Mail - Ranges Trader Star Mail - 30th April 2024

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Respect for the Anzacs

Respect, honour, gallantry and remembrance were qualities seen and heard at Anzac Day services across the Dandenong Ranges. From red poppies covering the township of Emerald to an Anzac floral display in Monbulk, the tributes for Australia’s and New Zealand’s fallen were present at every turn.

Commencing the day with a dawn service, Emerald’s community returned for the mid-morning service and march through town, seeing veterans don their medals with pride and the sounds of the Last Post ringing over the township.

Puffing Billy hissed in the distance and Army cadets took their place.

To read and see more from Anzac Day, turn to pages 9, 10 and 11

Olinda residents on treadmill complaining to council about their... Road to frustration

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Residents in Olinda have been frustrated with the deteriorating condition of the road in Thomson Avenue, pushing one of the residents to make several complaints to the Yarra Ranges Council.

There are four houses in that street, the poor conditions of the road have created unique issues for all of them.

Alan Rogers has made multiple enquiries and complaints to the council for the past four years.

His house is at the bottom of the road and

said everything that gets washed away from the top, ends up blocking his drains, resulting in water flooding his garden and front yard.

Upper Coonara Road is the road above Mr Roger’s street, during a sudden storm or heavy rain, it gets eroded easily.

Mr Rogers’ main concern is that the drains fill up with the road metal, it also blocks up with the branches and leaves, this then flows down into their drains and causes erosion and damages to the residents’ property.

“My biggest beef with the council is the frustration of them not taking the problem seriously,” Mr Roger said.

“We are at the end ofThomson Avenue, it’s a small street…we have to take our own bins up, we have to go to the top of the street to get the mail, we hardly see the grader, they come twice a year to lay gravel on the road…we are at the end of the truckload, so as a consequence, our road gets no attention.

“We are greatly affected by the effects of what goes on above us.”

He has been contacting the council on numerous occasions in hopes of fixing the problem, but he said the council doesn’t appreciate it or doesn’t seem to want to know what the problem is with the engineering up on the road not the houses below it.

Yarra

taken place but given the location, it was suitable infrastructure.

“This open drain takes large volumes of water during heavy rainfall, and it is important that landowners pro-actively maintain the driveways where it meets Council’s road and the drainage system,” they said.

“Due to the changes in weather patterns and increased rainfall in recent years, Council acknowledges that drainage, particularly on properties in a steep locations, will be experiencing challenges.”

Continued page 3

Picture:TRACYDASLER

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Ranges Council spokesperson said drainage inspections have

Cyber breach hits Knox

By Tanya Steele

Knox Council was among several councils to fall victim to a recent cyber security breach involving OracleCMS, which manages the customer calls to the council outside business hours.

The breach included Manningham, Whitehorse and Monash Council and all councils posted news of the incident to their websites between 19 and 24 April.

General Manager of Operations from Oracle CMS Mark Needham said that the breach itself was actually a breach of Oracle CMS data.

“No council, residential or personal identifiable data was breached – It is only our data, which included some general some standard

contract and some invoices,” he said.

Mr Needham said the frequency of cyberattacks can happen daily to many companies but the security his company has in place activated as expected.

“We’re quite vigilant with our security, but it is something that can happen,” he said.

“The security that we have in place, across all of our main systems that do have sensitive data – we were very happy with how that performed.”

Knox City Council posted to their website on 19 April and said that Knox City Council systems have not been compromised.

“Council has been advised by OracleCMS that no customer information has been accessed. An independent investigation is underway to confirm

this,” the news post read.

Knox Council said that if any customer data has been found to have been accessed, customers will be contacted directly and provided with advice and guidance to reduce the risk of their information being misused.

“As a precaution, we have instructed OracleCMS not to collect any customer information and transfer any urgent requests directly to our on call staff until further notice.

We take the security of our customers information very seriously and apologise for the concern this will cause to our customers. We will provide updates as they come to hand,” the post read.

OracleCMS is still working with government authorities and a cyber security expert to

address the incident.

“We’ll go through that process and do the due diligence – at the moment we’re completing that right now with those departments,” Mr Needham said.

“We do work with government clients, and they need to ensure that there’s no further breach other than our own data, which has been the case,” he said.

As a precautionary measure, Knox City Council posted cyber security safety tips online and said that the council would never contact community members to ask for usernames or passwords.

For more information follow the guidance from the Victorian Government on how to Recover from a data breach | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au).

Tax cuts for every

Slow down in Gembrook

The State Government has introduced a new 50km/h speed limit on Main Street in Gembrook to make it safer for drivers, pedestrians, and school children to get where they need to go.

This speed limit change, driven by the Gembrook community, will span from Gembrook-Launching Place Road to Bromby Street.

“There is nothing more important than keeping our community safe and these upgrades will ensure everyone, including our students at Gembrook Primary, can get to where they need to go safely,” Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino said.

“Thank you to all those who took the time to meet with me or contact me to advocate for road safety upgrades along Main Street – this has truly been a community effort.”

Main Street is a busy thoroughfare that passes Gembrook Primary School –the street sees around 2,600 vehicles pass through each day including buses and trucks.

The State Government will install four electronic speed limit signs between Bromby Street and Banks-Smith Drive. These signs will alert drivers the new speed limit and to slow down at the school zone.

Crews are expected to complete works to install the electronic speed limit signs by late 2024.

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino with locals on Main Street Gembrook. Picture: SUPPLIED

Road to frustration

From page 1

When Mr Rogers bought the house nearly a decade ago, he was aware of the responsibility of taking the bins up on the street, but over time, the mailman stopped delivering parcels to their house because the vans got stuck going uphill and now the residents are concerned because if someone gets sick, no ambulance or health care workers can access their street easily and comfortably.

“We’ve had a number of delivery vans, they get stuck, and we have had to rescue them - I have towed a number of cars because they can’t get up the road,” he said.

“There is a priority on how you treat people, life and limb becomes a prime priority, they should be doing something about that.”

The small section of Mr Rogers’ street is quite steep, during the rainy season, it gets eroded quickly, which then traps people living down that street.

Mr Rogers said he’s lucky because both him and his wife have four-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, but for anyone going up and down that roadway without a 4WD, it can turn into a nightmare.

Mr Rogers is a retired engineer, he said he understands the hierarchy of priorities, but on multiple occasions the response he has received has been quite condescending.

“I received a letter from a stormwater engineer nearly a year ago, it was very condescending - indeed patronising - to dismiss my concerns as not important,” he said. “I have yet to respond to his letter, I initially chose to ignore the letter but with the latest damage there is now a case for me to respond. I don’t like being patronised by young engineers, who are quoting from a textbook, and do not bother to come out to look and listen at the priorities or at the problem that exists.”

His house has been affected three times during the wetter forecast, resulting in the damage of his driveway, which cost him thousands of dollars.

Thomson Avenue is a cul-de-sac street, surrounded by tall trees, in case of fire or other emergencies, it puts the lives of the residents at risk. For many years, the street wasn’t correctly mapped on Google Maps - at one stage it was propagated as a through road.

“We’re paying our full rates and taxes just like anyone who may live on a fully sealed road, but without everything that works,” he said. “The council has responsibilities, and they’re just paying lip service.”

He said he hasn’t been critical but rather in a number of suggestions, he’s been constructive.

“I’ve said to [the council], to create an inspection regime that you can send an engineer out after a big major storm or regularly…. maybe four times a year, especially after poor weather to do your inspection, you can inspect the drains, you can inspect the state of the road, and then act accordingly,” Mr Rogers said.

Thus far, he has carried out stormwater mitigation on his own in order to control the water flow in the stormwater but he said he still gets impacted.

“I would like the council to come out and do

the clearing of their road base, it’s not mine,” he said. “Three years ago, my neighbour was suffering from cancer and the ambulance could not get down to his property because the road was so bad most of the time.”

Sue Stopar, Mr Rogers’ neighbour, had her home flooded three years ago.

“I stepped out of bed and the carpet was very wet, the floors and carpet was covered with muddy water,” she said.

The council had been down on Friday - the day before Ms Stopar’s house flooded, but they were meant to come on Thursday, two days prior to the flooding. “They saw how everything was blocked - both near my crossover and the one above it, and they mentioned there was major engineering work that needed to be done,” she said. Ms Stopar contacted Yarra Ranges Council to notify them about the damages she endured from the stormwater overflow.

The council replied to her email that major engineering works would need to be done at the top of the road, but nothing would be done until later in the year. Nothing has been done to this date.

In the email she stated that her home was inundated with muddy water in the early hours of Saturday 5 March 2022.

While waiting to hear back from the council, she rang her insurance company and they referred the inundation of water to both a building company and to a contents restorer company. They sent an electrician to check power points and power boards that afternoon. Power points appeared OK but not power boards and she was told not to use them.

On Tuesday 8 March a representative from the building company came to assess damage to timber flooring in the kitchen and family room. Ms Stopar said the floor was buckled in areas, one being by a door leading to the outside, that door couldn’t be closed at all.

Some skirting boards, door jambs, kick board under kitchen cupboards, panels on a bathroom cupboard all needed to be replaced, as well as the timber floor itself. She said that same day two men from the contents restorer came and ripped up wet carpet and underflow from all rooms, including two bedrooms, study, dining room and hallway.

“Thankfully that was all covered by the insurance,” she said. “I got some money from the insurance to replace some of it, however, I paid a little bit more, because I thought rather than getting a veneered chest of drawers like I

had or cabinet, I’d get something more solid, because if it happened again, there was less chance of being splitting and I have to get rid of it.”

The damage was causing a lot of health concerns because of the growing mould. Ms Stopar had to leave her home for six weeks while her insurance was fixing and repairing her home. All this happened during a time when Ms Stopar’s husband was battling cancer. Ms Stopar and her late husband moved into their home in September 1996. When Mr Stopar was alive and well, he would clear out the culvert at times when it was blocked with road gravel, leaves, branches and had not been marked for maintenance by the council.

The council spokesperson confirmed that “from time to time” driveways and access points may need to be cleaned by residents, because “as the area is heavily treed, leaf and tree debris can build up and there are times when this can be problematic”.

After Mr Stopar’s passing and with Ms Stopar’s coping with a back injury, she’s not able to do as much as she would like to do.

“Since the flooding that changed my whole house, I’ve paid $1600 to have a Mediterranean drain along the driveway…we’ve had one there before, but when the water came in, all the gravel filled up the drain,” Ms Stopar said. “If water comes into the property, I hope it goes along the driveway rather than over the lawn and over the house.”

Both Mr Rogers and Ms Stopar have put in multiple requests for the council to clear the table drain so that the water can go underneath their street rather than above it which damages their road and property.

“I think it would be good if [the council] started to address old and unresolved problems, new problems are going to keep coming up all the time, but they should try and address the ones that people have been waiting for for years,” Ms Stopar said. “When I know that we’re going to get heavy rain, I don’t sleep that well. There is that fear and anxiety, because I don’t want to go through all of that again and I don’t want to don’t want to leave here, because this is home.”

Ms Stopar said the residents in Thomason Avenue have been waiting long enough to be informed what is going on. The spokesperson saidYarra Ranges Council officers“will contact the resident on Thomson Avenue and work with them to provide advice on how to mitigate their property from the impact of natural overland flow.”

Vehicle accident along Burwood in Upper Ferntree Gully

A minor vehicle collision held up Sunday traffic for nearly an hour on 28 April in Upper Ferntree Gully.

The accident occurred along Burwood Highway near Willow Road.

A representative from Ambulance Media said that paramedics responded to reports of a collision in Upper Ferntree Gully at around 1:15pm on 28 April.

“One man in his thirties was assessed at the scene and not taken to hospital,” they said.

CFA reported that four CFA units from Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully attended the vehicle accident in Upper Ferntree Gully at around and that no one was trapped.

“Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and SES were also on scene, the incident was under control at 1.23pm and deemed safe at 2.21pm,” the CFA representative said.

Trees down in Monbulk post Anzac Day

A number of fallen trees blocked and closed a road in Monbulk on Friday 26 April.

Yarra Ranges police reported via social media at 10.30am that Emerald-Monbulk Rd was closed between Moxhams Rd and David Hill Rd, Monbulk due to multiple trees coming down across the road.

Due to the size of them, crews were awaiting heavy machinery to remove them.

The road remained closed all day and the Vic Roads advised via their updates to detour via Belgrave where possible.

Victoria Police and SES were attending and VicRoads advised the road was re-open by 6pm.

Fairpark Reserve works commence

Melbourne Water will this week begin modification works to strengthen and extend the life of the Blind Creek footbridge at Fairpark Reserve, with minor noise expected.

BPC Projects has been appointed to complete the works on behalf of Melbourne Water.

Site set up began Tuesday 23 April, while works will officially begin Monday 29 April.

Melbourne Water estimate the works will take 10-12 weeks to complete (weather and conditions permitting), with the bridge and trail re-opening following this.

Some minor noise is expected from construction machinery, vehicles, and equipment during this time.

Construction hours will be from 7am–6pm Monday to Friday, and 7am–1pm on Saturdays.

Quiet work and other critical activities (e.g. concrete pouring) may occur outside these hours.

During this time, cyclists and pedestrian traffic will be diverted via a temporary track through the new car park at Fairpark Reserve. Water barriers and accompanying signage will be used to guide cyclists and pedestrian traffic within the car park.

For more information and live updates, visit Melbourne Water’s webpage.

For further questions on the project, email enquiry@melbournewater.com.au.

ThisshowstheintersectionofUpperCoonaraRdandThomsonAvenue,uphillsideofThomson Ave,showingtheblockeddrainandwaterovertheroad. Picture:SUPPLIED

Osteopath in career spiral

By Tanya Steele

Addiction and a complex mental health disorder have ultimately decided the fate of an osteopath in Melbourne’s outer-east suburbs.

An osteopath who self-reported his drug use and was suspended for 20 months and submitted his licence, has been found guilty of engaging in professional misconduct and was further reprimanded by theVictorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The final ruling was handed down in the case between Mr Vivek Canagasabai and the Osteopathy Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on 19 April.

The now former osteopath Mr Canagasabai had previously told his medical board of his issues and was placed on several working conditions, which he then violated a number of times.

The 35-year-old began smoking crystal methamphetamine at around the age of 21 while attending university amd his use developed to the extent he was using half a gram daily.

From the ages of around 23 to 26 he was drug-free, but then relapsed during a period of stress.

VCAT heard Mr Canagasabai “self-reported his conduct to AHPRA and made further admissions against his interest regarding his substance use.”

Mr Canagasabai had told AHPRA in June 2018 that he was getting ongoing psychiatric treatment for borderline personality disorder and amphetamine addiction.

AHPRA then placed working conditions on his registrations in July 2018 and Mr Canagasabai was at that point required to have regular drug screenings, medical treatment and to be supervised while working with clients.

Allegations were made by AHPRA about Mr Canagasabai’s drug use from that point, his ongoing failure to submit to required drug tests, his lack of adherence to registration conditions and general professional misconduct were considered by the tribunal as accurate.

VCAT found that Mr Canagasabai had tested positive for methamphetamine and other prescribed substances and also saw clients whilst unsupervised - a breach of his previous working conditions.

The tribunal said that Mr Canagasabai’s recent periods of relapse have been associated with “stress surrounding relationship difficulties, including the end of a six-year relationship, and the AHPRA proceedings.”

The osteopath practised most recently at a Ferny Creek healing centre in March 2021 but had also practised in Bayswater North, Boronia and Rowville.

On 31 May 2019, AHPRA suspended his registration until 21 January 2021 - a period of nearly 20 months.

On 4 November 2021, Mr Canagasabai sur-

rendered his registration and currently attends a psychologist for ongoing treatment, support and management.

“The public is protected by the surrender of his registration,” the tribunal said.

Mr Canagasabai’s conduct and how it was determined within section 5(c) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act of 2009, along with the ongoing conditions surrounding the terms of his working licence were placed under high scrutiny by the tribunal.

The section in contention posed the question of whether Mr Canagasabai’s conduct was inconsistent with him being ‘a fit and proper person to hold registration in the profession.’

Mr Canagasabai had failed to submit to multiple urine and hair sample drug screenings and relapsed by his admission via email to AHPRA in May 2019, on one occasion he presented with a shaved head with no explanation and a proper sample was unable to be re-

trieved.

The tribunal said that there was no direct evidence to show Mr Canagasabai worked while affected by substances and his workplace submitted to AHPRA that they had no recall of him acting strangely or receiving complaints or concerns from staff or patients.

The tribunal said his failure to comply with the imposed conditions, albeit on two sets of occasions, reflected the chaotic challenges of a combined dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and borderline personality disorder, rather than‘dishonest or deliberate flouting’ of the conditions imposed by AHPRA.

“He suffers from two serious health conditions for which he has had treatment and continues to see a psychologist for treatment,” they said.

“He does not have the quality of seriousness or moral turpitude required to find section 5(c) of the National Law satisfied.”

AHPRA also submitted that he be further

disqualified from applying for registration for 12 months and Mr Canagasabai had submitted that he should be reprimanded only.

The tribunal did not impose any further disqualifications and said that one of the factors to be considered in imposing a determination is the degree to which the practitioner has developed ‘insight’.

“We can see no utility to either his rehabilitation or the protection of the public in extending his disqualification period for a further 12 months,’ they said.

“One of the primary purposes of a determination are to protect the public, maintain the ethical and professional standards and the good reputation of the profession in the eyes of the public,” they said.

If he re-applies for registration in the future, Mr Canagasabai will have to satisfy AHPRA’s requirements and the tribunal stated that any practitioner viewing his trajectory over the past 5 years considering engaging in like conduct, would be appropriately deterred.

Man survives 10-metre fall at Burke’s Lookout

By Tanya Steele

On Friday 19 April, a young man was lucky to escape with minor injuries after falling near the popular Burke’s Lookout on the face of Mount Dandenong.

A multi-service effort from Victoria Ambulance, Victoria Police, SES and multiple CFA units rescued the man from around 10 metres down the steep embankment with a rope pulley system at around 9.30pm.

Lilydale SES attended the scene and unit controller Shaun Caulfield said they were called out to assist with the high angle rescue.

Ambulance services had initially walked down to the patient and as they got more information Mr Caulfield said it became evident that they were going to need some rope access systems.

Multiple CFA units from Montrose, Kalorama, Monbulk and Wandin CFA were also called to assist.

“Monbulk and Wandin are our region’s rope rescue providers and the area that he fell in - the access is difficult,” he said.

The terrain was quite narrow, steep and damp and the rescue efforts involved using a specialised piece of equipment known as a ‘mule’.

“It’s essentially like a buggy wheel, it’s got handles on the front and the back and allows

us to wheel the stretcher rather than carry it,” Mr Caulfield said.

“It worked out quite well in this instance because the track at that particular point where he was was quite narrow,” he said.

After assessment and treatment by para-

medics, emergency services worked together to form a hauling team to retrieve the man and the people holding the stretcher.

“The system has to be prepared to pull everybody up and many hands make light work as they say,” Mr Caulfield said.

A spokesperson from Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to a report of a fall and Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics attended the scene and worked alongside CFA and SES to extricate the patient.

“A man in his 20s with upper and lower body injuries was transported by road to The Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition,” they said.

Mr Caulfield said it was a well coordinated job with Ambulance, Police, CFA and SES working together on the night.

“The fundamentals of what we do is, is the same so it pays for us to work together and to cross train and then when we come together with events like this, everything goes far more smoothly,” he said.

Vivek Canagasabai in March 2021.

Pictures: FACEBOOK Vivek Canagasabai in June 2017.

The hauling team lined up to retrieve the lucky bushwalker. Picture: SES LILYDALE

Kate clocks up 50 years with Seeing Eye Dogs

In 1974 KateWatkins got her first Seeing Eye dog, a moment she’ll never forget. She finished high school on the Friday. The following Monday she was at Seeing Eye Dogs Australia then in Malvern being matched withTroika, a two-year-old golden labrador.

Since then Kate, who is legally blind, has had a further seven Seeing Eye dogs – Abbey, Letice, Quarry, Qiana, Selwood, Clayton and now three-year-old Kramer.

The Upper Ferntree Gully NDIS participant said she adores Kramer, and she takes him everywhere, even caravanning and camping with husband of 45 years Ian.

“Kramer has his own bright yellow camping jacket, Fluro collar and lead,” she said.

“His bed has lights built into it, so we can see him when we’re sitting around the campfire.”

While Kate admits it is stressful retiring each dog, she says it’s all been worth it.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without them all,” she said. “I’ve survived quite happily. I’m a wife, mum, grandma and I’ve worked lots of jobs over the years.

“I decided to retire 11 years ago, but it just wasn’t for me. Now I work for Vision Australia 15 hours a week, helping others with vision impairments. I love it. Always busy is the best way to describe me,” she said.

Last year Kate retired Clayton. Fortunately he was rehomed to his original puppy carers.

“He was getting a bit slow, but now he’s living his best life. He just turned nine and apparently for his birthday he got a muffin and an extra carrot in his breaky,” she said with a laugh.

While Clayton is now enjoying a whole new life Kate emphasises there’s much more to working with Seeing Eye dogs than people realise and being matched with a dog and learning to make it work for you can be tricky.

“While they come from the schools welltrained, it doesn’t stop there,” she said.

“It’s down to the handler to make sure their dog stays as good as the day they got it.

“Under the International Guide Dog Federation all member organisations are responsible for developing, monitoring and evaluating their dogs. It means trainers must work with you and your dog when you go home for as long as you need them. You can also stay at the school, which is in Kensington, 10 minutes out of Melbourne’s CBD.

“Most people usually stay at the school first, but for me I like to do home-based training first. It’s because when I’m at home I’m relaxed and if I’m relaxed my dog is too.

“Then I stay at the school for a week. Being close to the city is good. I get to train with my dog in busy places. We are up and down lifts and escalators then they get used to it.”

While everyone is different and training times vary, Kate says during sessions there are a lot of boxes trainers must tick off to

ensure a dog is competent to work with its handler.

“Some people will take one or two weeks to do their training, others might take six weeks or longer. It all comes down to the experience of the person getting the dog,” she said.

“If you’ve never been around dogs or other animals before you won’t know how to relate to a dog the same way as someone who has grown up with pets.

“Bonding is really important, and if you have never had an animal, there’s a lot to learn. You can’t just pick up a harness and expect your dog to work.”

Kate said people should remember as beautiful and adored as working dogs are, we must ignore them while they are working and not pat, feed or talk to them.

“Unfortunately, people forget this. These dogs are beautiful and brilliant, but we have rules and people must stick to them,” she said.

“When I’m out people always want to touch Kramer and I politely say, ‘Sorry, you can’t.’

“You must never touch or acknowledge a working dog while it’s in its harness. Any distraction like a pat or someone talking to the dog or making a fuss of it can lead to serious complications for the handler.

“I could be crossing a road and if my dog is distracted by someone talking to him, I could be hit by a car. People don’t realise it can be a matter of life or death.

“People should know, and the handlers should know, don’t give in to people and let them pat and talk to your dog. It’s just easy to say, ‘Please don’t.’”

The NDIS is now providing support to more than 646,000 Australians, with more than half receiving support for the first time. Kateisoneofmorethan168,000participants inVictoria benefitting from the Scheme.

Two lifesavers for Monbulk

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

AmbulanceVictoria has equipped the Monbulk community a lifesaving gift to help people suffering cardiac arrest.

As part of the town’s Heart Safe Community program, two more automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were made publicly accessible. A new 24/7 AED is located at the football club rooms at Monbulk Recreational Reserve (9 Moores Rd, Monbulk) after being presented to the community on Tuesday, 23 April. Murphy’s Mitre 10 (Monbulk Rd and Corner Main and Silvan Rd, Monbulk) also received a new cabinet so their existing AED can be stored outside the building, making it accessible to the public at any time.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) Paramedic and MonbulkHeartSafeCommunityProgramLead, Jess Drummond, said making both AEDs accessible 24/7 was an important health boost for the town.

“AEDs are used to shock the heart back into rhythm following a cardiac arrest – which is when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating,” she said. “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, and only one in 10 people will survive.

“Bystander intervention makes a big difference – when a patient in cardiac arrest receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.”

Ms Drummond said anyone could use an AED regardless of whether they had received training.

“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” she said. “They are safe and easy to

use and will not deliver a shock unless necessary.”

Monbulk now has three 24/7 publicly accessible AEDs, but Ms Drummond said it would be great to see this number increase.

“It would be fantastic to see more AEDs accessible 24/7 and be registered with AV (registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au), to ensure Triple Zero (000) call-takers can direct people to them in an emergency,” she said. “The more people that know what to do in an emergency and have access to a defibrillator, the more lives can be saved.”

The Heart Safe Communities program is a year-long, joint initiative between AV and the Heart Foundation, which equips communities across the state with the skills to take life-saving action when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. It aims to give locals the confidence to save a life by using three simple steps: Call (call Triple Zero 000), Push (perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED). There are 30 Heart Safe Communities acrossthestate,andMonbulkisoneof12towns currently completing the program.

Heart Foundation Victorian General Manager Chris Enright said the partnership with AV continues to help raise awareness and teach people what to do in cardiac arrest.

“We know how effective our Heart Safe Community program can be and how important it is for the local community to drive it to embed change at a grassroots level,” she said. Ms Drummond also encouraged people to sign up to the GoodSAM app, which is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.

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PET TREATS & ACCESSORIES

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CAMPING GEAR

MICHELES PLANTS

KIERA’S CRAFTS & TERRARIUMS

Kate takes Kramer everywhere,on holidays in the caravan or camping.

Kramer is Kate’s eighth dog since 1974.

Kate Watkins and her Seeing Eye Dog Kramer. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Hair today... then gone

By Tanya Steele

A local Ferntree Gully business recently hosted an onsite ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ event, making it their mission to help beat blood cancer by shaving, cutting, or colouring their hair in late March.

My Soda Australia, Natures Organics, are one of this years World’s Greatest Shave corporate partners and the local family owned company took part in this year’s campaign to raise funds and awareness for the thousands of Australians living with blood cancer.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO, Chris Tanti said the Leukaemia Foundation is thrilled to have the support of MySoda - Natures Organics, as a partner, and fundraiser, in this year’sWorld’s Greatest Shave.

“With a number of their staff taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave by either shaving, cutting, or colouring their hair on the day, it is a testament to their dedication and commitment to the cause,” he said.

The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s most well-loved and iconic fundraising campaigns.

For 26 years, Australians have come together to raise money for people living with blood cancer and to shave, colour or cut their hair.

More than 140,000 people are living with blood cancer or a related blood disorder in Australia today and the incidence of blood cancer continues to grow – over the past 10 years alone, the incidence of blood cancer has soared with an increase of 47%. Natures Organics Brand Manager Jordy Partington said they held the event at their onsite warehouse and around 70 or 80 staff came along.

“It was a really good time, the energy was really high,” she said.

“We put on a lunch for everyone and they donated some money for the cause.

“We had some chairs set up and people were coming up to participate by getting their hair shaved, or mainly coloured as well.”

When someone signs up to shave, cut or colour their hair, they send a powerful message of hope to the 140,000 people in Australia living with blood cancer today, many of whom will lose their hair during treatment.

All money raised from World’s Greatest Shave provides vital support for the growing number of Australians diagnosed with blood cancer including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood related disorders.

It also helps the Leukaemia Foundation to advocate for equitable access to new therapies and treatments and to further invest in vital blood cancer research to hopefully one day find a cure. Ms Partington said that everybody in the company was helping out and the event had lots of local collaboration - other local Ferntree Gully businesses donated the food provided for the luncheon.

“We ended up raising $1,000 from lunch and three people shaved their heads completely and one person shaved their hair into a mohawk,” she said.

“It was truly wonderful to see many of their team members standing in solidarity with the 140,000 Australians currently living with blood cancer and we thank them, and their local community, for getting behind our iconic fundraising campaign,” said Mr Tanti

As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 75 already gone.

Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions

Road disruptions: Closed roads

Locks get cut and coloured.

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$3.5m underlying deficit

By

Yarra

budget indicates a total revenue of $253.6 million and expenditure of $235.8 million, resulting in a total $18.8 million surplus but will operate at an underlying deficit of $3.5 million with the funding related to the Council’s CapitalWorks Program excluded.

Yarra Ranges Council estimates this will only be for the short term as their future financial projections are expected to return to positive. This comes as council released its draft budget for 2024-25 for community consultation following theTuesday 23 April council meeting.

The council’s draft budget has to go out to the publicforfeedbackeachyearbeforebeingadopted prior to the end of this financial year.

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar spoke to the motion and said he recommends the community take it up and read it.

“In my opinion, it’s a noticeable improvement in clarity of language to ensure that the overall picture is clear and readily readable and captured, and without the need for a deep dive into the figures, especially the opening number of pages, which read quite well on their own,” he said. “Despite the deficit, I think residents can be confident that we remain in a strong financial position, if you look at our balance sheet and our cash flow perspectives, it’s all looking well so on that basis, I’m very supportive of this budget.”

The council estimates this will only be for the short term as their future financial projections are expected to return to positive.

The council estimates it will spend $68.3 million through the Capital Works Program, of which $25.1 million will be rates funded, $1.6 million from contributions from various sporting clubs or other community groups and the rest through borrowings and external grants.

Another significant point to notice was the adoption of a rate rise increase of 2.75 per cent,

the cap for council rate rises this year set by the Essential Services Commission, which Yarra Ranges Council Mayor SophieTodorov said was not a decision made lightly.

“The biggest one (decision) for us initially was considering the adoption of the 2.75 per cent proposed rate cap at the onset of all of this, understanding that we are operating in very tight fiscal circumstances,” she said. “We’re all impacted by the cost of living pressures and also by increasing material costs as well and many other factors as well, and we still, despite this, need to focus on our essential services and the delivery of all those essential things that our 160,000 residents need and appreciate.”

Councils across the state are finding ways to deliver key projects with reduced support

as State and Federal Government funding has been reduced at the local government level. Speaking to the Star Mail, Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Corporate Services Andrew Hilson said that it all comes down to the local level at a pinch point.

“If councils need grant funding from other levels of government, and that slows down because local governments are generally much smaller when you’re not accessing grants it makes an enormous difference,” he said.

Yarra Ranges Council estimates the reduction in funding from other levels of government to be about 32 per cent, not including the about $100 million stripped from the Roads for Community program by the Federal government.

Mr Hilson said the overall budget recommending a deficit for the next year might not sound great on the surface, but is quite appropriate given all of the pressure points on Council’s finances.

“If there are councils that are making enormous surpluses, you’d have to scratch your head and think about that, because that makes it worse,” he said. “It’s reflecting the story of all the pressure points that there are, with limited revenue opportunities, the cost pressures, the demands on assets and all of that stuff, so not surprisingly, that’s projecting a deficit for next year and in fact for the next couple of years, maybe two or three and to return to a small surplus in the third year.”

Emerald Community House slams shire ‘bullying’

By Matthew Sims

The Emerald Community House Incorporated (ECH Inc) committee has defended its role as a not-for-profit and independently managed charity business and has vowed to continue as a self-funded enterprise, in response to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s (DFFH) announcement it would not be renewing its current service agreement contract when its contract expires on Sunday 30 June.

In a statement published on Friday 26 April, Cardinia Council announced it was working with DFFH to transition to a new neighbourhood house service in Emerald, with current arrangements allowing ECH Inc to operate from their current site until Tuesday 31 December.

However, the ECH committee released a statement on Monday 29 April, which said that the reports of ECH’s end were “grossly exaggerated” by the council and DFFH.

According to the statement, ECH Inc received no word of the news until Cardinia Ranges Ward councillor made an announcement at an Emerald Township Committee meeting on Wednesday 24 April.

“ECH will demonstrate its resilience strategy and will continue to operate as a selffunded enterprise in support of the community until DFFH restores its funding,” the ECH Inc committee said.

“We won’t be bullied by council.”

Established in 1977, ECH was one of the first houses in Victoria to be part of the broader Neighbourhood House movement involved in community development and is the oldest neighbourhood house in Cardinia and one of the original centres which emerged in the Dandenongs in the 1970s led by women.

It has aimed to reduce social isolation, vulnerability, distress, disadvantage, hardship or displacement due to extreme events, offering a number of services including social connection, volunteer contributions, emergency relief, family violence support,

adult community education, early childhood education and care, social enterprise goods and services, food and groceries, free computer/internet usage and tax assistance.

In the most recently ECH Inc annual report, it detailed that ECH Inc had provided more than $2.7 million in social impact value based on the Neighbourhood House Victoria annual survey.

A DFFH spokesperson said a new provider for a neighbourhood house service in the Emerald area was expected to be operational by early next year.

“An Expression of Interest process will be run for a neighbourhood house service provider in the Emerald area, following community consultation,” the spokesperson said.

“The department is working closely with

Picture:SUPPLIED

Cardinia Shire Council to ensure services continue to be delivered to the community.”

According to DFFH, concerns have been raised with the department about ECH Inc.

According to the ECH Inc committee, women in the community would be impacted by the announcement, with survivors of family violence continued to rely on community-based licensed childcare programs and discreet community support like the services ECH provides.

Gender and Disaster Australia executive director Dr Debra Parkinson said the announcement “makes no sense”.

“Emerald Community House has been a leader in engaging the community in prevention and response to disasters,” she said.

“The Federal Government regularly seeks

advice from ECH manager Mary Farrow.

“Equally, ECH has worked to empower women in the time-honoured way of the neighbourhood sector.

“It is harmful to even consider cutting funding right now at the height of women’s protests against gender based violence.”

Cardinia Council liveable communities general manager Lili Rosic said the council would work with DFFH and the community to gauge what they would need from a new service provider.

“Council will support the transition by undertaking community consultation to ascertain what services the community would like offered,” she said.

“It’s important that we have a good understanding of what the community needs from their Neighbourhood House service provider.

“Following the community consultation, we are keen to work with DFFH as they undertake an expression of interest process to identify a new provider to apply to be part of the State Government’s Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP) to serve the Emerald community.”

Ms Rosic said the council was grateful to the Emerald Community House for their years of service to the community.

“We once again express our appreciation to the Emerald Community House for the many programs and services it has provided over the years that have benefited the community,” she said.

The ECH committee has said it would be seeking candidates in the upcoming elections in October to show “appropriate advocacy for ECH” as per the council’s Neighbourhood House Policy.

The ECH committee said ECH was compliant with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), was independently audited annually by an external auditor in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards and had exceeded the audit requirements for neighbourhood houses of this size.

YarraRangescouncillorsvotedtoputthedraftbudgetoutforconsulation,callingitaresponsiblebudget.

Picture:FILE

AmosaicattheEmeraldCommunityHouse.

Callum Ludwig and Mikayla Van Loon

Ranges Council’s draft

Are you gambling more than once a week?

Research shows if you are gambling more than once a week, you are more likely to develop an issue.

ANZAC DAY

Big dawn Upwey turn-out

By Tanya Steele

A brisk and moody Melbourne morning saw many gathered for the Anzac Day Dawn service at Upwey Belgrave RSL.

Over 1000 people stood solemnly, listened and paid their respects as a misty rain fell over them while dawn broke to the sounds of the reveille.

Ross Jonson led the service and Michael Coe came in as guest speaker, with standing room only, displaying a united acknowledgement from the community.

Mr Jonson opened with a poem from a digger from World War I and acknowledged those who had lost their lives and the ongoing support needed for those who had survived.

“As of last Remembrance Day 103,021 Australian military personnel made the ultimate sacrifice and given up their lives for their country, their families and for us,” he said.

“We stand here to honour them – but we honour not only them, but we also honour the thousands upon thousands of those who have survived war over the years but have been plagued by the immense trauma of physical and mental health issues ongoing because of their service.”

Mr Coe took the attendees of the service through some history of the Special Air Service (SAS) of Britain and the development of groups of coastwatchers in the northern parts of Australia and the Solomon Islands, unfolding the story of Ruby Boye - the only female coastwatcher in World War II.

Ruby Boye was made an honorary member of the Women’s Royal Australian Nac (WRAN) after learning Morse code and providing vital intelligence services during World War II..

“Ruby decided she would do something… she delivered incredible intelligence,” he said.

Floral tributes were laid by many after the guard cadets of the 31ACU assembled.

The service continued and the rain intensified, but this did not deter those in attendance as they marked a minute of silence – broken

only by nearby kookaburras heralding the dawn.

The New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung by Tim O’Leary as the flag was raised and then RSL President Fred Schmager stood down the guard.

Mr Schmager said he wanted to thank all the volunteers and asked people to come back and enjoy the RSL throughout the rest of the year - all are welcome.

“We have two-up later in the day and we hope to see you later in the year,” he said.

Ron King and JohnWeeks and a team of volunteers from 3MDR broadcast the service live on-site – interviewing service members and RSL volunteers as the community went inside to get warm and have breakfast.

Mr King said it was great to the love and respect for all those who served and their families.

“Being part of the broadcast gave me an insight into the wonderful work all the volunteers at the Upwey Belgrave RSL do,” he said.

MrWeeks said that one thing that stood out on the day was that those showed up at the dawn service were very quiet, very respectful, and almost reverential.

“Even when it rained, they didn’t put up umbrellas above them above themselves and I thought that was impressive.”

The duo did a number of interviews and Mr Weeks said the stories that they heard during the were powerful stories.

“I think we need to keep those stories alive –alive, and not to be forgotten,” he said.

Mr King said the RSL was a special place full of people who really care for veterans, their families and the community.

“One of the volunteers we interviewed said that he didn’t have to serve, but volunteering was his way of giving back to those who did,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of hurt involved and from the wars and things like that – and the RSL is really doing a top job in supporting those people who are in that sort of stressful mode

or even to the suicide point,” Mr Weeks said.

“I was very impressed by what the RSL offered at the service – it really made an impact on me on the day,” he said.

Committee member David Brimacombe finished the services and discussed the future of the RSL, which is a traditional and nongaming venue.

“Today, our main focus remains to continuing to provide services for our veterans, young and not so young, their families and to act as a broader community hub - we receive no direct state or federal funding.

“This is your RSL all year around, we especially extend our warmest invitation to our youngest service members.”

“We’re all too aware that so many of these people have not engaged with the RSL and yet, some can really struggle at times. Either way, struggling or not. Please remember we are here for you.” “We are your home.”

Veteran Bill, 98, adds special touch to Sassafras march

By Tanya Steele

Dandenong Ranges RSL hosted a special addition to their morning march for AnzacDay 2024 in Sassafras.

A 98 year old veteran named Bill St Aubyn came to march with his grandson Jess Donavon for the first time.

Bill usually attends the dawn service at Box Hill and Mr Donovan at Sassafras, but this year he wanted his grandfather to march with him.

Both men have served, Bill served as an aircraft fitter with the Royal Australian Air Force in Borneo and Jess with the Royal Australian Navy in East Timor and the Arabian Gulf.

On their Facebook page, Dandenong Ranges RSL said that despite intermittent rain, the Hills Community again turned out en masse to honour and commemorate those who have served our country at our annual Anzac Day March and Service at the Sassafras Village Green.

“This year we were honoured to be joined by Veterans from World War II. all the way through to current day service.” the post read.

Bill recalled the announcement of the end of the war was received with some cheering and relief, and then the servicemen and women went back to work.

Bill then spent several months picking up the troops and prisoners of war around the surrounding island for repatriation to Australia and was flown to Laverton two days before Christmas in 1945.

His group were then transported outside Flinders Street Station where they were left to find their own way home - he caught a taxi to his home in Richmond and his daughter Christine St Aubyn said that no one was

home to see him.

“The fare was paid and Dad broke into the empty house,” she said.

After joining a holiday camping with his family at Rye he soon resumed work as a telephone technician. He has served as an active RSL member since 1947 - most of his contemporaries have passed away but he has many friends at Box Hill RSL.

Christine said it’s difficult to draw him out regarding his war service and it was a frightening time for all those young men.

“He speaks of being on guard at night in the jungle, in the pitch black, with his back against a tree to avoid a Japanese bayonet,” she said.

Jess credits his grandfather for his own career pathway and said that Mr St Aubyn was “pretty wrapped” when he decided to serve.

“He would have preferred I joined the air-

force of course,” he said.

Christine said that her father thinks that his longevity is half luck, half keeping busy and being engaged with people.

“He is much loved and respected,” she said.

“I think the fact of him being up and out in the cold and rain, participating in today’s activities, shows you a little of his sheer grit,” she said.

The spirit of Anzac day shines through Bill and Christine said her Dad encourages his extensive family to attend Anzac Day events, can explain the meaning of the rituals, and takes the opportunity to tell grand and greatgrand children some of his stories.

“It’s important for us to know the history behind just how we all get to live in a peaceful country,” she said.

Bill was joined on the march by another

Billatage18,embodiesthespiritofAnzac Day-Heiscolourblind,sowasstreamedinto aircraftmechanicsandmaintenance-butdid flyDakotasinthePhilippines.

Picture:SUPPLIED

veteran, Charles who is now 92, served in Vietnam and marched with his son Neil who lives in Kalorama. Charles said he was happy to be at the service with his son.

After the march, the community gathered at the Sassafras Reserve for the service.

Dave Diprose performed a beautiful song called “Last of the Horsemen” dedicated to his own grandfather and Jacqui Ring and Eddie Lee read“In Flanders Fields” to the crowd.

President of the Dandong Ranges Branch invited Mr Donovan to lay the wreath this year on behalf of the RSL and he took his grandfather up to do it with him.

Sarah Camm played the Last Post and a minute’s silence was observed, Sassafras Primary School students led the national anthems sung by all.

“It’s a day of remembrance and I am glad to be with my family,” Bill said.

Bill(right)laysthewreathwithgrandsonJess(middle)atthemorningANZACceremonyin Sassafrass. Picture:KEITHBAKER

VeteranadvocatesMick,AnthonyandMick fromtheVeteranAdvocacyCentreVictoriaafter theservice.

Guardcadetsfromthe31ACU(Armycadetunit) fromNorwood.

Theflagisraised,witnessedby1114peopleforthe2024ANZACDawnservice. Pictures:TANYASTEELE

ANZAC DAY

Monbulk women maintain a time-honoured tradition

By Emma Xerri

More than six decades on and the Monbulk

CWA continues to deliver on what has become one of the town’s most cherished Anzac traditions, and one which thankfully withstood the wind and rain earlier in the week.

Starting in 1959, the CWA’s floral Anzac display has become a staple for locals, who return to the Monbulk RSL each year to marvel at the colourful assortment of donated and locally sourced hydrangeas and dahlias which, now down to a science, only takes the members an astounding two-and-a-half hours to arrange.

“I think it’s quite unique,” Monbulk CWA President Wendy Dennison said; an opinion she has more than earned after 18 years with the branch.

“I love the history of it, and we love being able to keep that history going.

“We also get so many compliments. Every year people stop and take photographs, and they always ask about the display if we haven’t put it up yet.

“Being a small community, I think every-

one has grown up with it.”

Much like the Monbulk community who have grown attached to the display over the years, the display holds a personal connec-

tion as a well as a historical one for Wendy, whose husband is a returned soldier, and fellow CWA member Cheryl Elvey, who used to assist her mum with the display when she

was a child.

“My grandfather was in World War I and my father was in World War II, so the RSL is something we’ve always been a part of as a family,” Cheryl said.

“My father was also President of the Monbulk RSL for many years, and they would always do this Anzac display.

“Now, it’s become a tradition that’s been handed down through the generations, and we’re hoping that some of the younger ones will step up, because we’re all getting old,” she laughed.

While the younger ones in her family haven’t taken to it quite yet, she’s “hoping that they will.”

“If they don’t step up, the tradition will peter out, which would be a shame.

“It’s our way of showing how much we appreciate everything our forefathers have done to get us to where we are today, and I’m very proud of it all.

“It’s really inspiring to know that you are doing something that everyone is proud of.

“It’s truly a beautiful thing.”

Emerald proud to honour

The rain was no match for locals who turned out in their hundreds to commemorate Anzac Day for Emerald’s dawn service on Thursday last week.

In a welcoming trend, there were plenty of youngsters and families proudly paying their respects as all converged at Anzac Place.

Many decorated veterans were in attendance displaying their medals, while members of 31 ACU Army Cadets were also involved with the service.

And as usual, Puffing Billy was quietly hissing nearby decked out in an Anzac theme.

As the service proceeded, Australia’s peacekeeping efforts were highlighted and the significant involvement the nation has had in various countries as they endured conflict.

Emerald Primary School students spoke of the numerous conflicts Australians were deployed to assist with peacekeeping efforts such as East Timor during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Circa 1960s floral display, featuring current CWA member Cheryl Elvey’s mother and brother.

2024 display by the Monbulk CWA. L-R: Ineke Kip, Leslie Coppin, Wendy Dennison, Jenny Pearce, Cheryl Alvey.

Floral display circa 1977.

Members of 31 ACU Army Cadets enjoyed the dawn service.

Crowds braved the rain and cold conditions.Many wreaths were laid.

Riess Clark, who served in Afghanistan, attends Emerald’s dawn service each year.

Vietnam veteran Rob Addison with his various medals.

ANZAC DAY

It’s never too late to join

By Corey Everitt

Gembrook RSL has had a changing of the guard recently with an all new executive to bring in a vibrant future for the sub-branch.

Leading this new change is President Neville Bryant, who only joined the branch a few years ago.

Neville left the service in 1970, he met his wife Bev in the army who served in the women’s corps.

They would move to Gembrook in 1983 where they raised their kids, despite military service being such a core section of their life they wouldn’t officially join their local RSL branch until about three years ago.

“Every time I went across this RSL, I didn’t feel right,” Neville said.

“1983 when we came across, our next door neighbour who was a Navy vet of the Second World War tried to drag me over there.

“I didn’t like it and I just got away from it.”

Bryant served in the Vietnam War. As the war became a major crisis that would drive much of politics during the late 60s and 70s, returned soldiers took the brunt of criticism.

“They really hung it on,” Bev explained.

“When you came back, you didn’t spread it around.You would go to the RSL and theWorld War One fellows would tell you to come back until you have fought a real war.

“They were fighting everything against them and some of the RSLs were the worst.”

Neville enlisted in 1964, like many who did at the time or would be conscripted, there was no sense of whatVietnam would become. Neville wasn’t even certian he would be deployed to Vietnam at all.

He was 17-and-a-half-years-old when he signed up, his father did six years through Second World War, so he figured he would do six years as well.

The allocating of soldiers was in part done through a ranking system, the higher the performance in the platoon over training, the more choice one had.

Neville was second best in his so he could pick wherever he wanted to go and that place was infantry.

Yet, his allocation officer was adamant on convincing him to take engineers, electrical engineers or officer training. None convinced a young Neville who thought if there is fighting ‘I wanted to be in it’.

“He spent ten minutes there trying to talk me out of infantry, he said I would be wasted, but I wanted to go there,” Neville said.

He set foot in Vietnam in May 1966, he was in Fourth Platoon of Fifth Battalion, also known as ‘Tiger Battalion’. He was a part of some of the first platoons made of enlisted and conscripted men.

Everyone got a nickname and Neville’s was ‘Blue’ because of his fiery orange hair. He was the machine gunner for his platoon, one of the most dangerous roles on the front lines. He would survive his tour, but he would be

burdened with seeing many of his friends not. Of his platoon made up of over 30 men, 11 would be killed in 1966-67. Eight of them he would see first hand.

Tents were usually occupied by four at the time, originally it was him, Raymond ‘Ray’ Kennedy, Erald ‘Nilo’ Nilson and Paul ‘Tubby’ Sullivan.

By December 1966 Ray and Nilo were killed in action.

“I had seen Tubby, I said to him if anything happens to me can you tell my parents what happened to me. He said certainly, I said I would do the same, but he didn’t want anyone to know,” Neville said.

Two days after Christmas in 1966, Tubby was shot with a 45. caliber round through the chest.

“I was half-hearted at that stage and then when Tubby was killed I was the only one left in the tent, I said for Christ-sake let’s get this over and done with as quick as we can,” Neville said.

“In that incident, the VC got caught by another ambush of ours and the machine gun bullets were busting away at the bamboo just… I could of reached up and touched it, I just sat there and looked at them, I couldn’t care less.

“My whole plan at that stage was if we were going to run into the enemy, I was going to charge not for anything other than get it out of the way.”

The next time the platoon would engage with the Viet Cong, Neville wouldn’t have time to charge and his tour of Vietnam would come to an end.

In February 1967, Fourth Platoon were in the Long Hai Mountains on an operation.They had spent about two weeks in the mountains patrolling before they ran into an engagement. They were marching on foot and in armoured vehicles. They had a small Bell helicopter above scouting ahead.

Firing started coming from the helicopter, shooting into the distance past a small rise in front of them. They were ordered to get on top of the armoured vehicle and engage. With a weapon at the ready, he was on top with two others on the vehicle.

He was on the first armoured vehicle in the front, on its way it would run over a

buried explosive

“I was up on top, Greeny was on the right hand side of me, Clarky on the left hand side,” Neville said.

“I was thrown 30-feet backwards and 30feet in the air, had nothing left on, had everything blown off me, all my hair was gone.

“When we hit it everyone except me was killed on top.”

Running around in shock with nothing but his boots on, the scene would be hit again with a mine that would shoot shrapnel into the inner of Neville’s right arm.

Seven were killed on that day, a further two died of their wounds in the days after.

He was in a military hospital for a week after, he was effectively immobile during this time where the nurses had to inject into his thighs as the flesh was burnt on his arms.

Shortly he would be back home in Sydney, he wanted to eventually go back to Vietnam but he could never be cleared medically from then on. He would continue his service on base where he would be a drill instructor and other roles until he was done in July 1970, serving his six years.

He would never regret serving his country, but he knows his platoon saw its fair share of a horrific war.

“It wasn’t a fun time for me, a lot of people went across there and never even fired a shot in the infantry, but unfortunately we didn’t get that pleasure,” Neville said.

He would keep in touch with close friends from the war who survived, it would take a long time to become open beyond them.

Not only because of the overt shame from others over a war he played no role in starting nor prolonging, but also because of the trauma.

A lot happens in war, some moment stick forever, some are forgotten and come to emerge later in life.

One day, years back into civilian life when they were settled down in Gembrook with their young children, Neville would break down due to recalling an incident in August 1966.

Their platoon took over in place of another in an operation. They arrived at the scene of a woman and child who got caught in machine gun fire. The child was dead having been shot through the heart and the woman was still

alive with three gunshot wounds.

“When I came into the site, bearing in mind I had seen a fair bit of crap before it, I looked at the boy and I knew he had to be buried, I looked at the woman and said no she is going to survive if we can get her out,” Neville explained.

“We took ten minutes burying the boy, at the stage the woman was moaning and I went up to the skipper to ask how long before this chopper came in to take the casualty out.

“He looked at me and had tears coming down his eyes when he said, ‘Blue I can’t do a thing, I just got the message direct from Canberra, bury the mistake’.

“We waited there for a couple of hours waiting for her to die, then we buried her.”

Neville has been open about this in the years since he broke down which has come with its own flack as he labels the incident a ‘murder’.

He has learnt that honesty is the way to healing, openness is far better than letting it rot inside.

“I’ve talked about it, I’ve found a lot of people lock it up inside them, but it eats its way out one way or the other,” Neville said.

“I will quite happily talk about incidents that happened over there that I was quite upset about.”

He has gone to many reunions of Fourth Platoon and met many still around from Tiger Battalion.

The last group he tended to avoid was the local RSL, it wasn’t until a few years ago that Bev dragged him down to local dawn service.

He would meet the committee and get active almost straight away with a number of other ex-servicemen involving themselves as well.

His openness with his story reached a pinnacle last year when he spoke at the Gembrook dawn service. Retelling his story with many expressing their respect for the honesty of the speech.

Over the last year, the previous committee of the Gembrook RSL expressed their wish to depart.

“Norm said I had enough, then Greg the secretary already made the statement that it’s his last year and the treasurer decided it was her time to pull the plug too,” Neville said.

“So there were three brand-new people for president, treasurer and secretary and never had much to do with the RSL at all, we are finding our way with things and so far it hasn’t been too much of a mess.”

The executive is now all ex-serviceman, including Bev as treasurer with Dave Tracy as secretary and Richard Bahnsen as vice-president.

This Anzac Day was the first dawn service this new committee organised with many more ideas coming to further build the subbranch in the hills.

If you wish to get in contact with Gembrook RSL contact gembrookrsl2024@gmail.com.

Bev and Neville Bryant. 402425

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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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.

Oak Tree Hill residents have the choice of

low-maintenance fully equipped two-bedroom villas, all with private fenced backyards 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.

Get

Artist’s Impression

Enjoy the comforts of One Tree Hill.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Residents have plenty of communal facilities to enjoy.

Live more comfortably with the extra support offered at One Tree Hill.

SENIORS LIVING

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.

Be part of a vibrant Community and

enjoy the Facilities

Preparing for winter chill

Sleep

It appears that every man’s insomnia is as different from his neighbour’s as are their daytime hopes and aspirations by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

As the days shorten and the nights become longer and the chill of autumn creeps in, many are finding the gloomy autumn mornings hard to wake up and get out of bed to face the day.

The shorter days can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm which regulates our sleepwake cycles, and less sunlight can lead to an increase in melatonin production, the hormone that regulates sleep, making people feel sleepier.

And as the weather cools our bodies adjust to the lower temperatures by wanting to conserve energy and this can make us fatigued and lethargic but then when come bedtime we may find ourselves tossing, turning and wide awake.

We know that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning and other vital functions. And that inadequate sleep can lead to a wide range of disorders, such as hypertension, obesity and type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, impaired immune functioning, and more.

Sleep problems are extremely common. At any given time around 10 per cent of people have at least mild insomnia. Millions of adults ( and increasingly children)are currently suffering in silence with undiagnosed sleep disorders that are having a profound and escalating impact on health, the economy and society,

Media reports, self-help articles and wellness gurus tend to treat imperfect sleep as an individual problem, a failure that people need to fix by changing their habits and lifestyle.

We are told that healthy adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night.

Babies, young children, and teens need even more sleep to enable their growth and development.

But if we look back on previous generations waking in the midst of a long winter night is a form of sleep that would have been entirely normal before homes had electricity.

Nights were divided into a first and second sleep, with a“watch” in between, during which people would pray, reflect, make love or indulge in quiet conversation with family.

WOORILLA WORDS

It was an intimate time, so private and mundane that it barely merited a mention.

There is also a cultural side to‘sleep health,’ raising uncomfortable questions of equity and power. Seeing sleep purely as a personal responsibility fails to recognise it as a wider social issue and one of inequity.

For many it’s not about getting a comfortable supportive bed, the right warm blankets or doona, the soothing lights and candles and the right well balanced diet of whole grains, proteins and healthy fats.

Shift workers from truck drivers to medical workers have long lasting sleep problems.

Also those who in the present climate of rental and mortgage stress face possible eviction with nowhere to go and may find themselves couch surfing, sleeping in their car or on the streets.

If you’re sleeping rough without the comfort of a bed or blankets and are concerned about safety, it is unlikely you will sleep well, if at all.

Add to that the ever increasing noise and light pollution and overcrowding experienced by many. And speaking of safety and lack of essentials anyone in a war zone would certainly be sleep deprived.

Writer Dionne Brand’s poetry considers the difficulty of sleeping when disasters are affecting others.

In her book Thirsty, she writes: if it is late at night and quiet… you can hear someone’s life falling apart

Most people can sleep through a siren. I can’t…

Even at a great distance

you sense its mortal discoveries.”

The speaker in this poem lies awake because people in distant places are being killed by bombs and guns.

Sleep is central in earlyWestern myths, Medieval and Renaissance fairy tales, and modern and contemporary fiction.

Poets, playwrights, and storytellers have spun yarns regarding characters who sleep, can’t sleep, cause others to not sleep, or suffer from sleep disorders.

These are explored in many of Shakespeare’s plays as in Macbeth where guilt-ridden Macbeth mourns the loss of innocent sleep:

· Sleep that soothes away all our worries.

· Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds.

· Sleep, the main course in life’s feast, and the most nourishing.

Writers and artists have also delved into religious themes surrounding this universal human experience such as the parallel between sleep and death.

Emily Dickinson’s short poem seemingly about sleep is really about death: the long sleep.

A long — long Sleep — A famous — Sleep —

That makes no show for Morn —

By Stretch of Limb — or stir of Lid —

An independent One —

Was ever idleness like This?

Upon a Bank of Stone

To bask the Centuries away — Nor once look up — for Noon?

It seems that how well we sleep depends on our circumstances.

There will be times when sleep will elude us, other times when sleep is impossible because of our circumstances There may of course be individual reasons why sleep becomes a problem and may need medical help, but it is also undoubtedly important to recognize the social reasons: stress of all types, overwork, financial and personal relationship problems, inadequate housing, threat of homelessness, worry about the state of the world and more. And that is why sleep disor-

ders cannot be isolated from the wider social context.

In Insomnia, Billy Collins (USA Poet Laureate 2001-2003) explores the restless and solitary experience of sleeplessness that all insomniacs feel.

You can sense the speaker’ frustration as he lies in bed, his mind full of thoughts and memories that are keeping him awake while the world outside seems to be in deep slumber.

Insomnia

Even though the house is deeply silent and the room, with no moon, is perfectly dark, even though the body is a sack of exhaustion inert on the bed,

someone inside me will not get off his tricycle, will not stop tracing the same tight circle on the same green threadbare carpet.

It makes no difference whether I lie staring at the ceiling or pace the living-room floor, he keeps on making his furious rounds, little pedaler in his frenzy, my own worst enemy, my oldest friend.

What is there to do but close my eyes and watch him circling the night, schoolboy in an ill-fitting jacket, leaning forward, his cap on backwards, wringing the handlebars, maintaining a certain speed?

Does anything exist at this hour in this nest of dark rooms but the spectacle of him and the hope that before dawn I can lift out some curious detail that will carry me off to sleep— the watch that encircles his pale wrist, the expandable band, the tiny hands that keep pointing this way and that.

Billy Collins

Emerald Museum celebrates heritage in festival

By Emma Xerri

The Emerald Museum is once again participating in The National Trust of Australia’s Australian Heritage Festival, with exciting events running across the state between 18 April-18 May for the country’s largest community-driven heritage celebration.

With events taking place everywhere from the city to the regions, the festival invites communities nationwide to immerse themselves in the country’s rich and diverse heritage, through a variety of events ranging from exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops, food fairs, ceremonies, demonstrations and dinners.

Honouring the festival’s 2024 theme of ‘Connections,’ which aims to foster cultural and historical ties, the Emerald museum will be hosting a Nobelius Heritage Park Walking Tour on Sunday 5 May.

The one-hour guided walking tour will explore the rich horticultural history of the former Gembrook Nurseries, and educate attendees on how proprietor Carl Axel Nobelius developed the nursery into the largest fruit and ornamental tree exporter in the southern hemisphere, covering the 280 acres with over one million trees by 1905, many of which still stand today and will be highlighted on the walk.

“The Nobelius Heritage Park is a remnant of the internationally renowned Gembrook Nurseries (commonly referred to as Nobelius Nursery) which put Emerald, and the Dandenong Ranges, on the global map,” Museum Officer Natalie Bradvica said.

“This is a great opportunity to experience the rich history of the Nobelius Nursery in a

for winter.

living, vibrant tapestry of autumnal colour before the trees in the park shed their leaves

“Combine the walking tour with a visit to

the Emerald Museum and dive even deeper into the history of Emerald and surrounding districts.”

The Nobelius Heritage Park Walking

The Emerald Museum is inviting people to marvel in the beauty and rich history of the park.

Tradition is upheld

This week has seen the re-affirmation of Australia’s commitment to uphold the tradition of Anzac.

Knox Historical Society (KHS) has played a key role over many years to uphold that commitment in Knox.

The Knox War Memorial at the Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully was opened in November 2014.

On it are engraved the names of 61 servicemen who gave their lives on land, sea and air in conflicts from World War 1 to Afghanistan.

Current KHS President Ray Peace remembers the work that went into creating the list of names now on the memorial.

“We were starting from scratch,” the president said.“We soon discovered some of the existing memorials contained errors and omissions.”

Cross-checking and in some cases opening

Bootleg contradicts

Rebel Moon

Starring Sofia

Rated M

Part 1: 3/5, Part 2: 3.5/5

Best described as bootleg StarWars, Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon films are exciting and beautiful but shallow and poorlywritten action epics.

Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious woman with a dark past on a remote farming world, must gather a band of warriors to defend her village from the tyrannical Imperium.

Rebel Moon, Part 1: A Child of Fire features stunningly imaginative visuals, painterly cinematography, an elegant score by Tom Holkenborg and several thrilling action sequences.

Boutella is a fierce yet sensitive lead, and Ed Skrein is a compelling villain of prim, barely-controlled rage as Admiral Noble. nfortunately, the slow, erratic pacing carries little urgency, and the film is full of clunky dialogue, smothering exposition and thinly-sketched characters.

Snyder pitched Rebel Moon as a Star Wars movie or game a couple of times, and so the Star Wars influences are blatantly obvious; the action also suffers from gratuitous slow-mo, which is a hallmark of Snyder’s work.

Rebel Moon, Part 2: The Scargiver feels like Seven Samurai in space, as Kora’s warriors and the village prepare to fight Admiral Noble and his forces.

The Scargiver has much the same technical virtues and storytelling and slow-mo shortcomings as the first film, and takes nearly an hour to get going, but it’s more cohesive; the bulk of The Scargiver is one massive, enthralling war sequence. Even though we barely know the main characters across two movies, each hero still gets a brutal chance to shine in battle.

A Child of Fire’s climax emerges from a well-executed twist, and The Scargiver effectively splits its focus between increasingly-devastating skirmishes on the ground and Kora’s subterfuge aboard Noble’s ship.

Action-packed and viscerally-satisfying but dramatically hollow (as Snyder films often are), both Rebel Moon films are available to stream on Netflix.

files at the National Archives of Australia, Ray and a colleague, Barbara Ellard, compiled a master list of names that became engraved in bronze at the Arboretum.

A member of the Australian Army who died in Vietnam in 1969 is now on the memorial, as are two who died in Afghanistan.

“The opening day was cold and windy,” Ray said. “A planned fly-past by vintage ‘planes failed to happen as conditions were too windy for safe flying. But it’s fantastic to see children bearing the medals of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, and marching with their elders. New generations are finding their place in the Anzac tradition”.

The names of 46 soldiers from Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully who gave their lives in WW1, WW2, Vietnam and Afghanistan are now read out as part of the dawn service at the quarry at Ferntree Gully on Anzac Day.

Many of the soldiers were members of the locally raised 23rd Battalion, commanded by Major George Knox.

George Knox was born in 1885, and was commissioned as an officer in 1913. He commanded the 23rd Battalion during the Great War at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, until a mishap invalided him home in 1917.

George Knox was again on active service in World War II. This included a period in 1941-42 when Lieut. Col. Knox was senior commander defending Melbourne from a possible Japanese invasion, which fortunately never happened.

Knox Historical Society has been committed to preserving the heritage of the City of Knox since 1965.

The Society’s museum at 3 Olivebank Road, Ferntree Gully, is open Thursday and Friday, 10 am - 1 pm, and Sundays, 1 - 4 pm.

The ‘BookTok generation’

In last week’s article, we explored the “Discovering a Good Read” report from Australia Reads, which identifies the reasons given by teenagers for their withdrawal from reading.

Some of these are particularly noteworthy, such as “reading is not fun”, “it’s hard to find anything good to read”, and “there are not many books about people like me”.

Based on this report, Australia Reads recommends seven ways to support teenagers in reading for pleasure. One of them is “meet teens where they are”. Specifically, the popularity of BookTok, Bookstagram and BookTube shows “the incredible power of social media to support reading behaviour, through aiding with book discovery and forming online communities”.

According to the Australia Reads Research Review in 2022, 68 per cent of teen readers say that BookTok has inspired them to read a book that they would otherwise have never considered.

The “Discovering a Good Read” report also reveals social media ranks as the top passive leisure pursuit for teenagers, with their preferred platforms being Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

Australia Reads further cites a recent research by the Publishers Association in the UK, titled “The BookTok Generation: How social media is transforming Gen Z reading habits”.

Among the research’s over 2000 respondents aged 16-25, “almost two-thirds (59 per cent) say that BookTok or book influencers have helped them discover a passion for reading”.

The UK research also finds that BookTok and book influencers have a significant influence over this audience’s reading choices, with 55 per cent of respondents saying they turn to

PASSION FOR PROSE

the platform for book recommendations.

More importantly: “38 per cent of young people now turn to BookTok for recommendations ahead of family and friends, while seven in ten (68 per cent) say that BookTok has inspired them to read a book that they would have never considered otherwise.”

The research finds that BookTok helps Gen Z-ers connect with their peers and create communities based on what they are reading. Even better, the platform has a positive impact on brick-and-mortar bookstores, with “nearly half (49 per cent) of respondents visiting a physical bookshop to buy a book they have seen on BookTok”.

In Australia, publishers, booksellers and authors are already harnessing the power of the platform to engage and inspire readers. As explained by researchers from the “Teen Reading in the Digital Era” project at Deakin University:

“By showcasing teenagers who love books and are proud of their reading habits, BookTok inspires other young people to enjoy reading. And it creates trends that influence the types of books they read, sometimes in unexpected ways.”

The Great Gatsby play is coming Kemp’s curtain call

The 1812 Theatre

The Great Gatsby

Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, passionately pursues the elusive Daisy Buchanan.

Nick Carroway, a young newcomer to Long Island, is drawn into their world of obsession, greed and danger.

The breathtaking glamour and Decadent excess of the Jazz Age come to the stage.

· Season: May 16 - June 8.

· Bookings: 9758 394

The Basin Theatre

Comedy at The Basin

In The Basin’s quest to bring you the best in performing arts they are having a series of special comedy nights.

These events have been very popular with the Company’s patrons in the past and the Company is sure they will be a sell-pot.

Join The Basin Theatre for a night of hilarity with The Best of the Fest.

Audiences will enjoy a selection of professional comedians straight from the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival in an event not to be missed.

Your night will be guided by our hilarious MC who will introduce the three comedians for a night of laughs that will warm you to the core.

Drinks and snacks are available at the bar which will open from 7pm.

· Season: Saturday May 11.

Burrinja Theatre

Forever Young - The songs of Bob Dylon

Continuing a tradition that began at the Caravan Club’s original location in Oakleigh in 2011 for Bob’s 70th Leica and Caravan are upping the ante to bring their beloved Bob Dylan Birthday Bash to St Kilda’s iconic Palais Theatre and selected suburbs and regional venues in May.

It’s a tradition that has seen some of the biggest and brightest in Australian music – including Vika and Linda, Joe Camilleri, Tex Perkins and Tim Rogers –perform songs that are enmeshed in the very fabric od their musical lives and to wish Bob a good one.

· Season: Saturday May 25 at 7.30pm

Broad - Geraldine Quinn

Bold dames, bejewelled tales, camo glamour meets ageing grace in this cabaret of self-discovery.

Multi-award winning rock cabaret artist Geraldine Quinn (Spick Specks, Upper Middle Bogan, The Weekly) returns with her first original show in four long years - BROAD.

Quinn grew up idolising fabulous, bold, brassy (mostly ginger) older women.

Now she’s become one.

So Quinn makes her overdue return to the cabaret stage to release everyone’s inner DGAF Dame Whether you want to unlock the Auntie Mame inside you, polish your brassiness or if (like Quinn) your knees just aren’t working anymore and you need to be near someone who understands.

All are welcome in The Broad Church.

· Season: Friday May 31 at 7.30pm in the Lyre room

Boutella, Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman

PUZZLES

183

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

1 Metal disc under nut (6)

4 Supress (8)

9 Cover story (5)

10 Lasting (9)

11 Intending (coll) (5)

12 Pointless (9)

13 Coffee (8)

15 Peels (6)

16 Tabooed (6)

18 Scale of colour (8)

23 Without trust or belief (9)

24 Long-barrelled firearm (5)

26 Point above focus of an earthquake (9)

27 Senseless (5)

28 Japanese game company (9)

29 Natural aptitude or skill (6)

DOWN

1 Argue noisily and angrily (7)

2 Twig offshoot (5)

3 Territory ruled by an Islamic monarch (7)

5 Tantrum (6)

6 Bucking (7)

7 Grenade-wielding soldier (9)

8 Landed properties (7)

10 Pieces (5)

14 Divide into parts (9)

16 Ten plus five (7) 17 Excel (7) 19 Adhesive mixture (5) 20 Mediterranean island (7)

Most shy or submissive (7)

Impassioned (6)

25 SOS light (5)

DECODER WORDFIT

9-LETTER WORD

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

IMMACULATE FAMILY HOME PROPERTY

IMMACULATE FAMILY HOME

THIS fantastic 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home is move in ready. Come and enjoy the fantastic lifestyle Gembrook has to offer, walk to the main street with the IGA, cafes, restaurants and Puffing Billy Station.

Situated on approx. ½ an acre, this great property offers views to Redwood Park. The driveway is asphalted for year around convenience and there is a DLUG. Be welcomed with the manicured front garden and picturesque porch before discovering spacious living.

There is a master bedroom with a bay window, walk in wardrobe and ensuite, and an office located to the front of the home. The house then opens to a sitting area and then flows onto the open plan kitchen/dining area. The kitchen offers a gas cooktop and electric oven, dishwasher and walk in pantry. Enjoy the warm summers with meals in the covered outdoor entertaining area or unwind in the spa. Further conveniences include gas ducted heating, and ducted vacuum.

Enjoy pottering in the garden with established vegetable gardens and garden shed, or relish hosting summer evenings in the rotunda.

This property has handy dual access allowing easy access to stroll to town along the walking track from the rear of the property.

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

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

ELEVATED ELEGANCE ON 2600M2

NESTLED proudly atop the high side of the road, this fully renovated brick home offers an exquisite blend of hills living and modern convenience. Boasting a private outlook, this property epitomizes comfort and style.

Comprising four spacious bedrooms, three of which feature walk-in robes, while the master bedroom, thoughtfully zoned away from the guest rooms, presents a beautifully updated ensuite with a luxurious bath. The main bathroom is adorned with floor-to-ceiling tiles and an oversize shower, reflecting the home’s commitment to both elegance and functionality.

The heart of the home lies within its meticulously designed kitchen, adorned with stone benchtops, a 900mm stainless steel oven and cooktop, integrated dishwasher, and ample storage space, creating an inviting space for culinary adventures.

Two distinct living areas offer versatility and comfort. The first, adjacent to the kitchen, features a cozy woodfire, fostering warmth and ambiance, while the main lounge exudes sophistication with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gas log fire, and a dedicated dining area.

Boasting gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, and stunning wormy chestnut flooring throughout, this residence ensures comfort and luxury throughout the seasons.

Stepping outside, a versatile and expansive decked entertaining area awaits, surrounded by lawns and established garden, providing the ideal setting for outdoor gatherings or tranquil relaxation.

Accompanied by a double carport under the roofline and an additional double garage with a double carport, this property caters to all practical needs with ease.

Situated in a prestigious pocket of Emerald, mere minutes from both the center of Emerald and Cockatoo, this property offers unparalleled convenience without compromising on tranquility. Experience the epitome of Hills living with this exceptional property. ●

The

•

•

•

“GLENEAGLES” - AN ENDEARING ICON

INTRODUCING “Gleneagles,” a distinguished architectural gem from the 1920s characterized by its authentic Arts & Crafts design elements, including wood paneling and leadlight windows.

Previously showcased in Home Beautiful magazine during the 1930s, this residence has retained its grandeur while seamlessly incorporating modern amenities and delightful surprises.

Offering an enchanting living environment, the Master suite occupies the first floor, featuring a luxurious ensuite and a spacious retreat with a striking stone fireplace that opens onto the alfresco area, perfect for leisurely mornings bathed in sunlight.

On the upper level, discover three additional bedrooms alongside a family room with balcony access, providing serene views of the established landscaped gardens.

The renovated kitchen, equipped with a 5-burner Falcon stove and adorned with caesarstone benchtop and fine detailed tiles, Travertine flooring, generous storage

space which flows seamlessly into the dining room with charming feature windows.

The home is further enhanced by the warmth of mains gas hydronic heating, evaporative cooling, and the ambiance of three open fireplaces (featuring stones from the original Emerald quarry) and complemented by polished Baltic floors and lofty ceilings.

The picturesque outdoor lifestyle is embraced with an elevated deck overlooking the solar-heated pool and golf course. Additionally, a separate studio, thoughtfully renovated to complement the main dwelling, and a self-contained cottage offer versatile accommodation options for extended family or guests. Parking is ample with a double lock-up garage and a double carport.

Set upon expansive 1-acre grounds and adorned with established, tranquil gardens, the property provides views of the adjacent golf course - a true sanctuary.

Opportunities to acquire such historically significant residences are rare indeed. ●

11 MayviewRoad

3 A 2 B 2 D

5 A 3 B 4 D

2 A 1 B 4 D

4 A 2 B

SUN FILLED FAMILY HOME OPPORTUNITY

THIS expansive family home presents a fantastic opportunity! This home offers 4 bedrooms, 2 living areas, an open plan kitchen and dining area, a study and a double carport.

The home sprawls over split level living and offers gas ducted heating throughout. The loungeroom has its own entry and 2 bedrooms and a study to the rear of the home. The kitchen is a beautiful space flooded with light and has plenty of space for a dining table. There is another bedroom and the family bathroom adjoining the kitchen/dining area.

Then continue downstairs to the stunning loungeroom with woodfire heater, plenty of storage, and views out to the greenery. The master bedroom with floor to ceiling glass windows, walk in wardrobe, and an ensuite flow from the loungeroom. There is a lovely decking from the loungeroom that has private views over Wrights Forest.

This stunning property is located moments from Emerald Park Lake and just over 5mins drive to the heart of Emerald township.

This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

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.Thereis asecondlargeloungeroomwith acosywoodfire &splitsystemAC.The deckisgorgeous&floodedwithsunlight.TotherearoftheblockisaninsulatedAmericanbarn, with 1bayrollerdoor,a pedestriandoor,concretefloor,power,lights&amezzanine.Thereisalsoa handytapnexttothebarn,assortedfruittrees,a shedwithpower, &6 solarpanelswiththehome.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

2AvonRoad,Avonsleigh

$1,300,000 -$1,420,000

GorgeousFlatAcrewithDualAccommodationintheHeartofAvonsleigh! Themainhomeoffersperiodcharmwithpolishedfloorboards,dadopaneling,brickfireplace, insetwoodheater,900mmgasstove,farmsink,ductedgasheating& splitsystemAC.Thereare 3/4bedroomsinthemainresidence.Themasterbedroomhasa WIR, &ensuite.Thefurther2/3 bedroomsareservicedby afamilybathroom.Theseconddwellinghasanopenplankitchen& living space.Thekitchenhasstonebenchtops,cornerpantry, &SSdishwasher.Thereisa masterbedroom with aceilingfan &BIR.Thereis aEuropeanlaundry &a bathroomwithwalkinshower.Externallyis adoublecarport,a shed,& then adoublegaragewitha singlecarport.Thereisa largefullylined Americanbarn(7m*11m)withrollerdoor,insulatedroof,mezzanine,concretefloor,power& lights. Thereisalso1.6kWofsolar.

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

AaronDay M 0407365994

39MainStreet,Gembrook

$780,000 -$850,000

Opportunity,ViewsandIdealLocationAwaitWithThisCharmingCottage! ThismixedzoningpropertylocatedontheGembrookMainStreetisdirectlyoppositetheGembrook PrimarySchool &offersviewstotheWarburtonRanges.Renovatethe2 bedroom,1 bathroomminers cottagewithwelcomingfrontverandah,ordemolish& buildyourdreamhomeorbusiness(STCA)on this1051sqmallotment.Situatedbehind amaintainedhedge,therearetwodriveways,allowingfor plentyofoff-streetparking.Thehomeitselfhas acosyfrontverandah& leadlightfeaturefrontdoor. Enterthehometodiscoverthefrontloungeroomwithopenwoodfire.Thereis amasterbedroom andthenflowthroughtothekitchenwithfreestandingwoodfireandelectricstove/oven.Then discover asecondbedroom.Totherearofthehomeisa generouslaundry,bathroomwith ashower overbath,andmudroom/secondsittingarea.Externallythereisa shedinthefullyfencedrearyard.

KarenPeele M 0419430950

9SeaviewStreet,Emerald $1,050,000 -$1,150,000

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

FLEXIBLE FAMILY HOME WITH OFFICE

THIS idyllic property with a vast variety of bonus features will surpass expectations with its scale and versatility. Featuring a generous family home and 2 unique outbuildings that can be styled to suit your requirements, this 2,319sqm (approx.) property is perfect for growing families, multi-generational living, and those who work from home.

Through the front electric gates and along the circular drive, this single-storey brick home with double carport takes centre stage. The adaptable interior can be configured with 2 or 3 living areas with the open concept kitchen and covered alfresco at its heart. Equally efficient is the option to enjoy a 4 or 5 bedroom layout, including a primary bedroom that features an abundance of storage and a stylish rain shower ensuite. However you choose to use the spaces, there is plenty of room to grow into.

In addition, within the lovely landscape there is a generous 2-room Studio/home office with powder room and split system heating/cooling for year-round useability. Add to this a large workshop/rumpus with cinema projector and adjoining woodshed, and this property will tick every item on your wish list. Plan your viewing today.

· Fully fenced 2,319sqm (approx.) property circular drive, hen house, fruit trees, raised veggie beds, and double carport.

· Versatile family home with dual living areas, including family room with wood fire, and a superb open plan kitchen with stone benchtops, gas range, and timber floors.

· Beautiful main bedroom with dual robes and rain shower ensuite.

· Freestanding 2-room bungalow with powder room and split system heating/cooling.

· Workshop/rumpus with TV, projector, wood fire, and wood shed.

· Cost-saving solar power.

· Easy access to bus transport and Monbulk Main Road amenities. ●

1MistyGullyRoad,MENZIESCREEK $290,000askingprice MISTYGULLY–7(APPROX)ACRESWITHVIEWS

Tuckedawayattheendof aprivateaccessroad,linedwith acanopyofRedwoods, Rhododendrons,AzaleasandCamellias,this7-acre approxsanctuaryoffersnotonlyquiet seclusionbutalsoviewsthatstretchfromCardiniaReservoirandouttowards Westernport Bay.Hostto a100yearoldchestnutgroveandnativespeciesofeucalyptusandtree ferns,thispropertyoffers asoughtafterlocationtobuildyourarchitecturallyinspiredhome (STCA).

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

11BeilbyClose,UPPERFERNTREEGULLY $770,000 -$845,000 CHARMINGHOME,LEVELGARDENS,LARGEGARAGE!

Whetheryou’restartingyourpropertyjourneyorscalingdowntosingle-levelliving,this propertyhasplentyoffabulousfeaturesonoffer. Boasting alovely,level745sqm(approx.) allotmentwithhobbyist-havenoversizedoublegarage,buyerswillbeenamouredwiththe lifestyleonofferhere.

RachelEastwood M 0401117761| E rachel@chandlerandco.com.au

DanielSteen M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

A 2 B 4 C

9JacksonsHillRoad,MENZIESCREEK $1,270,000 -$1,380,000 CONTACTAGENTFORINSPECTIONTIMES

Builtwithqualityandcraftsmanshipasa mainpriority,thisbeautifullykeptandwellmaintainedpropertyboasts aversatilefloorplan,allowingfor avarietyoflivingorwork purposes.Burstingwithnaturallightandwithstunningviewsthattakeinthenearbygreen valleysand reachouttoPortPhillipBayandalsotheYou Yangs

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

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

97546888

40BartleyRoadBELGRAVEHEIGHTS $1,230,000-$1,295,000 LUXURYHOMEWITHIMMENSEVERSATILITY

Simplycollectthekeysandmovestraightintothisfreshlyrenovatedandfabulouslyversatile residenceon alushnearquarter-acre allotment. Withhighlightsincludinga swimmingpool withseamlessglassbalustrade,afamily-friendlylandscapewithdoublecarportanddouble garage,plus alowerlevelstudio/salonsuitableasa4thbedroomorwork-from-homespace withstylishpowder room,thisuniquepropertyhasitall.

BradConder M 0422636115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

Successful start for YRA

By Jamie Strudley

There was plenty of excitement among the Yarra Ranges Athletics team on Saturday.

The opening round of Athletics Victorias’ XCR season at a sun baked Jells Park saw 11 teams entered in the annual cross country relays. With over 300 teams entered from around Victoria the atmosphere was full of anticipation for the tough parkland course at Jells Park.

YRA’s teams did not disappoint with one first, two second and two third placings including a bronze medal for our Under 20 Women’s team led by Brigette and Briar recording fast times, both inside the top 10 fastest times on the day.

The Open Women teams were competing in Divisions 2, 4 and 5. Some solid runs from all four women, led by Olivia Twining with the 15th fastest time women’s 6km on the day, saw YRA finish in second place behind last year’s relegated Essendon team. A great team effort continued with a hard fought second place in Division 4 showing our team depth is looking good for the season.

The Open Men’s teams were competing in Division 2, 6 and 7. The Div 2 team was in the fight for the win until the end, eventually finishing third behind the two relegated teams from last season, St Stephens (now Sandringham) and Frankston. Some outstanding runs from Harry Norman, Tynan Mims and James Laven (all sub 19 minute runs). Our team depth was on display with our Division 6 team winning by over six minutes.

Great to see our juniors joining in the fun as we welcomed many of our little athletics club members taking the opportunity to join in the fun of XCR in the Under 14 and Under 16 age groups. Club results from round 1 are:

· Female Open Div 2 - 4 x 6km 2nd 1.36.10.

· Olivia Twining: 22:48, Grace Muller: 24:02, Madeline Laven: 24:40, KatrinaWinger: 24:40.

Trades & Services

· Female Open Div 4 - 3 x 6km 2nd 1.19.47

· Rebecca Gilmore: 24:24, Bonnie Morris: 29:37, Georgia Laven: 25:46

· Female Open Div 4 - 3 x 6km 6th 1.44.00

· (Rori Jones: 27:28, Elisabeth Coffey: 33:53, Erica Purcell: 42:39) 1:44:00;

· Female 20 3 x 3km – 3rd 34.07

· Briar Keyser: 11:06, Brigitte Rice: 10:59, Zoe Clarke: 12:02

· Female 14 3 x 3km – 7th 41.10

· Lily Clarke: 13:18, Brienna Coffey: 13:43, Adele Ellis: 14:09

· Male Open Div 2 6 x 6km – 3rd 1.57.07

· Harry Norman: 18:26, Tynan Mims: 18:42, Reuben Johnson: 20:20, Sam Arnold: 21:48, Max Savill-Bentley: 19:12, James Laven: 18:39

· Male Open Div 6 4 x 6km - 1st 1.28.36

· Luke Hunter: 22:31, Angus Norman: 21:29, Daniel Groves: 21:17, Matthew Morrison: 23:19

· Male Open Div 7 4 x 6km – 6th 1.51.56

· Trent Ashton: 24:38, Liam Russell: 24:58, Bryan Ackerly: 28:26, Craig Hewitson: 33:54

· Male 16 Team 1 3 x 3km – 7th 33.00

· Ryder Holland: 11:01, Mitchell Pointon: 10:15, Blake Saloyedoff: 11:44)3x3km:

· Male 16 Team 2 3 x 3km – 17th 24.57

· Finn Rossthorn: 12:47, Ilikimi Tove: 12:10

Ash Rooke was back in action competing at the Australian UniversityTrack and Field Championships in the Gold Coast. Ash competed in the 100m and 200m events finishing with times of 13.16 and 27.22 respectively. An excellent end to another fantastic season from Ash.

YRA’s Saturday morning cross country season continued with round 2 at the challenging Margaret Lewis Reserve in Coldstream. Another fantastic turnout of eager athletes and parents made for a fun morning of cross country in the sun. Results for lasts weeks event at Lilydale Lake are:

500m

Kylan Milne 3.11;Tarlee Lewis 3.36; Sophie Ashton 3.36

1000m

Ivy Ingle 5.55; Tiago Ferrando-Stenhouse 6.18; Elliott Dawson 6.19; Eve Chivers 6.55; Taylor Cox 8.04; Aaron Zuo 8.34; Thea Christian 8.46; Emily Moore 8.57;Willliam Hastewell 9.00

1500m

Riley Yorke 6.27; Brock Peel 6.55; Lucas Pawly 6.55; Milly Hall 7.13; Victoria James 7.13; Levi Jones-Palazzolo 7.19; Willow Neal 7.31; Harper Neal 7.39; Natalie Ramirez 7.42; Fletcher Norman 8.10; Iola MacKay 8.12; Indi Budin 8.15; Tillie Sommers 8.17; Delia Coffey 8.22; Imogen McMillan 8.25; Georgia Cooke 8.26; Tahlia

Dawson 8.53;Winter Anderson-Bonsor 8.59; LL

Luca 9.04; Spencer Norman 9.06; Cody Buckland 9.22; Micah Friend 9.48; Tilly Hikisz 10.06; Amber Miller 10.06; Byron Stark 12.36

2000m

Archie Budin 8.51; Ilikimi Tove 9.24; Xander Sommers 9.42; Pippa Congreve 9.50; Lexi Aders 10.02; Hugo Gibbs 10.14; Caitlyn McKerlie

10.15; Leah Gobetti 10.50; Dominic Nealon 10.53; Jonty Friend 11.00; Isla Haisma 11.29; Tess Hewatt 11.32; Hugh Richardson 11.48;

General Notices

Kirsten Mcerlie 11.53; Alice Sabo 11.59; Zuri Dawson 12.04; Eamon MacKay 12.19; Olivia Cox 12.42; Meadow Anderson-Bonsor 12.43; Jake Buckland 12.49; Holly Yorke 13.13; Arizona Peel 13.13; Belle Gompertz 13.26; Isabella Martin 13.36

3000m

James Crome-Smith 11.40; Ryder Holland 11.59; Hamish Mcerlie 12.36; Finn Rossthorn 12.36; Daniel Gibbs 12.50; Michael Clarke 12.51; Zac McMillan 13.37; Mackenzie Graham 15.3; Bryan Ackerly 15.56; Tori Kincaid 16.26; Glenn Mcmillan 16.45; Lily Clarke 17.33; Adele Ellis 17.33; Elise Hall 17.50; Amelia Eldridge 19.18; Tim Anderson-Bonsor 20.14; Acacia AndersonBonsor 20.15

This coming Saturday will be at Elizabeth Bridge, Kilsyth. Warm up at 8.45am with the first event starting at 9am. Anyone able to help with course set up (from 7.30am), timing, recording or pack up please contact the club on info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au or let us know on Saturday.

Beau McKinnon represented Victoria and Yarra Ranges Athletics at the Little Athletics Australia Track and Field Championships in Adelaide over the weekend. Beau competed in the 1500m walk finishing sixth in a season best 8.12.90.

Cross country training for all club members is onTuesday evenings from 5.30pm andThursdays from 5.30pm at the Victoria Road Primary School gym. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability. Go to lavic.com.au or athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for information about events and registration. Cross Country is here!

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

Communities and businesses in Monbulk, Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook and surrounding areas are invited to discuss your experiences of the 13 February power outages with the Network Outage Review Panel. Refreshments will be provided.

Saturday 4 MaySunday 5 May

Monbulk Community Link 21 Main Rd, Monbulk, 9:30 am to 12pm

Hills Hub

400A Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald 1 pm to 4 pm

Cockatoo Community Complex 77 Pakenham Rd, Cockatoo 9:30 am to 12pm

Gembrook Community Centre 4 Gembrook Rd, Gembrook 1 pm to 4 pm

Reuben Johnson.

Ingram Cup instant classic

By Callum Ludwig

The inaugural George Ingram Cup became an instant classic as Seville and Belgrave battled out a thrilling draw on Anzac Day.

Hosted by Seville in honour of Victoria Cross and Military Medal recipient George Ingram, both sides engaged in an enthralling game that embodied the Anzac spirit.

It was the Magpies who got off to a flying start, kicking three goals before Seville could register a scoring shot, with Seville’s first opportunity coming courtesy of Dylan Broadway, but his shot missed.

Marks inside the arc were the key to Belgrave’s success in the first with the good set shot kicking that followed justifying the Magpies’ attacking approach of looking inside for the leading forwards.

Belgrave put one more on the board in the first quarter before inaccuracy started to plague both sides, as they each registered three behinds for the quarter and the Blues trailed by four goals at quarter time.

Seville looked to have a good opportunity to open their goalscoring account at the start of the second quarter but failed to convert it into a major, with Belgrave rebounding down the wing.

The ball fell to the back of a pack where the Magpies’ Kyle Nunn collected and jetted off before kicking long towards the goals. The ball appeared to be set to just off-line but a lucky bounce just short and took it through for a counter-attacking goal to take the wind further out of Seville’s sails.

The Blues did bounce back though, kicking their first for the day after a strong mark from Nathan O’Keefe deep in the forward line that he duly converted.

Jack Nolan was key to the Blues’ resurgence, taking a plethora of intercept marks deep in the Blues’ backline and distributing well by foot to push his team forward as Seville kicked another three goals quickly before the end of the quarter, though Belgrave managed another two to keep a lead intact at the long break, up by 14 points.

In the third quarter, Seville set to work and kicked two goals in quick succession including a long-range effort from Jye Sciortino that got them up and about.

Seville would hit the front with their third goal of the quarter but Belgrave bit back to restore their lead not long after, and then another.

The Magpies would cost themselves a goal

later in the quarter, a Belgrave player would give a free kick away in retaliation to a big but fair hit in a marking contest on the wing that left a player down, with Seville moving the ball quickly and scoring.

Belgrave’s Anthony Johnston would take a strong one-handed mark and convert a tough set shot to inspire his side, before a set shot after the siren from Seville’s Ryan Farrow that faded left saw the Magpies in front by only eight points at the final change.

The fourth quarter started nervy with both sides missing chances early before Farrow would again step up to the plate and this time nail a tough set shot from the boundary to reduce the margin to a single point.

Belgrave’s Lachlan King would give away a 50m penalty late in the quarter that saw Seville hit the front for only the second time in the

match but a kick off the side of the boot fell kindly for the Magpie’s onrushing Chris Campbell.

Campbell went back on the tight angle, kicked his fourth goal of the day to draw the game level and the siren blew right after as a thrilling match ended all square.

Goal umpires convened where the final score was confirmed, with the scorecard reading Seville 10.11, 71 to Belgrave 11.5, 71.

Seville’s Nathan O’Keefe was awarded the George Ingram medallion for best on ground, joining Wandin women’s footballer Hailee Stokes in receiving their first edition of the medal and Seville A-Grade netballer Genesis Foster-Jonassen, who received the Robertson Sister’s medal for best on court.

Seville’s other best players were Jett Benninga, Jye Sciortino, Ryan Farrow, Jack Nolan,

Seville’s Nathan Thompson gets his kick away.

Cecere.

Belgrave’s top performers on the day were Chris Campbell, Aaron Green, Lachlan King, Christopher Westcott, Daniel Ryan and Joshua Brown.

Other results:

· Women’s Football: Seville 1.3, 9 defeated by Wandin 5.6, 36

· Reserves: Seville 8.3, 51 defeated by Belgrave 9.6, 60

· U18 Boys: Seville 2.2, 14 defeated by Mt Evelyn 18.15, 123

· A Grade netball: Seville 45 defeated Belgrave

defeated Belgrave

Bayley Sciortino and Mark

Strong hands in front from Seville’s Jett Benninga.

Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIG

Jack Nolan rises to mark unopposed.

Belgrave’s Kyle Nunn delivers inside 50.

Belgrave pre-game.

Seville pre-game.

A heavy collision in a marking contest.

Monbulk rally snares win

By Armin Ritcher

FOOTBALL

SENIORS

Monbulk and Mt Evelyn met at Monbulk on a perfect autumn day for an Anzac weekend clash where both sides were looking to notch their first victory of the season. It was the Rovers who established an early break before Monbulk clawed their way back to trail by just 3 points at the long break. The Hawks weren’t afraid to switch play through the corridor, and at times this hurt them on the scoreboard. As Monbulk challenged in the third term, wasted chances in front of goal with some wayward kicking proved costly. Despite having more scoring opportunities, the return of 1 goal 8 behinds for the second half sealed their fate. Monbulk 5.14.44 def by Mt. Evelyn 8.8.56

· Best: Hayden Finlay, Riley Finlay, Lochlan Beecroft, Josh Rak, Dylan Werts, Thomas Berman

· Goals: Lochlan Beecroft 1, Hayden Finlay 1, Ziggy Hatherley 1, Josh Spencer 1, Jack Downard-Pengilly 1

RESERVES

Monbulk made a raft of changes from their team of last week, some forced and some rotations. The Hawks came out hungry and in an attacking mood as they scored the opening two goals of the match. Mt. Evelyn steadied and looked to have the game under control at times during the second quarter. The Hawks were not to be denied and mounted a chal-

lenge in the third term where they managed to edge ahead by a goal. Both sides threw everything into the final term which yielded just one goal and in a thrilling finish Mt. Evelyn won by a solitary point.

Monbulk 5.7.37 def by Mt. Evelyn 5.8.38

· Best: Nicholas Taylor, Tim Rickard, Brodie Emmett, Coby Passingham, Jayden Spencer, Steven Shankly

· Goals: Charlie Barge 1, Lachlan Smith 1, Michael Langworthy 1, Steven Shankly 1, Jayden Spencer 1

WOMEN’S

Monbulk’s Senior Women’s team has been a revelation this year and were looking to cement their spot in the top three against the winless Officer team. It was the Kangaroos however who landed the first blow and quickly kicked the opening goal. This jolted the Hawks into gear and with a flurry they piled on a match-winning five goals to round out the opening quarter. Monbulk were then untroubled as they maintained control of the match, although the Officer defence lifted for the remainder of the match.

Monbulk 9.4.58 def Officer 2.1.13

· Best: Laura Gillard, Jade McCormick, Ruby Ross, Kathryn Gow, Nina D’Emilio, Josie Ford

· Goals: Jade McCormick 3, Laura Gillard 3, Kathryn Gow 2, Jennifer Pauw 1

NETBALL

A GRADE

This match was one of wild fluctuations. Mon-

bulk dominated the opening quarter to go in with a six goal break at the first change. The Rovers then turned the game on its head to tie it up by the half. Mt. Evelyn looked to be in cruise control as they got out to a five goal break during the third before the Hawks got a few late goals back to trail by just three at the final break. The match became an absolute cliffhanger as Monbulk tightened up defensively and levelled the scores to force a draw.

Monbulk 46 drew Mt. Evelyn 46

· Best: Georgia Himmelreich, Paige Whitworth, Stephanie Ferguson

· Goals: Elly Stewart 25, Stephanie Ferguson

21

B GRADE

The Monbulk B Grade girls will be looking to combat their slow starts which have proved costly in the last two weeks. Against Mt. Evelyn on Saturday they fell behind 32-11 by half time. In a credit to the team they never dropped their heads and fought out the match strongly, winning the second half as they changed up their game.

Monbulk 40 def by Mt. Evelyn 59

· Best: Siobhan Munday, JorjaWragg, Rihanna Kelly

· Goals: Jorja Wragg 35, Chloe Schmidtke 4, Grace Sands 1

C GRADE

Mt. Evelyn established their match winning lead in the opening term shooting 10 goals to 5. After quarter time there was nothing separating the two sides but Monbulk were never

able to breach the gap.

Monbulk 24 def by Mt. Evelyn 29

· Best: Lisa Boyle, Grace Sands, Laura Del Biondo

· Goals: Jamie Sands 17, Grace Sands 4, Chloe Carmichael 1

D GRADE Monbulk’s D Grade girls are still looking to open their account for 2024. They faced another winless team in the form of Mt. Evelyn but while the endeavor was there, they were not getting results for effort.

Monbulk 14 def by Mt. Evelyn 33

· Best: Maddy Buckland, Brooke O’Loughlin, Zali Utting

· Goals: Maddy Buckland 10, Hayley Donald 2, Ella Flynn 2

UNDER 15s

This young combination has been undaunted in their debut season. Working well together, they got out to an 11-5 lead by half time against NarreWarren. The Magpies threatened to make a game of it in the third by reducing the margin to 4. Listening to their coaches instructions, and taking on board changes in their game play, yielded dividends in the final quarter as they ran over their opponents 9-2 to come out convincing winners by 11 goals.

Monbulk 27 def Narre Warren 16

· Best: Kaitlyn Summers, Stella Dunstan, Isla Stubbs, Isabelle Cross

· Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 15, Lara Stenhouse 5, Stella Dunstan 5, Isla Stubbs 2

Scores from around Outer East football and netball

By Armin Ritcher

OUTER EAST FOOTBALL-NETBALL

LEAGUE SCOREBOARD ROUND 3

FOOTBALL

PREMIER DIVISION

· Seniors: Upwey-Tecoma 11.11.77 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 5.10.40; Gembrook-Cockatoo 9.11.65 def Emerald 5.4.34; Officer 9.11.65 def Pakenham 9.8.62; Woori Yallock 22.24.156 def Berwick Springs 6.1.37; Narre Warren 16.15.111 def Wandin 11.7.73; Mt. Evelyn 8.8.56 def Monbulk 5.14.44

· Reserves: Olinda-Ferny Creek 10.5.65 def

Upwey-Tecoma 9.9.63 Gembrook-Cockatoo 9.11.65 def Emerald 5.4.34; Officer 7.7.49 def Pakenham 4.5.29; Woori Yallock 11.7.73 def Berwick Springs 7.13.55; Wandin 7.8.50 def Narre Warren 6.3.39; Mt. Evelyn 5.8.38 def Monbulk 5.7.37

DIVISION ONE

· Seniors: Healesville 13.16.94 def Warburton-Millgrove 8.5.53; Seville 10.11.71 drew Belgrave 11.5.71; Yarra Glen 11.12.78 def Yarra Junction 9.13.67; Alexandra def Powelltown (forfeit);Yea bye

· Reserves: Healesville 12.7.79 def Warburton-Millgrove 3.6.24; Belgrave 9.6.60 def Seville 8.3.51; Yarra Junction 12.6.78 def Yarra Glen 5.4.34; Alexandra def Powell-

town (forfeit);Yea bye

UNDER 19s

· Upwey-Tecoma 15.5.95 def GembrookCockatoo 4.12.36; Pakenham 13.7.85 def Officer 5.6.36; Narre Warren def Wandin (forfeit) UNDER 18s

· WooriYallock 11.3.69 def Healesville 6.8.44; Mt. Evelyn 18.15.123 def Seville 2.2.14; Upwey-Tecoma 5.8.38 def Olinda-Ferny Creek

4.8.32

SENIOR WOMEN

· Division 1: Healesville 7.12.54 def Berwick Springs 0.2.2; Upwey-Tecoma 5.3.33 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 3.3.21; Pakenham 8.9.57 def Belgrave 0.1.1

· Division 2: Wandin 5.6.36 def Seville 1.3.9; Monbulk 9.4.58 def Officer 2.1.13; Warburton-Wesburn 14.21.105 def Thornton Eildon 1.0.6; Woori Yallock 4.5.29 def Emerald 2.1.13

NETBALL

PREMIER DIVISION

· A Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 57 def OlindaFerny Creek 34; Narre Warren 44 def Wandin 41; Emerald 60 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 33; Pakenham 54 def ROC 39; Woori Yallock 66 def Berwick Springs 16; Monbulk 46 drew Mt. Evelyn 46

· B Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 44 def OlindaFerny Creek 37; Narre Warren 49 def Wandin 45; Gembrook-Cockatoo 42 def Emerald 36; Pakenham 45 def ROC 44; Woori Yallock 63 def Berwick Springs 16; Mt. Evelyn 59 def Monbulk 40

· C Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 33 def OlindaFerny Creek 24; Narre Warren 28 def Wandin 26; Emerald 32 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 30; Pakenham 48 def ROC 26; Woori Yallock 39 def Berwick Springs 21; Mt. Evelyn 29 def Monbulk 24

· D Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 28 def OlindaFerny Creek 14; Narre Warren 37 def Wandin 19; Emerald 26 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 18; ROC 39 def Pakenham 22; Woori Yallock 41 def Berwick Springs 17; Mt. Evelyn 33 def Monbulk 14

DIVISION ONE

· A Grade: Warburton-Millgrove 59 def Healesville 27; Seville 45 def Belgrave 31; Alexandra 75 def Powelltown 20;Yarra

Mt Evelyn Reserves won by 1 point over Monbulk.

Picture: ARMIN RITCHER

Monbulk and Mt Evelyn observe a minutes silence for the Anzac weekend clash. Picture: ANTHEA HEAGNEY

Mt Evelyn’s Matt Gibbons marks in front of Monbulk’s Will Henderson and Jack DownardPengilly (37).

Mt Evelyn’s Kaitlyn Black (GK) lunges to stop Monbulk’s Elly Stewart (GS) receiving a pass.

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