Ferntree Gully Belgrave
Flooding chaos
The Yarra Ranges once again saw flooding hit the region with roads closed and trees down across the shire last week.
Power outages and flood waters plagued the Dandenong Ranges in the first heavy rainfall of winter.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s senior meteorologist Jonathan How said some of the heaviest rainfall was recorded in the eastern suburbs last Monday, into Tuesday.
“The highest rainfall total was more than 100 millimetres in Mount Baw Baw in Victoria. We also did see 86 millimetres at Mount Dandenong and many of those suburbs in eastern Melbourne as well,” he said.
A landslide on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Sassafras closed the road, with one lane reopening on Wednesday 17 July and traffic management in place.
With the rain causing extensive run off, Lilydale SES unit controller Shaun Caulfield said in other places along the Tourist Road, mud and debris had washed onto the asphalt creating a slippery surface.
“You need to take care, to slow right down. Sometimes it can be quite thick on the road. It can be five or 10 centimetres thick, and that’s not going to impact your car, but it would slow you down very quickly if you were to drive into it,” he said.
“It could also be slippery and you could lose traction. So in those instances, it pays to drive with care and drive for the conditions.”
Mountain Highway, between Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Sassafras and Forest
for the foreseeable future.
(Stewart Chambers: 420079)
Road in The Basin closed because of multiple trees down blocking the road.
Emerald, Clematis, and Kalorama experienced power outages from Monday 15 July.
“In Clematis, a tree brought down the power line, with 168 customers without power from 8.16pm on Monday, power was restored by 1.53pm on Tuesday,” an AusNet spokesperson said.
Others were lucky to escape fallen trees on both there properties and cars.
To read more, turn to page 2 and 3
Amy gears up for Games
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Outer east rising star Amy Lawton has been selected to represent the Australian Hockey team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She will play as one of the three midfielders for the green and gold team.
At just the age of 22, she’s had a successful career playing in the Oceania Cup in 2019, FIH Pro League in 2019, 2020 to 2023, Tokyo Olympics 2020 (2021), World Cup in 2022 and Commonwealth Games in 2022 and now her second time playing for the Hockeyroos in the Olympics.
Lawton has be recognised with many
awards for her extraordinary achievements, including winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, bronze medal at the World Cup in 2022, a sports scholarship from Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2022, runners up at the FIH Pro League and Sultana Bran Hockey One League in 2019.
In 2019, the then 17-year-old was awarded the Emerging Athlete of theYear from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and in the same year, she was awarded the Rising Star Award By Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). Turn to page 28 to read more about her journey to the Olympics
A landslip in Sassafras has changed the traffic conditions
Rising hockey star Amy Lawton will represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Hockey Australia)
Where the flooding hit
By Mikayla van Loon
Winter’s first instance of extended rainfall brought with it excess amounts of water causing flash flooding across theYarra Ranges early this week.
The rain event which increased from Monday 15 July through to the early hours of Tuesday morning, Lilydale SES unit controller Shaun Caulfield said, saw sharp bursts of heavy rainfall in specific locations.
“With the changes in our weather patterns, we’re not having more rain, we’re just having it in shorter bursts which seems to be the pattern of the last couple of years,” he said.
“So our average rainfall for the year might be a very similar amount but we seem to be getting it on less days.
“A lot of the rain was focused over the Ferny Creek, Kallista, Olinda and Mount Evelyn area.”
The Bureau of Meteorology said on Tuesday that Ferny Creek experienced the largest amount of rainfall in the east, recording 86mm.
By 2pm on Wednesday, Mr Caulfield said the SES unit had received 68 calls for assistance, many relating to flooding of some kind.
“What we were seeing was not so much water inside houses, but a lot of people with issues of rising water levels coming from drains and runoff,” he said.
“It’s actually really hard to manage that type of flash flooding because it’s not that the water level is rising, it’s the sheer volume of surface water that’s running, say, down a hill.
“Because if it’s running towards your house, and we put barriers in place to take it around your house, it ends up in your neighbour’s house.”
Having that conversation with people who are rightly concerned about the increased amount of water in their property, Mr Caulfield said, can be quite hard because it’s a choice between diverting the water from their property into someone else’s which may have a domino effect in changing the natural watercourse.
Early in the evening on Monday, Mr Caulfield said the unit did respond to a vehicle submerged in water along Victoria Road in Wandin but a rescue wasn’t required.
“That section of Victoria Road is actually quite hard to tell [if it’s flooded], you come over a crest, around a bend and the next minute, you’re in the water. So luckily, no injuries. We assisted the person to get out of the vehicle, but they didn’t need rescuing, per se.”
Despite the rainfall easing on Tuesday, Mr Caulfield said run off from the Dandenongs and the flowing of water through drains saw an overflow at John Street and Beresford Road in Lilydale.
Swansea Road between Montrose and Mount Evelyn also saw water spill onto the road, an occurrence that is “relatively frequent” in flash flooding events.
“It’s a bit situational about where the rain is actually falling. So the different profile of that section that we call Mount Evelyn, some of it will fall more towards the north and end up down towards Lillydale Lake, and some of it will end up more towards the wetlands on that Montrose side, towards the York Road roundabout.
“It would seem that on this occasion, there was a lot more rainfall in that section, more to-
Tree collapse leaves six trapped and house in ruins
By Gabriella Vukman
Ferny Creek residents were rescued from their home late on Monday night after a mountain ash crashed through their ceiling.
At approximately 10.30pm the Emerald SES received a phone call requesting their help to rescue six people who were trapped inside their home due to a fallen tree blocking their exits.
“We got to the rescues in Ferny Creek at 11pm,” unit controller Ben Owen said.
“We responded to what we call a priority one category call so we went as quickly as we could to rescue the trapped persons.
“We arrived to find one person injured. The rest of them were trapped in the sense that they couldn’t get out of the front door but they were OK.”
The scene was attended by Ambulance Victoria, rescue units from Monbulk CFA, Knox and Emerald SES, Victoria Police and fellow CFA brigades for support.
“The house was demolished by a falling mountain ash tree. There were six occupants who were initially trapped or had difficulty getting out so it was about making sure they could get out,” Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA Lieutenant John Schauble said.
“So it was really about ensuring that the access was safe and then getting them out of the house.
“We had more than 80 mills of rain and it was foggy. Roads were waterlogged, that didn’t help either.”
The SES assisted with turning off the power and gas to make the dwelling safe.
“The ambulance crew supported the person that needed medical treatment and they walked out to the ambulance,” Mr Owen said.
“We helped the people go to a neighbouring property to exit the building.
“It was dark and rainy but all services worked well to check that the people were all OK and help them out of the house and ensure their safety.”
Along with Monday’s heavy rainfall, there was a great demand for emergency services in the hills.
“We’ve had upwards of 50 calls to the Emerald unit. Lots of flooding, water in the houses, water through down lights, water coming from blocked drains into houses so we’ve been pretty busy. We have had three members active since the middle of the day yesterday,” Mr Owen said on Tuesday 16 July.
“We’ve got two crews active now and half a dozen still outstanding requests for assistance we need to get out this morning.”
wards York Road, which ended up building up in the wetlands originally, and that’s why those wetlands are still there, but enough that it then overwhelmed the capacity there and ended up covering Swansea Road outside Chateau Wyuna.”
In January, the rarer occurrence of water pooling outside Lillydale Lake at the Hereford Road, Anderson Street and Swansea Road roundabout, Mr Caulfield said, was more unlikely.
“That earlier incident, we had a lot more rain to the north, and we’re only talking a kilometre or two apart,” he said.
“But there was a very heavy downpour of rain around that Hereford Road, Old Gippsland Road area, and a lot of that actually funnelled down Hereford Road and came around the corner in front of the lake.
“In my 23 years that I’ve been at Lilydale SES, I’ve only seen that happen twice.”
Mr Caulfield said a smaller number of calls also came through with concern to stormwater drains overflowing.
“Unfortunately, there’s not a lot we can do
in those situations. There’s no way for us to suddenly increase the capacity of a drain. It doesn’t mean it’s not concerning for people.
“A lot of the area around Ferny Creek, Kallista, Mount Evelyn, there’s a reason the majority of the drains are open spoon drains, which allows them to reach their capacity.
“Iftheyweretoputthosedrains,forinstance, into pipes, their capacity would be reached at a far lower amount of rain. There’s a reason they’ve chosen that form of infrastructure.”
The added challenge of changing weather patterns, Mr Caulfield said, has produced a conundrum when it comes to infrastructure solutions.
“It’s very challenging to design infrastructure that will manage those extreme ends of the weather pattern, particularly as it’s more emerging,” he said.
“Some of the older infrastructure, whilst it could cope with the weather patterns from 20, 30, 40, years ago, when that infrastructure was built, it has some difficulty coping with these subtle changes in weather patterns we have seen more recently.”
Lucky driver escapes near-fatal accident
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A lucky driver escaped from what could’ve been a serious accident where a branch fell on top of a moving vehicle on Monbulk Road in Kallista near Lyrebird Falls Reception venue.
This was after a similar incident the previous day on Monbulk Road in Monbulk near Mashes Hill Road, where a driver escaped uninjured after a tree fell across their vehicle, crushing the roof and windscreen.
Emergency services, including Ambulance Victoria, police and Monbulk CFA were called to the scene.
The incident occurred on Saturday 20 July in the morning at about 8.45am, and the road was closed for about an hour and a half.
State Emergency Services (SES), Kallista CFA and Monbulk CFA were called to remove the tree.
Monbulk CFA captain Glenn Hickingbotham was one of the volunteers helping to remove the branch from on top of the car.
“Kallista CFA members and SES chainsaws cleared the tree away from the road,” Mr Hickingbotham said.
“The driver was treated for some minor injuries to his hands by ambulance on scene, pretty minor in the end, it certainly could’ve been much worse - a very lucky driver.”
A spokesperson fromVictoria Police said no one was transported to the hospital and there was no criminality.
Emergency services attended to the scene (Supplied)
Water over the road in John Street Lilydale. (Lilydale CFA)
The ducks at Lillydale Lake were enjoying the extra water. (Tracy De)
Ferny Creek residents were rescued from their home late on Monday night after a mountain ash crashed through their ceiling. (Supplied)
Single lane traffic after road slide
A chaotic weather week in the hills has seen a well travelled tourist road reduced to single lane traffic after a landslide near Sassafras.
Mount Dandenong Tourist Road/Mason Grove was the site of the event in Sassafras after heavy rainfall and flooding across the Yarra Ranges region.
VICSES media said Emerald unit volunteers attended a reported landslide at Mt DandenongTourist Road onTuesday morning 16 July.
“They assessed the scene before handing it to VicRoads,” said the VICSES spokesperson.
VicEmergency posted to social media that emergency services were on the scene and traffic management was in place on the day -
with the road closed in both directions.
The road reopened by Wednesday 17 July and SES Emerald unit controller Ben Owen said the road is now down to a single lane.
“The main concern now is about the ongoing winter weather and conditions on the road,” he said.
Traffic management will now be in in place following the landslide and a VICSES spokesperson said on Friday 19 July that the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road was been re-opened.
“When a landslide occurs, VICSES works closely with local partner agencies to ensure the safety of the local community and motorists,” they said.
“The Department of Transport is now managing this incident and will oversee the restoration of the site.
“If a landslide occurs, contact VICSES on 132 500 for emergency assistance, or Triple Zero (000) in life-threatening emergencies.”
Repair and clean up crews are likely to remain in the area over the coming weeks, meaning delays could be lengthy.
Motorists should still consider avoiding Mount Dandenong Tourist Road over the weekend alternative routes include the Burwood Highway, Monbulk Road and OlindaMonbulk Road.
Young woman’s death ‘non-suspicious’
After extensive searching since late week a young woman from Pakenham named Peta has been found deceased.
The 28-year-old’s body was found on Saturday 20 July and police are treating the death as non-suspicious.
Peta had been reported missing and was last seen at about 11pm on Wednesday 17 July in Eastbourne Crescent in Pakenham and it is understood she travelled to Lysterfield in the early hours of Thursday 18 July.
Police had located her vehicle and mobile phone in Lysterfield on that Thursday afternoon and appealed for public assistance as they continued to search the vicinity of Lyster-
field Lake.
Mounted branch, the dog squad, uniform officers and SES searched the surrounding area with assistance from marine units, search and rescue and air wing.
Police and family initially had concerns for Peta’s welfare due to her health conditions and the length of time she was missing.
Police will now prepare report for the coroner.
The young woman was sadly found deceased and police will now prepare a coroner’s report. (Supplied)
IN BRIEF
Vandal goes on smash spree Yarra Ranges Eyewatch has released security footage online of a man appearing to vigorously smash a number of windows and doors at a well known cafe in Kallista.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the criminal damages in Kallista on 9 July.
It is understood a man approached a cafe on Monbulk Road just before 3am and struck multiple windows and glass doors with a hammer.
The man was described as having a thin to medium build and was wearing a blue jacket, khaki tradie pants and boots.
Investigators have released an image of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Sports ground open in time for weekend
A week of excess rain forced Yarra Ranges Council to close all sporting fields and ovals for training use, these grounds have been given the all clear for weekend sport.
Built environment and infrastructure director Hjalmar Philipp confirmed on Friday 19 July that after four days of closure, reserves would reopen for play.
“Due to the rainfall this week, and the expected rainfall to come, Council made the decision to close all sports grounds for training from Tuesday to Friday,” he said.
“They are now open for the weekend - We acknowledge that the closures will temporarily disrupt our sporting clubs, however we need to ensure that the existing ground surfaces are protected and in the best condition possible for upcoming games. We thank clubs for their support and cooperation during this week.”
The initial closure was only expected to be 48 hours, with further assessment of surface conditions on Thursday resulting in the extension.
Paramedics ask public to treat them with respect
Ambulance Victoria (AV) is urging Victorians to treat paramedics and call takers with respect when they see them at an emergency incident or in the community. There have been 105 reported incidents resulting in injury from July 2023 to March 2024 and paramedics have been grabbed, punched and harassed. This escalating behaviour can result in paramedics pausing their treatment or withdrawing from the scene or terminating a call.
AV’s Executive Director of Regional Operations Danielle North said violence against paramedics is never OK and they do not accept this behaviour as part of the job.
“We know emergency situations can be stressful for people, but this is no excuse to behave aggressively towards paramedics,” she said.
For paramedics to provide quick and effective treatment for you or your loved one, they need a safe environment to work in.
For more information on the impact of occupational violence on paramedics and how you can help, visit www.ambulance.vic.gov. au/campaigns/respect-our-paramedics.
Traffic management will now be in in place following the landslide. (Stewart Chambers: 420079)
Gaming restrictions in play
By Callum Ludwig
The Victorian Government announced on Friday 12 July that from 30 August this year, it will be mandatory for the gaming machine areas of pubs and clubs to close between the hours of 4am and 10am.
The Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 was discussed in October 2023 and received bipartisan support, other than the Victorian Opposition seeking a small amendment to the legislation to ensure it doesn’t disadvantage venues within three kilometres of Melbourne’s Crown Casino.
Community Engagement Officer for the Financial and Gambling Support Services at EACH Penny Christie said EACH and Gamblers Help welcome the change and are really pleased theVictorian government is starting to take it seriously.
“‘One of the issues has been that people who do have a problem with gambling have been able to go from venue to venue because the hours have been staggered in various gaming venues, so that allows people to go from one venue to another venue if they wish to continue gambling, which can be all part of an addiction,” she said.
“Now there’s a circuit breaker and for people who have got themselves into gambling difficulties, this might be something that might help to stop them in their tracks because they’re not allowed to continue to gamble,”
“It’s not probably as long as we would have liked them to be closed, but it’s a great start.”
EACH is the Gamblers Help operator for the LGAs of Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah, providing a free program through trained therapeutic and financial counsellors for anyone experiencing gambling harm, or other people who may also be affected such as a gambler’s family members or friends.
Ms Christie services the Outer East, speaking at schools or community groups like Pro-
bus Clubs, working with homelessness and mental health organisations and partnering with the local councils and Eastern Health. In the Inner and Outer East, there is a Gamblers Help team of 26 people, highlighting the prevalence of this concern in the region.
Ms Christie said gambling has a ripple effect.
“The effect of gambling is not just on the person who’s gambling, it affects partners, work colleagues, friends and family members, if one person is negatively harmed by gambling then the effect can trickle down to 10 or more other people,” she said.
“For families it can have a considerable impact, you can imagine the financial impact without any of the other things, like the emotional toll, depression and anxiety and all the other mental health issues that go with it,”
“But the support from families and friends is absolutely imperative to help these people
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with a very difficult addiction to deal with.”
The change is part of sweeping gambling reforms announced by the Victorian Government in July 2023, which also included mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play for gaming machines, capping load-up limits at $100 and making it mandatory for all new gaming machines to spin at three seconds per game to slow down the speed at which money can be lost.
Ms Christie said it’s the people who struggle with gambling issues that the change will be helpful for while the majority of people will conntibue to be responsible gamblers, not that she likes that term.
“Things like carded play, where you actually have to try and predestined how much you’re planning to spend and play from a card rather than the ability to be able to put coins or notes into the machines, in many ways might make a difference as well in making it more difficult
A general election for Yarra Ranges Shire Council will be held in October 2024. To be able to vote in the election, you must be enrolled by the
categories of voters can be enrolled to vote in the Yarra Ranges Shire Council election: State-enrolled voters and Council-enrolled voters.
State-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
You are automatically enrolled for this election if:
• you will be 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and you live in Yarra Ranges Shire and you are on the State electoral roll for your current address.
You need to enrol if:
• you are an Australian citizen aged 18 or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
• you live in Yarra Ranges Shire and you are not on the State electoral roll or
• you have lived at your current residential address within Yarra Ranges Shire for at least a month and have not yet updated your enrolment details, including any changes to your postal address.
How do I enrol?
You can enrol online at vec.vic.gov.au
You can also download an enrolment form from the website. All enrolment applications must be received by the Victorian Electoral Commission by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024.
How can I check my State enrolment?
You can check your enrolment details online at vec.vic.gov.au at any time, or call 131 832.
Council-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
To be a Council-enrolled voter, you must be:
• 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and not a State-enrolled voter within Yarra Ranges Shire.
New rules mean you are no longer automatically enrolled if you are a non-resident property owner (e.g. a landlord or a business owner that pays rates). If you are a non-resident property owner within Yarra Ranges Shire, you need to apply to enrol if you wish to vote in the Yarra Ranges Shire Council election.
Who else can enrol & vote?
You may also apply to enrol if:
• you have purchased a rateable property within Yarra Ranges Shire since the last election but you are not a resident of Yarra Ranges Shire, or
• you are not an Australian citizen and you live in, and pay rates for, a property within Yarra Ranges Shire, or
• you pay rates on a property you occupy within Yarra Ranges Shire and have no other voting entitlement within Yarra Ranges Shire, for example you are a shop tenant and pay rates to the Council for your tenancy, and you have no other voting entitlement within Yarra Ranges Shire, or
• you are a director or company secretary of a corporation within Yarra Ranges Shire that pays rates to Yarra Ranges Shire Council and you have no other voting entitlement within Yarra Ranges Shire.
for people that have a significant problem,” she said.
“There is an enormous amount of stigma and shame attached to gambling, at Gamblers Help, we have a group of people who’ve managed to kick the habit of gambling and they talk to community groups and things as lived experience speakers and some of those are said to me on occasions that they’d rather identify as being drug addicts or alcoholics than have a gambling problem,”
“There is so little tolerance in the community for people to recognise that gambling is equally as addictive as these other things, people feel they should just be able to control themselves and stop gambling but it is a true addiction like any other.
To get in touch with EACH’s Gamblers Help program, contact them at 1300 131 973 or GHEIntake@EACH.com.au or visit gamblershelp.com.au.
Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne said providing people with a break in play is an important gambling harm prevention measure.
“It gives people a chance to step out of the zone and consider how much time and money they’re willing to lose,” she said.
“Victoria’s enforcement of gaming room closure times will protect those most vulnerable to gambling-related harm.”
During the debate of the legislation in October 2023, Eildon MP Cindy McLeish also contributed to the conversation according to the Parliament of Victoria website.
Ms McLeish said we have a huge incidence of domestic and family violence in this state, and gambling does have a little role in that.
“There is the hidden nature of gambling and domestic violence or intimate partner violence, and in situations when a partner has gambled, the stresses in those households are particularly high,” she said.
.
How do I apply to be a Council-enrolled voter?
If you meet any of the above criteria and wish to enrol, contact Yarra Ranges Shire Council on 1300 368 333 for a council enrolment form. Council enrolment forms must be received by the Council by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024
How can I check if I am Council-enrolled?
You can check your enrolment details by contacting the Council on 1300 368 333.
Thinking about standing for election?
To nominate as a candidate for Yarra Ranges Shire Council, you must:
• be an Australian citizen and enrolled on the voters’ roll for Yarra Ranges Shire Council and
• be eligible to become a councillor and
• have completed the mandatory candidate training provided by Local Government Victoria before lodging your nomination with the Election Manager.
For further information, visit vec.vic.gov.au
Enrolment closes 4 pm Wednesday 7 August 2024
State-enrolled voters can register for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders at vec.vic.gov.au
The gaming machines areas of venues will be shut between 4am and 10am from 30 August. (File)
NEWS Horror period on our roads
In what Victoria Police have described as a horror period onVictorian roads, July has seen many fatal road accidents bringing the total lives lost to 158 this year.
Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah local government areas have lost eight lives in this last month, three pedestrians, two drivers, one motorcyclist and one cyclist.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner GlennWeir said in a statement to the media on 11 July that it’s been a horrific period on our roads.
“We’re issuing an urgent plea to all motorists to please, take extra care on the roads. Now is not the time to be complacent – this should absolutely be cause for concern for everyone,” he said.
There have now been 14 lives lost in the first 11 days of July and it marks the worst start to July since 2008, when 14 lives were lost across the state in the first 11 days of that month.
Motorcycle accidents are of particular concern – with 38 riders losing their lives in the 2023-24 period which is up from 21 people the year before.
According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) among adult men, those aged 19–24 were most likely to be hospitalised for transport injuries.
For motorcycle riders, the injury rate was highest in men aged 19 to 24 (close to 200 injuries per 100,000) and decreased with age.
While factors in these recent collisions are still under investigation, police are urging everyone to take extra care on the roads.
Assistant Commissioner Weir said that far too often police are seeing simple mistakes, like being slightly over the speed limit, or a split second of inattention, resulting in these catastrophic outcomes.
“We’re committed to doing everything we can to drive down the rising trauma on our roads, but we can’t do this alone. Everyone has
Police are determined to drive down the rising road trauma and will prioritise road policing enforcement across the state throughout the month. (300426)
a responsibility on the roads,” he said.
Motorists should consider slowing down and maintaining a safe braking distance, especially during periods of wet weather when roads are often slippery.
Poor visibility due to reduced daylight hours during winter can make it more difficult
Dog saves the day in Ferntree Gully house fire
By Gabriella Vukman
A recent house fire in Ferntree Gully serves as a reminder to ensure that working smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives.
At midnight on June 25, the Ferntree Gully CFA was called to a kitchen house fire.
The occupant, who had been asleep while the fire developed, was alerted by their dog and promptly phoned the CFA.
Ferntree Gully CFA captain Seamus Smith personally attended the scene and said, “We were called by the occupants who were awoken by their dog and didn’t have a working smoke alarm.”
“The occupants had obviously been cooking earlier on in the evening. They had gone to bed and a fire had developed in their range hood and had crept into their roof space.
“They were alerted by their dog, awoke to the fire and called for the fire brigade and we responded with our FRV85 vehicle.”
The fire was contained to the local area of the kitchen in the flu, leaving minimal damage to the rest of the house.
Once the fire was extinguished, the CFA helped clear out the smoke and debris from the kitchen area.
“We’ve had calls to incidents where the occupants have not been alerted until much later and these incidents result in severely damaged properties,” Mr Smith said.
“Thankfully I haven’t been to a house fire incident that has involved a loss of life due to the absence of a smoke alarm but we hear about them all the time.
A kitchen fire in Ferntree Gully serves as a reminder to always have working smoke alarms. (Ferntree Gully CFA)
“We know that only working smoke alarms save lives. This is a prime example of where, if they had a smoke alarm, they would have been notified earlier as to the smoke in the house. Rather than rely on an animal, the smoke alarm does the monitoring for you.”
For more information on smoke alarms in terms of where the best places to install them are and which smoke alarms are the most optimal, visit the ‘Home Fire Safety’ page on the CFA website at; cfa.vic.gov.au/ plan-prepare/fires-in-the-home/smokealarms/installation-and-maintenance
to see and be seen, so pay extra attention to your surroundings and avoid distractions, like mobile phones, while driving.
Avoid driving fatigued by taking regular breaks when travelling longer distances, and never get behind the wheel if you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Police are determined to drive down the rising road trauma and will prioritise road policing enforcement across the state throughout the month.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
Heat on wood thieves
By Callum Ludwig
The Conservation Regulator and ParksVictoria have launched an operation to crack down on the illegal harvesting of firewood in Victoria’s national parks and state forests.
Taskforce Ironbark is two-pronged, targeting firewood thieves while also aiming to empower firewood consumers to avoiding purchasing stolen wood supplied by illegal operators.
“We have seen a rapid rise in firewood-related damage on public land, and native trees are being stolen from Victoria’s forests and parks faster than they can be replaced, leaving our native birds, reptiles, and small mammals without crucial habitat,” Conservation Regulator’s Taskforce Ironbark Manager Brady Childs said.
“We formed Taskforce Ironbark to disrupt illegal commercial firewood operators and remind allVictorians they play an important role in preserving our forests and parks, protecting wildlife habitats, and reducing the harm associated with firewood theft.”
In 2023 alone, firewood thieves are estimated to have destroyed or damaged 9200 native trees and cleared roughly 462 hectares of forest.
Senior Manager of Enforcement at Parks
Victoria Mark Breguet said illegal firewood theft is devastating local parks, forests, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
“With nearly 10,000 trees destroyed last year alone, the impact is far-reaching, threatening the survival of native species and damaging irreplaceable Aboriginal cultural sites,” he said.
“Taskforce Ironbark is targeting these illegal activities and raising awareness among Victorians about the importance of sourcing firewood responsibly and by making informed choices, we can all help protect our parks and the vital habitats they provide.”
Illegally sourced firewood is commonly sold via online marketplaces, roadside stalls or word-of-mouth and often at cheaper prices to
take advantage of the demand throughout winter.
Firewood Association Australia (FAA) General Manager Dane McGreevy said offenders quite often are breaking fences or gates to access parts of the state forests or private properties to access it.
“This unsupervised collection means that there are no concerns for the local biodiversity and environment, and also is usually performed in an unsafe manner, endangering other forest users,” he said.
“The firewood is almost always unseasoned, dirty and poor quality which means customers are buying wood not fit for the purpose of heating their homes, and can cause smoke issues in areas, and not provide the heat that seasoned wood can,”
“Illegal operators that have the capability to harvest and sell commercial quantities are often not just a one-man operation, they are usually part of a larger crime syndicate that also partake in other criminal activities, consumers should be able to purchase fuel without worrying about their safety and having protection from consumer affairs as per any other purchase.”
Environmental damage from the illegal taking of firewood has been recorded in areas of theYarra Ranges National Park,Yarra State Forest and Toolangi State Forest. River red gum trees are targeted across the state, while mountain ash and stringybark trees are the most commonly damaged in the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges.
Mr McGreevy said if given a choice and with the appropriate knowledge of where the firewood has come from, customers would choose to purchase sustainable, and legitimate firewood from reputable merchants.
“The best way to identify illegal operators is by asking the questions of where they have sourced/purchased the firewood from, ask for a receipt and also if it is properly seasoned for at least 12 months,” he said.
“Often the suppliers will also rip off customers by short-selling the amount, so also ask how they have worked out the volume (cubic metres) or weight (tonnage) as there are specific ways to measure firewood found on the NMI website.”
The NMI website’s guidelines for selling firewood can be found here: industry.gov.au/ national-measurement-institute/trade-mea-
surement/selling-firewood.
Kinglake Friends of the Forest President Sue McKinnon said she thought te recent report from the Conservation Regulator seems a distraction from the ‘main issues’
“One is the Conservation Regulator’s lack of jurisdiction over DEECA [Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action] which is carrying out a 7500km linear logging project with of questioned legality and two, the negative health impacts of wood heaters,” she said.
“The theft of thousands of trees is devastating, and the Conservation Regulator is right to act, but why is the government only focussing on this problem of theft by individuals while failing to provide any oversight of the thousands of kilometres of linear logging being carried out by FFMV[Forest Fire ManagementVictoria]/DEECA for its so-called strategic fuel breaks,”
“The health impact of wood smoke is significant and well documented, the government should support people to stay warm without compromising their families’ health.”
Ms McKinnon refers to the ongoing protesting from environmental groups including Kinglake Friends of the Forest, Warburton Environment and Forest Conservation Victoria against the fire risk reduction works for FFMV, which involves the removal of trees in state forests and national parks and was recently responsible for the death of an endangered Greater Glider which the Star Mail has reported on.
Ms McKinnon also cited a fact sheet from wood heaters by the New SouthWales Government which identifies the risks from shortterm and long-term exposure to wood smoke, as well as who is most vulnerable, alternatives to wood heaters and what can be done to reduce if you do use a wood-burning heater. For more information on responsible sourcing of firewood, visit: vic.gov.au/sourcing-firewood.
Push to protect war memorials with greater penalties
By Callum Ludwig
Evelyn
MP Bridget Vallence is continuing her push to implement stricter penalties upon people who desecrate war memorials following years of targeted attacks in the electorate.
Ms Vallence is pushing for the Victorian Government to consult with RSLVictoria and its sub-branches to find out their thoughts and the impact these incidents have on the veteran community as well as legislate harsher punishment.
MsVallence said an attack on any war memorial is an attack on Australian values and the heroic legacy of our veterans.
“Sadly, there has been an increase in desecration and vandalism of war memorials recently, including Yarra Ranges memorials in Montrose, Lilydale, Seville, and Mt Evelyn, it proves the existing penalty is inadequate and does not deter vandalism of such sacred places that commemorate service men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” she said.
“The Attorney-General’s response is deeply disappointing and shows the Allan Labor Government is completely out of touch with community attitudes about such abhorrent vandalism of war memorials.”
In Attorney General Jaclyn Symes’ response to Ms Vallance on 4 July, she strongly condemned these actions of vandalism and recognised ‘the upset and disappointment’ they cause. Ms Symes’ response ‘ also cited the role of Victoria Police in investigating incidents and decidng if there is enough evidence to warrant a charge.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said acts of vandalism against memorials have no place in Victoria and they condemn it.
“Our veterans have contributed so much toVictoria and they deserve our ongoing recognition and appreciation,” they said.
“Existing property damage offences mean
an offender can face up to ten years imprisonment for destroying or damaging property,”
“We’ll always monitor our laws and sentencing practices to ensure they’re meeting community expectations.”
War memorial desecrations are categorised like any other property damage offences in Victoria, with Ms Symes’ response also noting Victoria Police’s ability to prosecute offences in response to ‘this type of offending’
Under the Summary Offences Act 1966, offenders could face charges of 15 penalty units or three months imprisonment for defacing property or if charged with destroying or damaging property under the Crimes Act 1958 could face a maximum of 10 years im-
prisonment.
Ms Vallance Victoria is lagging behind states like New SouthWales and Tasmania, as well as the United Kingdom, who all have specific laws concerning the desecration of war memorials.
“This should be above politics, and the government should legislate tougher penalties as a matter of urgency to send a clear message to those who seek to dishonour the tremendous sacrifice of brave servicemen and women who defended our country and fought for our freedoms,” she said.
“I’ll keep up the fight and continue this campaign together with members of Lilydale and Mt Evelyn RSLs until we achieve positive change and reform the law.”
Attacks in Evelyn have largely included
The Montrose War Memorial after being damaged by vandals.
‘tagging’ and theft;
The Mafeking Tree had a 124-year-old plaque stolen
The Lilydale War Memorial was tagged with texta, which also happened to the Lillydale Lake Militia Camp Storyboard (also scratched), Mt Evelyn War Memorial (also had flag pole pulled down) and the Montrose War Memorial (also scratched and graffitied with political slogans on the eve of Remembrance Day).
The Mooroolbark War Memorial had a tile plaque stolen off the plinth which was later recovered in a park in Croydon while the Seville War Memorial had two glass panels shattered.
The damaged Seville War Memorial. (File)
State forests and national parks have been targeted by firewood thieves. (File)
NEWS Coe appeal is dismissed
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A claim of employer discrimination relating to pandemic requirements and vaccinations has been dismissed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Applicant Andrew Coe took his former employer SDI Ltd toVCAT claiming they discriminated against him by failing to provide reasonable adjustments for a person with a disability.
His employment at the Bayswater business was terminated on 31 December 2021 when he failed to comply with his employer’s directions made pursuant to Victorian Government Public Health Orders relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The applicant made an application toVCAT on 9 September 2023, for an order under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (EO Act) alleging discrimination in employment, in the form of a failure by SDI Ltd to provide reasonable adjustment for a person with a disability, the nature of which is not specified in his application form.
The EO Act bans discrimination based on various attributes a person may have.
TheVCAT statement reads that, discrimination as defined in the EO Act can be direct or indirect - direct discrimination occurs when someone treats another person unfavourably because of a protected attribute.
Indirect discrimination occurs when someone, for example an employer, imposes a requirement, condition or practice which disadvantages persons with a protected attribute.
VCAT gave directions for the conduct of the proceeding on 30 November 2023, which included the conduct of a compulsory conference, and the filing of Points of Claim and Points of Defence.
A compulsory conference was held on 22 February 2024, at which the matter did not resolve, and further directions were given, including the listing of the hearing before the VCAT member, Ms Cameron on 15 May 2024.
“After hearing the matter, I reserved my decision, and am now providing orders and reasons,” Ms Cameron said.
The statement reads that Mr Coe’s case is quite difficult to understand due to the application and his subsequent claims and submissions that have been confusing and lacked coherence.
“In his initial application toVCAT, the applicant states that he was discriminated against in his employment with SDI Ltd where he had worked for 29 years and which failed, in 2021, to make reasonable adjustments for his disability,” the statement reads.
“In his application he does not specify what his disability is, or what adjustments should have been made, he seeks remedies including an apology, a review of the respondent’s equal opportunity policies, and financial compensation totalling the equivalent of ten years of his annual salary.”
The statement further reads that according to the applicant’s written submissions, the events that occurred in the latter part of 2021 included the applicant’s unwillingness to return to his workplace once vaccination became a requirement of his employment, because he did not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
“The applicant’s employer, SDI Ltd, required vaccination of all its employees in order to comply with theVictorian Government’s Public Health Orders in place at that time,” Ms Cameron said.
“The applicant refers in his submissions to his ‘hearing (being) limited’ and sets out concerns about a claimed potential for Covid vaccinations to contribute to tinnitus and other inner ear disorders.”
“The applicant’s submissions provide a critique of the Public Health Directions sequentially put into place in Victoria during the relevant period, and about the application of those orders to his place of employment.”
The applicant also sets out claims about his political beliefs in opposition to vaccine mandates; his ‘perceptions’ of the respondent’s denial of his request to work from his home in Casterton in regional Victoria (thus to avoid vaccination requirements); and claims about the respondent’s obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 and the state’s Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, as well as under the EO Act.
In his submissions the applicant submits that the Tribunal ought to have regard to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, the state’s Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, the state’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007, and the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
“In his response to the respondent’s strike out application, and in his oral submissions at the hearing, the applicant, through his representative, asserted that some of his points of claim are not sustainable and that they should perhaps not be pressed after all,” Ms Cameron said.
“At the hearing while discussing the applicant’s suggested abandonment of much of his complaint against the respondent, I told the applicant and his representative, that in the circumstances I found the claims he had actually intended to make, or that remained to be considered by the Tribunal, to be increasingly difficult to discern.”
Ms Cameron said the applicant responded that his claim is, and only ever was, a claim of disability discrimination arising from a failure by SDI Ltd to consider making reasonable adjustments relating to his hearing loss.
“The applicant’s representative suggested that, should the matter proceed to a substantive hearing of the applicant’s claims, much of the content of the claims and supporting materials submitted in support of them would be ‘jettisoned’,” she said.
Ms Cameron said as per required, in considering the respondent’s application, she has taken the applicant’s case at its highest.
Mr Coe was represented in this proceeding by Mr Parry, who is an industrial officer and advocate from Red Union Support Hub, however, his submitted documents fail completely to conform with legal formatting in setting out his points of claim and particulars in such a way that the respondent can properly understand and respond to them.
“I accept the respondent’s submission that all of the applicant’s claimed contraventions of Commonwealth laws, and of Victorian law where VCAT does not have jurisdiction, are misconceived and must be summarily dismissed,” Ms Cameron said.
“I further find that the applicant’s claims of discrimination on the basis of his vaccination status and his political opinion about vaccinations and about the Victorian Government Public Health Orders (and his employer’s compliance with those orders) should be immediately dismissed.”
“These findings cause me to immediately dismiss the entirety of applicant’s claims contained in his points of claim other than a claim made in paragraph 18 regarding his concerns about his risk of adverse events, such as tinnitus and other inner ear disorders as a side ef-
However, despite the length of Mr Coe’s written submissions and his representative’s commentary at the VCAT hearing, he has not clearly articulated this claim at any time and the nature of his condition is not clearly described.
“Having considered the written and oral submissions of the parties, with the exception of the claim contained in paragraph 18 of the applicant’s Particulars of Claim, which is struck out, I consider the respondent has discharged the onus to satisfy the Tribunal that the applicant’s complaints against the respondent are obviously unsustainable in fact or in law, are misconceived and should be summarily dismissed,” Ms Cameron said.
Small acts
Putting recycling in the bin loose and not in plastic bags means more of it can be turned into new things.
Recycling in plastic bags cannot be sorted because the bags can damage equipment at sorting facilities and present a safety risk to staff. Visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/waste
VCAT dismissed Andrew Coe’s appeal against former employer. (File) fect of Covid vaccination.”
Cockatoo stalwart Dot Griffin was this year’s Stan Henwood Award recipient. Star News journalist MATTHEW SIMS spoke to the long-time community supporter about her hopes for Cockatoo’s future and how small efforts go a long way towards making a community strong.
Standing up for her town
In August 2011, Cockatoo community member
Dot Griffin stood on the roof of the McBride Street Kindergarten, protesting against Cardinia Council’s decision to demolish it.
Her quick thinking helped postpone work on the project for the next eight weeks, leading to the decision to be eventually overturned.
Now, close to 13 years later, the building still stands and has operated as the AshWednesday Bushfire Education Centre (AWBEC) after the building and grounds were heritage listed in 2011.
While Dot is not proud of what she did and apologised to the broader community after the protest, she said she was grateful that her actions resulted in the building being saved and for the support of the broader community.
“If they all followed me, we’d have been in massive trouble,“ she said.
“We were upset with the decision,“ she said.
“It’s about finding people and working towards something together.“
Dot said within minutes of sending a text to those protesting the demolition of the building, people converged on the building.
“You would watch people walk down the hill,“ she said.
“It was quite amazing to watch actually.“
Dot grew up in Clayton and later moved to Lysterfield, becoming a Sunday school teacher in 1965.
While still in school, she had four part-time jobs including at the McCullock House nursing home before starting work as an apprentice hairdresser in 1967.
Dot then moved to Cockatoo after marrying her husband Collin in 1974, with the pair leading the youth club at St Marks in Emerald.
She then became a member of the vestry at St Marks in 1976 until 1980, then serving as a Sunday school teacher until 1984.
Dot has three children, with her work for the community also including serving on the local kinder committee and becoming the president of the McBride Strett kindergarten in 1980.
Destruction came to the quiet town of Cockatoo in the form of walls of fire in 1983, with six people losing their lives and more than 300 buildings and homes destroyed as a result of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February.
Dot could still recall seeing people standing along McBride Street, watching the flames tear through Wright Forest.
She visited the local fire station to find out what was the best action for her and her family to take, with advice being to leave viaWoori Yallock Road or take shelter at the McBride Street kindergarten, then informing a lot of the people watching on McBride Street and then telling every third house along her former home street of Ivy Street to get out of town immediately.
“I helped evacuate a lot of the town,“ she said.
“When you’re doing it, it’s not a big deal.
“I knew a lot of people have done as much if not more than me.“
Dot was one of the main town members who met with Princess Diana and then Prince Charles after the fire, with Princess Diana also planting a tree outside what is now the AWBEC.
In November 1984, Dot received the Royal Humane Society of Australia’s Bronze medallion for her efforts during the Ash Wednesday bushfires.
She said the fire impacted a lot of people negatively.
“We had a lot of people who moved out,“ Dot said.
“It was a very emotional time for a lot of reasons.“
However, she said the fire strengthened her and others’ focus on supporting the town.
“You don’t think about yourself,“ Dot said.
“I got more involved in the community.“
“We’re all very community minded.“
She said the community pulled together in
For community, it’s all the little things which add up. They’re the things that make a community.”
the aftermath of Ash Wednesday.
“We had people living on the floors in the hall,“ Dot said.
“We’ve grown a lot since Ash Wednesday.“
“I think people are more relaxed out in the country,“ she said.
In the aftermath of Ash Wednesday, Dot realised the town also needed to recapture its history, with the fire destroying a number of history archives.
She bought a tape recorder and set off with her youngest daughter to tape as many of the older residents of Cockatoo.
What began as a simple journey back through history became a pilgrimage that would take a number of decades to realise, eventually resulting in the book ’CockatooVoices of the Past’, released in January 2020.
Other initiatives and achievements led by Dot included creating a town mural, being a foundation member of the Cardinia Foundation, and advocating for a Bendigo Bank com-
munity bank in 2002, with Cockatoo and Gembrook then joining the Upwey and District Community Bank of Bendigo three years later.
She also worked with Brett Barker to produce a newsletter to help the community, due to isolation caused by Covid lockdowns, with the newsletter now in its fourth year with 450 newsletters produced.
The Cockatoo History and Heritage Group has now started working on a book about Cockatoo’s street names, with hopes it would be ready for publication on Australia Day 2025.
Dot said she believed Cockatoo had a strong future ahead of it, with a popular Over 50s group meeting up regularly and about 80 to 100 people working on a large needlework project to depict the history of the town, a project set to take more than two years to complete.
“It’s allowed people to come outside of themselves,“ she said.
“We’re a good mix of people.
“I think we are a very resilient town.
Dot said she could not take all the credit for Cockatoo’s prosperity, but said the success of any town was the result of many people working together.
“For a community, it’s all the little things which add up,“ she said.
“They’re the things that makes a community.“
Dot said she was hopeful Cockatoo would continue to grow through co-operation and collaboration.
“I think our relationships with each other make the community what it is,“ she said.
“A single person cannot hope to achieve change, they need to work with community and like minded people and together they achieve.
“Please know that I have never tried to do things by myself, there is so many great and deserving people in every community.“
Cockatoo community member Dot Griffin was the 2024 Stan Henwood Award recipient (Stewart Chambers: 414846)
Dot has been a staunch supporter of Cockatoo for most of her life. (414846)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Take a trip to the future
By Tanya Steele
As winter creeps along a shining array of artwork throughout Knox continues to light the long nights. Delivering thought-provoking art and culture that steps away from traditional gallery viewing, Chalk River Labs is part of the huge line-up of artists. Star Mail journalist TANYA STEELE spoke with the projection artist about the projects he has presented for Immerse 2024.
Jay Tettamanti or Chalk River Labs has delivered two shining projection pieces to Knox council’s ‘Immerse’ event this year. An installation named ‘Business Trip to the Future’ on view in Ferntree Gully until July and‘Night Parrots’ a pop-up featured at the Knox Westfield’s Ozone area in the school holidays.
“There’s so much happening in the world that we just walk past,” Jay said.
“If we don’t stop and actually check it out, we’ll never think about it,” he said.
‘Business Trip to the Future’ is a curious pyramid-shaped work with kaleidoscope projection art streaming a digital video sequence for people to sit and take in.
“The more time you spend with the work, the better,” Jay said.
Chalk River Labs first exhibited the pyramid projection at the Gertrude Street Projection Festival in 2023.
“At the time I was doing a lot of work that dealt with nature and trying to find the symmetry in nature,” he said.
“I was doing a lot of mirrored videos and trying to find interesting things that are happening all the time that we don’t see.”
The piece came about after the artist took a trip to Darwin in the Northern Territory and a hike through nature.
Tricks a treat in Emerald
It was a magical school holiday treat, with Zoom the Magician putting on a show for people of all ages at the Hills Hub in Emerald.
Zoom wowed the crowds with a variety of tricks involving balloon twisting and ven-
triloquism, as well as a visit from her friend Whiskers.
Star Mail photographer Stewart Chambers attended the performance to capture all of the whimsy and wonder.
“I got onto this water’s edge, right near the edge of an estuary, where the tide was coming in and out and making little waves,” said Jay.
“It was this micro environment in this tiny little space – that normally you might just walk past and not even think about,” he said.
The piece evolved from there and the Chalk River Labs said the first time he presented it was projected onto a full pyramid timber frame, projection mapped on every side.
For Immerse the piece has been spread out more.
“I’ve separated the pyramid into two pieces and projected onto the walls as well,” Jay said.
Jay has worked as both a musician and artist, working in the arts for over 15 years, developing into projection-based art.
“Video art was kind of my medium to begin with,” he said.
“Projection came naturally as a way to present that kind of work.”
Chalk River Labs uses different forms to project onto and ‘Night Parrots’ was another piece he exhibited for Immerse.
The artworks were inspired by an Australian species of bird called the night parrot, which had been thought to be extinct.
The artist’s version of the night parrot features two colourful birds – one sheltering the other beneath its wing.
“It’s about the idea of nature looking after each other, and us as human beings needing to look after each other too so that we don’t become extinct,” Jay said.
The geometric projection patterns for the parrots are projected onto a two metre tall reinforced fibreglass sculpture and the piece won an award for artistic excellence in Townsville in July 2023.
Chalk River Labs will soon take a new work overseas to Canada and the United States, the latest work is incredibly visual but also encourages people to climb into it.
“Stargate is 12 feet by 12 feet and took some time to create,” he said.
The artist has been thrilled to be part of Immerse - which also features pop-ups, and interactive exhibits and continues for the public to enjoy during July.
“For us artists to have the opportunity – it’s great that Knox Immerse 2024 has given us the chance to show our work to the outer suburbs,” said Jay.
“Come out and see it, there’s so much on happening,” he said.
‘Business Trip to the Future’ is exhibiting at 52 Station Street, Ferntree Gully, from 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm until Sunday 28 July.
Other exhibits are featured in Boronia, Rowville, Ferntree Gully and more - including a ‘pop up’ interactive exhibit by Yomeci Fields at Wally Tew Reserve on Saturday 27 July from 11am to 1pm.
Immerse will continue throughout July and people can visit the program at the Knox city council website online a to find out where and when they can experience the various exhibits.
The artist encourages people to venture out to explore what Immerse has to offer. (Chalk River Labs)
Zoom the Magician with Whiskers, Shelby and Austin. (Stewart Chambers: 416041)
Zoom the Magician wowed the crowd during the performance. (416041)
Zoom the Magician. (416041)
Zoom the Magician with Whiskers and Charlotte. (416041)
Zoom the Magician with Ava. (416041)
The Hills pay it forward
By Gabriella Vukman
Amid Belgrave’s hustle and bustle, a board with the words ‘Pay It Forward’ can be spotted, peering out from the front of Little Hendrix Cafe.
The ‘Pay It Forward’ board is a system where locals can buy or monetarily contribute towards a free meal from the Little Hendrix Cafe for someone in need.
Belgrave resident and co-owner of the Little Hendrix Cafe Alex Palmer said, “We just thought it was a really good idea to create a safe space for the community to support each other, so we got the board, put it up, added some stuff to it and slowly people started catching on.”
“Usually once people order something or have had some food they say ‘I want to donate a meal to the board.’ It usually has a monetary value. They’ll be like ‘I’ll donate $20’ and then we just write ‘$20 towards a meal’ on a docket and put it on the board.
“Because you can see it from the street when you walk past, people can come in and take a docket off the board, hand it to us and use it.”
Alex and his wife Shannon opened Little Hendrix two years ago after moving to the Hills from Melbourne.
The couple named the cafe after their now three-year-old son Hendrix.
Along with the pay it forward board, Alex and Shannon also have a system in which they trade coffees for the herbs and citrus that people in the hills grow in their backyards.
On Tuesday 16 July, Alex published a social media post telling the tale of a man who came into the cafe in need of a free meal.
Describing the man’s gratitude and great surprise at discovering that he could enjoy a free meal, the post has received thousands of likes and contributions to the board have skyrocketed.
“The response to the Facebook post that I did the other day was nothing short of amazing. I was kind of a bit speechless to be honest,” Alex said.
“I’ve had so many people message me wanting to donate to the board. Even today we have had so many people come in and donate that the board is nearly full.
“The response is amazing. And it’s just great to see the response from the people in this community is that they specifically want to help each other.”
Alex recalled the Tuesday afternoon.
“It was a really, really cold day. It was windy, it was rainy and just terrible weather outside
and there was this normal looking guy, probably mid forties and he was looking at the board, puzzled. It looked like he was not having the best day,” Alex said.
“Eventually he came in and he asked me if he could use something off the board and I said, ‘yeah man. Absolutely you can.’”
“He looked at me kind of puzzled like he couldn’t figure out why it was free and I just said ‘look man, order whatever you want and have a seat,’ and I made him what he wanted.”
Alex expressed how grateful the man was to receive a warm meal and said, “He was just so happy at the fact that he was able to come in from the cold and rain and get fed. It was very touching for us to see.”
“He was clearly just a man that was down on his luck that day and it brightened up his day a bit.
“He seemed to have a lot of gratitude and he came back a few hours later just to say ‘thank you.’ He came in with his partner who was also very nice. They said that they really want to add to the board to help someone else out and we said that they don’t have to. That’s not the point.You don’t have to add to it if you take from it. It was nice to see his generosity. He was just having a bad day and I think that little gesture of kindness completely turned it around, which is the point of it.”
Enraptured at the fact that he could make a difference to someone’s day, Alex noted the role bravery plays in seeking help.
Alex said, “It takes a lot of courage for people to admit that they need help and then come in and ask for it.The fact that the man on Tuesday was able to do that took a lot of courage and the fact that we were able to help him made us really happy.”
“Then the response to my post on the internet also made me really happy because you can kind of see that people, especially in the hills, are fundamentally good people and
everyone does really want to help each other out,” he said.
“Sometimes you just need an avenue in which to do so, which is the pay it forward board and as we saw from the post, the response is just huge.”
Since the board’s conception, many people have used its coupons for free meals at the Little Hendrix Cafe.
Alex said, “We’ve had quite a few people use it. We’ve put quite a lot of stuff on the board ourselves as well. There’s heaps of coupons on there but you’d be quite surprised by the kind of people that do come in and use it.”
“It’s very easy to think of people that are having a tough time, in a certain way but a lot of them are just really normal people that are struggling to feed themselves but you never really know until they come in.
“It takes a lot of courage for them to come in but when they do, we’re very warm about it. It makes me really happy cooking for these kinds of people because you never really know what they are going through.”
With the ‘Pay it Forward’ board brimming with community support, Alex encourages those in need of a free meal to come down to the Little Hendrix Cafe for a bite.
“What an amazing community we have in the hills. I love the people here. That’s why we moved here from Melbourne, to be a part of it,” Alex said.
“It’s amazing to see the community in action because we really do care about each other and people really do want to look out for each other here which is what makes the Hills and Belgrave where we live such a special place to be, full of really amazing people.
“I don’t think you could say the same for everywhere else in the state but here in the Hills the people are very, very kind and they want to look out for each other and that’s an amazing thing to see.”
Be part of a vibrant Community and enjoy the
Owner of Little Hendrix, Alex Palmer holding the board. (Supplied)
Puffing Billy gets Typsy
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Belgrave’s famous steam train operator, Puffing Billy has taken up an upskilling course facilitated by Typsy to help managers and staff thrive more effectively.
Typsy, an education technology company that provides online learning and training to the hospitality industry has partnered with Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) to improve Victoria’s tourism operators – this partnership, Puffing Billy and its employees have access to the platform to complete micro-credentialing programs.
The partnership between VTIC and Typsy is open to all tourism, events and hospitality businesses acrossVictoria, and they don’t have to be a member of any other entity.
Typsy head of growth Felicity Thomlinson said it allows businesses to support new people to the industry to learn about hospitality and tourism skills.
“With hospitality and tourism, there’s always skill shortages, and that’s often affected by many factors, any way that businesses can be supported to attract and retain their staff is a great win and a great support for businesses to thrive,” she said.
“We’re trying to do our bit to help any business that are struggling to find staff or retain staff, we know training can make a significant difference to staff retention – if they’ve had a good onboarding for example, then they’ve got good talent development that can actually help more staff stay within businesses, these benefits both the business and the industry.”
This program has been running for the past 12 months, it can be accessed online On Demand.
“They can watch it from their mobile device anywhere and anytime, and all the modules are under and hour long,” she said.
The course is not only available to busi-
nesses but also to individuals.
“Anyone in any hospitality or tourism business across Victoria can access the VTIC program, any high school student looking at getting some part time work in hospitality, can apply for these courses.”
Puffing Billy’s Way and Works Manager Shayne Nichols is one of the employees who has embraced the opportunity to upskill and lead his team more effectively.
“The course has pointed out some really important stuff like, slips, trips, and falls which we have issues with because of the nature of
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where our people work,” Mr Nichols said.
“It teaches you so many skills, from recognising and reporting to the softer skills that were particularly good for myself, the rail supervisor and even our team leader – where it’s leading and motivating teams, improving relationships with your teams.”
“The difference between managing and leading, managing is very much [focusing on] rosters and budgets, whereas leading is the relationships with the team, paying attention to those soft skills like, how to communicate effectively, having empathy and asking questions and getting to the root causes for all
the things.”
Though the course is not mandatory for all staff, it’s highly recommended for team leaders to take part in.
“The branch manager who’s now retired, decided what he thought was good for me, and then I did the same for my team,” he said.
Majority of the learning modules were optional, all the team members were asked to complete the work health and safety, and the slips, trips and falls module, while Mr Nichols himself has completed many of the modules.
According to the LinkedIn Learning 2024 Workplace Learning Report, companies with a strong culture of learning and development, experience 57 per cent better retention of staff.
Mr Nichols said the program really brings that “emotional intelligence” above the surface.
“Dealing with the day-to-day things, whether it’s communication issues, conflict, engaging the teams, as well as the vision, and what makes it unique for me is we’ve got maintenance people – guys on the tools that are doing this training are getting a purpose out of it,” he said.
“Personally, for me it’s about improving my leadership skills and being an effective leader, being a manager and a leader – it’s like wearing two hats, it’s important to understand that.”
“It doesn’t only focus on skills but goes even as deep as tools for any self-doubt, it doesn’t matter whether you got a small amount of experience or 20 years of experience like me you can still get something from this training.”
Once all the courses have been completed on Typsy, the learner must successfully complete a quiz that focuses on the key learning outcome from the course to achieve the digital ‘certification’ or ‘credential’.
This course is only free until the end of September, if you are interested in accessing this course, get in touch with Typsy.
A general election for Cardinia Shire Council will be held in October 2024. To be able to vote in the election, you must be enrolled by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024. Two categories of voters can be enrolled to vote in the Cardinia Shire Council election: State-enrolled voters and Council-enrolled voters. State-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
You are automatically enrolled for this election if:
•you will be 18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
•you live in Cardinia Shire and you are on the State electoral roll for your current address.
You need to enrol if:
•you are an Australian citizen aged 18 or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
•you live in Cardinia Shire and you are not on the State electoral roll or
•you have lived at your current residential address within Cardinia Shire for at least a month and have not yet updated your enrolment details, including any changes to your postal address.
How do I enrol?
You can enrol online at vec.vic.gov.au
You can also download an enrolment form from the website. All enrolment applications must be received by the Victorian Electoral Commission by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024.
How can I check my State enrolment?
You can check your enrolment details online at vec.vic.gov.au at any time, or call 131 832.
Council-enrolled voters
Am I enrolled to vote?
To be a Council-enrolled voter, you must be:
•18 years of age or over on Saturday 26 October 2024 and
•not a State-enrolled voter within Cardinia Shire.
New rules mean you are no longer automatically enrolled if you are a non-resident property owner (e.g. a landlord or a business owner that pays rates). If you are a non-resident property owner within Cardinia Shire, you need to apply to enrol if you wish to vote in the Cardinia Shire Council election.
Who else can enrol & vote?
You may also apply to enrol if:
•you have purchased a rateable property within Cardinia Shire since the last election but you are not a resident of Cardinia Shire, or
•you are not an Australian citizen and you live in, and pay rates for, a property within Cardinia Shire, or
•you pay rates on a property you occupy within Cardinia Shire and have no other voting entitlement within Cardinia Shire, for example you are a shop tenant and pay rates to the Council for your tenancy, and you have no other voting entitlement within Cardinia Shire, or
•you are a director or company secretary of a corporation within Cardinia Shire that pays rates to Cardinia Shire Council and you have no other voting entitlement within Cardinia Shire.
How do I apply to be a Council-enrolled voter?
If you meet any of the above criteria and wish to enrol, contact Cardinia Shire Council on 1300 787 624 for a council enrolment form. Council enrolment forms must be received by the Council by the close of roll at 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024
How can I check if I am Council-enrolled?
You can check your enrolment details by contacting the Council on 1300 787 624.
Thinking about standing for election?
To nominate as a candidate for Cardinia Shire Council, you must:
•be an Australian citizen and enrolled on the voters’ roll for Cardinia Shire Council and •be eligible to become a councillor and •have completed the mandatory candidate training provided by Local Government Victoria before lodging your nomination with the Election Manager.
For further information, visit vec.vic.gov.au
Enrolment closes 4 pm Wednesday 7 August 2024
State-enrolled voters can register for free VoterAlert SMS and email reminders at vec.vic.gov.au
Puffing Billy upskilling to the next level. (ON FILE)
New CFA fire training pad
By John Schauble
A purpose built training area at the SassafrasFerny Creek fire station is nearing completion after years of planning and development.
The compact training pad is already up and running, with a focus on how to supply water for house and other structure fires in the kind of settings common in the hills.The facility has been designed to have minimal environmental impact and to fit within a sensitive landscape.
The “pad” is especially useful for training recruits and newer operational members in basic firefighting tasks, such as operating a hydrant, regulating water flow, using a pump for boosting and changing water supplies.
Brigade Captain Jeff Harbourd said the training pad is a win for the fire station, but also for the community.
“Training with pumps is both noisy and sometimes messy, especially in winter,” he said.
“The new pad means we can take practical training off the streets and into a safer environment for both our firefighters and locals.”
The set-up overcomes the lack of a large mains water supply to the station, which is only serviced by a small diameter trunk line. A
tank and pump supply mimics the normal reticulated supply found across the hills.
The training area is aimed for use by other brigades in the Dandenong Ranges with similarly restricted access to suitable local training facilities that match their risks.
Stages one and two of the project have now been completed, with the installation of plumbed in milcocks, an above ground hydrant, ground plug and boost points. The system is fed by a 20,000-litre tank. Some minor earthworks were undertaken to improve access, remove obsolete infrastructure, and to install a discrete compacted surface suitable for fire trucks.
The final stage three of the project involves the installation and housing of a suitable high performance pump to independently pressurise the supply system, enabling more realistic and more complex training outcomes.
Some funding for the project has come through a state run emergency services grants program, through community donations to the brigade and in kind contributions from local tradespeople. Funding for the final stage, which will cost around $30,000, has not yet been secured.
Explore the Intricacies of Nature at Burrinja’s ‘Botanical’ Exhibition: A Treasure Trove for Art and Plant Lovers
‘Botanical’ is the overarching title for Burrinja’s upcoming dual exhibition centred on Botanical Illustration Art, which combines a showcase of contemporary practice and a journey back to the ‘roots’ of British/Australian botany.
Dates: Saturday 27 July – Sunday 22 September
Venue: Burrinja Gallery
On display will be:
Drawn from Nature: Botanical Illustration between Art and Science
A group exhibition featuring some of Victoria's most accomplished botanical illustrators, including Amanda Ahmed, Craig Lidgerwood, David Reynolds, Dianne Emery, Deb Chirnside, Janet Matthews, Jessie Rose Ford, John Pastoriza Piñol, Mali Moir, Margo Heeley, Martha Iserman, Marta Salamon, Miffy Gilbert and Simon Deere.
The display of water colour paintings, pencil drawings and graphite illustrations of local and exotic species will delight nature lovers and horticultural enthusiasts.
Also included are four studies by Celia Rosser, who is known and celebrated as 'the Banksia Lady'. As a Science Faculty Artist at Monash University from 1974-1999, she painted all 76 known banksias from field-collected specimen. These were published in three stunning large format folios of prints, the first of which will be on display.
The Initiation of Australian Botany: Selections from Banks’ Florilegium
Engravings from ‘Banks’ Florilegium’, a record of plants collected by amateur botanist Joseph Banks and his team on Captain Cook’s first voyage around the world (1768-1771).
Banks ambitiously endeavoured to produce a complete record of this ‘immensely large’ haul of specimens unknown to Western scientists. He invested a small fortune to employ a team of artists to finish Sydney Parkinson’s drawings and engravers to cut every botanical detail into copper and produce 743 plates for printing.
Remarkably, it took another 200 years until the engravings were printed for the first time in their entirety and in colour as intended, making it one of the greatest printing projects ever undertaken in the Western world. A selection of these will be on display.
Burrinja invites everyone to attend the official opening of Botanical on Sunday 28 July, from 2pm, with opening remarks by
Gordon Morrison, former director of Art Gallery of Ballarat.
For public programs accompanying Botanical, see Burrinja’s website.
Additional Events at Burrinja
Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances – Inventi Ensemble
• Dates: Saturday 27 July at 2:00 pm
• Venue: Burrinja Theatre
‘Shapes of Nature’ Exhibition – Trish Campbell
• Dates: until Sunday 25 August
• Venue: aerie gallery, Burrinja
Term 3 activities for kids include Creative Movement & Drama Classes, Playful Rainbows arts workshops, the creARTivity art club, and the current Stay n’ Play installation ‘Kaleidoscopic Dreamscapes’.
For more details, visit burrinja.org.au
For Botanical enquiries, contact: JD Mittmann (Burrinja Curator)
CFA member Martin Druiska at the pump panel for a training session. (Supplied).
The training pad will be used by other brigades in the hills.
The different water supply units installed at the new training site.
The compact training pad is already up and running, with a focus on how to supply water for house and other structure fires in the kind of settings common in the hills.
The last stage of the training pad involves the installation and housing of a suitable high performance pump to independently pressurise the supply system, enabling more realistic and more complex training outcomes.
Karwarra a hidden jewel
By Tanya Steele
A hidden jewel of the Yarra Ranges was recently featured on Gardening Australia, showcasing what they called ‘one of Victoria’s best native gardens’.
The Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Gardens was filmed for the popular show and gardeners at the site appreciated the chance to display the curated garden to the greater public.
Presenter Millie Ross took viewers through tips and tricks for planting under gum trees for the segment “Among Gums” which aired on the show on 21 June.
Gardener at Karwarra Shelley Graham said the producers contacted them to flag the segment and filmmaking took place in July of 2023.
“We walked around the garden and suggested different areas they could focus on and have as a feature,” she said.
The segment was all about planting under gum trees – which was something the team at Gardening Australia wanted to address.
“It’s tricky for people with gumtrees around to get established plants under them,” Ms Graham said.
There are around 900 species of gum trees and cultivars and they are not always the easiest trees to grow plants underneath.
At this time of year, croweas are flowering and Ms Graham said that people enjoy segments on the show that inspire them to do things in their gardens as well.
Ms Graham said the segment on Karwarra highlighted gardening ideas to use this time of year in particular.
“It helps to learn how to group plants that grow in similar conditions,” she said.
“Philotheca are tough plants that grow well under gum trees and also grow well out in more sunny spots.”
“They are also insect attracting as well.”
Ms Graham has worked in Karwarra for 11 years and worked with the production team at Gardening Australia a few times and said that visitations to Karwarra usually pick up when they are featured.
Taking the film crew through different sections of the well-cultivated Karwarra site allowed the film crew at ABC to feature many of the scenic spots and views the garden offers and Ms Graham said that the segment also featured some drone shots showcased an amazing perspective of the garden.
“It demonstrated how much the area really is under the canopy of the gum trees – it’s grey gum forest where we are,” she said.
“We also highlighted different vistas that they could have for filming and different views
they could use and they do great drone shots as well”.
Karwarra has been featured on Gardening Australia twice before while Ms Graham has worked there - once in 2018 and once in 2021.
Presenter Millie Ross featured many native plants on the segment including argyle apple, croweas, Bendigo wax flowers, holly flame pea and thyme pink bells and people can still catch the episode on ABC iview.
A Yarra Ranges council spokesperson said that despite the chilly weather the next six weeks will see the Karwarra gardens showcasing lots of late winter and early spring flowers, including some impressive Waratahs in flower.
“Our crew here at council do an amazing job in maintaining Karwarra Gardens and we hope that the recent exposure on a program
such as Gardening Australia will help spread the word further, and encourage more people to visit this beautiful spot,” they said.
“We’ve also recently constructed a new concrete path that complements the gravel pathways to make the gardens more accessible to everyone.”
“There’s a lot flowering in winter and it’s just a changing palette of colour,” Ms Graham said.
Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery is tucked away on the Kalorama Memorial Reserve at 1190 - 1192 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd in Kalorama.
It is free and open to the public from Tuesday to Friday from 10pm to 4pm and on the weekends from 1pm to 4pm.
The segment showcased ideas for planting under the gums and featured Karwarra. (Shelley Graham)
“Holly flame pea (Chorizema ilicifolium) flowering at Karwarra.
By Maria Millers
“Today everything exists to end in a photograph,” Susan Sontag wrote in her 1977 book, On Photography.
Now this observation resonates more strongly than ever, particularly since our daily social-media and news feeds are bursting with digital images from every corner of the globe.
Images have always played an important role in shaping public perceptions, have influenced social and political movements and been catalysts for change.
Before photography there were paintings and now in the digital age we have almost instant dissemination of images seen by millions.
Such was the case when Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Doug Mills captured the moment of an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Bloodied but defiant,Trump was seen holding up a clenched fist and mouthing ‘fight, fight, fight’ to his supporters, as he was rushed off stage, still bleeding from his ear.
The photo sped around the world instantly, some predicting t it will bolster his chances for the presidency, others disagree.
There have been certain images that have impacted so strongly that they were indeed instrumental in bringing about change.
Particularly images involving children, the innocent victims of war.
Most would be familiar with Napalm Girl (1972) the photo of a young Vietnamese girl running naked down a road after a napalm attack, later identified as Phan Thi Kim Phuc who survived by tearing off her burning clothes.
Taken by Nick Ut it brought the horrors of the war into the homes of everyday people and
WOORILLA WORDS
fuelled anti war feelings in the American public.
One of the most distressing images of all time was TheVulture and the Little Girl, taken by Kevin Carter during the Sudan Famine of 1993 which shows a small emaciated near death child with a vulture hovering nearby.
It was a photo that was condemned by many but nevertheless won the Pulitzer Prize, bringing more condemnation.
The following year Kevin Carter haunted by what he had seen and perhaps questioning his own ethics in taking the photo, committed suicide.
The image remains a powerful symbol of the suffering caused by famine and conflict.
Regrettably today many in Sudan are facing famine again.
In 2015 the body of Adam Kurdi a two year old Syrian boy washed up on a beach in Turkey after he drowned with his mother and brother in an attempt by the family to reach Europe en route to joining family in Canada.
The photo quickly went viral, prompting international responses and played a part in the Canadian elections at the time.
But not all lasting images are of war and carnage.
The first photos taken of Earth by humans
during the Apollo missions have become some of the most reproduced of all time, and 50 years later, their power and influence remain.
On Christmas Eve, 1968 the crew of Apollo eight captured a spectacular sight as they orbited the Moon: the illuminated Earth appearing above the barren lunar horizon.
Called Earthrise and the first colour photograph taken from space it quickly circulated around the world and is widely credited for promoting environmental activism and awareness in 70s Similarly the photo known as Blue Marble (1972) according to NASA historian Stephen Garber: gives you a much different sense of the world in which we live, that geographical and political boundaries are really meaningless.
Popular culture too has its enduring images.
When photo journalist Sam Shaw set up the shot of Marilyn Monroe during the New York filming of the Seven Year Itch.
It was merely to promote the film.
This shot of the film star standing over a subway ventilation grate is Shaw’s most famous work eclipsing his other more notable works Marilyn Monroe was a feminist before there was even a word for it.
When studios tried to push “dumb blonde” roles on her, she not only defied them and moved to New York, she started her own production company, one of the first women to ever do so in the 50s.
Some poems not only reflect the sociopolitical contexts of their times but also continue to inspire and influence movements and individuals globally.
W.B Yeats said: ‘Poetry is truth seen with passion’. At the time of him writing The Second Coming in 1919, much of the world had grown disillusioned. The poem speaks to us
today as potently as ever.
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
For the oppressed and marginalized Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise offers resilience and defiant hope:
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
And Kurdish refugee Behrouz Boorahni writing from Manus Island captured the yearning for freedom:
The Black Kite
Over Manus Island, a black kite flies.
A few youths –still with energy to bear the difficulties of this prison camp –made it.
The black kite flies, a messenger of freedom for us, the forgotten prisoners
The last words go to Leonardo da Vinci who said: Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.
Woorilla Poetry Prize 2024 is is open for submissions.
Please visit woorilla.org.au
A dark fairytale for teens Photography exists for all
By Christine Yunn-Yu Sun
A review of Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson
Deep is the Fen, by Australian author Lili Wilkinson, shares the same setting as her previous YA fantasy novel A Hunger of Thorns.
Here is a contemporary world where magic is forbidden, except for the most benign potions and charms mass-produced by big corporations as commercial products that make life easy, convenient and pleasant.
The first-person narrator Merry is happily spending the summer holiday with her two best friends, Teddy and Sol – until she discovers Teddy’s plan to join the Toadmen, a secret society disguised as a harmless village men’s club.
Determined to save Teddy from the creepy cult, she enlists the help of her academic nemesis, Caraway, who has his own secrets.
Merry soon finds herself drawn into the Toadmen’s sinister traditions and dark magic, as she and Caraway travel to Deeping Fen – a foul swamp full of monsters – to attend an ancient ritual where Teddy is to be initiated.
Like a nightmare, it’s the place where nothing is as it seems.
It reminds this reviewer of the masquerade ball in the 1986 film Labyrinth. But, instead of David Bowie, we get a character like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, plus some seriously evil and vile villains.
The horror elements are truly terrifying, not just what those powerful and greedy can do, but particularly their sense of entitlement to all there is and their indifference to the pain and suffering of others.
Still, there’s love and kindness, friendship and romance, forgiveness and redemption, and, most importantly, cour-
age and compassion.
There is a character from A Hunger of Thorns, and we get to explore the “recovery centres” mentioned in that book.
Those witches, who have long been misunderstood and feared, turn out to be pretty awesome.
Like Maude, Merry transits from hiding her talents to fully accepting and utilising them.
Both girls set out to save the world, and both are fiercely stubborn, so convinced of the worthiness of their pursuits that they often make mistakes, with their attempts to fix them simply leading to more disasters. Indeed, both protagonists are flawed heroines that are authentic and adorable.
In Deep is the Fen, the author effortlessly leads readers through a magical journey full of surprise and suspense.
The plot twists are masterfully executed, fluently manipulating our emotions between comfort and terror, grace and gore, joy and dread.
There’s a sense of smoothness and spontaneity in the writing that can only be achieved with years of experience and hard work.
But there’s also a unflinchingly honest and daring dive into the dark depth of humanity.
A word on mettle, the magical life force that is found in all living things: First introduced in A Hunger of Thorns, its function – and the impact and consequences of its use – are even more impressive in Deep is the Fen.
Magic can be constructive or dangerous, depending on one’s belief, desire and intention.
It’s the point of all great fantasy writing – to this reviewer, at least. Highly recommended.
OPINION Making difference
The Boronia Breakfast program has been running since 2021 and has provided countless hot meals to locals who need it most since then. It’s more than just a meal though. The service also provides the ability to create friendships and make connections and there’s also support services that attend who directly support individuals who need it. The current service runs every weekday from 8-10am except Wednesdays and I’m proud to say the State Government has funded this since day one and have provided funding to help keep the program running for another year. A big thank you to the amazing volunteers who help keep it going!
Angliss Redevelopment
We’re also getting on with massive investment into local healthcare with an upgraded Angliss Hospital one step closer with construction now underway on stage two of the redevelopment, which will make sure people in Melbourne’s east can continue to access worldclass healthcare, close to home!
Green Heart
It’s all coming together along Blind Creek, just above Westfield Knox. Waterways that’ve been piped for decades are now back above the ground, with heaps of paths and thousands of plants going into the ground. And yes - a bunch of crossings, too! Really looking forward
CARTOON
The state of
affairs
Jackson Taylor Bayswater MP
to seeing this one complete - and it’s on track for completion later this year. Stay tuned! North East Link
The tunnel boring machines are about to get started to build the new 6.5km tunnels which will link an upgraded Eastern Freeway through to an upgraded M80 Ring Road. The completed M80 Ring Road will have five new lanes and smart technology from Plenty Road to a new M80 interchange. The Ring Road will seamlessly connect to the new North East Link tunnels. The project will also add 45km of new lanes on the Eastern - cutting up to 11 minutes off trips into the city. And create Victoria’s first express busway. The project will also cut up to 35 minutes in your trip to the Airport.
School Saving Bonus
Covering supplies and extracurricular activities can be hard on families doing it tough.
Uniforms, camps and excursions – it all adds up. That’s why we are providing a one-off School Saving Bonus to help cover the costs. This $400 bonus will help make sure our kids have everything they need for the school day, supporting families with children at government schools and families at our non-government schools who need it most. We’ll work with schools to make it available for the start of the 2025 school year.
In other news:
· Opened the new buildings at Bayswater Secondary College and Fairhills High
· Returned $50 million to Victorians thanks to over 500 million eligible containers returned · We’re resurfaced Napoleon Rd between Kelletts Road and Glenfern Road.
Shout-out
A big shout-out this edition goes to our incredible early years educators and in some good news we’re providing small grants to help with IT equipment to seven local pre-schools.
And a big shout-out to Feed One Feed All (FOFA) – who are a ripper group of committed, passionate locals, right here in Knox, doing all they can to ensure nobody goes hungry. So it was a real pleasure to be able to join them for a tour alongside colleagues Michael Galea MP and Mary Doyle MP to learn about what they do for the community.
Chilling, compelling, clever horror movie
Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage
Longlegs is a supremely suspenseful horrorthriller written and directed by Osgood Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins).
Set during the nineties, Longlegs follows FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) as she tracks down a serial killer known as Longlegs (Nicolas Cage).
Monroe is a low-key yet captivating lead as Harker, delivering a focused, solitary, slightly awkward persona that some viewers may read as autistic; as an autistic person myself, I really appreciated Harker’s characterisation.
Harker is also reminiscent of Clarice Starling from Silence of the Lambs, with Longlegs paying further tribute to Seven and Exorcist III. Cage plays deranged like no other actor, and conveys such bizarre, squirmingly un-
pleasant menace without ever technically harming anyone.
Longlegs features dim, moody cinematography and rich, haunting sound design, and draws incredible tension from the shadowy environments; you feel a clenching panic whenever Lee has her back to a doorway.
The intriguing, superbly-paced plot steadily weaves together hints of Lee’s hidden past,
Global smash is on the way Kemp’s curtain call
SIX
Melbourne’s Comedy theatre
Six the Musical, the global phenomenon which has taken the world by storm will open in Melbourne on 2 August.
Rehearsals for the smash-hit musical are underway with the entire company preparing to captivate audiences with the show’s innovative and empowering take on history, redefining the boundaries of musical theatre and engaging audiences of all ages.
The Tony Award winning electrifying musical previously enjoyed recordbreaking seasons across the country, and following huge demand and anticipation SIX reigns again at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre with further seasons at the Theatre royal Sydney from 25 October and at QPAC’s Playhouse in Brisbane from 2 January, 2025.
SIX tells the extraordinary story of the six wives of King Henry VIII who step out of the shadow if their infamous husband and reclaim their own narratives.
Since its debut at the Edinburgh Festival fringe, SX has received widespread critical acclaim, leaving audiences enthralled by its infectious energy, catchy tunes, and empowering message. Eltham Little Theatre
Veronica’s Room.
“Nobody forgives you, Veronica” Not even angels!
Is Susan actually Susan a self-possessed college student in 1973.
Or is she Veronica, a conflicted young lady of 1935, desperately BELEIVING herself to be a later Susan?
What begins as a seeming mission of mercy ends up a terrifying crisis of selfdoubt among malevolent forces-with the audience no less certain of.
Veronica/Susan’s identity than she is. Be warned: when you enter Veronica’s room you will find yourself trapped in someone else’s nightmare.
Tickets now on sale.
Season: 6 - 21 September.
Bookings: 0411 713 095
The Princess Theatre Melbourne Frankenstein
An extraordinary tale of creation and humanity, retold in a large-scale theatrical event.
Satanic ritual and the present-day murders, and the unfolding investigation balances a satisfying sense of discovery with a rising dread.
“Show, don’t tell” is a common, arguably overused rule in storytelling, and heavy exposition can indicate laziness or a writer’s lack of faith in their audience.
Perkins proves a master of show and tell, providing thorough detail where needed and shockingly executing (pun intended) the telling.
Like Late Night With The Devil, Longlegs is a deeply suspenseful throwback movie that nails the nineties setting without fixating on the small details, but Longlegs is a more subdued slow-burn than the extravagant former film.
Possibly the most chilling, compelling and cleverly-written horror film of the year so far, Longlegs is playing in most Victorian cinemas.
Victor Frankenstein, a grieving but brilliantly ambitious young scientist, pushes the boundaries of theory and morality to create a living being from the remains of the dead.
But playing God has its consequences…
Shunned by society and plagued by an inherited sense of confusion and rage, Victor’s miracle of science becomes a monster that threatens to destroy everything his creator holds dear.
Combining cutting edge production elements with the power of virtuosic storytelling, Frankenstein is a night of thrilling theatre of monstrous proportions –bringing Mary Shelley’s classic screaming into the 21st century.
Season: 23 - 31 August.
REMEMBER:
· The 1812 Theatre The Sweet Delilah Swim Club.
· Season: 1 - 24 August. Bookings: 9758 3964.
OAKLANDSOLD WORLD CHARM
OAKLANDS - OLD WORLD CHARM
NESTLED on a sprawling 8792m2 estate, Oaklands is a landmark property that invites you to immerse yourself in a serene haven of lush gardens and timeless elegance. With its picturesque setting boasting rhododendrons, camellias, majestic Oaks, and an abundance of fruit trees including lemon, lime, fig, avocadoes, apples, mulberry, and olives, this property is a true botanical paradise.
Step inside the enchanting 1920’s character weatherboard house, where every corner exudes warmth and charm. Adorned with wrap-around verandah, strapping, picture rails, lead light features and polished timber floors, this home effortlessly blends period features with modern amenities.
The heart of the home is the country-style kitchen, complete with a 5-burner Falcon stove, Asko dishwasher, granite benches, and a bay window offering stunning views of the sprawling yard and beyond to Port Phillip. With two living areas, including a lounge featuring an atmospheric wood fire, relaxation is guaranteed.
Oaklands offers four bedrooms, including a master with a full ensuite, and a spacious family bathroom boasting a clawfoot bathperfect for unwinding after a long day. Gas ducted heating and split systems ensure year-round comfort.
Outside, the fully fenced property boasts two road accesses, ample parking, a large shed, garden shed, and a holding yard for your four-legged friends. Expansive grassed areas provide an ideal playground for pets and children.
For added convenience, solar panels help reduce costs, while a self-contained studio offers versatility - ideal for an adult child, relative, or home office (STCA). You can even continue the current lease if desired.
Located within easy reach of Emerald township and major arterial roads, Oaklands presents a rare opportunity to embrace a country lifestyle without sacrificing convenience.
Don’t miss your chance to make Oaklands your own slice of paradise. Contact us today to arrange your private viewing. ●
HOME FOCUS
FAMILY HOME WITH STUNNING VIEWS
APTLY named, ‘Hidden Valley’, this property is everything it promises and more.
Perfectly located just 2km to Emerald township, 420m walk to the Paradise Valley Hotel with its great meals and atmosphere, and with easy access to Belgrave or Wellington Road, this 2.3 acre property is nestled among the Hills in its own private oasis with Menzies Creek and Puffing Billy running along the boundary. The driveway curls around established gardens, peppered with mature conifers and Japanese Maples, to the 3-bedroom, multi-level home which has been thoughtfully designed to capture the best views of the stunning landscape.
The wide tiled foyer leads into an inviting formal lounge room with toasty wood heater for that cosy feel on those cold winter days and split system providing heating and cooling and a ceiling fan for year round comfort and convenience. Opposite the formal lounge is the master bedroom, with walk-in robe, ensuite, ceiling fan and split system heating/air-conditioning. A wide, short staircase leads to the second level of the home, where the landing has outdoor access to a large, pergola, perfect for entertaining and for the kids and fur family to play. Two spacious, robed bedrooms with ceiling fans are also located on this level, in addition to a large laundry with plenty of storage, separate toilet, and a delightfully modern and bright main bathroom with huge shower and bath.
The top level features the family living zone with air conditioning, a huge ceiling fan, pitched ceilings and access to the
impressive balcony which runs the length of the home and provides the most breathtaking views of the hills in the distance and the gardens below. The large galley style kitchen features timber bench tops, breakfast bar and stainless-steel appliances, and has an abundance of bench space with views over the gardens for a joyful cooking experience. Meals can be served in the adjoining dining area or through its own glass doors to the balcony and enjoyed with a chilled drink as the sun goes down.
The grounds themselves are 2.3 acres of fenced paddocks with large sheds for animal shelter, feed storage, machinery, and breeding tubs for hens, chicks and ducklings. There is an additional smaller area next to the home fenced off for the domesticated pets. Add to this a woodshed, a potting shed, and an enclosed, raised veggie patch and established orchard for the avid gardener, making this property the ultimate working hobby farm. In addition to the double lock up garage for the cars, there is also another huge shed with concrete floors and power, perfect for tinkering the days away, and to top it off there is 10kW of solar with 14.2kW battery backup to offset today’s cost of living. battery backup to offset today’s cost of living.
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. ●
YOUR LIFESTYLE DREAM STARTS HERE
START your country dream here on almost 11 beautiful acres that will guarantee your privacy, serenity and plenty room to enjoy all the things you love doing right here on your own hobby farm.
There is plenty of pasture and cleared land to feed the animals, ride motorbikes and even a spring fed dam to fish or swim plus another dam complete with water lilies.
The property also adjoins a beautiful flowing creek at the rear which provides the idyllic space for you to sit in complete silence listening to the flow of water and the abundance of wildlife that also call this place home.
The comfortable 3 bedroom plus separate study home welcomes you and your family to a warm and inviting atmosphere where many happy memories can be created.
The large kitchen will become the centre of entertaining friends and family plus the warm crackling wood fire in the lounge will keep you cozy and relaxed. The views from the covered alfresco area are what rural living is all about.
Magical sunsets over perfect pastures whilst enjoying the visiting wildlife will make you realise there is more to life than the constant hustle and bustle. There is also plenty of shedding to cater for all your storage and tinkering needs.
Right in the heart of horse heaven, there are many riding trails right at your doorstep too. Call us to inspect today and see for yourself the lifestyle that is on offer here –you will never regret making the move to the hills. ●
CHARACTER HOME WITH MANICURED GARDENS
LOCATED a 200m walk to Paradise Valley Hotel and a short walk along the Puffing Billing Railway line into Emerald, this beautiful weatherboard home has lots to offer.
Step inside to the spacious entry way. To the right is the huge master bedroom with triple built in robes and split system. Across the hall are 2 more good size bedrooms and the renovated bathroom with oversized shower.
Leading into the newly renovated open plan kitchen, looking over the sunken dining area, this kitchen is complete with huge pantry, double sink, dishwasher, and plenty of storage space. Also on this level is the renovated laundry and 2nd toilet.
Step down into the dining area with glass sliding doors out to the recently renovated deck area complete with shade blinds and a wood fire for warmth and ambience, overlooking the beautiful, manicured gardens. The separate lounge with split system also has French doors leading to the outdoor living area and for the ultimate in comfort and convenience the home has gas hydronic heating throughout.
Outside, this fully fenced 1443sm property, with electric front gates and sealed driveway upon entry is perfect to keep the kids and pets safe. Featuring manicured, easy to manage gardens, 2 garden sheds and a tall carport to store large vehicles/ caravans to the side of the home, and this property tick lots of boxes.
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. ●
BeautifullyRenovated5 BedroomFamilyHome +BungalowonanAcre! Situatedonjustover 1acreofflatland,thisstunninghomewithwraparoundverandahhasallthe creaturecomforts.Featuringa long,centralhallway &9ftceilingsthroughout.Fromthespacious laundry,tothelargeopenloungewithanelectricfireplace.Meanderingdownthehallyouwillfind 5stylishbedrooms,theMasterwithFrenchdoorsopeningontotherearverandah, alargewalkthroughrobe& ensuite.Thefamilybathroomisgenerousinsize,& offers abath, &shower.Addto this aseparatediningroomwithFrenchdoorstotheverandah.Thekitcheniswell-appointedwitha hugeislandbenchwithstonetop,newfreestanding900mmgas/electricstove,D/W,& WIP. Outside,hasa 2BRbungalowwithlounge& kitchenette,thepropertyisfullyfenced.Addtothisa workshopwithconcretefloor &power. 11-13FirstAvenueCockatoo$1,200,000
StylishlyRenovatedHomewithEquineInfrastructureonNearly20acres! Featuringa 40m*20msandmenage,dayyards,electricfencedpaddocks,hotwash,tack room,floatstorage,hayshed, a3-baybarn,cross-countrycourse,mainswater &a comfortable 4-bedroom,2 bathroom,‘Hamptons’stylehomewithviews &zonedheating& cooling.Thehome has2 loungeareas, adiningarea& entertainingdeck.Themasterbedroomhasa walk-through robe,ceilingfan &ensuite.Theopenplankitchen/dining/livingareahas awoodfire &a 900mmgas stove& anelectricoven,& thelaundryhasa dryingcupboard.Thereare 3furtherbedroomswith BIRs &a familybathroom.Thestockyardshaveloadingramps,thereare5 paddockswithwater,day yards,tackroom,feedshed,hotwashbay,haystorage &machinerystorage.Thereis apermanent creek,a Springfeddam,a chickenrun,anall-weathergraveldriveway, &lockupgarage.
SamanthaScott M 0438680032
4 A 2 B 8 C
4BedroomFamilyHomewithPonyPaddock! There’sa welcomingentertainingareanearthefrontdoor,&thefloatingfloorboardsinviteyouin. Thenthereare 2bedroomswithBIRs.Thereisthena loungeroomwith acosywoodfire,& thehome flowstoa masterbedroomwith aBIR &a largeWIRthatcouldpotentiallybe agreatensuitespace (STCA).Thezonedlivingthenhasanotherbedroomwith aBIR,& thereisa lovelystudy/homeoffice areawith atreedoutlook.Thekitchen& diningareaareopenplan& thecharmingkitchenhasa woodfire,gasstovetop,oven& dishwasher,aswellasa walkinpantry/butlerspantry.Thehomethen continuesalongtoanupdatedlaundry &bathroom.Thishomealsofeaturesgasductedheating! Externallyis aponypaddockwith aponyshed,plentyofOSP,anda DLUGatthefrontofthehome.
Opportunity,ViewsandIdealLocationAwaitWithThisCharmingCottage! ThismixedzoningpropertylocatedontheGembrookMainStreetisdirectlyoppositetheGembrook PrimarySchool &offersviewstotheWarburtonRanges.Renovatethe2 bedroom,1 bathroomminers cottagewithwelcomingfrontverandah,ordemolish& buildyourdreamhomeorbusiness(STCA)on this1051sqmallotment.Situatedbehind amaintainedhedge,therearetwodriveways,allowingfor plentyofoff-streetparking.Thehomeitselfhas acosyfrontverandah& leadlightfeaturefrontdoor. Enterthehometodiscoverthefrontloungeroomwithopenwoodfire.Thereis amasterbedroom andthenflowthroughtothekitchenwithfreestandingwoodfireandelectricstove/oven.Then discover asecondbedroom.Totherearofthehomeisa generouslaundry,bathroomwith ashower overbath,andmudroom/secondsittingarea.Externallythereisa shedinthefullyfencedrearyard.
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE IN THE HEART OF TECOMA
NESTLED in the heart of Tecoma, this delightful 3-bedroom home offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Located within an easy stroll to Tecoma’s eclectic Main Street, enjoy the serene surroundings with a backdrop of the Sherbrooke Forest. Step inside to discover:
· Three bedrooms, each offering ample space and natural light
· A spacious living area with bay window, overlooking a colourful garden
· Hardwood floors
· An open plan kitchen overlooking the rear decking and garden with open plan meals area attached
· Gas ducted heating throughout plus evaporative cooling
· Double glazed windows
· Solar panels
· Solar hot water system
Outside, the property features a meticulously maintained garden, providing a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. The expansive decking area is an entertainer’s dream, offering ample space for barbecues, alfresco dining, or simply soaking up the sun. A large amount of space can also be found under the house, which is ideal for storage or workshop area.
Convenience is key with this home, as it is just a short stroll away from local shops, cafes, and amenities. You will certainly appreciate the proximity to schools, public transport and parks, making it an ideal location for families of all ages. This is a rare opportunity to own a slice of Tecoma paradise. Whether you’re looking for a family home or a tranquil retreat, 39 Sandells Road ticks all the boxes. ●
PUZZLES
195
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 Sharp struggle (6)
4 Island group in the Indian Ocean (8)
10 Neighbour of Mexico (9)
11 Japanese dish of balls or rolls of rice with garnish (5)
12 Not difficult (4)
13 Hostile (4)
14 Ancient tongue (5)
16 Corrosion (4)
17 Differ (8)
20 Nullify (8)
22 Scottish loch (4)
25 Gutter (5)
26 Ancient harp (4)
28 Middling (4)
30 Rebuke (5)
31 Journeyed (9)
32 To be mildly concussed (3,5)
33 Moniker (coll) (6)
DOWN
1 Marked with graffiti (6)
2 More thinly scattered (7)
3 Sprawls (4)
5 Detailed examination of the elements or structure of something (8)
6 Annoyed (10)
7 Caller (7)
8 Evidence-based disciplines (8)
9 Sharp tooth (4)
15 Styptic (10)
18 Leads an orchestra (8)
19 Devotee (8)
21 Inspect (7)
23 Played for time (7)
24 Clear river bed (6)
27 Actor, – Reynolds (4)
29 Self-referential (4)
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used
No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.
No. 195 No. 195
Amy gears up for Games
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Emerald star Amy Lawton is representing the Green and Gold Hockeyroos Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lawton is not new to the world of finest athletes, she’s had several successful opportunities in her young career, including Oceania Cup 2019, FIH Pro League 2019, 2020 to 2021, 2022 to 2023, Tokyo Olympics 2020 (2021), World Cup in 2022 and Commonwealth Games in 2022.
She is the fourth youngest Hockeyroo to compete at an Olympic Games.
Even though this is Lawton’s second Olympics, the excitement and the nervousness remains the same.
“Waiting for such an awesome moment, opening that email I was just so nervous because I experienced it before, I was obviously very excited, and it was a huge relief at the same time because I’ve had this build up for so long,” Lawton said.
“Straight away, I called mum and dad, and I celebrated with them later.”
Selection for teams is quite different to individual athletes.
Teams are typically qualified a year earlier, but the individual athletes for the team are not picked until quite close to the games.
“We know that time is coming up, we all receive the email at the exact same time - our status of the selection and routine selection, I was lucky to be home during that period, and I was stoked to be on the team again,” she said.
During her last Olympics, her parents couldn’t attend the games due to Covid lockdowns, but this year, they are over the moon to join and support their daughter play live in front of thousands of people worldwide.
“Having the opportunity for them to be able to come to games and be here to experience it with me is pretty cool and I’m really looking
Trades & Services
forward to it as the games begin, because it’s really difficult not having your support network,” she said.
“I’ve got teammates here who are part of the sport and work, but families that are close
to me are also really important, riding the highs and lows without them inTokyo was a bit tough, and it’s awesome they can be here.
“They’ve already got all their merch ready, hoping to see me in the green and old in the crowd.”
The Lawton family are no strangers to the world of athletes. Lawton’s parents were born and raised in Zimbabwe where both played squash for Zimbabwe and both played hockey at school where Lawton’s father was captain of the Zimbabwe school boy team.
Every successful athlete has had an idol growing up - usually someone famous, but for Lawton it’s always been those closest to her.
“There are so many amazing athletes, and they all have their own unique qualities that they portray, but for me as a kid, my mum and dad were the ones that I always wanted to be like them,” she said.
“They played sports growing up in Zimbabwe, they were super active and loved sports, and I wanted them to be proud of me, and wanted to show them I could do it.
“They inspired me to be better every day and work harder.”
Her parents moved to the UK where Amy and her younger sister Josie were both born.
The family then relocated to Melbourne when Lawton was five-years old.
She played her first hockey game at Casey Cannons when she was eight-years old, while also doing Little Athletics and was a talented soccer player.
She joined the Southern United Hockey Club - she grew up playing in mixed teams.
Her extraordinary career kicked in when the pathway to the national team came and she was identified at the 2018 Australian U21 Championships which saw her secure a scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport.
She played every match of the 2018 Oceania
Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers in Papua New Guinea, Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, and 2018 U21 Trans-Tasman Series.
Later she was selected in the Hockeyroos team for the Tokyo Test Event in 2019, her performances seeing her named for the 2019 Oceania Cup in Rockhampton.
The Emerald star scored her maiden Hockeyroos goal in a 2-2 draw with Japan at the Tokyo Test Event.
Outside of her playing time, she spent Friday afternoons and Sunday coaching U10 players at Southern United HC, as well as helping in the canteen and volunteering in other capacities.
“For me, being in my second Olympic campaign, there was definitely a bit more expectation on myself to be in a position to be selected again, in the last games, I was more of giving it my best shot and I had nothing to lose whereas this time it was more of, I’ve got everything to lose kind of thing,” she said.
“You never know that you’re safe, you never want to feel too secure in your spot, and that’s the part of having a squat training together until the team’s picked because everyone is fighting for that spot.”
“But that helps us to be better as we now head into games, because we’ve worked harder in the earlier stages to fight for the positions.”
The game is 60 minutes long, it’s crucial to keep up the energy and as well as a positive attitude.
“We’ve been working a lot on mindfulness and how we approach each situation, but for me, individually, I’m coming into these games knowing I just need to do my job here and to play the game the best that we can,” Lawton said.
“For people watching at home, we can see that and it’s an enjoyment for us as a group.
“Hopefully we can bring home the gold, and I can show it around, we get back.”
Emerald rising star Amy Lawton will be playing her second Olympics Games. (On File)
Monbulk women carry flag
By Armin Richter
The Monbulk Senior Women’s football team were the only club representatives to play on a cold and wet Saturday.
The Hawks made the journey up to Thornton knowing that a win would return them to the top of the ladder by half a game after Officer defeated top sideWarburton-Wesburn on Friday night.
Monbulk controlled the match from the outset and produced a four quarter performance that was dominant across the ground and on the scoreboard.The Hawks kicked their highest tally for the year and also kept the Kangaroos scoreless.
A highlight of the match was Helen Henderson kicking her first goal, while her daughter chipped in with four of her own.
With two rounds to go Monbulk face Warburton-Wesburn at home and Officer away and will likely require one win from those matches to guarantee the double chance as Woori Yallock is still just a game behind in third place.
The rest of the club had a week’s rest and will return next week for the second half of the split Round 14 matches in Premier Division.
Monbulk 13.9.87 def Thornton Eildon 0.0.0
· Best: Scarlett Henderson, Kathryn Gow, Jade McCormick, Madeline Caarels,Yanessa Hancock-Wolfe, Maddison Dodd
· Goals: Scarlett Henderson 4, Kathryn Gow 3, Laura Gillard 2, Helen Henderson 1, MadelineVouvopoulos 1, Madeline Caarels 1, Jewell McDermott 1
FOOTBALL
PREMIER DIVISION (split round)
· Seniors: Emerald 15.4.94 def Pakenham 9.6.60; Wandin 8.10.58 def Woori Yallock 3.4.22;NarreWarren7.8.50defOfficer4.10.34
· Reserves: Pakenham 4.3.27 def Emerald 2.4.16; Woori Yallock 3.1.19 def Wandin 2.6.18; Narre Warren 8.9.57 def Officer 3.9.27
DIVISION ONE
· Seniors: Yea 6.9.45 def Powelltown 5.11.41; Warburton-Millgrove 10.11.73 def Belgrave 5.7.37; Seville 22.13.145 defYarra Glen 7.6.48; Healesville 10.18.78 def Alexandra 6.12.48; Yarra Junction Bye
· Reserves: Yea 5.8.38 def Powelltown 2.3.15; Belgrave 5.5.35 def Warburton-Millgrove 1.6.12; Seville 15.9.99 def Yarra Glen 0.2.2; Healesville 10.16.76 def Alexandra 0.4.4; Yarra Junction bye
· UNDER 19s (split round): Pakenham def Gembrook-Cockatoo (forfeit); Narre Warren 6.6.42 def Officer 3.2.20
· UNDER 18s: Olinda-Ferny Creek 11.17.83 def Seville 3.6.24; Healesville 5.10.40 def Upwey-Tecoma 2.5.17;WooriYallock 9.14.68 def Mt. Evelyn 1.1.7
SENIOR WOMEN
· Division 1: Upwey-Tecoma 1.4.10 def Belgrave 1.2.8; Healesville 2.4.16 def Berwick Springs 1.3.9; Pakenham 3.1.19 def OlindaFerny Creek 1.4.10
· Division 2:Wandin 6.6.42 def Emerald 1.7.13; Officer 5.10.40 def Warburton-Wesburn
0.0.0; Monbulk 13.9.87 def Thornton-Eildon 0.0.0; Woori Yallock def Seville (forfeit)
NETBALL
PREMIER DIVISION (split round)
· A Grade: Wandin 42 def Woori Yallock 30; Pakenham 41 def Emerald 36; Narre Warren 75 def ROC 34
· B Grade: Woori Yallock 61 def Wandin 39; Pakenham 56 def Emerald 30; ROC 42 def Narre Warren 41
· C Grade: Wandin 42 def Woori Yallock 22; Pakenham 25 def Emerald 22; Narre Warren 39 def ROC 27
· D Grade: Woori Yallock 24 def Wandin 23; Pakenham 31 def Emerald 13; ROC 34 def Narre Warren 27
DIVISION ONE
· A Grade: Healesville 54 def Alexandra 42; Warburton-Millgrove 56 def Belgrave 29; Seville 47 def Yarra Glen 29; Yarra Junction and Yea bye
· B Grade: Powelltown 43 def Yea 36; Alexandra 37 def Healesville 34; Belgrave 57 def Warburton-Millgrove 26; Seville 43 def Yarra Glen 21; Yarra Junction bye
· C Grade: Alexandra 23 def Healesville 20; Yea 22 def Powelltown 18; Belgrave 28 def Warburton-Millgrove 19;Yarra Glen 30 def Seville 28; Yarra Junction bye
· D Grade: Yea 14 def Powelltown 4; Belgrave 21 defWarburton-Millgrove 17; Seville 34 def Yarra Glen 8; Alexandra + Yarra Junction bye
· 17 & Under Premier: Wandin 30 def Woori Yallock 9; ROC 31 def Narre Warren 24; Berwick 17 def Mt. Evelyn 15; Pakenham bye
· 15 & Under East:ROC 34 def NarreWarren 14; Pakenham 9 def Beaconsfield 6; Berwick 17 def Woori Yallock 14; Monbulk bye
Monbulk Junior Football Club weekend highlights
By Armin Richter
Mixed results for Monbulk
Juniors
The penultimate round of home and away matches in the Outer East Junior Football League took place on Sunday. Monbulk have an Auskick squad along with Under 9s, Under 10s Girls and Under 10s Mixed which have been kicking the dew off the grass with encouraging numbers. There is no scoring at this level and these teams will wrap up the year next week.
Monbulk also field teams in all other age groups except Under 11s, Under 13s and Under 14s Girls. All age groups from Under 12s to Under 16s will have a Final 4 except for Under 16 Yarra which have a Final Six. Both Under 12s teams had great wins at home, with the Girls keeping Woori Yallock scoreless and the Mixed team defeating fifth placed Wandin. The Girls head the ladder while the Boys are finishing strongly but are currently in 7th.
The Under 14s had a gallant tussle with WooriYallock but finished 5 points shy of victory and dropped out of the top four. Monbulk are 5th, tied with Healesville (4th) and Belgrave (6th) on points and will need to defeat Belgrave this week and hope for Seville to cause an upset.
The Under 16s Girls met top side Belgrave and gave a good account of themselves but went down by six goals. Monbulk merged withWooriYallock this year, to be able to field a team, although they play as Monbulk and in Monbulk colours. The Under 16s Girls are in a similar situation to the Under 14s, also being in fifth, where they will need to defeat Mt. Evelyn Maroon and hope that UpweyTecoma can defeat Wesburn.
Meanwhile the Under 16s Boys have swept all before them and are undefeated on top of the ladder, although they did have a draw with third placed Healesville, who will be their opponent in the final round. On Sunday they defeated Upwey-Tecoma by 39 points at Talaskia Reserve.
Ladders (Match ratios affect some ladder positions)
· Under 12 Girls: Monbulk 48, Wesburn 44, Wandin 42, Olinda-Ferny Creek 40; Upwey-Tecoma 36; Healesville 28; Gembrook-
Cockatoo 30, Belgrave 16, Emerald 12, Woori Yallock 8, Mt. Evelyn 8
· Under 12 Mixed: Upwey-Tecoma 48, Mt. Evelyn 48, Wesburn 40, Emerald 36, Wandin 28, Healesville 28, Monbulk 24, Yarra Glen 20, Belgrave 20, Seville 12, Woori Yallock 4, Gembrook-Cockatoo 4
· Under 13s Mixed: Healesville 48, Mt. Evelyn 44, Upwey-Tecoma 26, Olinda-Ferny Creek 16, Emerald 14, Woori Yallock 8
· Under 14s Girls (match ratio): Healesville 100.0, Mt. Evelyn 86.36,Wesburn 70.83, Upwey-Tecoma 58.33, Belgrave 54.54, OlindaFerny Creek 33.33, Emerald 33.33, Seville 18.18, Wandin 0
· Under 14s Mixed: Olinda-Ferny Creek 52, Mt. Evelyn 48, Woori Yallock 40, Healesville 32, Monbulk 32, Belgrave 32, Upwey-Tecoma 24,Wandin 20, Gembrook-Cockatoo 16, Seville 12, Yarra Glen 4, Wesburn 0
· Under 16s Girls: Belgrave 48, Mt. Evelyn 44, Healesville 36, Wesburn 28, Monbulk 24, Mt.
·
·
Evelyn 16, Emerald 8, Upwey-Tecoma 4
Under 16s Yarra: Wandin 52, Woori Yallock 36, Upwey-Tecoma 36, Mt. Evelyn 24, Healesville 16, Olinda-Ferny Creek 16
Under 16s Ranges: Monbulk 50, Gembrook-Cockatoo 40, Healesville 30, Wandin 20, Emerald 16, Wesburn 12, Yarra Glen 8, Upwey-Tecoma 4
A gravity defying mark by Monbulk against Wandin in the Under 12 Boys match (Supplied)
Monbulk and Belgrave clash in the Under 16s Girls (Supplied)
Monbulk and Woori Yallock battle it out in the Under 12s Girls match (Supplied)
Monbulk outmark Woori Yallock in the Under 14s (Supplied)
Shania Turner of Monbulk gets her kick away against Thornton (Supplied)
Welcome to Clovelly Cottage. Nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges but still within close proximity to the Boronia Junction shopping precinct and amenities, it is a place our residents are proud to call home. Featuring abundant indoor and outdoor spaces with a choice of private sanctuaries and communal living, we are dedicated to delivering excellence in care and services that enable residents to live well and celebrate the autumn years of their life.
