The State Government’s interim report into the operational response following the 13 February storm events has shone a light on a number of concerns within the affected communities, such as Cockatoo and Emerald. Concerns raised include the lack of appropriate co-ordination between organisations and regulatory mechanisms not incentivising distribution businesses to restore power in a timely manner.
On the afternoon of Tuesday 13 February, a significant thunderstorm crossed Victoria causing heavy rainfall and damaging winds.
During this storm, Victoria experienced wind gusts of more than 110 kilometres per hour and as high as 150km/h.
The event caused significant damage to trees, buildings and infrastructure including the electricity network.
At 2.08pm, six AusNet transmission towers near Anakie collapsed due to a microburst of
The power of healing
Currently on display at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum in Lilydale are the stories of those who experienced the storms of 2021.
Toldthroughtheself-expressionartworks of the community, guided by fine artist Emma Jennings, the healing power of art formedaintegralpartoftheStoriesofGiants exhibition. The vision of Jennings when designing the project was to involve the community, to tell their stories of pain and anguish from a time of destruction but also to provide a sense of togetherness, of acceptance and of ownership of what happened three years ago, primarily in the Dandenong Ranges.
To read and see more, turn to page 11
Workshop participant Amber with her creation which formed part of the Stories of Giants exhibition by Emma Jennings. (Cathy Ronalds)
wind associated with a surrounding storm weather event.
The storm event caused significant damage to Victoria’s electricity distribution network, affecting about 12,000 kilometres of distribution lines, and 1100 powerlines down.
More than one million customers lost power across the event with more than 531,000 customers off power at the peak of the event.
Around 400,000 customers were restored within a day, and after three days, around
30,000 customers remained without power.
About 3000 customers were left without power for more than a week with the last five properties reconnected on 24 February, 11 days after the initial event.
In undertaking the Network Outage Review, the team engaged deeply with affected communities, distribution businesses, regulators, emergency services, peak bodies, social and community organisations.
CONTINUED PAGE 5
FOGO review: Environmental outcomes are positive
By Mikayla van Loon
With six months passing since the introduction of food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bins in the Yarra Ranges, a mid-year review proved its effectiveness but highlighted core concerns for further advocacy.
From the transition period in January and February to June, Yarra Ranges Council collated data and feedback from the community to understand the challenges, opportunities and outcomes of the FOGO service.
It revealed a positive environmental impact, showing a 73 per cent diversion rate of waste going to landfill, which sits just below the council’s 2025 target.
An additional 9037 tonnes of organic waste material was collected, with a reduction of general waste materials equating to 6248 tonnes.
But it also returned a saturated request for weekly waste collections or larger bins particularly for households with young children or with more than five people residing in the home.
Further feedback related to a possible optout option for residents who already have a system in place to compost or manage food and garden organics within their properties.
This led to the council’s recommendations to explore options of bin sizes or collection changes within the contract, investigate solutions for multi-unit developments with
(On file)
reduced space and hold consideration for an opt-out clause until the finalisation of state service standards for municipalities.
In total the council’s officers put forward seven recommendations, including an extension of the reusable nappy workshops, an endorsement to defer the glass collection service until July 2026 and advocacy for better managing soft plastics.
At the council meeting on Tuesday 9 July the seven recommendations were accepted, with councillors Fiona McAllister and Tim Heenan putting forward additional wording.
The alternate motion Cr McAllister put forward asked “to undertake further consultation with non residential properties to work to resolve current waste service chal-
lenges they are experiencing”.
Cr McAllister said while the report outlined some of the challenges, particularly for small business owners who had also been reduced to a fortnightly waste collection,
“I think it needs to be specifically referenced in our recommendation to acknowledge that we are continuing to find ways to resolve those issues,” she said.
For Cr Heenan the wording of “as soon as possible” was added to the second recommendation regarding contract discussions and bin size outcomes to pass on that advice to the community when it was finalised.
“There may be members of the community out there that want another bin. We do have to work that through with our contractors to make sure we can come up with a new solution. Hopefully not at a substantially inflated cost,” he said.
“I just want to see that done as soon as possible.”
Addressing the report and the motion as its mover, Cr Johanna Skelton said with many of the major concerns relating to frequency of collection and bin size, she felt the council’s approach “[captures] the main issues”.
“I feel like the option to increase the bins size strikes a good balance between us addressing that concern for overfill bins and not incurring extra costs…for all the community members to pay for this service,”
she said.
“So I feel like that, hopefully, will nail a major concern around just not having enough bin space while still providing the incentive to reduce landfill which we know we need to do to meet legislation and for ethical reasons.”
Cr Skelton did reiterate “we’re [not] going to change it immediately” with discussions still needing to be had “about what costs may be incurred”.
Adding to this, Cr Richard Higgins said given the State Government’s household waste service standard was open for public consultation, it would be remiss of the council to proceed concretely.
“It would be irresponsible of us to actually lock in a lot of the things we’re considering until we actually get that feedback from the State Government or their words of wisdom on which direction we should go,” he said.
“I think we should be a little bit hesitant to say anything in concrete.”
Addressing the deferral of glass collection, Cr Skelton said it seemed like the most appropriate action until contributing factors like the container deposit scheme could be fully assessed.
Cr Skelton closed out the discussion by congratulating the community on its uptake and success so far with the FOGO system.
The motion was passed unanimously.
It’s all about engagement
By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council has approved a revised Community Engagement Policy at theTuesday 9 July council meeting.
The Community Engagement Policy was first adopted in April 2021 and the new revisions were made following over 240 community engagement projects that have been undertaken by the Council since the original policy was implemented.
Starting the discussion, Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton asked a question to Executive Officer for Communications and Engagement Joanne Hammond regarding if there is any guidance in the Community Engagement Policy about when the Council decides to undertake an external review of an engagement project.
“We don’t have any specific projects in mind when it comes to evaluation, we’ll simply have a look at what’s going on, what is contentious or what has piqued the interest of the community and has created a great deal of feedback for us to make decisions around how we will evaluate,” she said.
“Some projects create more interest than others and we can’t always tell at the beginning of the project what that will be, but we will be looking at getting some external evaluation done to make sure that it’s as objective as we can make it.”
Yarra Ranges Council sought to update the Community Engagement Policy prior to the adoption of the new Council plan and the council elections in October, with the draft having been open for feedback from 27 March to 5 May this year.
Cr Skelton said she thinks it’s an excellent review of the existing community engagement policy.
“It’s right that we see how it was landing, make sure that it’s delivering on expectations, I think throughout the six-week exhibition, we got really insightful and good feedback from the community that I can see how it’s improved the policy,” she said.
“I can see from the report that they did a very good deep dive around all different teams of council and saw how it landed in different parts,”
“Between the officers and the community, we’ve got a good list of proposed changes for us to look at on page 53 and 54 and to me, they all make sense and look like they will improve outcomes for communities.”
Prior to community feedback, these were some of the key changes implemented in the
draft revised policy:
Updated to 2023 Council-approved version of the Acknowledgement of Country
Inclusion of a revision history table and administrative changes clause (to allow for changes without Council endorsement)
Inclusion of a clear definition and specific use of ‘Community Engagement’
Clarified the factors considered in Council decisions, including community engagement
Removed the list of suggested groups to engage with
In the ‘when we engage’ section, consolidated it into a list of times Council will and will not engage, rather than ‘will, may and will not’
Included an overarching statement that defines the deciding factors as ‘when there is/ is not a genuine opportunity for input to inform, change or influence a decision’
Removed the specific steps for planning engagement which can widely be found elsewhere but remain available internally
Removed example initiatives in the‘Level of engagement’ subsection
New ‘Deciding the engagement approach’, ‘Deciding on the tools of engagement’ and ‘What does consistency look like’ subsections
A new section covering how Yarra Ranges Council will inform the community of engagement outcomes and evaluate the engagement performance
Addition of a new section with legislative context, such as the inclusion of the Gender Equality Act 2020 and other relevant legislation
Outline the relationship between the Council plan and community engagement as well as relevant Council policies like the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
General clarification and removal of broad or unclear statements eg: ‘changing something’
O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said the revised policy really reflects the outcome from those community engagement pieces.
“I go back to the previous policy that Cr Skeleton referred to and the previous item we discussed here tonight was the waste issue, and when you looked at the waste management plan that we went out to the community with, it was probably one of the best buy-ins we had from our community, that process was really showed how we did that and we did it well,” he said.
“It really builds on that previous piece and it shows that we really take seriously the value of community engagement.”
Community feedback on the draft revised policy also resulted in Yarra Ranges Council including the role of communication to support community awareness of their chances
to engage, commit to improving transparency regarding decisions on planning community engagement and resource allocation, include people experiencing homelessness as a cohort to consider when planning engagement and highlight the role within Council to continuously improve and train to deliver better outcomes for the community.
Billanook Councillor Tim Heenan said local government gets flak at times because some members of the general public think that they just go out there to tick the boxes.
“We all have understandings that certain things need to be done in local government but because the officers have gone much more in-depth this time, though of course there’s more to be done, I’m really supportive of the immense diversity of what we’ve got back so far,” he said.
“I think we forget, I’m sure the people around the room here don’t forget, but members of the community forget how big this Shire council really is, how much we have to take care of and the immense diversity of things that we have to take care of which are not just roads, rates and rubbish which is the old saying,”
“We need to find out what people want to say, what level of detail they want to give to us and try to understand what they’re saying to us.”
The Yarra Ranges Council has monitored the data since introducing FOGO and released the review’s results.
Yarra Ranges Council has adopted a revised Community Engagement Policy. (On File: 335071)
Angst over crashes
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Wet weather caused several collisions on Tuesday along Monbulk Road.
Residents in The Patch notified Star Mail regarding yet another collision on Monbulk Road, The Patch where they reside.
On Tuesday 9 June, around 3.30pm two vehicles were involved in a collision.
The resident who notified the paper said cars were banking up from Kallista and Monbulk, they called Triple Zero for police control.
On Monday, The Patch residents were waiting at the bottom of their driveway to turn right and saw a car passing their driveway, towards Kallista.
“This car’s back left tyre got caught in the ridge of road surface where the bitumen meets the gravel and tried to twist that car towards centre of road,” the resident said.
“The driver was able to correct and drive out of it, but it could well be one reason why cars are forced across the road.”
Monbulk Police attended the scene and Monbulk CFA and Ambulance Victoria were also notified but neither was required as there were no injuries.
Monbulk Police said the collision could be due to the wet weather.
Both parties involved in the accident exchanged details and their cars were towed away on flat tray trucks.
Later that day, another collision occurred between Perrins Creek Road and Camms Road
Residents in The Patch are concerned with the frequent collisions on Monbulk Road. (Supplied)
– just a little bit further down from The Patch.
A sergeant from Monbulk Police Station said around 6.15pm, a vehicle went off to the side of the road, and the driver left the scene before police got there.
The police said the vehicle wasn’t stolen, however, the driver was not the registered owner of the vehicle.
At this stage, Monbulk police officers are making inquiries with the driver.
Pro-Palestine protesters will fight charges
By Cassandra Morgan, AAP
A group of pro-Palestine activists charged after a stand-off on the roof of a Melbourne factory say they will fight criminal charges on the basis the business manufactures fighter jet parts used in Gaza.
The eight protesters were arrested on 19 February, several hours after they climbed onto the roof of Rosebank Engineering’s aircraft components manufacturing facility at Bayswater in the city’s east.
The group said the business manufactured parts for fighter jets exported and used by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza - a claim lawyer Madeleine Toohey on Thursday said amounted to a “sudden or extraordinary defence” for the activists.
The company had admitted as much and the protesters would dispute their cases on those grounds, Ms Toohey told Ringwood Magistrates Court.
In response, Magistrate Andrew Sim asked: “This is a court of law, not a court of public opinion - how would that evidence be adduced on behalf of your clients?”
Ms Toohey said she did not know.
After standing the matter down, the magistrate said the protesters’ claim would have to be analysed in court.
A group of eight protesters were arrested after a stand-off on the roof of an
aircraft parts manufacturing factory in Bayswater. (Supplied)
“I just ask the parties to consider … how they expect to illicit evidence in an admissible form before the court (and) whether that will require any expert evidence,” Mr Sim said.
“You may well be delving into the areas of international humanitarian law … it can get
pretty complicated.”
The protesters - Gaye Demanuele, Bede McCartney-Kemp, Emily Wood Trounce, Juliet Lamont, Rebecca Adams, Coco Aboukater, Lilli Lovegrove and Katherine Moore - will face a contest mention on 2 October.
They waved goodbye to each other on a video link after Thursday’s hearing.
Each of the protesters was charged with trespass, and damaging walls and windows at Rosebank Engineering.
They were also charged with either disguising or blackening their faces with unlawful intent, or possessing an article of disguise during the February 19 protest.
Ms Demanuele addressed media after the protest as the spokeswoman for the Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance.
Intergenerational conflicts in the Middle East between Palestinians and Israelis escalated on 7 October when Islamist militants linked to Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza.
More than 1200 people died and up to another 200 were taken hostage, according to the United Nations.
Israel’s subsequent military action has resulted in the deaths of more than 38,000 people in Gaza, with the UN citing unconfirmed data provided by the local ministry of health and Gaza Government Media Office.
IN BRIEF
Tree falls across trainlines
Trains were disrupted on the Belgrave line on Monday 15 July from the early morning.
Social media posts displayed an image of tree branch across the track and leaning onto a train itself. Public Transport of Victoria said in an update on it’s website that passengers were advised that“due to an equipment fault at Upwey”, buses were replacing Belgrave train services between Belgrave and Upper Ferntree Gully. The fault was cleared, with trains resuming at 1pm on Monday.
Suspicious house fire
CFA crews responded to a house fire in Tecoma on Thursday 11 July.
Units from Bayswater, Sassafras, Belgrave and Upwey attended the Clifford Grove location at around 7.15am.
“Victoria Police also attended the scene. The incident is being treated as suspicious and is being investigated,” a CFA spokesperson said.
“The incident was declared under control at 7.38am and deemed safe at 8.38am.”
Powerline snaps in Upwey
1,600 customers lost power in the Dandenong Ranges last week when a power line snapped in a residential area.
The powerline snapped in Upwey on Thursday 11 July during the late morning and dropped power to the area, with some customers losing power for the rest of the day.
AusNet said a fallen tree damaged a power pole and brought down powerlines at 11.23am, originally cutting power to around 1,600 customers. Two CFA units responded to reports of a fire on Glenfern Avenue at around at 11.26am.
Units responded from Belgrave and Upwey and crews discovered a single high-voltage line had snapped on one of the poles and brought the pole line down onto the road.
“There was no fire,” a CFA spokesperson said. “The incident was deemed safe by crews at 11.40am andVictoria Police and AusNet were handed control of the scene.”
An AusNet spokesperson said power was gradually restored.
AusNet crews remained to isolate the site, make it safe and restore power. Power was fully restored to the area by 8pm that evening. Drugs and weapons seized in Upwey Local law enforcement has discovered drugs, weapons and cash after searching a home in the Yarra Ranges last Friday.
Belgrave Police executed a search warrant at a residential address in Kooringal Road, Upwey on 5 July.
Police said via Eyewatch they discovered “allegedly trafficable amounts of MDMA, methamphetamine, heroin, cannabis and ketamine as well as in excess of $16,000 cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime.”
Police also seized gel blasters and an imitation firearm. Two people - a 38-year-old female and a 35-year-old male from Upwey were charged and will now face the Ringwood Magistrates Court on 7 August.
Police stated on the Eyewatch post that those who are profiting from the illicit drug trade cause considerable harm.
“The ongoing social impacts can contribute to addiction, violence, burglaries, theft, drugrelated road trauma and family violence. These impacts cause long-term effects for both the individual and the wider community,” it said.
All-clear after sewage spill
By Tanya Steele
A sewer spill with an unknown cause was investigated and managed by South East Water which potentially impacted waterways around Belgrave last week.
Posting to social media on 8 July, South East Water stated there was a sewer spill between Monbulk Road and Clematis Bushland Reserve in Belgrave with overflow into creeks in the Sherbrooke, Clematis and Monbulk area.
At the time of the post, South East Water said that as a precaution, residents and their animals should not use or handle the water in
the Sherbrooke, Clematis and Monbulk Creek.
South EastWater acting general manager of service delivery Andrew Forster-Knight said the company understands the Belgrave sewer spill might have been concerning news for some residents and community members.
“We’re sorry for any mess and potential smells caused, as well as any subsequent impacts to community activities,” he said.
“Once alerted to the spill, we responded immediately to manage it. Our priority was clean-up and repair works, and we continued to closely monitor the area.This included daily water quality testing to monitor and mitigate
the impacts on the environment, including any endangered flora and fauna.”
Advisory signs were put in place until water quality results for the area were received and the company said the Environment Protection Authority Victoria and Yarra Ranges Council, as well as other authorities, were alerted to the spill.South East Water confirmed with Star Mail on Monday 15 July that quality results on Saturday 13 July showed the water was all clear at Sherbrooke, Clematis and Monbulk Creeks.
Mr Forster-Knight said through sewer maintenance and monitoring programs, the company do everything possible to avoid sew-
er spills.
“They sometimes happen because of a build-up of tree roots and fats and/or asset failure,” he said.
“We use thousands of sensors and systems with alarms that detect potential blockages or overflows across our network before they impact our customers or the environment.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion the spill was caused by a failure on a pipe, which we’ve now replaced.”
Residents and visitors can stay up-to-date with the latest information on the South East Water Facebook page.
Water quality results on Saturday 13 July confirmed the water is now all clear at Sherbrooke, Clematis and Monbulk Creeks. (Stewart Chambers: 418698)
South-East Water posted to social media Monday 8 July that there was a a sewer spill between Monbulk Road and Clematis Bushland Reserve, Belgrave with overflow into creeks in the Sherbrooke, Clematis and Monbulk area.
Storm interim review welcomed, outlines problems
FROM PAGE 1
The team placed the needs of the community at the centre as failure of the electricity network impacts the broader essential services networks.
The report suggested there were a number of improvements which could be made to result in a better outcome for the community, including quick on the ground relief; compensation and adjustments to regulatory frameworks.
Emerald resident Claude Cullino said his first impressions of the interim report was that it was “comprehensive and well thought through“.
“The report highlights that the outages and lack of communication had a profound impact upon the Hills community,“ he said.
“The issues are how the State Government and regulators respond; and more importantly, what the specific responses of AusNet and Telstra are to each draft recommendation relevant to them.
“It is heartening to see that the report identifies improvement opportunities with vulnerable persons, given that only seven per cent of medically vulnerable individuals have backup power.“
Mr Cullino said the recommendation for Ausnet to work closer with affected communities was “welcomed“.
“It is suggested that there is a need for AusNet to work with the Hills community to develop strategies and a prioritised plan of
funded action,“ he said.
“The Hills communities would welcome a similar approach from the telecommunications providers with the emphasis being on a strategic approach and not a competitive one with winners and losers.“
The report detailed a number of concerns and wishes expressed by the affected communities, including:
· Communities want better coordination between all responding organisations including community groups;
· The loss of telecommunications isolated individuals, restricted information access, prevented purchase of essential supplies, and undermined their safety;
· Current regulatory mechanisms do not incentivise distribution businesses to achieve
timely restoration of the tail of customers without power
· AusNet’s systems, planning, technology for monitoring, planning and restoring outages did not have the capacity, functionality and integration for the event of this scale; and
· In some locations, the safety of the community was put at risk as they could not make Triple-0 emergency calls.
The report also suggested AusNet upgrade its asset integrity register and its contingency planning for events which affect its transmission towers and the State Government and critical infrastructure providers ensure there are appropriate business continuity planning and arrangements for continued provision of essential services for 72 hours without network power supply
Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said she was grateful to the panel for their work to date and encouraged anybody left to have their say to make a submission.
“It’s clear that improvements must be made in the way privately owned power companies respond to extreme weather events and how they communicate with the residents and businesses who rely on them,“ she said.
Network Outage Review chair Rosemary Sinclair said the review panel would continue to listen to the affected communities.
“We’ve heard from the resilient communities who suffered most during the February storms and subsequent power outages,“ she said.
“There are lessons for all distribution businesses from these experiences to improve outcomes for Victorians in the future.“
The State Government took another step towards securing connectivity during storms and other extreme weather events, launching a mobile network renewable hydrogen backup system in Neerim North on Thursday 4 July.
The 10-kilowatt renewable hydrogen generators would deliver up to 72 hours of backup power and help maintain mobile coverage during power outages.
For more information about the review, visit engage.vic.gov.au/network-outage-review
tree frog.
Historic creek renamed
By Tanya Steele
A volunteer conservationist group has seen to a landmark renaming of a cherished creek this month.
Community will have fresh connection to the vital waterway in the Knox area as the newly named Wayut creek continues to be cared for by local volunteers.
“Language is inextricably linked with culture and country,”Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Gail said.
“Our language helps describe our connection to the environment and the landscapes within it in a way that strengthens these links to our country and to each other,” she said.
Local Wurundjeri Elders worked with Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve and Melbourne Water to give the new name to the creek in Ferntree Gully.
A consultation process between Melbourne Water andWurundjeri colleagues explored potential Indigenous language names that could describe the waterway and eventually named the creek ‘Wayut’.
The word ‘wayut’ was chosen from the Woiwurrung language and wayut is the name for the medium-sized eucalypts that are growing in the area.
They have a thick, fibrous bark that typically grow 10-to-40 metres in height and provide an important canopy for wildlife habitat along the creek line.
Wayut Creek is a valuable wildlife connec-
tion between the Dandenong Ranges National Park and the remaining pockets of native vegetation along its path through the middle of the city of Knox.
President of Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve, Rowan Jennion their group were really pleased when theWurundjeri provided a name in theWoiwurrung language that also reflected the local native vegetation and an important tree they use for revegetation.
”The name is a great way to connect community to traditional culture and language and to their local environment,” he said.
Fellow group member Kathleen Loxston said that the name change is something they have been waiting for.
“We’re really excited - it has been a really great thing,” she said.
Aunty Gail said they appreciated the opportunity provided by MelbourneWater to help all Australians connect with place by understanding the deep history of these places.
Mr Jennion said the group are also incredibly grateful for their main contact at Melbourne Water, Jared Polkinghorne who navigated the formal steps and stuck with them throughout the process.
“We’ve walked along the creek with Jared so he’s seen the water quality issues firsthand and understood how important the creek is for local wildlife,” he said.
For almost 30 years the the Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve have volunteered month-
ly to help restore and maintain local biodiversity, including supporting the creek line with weed management, revegetation, rubbish removal, and wildlife monitoring.
Formed from a series of springs in the Dandenong Ranges, Wayut Creek connects downstream with Blind Creek at Dobsons Park which flows into Dandenong Creek., a 53 kilometre long tributary of the much shorter Patterson River.
This ten metre wide artificial channel empties into Port Phillip Bay.
Mr Jennion said that restoring the waterway back to a creek recognises its importance for the native wildlife that live and breed in it, and rely on it to survive in a hot summer.
“We all enjoy going for a walk and seeing native wildlife but we need to look after their habitat or more wildlife will disappear,” he said.
“The headwaters of our local creeks now include our home driveway and roof, and street stormwater drains.”
“Constant threats come from solid waste as well as invisible pollutants like chemicals, detergents, fertiliser nutrients and heavy metals.”
The wildlife native to Wayut Creek includes brown tree and banjo frogs and rosellas that drink and bathe in the stream.
Yabbies and crays burrow in the banks while pacific black ducks, Australian wood ducks and chestnut teals breed nearby who all feed and live on the water.
Mountain galaxias fish and short-finned eels seek refuge under its native aquatic vegetation and fishing spiders and invertebrates form the basis of a food chain that supports life in the creek.
Looking forward Mr Jennion said that there is a need for the design and function of stormwater to keep up with modern understanding of how development and our lifestyles impact these wildlife habitat corridors.
“There’s a number of design changes that local councils and VicRoads can build into their stormwater systems to filter and reduce the amount of pollutants ending up in our creeks,” he said.
“These include rain gardens, vegetated swales and gross pollutant traps”.
“This would also help the visual amenity of our community – I’d prefer to look at a rain garden with greenery on the side of the road instead of a cracked old concrete gutter.”
Melbourne Water suggests a number of ways residents can protect local creeks from pollution, such as washing cars on lawns instead of in driveways and streets, rinsing paint brushes and buckets away from drains and gutters, reporting burst water mains as soon as possible and carefully replacing car engine oil and coolant to prevent spills.
To find Wayut Creek, you can track its course through the middle of Koolunga Native Reserve, located off Forest Road, or a short walk from the railway line bike path to the end of St Elmo Avenue in Ferntree Gully.
Brown
Wayut (Stringybark) trees are found along the waterway in Koolunga reserve and surrounding bushland.
Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve (L-R) Rowan Jennion, President; Michael Laukens, Treasurer; Moyra Farrington, Secretary, and Robyn Madsen, Committee member. (Supplied)
Emerald Village Association Hills Power and Communications Resilience Group facilitator Claude Cullino. (Stewart Chambers: 409153)
A helping hand for people and animals in dire need
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
For over a decade now, an outer eastern Melbourne couple have been donating and helping members and animals in the community facing financial hardships and food shortages.
The Bk 2 Basics Melbourne charity organisation was established nearly a decade ago, but the support and service was active way before its establishment.
Bk 2 Basics Melbourne founder Kelly Warren, with her husband Craig and daughters, moved to Melbourne from New Zealand 11 years ago.
Ms Warren said, the family started this whole service and support to the community because many families could not afford basic necessities like food.
“When you see kids cry over a cauliflower and they would rather take the cauliflower than a lolly because they haven’t had veggies in so long, it’s sad,” she said. “We’re against food waste, many families can’t afford it,
animals are hungry – sometimes there’s not enough grass for farm animals, like cows, people on hobby farms, or all the bird rescues, they are all screaming out for food, I’d
rather it goes to animals than landfill. We have a few farmers come and get it in bulk, but anyone can come and get food scraps at any time and all we ask is that you leave the place tidy – it’s better for us, it’s better for the whole planet.”
The initiative started when the family went into the city at the beginning of their arrival to the country and saw homeless people laying in the busy streets of Melbourne.
“We were helping the homeless for about three years, and my daughters were taking more food to school, and I wondered where the school lunches were going, then I found out they were giving it to kids at school who didn’t have lunches,” she said.
“That’s when the kids suggested that instead of just helping the homeless in the city, we can also start helping families around us, and that’s when we started doing this work from my carport. If someone needs help, we just do it.”
Now the Warren family is helping more than 7000 individuals weekly with groceries,
food, and social support like helping people escape family violence.
According to Clean Up Australia, over seven million tonnes of food is wasted in Australia every year - which equates to nearly 300kgs of food per person, per year.
Approximately 92 per cent of household food waste still goes directly to landfill, where it anaerobically decomposes, expelling methane – a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. In Australia, reducing food waste could save the average family up to $3800 per year.
Ms Warren said despite the organisation receiving donations from several places including, OzHarvest Food Bank, Aldi, Costco, local bakeries, and people donating – they are still short on food.
They are open six days a week and located at, 4/54-60 Vesper Dr, Narre Warren (their op shop is next door).
Plastic not so fantastic
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
This month during ‘Plastic Free July,’ Star Mail dived its focus into everyday wear, with a look at how one Hills’ op shop has seen an influx of clothing garments enter the discarded basket.
Plastic textiles have become part of everything we wear, from ultra-fast fashion garments to designer clothing.
The demand for clothing is astronomical, the research shows an estimated 62 per cent of textiles sold in Australia are made from synthetic fabrics – making it accessible and cheaper to buy.
RMIT School of Fashion and Textile senior lecturer Dr Tamzin Rollason is an expert in sustainable consumption of fashion.
Her research focuses on the use phase of clothing and textiles with a focus on how fashion is sustainable in everyday life and she said on average, Australians are buying 56 new items per year and the rest ends up in landfill.
“The starting point is to understand what we mean by plastic textiles, these are fabrics like polyester and rayon – they appear in lots of clothing as the main textile, they also get used as poly cotton, mixed with wool, silk and linen to make them cheaper to produce and also easier to work with,” Dr Rollason said.
Each year, more than 1.4 billion units of new clothing come onto the Australian market and around 40 per cent of people’s clothing have not been worn for a year or more.
“Around 30 to 40 per cent of garments produced are not sold and end up as ‘dead stock’ that must be disposed of, and we’ve seen unethical returns practices in the industry – such as SHEIN disposing of returns to avoid the logistical hassle and expense of reselling garments,” she said.
Plastic textiles are made from non-renewable fossil fuels, and they often cannot be recycled into new textiles or be broken down.
Fast-fashion industries exist and are thriving because of the use and the availability of plastic textiles.
In the past, there were limits to how much clothing was being produced because there was only so much land, water, people, and animals that were available to make materials like cotton, wool, and silk, but now there’s hardly any limits to making plastic materials.
“There is not enough land to grow enough cotton to meet current clothing demands – especially when competing with land for food production,” she said.
“There’s also this concept which tells us that some of these material efficiencies, some of these ways of reducing our dependency on natural resources means we’re increasing our rates of consumption because they’re cheaper and more efficient to use – increasing our rates of overproduction and over consumption.”
“Nearly one-half per cent of global oil production goes into producing plastic textiles.”
Dr Rollason said it’s a “short loop” to use recycling plastics and turn it into “sustainable clothing” because we don’t have the technology to recycle plastics that are used in clothing and textiles.
“The sustainability of transforming plastics into clothing as a way of recycling and reducing plastics is a little bit questionable,” she said.
It will take some serious effort and big changes to get plastics out of our clothing, and to make this possible, we must take part in slowing down the fashion industry, rather than continuing to accelerate production.
Dr Rollason said it’s quite simple to distinguish the difference between a recycled and a virgin material because most companies will label a product that’s made from recycled plastic.
“It’s considered to be a really important selling point, they don’t go that extra effort and cost without wanting to let you know they’re doing something good – it’s all part of their marketing and sales strategy,” she said.
“We simply do not need so many clothes.”
“Meanwhile, fashion and textile producers need to consider the design of products across their entire lifecycle – beyond sale and consider how it will be used and what becomes of a garment when it is no longer worn.”
Salvos Stores Tecoma store manager Ann Rowley said about 80 per cent of the donated clothes are thrown out due to its unhygienic and poor quality.
“I probably have about 20 per cent that’s good enough to actually use,” she said.
Most of the donations they receive comes
from online stores like
and Princess Polly and other cheap brands like Anko from Kmart.
“I don’t get enough donations from the public, I order about 10 cages from the warehouse – they have 10 bags in each cage that I get that twice a week, which is a lot,” she said.
Dr Rollason said if we want to have a sustainable fashion and textile industry, using and disposing of clothing in a way that is friendly to the environment and ourselves, overhauling the use of plastics must be one of the first things to change.
“People have this mentality where they buy something because it’s so cheap, they don’t feel like you need to hang on to it for long,” she said.
The problem goes beyond the plastic itself, to how it is used.
While some plastic textiles may be appropriate – such as a durable, water-resistant hiking jacket that is worn for decades – items intended for short-term use, like trend pieces, should use biodegradable textiles.
“We need to stop making fashion from plastics that is designed to end up in landfill after a few short wears,” she said.
“You can be more sustainable by thinking about what your clothing and fashion does for you.”
“There’s this idea in sustainable fashion consumption, about dressing for your well-being, that’s thinking about your everyday dressing habits, not about fashion and trends.”
Ask yourself what are the clothes that make you feel good?What do you have in your wardrobe that you’d love? What do you use the most? What makes your life better? – that’s the well-being element of fashion.
Food scrap donations for animals are available for pick up at anytime. (Supplied)
SHEIN
About 80 per cent of our clothes end up in landfill. (Henry and Co.)
NEWS Ninja mayhem to ensue
By Gabriella Vukman
Raising money to send their qualifying team to the USA to compete in the world Ninja warrior championships (UNAA), Ferntree Gully Ninja club hosted a fundraiser that was open to the whole community on Friday July 12.
With four athletes from the Ferntree Gully club qualifying and heading to the UNAA to compete in late July, all proceeds from Friday’s fundraiser go towards the athletes.
Australian Female master Ninja Warrior champion and member of the Ferntree Gully club Mimi said: “The fundraiser was held at Ninja Nation in Ferntree Gully from 1-3pm.”
“There were raffles, prizes, bake sales and games.” Mimi said.
With the Olympic committee’s recent announcement of the substitution of horse riding for obstacle sports in the modern day pentathlon, ninja athletics is gaining traction across the globe.
First introduced to coaching in 2020 right before the pandemic, Mimi qualified for and competed in the UNAA in 2023, bringing home a gold and two silver medals.
Mimi said: “This is my second year competing in the US. I have a title to defend so I thought I’d go again this year.”
“Also, two of the elites that are coming with me this year have also competed last year,” Mimi said.
Mimi will be heading to the USA to compete alongside fellow club members Maisy, Zoe and Liam.
Whilst some of the children competing in the UNAA train four times per week, Mimi partakes in two, two hour sessions.
Mimi said: “Because I have another job, I have to try to fit in training around it all so I normally train around 2 times a week. I wish I could train more than that but that’s all I can do at the moment.”
“I normally do a double session with an hour of ninja and then an hour of strength and conditioning or a mix of ninja with strength,” Mimi said.
The UNAA is an event where ninja warriors from around the world come together to compete.
Mimi said: “The Americans are very strong ninjas so it’s very impressive to see them competing. Most of them have performed or competed at the american ninja warrior tv show.”
“What I’m looking forward to the most, is making new friends and new contacts and competing for Australia as well,” Mimi said.
The competition runs for five days with one Ninja event per day from July 24 to 28. Athletes must qualify for each individual event.
Mimi said: “I’m hoping that I can keep my title and perform as well as I did last year and perhaps bring more medals home this year.”
Macy, Zoe and Liam with coach Mimi are the four elite ninjas who will be competing in the USA.
(Portia Chiminello)
Four athletes from the Ferntree Gully region are headed to the USA to compete in the UNAA world ninja warrior championships. (Filex)
The Olympic committee has announced that horse riding will be substituted for obstacle sports in the modern day pentathlon.
State’s $96m fish stock-up
By Gabriella Vukman
Ferntree Gully’s beloved quarry is just one of 220 waterways across the state that are regularly stocked with fish.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority has been hatching and depositing approximately 10 million fish per year, in waterways throughout Victoria.
Investing $96 million into boating and fishing acrossVictoria the ‘Go Fishing and Boating Plan,’ the initiative will intended to improve piers, aquaculture, boating and recreational fishing across Victoria over the next four years.
Acting Manager of Recreational Fishing with a PhD in fish stocking Dr Taylor Hunt said that they stock the Ferntree Gully Quarry every school holidays each year with fish for the community to catch.
“This provides a fantastic mixed fishery for kids and families to get out, get off the screens and connect with nature,” she said.
“Ferntree Gully quarry is a great asset to the community. It’s got some really good access with fishing platforms. It’s got a really big boardwalk, an excellent playground, public toilets and parking and by stocking fish in there we can make it an even better asset to the community,” Dr Hunt said.
A variety of fish species are stocked in the Ferntree Gully quarry from silver perch, Australian bass and Murray cod to various types of trout.
Dr Hunt said the fish come from a hatchery at Snobb’s Creek in Lake Eildon where they breed our coldwater species such as brown and rainbow trout.
“The Murray cod or the golden perch come from our other hatchery which is a new hatchery in Shepperton which is the largest native fish farm in Australasia,” she said.
“We do put some Australian bass in there as well. We actually buy them from a private pro-
ducer but they really add to the complement of species in the quarry as a real mixed fishery.”
“What we love about it is that in winter at this time of year when its cold and even through to spring it is fantastic for kids and families to get out and catch trout and as the water warms up, the native fish like the bass, the Murray cod and the golden perch get really active so it provides year round fishing for over five species. There’s also some redfin in the
Ferntree Gully quarry as well.”
Unable to breed in the the wild, the fish are bred in a hatchery and then transported via truck to various destinations around Victoria.
The trout put into the quarry are all catchable trout and Dr Hunt said that they mix the eggs together and grow them up before distribution.
“On the 28th of June we put in 450 catch-
able rainbow trout and they were all 200g and were approximately 20-25cm long,” she said.
“In September, we stock those stonker rainbow trout which are over 5kg so they are a really big fish, over 60-70cm long. Lots of people like to let them go but these fish are great to eat.”
Keen fishers may legally catch five trout per person, per day. Regulations vary across species and can be found at the Victorian Fisheries Authority website.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority assessed potential environmental and ecological issues with the stocking of so many fish and Dr Hunt said, they are very careful and responsible about where we stock fish.
“For anywhere that we stock fish, we always do a risk assessment prior, to look at any issues that might need to be considered,” she said.
“We did a risk assessment for Ferntree Gully Quarry in 2017/2018 with the city of Knox and because it is a quarry and man made and has no connecting waterways there are no environmental issues with stocking fish there.”
“The beauty of the Ferntree Gully quarry is that it is a closed system. Stocking fish enhances the asset for the community so that people can get out and enjoy fishing.”
The Ferntree Gully quarry is restocked with fish four times per year in time for every school holidays.
Dr Hunt said, the fishery department really recognise the importance of fishing for the community and that’s why we can do great things like this. We get great reports from recreational fishers and the community. They just love it.”
“It’s a fantastic asset for the community to have five species of fish that we stock in a place that’s so close to Melbourne and it’s so pretty and beautiful that we recommend fishers and the community to get down there and enjoy it,” she said.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority has been hatching and depositing approximately 10 million fish per year, in waterways throughout Victoria. (Tanya Steele: 418907)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Iconic art in new homes
By Tanya Steele
Art has been popping up among some of the iconic walking trails of the Yarra Ranges in recent weeks.
A series of vivid signs and a large animal sculpture have both found new homes – becoming a part of a larger project in progress the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trail.
People can now experience the Pathmarker Birds at Birdsland Reserve in Belgrave Heights and the Tawny Frogmouth at Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery in Kalorama.
“Council is thrilled to announce the return of two popular artworks to the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trail,” said a council representative.
“These artworks help mark the ngurrak barring trail as it develops and create a deeper connection to the land and its stories,” they said.
Peter McIlwain’s artwork series, Pathmarker Birds and Renate Crow’s Tawny Frogmouth sculpture are now featured along the trail and both artists are happy to see their work settle into new locations.
“Having Tawny back so close to home in an absolutely beautiful setting – It feels like it’s come home,” said Renate.
The large animal sculpture sits nestled inside the Karwarra gardens and provides a presence looking over the gardens. The public can interact with the sculpture and sit in and around it and are also invited to write notes to Tawny.
“I love reading about the interaction with Tawny and what it means for people. I’ve had some quite beautiful comments,” said Renate.
Public visiting Birdlands reserve will now also spot Peter McIllwain’s series the “Pathmaker Birds” as they walk the trails.
In a description on his website, artist Peter said that wayside markers have been used for thousands of years to connect a specific place to a wider context.
“Shrines connect pilgrims to religious experiences, memorials to historical events and roadside memorials to road accidents,” the post read.
“The design style of his work draws on modern and ancient artistic traditions including the striking Mayan highly stylised bas-reliefs.”
“The layered design uses recurring modules of body parts: eye, heart, intestines etc so that the works are both abstract geometric pieces that have a visual rhythm that goes from piece to piece while being also playful stylised representations of birds.”
SNIPPETS
MAIL SNIPPETS
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE HILLS
Probus fun in Emerald
The Emerald Ladies Probus Club offer friendship, laughter and fun through a wide range of activities every month. These goals of the club are vital ingredients for healthy well-being.
PROBUS is a non-political, non-fund-raising group which welcomes all faiths, cultures and occupations.
Retired and semi-retired ladies are welcome to join us at meetings held on the third Monday of each month at Emerald RSL commencing at 10am.
A warm welcome and cuppa await you.
Enquiries: Michele 0409867678
Australian Nature by Street
Chambers: 418699)
Occurring across 39 kilometres of walking track, the ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk has been designed for people to explore the region.
Art and interpretive content of various forms can be discovered across the track.
Originally commissioned by the council in
Artists
A free-to-public art exhibition is being featured at the Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden this month.
From 29 June to 3 August the public can meander through the exhibit and visit the winter flowering gardens at the same time.
The gardens are open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and 1pm to 4pm Saturday and Sundays and can be found at 1190 -1196 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Kalorama.
Public toilet upgrades
Public toilets across the Yarra Ranges will undergo upgrades throughout the second half of July, with a number of sites needing to close for a period while works are carried out.
See dates and locations below of upcoming works in the Dandenong Ranges:
Belgrave Heights, 2/82 Colby Drive - closed 22 July until 30 July.
Belgrave Puffing Billy, Road Reserve Old Monbulk Road - closed 17 July until 30 July. Belgrave Township, 1690 Burwood Highwayclosed 15 July until 17 July.
The toilets at Belgrave South Rec Reserve (1012 Gilmore Court) Birdsland Reserve (271 Mt Morton Rd, Belgrave Heights), Monbulk Recreation Reserve (Moores Road) and Upwey Rec-
early 2023, the duo both created temporary public artworks along the first section
Renate said she hopes the public can continue to enjoy her work and the gardens.
“People relate to it, they see them (tawny
reation Reserve (Morris Rd) will remain open while works are completed.
Parking enforcement continues
Yarra Ranges Council is continuing enforcement of parking restrictions across the Yarra Ranges, following a trial of new technology in the first half of the year to help create more equitable parking opportunities and better safety outcomes for the community.
After feedback from community that cars were parking in no stopping zones or overstaying the timed restrictions Yarra Ranges Mayor, Councillor Sophie Todorov, said that the increased enforcement would promote traffic flow, increase safety and create better accessibility for motorists to get to where they needed to go.
“We know that parking restrictions are a divisive issue and that no one wants to receive a fine, but we have a responsibility for, and a need to enforce correctly, not just from a traffic flow and fairness perspective, but for safety reasons too,” Cr Todorov said. Along with increased enforcement officers, camera based technology mounted to Yarra Ranges Council branded vehicles will continue being used to monitor areas with parking restrictions.
frogmouths) everywhere,” she said. Work on the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trai continues and recently rail upgrades for Bleakley Track in Sherbrooke Forest have been completed, and the track is now reopened for use.
of the path in Sassafras.
The art series by Peter McIlwain can now be spotted in the Birdsland Reserve (Stewart Chambers: 418699)
The Tawny Frogmouth sculpture will now be a feature of the art trail in the Yarra Ranges. (Tanya Steele: 419280) Along the Sugar Glider Trail. (Stewart
The sculpture fondly named ‘Tawny’ has come to rest in Kalorama in the Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery. (Tanya Steele: 419280)
Friendship, laughter and fun through a wide range of activities are goals of Emerald ladies Probus Club and are vital ingredients for healthy well-being. (File: 419201)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Where pain meets healing
By Mikayla van Loon
A month has passed since Olinda-based artist Emma Jennings launched her exhibition Stories of Giants at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum in Lilydale.
Recounting both the destruction and calamity alongside the remarkable strength and regrowth of the storms that hit the Dandenong Ranges, in particular, with immense force in June and October 2021.
And while a major part of the exhibition was focused around Jennings’ portraits and portrayals of six different stories, an element of community healing was embedded into the project.
Having found a sense of healing herself by returning to the forest, feeling the soil in her hands and creating, Jennings said it was that experience that inspired the workshops which invited affected members of the community to do the same but in the safe space of her studio.
“I did a whole lot of work in the forest and about the forest after I was done in the emergency relief centres and when I could eventually get to a place where I could be back in the forest which was a big deal,” she said.
“That process led to the development of the community project because I found it really therapeutic just standing in there.”
Providing a comfortable environment within her Olinda gallery, Jennings said, allowed people to grieve the loss of their house, to simply reflect on a challenging time or feel the emotions they’d bottled up for months.
“A good example is somebody who is a leader in the community who was quite emotional, and she thought she was fine.
“It wasn’t until she had the permission to sit in that space and just go back in time a little bit she realised that was just below the surface and the emotion was very much still there.
“In her artwork, she wrote a beautiful poem and did a beautiful painting. Sharing her experience with the people around her was really therapeutic and healing and powerful and that’s happened in every single workshop.”
One of the most important aspects of opening the workshops to the community, Jennings said, was ensuring everyone felt comfortable to enter, no matter their experience.
“Everyone’s experiences were valid. Another curious thing is that people think that if they didn’t lose their house, then they weren’t worthy of support or acknowledging what they’ve been through.
“But again, having this place open over this whole time I’ve had residents walk in over-
come with emotion when they can see the work that’s been done because they feel so connected because of their experience.
“For a lot of people it was just being without power for such a long time in the middle of winter. Winters here are cold and that was really hard and that experience is really valid.”
Because of the potential trauma that was going to enter the room and the stories of pain that could have been told, funding for the project also enabled Jennings to engage a trauma psychologist to guide her through the experience.
“It’s been kind of confronting listening to a lot of stories but I feel really privileged actually,” she said.
Red Cross volunteers were also present at every session to be of extra support and provide some mental health first aid should a par-
ticipant have needed it.
The workshops invited CFA and SES volunteers, residents,Yarra Ranges Council staff and members of the community to create using natural materials, paints, words and imagery.
From the abstract to the literal, the artworks took the form and direction of whatever inspired the individual.
“People have spoken about mourning and grief. One lady wrapped paper around her log and she was embalming the tree. So that was a mourning process,” Jennings said.
For participant Deb Sargentson, she felt “so blessed” to have been given time and space to process her emotions and reflect on what had happened given she jumped straight into recovery mode.
“The beauty of art is that it enables us to
interpret where we’re going. It doesn’t require words, it doesn’t require us to write, the stories are in these images, and there are so many things that have meaning to us that it enables us to process our experience without telling us how to feel or what to do,” she said.
The exhibition itself, Sargentson said, also enables a place of “hope and healing”, of quiet reflection and of comfort for others who need to go on that journey.
“It’s their way of honouring, their way of saying I’ve been able to process this in a really beautiful place. There’s no markers, there’s nowhere to go but this gives us a place to go to with no restrictions on what we feel or how we see it.”
Stories of Giants is on display until 8 September, located at the
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum on Castella Street in Lilydale.
Natural materials from the forest, paints and paper were all laid out for the workshops. (Cathy Ronalds)
Artist Emma Jennings was there to guide people at every step.
Each participant was given complete freedom to express themselves in whichever felt natural.
CFA volunteers pondering the process.
Alicia trialling her designs and paints.
Life’s basic necessities
By Maria Millers
Food is a basic need essential to our survival and wellbeing and as American psychologist
Abraham Maslow proposed in 1943 in his pyramid of human needs survival needs must be in place before we can achieve our more creative self-actualisation goals.
Today food is everywhere, at least in developed rich countries like Australia.
From wall to wall cooking shows to food courts, take away franchises, local fish and chip and pizza shops, the choices are staggering.
Then there is also the growing number of specialized options available either for health reasons or merely as lifestyle choices.
But even though there is this abundance of food, paradoxically there are in our community people who are finding it hard to feed families.
We are told that food banks are seeing a new demographic of the struggling employed. And we are also told that growing number of our population is malnourished, deficient in nutrients, necessary for good health and wellbeing.
This is likely the overdependence on that unholy trinity of sugar, salt and fat, present in so much of the over processed food consumed Australia is not a country with a strong food culture like France or Italy.
As food historian Michael Symonds wrote: Unlike other societies with a dominant agrarian history, we have inherited no cuisine in the traditional sense. Australia’s food history has instead been dynamic, urban, industrial, science-based and capitalist-driven.
It was the post WWII migrants that slowly but surely began to change our taste buds: from Mediterranean to Eastern European and then to Asian and Middle Eastern food.
Garlic became acceptable, olive oil moved
WOORILLA WORDS
from pharmacies to supermarkets, sour cream was no longer seen as cream gone bad and hummus has become a favourite go to dip.
And suddenly bread choices multiplied: sourdough, wholegrain, rye, ancient grains, hemp, the list is endless.
Henry Leigh Hunt’s A Loaf of Bread celebrates the simple pleasure of bread, a staple, nutritious food that should sustain and nourishes us, A loaf of bread,/said Pythagoras,/is the most/perfect of all things;/for it is/made of air,/and light,/and water,/and flour,/and salt,/ and yeast,/and love,/and time.
This week Maggie Beer long known for her TV shows, like the Chef and the Cook and her gourmet products, but also for her passionate advocacy for fresh nutritious food, uninhibited by fads and trends, has turned her gaze to the quality of food found in our Aged Care homes.
She found that there was something soulless in the whole eating experience for those living in Aged Care.
Of particular concern was that there was heavy reliance on processed ingredients from stock cubes to instant potatoes.
Older people not only need fresh, nutritious food but also tasty, flavoursome food to compensate for any loss in taste.
The program was motivated by the high levels of neglect, malnutrition and social isola-
tion identified by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
It is estimated that 68 per cent of Australians in residential aged care are malnourished or at risk of becoming so.
But it’s not only those in residential care that are not getting a good diet.
Those existing on weekly deliveries of frozen food and also those in the general community whose diet for various reasons is contributing to the many chronic and other health conditions we are seeing, even among children.
Many an unruly child is a hungry child.
With the many stresses facing families today, nutrition is often sub optimal.
Who can blame the parent (still most likely the mother) tired from work leaning towards shortcuts offered by processed food rather
than cooking from scratch.
There is also the undeniable fact that today many have fewer skills of how to prepare a fresh nutritious meal in less time than buying something processed.
Food has become a minefield as we are constantly told what to avoid what to eat and what not to eat.
Some belief that totally plant based diets will save the planet, others disagree.
Maya Angelou in her gently humorous dig at vegans in The Health-Food Diner writes: No sprouted wheat and soya shoots And Brussels in a cake, Carrot straw and spinach raw, (Today, I need a steak). Not thick brown rice and rice pilaw Or mushrooms creamed on toast, Turnips mashed and parsnips hashed, (I’m dreaming of a roast). Health-food folks around the world Are thinned by anxious zeal, They look for help in seafood kelp (I count on breaded veal).
Similarly, Billy Collins is outright in the pleasure that a hearty osso buco can induce: I love the sound of the bone against the plate/ and the fortress-like look of it lying before me in a moat of risotto/,the meat soft as the leg of an angel who has lived a purely airborne existence/.and best of all, the secret marrow the invaded privacy of the animal/prised out with a knife and swallowed down/with cold, exhilarating wine.
Maggie Beer’s attempts to bring awareness of nutritious food should resonate beyond her primary concern of feeding those in Aged Care Feeding the next generation and teaching them good eating habits and the skills to cook a healthy meal is vital.
And as Maslow pointed out until that basic need of food is met, our higher achievements are compromised.
Woorilla Poetry Prize 2024 is now receiving submissions. Visit the following website, woorilla.org.au
Get a sneak peek of the lifestyle you could enjoy at Fountain Court Retirement Living’s Open Home event. With brand-new boutique apartments coming soon, now is the perfect time to come and explore the community and find out if retirement living will suit you.
The building of the Maroondah weir and aqueduct and the Lilydale to Healesville railway in the late 1880s swelled the populations of Healesville, Tarrawarra North, andYarra Glen.
Early itinerants of Valley Looking back
Four different contracts were called for the Maroondah aqueduct and others for the railway. Messrs McNeil and Bath held the contracts for the railway and also for section four of the aqueduct. The itinerant workers were accommodated in navvy camps which had a range of accommodation, from weatherboard huts provided for the bosses to canvas tents and bush humpies set up by the workers themselves.
Some pitched their tents close together for comfort and security, others preferred to be solitary at a distance.
A few of the men had family with them but it was observed by journalist ‘Vagabond’ (John Stanley James) in 1890 that few children attended school.
There was a school at Tarrawarra between 1875 and 1892 which would have been at a convenient distance but the itinerant families working on the aqueduct did not stay long.
The enlarged population provided more income to local primary producers through the demand for fresh food, to local traders who provided processed foods and domestic articles and clothing, and to local publicans who pro-
CARTOON
Helen Mann Yarra Glen & District Living & Learning Centre History Group
vided recreational facilities and accommodation. In some cases, it resulted in an upgrading of some commercial buildings in the townships or a complete rebuild.
With the building of the railway, businesses in Yarra Flats (now Yarra Glen) gravitated south from the intersection of Bell Street and Armstrong Grove to the southern end of Bell Street adjacent to the new railway line. The Farrell brothers erected a hotel they named the Burgoyne Hotel, now theYarraValley Grand Hotel.
They were to prosper from their investment, at first by accommodating inspectors and supervisors who regularly visited from Melbourne to check the engineering projects, and later from the tourists who travelled by train to holiday in the hills and mountains.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Melbourne Rare Book Week, which will start on 18 July and culminate with the Melbourne Rare Book Fair (25-27 July) at the University of Melbourne’sWilson Hall.
Melbourne Rare Book Week PASSION FOR PROSE
A major festival focusing on the printed page, the Melbourne Rare Book Week features a dazzling range of talks, conversations, displays and exhibitions that celebrate the importance of books, literacy and literature in our lives.
Most events are free, but bookings are essential. Below are some of the highlights that have caught this reviewer’s eye.
Readers can discover other interesting events via the official website, rarebooksmelbourne.com
First and foremost is an interview with legendary Melbourne bookseller Mark Rubbo, who retired as Readings managing director in 2023 after nearly half a century in the business. Rubbo will discuss the past 50 years of Australian writing, how he nurtured Australian writers and worked to extend Melbourne’s cultural influence.
Next, the Old Treasury Building will present an online event on the Australian Women’s Weekly cookbooks and their influence on Australian food culture.
In addition, the Books for Cooks Bookshop in Queen Victoria Market will offer a talk on Elizabeth David, the British cookery writer who strongly influenced the revitalisation of home cookery in the mid-20th century. Furthermore, the Supreme Court Library will draw attention to the oldest book in its collection, Statham’s Abridgement of the Law (1491).
Concurrently, Hellenic Museum at the Former Royal Mint Building will host an exhibition on Byzantine manuscripts, illustrat-
WITH CHRISTINE SUN
ing how the Byzantine Empire was the medieval threshold between East andWest.
Meanwhile, State Library Victoria has prepared a series of awesome events, starting with an exploration of the first book ever printed with moveable type in English, by William Caxton.
A separate talk on the Women Writers Fund will feature first editions by Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Ursula Le Guin, Toni Morrison, and many more. Another session at the library will delve into the life and exploits of E.W. Cole, bookseller and founder of the famous Cole’s Book Arcade.
Then there is the World of the Book exhibition from 27 May 2024 to 18 May 2025, with more than 300 rare and remarkable items showcasing books as objects of beauty and craft. Particularly worth mentioning is the Hoping Against Hope exhibition at Monash University, which celebrates 500 years of Ukrainian print culture.
Finally, a special event titled NowWe Are Ten will reflect on the evolution of the Melbourne Rare Book Week from the original concept to its 10th iteration.
Further reading, blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/ our-stories/ask-a-librarian/e-w-cole-andhis-famous-book-arcade/
Adolphus Edgcumbe and Patrick Daly did the same in Healesville.
Edgecumbe replaced the old Royal Mail Hotel on the corner of Nicholson and Green Streets with a three-storey hotel bearing his own name.
It was renamed the Grand Hotel in 1894. Patrick Daly built the Terminus Hotel near the railway station. All were opened by 1888.
Some of the effects arising from the large camps were not so beneficial.
On pay day many men from the camps went to town, both literally and figuratively.
The hotels were well patronised on these occasions. With frequent drunken brawls and increasing petty crime an extra policeman was requested for Healesville and forYarra Flats.
In March 1887 Constable Freebairn was criticised by the magistrates at Lilydale because he was frequently late when bringing prisoners fromYarra Flats to the Magistrates Court there.
It was not an easy task to transport three or four unwilling men by horse drawn vehicle.
Due to the increase in the number of cases being dealt with a Police Court was established inYarra Flats by the end of that year.
It was presided over by a travelling magistrate or a local Justice of the Peace.
In 1887, a typhoid epidemic caused consid-
erable concern in Victoria. Early settlements throughout Victoria without reticulated water were subject to outbreaks of this disease, and a dry start to 1887 made conditions for infection even more favourable.
As part of an enquiry made by the Central Board of Health, Dr Andrew Shields made a special visit to the navvy camps between Healesville and Yarra Flats to find insanitary conditions. Both camps were very close to the Yarra River which was used by the campers for drinking water and other domestic purposes.
At the same time pollution from the camp in the form of human litter and animal waste which was being washed into the river.
There were another three camps on the Watts River near Healesville which were in a similar state although, at the time of his visits, no cases of typhoid had been reported there.
The result of the meeting was that two regulations drafted by the President of the CBH were posted to the contractors in charge of the camps, asking for their cooperation in providing latrines and prohibiting the deposit of night soil on the banks of waterways.
In September 1887, local residents and traders were complaining to the Shire Council about the state of local roads but they were left to battle with such conditions for some time.
The 1812 Theatre
The Sweet Delilah Swim Club
It tells the story of five unforgettable women who set aside a long weekend every August to meet at the same beach cottage, the Sweet Delilah to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.
Enjoy two different plays Kemp’s curtain call
An hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that lasts forever. Season: 1 – 24 August. Bookings: 9758 3964.
Athenaeum Theatre
Melbourne
Cirque Bon Bon
stage with Scott on skates and Emma also on skates but much of the time was around Scott’s neck.
A spectacular evening of Circs featuring artists who have performed everywhere from Broadway to Las Vegas and London’s West End.
A short evening of one and a half hours but did one feel exhausted after seeing such a production.
The emcee Mario Queen of the Circus.
An amazing emcee keeping the show together with plenty of audience participation.
A great character who really made the show was Cody Harrington is an amazing juggler.
Some of his juggling had to see to believe.
Artistic skating duo, Emma Goh and Scott Lazaravech were on a small circular
The skating was absolutely wonderful and kept the audience in their seats waiting for what happened next.
One of the highlights of the evening was Shannon Michaela, a contortionist who had everyone on the edge of their seats and she showed why she holds the Guinness Worlds Record for shooting an arow from her feet further than anyone else.
She had a ballon placed on one side of the stage then she balanced on a table on her hands with a bow and arrow held by her feet and ten shot the arrow to burst the balloon.
An amazing feat.
A fantastic evening of circus on a theatre stage and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.
Three amazing shorts
Kinds of Kindness
Starring Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe and Emma Stone
Rated MA15+
4.25/5
The latest film from Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness is one of the most enthralling, unsettling and confidentlycrafted films of the year.
Like a dark cousin of Wes Anderson’s Henry Sugar anthology, Kinds of Kindness consists of three short films sharing the core cast of Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Emma Stone, Hong Chau and Margaret Qualley.
These shorts are linked by nihilism, superb tension, black-and-white dreams and distinctly unkind themes of obsession and abuse. In the taut first short, The Death of R.M.F. Robert (Plemons) faces an impossible task from his domineering boss Raymond (Dafoe). The acting has a very deliberate, almost stilted feel, which generates a stifling atmosphere of constant performance to please Raymond, who micromanages his employees’ lives.
In the viscerally disturbing second short, R.M.F. is Flying, Daniel’s (Plemons) wife Liz (Stone) returns home after being lost at sea, but
Daniel is certain she is an impostor. This harrowing short does an amazing job of inverting our perspective: we are initially suspicious of the blunt, changed Liz, but come to detest Daniel as he rebukes and tests her in cruel ways. Whether Liz is real or not, it’s clear Daniel doesn’t deserve her. Lanthimos runs slightly astray with R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich, the quirkier third short, in which the cultist Emily (Stone) searches for someone who can raise the dead. This short is confronting yet often darkly hilarious, but feels mean-spirited in a less motivated way than the other shorts.
Kinds of Kindness is a fascinating feel-bad movie, playing in select Victorian cinemas.
PARK LIKE SERENITY PROPERTY
PARK LIKE SERENITY
SITUATED on just under an acre of peaceful private gardens this immaculately presented, low maintenance all brick home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and three separate living areas.
Enjoy winter evenings in the sunken lounge with a cosy wood heater whilst there is a separate dining room and family room adjacent to the large kitchen with ample bench space and storage. The balcony enjoys winter light in whilst in summer the shade of the kiwi-fruit vine provides not only a large bounty of fruit, but protection from the sun.
Car accommodation is via a high clearance carport with additional open space as well.
Additional features include a huge under house storage area with work benches, wine racks and plenty of room for a multitude of
other items. There is a wood fire and ducted heating. With the hardwood floors having been recently polished and the painting done throughout, there is simply nothing to do but just enjoy this house and enjoy the serenity that this wonderful location provides.
The all-native gardens are park like with many pathways, lawn areas, two ponds, a permanent BBQ, a garden shed and a fenced area ideal for a veggie patch or even a dog run.
The location is fabulous, near to Olinda township, well known for its eateries and speciality shops. You have Pirianda Gardens nearby to enjoy even more open spaces, Olinda Pool, R.J. Hamer Arboretum, Rhododendron Gardens and so much more to discover once you are a local. We cannot emphasise enough that you will love living here. ●
EXPANSIVE FAMILY HOME WITH STUDIO
THIS fantastic home is situated on approx. ½ an acre and offers beautiful views, established gardens, sealed dual access driveways and so much more.
The established gardens welcome you to this solid brick home.
Stroll along the verandah and enjoy the views across the valley before entering the home.
This home offers zoned living with two bedrooms at each end of the home, and a spacious open plan layout that gives two living areas. All of the bedrooms are a great size, and the master bedroom has a walk in wardrobe, ensuite and split system airconditioner.
The open living spaces feature high vaulted ceilings, sky lights and plenty of windows offering a home flooded with natural light and cosy with ducted gas heating.
The kitchen has plenty of bench space, a dishwasher and an induction cooktop. The kitchen spills out to the first living space, and continue through the home to the second living space to discover a study nook, a wood fire, and more space to relax and unwind in this hills home.
The family bathroom has a bath and a separate shower. There is also a spacious laundry complete with a doggy door for your 4 legged friends.
Externally there is plenty to enjoy with lots of off street parking on the asphalt driveway that leads to a four car under house garage with power and lights.
There are also vegetable gardens, and a fantastic paved outdoor entertaining area with large pergola and built in pizza oven. This property also offers a large new solar power setup.
A further delight is the converted shipping container with its decking that would make a fantastic home office with direct entry from the front of the property.
This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today.
Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●
HOME FOCUS
PRIVATELY LOCATED, BEAUTIFUL HOME
THIS beautiful, character home is sure to tick all your boxes.
With a wraparound verandah leading to the front door, step inside this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2 living home, to find warm timber flooring, amazingly high ceilings, open plan living and all the creature comforts, and all located in a peaceful no-through-road location.
You are welcomed by a spacious formal entry. On the left you head into the theatre/ rumpus/man cave or continue straight ahead into the spacious, open plan lounge/ dining room with soring pitched timber ceilings, stunning floorboards, and a toasty wood fire for those romantic nights in; whilst the home has gas ducted heating for the ultimate in comfort and convenience.
Walk through to the dining area to the entertainer’s kitchen, complete with 900mm free standing antique style oven/stove an abundance of storage and brand new ducted vacuum system.
From the kitchen/dining are you have direct access to a huge undercover deck overlooking the natural surrounds, the outdoor spa and the creek below, compete with a built-in bar, making it the perfect place to entertain family and friends.
Add to the home a stylishly renovated family bathroom and laundry and new carpets to the robed bedrooms, the master with a walk-in robe and gorgeous ensuite.
Outside there is a concreted circular drive, fully fenced rear yard to keep the kids and fur babies safe. The ultimate in chicken houses, landscaped gardens and paths with a cosy fire pit area. Fully lined under house storage, a double carport providing under cover access to the home, a fully lined and insulated studio at the rear of the garage, and a double car drive through garage/ workshop with separate driveway access.
All this, privately located on over half acre – this property has something for everyone and there is nothing to do but move in and enjoy the Hill’s lifestyle.
Call to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.
Recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.
NESTLED in a prime location on 1400sqm approx. with breathtaking views of the Cardinia Reservoir, this fabulous family home offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and flexibility.
Spanning over two levels, this residence is designed to cater to the diverse needs of a modern family, providing ample space and a variety of functional areas to enjoy.
Upstairs, you’ll find three generously sized bedrooms, including a master suite that boasts a walk-in robe, a full ensuite and with sliding doors onto the deck.
The open-plan living area is a highlight of the home, featuring a lounge, dining, and kitchen space adorned with floorboards throughout. The kitchen is a chef’s delight, equipped with modern appliances and ample storage.
The cosy wood fire in the living area, along with gas ducted heating and evaporative cooling, ensures year-round comfort. A convenient study nook provides an ideal space for work or study, while the fantastic outdoor living area is perfect for entertaining with family and friends, or just to relax.
The lower level of the home is designed with versatility in mind. It features a fourth bedroom with its own private patio, a powder room, and a large rumpus room that serves as the perfect teenage retreat or guest accommodation.
This space offers privacy and independence for family members, making it an invaluable addition to the home.
The property includes two driveway entrances, providing ample parking space with a double carport. The fully fenced rear yard ensures safety and privacy, making it an ideal play area for children or pets.
Additionally, the home is equipped with substantial 37,000-litre water tanks, promoting sustainable living. Location is key, and this home excels in convenience.
It is within walking distance to the bus stop and a primary school, doctors, tennis court, making daily commutes easy and stress-free. Belgrave Central is just moments away, offering a range of shops, cafes, train station and amenities to cater to all your needs.
Don’t miss the opportunity to make this dream home your reality. ●
OVERLOOKING the Lysterfield Valley, and with the convenience of Glenfern Road access to Rowville, Belgrave and Ferntree Gully right at your doorstep, this beautifully maintained property is sure to impress.
Whether you are a new buyer entering the market, downsizing from your current home or looking for a low maintenance property that offers something for everyone, this home will provide it all.
The split-level design offers an open floorplan along with stunning natural light from oversized windows that showcase the perfect rear yard and valley beyond.
There are three bedrooms, the master with ensuite, walk in robe and extra wardrobe space not to mention that special view across the colourful garden.
Beautifully appointed, the kitchen boasts stainless steel Miele appliances that include dishwasher, gas cooktop, under bench oven and great storage. Soaring ceilings look down on the spacious dining area and light filled lounge, giving extra space and light whilst reverse cycle heating and cooling plus gas ducted heating can be found throughout.
Outside, the gardens will impress: A flat rear yard welcomes you and will allow you to enjoy time outdoors no matter what the weather, as you can also enjoy your favourite hobby in the separate studio space, complete with power and fully insulated, making it the ideal artists studio or workshop.
A double carport with remote roller door that provides full access to the rear yard, extra car parking for 4 cars, 5kw solar with battery backup, and a 2000 litre water tank with pressure pump is all included to make this a perfect package.
In a sought-after location, close to everything, this property has it all. ●
included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.
Yarra Valley Water is planning to construct approximately 15 kilometres of new sewerage pipes to service approximately 500 designated properties in the Olinda and Mount Dandenong area. Construction is expected to commence in August 2024.
Invitation to inspect our work plan
You can view a copy of the plans for these sewer works by email request, or at our head office, 25 Lucknow Street, Mitcham, Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm. Please contact the Project Manager to arrange. A map of the project area can be viewed at yvw.com.au/olinda.
Submissions
If you object to the planned work, your written submission must be sent to the Project Manager within 14 days of the publication of this notice. Yarra Valley Water will consider submissions received by 31 July.
For more information
Contact Meg O’Brien, Project Manager, Yarra Valley Water. yvw.com.au/olinda meg.o’brien@yvw.com.au (03) 9872 1367 25 Lucknow Street, Mitcham, 3132
Communities and businesses are invited to provide feedback on the Network Outage Review Interim Report into the 13 February power outages. The Panel invites the communities of Emerald, Cockatoo, Monbulk, Gembrook and surrounding areas to join the Panel in Emerald on Tuesday 16 July. Refreshments will be provided.
Tuesday 16 July
VICSES Emerald Unit
277-287 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Tiana Mancarella reaches to catch a pass in B Grade. (Supplied)
Stephanie Ferguson shoots for goal under threatening skies.
Hawks challenge the Dogs, raise confidence, but fall
By Armin Richter FOOTBALL SENIORS
The forecast weekend arctic blast failed to materialise. Dark clouds gathered in the ranges but it remained a dry afternoon with sunny breaks, although somewhat slippery after overnight showers. Monbulk’s task this week would be to take on the reigning premiers at Clegg Road, a venue where they had not tasted success at since 2010.
Monbulk hit the scoreboard first with a couple of behinds before Wandin found the sticks with five successive goals by the 20 minute mark of the opening term. From that point on the match developed into a very even contest, neither side giving an inch. The Hawks scored two goals late in time on to bring the margin back to 19 points at the first change.
Joel Wensley dominated the ruck, ably backed by Campbell Evans, but Monbulk was unable to capitalise as the clearances were fairly even. Another two late goals in the second quarter by the Hawks brought the margin back to 13 points at the main break. Wandin always found a steadying goal every time that Monbulk challenged, with the margin hovering at 2-3 goals for the remainder of the match. The Bulldogs kicked a goal after the final siren to eventually finish 21 points ahead. The Hawks’ performance should give the team confidence in facing Olinda after the bye.
Monbulk 10.10.70 def by Wandin 13.13.91
Best: Joel Wensley, Aaron Hoare, Lochlan Beecroft, Campbell Evans, Hayden Finlay, Adam Banks
Goals: Josh Wentworth 3, Lochlan Beecroft 2, Johnathon Hevern 1, Pat Barge 1, Hayden Finlay 1, Adam Banks 1, Lachlan Smith 1 RESERVES
The Monbulk Reserves were generally outplayed by Wandin in regards to teamwork and system as they struggled to get the ball
into dangerous areas in the opening three quarters. The Hawks certainly competed though and never gave up, scoring four goals to two in the final term to go down by 20 points in the end.
Monbulk 6.2.38 def by Wandin 8.10.58
Best: Nicholas Taylor, Noah Rutherford, Thijs Koelewyn, Hamish Emmett, Harry Fleming, Ben Smith
Goals: Ben Smith 3, Nicholas Taylor 1, Dale Ross 1, Jesse Dodd 1 WOMEN’S
The Monbulk Women’s have had a finals position fairly well assured in recent weeks whileWandin desperately needed a win to try and challenge Emerald for fourth spot. The Bulldogs played with more purpose in the first half with Monbulk being somewhat off their usual form. A collarbone injury to ruck Brielle Tipping, who was only just returning after a stint out of the team, seemed to mark a turning point. Monbulk found their run and carry in the third quarter to score 3.2 to a
solitary behind, turning a 5 point deficit into a 14 point lead. Wandin attacked hard in the final term but a long range goal by Grace Emmett, which bounced through, was enough to clinch a tight match.
Monbulk started the season with 2 wins, a draw and 3 losses but have become one of the form sides since Round 7, winning six straight as they travelled to Wandin to take on one of the premiership favourites. It was the irresistible force up against the immovable object. The Hawks played almost flawless netball to not only take a 3 goal lead into quarter time, but managed to extend it out to 10 goals near half time. The backs - Abbey, Georgia and Paige - in particular standing tall. Wandin fought back but were unable to prevent Monbulk notching their seventh successive, and best, win of the year. This was the second win in three years at this notorious venue.The Hawks remain equal third but are now just two points off second. The team was buoyed by the appearance of the ever positive Sophie Stubbs being courtside after her operation.
Goals: Stephanie Ferguson 23, Peri Reid 19, Elly Stewart 11
B GRADE
This match was crucial for the Hawks as they sat outside the top 6 by just half a game, with Wandin being that team ahead of them. The game was tight throughout, and technical errors were frequent on both sides. The Hawks
had a one goal lead at the final break before the Bulldogs finished with a 14-11 final term to snatch a thrilling win.
Monbulk 41 def by Wandin 43
Best: Elizabeth Cutting, Tiana Mancarella, Siobhan Munday
Monbulk were sitting in sixth place but facing a Wandin side that had only lost once. There was nothing separating the sides in general play and Monbulk pushed their opponents to the end before coming up short by 6 goals.
The D Grade team had solid form behind them with three successive wins. The young Hawks were unable to match it with Wandin though until the last quarter, which they drew 8-8.
Monbulk 18 def by Wandin 38
Best: Zali Utting, Leah Hansby, Maddy Buckland
Goals: Hayley Donald 10, Maddy Buckland 7, Ella Flynn 1 UNDER 15s
After two byes the Under 15s returned and travelled to Officer to face the unbeaten ROC. Monbulk went down by 15 goals but have kept ROC to their two lowest scores so far for this season. Three of this team - Stevie Mullinder, Bridie McCormick and Maddison Calcagno - along with C Grade’s Kate Smith are also members of the Under 16s Girls football team.
On Sunday 14 July, UpweyTecoma Junior Football Club paved the way during NAIDOC week, hosting their first ever First Nations round.
With a $1500 grant from the Telstra Country Footy Grant program to design and produce Indigenous playing jumpers, the club’s focus was on educating their community.
Upwey Tecoma Junior Football Club president Brendan Ferguson said the club was proud to host their inaugural First Nations Round during NAIDOC Week.
“This event marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to honour and integrate First Nations culture into our club,” he said.
“We were excited to share this special occasion with our members, players, and supporters, and we look forward to continuing our journey of respect and inclusion.”
The event was attended by Knox Council’s First Nations Lead Adrian Greenwood along with Knox councillor Meagan Baker and Yarra Ranges councillors Johanna Skelton and Andrew Fullagar.
Purchasing their first Indigenous playing jumpers featuring a design created by local Indigenous artist Maddie Connors along with one of the club’s U16s players Rylan Fitzpatrick, the club’s values of respect and inclusion were incorporated into the design.
The new jumpers were worn by both the U16 Girls and Boys teams on Sunday for the first time.
Mr Ferguson said “using Rylan’s ideas and our club values, Maddie created a design centred around the footy club as a meeting place, with the lines connecting each player, family and community together.”
“The design shows that while we all come from different places and backgrounds, we can meet and share common connections, with
the footy club as a meeting place,” he said.
“This initiative is a part of our broader efforts to recognise and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By incorporating Indigenous designs and hosting dedicated events, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture within our community.“
During NAIDOC week the club’s U16s teams were educated about the process of designing the jumper and its meaning as well as the history and significance of NAIDOC week.
Mr Ferguson said teaching the team about the history and significance of the week was a way of not only acknowledging and appreciating the significant contributions of First Nations people but also as a step towards reconciliation.
Sunday’s event included an Acknowledgement of Country and smoking ceremony conducted by Adrian Greenwood and speakers included the club’s president.
Councillor Johanna Skelton said, “I was invited from the Upwey Tecoma Junior Football Club.What made the event all the more special was the fact that it wasn’t organised by council, it was community led which was wonderful to see.
“
“The event was a really great and positive opportunity for the club to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in their clubs and their culture but also just to more broadly celebrate the history and cultures and achievements of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander People,” Cr Skelton said.
“Events like this really help to make places
like sporting clubs a more safe and welcoming place for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal families to attend. I think showing that clubs want to be involved in events like this demonstrates that they respect and care about history and show that they know that there are those continuing cultural connections.”
Stipulating that she was “very excited to go”, Cr Skelton said, “There is such a special relationship between sport and NAIDOC week.”
“There might not be very many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in that club, but it provides a chance for people to show that they are an ally and that they are supportive,” Cr. Johanna said.
“We all have a role in ‘keeping the fire burning’ and celebrating and recognising that history and current day connection.”
The elusive Josh Wentworth kicked three goals for Monbulk. Picture: (Supplied)
The UTJFC Under 16’s girls team in their jerseys. (Supplied)
Rylan Fitzpatrick contributed to the jumper design and is seen here holding the #18 jumper. (Supplied)
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