.

“It can’t be understated how important it is to cater for all students, no matter their background of past experiences,” she said.

“Education should never be one size fits all, as a former teacher, I understand that really well, and I’m delighted we have this in the electorate of Monbulk, to be able to cater for students around here who need this kind of differentiated approach.”

Mr Turner said he’s looking forward to welcoming the current and new students to the school.

“I’ve thought a lot about what’s my purpose in working at this school and what I feel we get to do each, and every day is recognise the individuality and humanity of our young people and extend them dignity in their education,” Mr Turner said.

Kobi (student) and Principal Brad Turner.

Daniela De Martino MP, Julian Carle Cire Board Chair ,Brad Turner – Cire Campus Principal Monbulk, Ben Carroll MP, Aaron Violi MP, Gus Seremetis Cire CEO and Cire Executive Manager of Education Peri Dix.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Monbulk Cire Campus Principal Brad Turner said his purpose in the school is to recognise the individuality and humanity of young people and extend them dignity in their education.

Trail bikers seek funding

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Olinda Bike Trail Committee has been pushing for more funding to get cyclists off the roads in the Dandenongs through a proposal for a bike trail from Lilydale Station right through to Olinda, while simultaneously attracting tourists in the area.

The trail started at Mount Evelyn at the corner of York Road and finished at Olinda Community Hub.

A group of 15 local cyclists got together on Tuesday 26 March to ride their bikes in the Dandenongs Ranges.

The Mayor Cr Sophie Todorov and Cr Andrew Fullagar met with the group at the starting point to show their support.

Committee chairperson Ron Thomas said they enjoyed having them and they are also encouraging the community to join their committee.

“We had a lovely discussion with the mayor and councillor about the plans for the future and hopefully getting some funding to get the feasibility study off the ground,” he said.

The committee has been calling for a feasibility study – costing an estimated $125,000 – to be funded by the council.

The funding would help assess the amount of infrastructure needed to bring the trail to the commonly recognised shared use trail standard, which is mostly 2.5 metres, according to the committee’s budget submission.

Mr Thomas said the great thing about this trail is that it’s almost on roads and trails that are hardly ever used.

The importance of this committee is not just to form a group of riders or attract tourists to the area, it’s much more – it’s about making it safer for the community, especially for kids.

Olinda Primary School Principal Cornelia Sheeran contacted the councillor to show their support to the committee.

The school is running a bike education program which includes road safety and bike maintenance.

“Our problem is that there are not enough safe places for the children to practice the skills they have learnt, at present, we can only ride on our oval and basketball court around in circles,” the principal said in an email to the council.

“This is due to the problem we have of the children not being safe on the narrow roads and foot paths around Olinda, we can take

them for a 6-minute ride through the bush at the back of the school, but this is not building their stamina up.”

The students were meant to join the committee for a ride but was cancelled due to the foggy weather.

Mr Thomas said there’s no dedicated bike path anywhere up here.

‘‘The tourists get everything, and the residents don’t, I want to live in a safe place with a trail that can be used by people with bicycles,

walking, people with dogs, people with prams, mobility scooters - everybody, but at the moment, it’s rough,” he said.

The committee has asked for $25,000 support from Bendigo Bank, this was later declined.

The group is passionate to make this resident-focused goal a reality, no matter how tedious the waiting gets.

“We will resubmit the year after, but it’d be another whole year,” Mr Thomas said.

Pilot of STEM program on track at Puffing Billy railway

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Belgrave’s popular Puffing Billy Railway in collaboration with St Columba’s College has started a pilot education program for female students in Year 11 studying VCE Systems Engineering.

On Friday 22 March, Puffing Billy Railway hosted 12 students from St Columba’s College to delve into the world of steam engineering with a hands-on experience.

The female students had a unique opportunity to explore the inner workings of steam locomotives and gain firsthand insight into how these marvels of engineering operate individually and as part of the larger steam engine system - from boilers to pistons and valves to wheels.

The subject is not only a first for St Columba’s College but also a pioneering initiative for Puffing Billy Railway, which will introduce its own curriculum-aligned systems engineering program in 2025.

But the learning did not stop there.

With their newfound knowledge and inspiration from their Puffing Billy experience, the students took on the challenge of designing and building their own mechanical systems.

From concept to creation, they applied their creativity, problem-solving skills, and engineering know-how to bring their ideas to life.

Puffing Billy Railway education coordinator Peta Howard said the program isn’t just about textbooks and lectures; it’s hands-on, real-world learning that prepares students for the challenges of tomorrow.

“The Systems Engineering pilot program presents a great opportunity for all students, but it’s fantastic to see such enthusiastic participation from female students,” Ms Howard said.

“By partnering with Puffing Billy Railway, students get a firsthand look at the inner workings of a heritage steam railway, which is both exciting and educational.”

“By 2025, all Victorian VCE students will have the chance to get in on the action, building a pathway to future careers in industries like heritage steam railways.”

The program is not merely about education but about breaking stereotypes and empowering young women to pursue their passions in STEM fields.

“The Systems Engineering program highlights the importance of practical skills and diverse perspectives in today’s workforce and empowers students to think outside the box

and tackle real-world problems with confidence,” Ms Howard said.

“We believe it has the potential to inspire your readers, shedding light on the innovative work happening in schools and encouraging a new generation of engineers and innovators.”

The St Columba’s College STEAM teacher Frank Rowland said they thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to view Puffing Billy from a different perspective.

“The students were so excited about seeing the engineering workshop with all the amaz-

ing machinery and parts that are created to keep Puffing Billy afloat,” Mr Rowland said.

“They particularly found Rob, the engineer, and his simple explanations of mechanical advantage to support the currentVCE systems engineering course.”

“The students thoroughly enjoyed this immersive experience and we are looking forward to returning back to Puffing Billy soon.”

The group was granted an exclusive access to Puffing Billy Railway’s locomotive workshops at Belgrave Station.

Help a world robotics dream

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Melbourne’s outer east robotic enthusiast, Jasper Van Eijk has been making waves in the world of robotics - proving age is just a number when it comes to pursuing one’s passion.

From a young age, Jasper displayed a keen interest in robotics and engineering, now he has a local team of robotics in Boronia and they are calling on the community for financial support to help them move to the next stage.

Jasper and his team have started a gofundme page but more is needed to reach their goal.

The 17-year-old home-schooled student has impressed everyone around him with his array of skills and experiences that are taking his journey from tinkering in his garage to competing in theWorld Robotics Championships in Houston have been a testament to his dedication and hard work.

With a thirst for knowledge and a drive to make a difference in the world of mechatronics, he has embarked on a journey of self-directed learning, pursuing university-level subjects through Open University while being registered as a home-schooling secondary student.

Jasper’s involvement with ICRobotics, a notfor-profit organisation dedicated to supporting kids passion in the STEM field has been instrumental in honing his skills and passion.

Since 2021, Jasper has been an active member of IC, where he has collaborated with the team in designing, building, and programming robots for the first Robotics Competition (FRC) – a challenging international program aimed at inspiring young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields.

“We’ve been invited go to schools and teach kids of various ages about different engineering activities, run workshops, and coding,” Jasper said.

“Our work has exposed so many kids to STEM and various engineering aspects…our goal is to try and spread them more into the community and hopefully we can run more STEM activities up in the hills.”

The team’s dedication and hard work paid

off when they came second in the Sydney first Robotics competition in March and securing a spot in theWorld Championships.

However, this achievement comes with a financial burden.

The team requires funds to send not only the team members, mentors, and a few parents but also to transport the robot and all equipment required to compete on the world stage.

Jasper’s mother, Dani Ford has been homeschooling his son ever since he started school.

She said the only reason she was able to get his son into this programme was because of her as a home-schooling mum.

“The research went for almost 18 months because I couldn’t find any local information in the hills,” she said.

“There are thousands of home schoolers up in the hills area that could benefit from the work-

shops that Jasper and his team are running.”

The small non-profit team have full robotics kits which they often donate to schools and students to try and help them run sessions or compete.

Jasper’s contributions to community projects such as ‘Camp Amazon’ and STEAM workshops with Westfield, in collaboration with his team at IC Robotics has shown his commitment to giving back and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Ms Ford has faith her son’s progress in the fields of robotics will inspire many in the community to pursue their passion.

“There’s at least two or three team members that are up in the hills that potentially could be running a full STEM programme for locals,” she said.

These initiatives are a testament to the team’s collaborative spirit and dedication to

promoting STEM education within the community. One of his team’s most notable achievements was the launching of a new regional FRC robotics competition in partnership with Blackburn College.

Not only did Jasper and his team compete in the competition, but they also mentored rookie teams, assisted with setup, and provided support throughout the event.

Jasper’s passion for robotics extends beyond competitions and community projects.

He has been actively involved in volunteer work through organisations like The Philanthropic Collective, where he has contributed significantly to initiatives such as the free food program and storm recovery efforts in the Dandenong Ranges.

With a diverse skill set that includes proficiency in Computer-aided design (CAD) software, hand and power tools, 3D printing, and more - Jasper has proven himself to be a versatile and invaluable asset to any team.

His strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication skills, and commitment to continuous learning make him a standout in the field of robotics.

AsJaspermergestothenextstepattheWorld Robotics Championships in Houston on 16 April, his friends, families and community support will be right behind him.

A local fundraiser has been launched to support Jasper and his team as they embark on this incredible journey, representing not only Sassafras but the spirit of innovation and determination that defines the community.

Jasper’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring engineers and young minds everywhere, proving that with passion, dedication, and hard work, anything is possible.

As he gears up to compete on the world stage, we wish Jasper the best of luck and look forward to seeing him continue to make his mark in the field of robotics.

For more information about Jasper’s journey or to contribute to the fundraiser, please contact 0428 265 086.

You can help Jasper reach his goal by donating on his gofundme page. Picture: SUPPLIED

The program is not just about education but about breaking stereotypes and empowering young women to pursue their passions in STEM fields. Pictures:

A pilot education program for female students in Year 11 studying VCE Systems Engineering.

The students applied their creativity, problemsolving skills, and engineering know-how to bring their ideas to life.

Vibrant retirement living

In the heart of Lilydale, where the lush Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, stands Lilydale Valley Views – not just a retirement village, but a thriving community where residents relish every moment of their golden years. For the past 15 years, we have meticulously crafted an environment that goes beyond providing accommodation; it’s a place where the essence of retirement living is fully embraced.

Our village boasts an array of accommodation options, from stunning homes with valley views to cosy terrace living.With 139 homes, including semi-attached 2/3 bedroom units, each designed to ensure a family-like atmosphere, we prioritise creating a space that fits the unique preferences of every resident. What sets Lilydale Valley Views apart is the commitment to offering a comprehensive retirement experience. Picture a heated indoor swimming pool and spa, providing residents with an oasis for relaxation and exercise. Imagine weekly Tai Chi and dancersize sessions, tailored to keep both the body and mind active and engaged. Our village bus takes the hassle out of shopping, offering a convenient door-to-door service, freeing residents from the need to drive and park.

One of the key pillars of our community is the vibrant social committee. This dedicated group organises a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, ensuring residents always have opportunities for connection and enjoyment. From outings to social events, our calendar is brimming with activities that cater to diverse interests, creating an enriching experience for everyone. Yet, the true magic lies in the residents themselves. A wonderful group of people with a wide range of interests, they form the beating heart of our community. The warmth and genuine sense of camaraderie that have flourished over the years are truly heartwarming. Newcomers quickly find themselves embraced by the community, invited to various

BreathtakingviewsawaitresidentsatLilydaleValleyViews.

activities and social occasions, allowing them to tailor their level of engagement. At Lilydale ValleyViews, we recognise the importance of social connections for overall health and wellbeing as we age. Our environment is curated to facilitate an active and connected lifestyle, fostering a sense of community that extends beyond the physical boundaries of the village.

Centrally located near essential amenities, including medical practitioners, supermarkets, and the train station – all within walking distance – Lilydale Valley Views provides a seam-

Pictures:SUPPLIED

less blend of convenience and tranquillity. The nearby Warburton Trail offers residents the opportunity for scenic walks or bike rides, while a thriving veggie/flower garden on-site adds to the communal spirit. As a testament to our commitment to excellence, we are proud to have built a retirement village that has evolved into a close-knit community. Lilydale Valley Views is not merely a place to live; it’s a place where people flourish, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and cherished moments.

In celebration of our journey and the joy of

Enjoysomequitetimewithabookfromthe extensivelibrarycollection.

Meetandminglewithfriendsinthecommunity centre.

vibrant retirement living, we invite you to explore Lilydale Valley Views. Come and witness firsthand the beauty of terrace living, stunning views, and the warm embrace of a community that defines the essence of retirement living.

For more information, contact Lilydale Valley Views at 471 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, email manager@lilydalevalleyviews.com.au, or call 03 9735 5944 to speak with Rosemary Seymour our manager. Our doors are open from 9am to 4.30pm, welcoming you to a new chapter of vibrant retirement living.

Live your best life on Hill

With a

of in-home

available, Aveo residents can continue living the independent lifestyles they love in their retirement community of choice.

Living well is knowing you have ready access to personalised and flexible support services on hand when you need them.

Aveo’s Oak Tree Hill Retirement Living community in the heart of Glen Waverley empowers residents to live life to the fullest surrounded by friendly and supportive neighbours.

The vibrant community is perfectly located surrounded by 15ha of well-established gardens and serene walking tracks. It is close to major retail facilities, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities including hospitals and neighbouring parklands, while the village’s shuttlebus takes residents to appointments and shopping adventures.

Oak Tree Hill’s residents enjoy independent living with communal facilities on their doorstep, and access to a range of personalised services including domestic support such as cleaning and heavy laundry.

As an approved provider of Commonwealth-funded Home Care Packages, the Aveo team at Oak Tree Hill can guide you and your family through the process of accessing the tailored support you need.

Home-care services can be covered through your government package or Aveo’s fee for service option.

With someone else to take care of the chores, residents have more time to do the things they love in the community’s busy social calendar. Communal facilities include a community centre for social events, library, salon, medical centre, games room and outdoor entertaining areas and a 24/7 emergency call system.

they never need to mow! Pets will be considered with prior approval. Oak Tree Hill is located at 37 View Mount Road, Glen Waverley,

with prices ranging from $265,000 to $550,000. To book a tour of the community, call Aveo on 13 28 36 or visit aveo.com.au.

Oak Tree Hill residents have the choice of low-maintenance fully equipped two-bedroom villas, all with private fenced backyards

Residents have plenty of community facilities and experiences at One Tree Hill.

Picture: SUPPLIED

SENIORS LIVING

The fourth is with Glades

For an unprecedented fourth year in succession, local residential aged care home Emerald Glades has won the Lifeview Home of the Year award.

The innovative home, positioned within the vibrant community of Emerald, was acknowledged for its resident satisfaction, clinical performance, lifestyle and hospitality programs, engagement with family and the local community.

Residential Manager at Emerald Glades Dmitriy Butrev was full of admiration for his team upon accepting the award surrounded by staff.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, my team, for the work you do every single day. This is the best team I have ever worked with in my entire aged care career,” he said.

“It is a special honour for this team to win this award again.”

Emerald Glades grabbed headlines locally and abroad recently for its innovative approach to ensuring resident wellness.

In January, 9News featured a beautiful story on Emerald Glades resident Gillian, 83, who decided she wanted to get her first tattoo.

As part of its unique Magic Moments program, Lifeview organised an appointment with local tattooist, Kamar-Taj Tattoo Temple in Emerald, then surprised Gillian with a visit to the tattooist where she got a hedgehog tattoo on her arm.

“One of my grandsons has got a tattoo, so I will go and see him and show him that grandma is just as good,” she said.

The Ranges Trader Star Mail last year reported on another Magic Moment when resident Heather and her family were lifted high into the sky next door to Emerald Glades in a cherry picker.

The experience, organised by Emerald Glades Social Support Coordinator Marc Zywaczewski, was to replicate Heather’s recollections of climbing those very trees as a child.

The local community rallied around the event, with a cherry picker company providing the equipment free of charge.

The Magic Moments program aims to surprise residents at all Lifeview homes with unique and personalised experiences.

“Aged care does not mean it’s the end of your life, it’s a chance to do things that you

have never been able to do,” Lifeview CEO Samantha Jewell said.

Lifeview is also proudly pet-friendly, with all four of its homes proudly among the 18 per cent of aged care homes in Australia that allow residents to move in with their pet.

Emerald Glades

Onsite Chef (freshly preparing all meals daily) Industry-leading lifestyle activities program (7-days-a-week, not 5!)

Pet-friendly (residents are encouraged to move in with their pet)

Magic Moments program (helping residents do things they have always wanted to do)

Full-time onsite Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists

Rainbow Tick accredited (safe, inclusive homes and workplace for people identifying as LGBTIQ+)

Flat-screen TV, Foxtel and Wi-Fi in each room

Hairdresser

Home2Home – small neighbourhood model

Onsite Registered Nurse 24/7

Alfresco entertaining areas

Specialist memory support via daily Engage Groups

Emerald Glades resident Annette and Residential Manager Dmitriy Butrev

The Emerald Glades team celebrates its fourth successive Lifeview Home of the Year title. Picture: SUPPLIED

$1.8m effort from the CFA

CFA volunteers were seen in trucks and at traffic lights across the state on Good Friday, raising money in their local communities for The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal.

Brigade members from across Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Montrose and Chirnside Park joined the ranks to rattle tins at major intersections.

In total the Dandenong Ranges Fire Brigade Group was able to raise $21,885.40, the Knox Group of Fire Brigades raised $28,713.50, Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park Fire Brigades $4,135.75 and Lilydale $6952.35 towards the collective $1,819,900.

Lilydale’s first lieutenant Ron Haines said it was “a fantastic effort” by the brigades and wanted to send “a big big thank you to all the people that gave so generously to the Appeal”.

CFA has been a major fundraiser of the Good Friday Appeal for the past 73 years, having now raised almost $39 million for The RCH since 1951.

The overall total for the Good Friday Appeal in 2024 was $23,368,724 – a record-breaking final tally.

CFA Group General Manager Kylee Bates presented the CFA cheque to The Royal Children’s Hospital alongside Caroline Springs Captain Anthony Jenkins and members Sammie Lowe and Lauchlan Wright.

CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan congratulated and thanked all participating brigades across Victoria for the amazing contribution they’ve all made to this year’s Good Friday Appeal.

“Our members give up their time to serve their communities in times of need and it’s no surprise that their selflessness extends to worthy causes such as supporting The Royal Children’s Hospital,” Mr Heffernan said.

“All members and their communities should be so proud of what they’ve achieved for this year’s Appeal, and we thank you for your time and generosity to help save the lives of our future.”

The money raised for The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal will be used to ensure kids are provided with the best possible treatment and care.

Emerald Rotary surprises seniors with a sweet visit

Members from Emerald and District Rotary Club surprised the residents at the Lifeview Emerald Glades on Wednesday 27 March by popping in to deliver individual bags of Easter eggs for them.

Community group member Tracey-Le Bannister volunteered to undertake the very taxing job of bagging the eggs – which no doubt needed a bit of testing.

Each year the Rotary Community team ensures the Glades residents receive a present from the Club at Christmas and Easter –it’s to help bring festive spirit and cheer to the elderly members of the Emerald community and let the residents know that they are not forgotten about.

Last Christmas Emerald Rotary assisted St Marks and St Lukes financially to have hams in their hampers for families struggling.

The community group tends to get its name out there for the general public to understand what they do on an ongoing basis.

Emerald Rotary is active when major issues occur endeavouring to support its emergency services.

With the recent storms on 13 February which badly impacted the local area, the

sup-

of food throughout their long shifts.

Some of Lilydale CFA’s finest were ready to head out to Anderson Street and Main Street.

Dino the Dinosaur was ready and waiting to head out on one of the Lilydale CFA’s truck.

Casey MP Aaron Violi joined the tin rattle ranks. Montrose CFA and township group members out collecting coins on Good Friday.

The Good Friday tin drop off after a big day’s effort from the CFA. Picture: MONTROSE CFA

The collection tins were held at base for the members to pick up.

It was all smiles as CFA members rattled their tins for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Picture: MONTROSE CFA

Dino was a big hit with the kids and the Lilydale CFA members. Picture: LILYDALE CFA Members were out at the intersection of Main Street and Anderson Street.

community group was able to donate funds to the SES to ensure all volunteers had a

ply

The excess food from the All-American Car Show held in Gembrook was also delivered directly to the volunteers site following the event.

Senior residents in Emerald had a visit from Rotary Club with some sweet goodies. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Emerald Rotary has been active when major issues occur.

Improving

QHealth – Lilydale Doctors, known for pro-

good quality affordable healthcare, has recently relocated its clinic to a new facility at

Main Street, Lilydale. This new location offers a more spacious and comfortable environment for everyone.

Dr Binay Kumar - principal GP said Lilydale Doctorswascommittedtosupportingthelocal community in maintaining better standards of health and wellbeing via a friendly, patient centric approach and personalised care. With almost 500 square metres of space available, the new clinic will become a local health hub with GPs, specialists and other allied health professionals working together to help patients manage chronic health conditions along with preventative health. By responding to the growing need for enhanced access to healthcare, we aim to better serve the community.

Lilydale Doctors is excited to announce the addition of few specialists to their team.

Dr Anuj Bohra is a specialist gastroenterologist and hepatologist who consults at the clinic every Thursday. His public appointment is at Eastern Health and he also does private work at Ringwood Private and Knox Private Hospitals. His areas of special interest include general gastroenterology (scopes) inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, fatty liver disease etc. He aims to see all referred patients locally within one-two weeks. For appointments, please contact the clinic on 9088 8177.

Dr Geoffrey Catton is a highly experienced GP and has a special interest in photo biomodulation therapy (PBM). Laser or photo biomodulation therapy is highly effective and accelerates healing and alleviates pain and inflammation. This can help get relief from arthritis, tendonitis, strains and sprains, hand and wrist conditions, back and neck pain,

wound healing and more.

We have a few mental health workers and psychologists in our team and are excited to also have a specialist psychiatrist join the team from April 2024.

Both clinics in Lilydale and Mount Evelyn offer a wide range of GP services. We have GPs who have specialist interest in skin cancer checks and skin cancer surgery. Along with this we also provide various cosmetic and laser treatments including laser hair removal.

From immunisations to children’s and

women’s health (including IUD insertions and pregnancy options with shared care), travel vaccines, iron infusions, and chronic health management, we strive to meet your healthcare needs comprehensively.

Supporting the GP team are practice nurse Kirsten Truskett in Lilydale and Sonia Hamilton at Mount Evelyn. Furthermore, our team of allied professionals on-site, including psychologists Stefany Klein, social worker Joanne Melville McGrath and Richard, physiotherapist Edward Mak, podiatrist JohnWoulfe, dieti-

cian Kyann Calvi, diabetes educator Sean Frost and chiropractor Michael Bloom. They are all committed to taking a proactive approach to preventative health.

By becoming a patient at their practices, you are taking a positive step forward in your health journey. The team’s support and the expertise of their doctors will undoubtedly benefit your overall well-being. For more information about services and bookings, visit lilydaledoctors.com.au or mtevelyndoctors. com.au

Dr Binay Kumar, Anna Haines (Pathology), Donna Henderson (Office Manager), Sue Wilson (Practice Manager), Dr Sadia Chowdhury, Kirsten Truskett (Practice Nurse) and Dr Sandeep Malhotra. 369500 Picture: ON FILE

The Hills are now open

By Gabriella Vukman

For the first time in its 20 year history, the Dandenong Ranges open studios will run for two weekends in a row.

Located within the Yarra Ranges Shire and ranging across 44 studios, studios will be open on April 13 and 14 as well as April 20 and 21.

Marketing manager for Burrinja Cultural Centre Bluzal Field, said “we’ve got a whole range of really interesting art this year.”

“We have artists and art of all types, from deconstructed old pianos, to classic-style painters.”

“I believe there is a tarot reader at one of our studios as well so it is a pretty amazing, eclectic mix of artists that work across 2D and 3D mediums,” Ms Field said.

The Open Studios are facilitated by the Burrinja Cultural Centre and Yarra Ranges Council and all are welcome with studios opening from 10am to 5pm on each weekend.

“We hold the Open Studios every year with the support of Yarra Ranges Council and it is a huge part of our program and an integral part of maintaining our connections to community and culture,” Ms Field said.

“It is an event that people come to year in and year out and we get over 8000 people come and visit every year so it brings a huge visitation to the region.”

“There are so many layers to the Open Studios that are just great for artists. There’s the networking, exposure to the public, the opportunity to meet other artists and showcase work in a different light and we have had many artists that use our Open Studios event as a springboard to exhibiting in other places.”

A bus is also available for visitors who do not wish to drive.

Avid art-goers can also visit a ‘Glimpse’, an exhibition of each of the Open Studios artists’ works at the Burrinja Cultural Centre.

“The idea behind the name ‘glimpse’ is that we are asking artists to have a glimpse into their lives, practice, thought processes and whatever is inspiring them at the moment.”

“Each of the artists that are participating in the Open Studios has created a work specifically for the ‘Glimpse’ exhibition which is on display at Burrinja until April 28,” Ms Field said.

The ‘Glimpse’ exhibition is also free entry and open to the public.

Ms Field said the open studios started 20 years ago when “Burrinja realised there were these incredible homes and this whole kind of hidden community that we wanted to allow people to have access to.”

“And it was also a way for artists pre-social media and pre- the internet to really showcase themselves in a really unique and unusual way

and give an insight that you wouldn’t get in any other way.”

“It is really about opening doors and letting people inside the experience of being an artist which is a truly unique one and also to give them access to the art themselves so the artist can tell their own stories.”

The application process for artists commences in the September period of each year.

Ms Field said, “Each artist needs to send in their applications which are photos of their work and their studio and then prior to sitting down with a panel, the open studios coordinator will go out and visit each of the studios just to ensure that they are meet-

“There is something special about the Dandenong Ranges and about the kind of art and culture that you experience when you go to the hills that is like no other.”

ing the requirements.”

“Studios need to fall within the shire of the Yarra Ranges Council region artists must be practising at the time of application.”

Studios have also been assessed to ensure that they are accessible to the general public.

Ms Field said, “our Open Studios is one of the most unique open studios programs that I have been a part of.”

“There is something special about the Dandenong Ranges and about the kind of art and culture that you experience when you go to the hills that is like no other.”

See the Burrinja Cultural Centre website for more details, www.burrinja.org.au

Decades of service to Yarra Ranges region’s museum

By Mikayla van Loon

While Lilydale is now known for its regional museum, it wasn’t always the case, only forming after a push from art lovers and historians to redevelop the town’s creative centre.

Decades ago, the community formed the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum Trust, in the hopes of establishing an archival base for the region’s history.

Two of its longest serving members, Wanda McPherson and Paulette Bisley decided late last year to step down from their long held positions of treasurer and chair.

In early March, the Trust formalised the process with a Letter Under Seal presentation, welcoming the Trust’s newest members Dino Conte as secretary and Angela Stainwell as treasurer, while Maria McCarthy has taken the helm.

Ms Bisley, prior to returning to the Yarra Valley, was a docent in both Singapore and Connecticut, which fuelled her interest in preserving history.

Hearing the chatter of improving the museum, Ms Bisley said it didn’t take much convincing before she joined the committee.

“The museum was small, the shire was using it as its headquarters but we wanted to create a bigger and better place where you could store archives,” she said.

“To quote Dot Hill, she always said ‘Lilydale doesn’t have a heart, it doesn’t have a centre’ and we thought the museum would be a good start in establishing that.”

Ms Bisley said for a number of years the committee worked on raising funds, hosting concerts and quilt shows, around the turn of the new millennium.

With Lady Pamela Vestey as patron of the museum and Guill De Pury supporting the

cause, the shire agreed to the redevelopment of the original 1890s Castella Street building.

But much of the negotiations, Ms Bisley said, surrounded the inclusion of a cafe in the design to continue towards that goal of a central hub.

“We insisted there should be room for a cafe, because it would be a regional museum, it would be the hub that the other community museums and historical societies would feed into the central hub,” she said.

“And I think we’re the first and only regional museum.”

With people from all backgrounds, from historians to musicians, immigrants and winemakers, to First Nations people, Ms Bisley said it was a “really interesting, integrated group” of people who came together to achieve the one goal.

“We wanted to have a place where we were up to international standards, where you could store things and have travelling exhibitions,” Ms Bisley said.

Crediting “the bones of the museum” to

Sue Thompson, who as part of the Lilydale Historical Society led the museum until 1989 before the shire took over, Ms Bisley said helped immensely in building the basis of the archives and the vision.

“It’s a culmination of community activism,” she said.

“To have it to make us think about our past, to me, was very fundamental because museum’s have been used in the past to mould the current generation and their background and their values.

“There’s often, in societies, no place to learn about your basic roots and that’s where I think a museum has its value - to go back and see what your roots were. The Yarra Ranges is a melting pot of people and that’s its beauty.”

Trust chair Ms McCarthy said to have had Ms Bisley and Ms McPherson dedicate 20 years each to the Trust was invaluable.

“Together, they contributed 40 years of volunteer service to the Board of the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum Trust,” she said.

“Both women took their roles seriously with pride, strength, integrity, and steered the board forward in supporting the museum with their acquisition requests.

“The role of the Trust is to ensure good governance over the funds collected and donated to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum and then to support the museum in acquisitions of regional importance.”

Ms McCarthy and Ms Bisley agreed that one of the highlights and notable achievements of the Trust was the ‘Oil Paint and Ochre’ exhibition and book.

“Our most memorable request was supporting the printing of the book, ‘Oil Paint and Ochre’.

“This book was a showcase of the exhibition of the same name, the amazing story of the relationship between William Barrak and the De Pury Family. This exhibition was truly an incredible event and was so successful it reached a national audience.”

Ms Bisley said the Trust allows the museum “the flexibility to purchase paintings in a hurry” if required but so too, it comes with the possibility of being outbid by collectors and much larger museums.

She was particularly disappointed with only being able to get a few letters some years ago in a Lady Pamela Vestey collection sale, which she regarded as “only one per cent of her collection”.

More recently, however, Ms McCarthy said the Trust has been successful in helping the museum acquire local Indigenous art works, the eel trap and Wilan Wilan.

Although time for her to step aside for new people to take the reins, Ms Bisley said she is “enormously proud of our museum”.

“It should continue to grow and be used,” she said

Maria McCarthy (Chair, YRRM Trust), Paulette Bisley (outgoing Chair), Wanda McPherson (outgoing Treasurer), Cr Tim Heenan. Picture: SUPPLIED

Facilitated by the Burinja Cultural Centre and Yarra Ranges Council, the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios are open to all.

Pictures: CATHY RONALDS

Call for wild dog drop-ins

By Callum Ludwig

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish has called for a community drop-in session with the region’s Wild Dog Controller to be held closer to home in the Yarra Ranges.

Speaking in Parliament, Ms McLeish said the Department of Agriculture was virtually ignoring the wild dog problem across theYarra Ranges, highlighting examples from Yellingbo, Hoddles Creek, and Dixons Creek.

“I have met with landowners across the Yarra Ranges about the impact wild dogs are having on their livelihoods,” she said.

“In Hoddles Creek there is one farmer who had several sheep severely attacked and requiring veterinary care. There have been sightings of packs of wild dogs coming on to private property that borders the forest.”

“Yarra Ranges residents are calling for Wild Dog Management plans and a local trapper to help them manage the wild dogs in the area.”

The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action and the Department of Agriculture confirmed that sessions with the intention of helping support communities to develop their approach to Wild Dog Management across the state.

A DEECA spokesperson said these sessions have been organised within each of the 15Wild Dog Management Zones.

“A session for the Gembrook, Noojee and Erica Wild Dog Management Zone was held in Willow Grove on 21 March 2024,” A DEECA spokesperson said.

“The face-to-face community drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for the community to discuss wild dog management with DEECA representatives,”

“They also allow the community to provide input on the Wild Dog Management Zone work plans for 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.”

Willow Grove is about an hour and 15 min-

ute drive from Hoddles Creek and an hour and 20 minutes from Yellingbo, while also being about an hour and 45 minutes from Dions Creek; known as the problem area for wild dogs in the Eildon electorate.

Having attended a drop-in session in Merrijig, Ms McLeish said said whilst it was a good opportunity for locals to discuss local action and management plans, she was disappointed that these drop-in sessions were only being held in the Hume and Gippsland regions.

“The wild dog problem is no longer contained to just these regions (Hume and Gippsland). The Minister responsible needs

to wake up to the reality that these voracious predators have migrated south and are endangering the lives of livestock and posing a significant threat to the safety and livelihoods of Yarra Ranges residents,” she said.

“Farmers need certainty that there will be no reduction to the wild dog control program and certainty that dog trapper staff will be available.”

Locals interested in helping shape the Wild Dog Management Zone work plans can do so online by visiting agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-animals/managing-wild-dogsin-victoria/wild-dog-control-planning.

Victoria is currently reviewing its wild dog management programs due to a conflict between the current policy and regulatory framework for wild dog management and dingo conservation, in the wake of studies in 2019 and 2021 from the University of New South Wales in Sydney finding that most wild canine species across the country are either pure dingoes or dingo-dominant hybrids (more than 50 per cent dingo genes).

Residents are obligated to report wild dog sightings to their localWild Dog Controller and can do so by contacting 136 186 or wild.dogs@ delwp.vic.gov.au

Community drop-in sessions on wild dog management have been held around the state, but none close to problem areas in Yarra Ranges.

Picture: ON FILE

Make mushroom for fungi

By Maria Millers

Any day now, with warm autumn weather and hopefully some seasonal rains on the way, you may start coming across mushrooms, suddenly appearing unannounced on your lawns and in gardens, and further afield on sides of country roads, in pine plantations, native forests and even in city parks.

Sylvia Plath in her poem Mushrooms describes their ability to quietly, imperceptibly and with stealth and determination push their way through damp earth and debris to being seen and noticed: Creeping from the soil’s darkness, ‘ephemeral and misunderstood’, pushing their way through until finally,’ our kind multiplies, We shall by morning, Inherit the earth, Our foot’s in the door’.

Here Sylvia Plath is using an extended metaphor with the mushrooms representing oppressed women who she sees as possessing the same qualities to push their way into being seen and noticed. Maybe it’s not just women she’s thinking about but all those who are ignored and oppressed.

Mushrooms are not plants, so cannot be classified as fruits or vegetables, they are fungi.

Some are totally safe and edible but there are some that need to be treated with caution and others avoided.

Ancient literature, myths and folklore frequently refer to sacred mushrooms that were revered, feared and even worshipped in earlier cultures. To the Egyptians mushrooms were the ‘food of the gods’ and eating them would lead to longevity, even immortality.

The Mayans and Aztecs all consumed hallucinogenic mushrooms.

In Shakespeare’s time, fungi were viewed with suspicion.

This then is the time of the year when you can often spot groups of people foraging in parks or on the sides of roads. Mostly they are from ethnic backgrounds where mushroom foraging has been part of their culture for a very long time. It has seen them through hard times of wars and famine when little other food was available.

And the tradition has lasted.

In Slav countries like Russia and in Scandinavia the tradition persists as a favourite outdoor pastime and has become an almost meditative experience of communing with nature and at the same time receiving freely its bounty.

WOORILLA WORDS

The cuisines of these countries reflect this. Russian cuisine abounds with mushroom recipes: drying, pickling, pies, dumplings, soups beef stroganoff.

In Australia there are about 5000 species of fungi some of which Indigenous Australians have long eaten, but out of the ten wild edible fungi most have been introduced, mostly brought in unintentionally with plants such as pine trees.

The easiest edible species for novices to master in Australia: Saffron Milkcap, Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus), and Weeping Bolete (S. granulatus) grow predominantly with the roots of Pinus radiata, so foraging around pine plantations is fairly common.

But some mushrooms in Australia are poisonous or deadly, and a lot of them closely resemble some of the edible ones so getting familiar with which mushrooms are safe to eat and which are not is essential.

For example: the frequently foraged field mushroom (Agaricus campestris) bears a striking resemblance to some look alike that is not edible.

The most lethal of them all – the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) was accidentally introduced to Australia from the Northern Hemisphere and is responsible for most fatalities from mushroom ingestion in Australia and worldwide.

Then there is the Fly Agaric straight out of a fairy story book, best captured by Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland and known for its hallucigenic properties.

Today for many people the thought of foraging for mushrooms is still filled with foreboding.

In Australia, supermarkets and greengrocers are the most likely place we head to.

And the recent case of the alleged poisoning by Leongatha mother, Erin Patterson, of

her in - laws has unnerved people in eating mushrooms whose source has not been certified.

Nevertheless mushrooms and foraging are growing in popularity in Australia.

Perhaps the influence of the many other cultures present or the recognition of their nutritional value: as mushrooms contain protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and are a good source of dietary fibre.

These all have various health benefits.

For vegans in search of that umami taste, present in meat products, mushrooms provide a substitute.

For those wanting to take up this pastime of foraging for wild mushrooms there are some steps to first take.

Know your mushrooms: familiarize yourself with the edible and toxic mushroom species that are commonly found in the regions where you plan to forage. There are many guidebooks, online resources, and local mycological societies that can help you with identification.

Make sure you are not trespassing and come equipped with a knife to cleanly cut the stem.

In his poem The Mushroom Man, Kevin Brophy takes us back to a time when we trusted someone selling us foraged produce. It used to be quite common on a Sunday drive to stop at a farm stall or see someone like the man in the poem.

He had come out of the forest with cartloads of mushrooms to sell to buy food and new clothing for his children and some wine for himself.

There are no questions about safety.

There is trust in this man’s knowledge about mushrooms.

Today, would you trust someone like the man in the poem enough to buy his produce?

In the poem there are vivid descriptions of the harvested mushrooms, ‘some a dark spilled-blood colour/ their stumps like goitered necks’.

For the man these yellow wood dwellers will put food on the table for his children.

It seems that this may not be an Australian setting as the final lines of the poem suggest that the forest where he has picked the mushrooms holds ‘memories of the last great war’ fought tree by tree through their forest’ but the mushrooms’ those old bent warriors, will always march out’.

Perhaps, this year with the cost of living biting, many more of us will think of foraging for mushrooms, but armed with knowledge and exercising caution.

Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers, CSIRO Publishing “Wild mushrooming: a guide for foragers” by Alison Pouliot and Tom May

MUSHROOM MAN by Kevin Brophy in from the forest with cartloads of mushrooms, some a dark spilled-blood colour, their stumps like goitred necks, soil still peppered at their ends, has the piled wild things around him displayed to make the money that will buy the milk, potatoes, wine, and maybe new clothes for his children —money that keeps him going out for the mushrooms that creep across the shivering toes of old trees that reach and reach for sunlight.

Standing beside those heaps he takes handfuls of coins from anyone in exchange for these yellowy wood-dwellers twisted and pulled out of their night-lives, tossed here still heart-wild on promises to fill our dark mouths with their strange flesh.

The mushroom man’s happy at home, I guess, his children crawling over him, hands warm on them, knowing the mushrooms, those old bent warriors, will always march out at dawn to bang one another on the shoulders and murmur together memories of the last great war fought tree by tree through their forest.

Kevin Brophy is the Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at Melbourne University, author of poetry, fiction and essays

A toast to Marlene, representing Ranges community

By Gabriella Vukman

With the finals coming up in May, Marlene Sinclair will be representing the Yarra Ranges in public speaking at the District 73 toastmasters Conference 2024.

Competing in the humorous and the impromptu categories, and in the 73rd division, Ms Sinclair will be travelling to the Port Melbourne Town Hall to compete in May.

Nurse, Mother and avid public speaker Marline Sinclair said, “I’ve been a Toastmaster for 32 years.”

“I am so thrilled to represent the Ranges community. This club is amazing and the community is amazing.”

“In preparation for May, I am making sure that my speech is up and running and be as well read as possible for the impromptu speech because you never know what topic you are going to get. It could be anything,” Ms Sinclair said.

The Toastmasters district 73 includes Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania and the finals have eight contestants in each contest of which Ms Sinclair is one.

“My two favourite topics are the impromptu, where they give you a topic on the spot and you have to speak to that one, and humour, so I won those at the regionals,” Ms Sinclair said.

“If you win at your club you go into the area competition and if you win at the area, you go into the division and if you win there you go into the district final.”

“We’ve just had the semi final and I won

in the humour and impromptu sections,” Ms Sinclair said.

Learning public speaking has been a journey for Marlene.

“It has been absolutely amazing.”

Marlene said, “I was running a hospital in

“When I first started, it took me ages to get

I was terrified for

my first speech. I was shaking, I didn’t look at anybody, and it was absolutely terrible.”

‘By the third speech I was starting to really get into it and now I coach and I run a lot of MC things for Rotary as well,” Marlene said.

Sunshine and sometimes I would introduce international specialists to the doctors in the community on the stage and I’d go red and I thought ‘there is a way that I can be doing this better.”

up and speak off the cuff.

Marlene Sinclair will be representing the Ranges in May at the Toastmasters District 73 Conference.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Time to tell the telcos

In times of crisis, such as catastrophic weather events, the importance of reliable telecommunication services cannot be overstated.

It can be a matter of life or death. The storms of June and October 2021 highlighted the vulnerability of our mobile telecommunications network.

Inquiries and community consultations were held and commitments were made by Telstra to improve battery backup reserves.

The February Storms in the Dandenong Ranges have highlighted that these improvements have not taken place in our area and exposed, once again, significant vulnerabilities in our telecommunications infrastructure.

We have repeatedly found ourselves isolated during storm events.

Mobile towers, crucial for communication, have been rendered useless as power lines are torn down.

This leaves us disconnected and vulnerable, amplifying the already existing issue of black spots in the region.

The state affairs

OurVictorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gabrielle Williams, is advocating for improved Telco performance for consumers.

lives over profits.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Starring Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens and Kaylee Hottle

Rated M

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the most well-rounded and resoundingly entertaining entry in Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse.

The giant monsters Godzilla and Kong must team up to defeat a world-ending threat from the depths of Hollow Earth.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is replete with thrilling, brutal, globe-trotting monster action, and it’s well-paced and structured. Godzilla, Kong and the demented villain Skar King are the giant engines propelling the plot forward, which deftly weaves together Kong’s search for the rest of his kind, the island girl Jia’s (Kaylee Hottle, returning from Godzilla vs Kong) psychic visions and need to find her place in the world, and Godzilla’s exponentially-growing power in a brisk 115 minutes.

Once again, Kong is a noble, fearsome yet vulnerable figure (and effectively the

Daniela De Martino MP Member for Monbulk

Telecommunications providers need to do better.

At the same time Telstra boasted a one billion-dollar profit, residents in our community were left stranded without any means of communication.

As your local representative, I’m going to #TellTheTelcos to #PowerTheTowers.

Pure silly monster fun

To describe Emma Ling Sidnam’s Backwaters as the journey of a fourth-generation Chinese New Zealander to discover her identity is to underestimate the book’s rich complexity.

To praise it as a story that will attract readers of this or that author with Asian ancestry is to narrow its scope, limiting its universal appeal andreducingitsvaluetoapieceof“ethnicwork”. Like the first-person protagonist Laura, we have all asked ourselves the question: “Where are we from?” But, unlike Laura, only some of us have been asked the question: “Where are you really from?” If this question gets thrust upon you simply because of how you look, even though you were born and have lived here all your life – it really makes you wonder about your existence. Unless you can find the answer that satisfies your heart and soul, you will never rest. For identity is much more than how others identify you – it is also how you define yourself.

In Backwaters, Laura embarks on a journey to find an answer that will give her peace. Her sense of being neither here nor there –that she is not enough to own and belong to either space – prompts her to explore the nature and significance of her heritage.

“I just want to fit in,” Laura admits. “And be accepted as a New Zealander and not asked where are you from? everywhere I went.”

Yet, even a DNA test cannot give her a definite answer, because any specific label, like “Chinese” or “New Zealander”, is ambivalent and open to a myriad of interpretations.

“It tells me naught about who I am as a person, except that I am a mix of things and my history is ambiguous, and I already know that.”

While working on a project about the Chi-

From a State Government perspective we are doing what we can, but Telecommunications is ultimately a federally-regulated commercial industry.

protagonist), and he forms a touching bond with a child of his species. It’s become a dorky cliche – though still true – to say that the American Godzilla movies have bad human characters, butThe New Empire is a big exception. Most of the human characters don’t have much of a constructive role in the plot, but are still likeable and fun to follow, and Dan Stevens is extremely entertaining as Trapper, a plucky monster vet.

SkarKingisaterrifyingnewvillain,buthis trapped minion Shimo is underdeveloped, and The New Empire also has some clunky exposition and murky world-building.

of A novel about self-discovery

PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN OPINION

nese New Zealander experience, Laura comes across a diary supposedly written by her greatgreat-grandfather, Ken, one of the earliest Chinese settlers in Aotearoa who worked as a market gardener during the gold rush days.

The more she gets to know about the sojourner – the man who felt like a foreigner in his home country and then built a home of his own in a foreign land – the better she understands that life is what you choose it to be, a self-made and self-sustained mixture of disappearance and discovery, fulfilling and forgetting, fact and fiction, memory and reality, and giving and forgiving. In Laura’s words: “All the stories that got me here... they play back in my head like a spedup film. These stories might be the backdrop to my life, but they don’t determine who I become next.”

Instead of internalising what others see in her and then defining herself accordingly, she recognises the need to see herself as who she wants to be. Winner of the 2022 Michael Gifkins Prize, Backwaters is all about the bittersweet search for belonging.

The Victorian Government has also implemented the $500 million Connecting Victoria program to bolster telecommunications infrastructure statewide.

In 2022, numerous telecommunications projects were announced for the Dandenong Ranges under the ConnectingVictoria program.

These initiatives aim to enhance mobile and broadband connectivity, including NBN broadband upgrades in Monbulk and the installation of new mobile towers in various townships.

However, while government intervention is crucial, Victorian taxpayers can’t continue to plug the holes where others won’t step up.

Ensuring telecommunications resilience is the responsibility of telecommunications companies.

As your State Member of Parliament, I can’t compel the Telcos to lift their game but I can certainly make some noise.

These companies must prioritise people’s

They have an obligation to invest in robust infrastructure capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions and providing uninterrupted services to communities in need.

Telecommunications is an essential, indeed critical, service and it’s time they started acting like it.

As a local representative, I’m telling Telstra, Optus,Vodafone and TPG that it’s time to come to the table and win back our trust. Residents of the Dandenong Ranges, and indeed all Australians, deserve nothing less.

I invite you to sign the petition on my website at https://www.danielademartino.com.au/ tell-the-telcos/

You are also welcome to share your thoughts on this matter by reaching out to me at daniela. demartino@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Together, let’s ensure that telecommunications can be a reliable lifeline for our communities when disaster strikes.

Burrinja Theatre

Umbilical Brothers - The Distraction

Winner Best Comedy at the Adelaide Fringe Festival

You should get out more Kemp’s curtain call CARTOON

Do you love staring at screens? Are you staring at a screen right now? You should get out more. Specifically to a show that has an enormous screen smack-bang in the middle of it. The Umbilicals take the energy of live performance and the spectacle of cinema and smashes them together and a new show performed simultaneously on stage and on the big screen. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen and nothing they’ve ever done, and it will blow your mind way more literally than you are expecting.The distraction enabling your screen addiction.

Season: Friday 19 April at 8pm.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

Australia’s premiere comedy roadshow is coming Upwey’s way!

Australia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off on its 20th annual road trip around the country. Showcasing the finest talents from the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we’re delivering a case of laughter right on your doorstep. Get ready for a well-deserved blast of comedy when the Roadshow fits the Burrinja stage.

Season: Friday 26 April at 7.30pm.

Gemco presents, Millie’s War Based on historical events, Millie’s War is set in the 1980s when a number of women at-

tempted to join official Anzac Day marches across Canberra to commemorate women raped in war. When the sleepy local branch of the local RSL meet with the women in order to dissuade them from upsetting their sacred parade of remembrance, the crotchety president of the RSL Club is appalled to find his own granddaughter is one of the feminists attempting to spoil their day Tempers soon reach boiling point as each side argues the case for the importance of commemorating victims of war. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from the 12 to 28 April.

Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Sunday at 2pm.

REMEMBER:

· The 1812 Theatre The Fire Raisers. Season: April 4 – 27.

· CPP Community Theatre Little Women Season: April 5 – 13.

· Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre. Still Alice. April 18 – 26.

· The Basin theatre Berlin Season: April 18 – 28.

PUZZLES

ACROSS

1 Creates (6)

4 Not wanted (8)

9 Traditional English sponge cake (7)

11 Mournful (7)

12 Knick-knacks and souvenirs (11)

13 Exclamation of surprise (3)

14 Arduous (8)

16 Union territory of the Republic of India (5)

19 Relating to a sovereign (5)

20 Influenza strain (5,3)

22 Phone program (abbr) (3)

24 Reciprocal (11)

26 Annoying (7)

27 Deviate (7)

29 Accurate shooters (7)

30 Stylish (6)

DOWN

1 Cadge (3)

2 Something signed by a parent, – form (9)

3 Less wet (5)

5 Bug (coll) (6)

6 Girls’ name (9)

7 Fastening (5)

8 Senile decay (11)

10 Collections of songs or photos (6)

12 Prioritising material possessions (11)

15 Type of rocks containing silica (9)

17 Exaggerated self importance (9)

18 Climb (6)

21 In ancient architecture, a horizontal design (6)

23 Metal rod for stirring a fire (5)

25 Celestial being (5)

28 Utter (3)

3 LETTERS

9-LETTER

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

19

No. 179

No. 179

No. 179

MAGICALLY MODERN IN A PRIME LOCATION

DANDENONG Ranges Community Finance

Limited bids a fond farewell to its esteemed colleague, Lorraine Coward, marking the end of an era as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement. Lorraine, the last original staff member, has been an integral part of the company’s journey since October 1998, when she commenced her dedicated service at the Upwey branch.

Throughout her remarkable career spanning over two decades, Lorraine has been a steadfast presence at Community Bank Upwey and Belgrave branches, providing unwavering support and exceptional service to customers. Her commitment to excellence was duly recognised last October during the Company’s 25th Birthday Milestone celebration, where she was honoured for her invaluable contributions.

“Lorraine has been a pillar of our organisation for over 25 years, offering her wealth of knowledge and expertise to assist customers with their banking needs,” remarked Ms. Weber, Company Chair. “Her

dedication and exemplary service have left an indelible mark on our community, and we are immensely grateful for her tireless efforts.”

As the company evolved over the years, expanding from its humble beginnings with the opening of the Upwey branch in 1998 to include Cockatoo and Belgrave branches in September 2005, Lorraine remained a constant presence, forming deep connections with customers and colleagues alike.

While Lorraine will undoubtedly miss the daily interactions with customers, she eagerly anticipates the next chapter of her life, filled with opportunities to pursue her passions, including travel and gardening.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lorraine for her years of dedicated service and wish her a retirement filled with joy, relaxation, and new adventures,” added Ms. Weber. “Her impact on our organisation and the community at large will be remembered fondly, and she leaves behind a legacy of professionalism and excellence.” ●

Mike Fleming and Lorraine Coward at the 15th Birthday celebrations.

Lorraine (far left) at the opening of Upwey Branch in 1998 along with fellow staff members Tracey, Charmaine and original manager, Mike Fleming.

Past Chair Peter Marke with Lorraine at the 25th Birthday celebrations.

EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY

THIS stunning property combines the highly sought-after qualities discerning buyers seek: an attractive facade, contemporary architectural design, a spacious half-acre lot (approx), and convenient proximity to Emerald Village.

Comprising four generously sized bedrooms, two of which feature en-suite facilities.

The primary Master suite occupies an elevated position upstairs, accompanied by a neighboring parents’ retreat or home office boasting abundant natural light and a balcony offering vistas of Western Port Bay & Cardinia Dam.

Positioned downstairs, the second bedroom with en-suite is tactfully separated from the other bedrooms, offering flexibility for guests, teenagers, or extended family members.

The open-plan family, dining, and kitchen areas are bathed in natural light courtesy of expansive windows facilitating a sunlit ambiance throughout the day.

The interior showcases exquisite bespoke elements, including a timber staircase and a well-appointed kitchen with glass splashbacks, stainless steel appliances, and a spacious walk-in pantry.

Noteworthy features encompass polished timber floors, a gas log fire, and split-system heating/cooling. Outdoors, the paved entertainment area, complete with a fish pond and pizza oven, beckons for al fresco gatherings, while the fully fenced backyard provides ample space for children to play, complemented by a vegetable patch and garden shed.

Additionally, a separate studio and a double lock-up garage contribute to the property’s allure. ●

12

4

162

3

22

GAYLE

both

a

This home is a must to see.

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

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

45MeadowleaCrescent,Pakenham$750,000 -$820,000

LargeandStylishFamilyHomewiththePerfectFloorPlan!

Thishomeofferszonedlivingwith4 bedrooms, 2bathrooms, 3livingareas,a separatediningroom, anoutdoorentertainingdeck,& afirepit.Thereisa tidyfrontgarden& DLUGwithremotedoor, whichprovidesinternalaccessintothecentralhallway.Thefrontwingcontains3 goodsized,robed bedrooms, afamilybathroomwith ashower& separatebath,&alargelivingroom/chilloutspace forthekids.Thehomethenflowsthroughtothewell-appointedopenplankitchenwithwalkinpantry &stonebenchtops,thatspreadsouttothediningroom &secondloungeroom.Therearofthehome offers a3rdlivingarea, &themasterbedroomhasa walkinensuite& WIR.Externallythebackyardis fullyfenced &hasanundercoverentertainingarea &a sunnyreardecktooverlooktheflatgrassed area &theviewsoverthevalleyfromtherearyard.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

6LeightonAvenue,Emerald$680,000 -$740,000

FantasticHomeintheHeartofEmerald!

Thislovinglyupdatedhomefeatures 3bedrooms,andtwobathrooms.Locatedwithina shortstroll ofEmerald,andwitha fantasticviewofCardiniaLakeattheendofyourstreet,thisoneis amustto inspect!Theestablishedfrontgardeninvitesyouintothehome.Tothefrontofthehomeis amaster bedroomwith awalkinwardrobeandensuite.Thendiscoverthefrontloungeroomwithsplitsystem AC,ceilingfan,andwoodfireforcosynightsin.Thekitchenislightandbrightandopenplanwiththe diningarea.Thekitchenhasplentyofcupboardspaceandanelectricovenwith agasstovetop. Thehomethenflowsthroughto asecondseatingareawithviewsofthebackyard.Therearetwo furtherbedrooms,bothwithbuiltinwardrobesthatsharetherenovatedfamilybathroom.Externally thereisplentyofoffstreetparking,anda singlecarport,aswellas agreatcraft/gymroom.

AaronDay M 0407365994

BrennanMileto M 0422996451

9SeaviewStreet,Emerald $1,100,000 -$1,200,000

NestledinEmeraldisthisDelightful &SpaciousHomeonapprox.3.5acres! Thishomeis adelightwithit’scirculardriveway &grandlobbywith abifurcatedstaircase.This homehasa formaldiningroom,& expansivekitchenwithnaturalgraniteisland &semi-integrated dishwasher,1200mmDoubleFalconOven&awalkinpantry.Thereisa bedroomnearthefrontof thehomewitha WIR& BIR.Thereisalsoa familybathroomwith acornerspabath& shower.On thisflooris acosyloungeroom,witha woodfire &a splitsystemACenjoyingviewsouttothewrap aroundverandah.Downstairsisa kidsrumpusroom &storagearea.Upstairsare 3largebedrooms(2 withBIRs).Themasterbedroomhasa WIR& ensuite.Thishomehasductedheating,a semi-fenced paddock,a gardenshed,establishedgardens,andlovelynaturalbushareaincluding aseasonal creek!

BethanySullivan M 0438844968 4 A

44DevonAvenue,Cockatoo

$1,050,000 -$1,150,000

Lovely 4BedroomHome,ClosetoCockatoowithGreatAmericanBarn! Beautifullymaintained 4bedroom,2 bathroomhome.Thehomehasductedheating &ispositioned tothefrontofthisflatparklikefullyfencedblockwithclearedlawnsamongstestablishedtrees. Featuring:leadlightfeaturefrontdoor,splitlevelliving, 2bedroomswithBIR,Mastersuitewithensuite, WIR& ceilingfan,familybathroomwith adualvanity,shower &bath, &a 4thbedroom/studywith ceilingfan.Thereis agranddiningroomthatisopenplanwiththekitchen& hasviewsouttothe expansivedeck.Thereisa secondlargeloungeroomwith acosywoodfire &splitsystemAC.The deckisgorgeous&floodedwithsunlight.TotherearoftheblockisaninsulatedAmericanbarn, with 1bayrollerdoor,a pedestriandoor,concretefloor,power,lights &a mezzanine.Thereisalsoa handytapnexttothebarn,assortedfruittrees,a shedwithpower, &6 solarpanelswiththehome.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032 4 A 2

BOASTING character, space and an excellent location, this charming and extremely well-maintained home boasts everything you could want in your next family property.

A picture perfect, wrap around verandah runs the length of the home and when you step up to the front door, you will be greeted with stunning hardwood floorboards on arrival.

Spacious and filled with an abundance of natural light, the home has been well designed to allow for separate living zones making it ideal for families with children of all ages wanting their own space and privacy.

There are four beautiful bedrooms; the oversized master with full ensuite, walk in robe plus direct access to the verandah and another bedroom, possible a second master suite containing a large walk-in robe plus access to a two-way bathroom.

Perfectly detailed, the kitchen is highlighted by timber benchtops, pressed metal splashback and under bench ceramic sink, giving a Frech farmhouse feel and along with an 800mm upright oven and dishwasher, makes it perfect for the chef in the family.

The main family room is the perfect place to relax of an evening, with a central open fireplace and views to the garden, whilst the open plan lounge/dining area is the perfect space for family dinners, T.V and great conversation. It also gives access to the large decking at the rear that is ideal for barbecues and outdoor living at its finest. Classic features such as sash timber windows and stunning timber doors, combine beautifully with the decor, showing what a perfect time capsule this really is and features like gas ducted heating and evaporative cooling make for convenient, easy living.

A separate studio with kitchenette will be the ideal home office or teenagers retreat and is the perfect added extra to this already amazing property. Within walking distance to Belgrave South shopping village, primary school, Belgrave Heights Christian School and local bus stop, this property offers something for everyone. ●

4-6

Withplentyofspaceandstyle,picturesqueparklandsurrounds,andfinishesdesigned fordiscerninghomeowners,thisidyllic2,350sqm(approx.)property readslikethepages of alifestylemagazine.Primedfornewownerstomovestraightin,thisisanincredible opportunitylivesomewherespecial.

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

FORSALE

131OldBelgraveRoad,UPWEY

$800,000 -$870,000 LOVELY CEDARHOMEONLARGEBLOCK, 4 A 1 B 2 C

With respectabletenantscurrentlyoccupyingthislovelypropertyuntiltheendofMarch 2025a greatopportunitytobecome alandlordawaits.Thislovely4-bedroomcedar homesitsona beautiful1,103sqmapproxblock,with abrightandairyopen-plankitchen, livinganddiningarea,andfourlargebedrooms.Currentlytenanted,thisisanexcellent opportunityforinvestorswhowantsecure tenantsand/orforthosewhowanttoinvestnow with aviewtomakingthistheirfuturehome.

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen

M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

1ABlackHillRoad,MENZIESCREEK $1,100,000 -$1,200,000 20ACRES -APEACEFUL,PRIVATE &PICTUREPERFECTLIFESTYLE

Privatelypositionedon20gloriousacresandboasting abeautifulmixofgentlyforested areasandcleared,useableland,thisqualitypropertyisreadyandwaitingforitsnext ownerstobuild(STCA)andenjoythepeacefullifestylethatawaits.Withtworoadfrontages (SchoolRoadandBlackHillRoad)andconvenientaccesstoboth WellingtonRoadand BurwoodHighway,thelocationofthispropertyissecondtonone.

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

97546888

TWODELIGHTFULDWELLINGSONMANICUREDGARDENS 7 A 3 B 2 C

Ifyouhavehighhopesfora fabulousHillslifestyle,thispropertypromisestosurpass expectations.Comprisinganimpeccable5-bedroomplusstudyfamily residenceanda charming2-bedroombungalowseton amagnificentlymanicured3,231sqm(approx.) allotment,thispropertyoffersalifestylesecond-to-none.

SuzieBrannelly

M 0490506910| E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

1689BurwoodHighway,BelgraveVIC3160

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

The Monbulk Stormwater Harvesting project is a priority for the Yarra Integrated Water Management (IWM) Forum, which is one of the five IWM Forums in Metropolitan Melbourne established through theVictorian Government’s IWM Program.

TheVictorian Government funded the project through the IWM Program.

This system captures, treats, and uses stormwater from a Council drain in McAli-

ster Rd, next to Monbulk Recreation Reserve, draining a 17-hectare catchment including Mt Pleasant Rd, Moores Rd, Main Rd, and David Hill Road in Monbulk.

The harvested stormwater is stored in underground tanks next to the sports field.

This is used to irrigate the field and will allow community groups in Monbulk to enjoy a well-watered sports reserve, while contributing to waterway health and the security of our drinking water supply into the future.

Melbourne Water Incentives Coordinator for Waterways & Catchment Services North West, Micah Pendergast said it’s a great project

for the community and our drinking water.

“This is a great step forward for the Monbulk community, making use of alternative water sources – like recycled water and stormwater – reduces pressure on our drinking water supplies while improving the liveability of our communities,” she said.

This investment will harvest approximately 4 million litres of stormwater per year, reducing our reliance on our precious drinking water supplies, and reduce stormwater pollution to Emerald Creek, Woori Yallock Creek, the Yarra River, and Port Phillip Bay.

In addition, it will protect water quality in

Emerald Creek, supporting the breeding platypus population.

Stormwater harvesting involves collecting, treating, storing and using stormwater runoff from urban areas.

It differs from rainwater harvesting as it includes the water runoff from roads, carparks and driveways, rather than just the cleaner rainwater runoff from roofs.

The harvesting pumps were commissioned on 20 September 2023 and the system is now operational.

Members from Melbourne Water, Yarra Ranges Council and the Victorian Government at the opening of stormwater harvesting system at Monbulk Recreation Reserve.

The harvested stormwater is stored in underground tanks next to the sports field.

Triathlete never gives up

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Often it can be difficult to find activities, social groups, and sports for young people with disabilities, but Bradley McMeeken has stunned everyone with a reminder that anything can be achieve with determination and hard work.

Prior to finding his way to competing in triathlons, Bradley was struggling to lift his arm above his head.

Today, he is holding 78 medals – with his national gold medal being the top of his list and a great leader to his school.

Bradley is in Year 10 at Yarra Ranges Special Development School, and he was recently voted as the school captain.

“The school is giving him a lot of leadership opportunity including reading the welcome to country as well as helping to run the canteen for the teachers,” Bradley’s father, Jayce McMeeken said.

Bradley was born with a learning disability but was diagnosed with a rare form of cerebral palsy at age 10 by a doctor.

Typically, cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage in the first few months or years of life, or problems with blood flow to the brain due to stroke, blood clotting problems, abnormal blood vessels or a heart defect that was present at birth.

Brad was placed into a global gene study, which found he’s got a unique gene that didn’t come from the mother or the father but found in people with cerebral palsy.

With the help of $3000 orthotics funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which need to be replaced twice a year because he is still growing.

He has worn his ankle foot Orthodics for years, and his parents ensure he wears it every day for at least one hour when stretching.

He also visits physio and orthotist appointments regularly.

Bradley overcame the tightness in his calves and ankles which made running difficult, discovering his passion for exercise.

He is no average 16-year-old, despite the difficult journey he has walked, he has never given up on hope or his dreams.

Only a few years ago, Bradley could not walk without falling over (always on his toes), severely arched back, couldn’t ride a peddle bike, couldn’t raise his right arm, muscles extremely tight, and couldn’t swim.

Thus far, Bradley has won 78 medals which includes, eight fun runs (five km each), seven national championships, 14 state championships, 12 triathlons, four aquathlons, two duathlons, three kilometre cross country, 800m track and 1500m track.

Bradley has successfully participated in in the following events, Athletics Australia Para classification - T35, track events for Yarra Ranges Athletics Club, Melbourne Inner East Special Olympics club, and Inclusive Sports Training (all abilities triathlon club).

He has shown determination not only on the running tracks and in the water but also

just about anywhere he has set foot on.

Mr McMeeken is a proud father, not mere for his son’s incredible sports achievements but because of the young boy his son has become – kind, gentle, grateful, and just full of life.

The 16-year-old has done the triathlons, but he enjoys the aquathlon more.

“Three strokes, breath in one side and three strokes, breath the other, he does that well with a freestyle” Mr McMeeken said.

“When he doesn’t go to his triathlon club, he goes to Monbulk with his mum and they do about 1.3km session twice a week.”

In March 2023, just an hour before the team photo was scheduled, Bradley broke his arm.

“An innocuous thing fell over in the 50 metres finish line, broke his arm, but he got his medal and went to the hospital,” Mr McMeeken said.

In November 2023, just six months after his injury Bradley went back to the place where he broke his arm and completed the triathlon at the Elwood beach.

“It was so brave [of him] to show up and do that despite the choppy water,” he said.

“He told himself to be strong, did the swim, came out of the water looking strong; and we’re very emotional to see how far he’s come.”

“If someone hurts themselves in a particular place, generally it would cause a memory that may hold you back, but for Bradley, he doesn’t hold himself back goes back in because he knows it was just an accident and it won’t happen again.”

Bradley describes himself as a “positive people person.”

“He’s kind, always happy, doesn’t complain, focuses on his abilities, and makes the most of every day.”

“He enjoys the hard work because he knows that it helps him.”

“He’s doing these other events where he’s got friends and social - it’s just fantastic.”

The McMeeken family lives by this motto, “never give up.”

“We don’t find what’s possible for Bradley, as best as we can we make sure there’s no bar-

rier for him and if he wants to do something, then we won’t be deciding that but rather we’ll create an environment for him to do it,” Mr McMeeken said.

“If he wants to run, swim, get his driver’s licence, whatever, we will support him to do it.”

“We let the outcome define whether he can do something or not.”

Bradley has gone from having nothing to do, to always having something to do.

When he’s not running, swimming, or biking, he spends his time building Legos and playing with his favourite cars, McLaren. He’s well supported by his kind, supportive parents, school, friends, and his teammates.

“He has fun, he stays in the moment, which is very difficult to shoot for,” Mr McMeeken said.

“We all would like to stay in the moment, but Bradley does.”

“Bradley is the bravest person I know, he never gives up and is an inspiration to all who know him, a natural leader who sets a great example for others.”

Proud father and son, Bradley McMeeken and Jayce McMeeken showcasing the Triathlon National Gold Medal. Pictures: SHAMSIYA HUSSAINPOOR

Bradley McMeeken has won seven Australian Triathlon National Chamionship medals.

Bradley McMeeken is a 16-year-old busy bee who’s always doing things.

Bombers bring back Sein

By Marcus Uhe

2023 Outer East Football Netball Division One premiership winning coach Sein Clearihan is excited to be leading Emerald into battle as the club takes on a challenging rise up the ranks in 2024.

Clearihan climbed the Division One mountain in 2023 to lead the Bombers to a thumping victory over Berwick Springs in last season’s grand final, his second at the helm at Chandler Reserve, having set the pace as the competition’s benchmark in the home-and-away season.

The Bombers finished the season with a win-loss record of 14-2, opening the season with a nine-game winning streak, before recovering from a loss in extra time in the semifinal to Berwick Springs with a dominant 59-point win in the grand final against the same opponent.

With success comes promotion, with the Bombers set to play in the competition’s top flight in 2024.

Clearihan is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s exciting for the footy club,” he said

“It’s about improving everyone, playing good quality clubs every week and getting tested.

“As long as we’re really competitive, and that’s the main thing, to stay in the games and be competitive, we’ll see what comes at the end of it.”

Emerald’s return to the top flight will see it resume its rivalry with neighbours Gembrook in Michael Firrito’s first season at the helm.

After finishing last in 2023 in what he described as a possible “premiership hangover” year, the task is ahead of the former North Melbourne champion to take his side to the competition’s upper echelons.

He will need to do so without 2022 premier-

ship captain Colin Bastow, who is set for more knee surgery and is unlikely to feature in the 2024 campaign.

It’s a massive blow for the club, which expected to have him on the park after missing the entire of 2023, having torn an ACL in the 2022 grand final.

“It really hurt us last year not having him, not only for what he does out on the ground but for what he brings off the field,” Firrito said.

“He’s a much loved character, he’s not only our captain but a spiritual leader as well.

“He’ll take on a coaching role and help me this year, but we won’t see him, most likely, as

much as he’d want to get back late in the year.”

Experienced recruits in Cory Phillips and Ryan Hillard will help the young on-ball brigade of Konner Allcott, Josh Tilly and Aaron Firrito while 2022 reserves premiership player Ben Schultze returns after a season at Beaconsfield.

Schultze will add much-needed key position depth, with Firrito’s retirement, and the absence of potent key forward Jay Verhagen, who will spend the season travelling, and Frank Didonato.

Firrito remains confident, however, in the young talent at his disposal, that he believes is yet to be fulfilled.

“I guess there’s a lot of stuff that I’ve learned over the years that I’ll now get a chance to implement,” Firrito said of his intended gamestyle.

“I think it might take a little while to come along but I expect us to be pretty well-organised and a high-pressure side.

“I don’t want to reinvent the wheel but I’m hoping I can bring in a few things to help us improve, and get us toward the pointy end of the ladder, after finishing last, last season.”

The two sides will go head-to-head in round three, at Gembrook, and again in round 15 at Emerald.

Plucky Gembrook slays dart league giants Just Social

By David Nagel

Two fantastic contests provided the highlights of round five of the South West Gippsland Dart League with Gembrook and Generals scraping in by the skin of their teeth.

Gembrook had a huge 8-7 victory over perennial league powerhouse Just Social, consolidating fourth spot and moving two games clear of their opposition; who now slip to an unfamiliar seventh place on the ladder.

In such a tight game it was important for someone to stand up and be counted, and Steve from Gembrook answered the call with a brilliant 104 peg-out.

The challenges keep on coming for Gembrook, who face second-placed Predators in the highlight match of round six.

The other close one this week went to Garfield-team Generals, who denied Dart Attack its first victory of the season with a nail-biting 8-7 victory.

The Generals have now won two games in the opening five rounds after a round two victory over Hoodies.

They’ll have their improvement put to the test this week against a dangerous and rebounding Just Social.

Dart Attack is still searching for its first win, but it may come against a struggling Railway in round six.

The individual highlight of round five came from Chris from Snipers, who threw the highest peg-out of the season (140) in a 14-1 thumping of Bullseyes.

The Snipers currently sit on top, but equal on points with Predators and Cheers, who had easy victories over Dart Vaders and 26ers respectively.

In the two remaining games; Fore moved to ninth spot on the ladder with an 11-4 victory over Railway, while Mud Rats consolidated fifth position on the ladder with the same scoreline over Hoodies.

Five players have scored 20 toms or more for the season, with Steve from Predators leading the way on 30, with Dean from Snipers hot on his tail with 29.

Three

from Cheers are next best, with Ant (25), Shane (23) and Liam (22) all in winning contention.

Liam scored the most tons this week with seven.

Gembrook v Predators and Cheers v Mud Rats

players

SeinClearihan(right)willcoachEmeraldFootballClubagainin2024afterasuccessful2023. 361017

Picture:ROBCAREW