Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 18th June 2024

Specialist CFA on scene for Taggerty rescue

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Concerns over aged care packages raised in Parliament

Yarra Junction’s Nigel Brennan awarded Fire Service Medal

400 games of Burrows

By Callum Ludwig

From the wet, cold and mud in the Yarra Valley to the hallowed turf of the MCG, Ian Burrows has seen it all in his storied career as a boundary umpire.

Ian Burrows, who grew up in Launching Place and started out in his umpiring career with the former Yarra Valley Umpires Association, umpired his 400th game at the professional level when Hawthorn defeated Richmond at the MCG on Saturday 15 June.

Burrows said he never really thought he’d be an umpire growing up.

“I never really had any ambitions until I got going and then realised it was quite fun and that there was a career path, so I started getting reasonably serious about it and working hard on the craft to see if I could get better and better,” he said.

Turn to page 27 for more

Housing in focus

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council made a couple of significant steps in streamlining the planning process, endorsing a housing strategy and ironing out some anomalies in the planning scheme at the Tuesday 11 June council meeting.

A slightly amended Housing Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Study was adopted to guide the location, intensity and designs of new residential areas, goals and developments

in the region for the next 15 years. A speaker in opposition and in support were invited to speak to the item, while Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar excused himself from the chamber due to a conflict of interest.

Duncan van Rooyen from Millar Merrigan Land Development Consultants spoke in opposition and said their concern is that in some instances, the strategy is far too restrictive and will unintentionally reduce the ability to pro-

vide much-needed and appropriate housing in some fully serviced residential areas.

“In our view, the mandatory site coverage controls and building setbacks in many cases are counterproductive to good planning and building design principles and don’t take into consideration each site’s unique opportunities and constraints such as the width of the site, the slope of the site, the shape of the site, its orientation, slope across the site, trees both within a site and adjacent to a site.”

Intrapac Property, the developer behind the Kinley Estate, CEO Maxwell Shifman spoke in support of the strategy and said the critical part of a good strategy is its implementation.

“I think it’s overdue that you’ve got a strategy that sort of talks to affordability and diversity because that’s going to be something that we’re really trying to do,” he said.

Turn to page 7 for more

Ian Burrows in action in the 2016 AFL Grand Final between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans.

Picture: ADAM TRAFFORD

Concerns over migration bill

By Gabriella Vukman

Locals have voiced their concerns regarding the Federal Government’s Migration Amendment Bill 2024.

Introduced by the government and passed in the House of Representatives on March 26, the Migration Amendment (Removals and Other Measures) Bill 2024, is currently going through a committee process.

This Committee process entails dissecting the bill section by section, suggesting amendments and voting on each, individual clause.

Upon its original introduction, the Bill proposed three amendments with the aim of the first to encourage the cooperation of non-refugees and other peoples who ‘have no right to be in Australia’ with their ‘lawful removal from Australia’ should they not voluntarily choose to leave.

Maintaining that “other countries should cooperate with Australia to facilitate the lawful return of their citizens,” the second section of the bill is centred around diplomatic relations with other nations.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Patterson said in an SBS interview, “We recognise there is a public policy problem here.”

“When there are people who are found not to be refugees who refuse to cooperate with their own removal and that means they can languish in Australia for many years longer than they should, then the government does need powers to deal with that,” Mr Patterson said.

The final section of the bill offers the Minister for Immigration “a new power to designate a country as a removal concern country.” People from these ‘removal concern countries’ will not be able to make new visa applications so long as this ‘removal concern’ remains in place.

The Bill suggests that countries that refuse “to accept returns of their own citizens,” will be designated as ‘removal concern countries.’

Currently, Coalition and Labor Senators have made 19 recommendations to improve the Government’s Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024, with the committee publishing 118 different submissions during the inquiry.

Casey MP Aaron Violi said “Labor has flagrantly disregarded the submissions of multicultural communities and legal experts by failing to address their legitimate concerns throughout the inquiry process.”

“As a result, the Coalition has proposed a

range of sensible recommendations to put safeguards on the powers proposed by the bill,” Violi said.

Labor was contacted but did not provide a comment.

Member of the Healesville group Regional Australians for Refugees and former refugee Bob Rich said, “I was only a kid when I came and I was accompanying my uncle but if this bill had been in action in Australia when I came, we would no doubt have chosen another country.”

“If you commit a crime you are sent to jail and that is the lawful process where everybody understands what is going on. Here we have people sent to places like Naru or New Guinea or imprisoned within Australia without being afforded a trial and with no end in sight,” Mr Rich said.

“This Bill was rushed through with quite insufficient debate allowed.”

The proposed bill’s swift introduction is said to have been intended to beat the High Court Ruling of Iranian man ASF17, who has

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been detained in Australia after refusing to cooperate with his own deportation back to Iran.

Yarra Junction Local and former refugee Rahmat Ali Zadah said, “People and Government might think refugees just want to arrive and have Centrelink, or maybe they think that it’s not safe for Australia to accept more refugees but in my experience, the refugees I shared accommodation with, all wanted a safe and happy life for them and their families.”

“The majority are skilled people who want to work hard and contribute to Australia. If they are accepted in Australia they are happy to adjust their life to fit in easily here,” Rahmat said.

“I am working very hard and have now applied to be reunited with my family who are living in Afghanistan where it is not safe for them. I have a wife and children who I have not seen in more than a decade. I hope to have them safe and happy with me here in Australia.”

Titled as a refugee and waiting in Indonesia for over a decade before becoming a permanent resident of Australia, Rahmat maintains that his own personal journey would not have

been affected by this Bill.

“My personal journey would not have been different as I waited in refugee accommodation for more than 10 years and I arrived with a humanitarian visa but these amendments will affect other refugees who are in danger and deserve a life of protection in Australia unless they commit a serious crime then they will get sent back,” Rahmat said.

“Also the refugees left in Indonesia respect the border rules and want to arrive in Australia legally, however the government closed the access to Australia.”

“The Government thinks refugees in Indonesia are in a good condition, however more than 16 people committed suicide over the duration of my stay there due to the situation they are in,” Rahmat said.

Minister for Immigration Giles Scullin presented the bill and said “The Migration Amendment (Removals and Other Measures) Bill 2024 will provide the government with necessary tools to strengthen our immigration compliance framework, including to better manage immigration detention.”

Introduced by the government and passed in the house of representatives March 26, the Migration Amendment (Removals and Other Measures) Bill 2024, is currently going through a committee process.

Picture: MARCUS REUBENSTEIN, UNSPLASH

High angle rescue no issue for CFA

By Dongyun Kwon

Emergency services worked together to rescue two people at Wells Cave Track, Taggerty at around 4pm on Sunday 9 June.

Wandin CFA’s rope rescue team joined other two CFA units (Yea and Monbulk) and two SES units (Alexandra and Marysville) to assist two hikers who were not confident to descend one of the large rocks on the track due to the rainfall.

Wandin CFA firefighter Rick Ramadge said all emergency agencies worked well together.

“We arrived right on dark, so that made it a bit more complicated with the lack of lighting,” he said.

“We had a high-angle rope rescue system to rescue the patients and then we brought them down individually one by one.”

None of the hikers were injured and they successfully touched down on the safer ground through the rope rescue system.

The crews walked them back to a nearby car park.

“I’m not entirely sure of the means of why they were stuck with. I think they were just under-prepared for the track grade that they were on and didn’t have sufficient equipment with them,” Mr Ramadge said.

“The track they were trying to walk was quite an advanced hiking track.

“We’re just trying to say to all the hikers that you need to go prepared into these mountainous locations and then if you do come into trouble, call for assistance as early as possible.”

The incident was declared safe at 7.34 pm.

IN BRIEF

Yarra Junction scoreboard fire

Two CFA units from the Yarra Junction and Hillcrest brigades responded to a scoreboard on fire on Warburton Highway in Yarra Junction at around 10.58am on June 13.

The scoreboard, 8 x 3 metres, had significant damage.

The incident was under control at 11.10am and deemed safe at 11.22am.

The scene has now been handed to Yarra Ranges Council.

Police investigating Wandin North crash

Police are investigating the circumstances of a collision on Beenak Road, Wandin North at about 11.55pm on Sunday 9 June 2024.

It is alleged the driver, a 29-year-old Launching Place man veered off the road and collided with a number of trees, trapping a 30-year-old passenger in the vehicle with significant lower leg injuries.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said one person was transported by road ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The driver allegedly fled the scene before returning approximately half an hour later.

The driver is expected to be charged on summons with driving offences, failing to render assistance and refusing a breath test.

Failing to render assistance alone carries a maximum penalty of 1200 penalty units or 10 years imprisonment.

Any person with dash cam footage of the vehicle prior to the collision is urged to contact Lilydale Police on 9739 2300.

Man arrested after airwing follow through the Yarra Valley

A 29 year old Hampton Park man was arrested in Lilydale at about 3.30pm on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 June after first being observed driving a stolen Toyota Corolla in Gembrook. Police with support from the Airwing were able to track the vehicle as it drove from Gembrook into Woori Yallock, Seville and subsequently Lilydale.

The male abandoned the vehicle in Lilydale and was observed entering a residential yard where he was arrested by Victoria Police.

The male has been charged and will front the Magistrates Court at a later date.

Popular salami recalled

Primo Foods Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of its Primo Mild Salami 25 per cent Less Salt 80g product that has been sold in Coles, Woolworths and IGA.

The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (milk) and affects products with a use by date of 19 July 2024.

Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Palak Paneer recall

Indya Foods Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of its Ashoka Palak Paneer 280g product.

The product has been available for sale at Woolworths nationally and products with a best before date of 15 June 2025 are affected.

The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (cashew).

Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Cold and wet conditions couldn’t stop emergency services from helping people in need (Monbulk CFA lieutenant Josh Leigh).

Picture: SUPPLIED

Two hikers successfully touched down on the safer ground through the rope rescue system.

Wandin CFA has 12 specialists in its rope rescue team.

Seal the roads, they say

By Callum Ludwig

Residents have expressed their concerns about the state of a group of roads in Seville East.

A petition with 40 valid signatures was discussed at theYarra Ranges Council meeting on Tuesday 11 June.

Seville East resident Daniel Lawrence spoke to the petition and said it is to have the Eastview Road Group sealed, inclusive of Wilma Avenue and Glen Valley Crescent.

“The road maintenance has improved since the last correspondence between myself and the council, I think I’ve spoken to Mr Eastham and Jim Child before via email,” he said.

“After two or three days of the roads being graded, it does return to its prior poor self, t he grading is inadequate for the amount of water runoff, the substrates deteriorated and the only corrective measure now is to remove the road completely back to the base and redo it from the start,”

“The addition of the park upgrade is all well and good, but 60 per cent of us have to put our cars into low range to reach the park from our houses.”

Mr Lawrence took the time to acknowledge recent upgrades to the area including the Glen Valley Park and its playground, recent improvements to the road maintenance and the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw funding for the Roads for Community program to seal roads in the Yarra Ranges.

Mr Lawrence said the roads have become a running joke in the area.

“On Wilma Avenue alone, we have two children needing round-the-clock medical care, two adolescents needing special needs access and two to three senior citizens needing national patient transport care numerous times a month,” he said.

“With the current state of the roads and surrounding vegetation, this is becoming in-

creasingly difficult and is also restricting the residents to their homes aside from the days immediately after the road has been seen too.”

Mr Lawrence has been a resident of Wilma Avenue for about eight years and he has estimated the spoon drains on the road, particularly the downhill section, are about a metre deep and 40 centimetres wide.

A number of councillors chimed in before questions were asked to the executive.

“I remember many years ago in Mt Evelyn, having to pull people out late at night on the dirt road that I lived in with chains and it’s not good, usually visitors to the area haven’t got the knowledge of doing that but it’s important to bring these situations to Council regarding poor road maintenance,” Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan said

“We’re actually investigating now in regards

to special charge schemes, how do we go forward because what we’ve got now is a cohort of residents out there that strongly brought in to that particular advocacy piece instead of $14,000 commitment, a $7,000 commitment to have their roads sealed and now what we’re hearing is they still want to be engaged in a process so we have to take that seriously,”

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said.

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham and Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister thanked Mr Lawrence for sharing his concerns and foreshadowed questions to Council executives regarding spoon drains and how the Council can proceed regarding requests from the community for remedial works without the Roads for Community funding.

Acting Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure Phil Murton said in response

that now the funding’s been removed, they’re having to review what the special charge scheme program and policy is.

“It’s due to come back to Council in the next couple of months, which will then outline a process forward around how particularly for the roads that were on the Roads for Community initiative that weren’t able to be delivered once the funding was cut, what the process might be to be able to get some of those roads delivered in the coming years,” he said.

“Every road has a different profile in terms of the drainage so I’m happy to take notice of some of the questions around the specific drains in this area and investigate with the team and get back to both yourself Councillor Eastham but also the petitioner.”

A motion to refer the petition was carried unanimously.

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A car stuck in a drain posted on the Seville East Traffic Safety Group page on Facebook in September 2023. Picture: SEVILLE EAST TRAFFIC SAFETY GROUP Wilma Avenue,Seville East. 413214

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

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NEWS Speak up on flood plan

By Mikayla van Loon

After months of vocal petitions from the community calling for action on flooding and drainage improvements across the shire, Yarra Ranges Council has responded with its management plan.

The draft stormwater management plan and draft policy were accepted to be released to the community for feedback and consultation at the Tuesday 11 June meeting.

Having stated on many occasions that the plan would inform the council’s response to drainage and water management it was cited as the cornerstone piece in a much larger puzzle.

The 10 year plan looks to not only mitigate the flood risk but “protect and maintain the natural water cycle and health of waterways from urban development impacts” across the whole municipality.

Community consultation will run for six weeks, with those directly affected by flooding to be invited to specific workshops and sessions with council officers, as well as Melbourne Water’s staff.

Councillor Andrew Fullagar put forward the motion to approve the draft plans for community consultation.

“There’s been a definite shift in the council’s thinking around the importance of drainage and flooding over the past 12 months,” he said.

“We’ve had many heartfelt pleas from our residents directly affected by various flooding events and giving a very strong and appropriate message that we do something and we are. It’s never fast enough, but we do wish to initiate change.”

Divided into two documents, the policy outlines the roles and responsibilities of the council to inform the scope it can work within, as well as its relationships with other key bodies like Melbourne Water and Vicroads.

The management plan itself addresses the need for flood mapping, using stormwater as a resource, infrastructure upgrades, Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Integrated Water Management (IWM) strategies, climate modelling and funding streams.

Cr Fullagar said the 31 specific actions that have been incorporated in the plan “underscores the complexity” of stormwater management but shows a “proactive approach rather than traditional reactive”.

“We need to respond to future impacts of climate change but in order to plan we need data and a logical prioritisation process.

“One key component of this is mapping all our catchments, and modelling various parameters. We must understand the different types of flooding, the existing network, the pinch points downstream and upstream and understanding of the flood extent and hazards including underground flow paths which are often overlooked.”

Seconding the motion, Cr Johanna Skelton

said she was “glad we’re at this point” and was interested to learn from the community the priorities they see to be the most important.

“Should it be the areas with the largest number of people? Should it be the areas that are the worst affected by flooding? Should it be areas where we might need water retention and can save money by retaining the water?” she said.

“There are so many different ways we can do this…But it really is up to us as a community to determine what we think is the fairest and best way to move forward for action in this area.”

Cr Skelton said she appreciated the transparency taken by the officers in looking at various funding options given that “funding is an issue”.

Despite the $16 million put towards drainage over six years in the 2024-25 budget and a further portion of the $23 million infrastructure budget going to drainage, the shire would require grants or other funding to complete

the scale of works needed.

Also looking from a sustainability perspective, Cr Skelton said the health of the waterways and the ability to cater to both flood and potential drought was just as important as mitigating the overflow of water.

“It hasn’t been forgotten that water is a resource… we’re looking at the dry times as well as the wet times,” she said.

“It’s not just about how to get rid of that water as fast as possible. It’s looking at ways to mitigate issues along the way.

“We still absolutely need to make sure that our waterways, which are so unique and precious and largely a lot more habitat rich and clean and full of life than so many other waterways around metropolitan Melbourne, we do need to really value their health as well.”

The motion was carried unanimously. Community consultation will be open until 24 July. To find out more, visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/draft-stormwater-managementplan-2024-2034

Yarra Junction Medical Centre’s Alison out the front after flooding in 2022. 306415

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Chapel Street flooded with drains unable to cope with the excess water.

Picture: MARLENE QUIGG

Housing strategy adopted

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council has adopted a slightly amended Housing Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Study at the Tuesday 11 June Council meeting which will guide the location, intensity and designs of new residential areas, goals and developments in the region for the next 15 years.

A speaker in opposition and in support were invited to speak to the item while Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar excused himself from the chamber due to a conflict of interest.

Duncan van Rooyen from Millar Merrigan Land Development Consultants spoke in opposition and said their concern is that in some instances, the strategy is far too restrictive and will unintentionally reduce the ability to provide much-needed and appropriate housing in some fully serviced residential areas.

“Currently there are 528 new dwellings being constructed annually in Yarra Ranges and over the next 15 years the prediction is the need for 11,000 new dwellings, this equates to 730 new dwellings per year which is an increase of 40 per cent on current levels,” he said.

“In our view, the mandatory site coverage controls and building setbacks in many cases are counterproductive to good planning and building design principles and don’t take into consideration each site’s unique opportunities and constraints such as the width of the site, the slope of the site, the shape of the site, its orientation, slope across the site, trees both within a site and adjacent to a site.”

Mr van Rooyen mentioned a number of requirements on general residential zones as examples of restriction, including the 35 per cent mandatory garden requirement, 40 per cent maxim site coverage, mandatory 2m side setback and minimum 4m rear setback. Mr van Rooyen mentioned outcomes he had seen in neighbouring LGAs like Maroondah (mandatory 5m rear setback) and Knox (no mandatory rear setback) where open space requirements are more flexible than each other.

Mr van Rooyen said if adopted, the policy can’t consider any site’s unique characteristics and ultimately could lead to poor design and further decrease the possibility of housing opportunities in those areas.

“While this may appear to be a mechanism

to promote low-scale development, the reality is that it would simply encourage two-storey dwellings which we know are far more costly to build and don’t cater for the changing needs of an ageing population,” he said.

“To be clear, we have no in principle objection to minimum open space areas or widths but believe that far better outcomes could be achieved by allowing open space areas to be sited within a lot and not confined to pre-determined areas,”

“We believe that this one size fits all broad brush approach across all sites needs to be reconsidered and a more flexible model will result in much better amenity and liveability outcomes for future residents and the community as a whole.”

After a question from Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton, MrVan Rooyen and Millar Merrigan had not contributed to the feedback on the draft Housing Strategy. O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child later asked the executive team if they had been contacted to provide a submission. Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure Hjalmar Phillip confirmed Millar Merrigan was invited to participate in a focus group but did not submit.

Intrapac Property, the developer behind the Kinley Estate, CEO Maxwell Shifman spoke in support of the strategy and said the critical part of a good strategy is its implementation.

“I think it’s overdue that you’ve got a strategy that sort of talks to affordability and diversity because that’s going to be something that we’re really trying to do,” he said.

“It’s one of the things we were really trying to push for on the site of that scale, the opportunity to do something a little bit different in terms of density, scale, topologies on that site,”

“You can have all the sort of good words around wanting to deliver certain things, but if it’s not coupled with the right resourcing and the right processes, then it’s not going to succeed the way you’d like.”

Mr Shifman mentioned not being able to release land for about three years on the Kinley Estate due to zoning and planning issues that they have faced, which they have estimated could have cost residents about $20,000 over the last 12 to 18 months.

A number of actions have been taken based on the feedback received in the submission process:

Council will undertake a review of the Low Density Residential Zone areas in Monbulk that may be suitable for rezoning the Neighbourhood Residential Zone

Council will seek further legal advice on regulating tiny homes in the planning system

Commit to undertaking a Housing Design and Diversity Strategy

Consider the need for planning at a precinct level rather than site-by-site

Monitor the impact of Clause 15.01-2L Environmentally Sustainable Development on planning approval timeframes and planning application costs with a view to further amendments

Added further explanation in Chapter 7 on bushfire policy

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister spoke to the motion and said it’s critical not just from a statutory and planning perspective, but also in terms of housing affordability and availability, shaping the look, feel and experience of theYarra Ranges and the impact on the quality of life for residents.

“We’re not a high growth council, but even a growth rate of 0.7 per cent which does not sound huge actually needs to be met and met well to maintain the character and the liveability of the place that’s so important to all of us who choose to live in the Yarra Ranges,” she said.

“Whilst I know there will be continued conversations as planning scheme amendments start to roll out and clearly as issues emerge and the way that we had anticipated some of these actions and things will play out and the reality may be different, I’m so pleased to see these documents come to us tonight.”

In the draft strategy, Yarra Ranges Council identified Lilydale, Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park as target townships for higher-density housing as well as suitable medium-density development in the townships of Mount Evelyn, Healesville, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction, aiming to cater to an expected growth of about 23,000 people by 2041.

Diverse housing like tiny houses, cohousing, secondary dwellings and relocatable buildings will be investigated, while shop-top housing and high-rise living (maximum of six storeys) is proposed for areas like Lilydale, Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark.

Planning scheme amendment to correct anomalies

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council is seeking an amendment to the planning scheme to address a few minor inaccuracies and anomalies that have cropped up in recent planning applications.

Amendment C223 was discussed at the Tuesday 11 June Council meeting and will be the most recent change to the planning scheme since 2022 if approved by the Minister for Planning.

StreetonWard Councillor Andrew Fullagar spoke to the motion and said these anomalies come up every now and then and they’ve discovered a number in recent months.

“The key issues tonight really are adjustments to some of the current provisions, extensions of exemptions to allow current uses to continue and rezoning some, sometimes part, properties to make sense of their current uses as well,” he said.

“As can be seen by the report, a lot of work’s been done behind the scenes to bring this to us and it’s just a matter of making these changes and to make sense of some of our provisions.”

As well as establishing new provisions for future applications and preventing further anomalies, six particular properties across the shire will have their concerns addressed if the amendment is approved:

150 Cambridge Road, Kilsyth - The former Yarra Hills Secondary College site purchased by Yarra Ranges Council in 2022 is to be retained as open space following community consultation.

261 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Ferny Creek - Occupier Proserpina Bake-

Yarra Ranges Council is seeking an amendment to the planning scheme to address some anomalies around the region. Picture: ON FILE

house asked that the incorporated document ‘Development and Use of Land for a Food and Drink Premise and a Caretaker’s House’ be amended to reflect the hours of operation for a bakery

72A Milners Road, Yarra Junction - Landowner Melbourne Water requested the nowexpired site-specific control be extended for another 10 years

435-437 Maroondah Highway, LilydaleLandowner Swinburne Children’s Centre requested in a submission on the draft Lilydale Structure Plan that the part of the site that is zoned Residential Growth Zone (RGZ1) be rezoned to include all land within the Commercial 2 Zone (C2Z).

441A Maroondah Highway, Lilydale - The landowner JD’s Sound and Lighting asked that the part of the site that is currently zoned RGZ1 be included in the C2Z as this portion

is in the process of being acquired by 439 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale (Yarra Valley Ag) for further business expansion, in which a boundary realignment has been already granted.

1 St Benedict’s Drive, Gladysdale - A prospective purchaser notified Council that the site is included in the Public Conservation and Resource Zone despite being privately owned with a dwelling on the property, and suggested the site should be rezoned to Rural Conservation Zone 3 to reflect its use and the surrounding zoning.

Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton said she was in complete agreement with the amendment and that we do need these updates to remain accurate.

“Of course, the big item on here probably for this term of council is the rezoning of 150 Cambridge Road, which is in here, proposing to rezone it from a neighbourhood residential zone, which it was zoned of course after it was a school, to be a public park and recreation zone, which is just another exciting stage in that journey to move forward with that project,” she said.

Walling Ward Councillor Len Cox OAM is also excited about the 150 Cambridge Road plans moving forward.

“It is exciting that that wonderful block of 3.6 hectares of land which was the old secondary school has been rezoned to parkland zoning and as said, will stay for the rest of time hopefully and it will make a wonderful park for the people of Kilsyth,” he said.

Overall, Yarra Ranges Council are proposing to correct seven key issues with the amendment:

Mapping Corrections - to rezone or partially rezone properties to be consistent with current or future land use for the sites, as well as address instances where zone boundaries on properties covered by multiple zones did not match property boundaries.

Remove Development Plan Overlay 10 – For the former Yarra Hills Secondary College site 150 Cambridge Road, Kilsyth which facilitated housing

Removing Specific Control Overlays (SCOs) from several sites and changes to associated incorporated documents - will delete the incorporated document ‘Document Incorporated under the Schedule to Clause 52.03 (Specific Sites and Exclusions) of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, March 2017’ which outlined requirements for sitespecifics developments which have since been completed or long expired. Three sites will need to have their exemption and expiry dates extended.

Update Schedule 2 to Clause 37.01 Special Use Zone (SUZ2) - update with accurate property addresses for all relevant sites as some don’t align with the actual addresses of each site or do not include the full street address.

Delete outdated references to Environmentally Sustainable Design - Several DDOs in the planning scheme have references that are inconsistent and have now been addressed in the Environmentally Sustainable Development local policy at Clause 15.01-2L in another amendment

Minor correction to Erosion Management Overlay - Correcting a minor grammatical error

Yarra Ranges Council has adopted its new Housing Strategy.

Picture: ON FILE

NEWS Strategy ‘success’ in focus

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) will endorse the success and achievements of its Equity, Access, and Inclusion Strategy (EAIS) 2013-2023 and its Disability Advisory Committee.

YRC will share three reports: Final Report, Summary Report and Disability Advisory Committee Highlights 2023 with the community via YRC’s website.

The Final Report and The Summary Report are to share examples of completed projects and initiatives implemented throughout the lifecycle of the previous EAIS, as well as key reflections.

The Disability Advisory Committee High-

lights 2023 is included to align Council Strategy with key Advisory Committee functions and to streamline annual reporting processes for YRC.

Walling Ward councillor Len Cox OAM said EAIS is “such an important strategy”.

“This has been drawn up by some very enlightened and wonderful staff that we’ve got and they’ve been working on this for quite some time,” he said.

“They’ve also had some help from the Disability Advisory Committee which is full of people with understanding about disabilities and very sympathetic towards them.

“The committee includes a couple of peo-

ple in wheelchairs. The rest of them have either got a disability, or they work for people with a disability or someone in their family.”

Lyster Ward councillor Johanna Skelton said she is proud of the involvement of the different people from YRC.

“It’s important to reflect and to look from strengths-based and asset-based, where we can go from here and try to build on what we’ve done well and the people who’ve embedded it in their groups,” she said.

“The moments that I’m proud of are the things where it’s been other parts of the organisation who have embedded those things without always the involvement of a disability inclusion officer.”

Almost 20 per cent of Yarra Ranges residents have a disability and over 5 per cent need daily support with core activities due to age, chronic illness or profound disability.

About 15 per cent of residents provide unpaid care to a person due to disability, health condition or age.

“There is 20 per cent of our population with disabilities, but as well as that, the help needed by their carers is enormous,” Cr Cox said.

“If you’ve got someone in your family that is severely disabled, the carer does enormous work to look out, mostly unpaid work.

“And they do it just out of love. Those people also need to be remembered. They are very important people.”

The community members will be able to watch the snapshot video of the previous EAIS achievements on YRC’s special media channels and via YRC’s online newsletter.

At the same council meeting, Yarra Ranges resident IvorWolstencroft presented a proposal for change, with more projects in Yarra Ranges focusing on connectivity for the disabled.

Mr Wolstencroft’s wife has a mitochondrial disease and said although the big projects that YRC has done are fantastic when they stand alone, they fail to connect with other parts of the community.

“Because I do work at Mount Dandenong, I had the pleasure of seeing the relatively new Chelsea Garden. The disability access is fantastic once you’re in the garden but if you try to get from the front entrance to the garden, it’s just impossible if you are in a wheelchair,” he said.

“You could see the connectivity that was missing between the disabled toilet and the Warburton wharf. You just can’t get there in a wheelchair.

“I think each individual project satisfies planning regulations but the building regulations can be behind what’s actually happening in the community.”

Yarra Ranges councillors promised to connect Mr Wolstencroft to the YRC’s Disability Advisory Committee to talk about the issues that he has found.

Waiting for in-home care

By Mikayla van Loon

As Australia’s ageing population grows and more people elect to remain at home longer, concern over the ability to provide essential services has been raised.

The outer east is not immune to this trend, with Casey MP Aaron Violi outlining in a private members motion in parliament on Monday 3 June multiple cases of residents being unable to access in-home care.

Referencing four different stories in his address to the House of Representatives, MrVioli said “these aren’t ‘nice to have’ packages; these are necessities for older Australians”.

“I’ll begin with John, who is 92, from Lilydale and needs garden maintenance and mowing. John is unable to even get on the waitlist, with all providers saying their waitlists are full,” he said.

“Majorie, who is 99 and from Chirnside Park, needs additional respite hours for her family, who are her full-time carers, as well as a wheelchair, a walker and podiatry services. She recently had her two hours per week cut back to one and half hours.

“There’s John, who is 80 and from Montrose, who has muscular dystrophy and is no longer able to do his garden maintenance. John required new assessments but had to wait five weeks for that assessment to happen, wait for the package to be provided and then wait again for services to become available for him.

“There’s Lorraine, who is 89 and from Chirnside Park. She needs assistance with shopping and home and garden maintenance but has been told that ‘no-one is available to help at the moment’ and to keep checking in with the service provider.”

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) understands that recent senate estimates show that 68,000 people are currently on the waiting list for home care packages.

“Access to home care packages has decreased over the past six months and we expect further pressure on the system as the population ages,” OPAN chief executive officer Craig Gear said.

“Some older people and families have reported to us that they have been waiting nine to 12 months to access a level 3 package.

“Others have said they have waited more than 12 months for Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services, particularly in regional and remote areas.That is completely unacceptable.”

Mr Gear said it is not uncommon for OPAN to hear of service providers closing their waiting lists completely and in some “extreme cases”, older people have died before accessing the support they needed.

Because of this, OPAN has called for services to be delivered within 30 days of application in its joint submission to the Aged Care Act Exposure Draft and Mr Gear said it was that early intervention which prevented unnecessary, premature entry into aged care homes for elderly residents.

“Older people consistently tell us that they want to remain at home for as long as possible. Early intervention is key,” he said.

“Providing older people with low cost, highimpact services – such as domestic assistance, community transport and meals – enables them to maintain their independence and social connections.”

However, Mr Gear said because funding and the workforce availability have not kept up with the ageing population it has become increasingly difficult to ensure these services are catering to the needs of the older generation.

A Federal Government department of health and aged care spokesperson confirmed a further $530 million was allocated to provide an additional 24,100 Home Care Packages in the 2024-25 budget.

“By 30 June 2025, this will equate to a record 300,000 older Australians accessing in-home care supports through the Home Care Packages Program,” they said.

Mr Violi said this did not equate to the previous Liberal government’s “last two budgets [which] released an additional 80,000 home care packages”.

“Supporting elderly Australians through aged care supports is one of the key roles of a federal government in Australia,” he said.

“It acknowledges the invaluable contributions that Australians have made in their working lives, as carers, in their personal lives and in building communities.”

The department spokesperson said to make further headway in addressing the growing need, the Australian government would be rolling out the new Support at Home program come 1 July 2025.

“The government acknowledges there are concerns being raised by older people in Australia who are waiting to access supports that will help them live in their own homes,” the spokesperson said.

“The Support at Home program is being designed to better support older people to remain independent, in their home and community for longer.

“The Government is also making significant investments to the workforce in aged care including to lift the wages of workers to attract

and retain staff in the aged care sector.”

Mr Gear said the new program is meant to “integrate and streamline services” but OPAN would be looking to work with other national bodies to advocate and ensure it “enables people to exercise choice and control in the planning and delivery of their aged care”.

In his motion, Mr Violi called on the government to address the shortfalls and do more to protect older Australians.

“This doesn’t just impact the lives of the clients; it impacts their families and carers, who have no choice but to follow up with these providers and departments. It’s simply not good enough,” he said.

“The Albanese Labor government is failing to address this shortfall in aged-care packages, and elderly Australians are paying the price every day.”

Anyone with concerns or issues surrounding an aged care service, can contact OPAN’s free, confidential and independent Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600.

Older Australian’s wanting to remain at home and independent are finding it incredibly difficult to access care.

Picture: UNSPLASH

Top honour for Nigel’s dedication

By Callum Ludwig

A Yarra Junction local has been recognised for his commitment to fire management with an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) awarded on King’s Birthday.

Nigel Brennan is the Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) District Manager for the Yarra District and leads the team responsible for maintenance, fire reduction works and fire response in the expanses of forest in the region.

Mr Brennan said he felt proud to receive the accolade.

“But I also feel that my achievements really reflect the achievements of all the people that I’ve worked with over the years,” he said.

“I really enjoy working in the forest, I recreate in the forest, and I value everything that the forest has to offer.

Mr Brennan wasn’t the only FFMVic representative to be honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours list, with Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman also receiving an AFSM.

Mr Brennan said he first studied forestry at university in the 80s.

“My employment as a forester involved fire management and firefighting right from the start but over the years has become more strongly focused on fire management,” he said.

“In Yarra District, we have our major work centre based at Powelltown and we also have staff operating from ParksVic work centres at WooriYallock and Gembrook. Our job includes planned burning, road and track maintenance, and of course training and preparation so that when we need to respond to bushfires we’ve got the capability to do that safely and effectively,”

“We are really highly trained and committed to forest and fire management.”

In total, Mr Brennan has spent 36 years working in forest and fire management, including working for the former Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands measuring trees and 14 years in forestry in east Gippsland.

Mr Brennan said Black Saturday in 2009 drove home to him the importance of fire management.

“In those serious fire events, you can really see how the risks that exist in the forest areas that surround communities can have massive

impacts in terms of loss of life, property destruction and all the other consequences that come from major bushfires,” he said.

“Every summer, when the forest dries out and hot windy weather occurs, those risks become a reality and it’s very important that we as an emergency service have got the ability to be able to do something about that,”

“Preventing fires and reducing the impacts of fire through our planned burn program is vital and once fires start, being able to respond to those fires in partnership with other agencies becomes really critical.”

Alison’s leaving a lasting legacy

By Lindy Schneider

With a background in Economic Development, having a passion for small business development runs in Alison Fitzgerald’s veins. But it was her interest in establishing her own practice as a jewellery maker that saw her take her first steps onto the property at Yarra Ranges Enterprise Centre (YREC) in 2014.

Returning to Warburton, after several years living in the expat community of Hong Kong with her husband Steve, Alison wanted to check out the studio spaces at YREC with a view to starting up her own business.

“I saw the potential immediately, even though it was really run down and seemed to lack any real focus or direction for tenants,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

Before she could even take the next step, an encounter with Director ofYREC Jeff Gill on the main street ofWarburton resulted in a job offer that would set in course enormous change for YREC and provide Alison with the opportunity to live and work locally while using her finely honed business skills to help others.

“At the job interview, I was asked to present to the board. I couldn’t as I was booked on a flight the next day, so instead I agreed to review some financial documents and write a report. I worked on it until 3am. I accepted the job offer while overseas. My first day as Executive Officer was a baptism of fire,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“Jeff met me at the door, handed me the keys and the computer password and that was it, I soon found that the previous management had neglected keeping up with the operations of the business leaving many problems to be solved.”

Instead of feeling disheartened, Alison rose to the challenge. During the years of her employment, she was able to transform the underperforming incubator, catching up on financial requirements, reshaping the tenant arrangements, and prepare a maintenance plan. In the midst of this consolidation, an unexpected phone call arrived from the State Government advising her the property, developed in 1940 as a former Board of Works site, was being placed on the ‘excess stock’ list and

was to be sold. SuddenlyYREC faced an uncertain future.

“I knew the value this incubator brought to the community and what a unique model it provided,” Ms Fitzgerald said,

“I knew there had to be a solution and I posed to the board the question: What would it be like if we, YREC, bought the site?”

Over the next 18 months, Alison found skills in advocacy, lobbying government ministers and visioning she didn’t know she possessed. In late 2017, after significant planning and negotiation, a deal for purchase was struck, and a payment plan was agreed to.TodayYREC is the proud owner of the site, and this has enabled Alison to realise a range of new plans for site improvement and tenant services.

As she acknowledges her ten-year anniversary, Alison’s vision is to leave a legacy that serves her local business community well into the future. To date, she has supported more than 200 start-up businesses and is proud of her ability to nurture and guide her tenants towards sustainable success. Her goal is for 100 per cent occupancy with the right mix of tenants. She is continually developing the strategic direction for YREC’s growth and exploring new ideas for unique responses to the very real challenges faced in the Upper Yarra Valley. She has steered the incubator and its people

Celebrating 10 years

By Callum Ludwig

This month Warburton Valley CEDA (WVCEDA), a not-for-profit Business and Traders advocacy group established for the businesses of the Upper Yarra, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Since forming in 2014 (a merger between Warburton Highway Tourism and the Warburton Chamber of Commerce), the volunteer-based group has supported more than 250 businesses and currently has more than 100 active members.

WVCEDA President Anna Tehan said WVCEDA continues to be extremely proactive in advocating and supporting local businesses, which is really important for the local business network in having a unified strong voice representing Warburton Valley businesses

“WVCEDA is committed to supporting our current members and our short to medium-term goals are to grow and diversify our membership base, we are currently working with local and state level governments to showcase the businesses of our members and celebrate the strengths of our community,” she said.

“Warburton and the Upper Yarra region has potential for growth and change in the coming years and the WVCEDA committee currently consists of a range of local business owners to represent the community and support their future business”

The WVCEDA committee consists of nine active local business owners within the Warburton Valley, with representatives from hospitality, retail, manufacturing, outdoor adventure, tourism and accommodation, wellbeing, professional services and tradespeople.

through challenges such as the pandemic and been a survivor of her own personal journey with breast cancer in 2018.

“It’s rewarding work for me to see people come and then ‘graduate’ from the incubator because their businesses have grown so much,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“It’s really special. They provide services and products we need locally. We all work in the community, for the community.”

With big plans for future capital improvements, Alison still finds her role as challenging and fulfilling as when she began.

“No day is ever the same,” she said.

“And I love my job for its flexibility and opportunities to interact with all types of creative and interesting people.”

She is dedicated to giving back to the community and has an ethos of collaboration, rather than competition.

An avid explorer of other incubators in the state she can proudly say the YREC model is distinctive, reflecting the culture and community in the region.

“There’s no blueprint for us because we are really vested in a sense of place, and there is nowhere quite like Warburton and the creative ideas that blossom here,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

Ms Fitzgerald believes ultimately YREC is successful because of its like-minded people.

“It’s not about me, it’s about a whole village,” she said

The YREC board takes great pleasure in congratulating Alison Fitzgerald for her contribution over the past decade and extend their thanks on behalf of all tenants past and present, and the community of the Upper Yarra.

“YREC would not exist today without Alison’s commitment and stewardship,” they said.

Ms Tehan said one of the keys to their success has been the ability to advocate for local business and community needs at all levels of government.

“We have also developed strong and effective ties with other key groups in the Upper Yarra Valley, such as the Warburton Advancement League, Upper Yarra Community Enterprise, The Waterwheel, Yarra Ranges Tourism, Yarra Ranges Council and a range of subcommittees/ working groups, including strategic development groups.”

In the past 10 years, WVCEDA has seen many changes in the business landscape, including those as a response to the pandemic, and made representations to the planning process for several major developments. “The interest in the region for nature-based activities, and the revival of main street trading, plus the emergence of local and bespoke small businesses across a range of industries is central to current and future success,” Ms Tehan said.

WVCEDA has had continued success in receiving grant funding, which has enabled them to hold an inaugural Business Expo in May 2023, and more recently two key events promoting ‘Wellbeing in Business’. They also hold quarterly networking forums, which are well attended by new and existing members.

Ms Tehan said their initiatives will always be representative of our members and with a keen awareness of the broader community.

“We are excited about the next ten years and seeing many plans come to fruition. There are some incredible opportunities for the Warburton Valley in the pipeline,” she said.

“Our approach is to connect business and community, together we are stronger. Keeping people connected is a significant part of the value we bring.”

New members welcome. All enquiries to: Info@warburtonvalley.org

Yarra Junction resident Nigel Brennan has received an Australian Fire Service Medal. Picture: SUPPLIED

Alison Fitzgerald at YREC. Picture: ON FILE

New deer fencing up

By Callum Ludwig

A new installation at Yarra Valley ECOSS is set to help protect the site and provide an educational opportunity for its visitors.

New deer-proof fencing lines the grounds thanks to a 2023 grant from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)’s Deer Control Program.

Executive Director at Yarra Valley ECOSS Chelsea McNab saidYarraValley ECOSS strives to be a hub of information for environmental and social sustainability.

“This project enabled us to install four types of Deer Fencing as an Educational Model for the community to view and gain a better understanding of deer control methods,” she said.

“If you come to ECOSS you’ll be able to tour the fence line and read the interpretive signage associated, this is a wonderful resource for landholders and land managers to tour.”

The fences were installed by Advanced Ag Services based in Healesville.

Four wild species of deer live in Victoria: sambar, red, fallow and hog deer. Sambar is the most common, widespread and largest species in Australia.

The Victorian Deer Control Program aims to minimise the impact of deer on biodiversity, water quality, public safety, agriculture and

Aboriginal cultural heritage., including the statewide Victorian Deer Control Strategy and three regional deer control plans of which the Yarra Ranges falls under the peri-urban control plan.

As well as deer exclusion fencing, recreational hunting, aerial and ground shooting and trapping on private land are all contributors to managing wild deer populations.

The Australian Government also released the National Feral Deer Action Plan in 2023 to help guide land management agencies, groups and organisations as well as state and territory governments in their deer control practices.

Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water and Yarra Ranges Council have also worked alongside DEECA in deer management efforts locally, while deer control, monitoring, and fencing programs have been undertaken across areas including in the Yellingbo Conservation Area, Bunyip State Park, Tarago Reservoir and in private properties along the border of public land areas.

An independent report by Frontier Economics in 2022, commissioned by the Invasive Species Council, suggested that not controlling the species could cost Victoria between $1.5 to $2.2 billion over the next 30 years.

Anyone interested in booking a tour of the Deer Fencing for themselves or a group can contact Ms McNab on info@ecoss.org.au.

Help shape Yarra Ranges

Yarra Ranges has put a call out to help set their agenda over the next few years.

The Yarra Ranges Council is calling on interested people within the community to have in-depth conversations about some of the opportunities and difficult decisions the region will face over the coming years as part of the development of the Council Plan for 2025-2029.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Sophie Todorov, said that this was a great opportunity for community members to have a more ‘indepth’ look at the role of Council and to offer further input into future planning for the region.

“We’ve had a fantastic amount of input and feedback from the community into our next Council Plan so far, so the next step now is to form a community panel to hold the microscope over what we’ve heard in more detail,” she said.

The Community Panel will meet on four different occasions between July and August to ask questions and provide input into the direction of Council, what Council’s priorities should be and discuss some of the more difficult challenges and decisions that Council faces moving forward.

Cr Todorov said they are reaching out to as many people as possible to be part of the panel so we can have representatives from the many facets of Yarra Ranges life.

“We’re looking for around 30-40 community members who reflect our community including diverse ages, backgrounds, where you live and your life experiences,” she said.

“You don’t need to have expert knowledge, just a willingness to contribute in a group setting, learn from others and have an open mind to finding solutions and be interested in helping create a better future for the Yarra Ranges.”

Council is calling on interested people within our community to have in-depth conversations about some of the opportunities and difficult decisions we will face over the coming years as part of the development of the Council Plan 20252029. Picture: ON FILE

“Whilst being part of the Panel will be a time commitment, there is compensation available for the time it takes and more information on that can be found at www. shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.”

“This is a great opportunity to have some meaningful conversations and share ideas with fellow community members to help inform our Council Plan, which is one of the most important pieces of work we do in each four-year cycle,” said Cr Todorov. All sessions will take place on Saturdays¸ 9.30am-3.30pm, at the Lilydale Civic Centre on 20 July, 3 August and 17 August, plus an online introductory session on Wednesday 17 July.

For more information or to register your interest in becoming a part of the panel, visit https://shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov. au/yarra-ranges-shape-your-future/community-panel-deliberative-engagement or call Council on 1300 368 333. Applications for the Community Panel close 30 June.

We need an individual that has:

• Experience in media or a previous sales role is preferred but not essential;

• Confidence in your communication skills, oral and written;

• Comfortable with computers, email, data entry, new software;

• Desire to succeed and eager to learn;

• Seeking out and meeting new clients;

• Working with local business to meet their goals;

• Understand relationship management and customer service;

• Able to interact with people face to face and on the phone;

• Full training provided if required;

• Have a Current Driver’s licence and reliable vehicle.

This position involves advertising sales, across print and digital, servicing the needs of local businesses, working closely with your clients to achieve and exceed customer expectations, maintaining and developing an extensive client base while seeking out new business opportunities.

Your current life and work skills will enable you to adapt, learn quickly and succeed in this busy and satisfying career. We offer you an encouraging team environment with a company that will help you to be at your best.

To apply please send resume and cover letter to tracey.aitken@starnewsgroup.com.au or contact 5957 3700

Yarra Valley ECOSS is welcoming landowners and groups to see how deer exclusion fencing could help them. Picture: SUPPLIED

NEWS Showcasing Koorie works

By Mikayla van Loon

Another cohort of new and returning students from across the Yarra Valley passed through the Koorie Student Program for 2024 producing an impressive collection of work.

TheYarra Ranges Tech School (YRTS) based program introduces First Nations students to various technologies, inviting them to produce a project of their own, telling of their connection to Country if they choose.

Given the creative freedom to use the variety of technologies available to them, from laser cutting machines to 3D printers, the final projects were put on display on Thursday 13 June.

For YRTS chief executive officer Travis Burroughs, who oversaw his first Koorie Student Program since joining the school late last year, it was incredible to see the growth of the cohort.

“You see the growth and it’s a really positive thing and you see the kids take ownership of the space,” he said.

But he said seeing the showcase and the excitement of the students to present their work to their school teachers and YRTS staff was the best part of the program.

“The kids being proud of their work and having that ability to speak about it, wanting to speak about it. It says a lot about the growth they’ve had and seeing that is pretty inspirational,” Travis said.

First time participant from Lilydale Heights College, Spencer, said only discovering he was Aboriginal a year ago led to his desire to participate in the program this year and he now intends on returning next year.

Producing a laser cut welcome to Country sign, Spencer said began with a few trial runs using the engraver, as well as the standard wording for a traditional welcome.

“So for the first one, I made the design and then put the wording in, I copied that directly from Google, but then I decided I wanted to change the wording and personalise it more towards me and make it my wording so it meant more to who I was,” he said.

In a surprise addition, Spencer’s design was also used on the recognition plaques made by Treasuring Our Trees founder Dave Ferrier, which are handed out to each of the schools as a congratulations for participating in the program.

“I hadn’t actually seen that until they handed them out this morning,” Spencer said on Thursday.

With “tons of new and different skills”, Spencer said he was grateful to have had so many opportunities through the program to explore a range of techniques.

Similarly for UpperYarra Secondary College students Charlotte, Year 8, and Margherita, Year 10, exploring new skills, outside of their normal interests, was surprisingly enjoyable.

Working with some other students, Margherita helped research and design a computer game intended for young people aged 12 to 15.

“I was helping create a game that’s based on the Frontier Wars. So I was collecting information about what happened so we could add realistic elements into it and informative parts,” she said.

“We chose to do the game because we thought it’d be a good, light hearted way to

present information on what happened even though it’s quite a dark topic.”

Margherita said she enjoyed being able to “use creative aspects in our work but still being able to do something that’s going to teach people about Indigenous culture”.

Although taking a different path for her project designing a collection of earrings, sports tops and a totem pole, Charlotte said the tech tasters really helped her narrow down what she wanted to do and “you don’t realise how much you like it until you try it”.

“I liked all the different opportunities, and all the different schools collaborating together, making new friends, and learning of all the different cultural experiences,” she said.

Lilydale District and Yarra Valley Education Plan project manager Brooke Kogelman said this year she andYRTS really wanted the showcase to be student-led, to match the external aims of the education department of giving students a voice.

“It’s all about the students and hearing from them, hearing what they have to say about education and what they want to be seen and what they want to see in their schools,” she said.

“Outside of this program, we run a lot of opportunities for the students to have their voice heard, and give feedback. It can be daunting to share your experiences and to share what you think but we really are proud of them, that they have the courage to do that.”

Seeing the variety year after year and the individuality that is expressed through each design, Brooke said, was incredibly rewarding as someone who was a teacher for 17 years.

“For me having this opportunity to encourage and empower them to come and seeing them come year after year, some are already talking about their projects for next year, which is exciting. It just puts everything back into perspective about why we do what we do,” Brooke said.

Cire featured in Vasili’s Garden to Kitchen magazine

By Callum Ludwig

Cire Services is celebrating a partnership that has lasted over six years and has given Cire Training (Registered Training Organisation RTO) and Community School students a platform to show off their culinary creations.

Students have been featured in a regular Cire Community Kids feature in the quarterly Vasili’s Garden to Kitchen magazine headed by celebrity gardener Vasili Kanidiadis of the Vasili’s Garden show after he was impressed by their Community Cookbook at the Cire AGM in 2018.

Manager of communications and content at Cire Services Kinnear Miller said Cire is delighted to have a long-standing relationship with Vasili.

“It is an exciting opportunity for Cire to feature students’ work in the magazine, the recognition and celebration of their work benefits them and engages readers,” she said.

“Students are at the heart of the story, and their learning is shared with Vasili’s audience, seeing themselves in the magazine boosts their pride, and they eagerly share it with others.”

Themed dishes and crafted recipes have been made by Cire students over the years for the magazine, first by Middle Years students and now prominently by the VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) who are completing their Certificate II in Cookery.

Ms Miller said Cire students have recently completed the Winter edition and are gearing up for the Spring issue.

“The upcoming steps involve brainstorming the theme, developing recipes, and plan-

ning the project to meet deadlines collectively,” she said.

“Being part of the magazine allows us to showcase the community school and engage students and staff in the entire process, from theme selection to the photo shoot,” she said.

Cire has participated in 25 editions of the magazine to date, with the latest seeing VETDSS from Cire Training pairing up with Cire Community School students and focusing on sustainable food. Students learnt how

to make the most out of an animal, boning and then portioning out a whole chicken to reduce food waste.

Ms Miller said cooking and gardening offer students valuable learning experiences, social interactions, and potential career paths.

“Cooking fosters creativity and supports core subjects like numeracy,” she said.

“Additionally, tending to the community garden is a favourite activity among students,

where they learn about herbs, composting, and sustainability.”

The community garden at the Yarra Junction Community School campus, the purpose-built kitchen and the help of head chef and teacher Ian Sepping have been heavily involved in the partnership while Cire has also welcomed qualified chef Emily Sullivan who trains cookery and tourism at the Lilydale Training campus. Students from Cire campuses across the Outer East have participated.

Qualified chef Emily Sullivan (right) offers some hands-on help. Pictures: SUPPLIEDZahlia keeping a keen eye on the pot.

Year 9 student Spencer from Lilydale Heights College with his laser cut design. 412963

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Upper Yarra Secondary College Year 8 student Charlotte and Year 10 student Margherita. 412963

Tori from Mooroolbark College showcasing their virtual reality technology. 412963

NEWS Past to guide the future

By Mikayla van Loon

What started as a reaction to the devastation of the 2021 storms has turned into a sustainable education venture, allowing people to heal and learn about regenerative practices.

Three years later, the expansion of Treasuring Our Trees (TOT) continues with big plans on the horizon for its founder David Ferrier.

But reflection, commemoration and celebration of what the community endured was not forgotten at the anniversary of the storm and TOT Lilydale open day on 8 June.

“The event on Saturday was a catch up community day. A chance to share the story, talking about what we’ve achieved so far in the last 12 months, especially because it’s the third anniversary since the big event,” Mr Ferrier said.

“I’ve never forgotten the stories and the characters and the families and people still to this day, who were struggling before the storm happened. People who have mental health issues, financial issues, disabilities, the elderly.

“We made some beautiful relationships, and I spoke about them at the end of my little talk on Saturday up on the stage and how we feel a crazy responsibility and obligation to represent all those beautiful people and our whole community.”

It’s that responsibility Mr Ferrier has carried with him recently to Canberra to meet and speak with Australia’s politicians, to tell the story of the Yarra Ranges during the storm and the outcomes that have occurred since.

“There’s lots of wonderful community groups around Australia that get together and support the community after these events but what we did differently was we took it to another level by essentially building partnerships with local, state and federal government to salvage materials and then transform them into what we now call educational tools.

“So by building kitchen gardens, indoor furniture, graduation pens, everything we do, children learn about sustainability, about caring for

DarrenWandinconductedthewelcometo Countryandsmokingceremony.

Picture:SUPPLIED

the environment, about our program, how to care for the community and so it’s really evolved over the last two or three years.”

Having completed around 13 school projects across the Yarra Ranges, working with the Department of Transport in Montrose to salvage majority of the trees set for removal at the new intersection and delivering workshops in the educational hub in Lilydale, TOT only intends to grow.

From discussions with Traditional Owners in Cape York to working with some of Victoria’s biggest build projects, Mr Ferrier said the idea of rejuvenating areas with salvaged trees is catching on.

“My vision in the beginning was to replicate

our program around Australia,” Mr Ferrier said.

The impact of TOT has not only reached interstate but Mr Ferrier said he has been invited to join an international conference in New Zealand next year.

“Sometimes I stop and I get shivers thinking about the social impact we’re making,” he said.

“Through our program and then with our collaborations with others through the community projects, you think about the tens of thousands of people we are reaching.

“In the schools alone, it’s tens of thousands of students, then you’ve got parents and you’ve got the teachers, the staff, the families and the wider community around the schools.”

Eventually the goal is to establish a training

centre to expand that educational purpose even further for not only schools but teachers, professionals and community groups.

It’s with that vision in mind too that Mr Ferrier saidTOT is on the path to becoming a social enterprise.

“We always wanted to set it up so we could show people what we do because we’ve learned over three years the power of improving the mental health and well being of the community through our work.

“And we thought, ‘hey, how cool would it be if we can actually get people on the tools if they want to learn’.

“We’re not quite there yet but that’s where it’s heading.”

Mental health through art

By Callum Ludwig

The latest exhibition at YAVA offers visitors a multi-modal insight into the world of someone suffering from mental illness.

The exhibition is a selection of works from a combined film, orchestral composition and illustrated book project ‘The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness’ by artist Matt Ottley, who has suffered from type 1 bipolar disorder since childhood.

Mr Ottley said it’s a visceral but safe experience of what a psychotic episode is like.

“It’s to engender a little more empathy into the conversation and complex mental illness, David’s [curator David Miller] chosen a number of works that cover those main points throughout the narrative that focus on the different stages of a psychotic episode,” he said.

“Perhaps it will give people a little more of

an empathetic understanding of what it is like for someone who suffers an illness like type 1 bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and perhaps some small insight into the fractured reality that people with those conditions experience.”

The YAVA exhibition contains about a third of the works in the book. The book is intended to be read in conjunction with the film and orchestral composition as part of Mr Ottley’s intermodal initiatives ‘The Sound of Picture Books’.

Mr Ottley said the composition is an accordion symphony written by him and the works are a combination of oil paintings and digital works of which he has worked over the top of with acrylic paint, pencil and ink.

“The digital process is extraordinary these days, you can choose which oil paints or pencils or whatever you want and achieve an

amazing result. But there is still something that’s not quite organic about that process, I really wanted that sense of the human touch over the top of the digital work,” he said.

“I use a painter called Corel Pantone and I don’t use any features that involve automation, if you can’t draw and you can’t paint you probably can’t use a program like that, but the AI space for most visual artists is fairly worrying,”

“I don’t know what to think of it to be honest but unless someone builds a machine that can actually hold a paintbrush or a pencil, it won’t be able to achieve that organic human touch that comes from the inaccuracies of a human hand holding a pen or a paintbrush.”

The exhibition will be on display in the YAVA Gallery until Sunday 14 July.

Mr Ottley said it’s not politics, it’s not sport,

and it’s not religion that changes social values and engineers the kind of future directions of society; it’s the arts.

“Someone like Gandhi is a good example, the levels of understanding of exactly who he was and his role in Indian politics was kind of little understood in the Western world until a Ben Kingsley movie came out three decades ago now, and suddenly Gandhi as a person was much more understood in theWestern world,” he said.

“That’s a classic example of an artwork highlighting and educating and doing so from an aesthetic and an emotional perspective, and that’s why the arts are so powerful because they are about reaching into one’s emotions through aesthetics, and that’s a far more powerful way to engender social values and to educate people.”

Richard ready to take on the Yarra River for a cause

By Callum Ludwig

One man is set to show his support for Alfred Health with a herculean effort to swim and trek the length of the Yarra River on 1 February 2025.

Richard Payne will be 70 years old when he takes on the challenge and has been training extensively for the feat of endurance.

Mr Payne said the year before Covid he decided he felt like he could do it, having walked a bit in his time and swam the English Channel back in 2010.

“It’s my 70th birthday resent to myself, six mates and a bottle of wine won’t cut it this year, but I’m also doing it for the cause of the Alfred Hospital who have looked after me brilliantly for the last ten years,” he said.

“I now have emphysema and have also been looked after by the melanoma department of the hospital and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Mr Payne will be either swimming or walking 242km along the Yarra River, starting out in Reefton and finishing onWilliamstown Beach. Mr Payne said he won’t let his illness define who he is.

“It will be a struggle because I don’t have high cardio anymore, like when I did the channel, I spent over a day doing it but I don’t have that type of cardio anyone, so I will be doing 15 minutes of activity, five minutes of rest,” he said.

“I was born deaf and have two hearing aids, had broken lungs from asthma all my life, dropped out of school at 14 and didn’t enter the university system, another big hard knock I had was when I was 18 and my first fiance was smacked up in a car accident, then my first wife died of cancer at 30, and I’ve had bowel cancer, melanoma and now emphysema,” “But I kept telling myself that, I’m not that diseased or uned-

ucated person, I’m not that deaf person or I’m not that asthmatic, I have all that and it does wear me out but I always find a way to bounce back again.”

Mr Payne has been training for over 15 hours a week including three months of walking back and forth in shallow waters and uneven terrain, three months of weekly yoga classes and six months of weight training, flexibility and agility with his personal trainer so far. He also has engaged a regional hunter to assist him in trekking parts of the terrain alongside the Yarra River in the Upper Yarra region.

Mr Payne said he’s split the event up into a few parts.

“The first route from Reefton into Warburton is a combination of swimming and walking because of the rapids, then I’ll be swimming about 50km of the way from Warburton to Dight’s Falls [in Abbottsford] though there are some rapids along the way, wearing one type of wetsuit, helmet and visor for that,” he said. “From Dight’s Falls to Port Melbourne which is the dirty part of the Yarra, I’ll be wearing an entirely different wetsuit, very thick and sealed from top to toe and a full face mask with two air tubes at

the top, so I don’t have to breathe any water on the freestyle and then I can swim across to Williamstown Beach.” Mr Payne is hoping to get in touch with any local schools in the Upper Yarra who would like to interview or speak to him along the first leg of his journey through the local area as well as for any locals to share pictures or their knowledge of the Yarra River locally to help him better understand parts of the river he’s not yet familiar with.

Anyone interested in donating to Mr Payne’s cause can do so at: fundraising.alfredfoundation.org.au/richard-payne.

Richard Payne has been training hard this year in preparation.

Richard Payne is setting out on a feat of endurance to fundraise for Alfred Health. Picture: SUPPLIED

Matt Ottley in the YAVA Gallery.

Pictures: CALLUM LUDWIG The exhibition will be on display until Sunday 15 July.

Helping to ease pressure

Cost of living pressures are hitting people in our community hard, which is why the 202425 Allan Labor Government State Budget is dedicated to helping Victorians.

We’re providing a one-off School Saving Bonus at the start of 2025 to help cover the cost of school-related expenses for all students in state schools and students at non-Government schools from low-income families. This program will ensure that the cost of learning essentials and the extracurricular activities which children enjoy will be covered by our State Government.

This budget is giving children the tools they need to be their best in the classroom and beyond by tripling our free Glasses for Kids program. This program has already helped

Comedy, circus fun Kemp’s curtain call

Gemco Players Night Watch

Two types of people laugh at the law, those that break it and those that make it.

Set in Ankj-Morpork, one of the most thoroughly imagined cities in fantasy, Night Watch is the story of Sam Vims, running hero of the Guards sequence, who finds himself cast back in time to the Anks0Morpork of his youth. With a psychopath from his own time rising in the vile ranks of the Cable Street Unmentionables complication things, Vimes has to ensure that history takes its course so that he will have the right future to go back to and keep his younger self alive. Season opens July 12 and Bookings at 598 2844.

Burrinja Circus Festival

Children are Stinky – all ages

Packed with lots of fun, lightning fast Hula Hooping, daredevil balances, incredible acrobats, and loads of comedy. Children are Stinky will have both adults and kids with their jaws on the floor wanting to see more.

Season: Sunday June 30 at 4pm. Venue Burrinja Theatre. Running time approximately 50 minutes no intermission. Circus Mix – Kids: 5 – 132 years

Try a little of everything in Circus Mix! These classes are the perfect place to explore general circus skills like juggling, tumbling, hula hoops, trapeze and more.

July 2 11.15am. 2.45pm. July 3, 11.15am, 3.24pm. July 4. 11.15am , 2.45pm.

The Woman in Black

Britain’s second longest running play after The Mousetrap, The Woman in Black tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black. He engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It all begins innocently enough, but then, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds.

John Waers is Arthur Kipps the solicitor and Daniel Macpherson is the actor. but throughout the story they change places and Daniel becomes the young Arthur Kipps. When they are portraying each other at the site of the story John Waters plays all the locals. A wonderful evening of theatre and one had shivers running up and down one’s spine.

The state affairs

of

Daniela De Martino MP Member for Monbulk

over 34,000 children across our state and this investment will help 74,000 more by providing free vision screening and prescription glasses for students who need it.

Glasses for Kids compliments our Smile

CARTOON

Squad Program – providing free dental care in government schools. Smile Squad has already provided care to more than 82,000 students and handed out more than 350,000 oral health packs.

An investment of $21.1 million will expand the School Breakfast Club Program to provide free nutritious breakfast to every government school. This expansion will see 150 additional schools invited to join the program at the beginning of next year before rolling out to remaining schools from June 2025, making sure no student starts the day hungry.

The popular Get Active Kids vouchers are being funded once again. We’re investing $6 million to provide up to $200 to help eligible families with the cost of sporting club registra-

Promoting a reading habit

Warm Winter Read (#WWR2024 #WarmWinterRead) is a campaign by Public Libraries Victoria, to encourage readers aged 16+ across the State to develop long-lasting reading habits. Whether it’s books, magazines, ebooks, or eAudiobooks – reading is highly beneficial for our physical and mental wellbeing.

As Warm Winter Read explains: “Engaging in reading for pleasure can help reduce depression, loneliness, and dementia, while enhancing empathy, self-esteem, and cultural awareness.”Your Library Ltd (formerly Eastern Regional Libraries) says it even better: “Reading is vital to a healthier, happier, more connected nation.”

The campaign helps readers track the days that they read over June, July and August 2024. By registering with Warm Winter Rea (https:// vic.readbooks.com.au/wwr), readers can create their own account by selecting their local library service. They are then challenged to read for at least 60 days – whether it is five minutes or five hours each day.

Readers are further challenged to complete six activities during the three-month period. These are not compulsory – but you can receive reward points and badges that eventually give you a chance to win some bookish prizes.

For example, readers can create a cosy reading spot, “complete with blankets, pillows, and your favourite hot beverage”. They can start reading a new series of books OR the next book in a series. They can also get out and about with an audiobook, “on your commute to work, walking the dog, or while completing household chores”.

The other challenges include “Literary pair or share” (whip up a recipe from the pages of a book or pair a meal or drink with your latest read), “Discover worlds” (read a title that transports your mind), and “Recommend or review a title”.

Indeed, as of the writing of this article, readers on Warm Winter Read have already re-

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

viewed books such as Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, and A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas.

For those looking for reading inspirations, the campaign engaged eight Australian authors as ambassadors with fantastic book recommendations. Their own latest titles are also worth reading. These authors are: PipWilliams for the theme of “Time & Place”, Garry Disher for “Crime Fiction”, Shelly Parker-Chan for “Other Worlds”, Matt Preston for “Foodies”, Melissa Lucashenko for “Literary Fiction”, Alison Goodman for “Cosy Reads”, Ahona Guha for “Balance”, and Michael Earp for “Young Adults”.

This reviewer finds it easy to participate in Warm Winter Read. While some may think the campaign website a bit basic, it’s an excellent start, and there’s something special about sharing a space online with fellow bookworms across Victoria.

As British author Joanna Cannon said via The Guardian:“The human brain loves a game. Scratch the surface and you’ll find that most people are very goal-focused, because reaching a specific target releases a healthy dollop of dopamine into our system and we start to become very pleased with ourselves.”

Well, if it can encourage more people to start reading, then why not?

tion, uniforms and equipment.

In addition, we have provided funding to local food charities: the Philanthropic Collective, Foothills Community Care and Knox Infolink, so they can continue to provide food relief and crisis support to those across our community who need their help the most.

I encourage all veterans and seniors to apply for the Veterans Card and/or Seniors Card which provide discounts and benefits across the state. In addition, concession card holders may be eligible for energy, council rates and stamp duty concessions from the Victorian Government. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office on (03) 9754 5401 to learn more about these programs.

Vibrant and charming

Inside Out 2

Starring Amy Poehler and Maya Hawke Rated PG 4.5/5

As with the first Inside Out from 2015, Inside Out 2 is a vibrant, charming and deeply affecting adventure about being a well-rounded human being.

Inside the head of young teenager Riley (Kensington Tallman), her original team of five emotions, led by Joy (Amy Poehler), is thrown into turmoil by a new gaggle of emotions led by Anxiety (Maya Hawke).

Riley’s personified emotions are still incredibly likeable, and Anxiety, played to neurotic perfection by Hawke, is a prime illustration of the difference between an antagonist and a villain.

Anxiety is a disruptive, usurping presence in Riley’s head, but driven by intense care and protectiveness toward Riley; even very young children will understand that Anxiety needs to be stopped but won’t hate her.

The brisk, funny plot draws strong tension from Joy’s quest to restore order to Riley’s mind, interwoven with Riley’s efforts to succeed and gain new friends at a hockey camp.

I normally don’t like Macguffins as a dramatic motivator, but Riley’s Sense of Self is a crystal-clear goal with a tangible effect on her as a person.

Both Inside Out and this sequel stress the importance of emotional nuance and accepting the good and bad as formative, but Inside Out 2 has more of a focus on memory than feeling.

As with the cast of emotions, Riley’s mind has been expanded with new features and locations (including Riley’s imagination ingeniously portrayed as a kind of cartoon sweatshop), but some of these new visual metaphors feel slightly forced.

I also find it a little contrived that Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui (aka Boredom) only appear once Riley begins puberty.

An outstanding sequel that innovates but stays true to its predecessor, Inside Out 2 is playing in mostVictorian cinemas.

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

ACROSS

1 Ribbons (5)

4 Enchanted (9)

9 Sooner (7)

10 Burdensome (7)

11 Illicitly distilled liquor (9)

12 Buffalo (5)

13 US tech company (1,1,1)

14 Body of water to the east of Italy (8,3)

16 A baptism (11)

19 Hint (3)

20 Varnish (5)

22 Broadening (9)

25 Wayne –, head coach of the Dolphins (7)

26 First (7)

27 Substances discharged (9)

28 Opponent (5)

DOWN

1 Load-bearing bar structure (1,4)

2 Actor (9)

3 Hides, pelts (5)

4 Obstacle (7)

5 Aboriginal spear-throwing device (7)

6 Quivering (9)

7 Rings (5)

8 Release (9)

13 Terminal (illness) (9)

14 Yes-men (9)

15 Offering (9)

17 Prefix with 'magnetic' (7)

18 Suggests (7)

21 Egyptian peninsula (5)

23 Din (5)

24 Expression of surprise (5)

3

SPACE, STYLE, AND PARKLAND SURROUNDS

SPACE, STYLE, AND SPECTACULAR VIEWS

WITH plenty of space and style, picturesque parkland surrounds, and finishes designed for discerning homeowners, this idyllic 2,350sqm (approx.) property reads like the pages of a lifestyle magazine. Primed for new owners to move straight in, this is an incredible opportunity live somewhere special.

On the entry level, polished timber floors, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and access to the sprawling deck with glass balustrade are featured in the living area with wood fire, dining area, and contemporary kitchen. The chefs of the family will appreciate dual ovens, a gas cooktop, glass splashback, and abundant storage including a bonus cellar/ storeroom. With a large laundry also on this level, this home blends form and function with precision.

Upstairs, the mezzanine study with clerestory windows is the ideal place for working from home. The clever inclusion of dual ensuite bedrooms, including the main with private parents’ retreat, opens options for growing families and multi-generational living.

Additional highlights include gas ducted heating, a double carport with roller door, and a sweeping sealed drive with ample off-street parking and manicured box hedge. This property has it all.

Guaranteed to impress, this outstanding home requires prompt inspection to make it your own. Plan your viewing today.

•฀ Spectacular 2,350sqm (approx.) property with landscaped gardens

•฀ Magnificent 5-bedroom plus study home with dual ensuite bedrooms

•฀ Entry level living area with wood fire and kitchen with quality appliances

•฀ Covered deck with glass balustrade and upper level paved patio

•฀ Picturesque location in park-like surrounds. ●

A WARM AND INVITING HOME

YOUR dream ‘get away’ in the Dandenong’s offers you complete privacy being on a near acre (3,591sqm) that really is at one with mother nature. Forget the stresses of life with a glass of wine as the sun sets on the horizon and a sea of stars appears in the sky above you and a sea of twinkling lights below you.

A real ‘wow factor’ earthy mudbrick home that has been completely updated/ renovated to todays lifestyle. The full fourbedroom family home with two comfortable living rooms, two modern bathrooms, quality kitchen appliances, central combustion wood fire and a split system. Huge terraced outdoor living spaces, veggie garden, double carport and three storage sheds.

The long steep winding driveway can be a bit daunting, but the rewards are well worth it.

You are only minutes walk to a main bus route, 7 minutes drive to Upper Ferntree Gully train station, shopping centre and ‘1000 steps’

Is it time for your ‘get away’ then don’t delay your viewing. ●

HOME FOCUS

PRIVATE TRANQUILLITY ON ½ AN ACRE

THE moment you drive down the private concrete circular driveway you realise that this property is unique and very special! Backing onto crown land, the Cockatoo Creek and surrounded by nature, suddenly this ½ acre property seems more like 10 acres but without the burden of maintaining acreage! North facing ensures plenty of sunshine to embrace nature from almost every room or enjoy a daily cuppa from the decking and watch the beautiful sunrises and enjoy the tranquillity and the daily song of the many species of birds that come to visit.

Home Features:

· High vaulted ceilings with exposed trusses in the living room and master bedroom

· Light and airy throughout with views to the gardens from almost every room

· Modern kitchen with predominantly drawer cabinetry and an upright gas stove/oven

· Wooden floorboards throughout

· Large 11.8m x 4.5m studio/living with separate entry, ideal for many uses such as yoga/pilates studio, music, teenage retreat, office etc

· Ducted gas heating with a brand-new heating unit

· Slow combustion radiant heat wood fireplaces in living and studio

· Economical Heat Pump electric hot water system

· Reverse cycle air-conditioning in dining and

fans in living and bedroom 2

· Dry, under-house storage with concrete flooring and lockable storeroom

Outdoor Features:

· Private and hidden from street view

· Concrete circular driveway with excellent drainage

· Single garage, single carport and plenty of off-street parking

· Merbau decking, perfect for that morning cuppa or entertaining

· Established gardens, fruit trees and mature trees for privacy

· Six raised ‘Vege Pod’ style 2m x 1m garden beds and flat usable terraced areas

Location Features:

· Short drive (1.1km) or walk to Cockatoo Township which includes the new IGA, eateries, Post Office, Pharmacy, Community Centre, Sporting Facilities, Off-leash dog park, Skate Park & Bowl, BMX track, bus 695 & 695F and Cockatoo Primary School.

· Wright Forest walking tracks that also lead to Emerald Lake and surrounds

· Hear the famous Puffing Billy train in the distance

· 17-minute drive to Pakenham, Wellington Road access only a 10-minute drive which takes you to the M1 freeway

· Come and enjoy the tranquil lifestyle this beautiful home and property has to offer.

Isittimetoenjoya quieter paceoflife?set on a sloping partcleared mostlybushblock of richsoiland originallyset uptobesemi-self-sufficient withmanynut& fruit trees The main 4 bedroomresidence offers a covered outdoor diningspace withviews&a 3-car carport. The private2 bedroomunitincludes a study& interioraccesstothe garage The office has several multi-purpose rooms, a balcony withparking for4 carsunderneath Includes a studio, tractor shed, pergola,greenhouse,chookpens, igloosand off-streetparking.

GrantSkipsey 0418528102 MickDolphin 0429684522

Thisdream ‘Getaway’ offersyou completeprivacy and stunningsunsets onthe horizon. The earthymudbrickhomesitson3,591sqmand has beencompletelyupdated/ renovated and featurestwo livingrooms,modernbathrooms,quality kitchen appliances central combustion woodfire&splitsystem.Hugeterracedoutdoor livingspaces,veggie garden, doublecarport and three storage sheds.Only a minute’swalktothe bus stop,7 minutedrive toUpperFerntreeGullytrain,shoppingcentre&the ‘1000steps’ walk.

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

The perfect blend ofheritage1920’s architecture & contemporarystyle on1051m2. Featuringa spacious & private master luxurious mainbathroom ‘stateofthe art’ kitchen, a fabulousattic areaideal asgaming/theatreroomoryoga/meditation etc, oak laminate flooring,new carpets,NBN,datanetworked wood fire ductedheating, splitsystem, established gardens,superb 4 car garagewithrear & interioraccess,sealed driveway, front porch,spaciouscovered reardeck, shedwithpower& woodstore.

NATIONALPARKNEIGHBORHOOD

$980,000-$1,065,000

Wallsofglass,timber & beams are all partofthis stunningcontemporaryhomethatstands proud inits own quiet enclave.sound proportionsofspaceflowthrough a cleveropenplandesignthatisasfunctionalasitispractical.The attentiontodetail,maintenance and spotlesspresentationis a truecredittotheowner.Includesductedheating,splitsystem cooling,lushestablished gardens on a 979sqm block,brilliantentertainingdeck, atrium style glass entry tothe secondstorey, large remotegarage &a securerearbackyard 3 A 2 B 1 C

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

CHARMING CHARACTER COTTAGES IN THE HEART OF TOWN

FORMERLY the ‘Caretaker Cottages’ of former Warburton Guest house.

Step back in time with these unique cottages that truly are a part of Warburton’s history. A one of a kind opportunity in a highly sought after location, just a minute from the hub of Warburton. This investor’s delight offers incredible potential in an exceptional property close to shops, cafes, restaurants, public transport, the Yarra river, sporting facilities, and the magnificent Warburton Trail.

The property includes two charming cottages, great for use as a weekend

retreat or a fantastic B&B prospect. This solid investment benefits from recent improvements, with ample opportunity to add your personal touch to these classic, old style guest houses.

If you’re seeking an investment with a difference, look no further. Located in one of the most in-demand and rapidly growing tourism destinations in the Yarra Valley, this property is a rare find that combines charm, convenience, and potential. With the proposed Mountain bike trail kicking off its next stage its now your time to secure your investment. ●

UniquelyWarburtonVibeonover1/2acre

Stepinsidetodiscover ahavenofcharmandcharacter.Multiplelivingzonesofferendless possibilitiesforrelaxationandentertainment,fromthecozywarmthofthewoodfiretothecharm ofanopenfireplace.Whetheryou’reinneedof 3or4bedrooms,thishomeadaptstoyourlifestyle withease.Ascendtotheupstairsloftroomandbecaptivatedbypanoramicviewsfromthepicture windowandenjoyfreshairfromtheJulietbalcony.Downstairs,twogenerouslysizedbedroomsand twobathroomsawait,completewithpedestalbasins,baths,andtoilets.Themasterbedroomenjoys awalkthroughrobetotheensuite,lovelysashwindowsandviewsofyourgarden.Theversatile layoutoffersendlessoptions-astudy,library,formaldining,orsimplyleaveitopenforextraliving spacethechoiceisyours!Don’tmissthechancetomakethisextraordinaryhomeyours.

CharmingFamilyHomeclosetotown

Boastinggreatspace,convenienceandeasycarelivingforthegrowingfamily,ina quietand picturesquelocationclosetoallfacilities.Offering 4bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesandwith3 separatebathroomsincludinganensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom.A flexiblefloorplan withfamilyspaceinmindandconvenientlyspreadover 2levels,multiplelivingareaswithseparate lounge/livingandfamilyroomsofferthegrowingorextendedfamilyamplespacetospread out.Beautifulkitchenloadsofbenchandcupboardspacewithqualityappliancesandfittings throughout,outsideofferslowmaintenanceestablishedgardensanda lockupgarage.A superb familyhomeconvenientlysituatedjusta shortstrolltoYarraJunctionsbusyshoppingprecinct,local schools,transportandtheYarraCentre.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320 Inspection: Sat9.30-10.00am

6ParkRoad,Warburton$580,000-$630,000

Thischarmingweatherboardhomeisanidealchoiceforweekendgetawaysordownsizing. Boasting 2bedroomsplusa study/ 3rdbedroom,itoffersflexibilitytosuityourlifestyle.Theopen plankitchenfeaturesamplenaturallight,a spaciousgasoven, acozywoodfire,andceilingfans throughoutforyearroundcomfort.Themainbedroomoffersgenerousstorage,whiletheupdated bathroomincludes avanity,showerandtoilet.Thecharacterhomecomeswiththecomfortof recentrenovationsincludingnewroof,weatherboardsreplacedjusttoname afewofthemajor improvements.Outside,thehighlightisthedeckwithcafeblindsandbreathtakingmountainviews. With afullyfenced,lowmaintenanceyardandconvenientaccesstothemainstreet,waterpark, Yarrariverwalk,andallthedelightsofWarburton,thishomeoffersbothcomfortandconvenience.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068 Inspection: Sat2:00-2:30pm 3 A

brickhomeofferstheultimateweekendescapeorrefugefromthehustleandbustle.Therustic kitchen,completewith astunningwoodburningstove,ensureswarmthandcomfort,complemented byaninvitingopenfireandefficientwoodheater.Additionalhighlightsinclude aspaciouslaundry area,a quaintbathroomwithshoweroverbath,and alargeundercoverentertaining/storagespace attherearofthehome.ThehighlightisundoubtedlythebreathtakingviewofMcMahonsCreek, whetheradmiredthroughtheexpansivewindowswhilerelaxingbythetoastyopenfireorsavoured fromtheshadeofthefrontveranda.Seizetheopportunitytoownyourownsliceofparadise!

PANORAMIC VIEWS SO CLOSE TO TOWN

OVERLOOKING the stunning views across the Upper Gully Ridge and out towards the city lights, this beautifully presented, open plan home is full of natural light and comes complete with all the essentials for the ideal Hills lifestyle.

Split level in design, the home boasts striking cathedral ceilings, elevated even more over the kitchen, giving an instant wow factor upon arrival. There are three bedrooms, the master with updated ensuite whilst the other two rooms are ideal for children, guests or work from home set up. Spacious in both size and ceiling height, the living room connects easily with both the dining area and the kitchen whilst allowing you to stare out through floor to

ceiling windows at the views beyond. Ducted heating runs throughout and along with evaporative cooling and a cosy wood fire, gives perfect temperature control no matter what the weather is like outside.

Spanning the full length of the house, the front balcony is a special place to enjoy the golden sunsets and spend time with family and friends. A double, end to end garage plus car parking bay for four cars and a sealed driveway makes parking easy and although being on an elevated block, there is room for a trampoline, swing set or the like.

Within an easy walk to Upwey’s main street, train station and local schools, there is nothing else to do here except move in, relax and enjoy the panoramic views. ●

Throwing up 400 games

By Callum Ludwig

From the wet, cold and mud in the Yarra Valley to the hallowed turf of the MCG, Ian Burrows has seen it all in his storied career as a boundary umpire.

Burrows celebrated his 400th AFL match umpired on Saturday 15 June, running the boundary line as Richmond took on Hawthorn at the MCG in Round 14.

Prior to the game, Burrows said he was very excited for the weekend.

“I’ll be umpiring with a few of my good mates, it’s shaping up to be a good match, and a lot of my family and friends are going to come along,” he said.

“The AFL does a really good job helping us celebrate these kinds of milestones and although the week has been a little bit overwhelming, it’s very exciting.”

Growing up in Launching Place and playing footy for Seville as a junior, it wasn’t until the age of 15 or 16 that Burrows swapped his mouthguard for a whistle and took up running the boundary with the then-Yarra Valley Umpires Association.

Burrows said he never really thought he’d be an umpire growing up.

“I didn’t continue on to play senior footy but I was keen to stay involved in sport and keep fit and healthy so I ended up joining the local league and umpired a couple of years in theYarraValley which was really enjoyable,” he said.

“It was just a nice atmosphere being around a footy club or a netball club and after a couple of years there I was doing pretty well and I got a nomination to try out theVFL and then started moving on from there,”

“I never really had any ambitions until I got going and then realised it was quite fun and that there was a career path, so I started getting reasonably serious about it and working

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hard on the craft to see if I could get better and better.”

Better and better Burrows did get, with his nearly 20-year AFL career starting in 2006 now including 10 AFL Grand Finals, being named an All Australian Umpire three times and an estimated 1280km run backwards, about the distance from Melbourne to Brisbane.

Burrows tried to recall any particular favourite memories of his time umpiring in theYarra

Valley but admitted it was very hard to remember back that far.

“I remember all the different grounds and have very fond memories of being at some of the picturesque places like Warburton and Olinda, as well as Seville where I played and Woori Yallock which was just down the road from where I lived in Launching Place,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure I might have done a game or two when Nicky Winmar was playing at Warburton and I remember in my first year getting the Division Two Senior Grand Final at Gembrook and the next year doing the Division One Senior Grand Final at Healesville which at that point in my career was the pinnacle of what you could do.”

Burrows’ achievements consist of:

· AFL Grand Final umpire – 2008, 2010 and 2010 replay, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2023

· Murray Williams Shield (Boundary Umpire of the Year) – 2014 and 2016

· All Australian Umpire – 2010, 2012 and 2015

· Yarra Valley Grand Final – 2000 (Division Two), 2001 (Division One)

· TAC Cup Grand Finals – 2002, 2003

· VFL Reserves Grand Final – 2004

· Interstate Match, VFL v SANFL – 2005

· VFL Grand Final – 2005

· Bill Sutton Medallion (Best First or Second Year Boundary Umpire) – 2007.

Burrows said any time you are selected for an AFL Grand Final is a massive moment.

“Last year was one of the epic grand finals of the last couple of decades, I was also lucky enough to do 2010, which feels like ages ago now, and was a draw so that was pretty extraordinary, the feeling at the end of that match to realise that everyone was going to be back again the following week,” he said.

“There’s been heaps of other good ones but

one of the big highlights obviously is getting out there and umpiring with your mates and enjoying that.”

The record for most AFL games by a boundary umpire is currently held by Mark Thomson with 438. Burrows sits in fourth overall, with Adam Coote (414 games, second overall) the only active boundary umpire with more.

Burrows said he has no plans yet to give up as he’s still performing well and still enjoys it.

“I would encourage anyone to get into it, there are so many benefits to umpiring, whether you’re a young person or if you’re not a young person, at the very least, it’s a great way to get a little bit of pocket money and an excellent way to keep fit and healthy,” he said.

“It’s got the feeling of a sporting club in being around the umpiring association as well as it teaches you really good life skills around decision-making, communication, teamwork, conflict management, all those kinds of things,”

“There are really great pathways now, probably a lot more so than when I was back there, where talented young umpires are identified and helped to develop to reach their potential and if you make it to the top and are able to walk out in front of a packed MCG, there are not many better sporting feelings than that.”

AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon and General Manager of Football Laura Kane commended Burrows on the achievement.

“Ian’s dedication to Umpiring at the highest level is outstanding. To reach 400 games is an incredible milestone. His peers and the broader umpiring and football industry is thrilled to be celebrating him this Saturday,” Mr Dillon said said.

“This weekend, I’m looking forward to applauding Ian and his work in our umpiring team. It truly is an amazing accomplishment and we thank him for his contribution to our game thus far,” Ms Kane said.

and cover letter to tracey.aitken@starnewsgroup.com.au or contact 5957 3700

Ian Burrows celebrated his 400th match umpired at the MCG on Saturday 15 June.

Picture: ADAM TRAFFORD

Woori notches up another top win

By Brendan Donovan

It was more perfect weather as Woori Yallock hosted Pakenham in Round Nine.

An early start for the women’s footy as they played Warburton-Millgrove and it was another great effort with both sides sharing the points, 2.3 15 apiece.

Top Tigers were Lorraine Davis-Robinson, Emily Spicer, Piper Crymble, Natalie McLaren, Rachael Lee and Ellie Murphy.

The Under 18s were beaten by a hungry Olinda team, probably a good wake-up call for the boys that have played their hearts out so far this year. 4.8 32 to 7.7, 49.

Top Tigers were Gabriel Conboy, Tyler Ormsby, Callum Hobbins, Roy Ray, Malachy Poulton and Maximus Iskra.

The Ressies had a disappointing day in

their first poor effort for the year, but with a few returning, they should bounce back next week. Final scores, 3.4, 22 to 12.16, 88.

Top Tigers were Hamish Gemmill, Ryley Dare, Luke Cottier, Tom Kear, Sam Carlton and Pierce Jenkin.

In the netball, there were mixed results against a strong netball program.

A Grade: Woori Yallock 20 defeated by Pakenham 56. No best players selected.

B Grade: Woori Yallock 55 defeated Pakenham 49. No best players selected.

C Grade: Woori Yallock 28 defeated by Pakenham 49. No best players selected.

D Grade: Woori Yallock 17 defeated by Pakenham 22. No best players selected.

17 and Under: Woori Yallock 15 defeated by Pakenham 36. No best players selected.

U15s: Woori Yallock 22 defeated by Paken-

ham 23. No best players selected.

In the senior footy, Pakenham came out with a strong intent for the contest and provided an even game for the first half with Woori Yallock only holding a six-point lead at halftime.

But the second half saw a strong presence fromWoori, with the tall timber in Zach Monkhorst and Taylor Gibson (five goals) giving the Lions headaches as the midfield provided the pair plenty of opportunities.

Final scores 19.17, 131 to 12.10, 82.

Top Tigers were Zach Monkhorst, Jordan Williams, Angus Smith, Kody Busoli, Taylor Gibson and Oscar Simpson.

Congratulations also go to 15-year-old Mason O’Neill who made his senior debut.

This week sees a top-of-the-table clash as WooriYallock heads to NarreWarren.

Aaron Mullett inspires Wandin victory

Wandin overcame a fast-starting Olinda-Ferny Creek side to secure a win at The Kennel in Round Nine.

The Bloods kicked the first two goals of the game and another one after the Dogs secured their first, but Wandin went into the quarter time break with a one-point lead after kicking a further two goals.

It was a scrappy contest all day where neither team had much control of the ball but Wandin held a lead at every change, despite Olinda-Ferny Creek pegging it back to only a 12-point final margin, 12.12, 84 to 10.12, 72.

Former AFL player Aaron Mullett proved to be the difference on the day as his six-goal haul secured Wandin the four premiership points while Wandin’s other goalkickers were Max Le Fevre with two and Harrison Byrne, Harrison Van Duuren, Jordan Jaworski and Patrick Hodgett each with one.

Top Dogs on the day were Aaron Mullett, Patrick Hodgett, Leiwyn Jones, Harrison van Duuren, Todd Garner, Harrison Byrne and Patty Bruzzese.

Other results:

· Reserves: Wandin 8.18, 66 defeated OlindaFerny Creek 6.1, 37. Top Dogs were Thomas Leech-Hines, Tyson Smith, Harry Mitchell, Mitchell Mutsaers, Joshua Dymond and Hunter Coghlan.

· Under 19s: Wandin 10.6, 66 defeated by Pakenham 16.18, 114. Top Dogs were Nicholas Pike, Joshua Atkins, Bailey Yelland, Jack Van Dreumel and Oli Nathan.

· Women’s:Wandin 7.7, 49 defeatedThorntonEildon 0.1, 1. Top Dogs were Hailee Stokes, Alysha Henskens, Lottie Read, Georgia Krueger, Alessandra Hendrie and Madeline Stokes.

· A Grade Netball: Wandin 62 defeated Olinda-Ferny Creek 34. Top Dogs were Emmalia Blake, Kyah Kimpton and Ruby Tidd.

· B Grade: Wandin 82 defeated Olinda-Ferny Creek 20.Top Dogs were EllaTweedale, Mad-

Plenty of action on the course

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.V’s:

Did not play on this public holiday, as the Club conducted a Stableford comp. Results from this were as follows: Geoff Sharp won the day with a fine 40 points. This easily accounted for our runner-up, in John Haynes, who posted a 37-point result. Balls paid out for 33+ points. The NTPs went to Jack Sheehan (3rd), Michael Fox (9th), Deb Hamment (12th) and Ross Machar (15th).

Wednesday 12 June, 2-Person Ambrose:

This novelty event attracted a goodsized field, and, although a challenge on a damp track, good scores were in evidence. The best of these was posted by the team of Peter Bell and Tim Jones ( Belly is the hot streak player in the Club at the moment, and Tim is clearly on a way-too-generous handicap). Anyway, their excellent Nett 62.7 was enough, by 0.3 strokes, to win the day. The tried-and-true pair breathing down their neck, was, of course, David Hatt and P.K. They posted a neat Nett 63. The NARGA went to a nameless Ladies’ pair, who I am reliably informed had a lot of fun out there but not a lot of pars. The NTP winners were: P.K. (3rd), Mario De Vincentis (9th), Ray ‘Skipper’ Gilmore (12th) and Matt Maloney (15th).

Saturday 15 June, Par:

Once again, the Par comp has sorted out the field, because 30+ played and only 4 of them finished in the ‘pluses’. And the best of these went to Alan McDonald, in a welcome return to form, with a stunning +4 in challenging conditions. The hot man of the Club, Peter Bell, was runner-up to Alan, in B-Grade with a fine +1. Well done to both Macca and Belly. But, in A-Grade is where the really exciting news is evident. Roger Mataele won the top prize with a solid +2, on a countback, from Paul Osbourne, who also finished 2-up. That wasn’t enough for Rog. Because he snared the ultimate on the tough 15th hole, a rare ace. Of course, this won him the NTP on that hole. A great day for you, Roger. In both Grades, the balls went down to -3. The other NTP winners were Matt Maloney ( both the 3rd and the 5th, great shooting, M.M.), Dale Sund (9th) and Trevor Porter (12th).

eline Seeley and Ava Upton.

· C Grade: Wandin 51 defeated Olinda-Ferny Creek 24. Top Dogs were Kate Campbell, Marlee Smart and Cassidy Iedema.

· D Grade: Wandin 31 defeated Olinda-Ferny Creek 19.Top Dogs were Ella Rumian, Kealey Earney and Kiara Semos.

· 17 and Under: Wandin 61 defeated Berwick 9. Top Dogs were Sophie Papadopoulos, Abby Akers and Summer Tuppenney.

ZachMonkhorstwasbestonground.

Pictures:ADAMSYKES DanikaCorlessshootsforWooriYallock.

Healesville on top

By Sarah Bailey

Heelers: U12s 6 - 3 Blackburn

New Hope Ocelots

After a broken arm saw him sidelined, Jake was hungry for action and scored an epic hattrick. There were several beautifully orchestrated passages of play from the midfield, with great strategic passes that kept consistent pressure on the Ocelot goal square.

A perfectly struck goal from the Yuuki, who played with great agility and determination, as well as brilliant teamwork and timing from Bodie who scored two strong goals. Special mention to Micah, who played an excellent game from defence with several decisive and accurate passes under pressure. Great team effort.

· Goal Kickers. Yuuki, Bodie and Jake.

· Best on Field: Micah.

Healesville U15 Mixed 2 - 7 Maroondah United Courage

Healesville started well, pressing early and often, before Pip M entered the scorebook with a brilliant long range, tight angle shot that snuck behind the keeper to hit the bottom corner.

Healesville continued to pile on the pressure until MUFC managed to tie the score on a counter attack. Nevertheless Healesville didn’t give up and not long later Hamish M put the Reds back in front beating 2 defenders and the keeper. This would unfortunately be the last goal for Healesville as MUFC snagged 2 goals in quick succession leaving Healesville trailing at the Half 2-3.

Healesville managed to control big periods of time in the 2nd half but it was MUFC who added to their score once the Healesville boys started to tire, evident that the team hadn’t yet recovered from illnesses.

· Goal kickers. Pip M and Hamish M. Healesville U15 Girls Flames 3 - 0 Berwick Blues

In the final game of the VCFA Girls Gala day in Bayswater, the Flames managed a win to a first half penalty from the ever cool Ella D, a welldeserved goal for the quick footed Kendi L-T

and a left footed strike from Eloise S. Special mention to Evelyn B-W for her solid game in defence.

· Goal kickers. Ella D, Kendi L-T and Eloise S. · Best on Field. Evelyn B-W.

Healesville Reserves 6 - 1 Maroondah United 4ths

Healesville continued their strong run with a comfortable 6-1 home victory. Tom E scored two and had a hand in two other goals, Will W continued his goal scoring streak with another great goal but it was Johnny H who stole the show scoring a hat-trick, his first goals for the club.

· Goal Kickers. Johnny H, Will W and Tom E. Healesville Women Reds 3 - 1 Yarra Valley

In a tough battle Yarra Valley went into halftime in front thanks to a penalty after a handball in the box. The second half saw a more determined and disciplined performance from the Reds with Kiera S slotting one home early

Senior’s notch big win

By Anne-Marie Ebbels

Allteamsplayedathomethisweekwithacold and foggy start for the U18s this week against Upwey-Tecoma. It was a tight tussle in the first quarter with Healesville kicking the only goal and having a three-point lead at quarter time.

The second quarter saw Healesville create several scoring opportunities that they made count and increased their lead to 25 points at halftime. Upwey-Tecoma worked hard in the third quarter but didn’t make it count on the scoreboard with Healesville maintaining their lead into the final break. A strong final quarter by Upwey-Tecoma had them outscoring Healesville, but the lead was too big to overcome with Healesville running out winners by 27 points.

TheWomen’steamplayedPakenhamagain this week with hopes of reversing the previous week’s results. The first quarter was hard fought with neither team gaining the ascendency with Pakenham leading by three points atquartertime.Pakenhamcameouthardafter the break and dominated possession making it hard for Healesville to generate any run into theirforwardhalf.Pakenhamwentintothebig break with a 17-point lead. Pakenham continued to make it difficult for Healesville to score and were eventual winners by 42 points.

The Reserves weren’t challenged in their game with twelve scoring shots to one in the first and only inaccurate kicking by Healesville made the scoreboard look respectable forYarra Junction with Healesville going into the first break with a 21-point lead. Healesville continued to dominate the possession for the rest of the game over an under-manned Yarra Junctionteamwinningby157points.TylerTweedie kicked seven goals in the win.

The senior’s game was similar to the Reserve with Healesville getting out of the blocks quickly and scoring seven goals to none in the first quarter going into quarter time with a

48-point lead.Yarra Junction struggled to generate any scoring opportunities and couldn’t convert the ones they got into goals remaining goalless for the game.

Healesville ran out big winners by 171 points.

In the netball, C Grade struggled with just seven players and players having to play out of position against a well-stocked Yarra Junctionteam.YarraJunctiongotouttoagoodlead in the first quarter with Healesville unable to bridge the gap despite winning the last quarter.Yarra Junction ran out winners by 20 goals.

The A Grade game was an arm wrestle in the first quarter withYarra Junction going into the first break with a three-goal lead. Healesville settled in the second quarter to scoring 21 goalsto12togointothehalf-timebreakwith6 goal lead. In a tough third quarter, Healesville maintained their lead andYarra Junction kept coming in the final quarter with Healesville hanging onto a five-goal win. In the final netball game B Grade got out to a quick start with a three-goal lead at quarter time. Healesville continued to increase their lead at each break with a strong defensive effort resulting in turnovers and a winning margin of 16 goals.

Next week Healesville has two teams in action, with the U18 playing Friday night at Don Road and the Women playing in the twilight game at Olinda.The rest of the club has a bye.

Football

· Senior Men Healesville 174 defeated Yarra Junction 3 Best: A Edwards, T Amarant, S Donkin, L Potts,T Barclay, D Sissins Netball

· A Grade Healesville 57 defeated Yarra Junction 52 Best: H Blackney, K Farrow, M Erickson

· B Grade Healesville 39 defeated Yarra Junction 23 Best: C Bouma, L Rogers

to level the score.

Eloise S found herself one on one with the goalkeeper and calmly finished it to send the Reds 2-1 up. In a tense finish, Yarra Valley pushed hard for an equaliser opening up the game. Kiera S’s brilliant solo effort on the wing and cross allowed Olive B to tap home and seal the win. A special mention to Charlotte A for domination in the midfield and to Hana P for her solid defensive performance on her senior debut.

· Goal Kickers. Kiera S, Eloise S and Olive B.

· Best on field. Charlotte and Hana P. PARRY CUP 1 Healesville Seniors 1 – 5 Bayswater Strikers

Healesville took on Bayswater, a team from the division above, in the first round of the Parry Cup.

Rescue event

By Anita Prowse

A busy week at Wesburn Park this week, the Upper Yarra Pony Club were lucky enough to host a Large Animal Rescue Seminar on Thursday with Anton (the UK leader in LAR) attended by local CFA, Pony Clubs/ Adult riding clubs SES members and Vet and Vet nurses, all of whom are of course incredibly important in all forms of large animal rescues.

The techniques were excellent, and the equipment used, very well designed. Given the enormous number of horses in the Yarra Valley, it is quite upsetting that we only have two CFAs in the entire state with large animal training and equipment. Many involved in the seminar have indicated a desire to have more of these resources closer by and be able to offer up-to-date training.

Would highly recommend getting to see one of Anton’s seminars while he is in the country, well worth it.

Sunday, the Upper Yarra Pony Club had a special rally, visited by Stacey from Same-side equestrian. She specialises in side saddle riding.The kids had great fun trying it out, and we are so lucky to have access to a coach like Stacey to keep the skill of side saddle riding alive.

Pigs come out in confidence

By David Ball

YarraGlenfacedoffagainstPowelltownwiththe Demons looking for their first win of the season. The game started with great intensity in a goal for goal rally. Powelltown’s multiple League B&F Ben Wratten dominated centre clearances for Powelly as Yarra Glen’s Max DePina and Nate Capuano were holding well up in defence.

In a high scoring quarter Yarra Glen had kicked 7.3 to Powelltown’s 5.3.The second quarter saw Yarra Glen take control in general play, moving the ball well and feeding forward Josh Hawkins who capitalised with strong marking and accurate kicking. Yarra Glen jumped out to a 6 goal lead before the Demons rallied with 2 late goals to keep within 25 points at half time.

In the 3rd quarter the River Pigs started to limit Wratten’s midfield dominance and started winning clearances consistently with their midfield getting well on top. Kicking 8 goals to 2 in the second half, Yarra Glen were able to stifle any chances of a Powelltown first victory who failed to kick a last quarter goal.

The River Pigs ran out comfortable winners, 20.12 to 10.5

· Best players were: Nate Capuano, Josh Hawkins, Max DePina, Noah Battle, Anthony Delaney and Nathan Deringowski.

· Goalkickers. Josh Hawkins 7, Marcus Kikidoplous 3 Jim Marks 2, Richard Gurney 2, Sam Wood 2, Oscar Grenfell, Noah Battle, Heath Chamberlain & Nathan Deringowski.

The Yarra Glen reserves were looking for their first win against Powelltown who were also looking for their first win of the season. In a high pressure first quarter both sides were turning the ball over frequently with some strong work up forward seeing Powelltown lead by 10 points at quarter time. The Demons kicked early goals in the second to take 3 goal lead. The River Pigs lifted and banged on 3 quick goals with Sean Sanderson capitalising from the midfielders lifting to cut the margin to 4 points. With this momentum it was looking like Yarra Glen may taste victory but they faded badly in the second half. Powelltown’s experienced quality showed

as they took over to add 5 goals to Yarra Glen’s nil.

Final Scores Yarra Glen 7.2 to Powelltown 12.9.

Best players were Taylor Bryans, Keithy Gerovasilis, Sean Sanderson, Dan Kelly, Matt McKenzie and Max Murphy, Goalkickers, Sean Sanderson 4, Josh Dick, Lachlan Crawford and Andrew Cowan.

In netballYarra Glen A Grade had a bye, with B Grade hosting Powelltown at home. TheYarra girls put in a solid effort, setting the standard early with a 21 goal first quarter. In Tiah Large’s 50th game everyone contributed. Having a strong lead early Yarra Glen were able to swing things around with Jasmin Wood and Kayla Collins both performing well in centre. Ellen Keitley and Abby Page were deadly in the goal circle, eventually seeing Yarra Glen putting on 68 goals to Powelltown’s 32. B Grade is starting to combine well and faces big challenges ahead as they take on higher placed teams in the coming weeks.

Yarra Glen’s Josh Hawkins 36 flying for a mark under pressure from Powelltown’s James Ashby 11.

Picture: JAYNE BASHFORD

A large-animal rescue demonstration.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Healesville Under 12 Rangers celebrate their convincing win against Wattle Glen. Picture: SUPPLIED BY SARAH BAILEY

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