Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 6th August 2024

Ferntree Gully resident and Puffing Billy enthusiast 12 year old Heath has taken out the coveted title of ‘Hard Quiz Kids Champion’.

Appearing on the ABC’s ‘Hard Quiz Kids’ tv show on Saturday July 27, 12-year-old Heath took home the title and got to sign off with the well know phase

“Thanks for playing, hard!” with host Tom Gleeson right by his side.

Heath said it felt really good to be a hard quiz champion and he was really proud of himself.

“I’ve been watching ‘Hard Quiz’ for years and when I was younger, I never dreamed that I’d become an actual hard quiz champion but now I actually have the big brass mug,” he said.

More on page 8

Equality question

By Tanya Steele

It’s local election time and by the end of October this year the Yarra Ranges will see a freshly votedin group of councillors - but will it be closer to the 50/50genderrepresentationthatstategovernment is striving for? In 2020 the Yarra Ranges elected its highest number of female councillors – the highest since the council was formed in 1997, improving the gender balance from 11 per cent to 44 per cent. That year 272 women were elected to local councils around Victoria – the highest amount

ever at 43.8 per cent.

Councillor Fiona McAllister has held firmly onto her seat In Ryrie Ward, serving now for four terms and Cr McAllister said that in terms of diversity, Yarra Ranges has made some steps forward.

“For one term, four years ago, I was the only woman and youngest councillor,” she said.

“We ended up with a great and much more diverse group of councillors in this term so I am hoping the same following the next election.”

Fresh in 2020 Johanna Skelton was elected for

Lyster ward and current Mayor Sopie Todorov for Melba ward, Cr Todorov said that in 2020 the Yarra Ranges council was one of the 13 ‘fragile councils’ in Victoria, with only one or no women representation in the councillor group.

“I happened to come across a small ad in the local newspaper, seeking mentors for a program led by ‘Voices of Women’ in the Yarra Ranges,” she said.

Cr Todorov said that the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) has also

greatly supported her over the years with her role.

“Having more women in local council builds diversity and different perspectives, thus reflecting community,” she said.

“Having raised children, worked, and volunteered in the Yarra Ranges for many years, I took up the opportunity and soon became involved in the VLGA’s ‘Local Democracy in Action’ sessions, learning more about local Council and building confidence around my skills.”

Continued page 4

Convinced he inherited his love for trains through genetics, Heath’s passion for the legendary local steam engine was ignited from his first ride on the train as a toddler. (Supplied)

NEWS Ambos’ responses slowed

By Mikayla van Loon

Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) response times in the Yarra Ranges have worsened, a trend occurring across the state as Code 1 cases reached a yearly high.

The quarterly data from 1 April to 30 June this year showed the average response time in the Yarra Ranges had blown out to 18 minutes and 10 seconds, three minutes more than the state-wide target of 15 minutes.

Only 49.7 per cent of the Code 1 jobs hit the target of 15 minutes or less, a 6.1 per cent decline from the previous quarter and 14.5 per cent below the state average of 64.2 per cent.

The Yarra Ranges recorded a total of 2141 Code 1 responses, while the state saw a sharp increase with 102,416 cases needing lights and sirens, 5932 more than the previous quarter.

In the metropolitan region as a whole, paramedics responded to 71,906 Code 1 emergencies.

AV metropolitan regional director Michael Georgiou said demand across the metropolitan region increased by 5.3 per cent – or 3644 more Code 1 cases – compared with a year ago.

“The entire health system continues to be extremely busy due to seasonal illness such as flu, Covid-19 and RSV circulating within our communities and our workforce,” Mr Georgiou said.

“Our dedicated paramedics and first responders across Melbourne’s suburbs do an incredible job in the face of record-breaking demand, providing best care to our communities every day.”

The closest neighbouring local government areas (LGA) to see improvement compared to last year were Maroondah (one minute and 15 seconds faster) and Nillumbik (52 seconds faster).

Cardinia’s response time also increased to

over 18 minutes, having previously sat around 16 to 17 minutes.

Over in Knox, the response time still fell within the desired timeframe but increased to 14.57 from a previous 13.45.

Code 2 responses also extended despite less cases being logged across Victoria, totalling 50,576, a drop from 53,565 in the previous quarter.

In the Yarra Ranges this increased from 39.33 minutes to 44.15; in Cardinia, it went up from

39.03 minutes to 45.56; Knox saw a rise from 40.47 to 44.16; and in Maroondah from 41.30 minutes to 46.01.

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill said it was unacceptable that a third of emergency patients, whether it be for heart attacks, strokes, car accidents or cardiac arrests, were waiting too long state-wide for an ambulance.

“No paramedic in Victoria will be surprised by the latest response time data. The entire workforce has been screaming ‘iceberg right ahead’,

and now the ship is sinking,” he said.

“Paramedics are spending more time ramped at hospital, more time being sent to trivial cases and less time responding to genuine emergency patients.

“AV is an emergency service. That’s what taxpayers pay for. But the workforce feel that the current AV Executive are taking AV in a different direction and patients are suffering, which is why so many paramedics are calling for the Government to take action.”

Mr Georgiou and fellow metropolitan regional director Vanessa Gorman urged people to use alternative care pathways when they needed timely medical treatment but it was not an emergency.

“It is important that everyone does their part. If your matter is not an emergency, consider using alternative care options like Primary Priority Care Centres (PPCC) or the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) and keep our highly skilled paramedics available for patients most in need,” Mr Georgiou said.

“You can connect directly with the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) at www. vved.org.au anywhere, anytime in the comfort of home and avoid a trip to hospital,” Ms Gorman said.

At least one in five calls to Triple Zero (000) do not need an emergency ambulance response.

“From April to June, 41,704 people who did not need an emergency ambulance were instead connected to more appropriate care by paramedics and nurses in AV’s Secondary Triage team,” Ms Gorman said.

For more information about routine winter vaccinations or finding your nearest PPCC, visit the Better Health website at www.betterhealth. vic.gov.au

Continuing the urgent campaign against elder abuse

By Callum Ludwig

A recently released independent evaluation, conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), of the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians 2019-2023 has deemed the program a success so far.

But it’s only a start, with the issue still a priority as Attorney General Mark Dreyfus launched a National Elder Abuse Awareness campaign on Sunday 28 July.

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) is a driving force in preventing elder abuse in the Outer East and Director of Legal Services and Principal Lawyer at ECLC Belinda Lo said they have been very concerned about the occurrence of elder abuse for many years.

“Apart from our Elder Abuse Response Programs, (ELSA and ROSE), ECLC has worked to advocate against elder abuse for decades, including working in primary prevention work to combat ageism - a driver of elder abuse,” she said.

“ECLC also convenes the Eastern Elder Abuse Network - a network of over 60 organisations in the region who work together to find ways to support people who are experiencing elder abuse.”

ELSA (Engaging and Living Safely and Autonomously) is a coordinated program with Eastern Health while ROSE (Rights of Seniors in the East) is a Specialist Elder Abuse Unit in partnership with Oonah Belonging Place.

The evaluation report highlighted the value of ECLC’s programs creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for victim-survivors of elder abuse and the community, reducing the coordination required on behalf of older people, making the process of seeking legal advice less intimidating and providing support from social workers and specialist staff to assist during the process.

Areas of improvement included incorporating education for perpetrators and improving practice, such as how staff can better support clients with ‘declining cognitive health.’

Ms Lo said ELSA and ROSE were funded to support people experiencing elder abuse by providing holistic, wrap-around services comprising diverse professionals such as financial counsellors, elder abuse advocates and community lawyers.

“ECLC is pleased the evaluation found that both programs have achieved their goals to the

highest level possible and support the adaptation of the ELSA and ROSE models to other geographical locations and their continued expansion,” she said.

“The method is trauma-informed and clientcentred, clients have reported that they appreciate the model and that the services were tailored to them as individuals as opposed to having to wait for referrals and then navigate the service system themselves,”

“This approach over time has led to a number of successful outcomes that are outlined in the report.”

RMIT University’s Social and Global Studies Centre partnered with the National Ageing Research Institute and La Trobe University to deliver the mid-term and final evaluations of ECLC’s elder abuse programs.

Ms Lo said people experiencing elder abuse often find themselves in what the independent evaluation refers to as the ‘impossible predicament.’

“That’s when an older person feels that they cannot continue withstanding the abuse, and at the same time are unable to see a viable option to stop the abuse from continuing,” she said.

“This can be due a range of factors including the need to maintain family relationships, a sense of shame, risks to their safety and limitations within the service system and the broader legal and policy environment which provide few options for people experiencing elder abuse.

“Whilst the evaluation found that the ROSE

and ELSA programs have performed exceptionally well to achieve outcomes for survivors of elder abuse in such situations, being able to truly champion the success of programs such as these requires an understanding of the nuance of people’s lived experience.”

Examples included in the final evaluation reports of ROSE and ELSA told stories of two different clients who accessed ECLC’s services and experienced benefits;

72-year-old single parent Andrea was facing threatening behaviour from her son Don who lived with her and his friends but was worried about Don and did not want him to be homeless. With assistance from ELSA, Andrea was able to call a lawyer, draft a letter about her feelings to give to Don and organise help to maintain the property. Don’s behevour changed for the better and he moved into a sharehouse and their relationship improved as a result.

Ms Lo said common behaviours of people who perpetrate elder abuse include manipulation, controlling finances, trying to isolate the older person, coercion (pressuring them to do things) and intimidation.

“ECLC’s programs have noted that these behaviours have manifested in financial abuse (controlling an older person’s finances without their free consent, and often to the benefit of the perpetrator, not the older person), psychological abuse and physical abuse (assault, restraint, neglect),” she said.

“Signs to look out for include unexplained

and unusual changes in an older person’s behaviour; fearfulness, unexplained financial transactions or the older person being unable to pay for things (when they had previously been financially independent), isolation (being controlled by people around them) and noting that someone appears worried or scared to speak for themselves,”

“Dedicating time to deliver education on elder abuse-related topics to both community members and professionals led to increased and more appropriate referrals as well as an understanding and awareness of elder abuse and related issues.”

Another example was that of mid-70s couple Michael and Linda who moved into a small unit on their daughter Samantha’s property after selling their farm to be closer to their grandchildren, support and treatment for Michael’s chronic back pain. After two years of living peacefully, Samantha’s new partner Jesse took issue with how much time she spent with her parents, whether supporting them or helping maintain the unit and tensions escalated when he moved in, reaching a point where Linda would be restricted from entering the main home and police were called and placed an intervention order against her.

With ROSE support, Linda had the intervention order overturned, had phone numbers supplied for emergency accommodation and housing support and helped her move in temporarily with her son Henry in Keilor.

Ms Lo said it’s imperative to remember that elder abuse is a community concern and not a private or family concern.

“Intervention in these situations can prevent elder abuse from occurring in the future, the experience of elder abuse can be extremely isolating and causes shame and humiliation for survivors and it is ECLC’s experience that the majority of perpetrators of elder abuse are family members,” she said.

“As a result, survivors of elder abuse are understandably reluctant to speak out about their experience for fear that their family members (often their adult children) will be punished, or that they will no longer have a relationship with their family member (or grand-children),”

“ECLC is very grateful to have the funded Elder Abuse response programs but sadly, the demand in the Eastern Metropolitan region alone far outstrips the resources allocated to it.”

Elder abuse remains a key focus of the government, health and legal sectors. (File)

Ambulance Victoria responses times have worsened it what was its busiest quarter on record. (Stewart Chambers: 303384)

Devil’s Elbow drama

By Tanya Steele

Last week a young woman in her 20s had a terrifying experience on her regular commute home coming up the ‘Devil’s Elbow’ of the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.

On a Monday 29 July hills resident Amy allegedly had an unusual and highly stressful evening when a car stopped across the road and two man emerged allegedly acting suspiciously, one holding a baseball bat.

Amy said she had finished work later than usual at around 7pm and was driving past the Upper Ferntree Gully train station.

She stopped at the lights along Burwood Highway near the Royal Hotel and as the lights turned green, she said a ute quite abruptly pulled out in front of her, then as she continued along and indicated left along the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, the car did as well.

“At first I didn’t think much of it,” Amy said.

“As I was going up the mountain, just pass the 1000 steps, all of a sudden the car in front put their foot on the pedal, and probably were going about 90 or 100 kilometres an hour and just zoomed all the way up the hill.”

As Amy continued on she said she was about to go around the corner but she saw a brake light facing her, thinking there might have been an accident.

“I came around the corner and slowed right down,” she said.

The car which looked to Amy like a ute had pulled across the road and at this point Amy reportedly said she saw two male figures.

“They were out of their car and one had a hoodie on and some sort of, I don’t know a face mask or a black shirt or something that’s coming up to his eyes and a baseball bat, the other guy had a ski mask and a blue checkered flannel he was reaching in his pocket for something,” she said.

“They were coming towards me and had moved away from their car.”

Amy said she “just reacted” as she reportedly approached the male figures in her car “I put my head down and put my foot on the pedal and I

went off into the gutter,” she said.

“I went around (the corner) and almost span out just to avoid them.”

As she drove away Amy said she was looking in her rear view mirror to see if the people were going to follow her, “I just saw them point at each other and really speedily trying to get back in their car.”

Amy said as she continued to drive through Tremont she tried to call Triple Zero three times but as she got through she was disconnected and the calls dropped, she then continued to her residential home in Olinda.

“I was fine, but as I was realising what had happened, I was freaked out,” Amy said.

Amy’s mother Sue said when her daughter arrived home she wasn’t looking great.

“She was looking quite zoned out, really – and I knew something was wrong...she said she couldn’t believe what just happened,” she said.

Sue took to Facebook that evening at around 8pm, posting about the alleged incident.

The post received a flood of messages of shock, support and speculation about the situationmany commending Amy for her quick reaction.

“I am shaken by this,” Sue said.

“It could happen to anyone and what is the

Farm shed is destroyed

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

A farm shed in Macclesfield burst into flames yesterday afternoon and emergency services were called to the rescue.

Macclesfield fire brigade was contacted to put out a fire in large complex sheds on a farm property in Macclesfield on Saturday afternoon around 2.10pm, the CFA crews arrived at the scene in less than 10 minutes after they were notified.

Macclesfield fire brigade captain Sharon Merritt said the fire was caused by a malfunction electric fence unit.

“We found the sheds to be 90 per cent involved in fire with the fire very close to the house,” Ms Merritt said.

“We immediately made sure the residents

were safe and started extinguishing the fire and stopped it spreading to the house.”

The owner of the farm managed to save a few saddles from the fire while the CFA crews saved two buggies from burning.

“Unfortunately, the rest of the contents, including work equipment were totally destroyed and the buildings and the contents were not insured, which is a huge loss for the people who live there,” she said.

Fortunately, no people or livestock were injured.

Macclesfield fire brigade were assisted by Cockatoo CFA, Yellingbo CFA and Hillcrest CFA.

The CFA crews were at the scene for almost two hours, they left at 4pm.

right thing to do in this situation,” she said.

“She went on the wrong side of the road and her front right hand wheel was in the ditch – she managed to turn it and get past them.”

Amy said the following day she reported the incident to the Knox Police Station.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said that police received reports of men suspiciously loitering in the Ferntree Gully area on 29 July.

“The incident was reported the next day,” they said.

“Police have been told there was no interaction between the men and the person who reported the incident.

“At this stage, it is believed no offence was committed. If further information comes to light, police will investigate further.”

Amy said that it shouldn’t have to result in something for something to be done.

“There was definitely malice intent behind whatever it was that they were doing,” she said.

“Whether it was a car hijacking, or whether they want to beat somebody up, or whether they want to take valuable things, whatever it was, you don’t get out of the car with a baseball bat and start walking towards somebody else.”

IN BRIEF

Drink drivers rife across ranges

Four drink-drivers were detected by four different police units across the Yarra Ranges on Friday night, exceeding the alcohol limit, putting themselves and those around them at risk.

At 10.45pm, Highway Patrol were conducting random breath tests in in Woori Yallock, where a 43-year-old Launching Place man blew 0.059. He will lose his licence for three months and is required to have an interlock device fitted to his vehicle.

At 11.55pm, Belgrave members observed a car trying to avoid police, they intercepted and spoke with the 18-year-old female P Plater from Croydon North. She was found to be carrying one too many passengers and provided a positive breath test of 0.043. She will also lose her licence for 3 months and be required to have an interlock device fitted to her vehicle.

At 12.19am, Transit Police observed a vehicle with no headlights on Mt Dandenong Road, Montrose. The male driver from Montrose turned out to be a 17-year-old unaccompanied Learner with a 16-year-old passenger. He provided a positive breath test of 0.090. He lost his learner’s licence immediately; his vehicle was impounded and he will have to attend court in the near future.

At 12.38am, Lilydale Police were patrolling the McDonald’s car park in Lilydale when they observed a vehicle reverse out of the disabled bay. The 26-year-old Mount Evelyn male appeared glossy-eyed and had slurred speech. He subsequently provided a breath test of 0.134. His licence was immediately suspended for 12 Months, his vehicle impounded and he will have to attend court in the near future.

Victoria Police is warning motorists there will be zero tolerance to drink and drug driving, with significant penalties for those who disregard the rules.

First time offenders who are fully licenced and over 26 years of age caught with a blood alcohol limit between .05 and .07 receive a $577 fine and immediate three-month licence suspension.

Time to enrol to vote

Eligible residents and ratepayers are being urged to enrol to vote for the upcoming Victorian local council elections before it’s too late, with enrolment closing at 4pm Wednesday 7 August. The Yarra Ranges Shire Council election will be conducted by post – a safe and completely secret method of voting.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel issued a call to Yarra Ranges Shire residents and ratepayers to be ready to have their say.

“Make sure you’re enrolled correctly by the close of roll, which is 4 pm on Wednesday 7 August. As this is a postal election, it’s important to check your address details are correct – this includes any alternative postal address,” Mr Bluemmel said.

Australian citizens who have recently turned 18 or changed address can enrol or update their state enrolment details at vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment

There are also additional enrolment categories for ratepayers, including non-Australian citizens who are not already on the State roll for that council. People in these categories should contact their local council for more information.

Further information on enrolment is available by calling 131 832 or at vec.vic.gov.au, where voters can also sign up to the free VoterAlert service to receive important election reminders by SMS and email.

Amy said she attempted to call Triple Zero as she passed through Tremont that evening. (Tanya Steele 423386).

A Macclesfield farm shed immersed in flames on Saturday afternoon. (SUPPLIED)

Safety to the fore for CFA

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Kallista CFA volunteers are working with RMIT teachers and students to propose a redesign for the Kallista fire station. With the station’s limited budget around $100,000 the volunteers initially planned to build an extension, but they are hoping they could do more to redesign the whole place.

RMIT University former lecturer of interior design Chris Job has used his connection with the university to create this opportunity for students to have a “real-world” experience while simultaneously helping to improve the facility at Kallista fire brigade – where he’s been volunteering at for many years now. The students are in their second year in Advanced Diploma of building design at RMIT – a vocational education program that’s part of RMIT’s TAFE. Kallista CFA volunteer Chris Job said updating the facility will help keep both the volunteers and the community safe.

“We are really happy to have the students design this project, and we’re looking forward to seeing all the options they come up with,” Mr Job said.

“I’ve done similar work in the past with RMIT, with the council, we worked on Monbulk soccer club, RMIT did a proposal for that – it was a great involvement for all parties, we delivered the same for Yarra Valley soccer club in Milgrove.”

Nicholas Nolen is one of the RMIT students helping to redesign the facility.

“It’s a mandatory project, but I love it and I’m really glad we get to do a real-world project, it’s different to doing conceptual stuff,” he said.

alternatives with their designs.

“When we get different options, we’ll have more knowledge of what we really need,” he said.

“We have the overalls where there’s contaminants in an engine bay – and that’s a big no, we need a separate change room, a disabled toilet, a wash area for contaminants off our BA [breathing apparatus] gear.” “Our washing machine is placed above the basin, and due to the lack of space, we’ve got two mezzanines to store our stuff.” The station has two CFA tankers and one community funded support vehicle, none are ideally positioned”

The second-year student is thinking of doing a precinct study, inspired by the architecture legend, Robert Venturi.

“There’s a lot to examine when thinking about designing a fire station, but for me personally, designing is about considering the people who are going to use the space,” Mr Nolen said.

“I hope we can make a positive impact here with our designs.”

RMIT senior teacher Andrew Rodda has been working with Chris Job on several projects, including other projects in the Yarra Ranges in the past.

“This is an opportunity for us as teachers and academics to give the students a real-world exam-

Students will work individually to come up with a design including the cost of it and what the site conditions will be like, they will also have a chance to present their designs to the CFA at the end of the semester in late October, early November.

ple, we often talk about simulated workplace environments, but nothing really beats the experience of actually coming out, and just getting knowledge that comes from speaking to people who are directly involved in projects like CFA Kallista,” Mr Rodda said. “We’re always looking for opportunities to do more work like this – whether it’s a large or small project, if anyone wants to contact us, we’re always open for the opportunity.”

Over the years, the fire station has raised close to $50,000 from selling goods at the market as well as community donations.

The brigade has also been approved a contribution of $100,000 from the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP). Mr Job said the project is beneficial for all parties involved – the students will be able to give Kallista CFA more

A lot of the design need to be reconsidered to ensure the volunteers can do their jobs properly, for example, the three fire tracks that should be parked in parallel – are not, and sometimes in case of an emergency, the volunteers would have to spend some time moving them out of the way,” he said. The fire station receives an annual running budget of around $1345, which is scarcely enough toreplacethestationscomputer-thisvaluehasnot changed in the last 40 years and it has remained the same for all volunteer stations across the state.

“We’re servicing the community, all volunteers too, we really need the community behind us,” Mr Job said. “When the power goes out, after about 4 hours NBN goes out and our communications is greatly compromised - as a result, we can’t contact one another, nor can the community contact us with ease. In the case of a catastrophic event, the community relies on us and I think they’re unaware of this issue.”

“We’re an emergency service, we need to get NBN direct from the curb to us, and we need the community to help us make this happen and push for a change in our annual budget.”

Equality question: Will the new council have balance?

From page 1

“In 2020, my passion and purpose to help make the community safer and stronger inspired me to nominate as a candidate and I was pleasingly elected as the Melba ward councillor.”

Councillor Skelton said that the Yarra Ranges needs many more women to run for council across Victoria this year to get to 50/50 representation in local government. “My message to anyone, but especially women and gender diverse people, is this - if you are open to listening and curious about the needs of all members of the community then you can do this role,” she said.

“If you are considering how this role might fit into your life then now is the time to find out. You can contact the CEO, and current councillors, and join the ‘More Women for Local Government’ Facebook group to ask your questions.”

The Victorian State Government has set a target of reaching 50 per cent representation of women in council by 2025 but historically the Yarra Ranges hasn’t ever reached this representation. In the last four elections, the closest was the 2020 run with four of the nine wards represented by women. Before this, the shire sat in the bottom 20 per cent for women’s representation on local councils across the state.

Thisnumberdippedbacktothreewomenand six men when now former Yarra Ranges Council-

Ranges hasn’t ever reached this representation. (Supplied)

lor and Victorian Senator Cathrine Burnett-Wake was appointed as the Upper House member for Eastern Victoria following Edward O’Donohue’s retirement from politics in late 2021.

Cr McAllister said she thinks having a diverse group of councillors is really important .

“We have to think about and make decisions about such a wide range of issues and how they will impact everyone in our community,” she said. “Having different life experiences and world views is really critical to doing this well. Gender, age, background, culture, experience... all are important in making sure we represent our entire community well.”

A total of 13 women and 45 men have run

for council seats since 2008 but in recent times candidates are more evenly distributed with 19 women and 25 men running in 2020.

November 2020 also marked 100 years since the election of Victoria’s first female councillor, Mary Rogers, to Richmond City Council.

Cr Skelton said that she came into the role of councillor with no paid board member experience and has found the Yarra Ranges council organisation and councillors supportive and respectful of her learning journey.

“You don’t need to know it all to do a good job as a councillor. I think it’s more important to have an open mind to learning,” she said.

“In local government, we are always ensuring that gendered impacts are considered in policies, plans and significant projects. Your perspective as a woman or gender diverse person will be valued and is as important as anyone else’s. It is actually legislated in the Gender Equality Act 2020.”

“If you know someone else who would be a wonderful voice for the community, please #tapherontheshoulder and let her know you think she should run.”

“This is what happened to me and I am very thankful I put my hand up to do this.”

Cr McAllister said she would really encourage anyone in the Yarra Ranges to run who feels passionate about this amazing place we live, about

making things better and representing people who don’t have a voice.

“The role of councillor does mean taking on a lot but if you have support to do this then being able to make a difference and make sure community needs and views are best represented is very rewarding,” she said.

“The moments that stand out for me and make me grateful for the chance to represent the community are often the little ones where I have been able to help solve a problem or make a great idea come to life.”

The 2024 Victorian local council elections will be the state’s largest single-election program, with a predicted 4.7 million voters participating in 465 individual elections across 78 councils.

Cr Todorov said that as a woman and current Yarra Ranges council Mayor, she is proud to be seen and heard and hopes to inspire other women to put their hands up for the next local government elections.

“As the saying goes, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’,” she said.

Eligible residents and ratepayers are urged to check they are enrolled to vote for the upcoming local council elections by 4 pm Wednesday 7 August.

The next local government general elections will be held on Saturday, 26 October 2024.

The Victorian State Government has set a target of reaching 50 per cent representation of women in council by 2025. Historically the Yarra

Left to right: RMIT senior teacher Andrew Rodda with Kallista CFA volunteer Chris Job. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor)

Key indy identities on offer

By Callum Ludwig

Voices For Casey is continuing its lead-up to next year’s election with an event bringing together some of the key names and faces of the community independents movement to date.

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan will be the headline speaker for ‘The Big Democracy Night Out’ free-to-enter event to be held in the Mount Evelyn Public Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 8 August.

Dr Ryan said she hopes to share with attendees what the experience of Kooyong’s community independent movement has been like.

“I want to just talk to the people of Casey about what our journey has been like, what it’s been like since I was elected and what I’ve been able to achieve offer that to the people of Casey as an example,” she said.

“Every electorate is different, every community is different in what they hope to achieve and what they want from their representative but I think that in Kooyong it’s been a pretty powerful movement and it’s been a really positive thing and I’m really looking forward to talking to your electorate about that as well.”

Dr Ryan was elected in Kooyong at the 2022 Federal Election ousting former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with a preference count of 52.8 per cent to 47.1 per cent. Frydenberg previously held the seat with a margin of 6.4 per cent following the 2019 election.

Climate 200’s, which is providing funding support to Voices 4 Casey, Executive Director Byron Fay previously told the Star Mail that ‘from history that it often takes at least two go’s to win as an independent’, a sentiment Dr Ryan said does seem to hold true.

“It was certainly the case in Kooyong and it’s not a small thing to secure independent representation at a federal level,” she said.

“I think Casey is potentially right on track, I’m not on the grassroots in the electorate, but from what I can see, it seems like a very motivated,

well-organised group of people.

“I would think they are probably well-placed to potentially put a potentially successful candidate at the next federal election.”

Started only months out from the 2022 election, Voices For Casey has grown to a base of 300 volunteers and ‘launched the bird’ back in May in their efforts towards the next election and engagement with the electorate.

Voices for Casey President Dr Ani Wierenga said Dr Ryan’s success in Kooyong shows what independents can do.

“At this event, we’re drawing together some

last month. (Stewart Chambers: 420079)

Geotechs looking at road

A popular tourist and commuter route in the Dandenong Ranges remains single lane as geotechnical experts investigate repairs after a landslip last month.

Mount Dandenong Tourist Road was reduced to one lane, with traffic management in place, when part of the road fell away during July’s flash flooding event.

Stabilising the road to reopen it to vehicles between Mason Grove and Lennox Grove, a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said, was the first priority.

The department has now turned its attention to an appropriate design solution to repair the road.

“We’re making sure this site remains safe for road users while geotechnical investigations to inform repairs are completed,” the spokesperson said.

“These works are complex, and we will take every precaution to protect the surrounding

environment and other infrastructure while we assess the site and repair the landslip.”

Mount Dandenong, according to Yarra Ranges Council’s website, first documented a landslip in the 1860s but geological evidence suggests these have been occurring for hundreds of thousands of years because of the rock make up.

Heavy rainfall, flooding or an earthquake increase the likelihood of a landslip, as in the case of 15 and 16 July.

The department confirmed it would continue to keep the community informed in regards to repairs, as well as work with local authorities to ensure the safety of people in the Hills.

Monitoring areas prone to landslides, the spokesperson said, would be a priority of crews, as they look out for any instability which may be further affected by the wet weather.

entertaining thinkers to talk about why independent representation in parliament is important, and why this matters even more now,” she said.

Voices for Casey’s 2022 election candidate Claire Ferris Miles will interview Dr Ryan, as well as the 2022 Community Independent candidate for Wannon Alex Dyson and Phil Haines who has been the campaign manager for Community Independent members for Indi Cathy McGowan and Helen Haines.

“I think it really speaks to the power of the people’s faith and commitment to the democratic process in Australia, Indi is very different from Kooyong and we’re both very different from

Casey, but the people of the electorate want the same thing, they want representation by people who can advocate strongly and effectively on their behalf at a federal level,” Dr Ryan said.

“Australia’s independent movement is something I’m extremely passionate about, so looking forward to connecting with the Casey community to discuss life, love and grass-roots political revolution,” Dyson said.

Casey’s Liberal MP Aaron Violi secured his current position with a margin of 1.5 per cent, replacing retiring MP Tony Smith. Ms Ferres Miles secured 8.34 per cent of the vote in Casey in 2022, behind the Liberal, Labor and Greens candidates.

Traffic management and a single shared lane on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road after a landslip

Independent member for Kooyong Monique Ryan is the headline speaker for Voices For Casey’s event. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

NEWS Scouts unprepared on fees

By Tanya Steele

A pressing financial issue for scout halls across the Knox area has Scouts District President Karin Orpen appealing to Knox Council for answers.

In the monthly council meeting on 24 June Ms Orpen asked about two increases in fees that would affect the organisation.

“We were advised that the peppercorn rent of $10 will increase to $450 per site from 1 July 2024 - in addition we were advised that it was a council direction that we are also charged $250 per site for the fixed portion of the Fire Services Levy, a charge that has not been imposed before,” she said at the meeting.

“The State Revenue Office advised that from 1 July that (the fire services levy) is set to rise to $267, even at $250, this brings the total cost for Scouts from $10 per annum to more than $9100 per annum – a cost which will be passed on to the parents of Scouts across Knox,” she said.

There are 13 sites that the fees would apply to and the higher rent of $450 and $250 fire services levy bring annual bills to $700 per site.

Ms Orpen asked council whether they would keep the keep the annual lease as it is and would they waive the $250 fire services levy per site that Scouts are now being asked to pay.

Ms Orpen said at the meeting that council has acknowledged that the halls are owned by Scouts and their leases are for the land on which the halls sit, with no maintenance provided by council. Other community groups paying the same amount for council buildings and land, have maintenance provided by council – an inequitable situation.

“Unlike the local sporting clubs, we do not provide our youth services for a season, but weekly activities through the year by a group of dedicated and caring volunteer leaders and district personnel,” she said.

“We have more than 3,000 youth, leaders and families involved in scouting in Knox, many of

whom we know are currently challenged with cost of living pressures.”

Mayor Jude Dwight responded to both of Ms Orpen’s questions.

“We – both councillors and council – sincerely appreciate the role Scouts play in the Knox community,” she said.

“With regard to future lease arrangements and fire services levies, there has not been any decision made.”

“Council officers are currently meeting with representatives from Scouts Victoria to discuss the future lease arrangements, in advance of an officer report being presented to a council meeting for a decision to be made.”

“There is no change to the lease arrangements while the budget is being endorsed tonight –thank you for your interest and advocacy.”

Until the matter is resolved Ms Orpen has said that the cost increases are a mean spirited, unacceptable situation to parents in Knox.

“It’s one of the largest community organisations in Knox that’s providing activities for young people all throughout the year, in halls, that the council does absolutely no maintenance on,” she said.

“To put us in the same category as some of the other groups who get maintenance done – this is a cost that these parents cannot afford.”

“It is very disappointing that council would

exploit the fact that fees and charges are exempt from rate capping and bring increases in licensing like this into play.”

Ms Orpen said that at least two other groups on similar leases are not paying the 250 dollar fire services levy and they are having council maintenance done.

The fire services property levy is collected by local councils and usually appears on rate notices. Property owners pay an annual levy via council rates to support emergency services.

“The jump is just ridiculous,” Ms Orpen said.

Mayor Dwight said the report and recommendations will be included in a future Knox council meeting agenda.

Potential fee raises on Scout halls across Knox are set to place extra pressure on the organisation. (Unsplash)

Knox Council names new providers for kindergartens

Knox council has announced three not-for-profit and two independent kindergarten providers who from next year will deliver kindergarten in all stand-alone council buildings where kindergartens are currently operating.

The five new providers are KU Children’s services, One Tree community services, Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania), Ferntree Gully three year old preschool and Liberty Avenue three year old kindergarten.

This follows council’s decision in August last year not to run stand-alone sessional kindergarten services, other than in the two Knox children and family centres, and make its buildings available to other providers from 2025.

Knox Mayor, Cr Jude Dwight said the appointment of the five new providers was the culmination of a lengthy and thorough public expressions of interest and tender process.

“From 2025, council will make its standalone kindergarten buildings available to these five new providers, who are all specialist, notfor-profit and independent providers of sessional kindergarten as distinct from long day care,” she said.

“Families can be reassured of continued quality kindergarten, as we have now in Knox. All kindergarten providers have to meet na-

New providers have been announced in Knox. (Unsplash)

tional quality standards and regulations. Every service is assessed and rated against seven areas of quality, and these ratings are published publicly.”

“This new arrangement brings council in line with how most other councils across Melbourne operate and ensures a continuation of free, quality, stand-alone sessional kindergarten for Knox families.”

The five new kindergarten providers are all licensed to operate kindergartens in Victoria.

Families who have registered for kindergarten places in 2025 have been notified directly.

Council will continue to provide centralised registrations to streamline the process for families into the future.

There will be no changes to kindergarten for families enrolled this year.

These changes won’t come into effect until January 2025. Knox council will continue to run kindergarten services in 2024, offering 15 hours a week for both three- and four-year-olds.

Proposed groups and session times for 2025 are available on the Knox council website. Final groups and session times will be based on the registrations they receive.

Residents can register for places at the following kindergartens in Knox:

· Alexander Magit, Ferntree Gully - KU children’s services

· Bena Angliss, Ferntree Gully - One Tree community services

· Billoo Park, Wantirna - One Tree community services

· Cooinda, Boronia - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· Eildon Parade, Rowville - One Tree community cervices

· Flamingo, Wantirna - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· FW Kerr, Ferntree Gully - KU children’s services

· Haering Road, Boronia - One Tree community services

· Knox Children and Family Centre, Bayswater

– Knox city council

· Knox Children and Family Centre, Wantirna South – Knox city council

· Knoxfield, Knoxfield - KU children’s services

· Liberty Avenue, Rowville - Liberty Avenue three year old kindergarten

· Mariemont, Wantirna - KU children’s services

· Murrindal, Rowville - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· Riddell Road, Wantirna South - KU children’s services

· Scoresby West, Scoresby - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· The Basin, The Basin - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· The Fields, Rowville - KU children’s services

· Wattleview, Ferntree Gully - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania)

· Windermere, Ferntree Gully - Ferntree Gully three year old Preschool

Residents can find out more at up at www. knox.vic.gov.au/kindergarten

Nine people still missing

By Dongyun Kwon

Nine people across the Outer East are on the Victoria Police’s and Australian Federal Police’s missing persons lists.

The first week of August is the National Missing Persons Week (NMPW) and it took place from 28 July to 3 August this year.

It serves as a reminder to all Australians that anyone can experience the anguish and hurt of a missing loved one.

About 50,000 missing persons reports are made to police every year, and about 2500 people remain missing long-term.

Australian Federal Police Commander Forensics Joanne Cameron said this year’s NMPW theme shined a spotlight on the commitment of police across all states and territories to follow every lead.

“The Always Searching campaign is an important reminder to members of the public to report any information to the police because no matter how small the detail may be, it could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings peace to the family of a missing person,” Commander Cameron said.

“With the important ongoing conversation and public focus on combating violence against women, the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre has chosen these cases to remind the public that the police are committed to following every lead to bring justice for the families of missing loved ones.

“Police from around Australia work tirelessly to resolve these cases and find missing people. I encourage anyone who may have information about a missing person to share it via Crime Stoppers, either on their website www.crimestoppers.com. au or by calling 1800 333 000. This can be anonymous.”

Leave A Light On is a community organisation which raises awareness of all long-term missing persons in Australia.

Leave A Light On co-founder and Mount Evelyn resident Suzie Ratcliffe said it is important to keep the missing persons in the public eye.

“Someone may have information and no matter how significant they feel, it may be the crucial piece of evidence or information that the police need to be able to tie all the other information they have together to be able to either locate a missing person or to at least bring justice for their family,” she said.

“Each and every single missing person in Australia is important, no matter their age, race, religion and ethnicity.”

Warren Gerrard Meyer

Warren Gerrard Meyer is a 180cm tall Canadian who was born in 1950.

Warren Meyer went bushwalking at 7.45am on 23 March 2008.

He was to meet up with his wife and friends for lunch at the RACV club in Healesville but did not arrive.

Warren was wearing shorts, a light top and his walking boots.

He also took a backpack containing a map of the area, a handheld GPS, a mobile telephone, some water and confectionery.

Warren’s white Subaru Forester was found parked at Dom Dom Saddle car park in Yarra Ranges, a 15-minute drive north of Healesville.

Tej Chitnis

Tej Chitnis was last seen on Wednesday 27 April 2016 at approximately 10am leaving his Burwood East address in his silver 2005 VW Golf Hatchback, Victorian rego TTF 517.

He usually drove to the Blackburn Railway station, parked his car in a nearby street and caught public transport to the university.

Tej’s vehicle was last seen travelling east on the Maroondah Highway, Healesville near the intersection of Green Street on 27 April at about 11.34am.

Tej failed to return home at 4pm as usual and did not attend his father’s birthday dinner that night.

His VW Golf has also not been located.

Tej was last seen wearing a T-shirt, jeans and black Adidas runners, and is described as 170 to 175cm tall, of Indian appearance (he was born in Australia to Indian parents) with short black hair.

Suzanne Lawrance

Suzanne Lawrance left a 21st birthday party at the Healesville Memorial Hall on 7 February 1987 and was last seen in the vicinity of Queens Park walking to her Campbell Road home.

The 16-year-old was wearing a white party dress at the time.

Over the past three decades, a significant investigation into Suzanne’s disappearance has been

conducted and police continue to treat the matter as suspicious.

Many people have been spoken to by police as part of this investigation, however, no one has been charged, and sadly Suzanne has not been located.

Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon

Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon, was last seen on Thursday 2 June 2011 at approximately 8.25am.

Siriyakorn left her family home in Elsie Street, Boronia to walk to school.

She was dressed in her school uniform, wearing her dark blue zip-front school jacket and carrying a backpack.

She was seen by a neighbour a short time later in Elsie Street, walking towards Albert Avenue.

She did not arrive at school that day and failed to return home.

Siriyakorn has not been seen or heard from since.

Her disappearance was out of character, there are grave concerns for her welfare.

Joanne Deason

On 22 August 2003, Joanne Deason left a note for her boyfriend stating she was going to school and would be home in the evening.

Joanne failed to return home.

Police inquiries show that Joanne did not arrive at school.

She was living with depression at the time of her disappearance.

She was last seen in Gembrook.

She is 160cm tall with light brown hair and hazel eyes and is now 52.

Cherie Westell

Cherie Westell, who was born in 1984, with brown hair and hazed eyes at 167cm tall, didn’t return home on Tuesday 12 December 2000.

She had a dentist appointment at 12pm at Knox Dental Group, in Wantirna South, and left the surgery at around 12.30pm.

At 1.58pm, Cherie telephoned her Mooroolbark home from a public telephone box situated on the corner of Selkirk Avenue and Wantirna Road, Wantirna about 5km from the dentist.

Cherie was attempting to make her way home but has not been seen or heard from since. Richard Hadwick

Richard Hadwick was 21 years old at the time he disappeared.

He was last seen at his home in Belgrave South by his parents on Saturday 19 May 1990. Richard arrived at his house at approximately 12.30am in a taxi.

The taxi waited in the driveway while he changed his clothes.

He then told his mother he was going to Fosters Disco in Dandenong and left in the taxi.

Richard had little money on him at the time and took no extra clothing or belongings.

He has not been seen since.

He had a small group of friends and worked at Bayswater Joinery, but has not been to work since.

Richard was bailed to attend Dandenong Magistrates Court on burglary charges on 24 May 1990 and reports indicate was afraid he could be sent to prison.

Richard is now 55.

He has blonde hair and blue eyes at 182cm tall. Linda Grimstone

At about 8.50am on 4 September 2000, Linda Grimstone dropped her two children off at Croydon Hills Primary and did not return to pick them up.

Police enquiries have revealed that Linda purchased petrol at the Wesburn petrol station at approximately 9.45am and was last seen at around 3.50pm that same day in the car park of Powers Lookout 270km North East of Melbourne.

Police cannot explain her reason for attending Powers Lookout but her vehicle was located at 10am the next day in bushland nearby.

Linda is 168cm tall with brown hair and blue eyes and is now 66.

John Forster

John Forster was last seen by his wife and their two sons at 10am on Saturday 7 October 2017, at their residence in Diamond Creek.

His wife had left the house with their two sons and on her return home, John and their vehicle a 1998 green Subaru Forester wagon, Victorian registration OSV092 were gone.

John’s wallet and phone were left at home.

This wasn’t unusual for John to do, as he often went for a run or walk leaving these items at home.

That night, John’s vehicle was located at the Sugarloaf Reservoir in Christmas Hills, the vehicle was parked near the water intake tower look out. John has light brown hair and grey eyes at 175cm tall and is now 65.

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of these missing persons is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic. com.au

Tej Chitnis, missing since 2016. (File: 153667)

Cherie Westell, missing since 2000. (Australian Federal Police)

NEWS Heath’s got all the answers

By Gabriella Vukman

The staff and volunteers at Puffing Billy know 12-year-old Heath by name and now the rest of the nation does too.

Ferntree Gully resident and Puffing Billy enthusiast Heath is no stranger to the volunteers and staff at the Hills’ steam railways. From shovelling coal to always being up for a good chat, the Hard Quiz Kids champion has a passion for steam.

Appearing on the ABC’s ‘Hard Quiz Kids’ tv show on Saturday July 27, 12-year-old Heath took home the title of ‘Hard Quiz Kids Champion’ and the brass mug to go with it.

Choosing Puffing Billy as his quiz topic, Heath proudly represented the Hills and Dandenong Ranges community on television.

Heath said it felt really good to be a hard quiz champion and he was really proud of himself.

“I’ve been watching ‘Hard Quiz’ for years and when I was younger, I never dreamed that I’d become an actual hard quiz champion but now I actually have the big brass mug,” he said.

“I’m also very proud and happy that I got to represent the Hills and Puffing Billy communities and show everyone that Puffing Billy is really, really, really good, as I said on the show.”

Convinced he inherited his love for trains through genetics, Heath’s passion for the legendary local steam engine was ignited from his first ride on the train as a toddler.

According to Heath’s mum Jessica, a lifelong love of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ has also played a role in fueling his Puffing Billy passion.

Heath said he thinks he inherited the love for Puffing Billy through genes because ’my dad and my grandpa are both into trains and I’ve always been into trains’.

“With Puffing Billy, being the closest steam railway to my area, just seeing its salvation and how it was preserved was very interesting and I, as a kid, have always loved sticking my legs out and I still do today,” he said.

“I have always loved Thomas the tank engine too so that helped.”

Upon being asked what he most loves about Puffing Billy, Heath insisted that being able to stick his legs out of the train was the highlight.

“Sticking your legs out is fun but I also just love the locomotives as well and the scenery and where it is is also fantastic,“ he said.

Whilst Heath’s prior Puffing Billy knowledge set him in good stead, preparing for his debut on the ‘Hard Quiz kids’ also involved significant amounts of study.

Heath said he did lots of study, he borrowed heaps of library books and actually went up to Puffing Billy and had a chat with the people up there as well.

“A funny thing also happened when we went to the library at Knox and borrowed heaps of old Puffing Billy books. When we came up and scanned them, the machine said that they were ‘invalid’,“ he said.

“So we went up to the desk and they said the books were still on the old system because they hadn’t been borrowed in at least fifteen years.”

Commencing his ‘Hard Quiz Kids’ journey in February with a submission, Heath underwent a long auditioning process before appearing on the episode.

“In February we submitted an online form application to be on ‘Hard Quiz’ and then from there, they went through the applications and chose about 200 kids who they thought were really good. There were like 1500 kids in total so lots and lots of kids auditioned. Then they took some to do a live audition,” Heath said.

“In March we did a live audition where they did a mini round of Hard Quiz and learnt more about our subjects and they got to know us more as well,“ he said.

“From there they picked some kids who they thought would be great for the show and they got put in this thing called a contestant pool where they say ‘these kids are all good for hard quiz, we just have to match them up for the episodes’.“

After being selected for the contestant pool, Heath informed that the contestants’ topics were

then matched up in order to form episodes.

Heath said in the studio, they started filming at 3 o’clock but we got there at 1:15.”

“We had our own fancy dressy rooms, which I was very pleased with and then basically we had to do makeup which I absolutely hate. I’m not a makeup person,” he said.

“We then went down into the studio and they explained how to move around the set, and then they started shooting the smiling at the camera shots which was a bit awkward because you had to stand there for about a minute going ‘cheese.’ It was a bit awkward.”

According to Heath, it took approximately two and a half hours to film the episode and the best footage was compiled to generate the 30-minute episode.

“The staff were really, really good. They listened to us, they explained it really well and they checked if we had any questions,“ he said.

“The two girls were a bit quiet but I chatted with the other boy that was in my show and we got along really well.”

Often frequenting Puffing Billy, Heath enjoys chatting with the staff and immersing himself in the realm of trains. He was even allowed to shovel some coal.

Heath said his mum’s friend’s husband is a volunteer driver at Puffing Billy and so he has been out in lots of the locomotives and has done some shoveling.

“Since I go there quite a bit, they all remember me. I always go up and have a chat and say hi,“ he said.

Coal-shoveling aside, Heath said, “It’s sort of that social aspect. I like coming and talking to them.”

Whilst the age limit for joining the 600 Puffing Billy volunteers is 16, Heath firmly established that he will be a volunteer ’the second I turn 16.’

Despite the Hard Quiz Kids TV-show host Tom Gleeson’s intimidating appearance and stern demeanor on camera, Heath confirmed that the host has a softer side.

Heath said Tom Gleeson isn’t as mean as he seems. He’s actually quite a nice guy.

“He came to us before the show -and he was not in his big suit yet, he came up in casual clothes and said to everyone ‘see I’m just like your old dad as well.’ He then said ‘But once I’m in the suit, I’m meant to be intimidating so act intimidated’.”

“He’s a really nice bloke. He’s actually really tall as well. He could probably have played basketball.“

Despite only being allowed to be on the ‘Hard Quiz Kids’ show once, Heath is hatching plans to appear when he is older in the adult version of the show.

Brimming with pride at being able to represent his community to a nationwide audience, Heath encouraged people to visit Puffing Billy and said, “Puffing Billy is great. All the volunteers and everyone are nice and it’s a really good experience.”

“I’m just so proud that I got to represent the Puffing Billy and Hills community,”he said.

Family-run tavern in the running for Readers’ Choice gong

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG), home of the Chef Hat Awards has nominated a familyrun tavern, ‘Pig and Whistle Tavern Olinda’ for the 2024 Yarra Valley Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Australian Good Food Guide is designed as an essential navigational and rating accomplice, and it has been acknowledged as Australia’s most comprehensive restaurant, accommodation and travel authority encompassing not only for major metropolitan areas but many of the smaller townships that lie in between.

Every year the AGFG examiners conscientiously inspect thousands of establishments and other places of interest for inclusion in their publication.

The ‘Pig and Whistle Tavern Olinda’ best known for its famous roast pork belly on mash potatoes with chilli onion jam has been running by a local family since 1991.

The restaurants owner’s son, Nick Roostan, who’s now the venue manager has been working on the family business since he was the legal age (15-years-old).

“It’s wonderful to be recognised, we try and put ourselves up to a higher standard,” the venue manager said.

“It’s quite hard when you’re self-employed to know what you’re doing right, this recognition is a great kick in the right direction, and it’s definitely something we will celebrate with a bottle of wine.”

Mr Roostan is currently doing Certificate III

in commercial cookery, and he said Covid has impacted a lot of the businesses but fortunately their business has been busier than ever before.

“People are still spending quite a lot, but they’re incredibly particular about how they spend it, so instead of going down to the pub after work every night and having a couple of pints of a generic beer and a parma, they come out once or twice a week and still spend the same amount, on quality food,” he said.

“We try and have as much local produce as possible whilst maintaining a really good quality of food, and we also try and have as many local wines as possible.”

The pub has 18 different variety of beers, and the menu hasn’t changed much since they first open the business.

“We’ve had a lot of the same items on the menu for 15-20 years and a lot of people are really happy about that – we try and hold back into that ideology of good portion, and tasty food so customers don’t leave the restaurant with the thought of going to Maccas because they aren’t full,” he said.

“People like being in places they’re known and people like going to places that they feel really welcome.”

He said as much as he loves seeing new customers and tourists, he enjoys seeing “return customers” and locals at the pub.

Mr Roostan and his brothers all live with their parents just down the road from the restaurant and he said working with the family business comes with pros and cons.

The family-owned tavern has been running strongly since 1991.

“We all live locally, we all work in the family business, occasionally my parents drive me bloody insane, makes me wish my parents weren’t my boss, and sometimes when we’re having a conversation, I always ask is it a parent conversation or a boss conversation,” he said.

“it’s nice to be knowing where we’re going, everybody loves that, I hear a lot about businesses struggling at the moment, it’s just so unfortunate.”

“My parents didn’t start this business to make millions of dollars, they started this business because they wanted to give something they thought they could give, I say support your local businesses, but at the same time, allow them to give you the experience that you deserve.”

Left to right: Nick Roostan with his father (Shamsiya Hussainpoor)

Heath winning the title of ‘Hard Quiz Kids’ Champion during Saturday’s episode. (Supplied)Heath holding his winning mug alongside the Puffing Billy train. (Supplied)

Hats off to Olinda eatery

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Olinda restaurant Indian by Nature, best known for its lamb cutlets, has been nominated for the 2024 Yarra Valley Readers’ Choice Awards, by The Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) - Home of The Chef Hat Awards.

The AGFG is designed as an essential navigational and rating accomplice, the Australian Good Food and Travel Guide has long been acknowledged as Australia’s most comprehensive restaurant, accommodation and travel authority encompassing not only all major metropolitan areas but many of the smaller townships that lie in between.

Every year AGFG inspectors conscientiously inspect thousands of establishments and other places of interest for inclusion in the publication.

Mr Jangid who migrated to Australia with his family from India in the early 2000s purchased the restaurant from his friend in 2007 and renamed it Indian by Nature.

Prior to his purchase, the restaurant “was all over the place,” selling all kinds of things from gifts, noodles, books and much more.

“It’s a very proud moment and very happy moment for all of us here, of course we don’t do things to win awards, at least not in hospitality, but it’s nice to be recognised – it’s like a little pat on the back,” he said.

“Anything in the form of a comment, feedback or something that helps you improve, no matter which profession you are in, it gives you a boost, and it tells you what you’re doing, it’s actually good, people love it.”

He said the place is more than just a restaurant, it has become a “united house” for the community during challenging times.

“I’m in love with this place, it’s full of nature and the small community is filled with very beautiful people, and that’s what kept me here all these years,” Mr Jangid said.

“We have seen a lot of ups and downs, includ-

ing a lot of blackouts, and there was a big storm that happened in 2021 – it surely was a very challenging time, this whole area was cut off from the world, a lot of trees were down, and many lost their homes.”

“A lot of businesses, including myself, who had power or generators stepped forward to help the community, many people came and charged their phones, laptops and lights - it made me feel really proud to be able to help the community in ways I was able to.”

Even though times were tough, Mr Jangid said it built community resilience in the face of adversity.

“Our doors were open; we made some chai for people and that night my staff and I all stayed in the restaurant.”

Mr Jangid said in Hindi, there’s a common phrase that says, “treat your customers as your God.”

“We have a simple rule here, if something I’m cooking, and I don’t like it, I won’t serve it to others, it’s not all about quantity, but rather quality.”

Mr Jangid said as an Indian, the love of cricket runs in his blood, hence he brought the joy of the

game to Olinda, right in front of his restaurant.

“During summertime, people stayed longer, and we used to play cricket until late midnight,” he said.

“First there was only five of us playing, using a tennis ball of course, and later everybody joined – we had over 20 guys playing cricket right here at the front of the restaurant.”

But when Covid came along, things changed forever, the games stopped, people didn’t dine out late but Mr Jangid said running the restaurant despite of the changes has given him many joyful memories and friends of all ages.

The kids who came to his restaurant with their families played hide and seek with him, he would give them lollies and made sure they all felt welcome.

“Now the kids have all grown up, they come with their families and they’re having beer - my goodness, now that makes me feel old (he chuckled), but when time flies with a lot of pleasant memories it somehow energises me to wake up every single day and do it all over again.” he said.

Over the years, the restaurant has seen many customers, both locals and tourists and Mr Jangid ensures his customers are served cautiously.

“There are a lot of dietary requirements and that’s another reason why nothing is premade here, so we can serve anyone, because once it’s premade you can’t do anything about it,” he said.

“The only minus point here is I do not get delivery, I have to go get the things myself, but it satisfies me, because I buy it fresh.”

Mr Jangid said he feels extremely supported by his community.

“It’s a small community with a big heart,” he said.

“A big thank you for recogning us and a really big thank you for the ongoing support in the last 17 years.”

“Sometimes there’s lot of things in your heart that you can’t describe in words. It’s one of those feelings.”

Devesh Jangid has been running Indian by Nature since 2007 (Shamsiya Hussainpoor)

Have your say on house

By Matthew Sims

Members of the Emerald community are encouraged to have their say on what shape their new neighbourhood house would take after the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s (DFFH) decision not to renew Emerald Community House’s service agreement contract, which expired last month.

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

Cardinia Council has since received funding from DFFH to undertake community consultation to gauge an understanding of what the Emerald community wants from a new neighbourhood house.

Council’s community development facilitator would be available at the Hills Hub in Emerald during the community consultation period to support the process.

Cardinia Council acting general manager of liveable communities Michael Casey said all Emerald community members were welcome to contribute to the consultation.

“Your input is valuable and will help us develop a program that aligns with the community’s wants and expectations,“ he said.

“We encourage you to share your thoughts on the types of programs and activities you’d like to see delivered, and to help shape what your new service will look like.”

Mr Casey said the council would support

the new provider to deliver the neighbourhood house program in Emerald.

“Once consultation has been undertaken, DFFH will call for expressions of interest from organisations to apply to be a part of the State Government’s Neighbourhood House Coordination

Seek and ye shall find

By Tanya Steele

A local community environmental group joined forces with an enthusiastic group of geocachers for a good cause this month.

On Sunday 21 July the Glenfern Valley Bushlands was chosen as the focus of a “Cache In Trash Out” event held by local geocachers from all over Victoria, many of whom live locally.

Hills resident and avid geocacher since 2013 Amanda Lenihan organised the day and said she had always seen the notice boards for the “Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands” group and had always wanted to help with their working bees.

“Putting it all together and having my two worlds collide was a real highlight,” she said.

Geocaching, which can be described as a form of modern-day orienteering sees people hunting for small ‘caches’ located by geographical coordinates with their mobile phones via an app.

Once you navigate to the correct spot, you have to find a small cache hidden in the area, you can then sign the log book.

Geocaches can be incredibly varied, some easy to spot and others requiring puzzle work and a keen eye to find.

“The first geocache I ever found was in Glenfern Reserve,” Ms Lenihan said.

“We’ve been going to the reserve for a long time and during lockdown it was one of our go-to places - it has that much stunning scenery there,” she said.

Ms Lenihan got in touch with the Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands and organised the ‘Cache in, trash out’ (CITO) event through the geocache app to help out with the monthly working bee.

“On the day we had ten volunteers from the Geocaching community attend – one came from as far away as Ballarat,” said Ms Lenihan.

“It’s just a great way for people who are interested in geocaching to give back to the environment because we’re out and about really enjoying all of these natural environments every day,” she said.

“We arranged to meet and had a wonderful briefing on the history of Glenfern Valley and some good visual cards to help identify invasive weeds.”

The group then got stuck into some weeding with the Friends of Glenfern Valley volunteers, making short work of the area that they were designated to for the day.

A volunteer with the Friends of Glenfern Valley group Daniel Jackson said it was very much like the group’s usual activities but on the day he was interested to learn more about geocaching itself.

“I didn’t realise that people abseil, climb trees

and solve puzzles to find the caches - there was more to it than I realised,” he said.

“With their group joining us, it more than doubled our numbers for the day.”

“I had no idea about some of the technical abilities required to access some of the tricky toget ones”

Ms Lenihan has done many CITO events over the years, but this is the first one she has organised herself - she’s also found around 3,500 geocache locations over the years.

Recently her geocache group planted trees in Kalorama Waters in Knox for National Tree Day and has been up at George Tindale Gardens helping out as well.

Geocaches can be found all over Victoria and beyond and Parks Victoria Area Chief Ranger Conrad Annal said that it always pays to be prepared when heading out into nature.

“Choosing the right hike means thinking about your fitness, the time you have available, what kind of things you want to see, and then picking something that is a good match for you and your fitness level,” he said.

“Make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, dress appropriately and stay on the marked trails. There’s lots of great information about preparing for a hike and staying safe on the Parks Victoria website.”

The CITO events have been held by geocache groups all around the world since 2002 and seek to improve the places in which caches are located - which the Friends of Glenfern group said on their Facebook page is a ‘wonderful’ initiative.

“We are appreciative of their help and camaraderie that morning,” the post read.

There are several caches hidden within the Glenfern Valley reserve one such cache has been there for almost twenty years. There are 2,843 geocaches around Melbourne alone.

Program (NHCP) to serve the Emerald community and surrounding areas,“ he said.

“Council supports neighbourhood houses funded by the State Government’s NHCP in line with our Neighbourhood House Policy.

“As a result of DFFH’s decision earlier this year

not to renew its service agreement contract with Emerald Community House Incorporated (ECH Inc), ECH Inc is no longer eligible for funding under Council’s Neighbourhood House Policy.“

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

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

According to the spokesperson, concerns were raised with the department about ECH Inc.

Mr Casey said Cardinia hosted seven other neighbourhood houses funded under the NHCP and managed by service providers or volunteer committees.

“Neighbourhood houses and community centres are wonderful community assets that bring people together and strengthen community connections,“ he said.

“They provide a range of services, information, and resources for their local communities, including everything from cultural, social, health and wellbeing activities, to training and public internet access.“

Community consultation will close on Friday 30 August.

For more information or to have your say on a new neighbourhood house service in Emerald, visit creating.cardinia.vic.gov.au/reimaginingemeralds-neighbourhood-house

An assault on batteries

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Hillcrest CFA fourth lieutenant Rochelle Poulton has raised over $4000 worth of batteries during the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb event.

It all started in 2018 where Ms Poulton and her sister who was also a Hillcrest CFA member at the time, would collect the batteries together, even though her sister left the brigade to move elsewhere, she continued the legacy year-after-year.

“I’ve always done it because it’s something I strongly believe in,” she said.

For many, collecting old batteries is the last thing they’d want to do, but for Ms Poulton, she’s the first to put up her hand for the challenge.

Collecting old batteries is one of her main fundraisers that she’s always been part of.

Stair Climb raises money for its’ three foundations which are Triple Zero Foundation, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and Lifeline.

“For me personally, it’s for the mental health, I can’t say I have been touched by the cancer side of things, which I’m very grateful for, but mental health has touched people that I know, especially within emergency services, and it’s really important to raise awareness on it, especially with the work that we do and the things we see from time-to-time,” she said.

“At the start, I’d only collect around 70 batteries and then as every year went on, I just started collecting more and more, and to the point where I just wanted to beat my record every single year,” she said.

“I’d like to raise money for it and help raise awareness around it, every year I try to encourage our members to participate and every year we get more members joining this cause, which is really nice.”

This year, she managed to break her previous records and collected an eye watering five-point-four tons of used batteries – even she’s amazed at her new records.

The batteries were then recycled with the Norstar Steel Recyclers, a special rate per kilo was paid for everyone in the climb and Ms Poulton managed to raise over $4600 with the used batteries.

She has gathered the community’s trust over the years with her generous time and efforts –and she has no trouble hunting down them old batteries.

“Facebook is really helpful with finding them, everyone knows me as the person who collects batteries and word gets spread around,” she said.

“A lot of the time, I have people reaching out to me whom I’ve never met before because they’ve gotten my contact number from someone else to donate their old batteries.”

Ms Poulton is more energised and determined than ever before to raise awareness and funds for a cause that’s close to her heart.

“I would like to beat the record again next year for myself, although I probably will regret saying this because it is a lot of batteries,” she said.

“If anyone does have any batteries, I encourage them to reach out to me, or just go to the scrapyards in general, and just dispose of them safely, to make sure that they’re not a hazard to anyone.”

Ms Poulton said she’s extremely grateful to everyone who helped raise money, whether it’s from donating batteries or donating money.

The Stair Climb is not limited to just Victorian CFA members, but it’s open to all firefighters across the country and even other countries.

If you have old and used batteries that you’d like to get rid of, get in touch with Hillcrest fire brigade on Facebook or call Ms Poulton on her mobile, 0472 610 029. She’s happy to travel to the pickup location as she has done in the previous years.

The two groups joined forces for a cause. Picture: (Supplied).

Rochelle Poulton collected a stunning 4.5 tons (355) of batteries in 2024 (Supplied)

Emerald Community House was named as a finalist in the 2022 Premier’s Sustainability Award for their off-grid community not-for-profit grocery. (Supplied)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Burrinja welcomes new CEO

By Gabriella Vukman

Burrinja Cultural Arts Centre’s new CEO and Creative Director Melanie Burge is geared up to start on Tuesday 6 August.

Residing in Kensington and having formerly been the Program Producer at the Australian Performing Arts Market, Ms Burge is keen to commit to the Burrinja and Hills communities and take on her new role.

Ms Burge said: “Burrinja is in such a fantastically beautiful spot. It feels like it’s such a privilege to be able to spend time there.”

“I live in Kensington so it is a bit of a commute for me to get to Burrinja but having said that, I’ve spent a bit of time there including attending an exhibition opening recently which was a real thrill because it was a great opportunity to meet some locals and some artists,” Ms Burge said.

“As I live on the other side of town, I’m really excited about getting to know the Burrinja and Hills community, geography and the country,” Ms Burge said.

Upon first becoming aware of Burrinja through her former workplace, Ms Burge’s interest was sparked immediately.

Ms Burge said: “I had heard of Burrinja through my previous work as a program producer at the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM)

which is a strategic project of Creative Australia which is Australia’s federal arts funding and policy agency.”

“The previous CEO of Burrinja, Gareth Hart attended some of our events and although I didn’t actually get an opportunity to chat with him, I remember thinking, ‘Burrinja Cultural Centre, -that sounds interesting. I need to look that up.’”

“I thought about it as a really communityrooted visual arts and performance space in the Yarra Ranges and I have to say, I didn’t think too much more about it until I noticed that they were recruiting a new Creative Director and Ceo,” Ms Burge said.

With her role at APAM coming to a close, Ms Burge thought seized the opportunity to transfer to Burrinja.

Ms Burge said, “With Gareth Hart having moved on to some other exciting new projects and as my role at APAM was coming to an end, I thought, ‘this is a really interesting change of direction for me and it is a significant leadership opportunity to go for this role at Burrinja,’ so I had a chat with the recruiter and put in my application and the rest is just history really.”

“There was a really supportive interview process with the chairperson Liz Jacks and a few other board members and it felt like things moved really quickly after that point,” Ms Burge said.

“While I am excited about taking the time to get to know them and understand their practice and get to know the creative community and ecology within which Burrinja works, I see myself primarily as existing to support their practice.”

Excited to work with First Nations artists and Elders living in the Yarra Ranges, Ms Burge sees her role as being primarily of service and support to the community of artists and creators who are already engaging with Burrinja.

Ms Burge said, “Something that I am personally really excited about is to connect with First Nations Elders and artists at Burrinja and chat to them about how they see Burrinja as a cultural connecting and meeting place.”

“I’m not really sure what form my movements in the First Nations space might take because it is important to have the conversations first and discover the role that Burrinja has in those communities,” Ms Burge said.

Having already met some of her team, Ms Burge is looking forward to working with her new staff and coworkers.

Ms Burge said, “I am so excited to work with the team members that I have met already. I am yet to meet the whole team but I look forward to doing that next week.”

“I’ve had several chats so far with the acting CEO and General Manager Samantha Dunn and I

feel like we are going to get along like a house on fire,” Ms Burge said.

“My approach throughout my career has always been that I want to work with great people who I can learn from and I feel like Burrinja is a place where I can do that.”

Whilst Ms Burge’s background has been heavily involved with producing performing arts and visual arts events, her focus for Burrinja’s future lies in visual arts, performing arts and sustainability.

Ms Burge said, “In the visual arts realm, my aspiration is on a personal level. I guess in that space, I really want to take the time to get my head around what really fantastic work is happening.

“I am so excited about the prospect of meeting and getting to know visual artists who practise in the space or they are visual artists who are presenting their work as part of an exhibition,” Ms Burge said.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the curator Jan Dirk Mittman and understanding artists and communities that he is working with.”

In the performing arts space, Ms Burge intends to work with Burrinja’s already dynamic array of programs.

Ms Burge said, “I have noticed that Burrinja presents a really eclectic program of performing arts. There’s a bit of comedy, music, circus,

Young artists receive support and studio experience

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Pakenham resident Miranda Eno is one the three young artists selected for the 2024 Cardinia Shire Music Residencies Program.

The music program is intended to support emerging musicians by providing vital industry knowledge and experience to advance their individual careers.

Through a tailored program delivered by Cardinia Arts and local industry whiz Daniel Kelaart, each musician recorded a new song in a professional studio and took part in a series of professional development activities.

The selected artists were chosen from a collection of diverse applicants, representing a variety of genres and high-quality musicianship.

The three musicians who were selected for this program were Jon Collins, Sage Kelly, and Eno – each artist received a sum of $500.

The 22-year-old is known for performing with her guitar on open mic stages around Melbourne with sounds in pop, rock and R’n’B, she also uses ‘loop station,’ for those who don’t know what a loop station is – it’s a device where a musician takes a short or long snippet of music and repeat it again and again – on a loop.

“[The loop station] allows me to do a lot more, for example it allows me to be like a oneman-band kind of thing, because I can put beats down, I can put harmonies, I play and sing at the same time,” Eno said.

She started taking her music career more seriously from the beginning of last year, where she attended two open mics a week throughout the year in Belgrave, South Melbourne, and Elwood Lounge.

“I attended the open mics to build up my repertoire of cover songs to get to a place where I could do three hours’ worth of music to play at pubs and other places,” she said.

“This year my goal is to put an EP out, this will be coming out in September.”

She had her first guitar at the age of eight and growing up her dad also played the instrument.

She was at the stage of looking for a producer to start recording her EP, when the announcement of selected artists for the program was made.

“I was at the point where I wanted to do my EP at the start of the year which I worked on it for a couple of months, I was ready to find a producer when I got the call that I was accepted and it was the most perfect timing,” she said.

“I had never worked with a producer before, and they paid me some money to be involved in this, I was happy to do this for free, but the money was just a bonus.”

“It’s a really good program for musicians just starting out and wanting to put some music out there.”

Through the Music Residencies Program, and working with the producer Daniel Kelaart,

she has released her first singles last month called, ‘Elephant in the room’.

“Music is something everybody enjoys, it’s a very competitive industry and very hard to be successful in it and a lot of musicians can’t sustain themselves just by doing gigs – we’re often pushed to get second jobs to survive,” she said.

“It’s really important that councils put money and support the music industry, because without musicians, there would be no music and without music it would be a pretty boring place to live in.”

“I was working as a casual at a servo station, but I’m trying to look for something full-time at the moment to save up and move out closer to the city where there’s more opportunities to grow.”

Life as a hustling musician is difficult in the outer suburbs of the city, especially the commute when carrying things.

“It is really hard travelling with all my equipment, I can’t drag all my equipment onto the train all the way into the city, it’s just not practical, it’s disappointing I live out here, but I can’t really control that at the moment,” she said.

She wants to continue working on her music full time but taking care of other responsibilities is a priority – music remains a side hustle for now.

Eno has two new singles coming out later this month.

Miranda Eno recording ‘Elephant in the room’ in Daniel Kelaart’s studio (SUPPLIED)

Living with adult children

Legal matters

Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre

Due to the current increasing cost of living and the housing crisis in Victoria, more adult children are moving back in with their parents to save money, find their financial footing or have somewhere to live.

“A Finder survey of 1,073 respondents revealed one in 10 (10 per cent) Australians – equivalent to 662,000 households – have either moved back home with their parents or had an adult child return home in the past year,” the research reads.

The research can be found at finder.com.au/ news/boomerang-generation-2023

A shared living arrangement can have great benefits for all involved, but it can also create some challenges and put a strain on the relationship.

When considering the pros and cons of this new arrangement, it is important to try and stay objective before you enter into any new agreement.

While it may seem feasible for your family at first, this arrangement does not always work out

the way it should.

Planning ahead can help to avoid breakdown in the arrangement or relationships.

Here are a few practical things to consider before agreeing to share your home with your adult children:

Relationships and wellbeing – this includes setting expectations of any arrangements including boundaries, for example who will be providing care for young children who might also be moving in, how household chores will be shared,

what if the property needs to be sold.

Be prepared to have difficult conversations –it is easier to get this out of the way beforehand than to unpack an arrangement that might have gone wrong.

It is also extremely helpful to think about how you will manage any unanticipated disputes that might arise.

Financial considerations – this could include anything from household expenses, how to protect your own finances, whether there is any fi-

nancial contribution in exchange for the accommodation and/or care and potential impact on Centrelink entitlements).

Legal considerations – this could include documenting the terms of your living arrangement in writing and getting legal advice about any money being exchanged as part of the arrangement. It is important to remember that shared living and care arrangements may not always be in everyone’s best interests, especially if someone has more power in the relationship than others.

It could also increase the risk of someone misusing their power or being abusive.

Before agreeing for your adult children to move back into your home, it is very important to get your own independent advice about your individual situation.

This includes legal advice.

This resource by Seniors Rights Victoria - ‘Care For Your Assets’ can be a good place to start: seniorsrights.org.au/resources/info-sheets/carefor-your-assets/

If you have any concerns about these types of arrangements for yourself or someone else, please call Eastern Community Legal Centre on 1300 32 52 00 (1300 ECLC 00).

You can also email ECLC at eclc@eclc.org.au or use the online application form: eclc.org.au/ help to arrange for an appointment.

If you are interested in a free information session to explore this topic further for your group or community, please contact Anita Koochew on 1300 32 52 00.

Tiny but mighty tale of a cheeky small brown dog

By Christine Yunn-Yu Sun

Runt, the multi-award-winning children’s book by Craig Silvey, is set in the fictional country town of Upson Downs. It tells the story of 11-year-old Annie, whose best and only friend is a rescued stray dog named Runt.

Annie lives with her family on a draught-affected sheep farm.

Money is tight and water is scarce, and many in their community have been forced to sell their properties and move away.

Worried the same fate will befall her family, Annie sets out to enter Runt in the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.

Trouble is, Runt only obeys Annie’s commands if nobody else is watching.

Worse, a fellow competitor named Fergus Fink will do everything in his power to take Annie and Runt out of the race.

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

Not to mention the family can hardly afford a trip to London, especially with the land baron Earl Robert-Barron greedily eyeing their farm.

That is a lot of pressure on a little girl. Fortunately, Annie is fully supported by her family and community, and she has all the love and loyalty from Runt.

As one of the characters in the book explains

to the girl:

“He chose you. And you chose him. That’s why you’re such a brilliant team. As far as Runt is concerned, nobody else matters. Just you. You are his whole world. And he runs and leaps and plays with you because he’s happy. That’s how he shows you his joy and his gratitude. For him, it’s something just for the two of you to share. It’s not for anyone else.”

Runt is all about being true to yourself and respecting other people’s rights to walk their own paths.

It is also about family and friendship, kindness and optimism, teamwork and community support, and persistence and perseverance in pursuing one’s goal.

More importantly, it is about the Australian spirit of mateship and equality even in the most dire of circumstances.

This is a heart-warming story that makes you laugh out loud while bringing tears to your eyes.

The writing is humorous and clever, show-

casing what Silvey describes as “the twangs of language, the dry wit, the understatements, the vary particular rhythm of speech” that are characteristics of our beloved Australian English. The wordplay is smart and entertaining, perfectly suitable for reading out loud.

For example: “The small brown dog was sneaky and cheeky and infamous. He was a source of irritation and consternation and exasperation. Run was as slippery as an eel and cunning as a fox. He could dart like a rabbit, bounce like a gazelle and climb like a monkey. He was spry and agile and clever... Runt would dodge and weave and feint. He would leap over cars, crawl under fences and scale walls with ease.”

You don’t have to be a “dog person” to enjoy this wonderful story, with delightful illustrations created by renowned artist Sara Acton.

The book’s film adaption is set to release in Australian cinemas in September. Highly recommended.

Trap will ensnare your mind

Trap

Starring Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue and Alison Pill M 4.5/5

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Trap is a taut psychological thriller about keeping up appearances.

Cooper (Josh Hartnett), who is secretly the serial killer The Butcher, brings his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a pop concert, but it turns out the whole concert is an elaborate trap to catch him.

Hartnett is chilling as Cooper, shifting effortlessly from an affable dad mask to Cooper’s deceptive, dead-eyed true self. Shyamalan draws clever parallels between Cooper faking normal emotion and parents acting happy for their kids’ benefit; Marnie McPhail has an amusing small role as a rival parent who, ironically, behaves crazier than the actual psychopath.

It’s fascinating and even grimly funny to watch Cooper trick and evade his captors, camouflaging himself within their operation.

As the trap tightens around him, Cooper’s wits keep the police – and us – on our toes, and the gripping final act (which has an astounding performance from Alison Pill as Cooper’s wife) delivers a string of shocking curveballs, but not to the

point of exhausting the viewer.

M. Night’s eldest daughter Saleka plays fictional pop star Lady Raven, and composed fourteen new songs for the film.

Saleka is compelling in both the dramatic scenes and musical performances, and even if Saleka/Raven’s pop isn’t your thing, Riley’s enthusiasm throughout the concert is infectious.

Trap reaffirms M. Night’s talent for suspenseful small-scale scenarios, and we need to retire the notion that M. Night is an inconsistent filmmaker; The Happening and After Earth are still awful, but over the past 10 years, he’s had far more winners than duds.

A superbly-acted and cleverly-written thriller, Trap is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

A shared living arrangement can create some challenges and put a strain on the relationship. (Unsplash)

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY 2024

The act of remembrance

By Mikayla van Loon

As the commemoration of Vietnam Veterans Day approaches, on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, veterans, their families and the community are invited to remember.

This year, the Outer Eastern Melbourne Vietnam Veterans Association will gather outside the Tim Neville Arboretum on Francis Crescent ready to march to the Knox War Memorial on 18 August.

Committee chair Allan Small said while most importantly the day is about remembrance, the purpose extends beyond that to “keep the harmony and the welfare going”.

“Let’s remember those that we left behind and those that have passed on since and look after yourselves, but also more importantly, think of the families, the children, of friends, or relatives or those who are not here in our community,” he said.

“We’re not here to glorify war, that’s not what we’re about. It’s about remembering our comrades who were with us then, some are still here but not many, unfortunately.”

Mr Small said for many of the servicemen who didn’t come home from Vietnam, their families were the ones who have had to live with “nothing except the memory” of them, making days of remembrance all the more important.

He said this too goes beyond just Vietnam’s servicemen and the invitation hopes to bring all veterans and families from every conflict together, to honour a loved one, to place a poppy at base of each plaque or to just stand in reflection.

National serviceman Bob Farquhar said bringing veterans together on days like Vietnam Veterans Day, allows connections, conversation and that welfare check to happen naturally because of a common thread of experience.

“As we’re ageing and people are having health issues and need support, we tend to group to-

gether,” he said.

“Even people that want to talk about issues, sometimes they feel like talking to people from their own era with similar experiences, they talk about things they might not have even talked with their family about because they don’t really have to explain what it was like or what they went through.

“We’ve all got the same experiences, listening to the same music. We grew up as baby boomers, and that sort of thing. So we’ve got common life experiences as well.”

Beginning the morning with the marching procession, Mr Small said everyone will then gather at the memorial, welcomed by the sombre sounds of the Knox School’s string ensemble, who will play from the minute the service starts at 10.30am. The school’s choir will also sing throughout the service, an important aspect of the day, Mr Small said. “I’m always interested in bringing the children in to give them a bit of a look-see at what goes on and making them feel involved because I think it might help us in the future,” he said.

Each year the Vietnam veterans associations

from across Victoria gather in their smaller communities to host a service to commemorate. In the outer east, it moves from year to year to ensure each community and RSL sub-branch is able to share the commemorations locally. This service is a joint initiative between the Outer Eastern Melbourne Vietnam Veterans Association and the Yarra Valley RSL Sub-branches of Croydon, Healesville, Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, Upper Yarra, Warburton and Yarra Glen and the Outer Eastern and Yarra Valley Sub-branch, National Servicemen’s Association.

Vietnam Veterans Day will be commemorated at the Knox War Memorial on Sunday 18 August.

(Stewart Chambers: 419804)

Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson and Outer Eastern Melbourne committee chair Allan Small invite everyone to join them. (419804)

Vietnam’s veterans Tony Zammit, Daryl Bristowe and Aff Binnoore. (419804)

Poetry has much to enjoy

By Maria Millers

Do you suffer from metrophobia, a condition that sadly inflicts many people?

This is an unusual phobia that encompasses an irrational aversion and fear of poetry.

Maybe, it dates back to lacklustre school experiences where poetry was something to be endured rather than enjoyed. Or perhaps not seeing in poetry anything relevant to your everyday experiences.

Poetry has for long suffered from being seen as something far removed from the daily lives and concerns of ordinary people and delivered in language and form that is alien to most.

Many only think of poetry as flowery descriptions of nature or sweetly coined phrases of romantic love. August is Poetry Month so perhaps an opportunity to reconsider.

Many poets have also been some the most vital activists throughout history. Mankind’s oldest surviving manuscript is from the Geometric period (900-700BC). An epic poem about the demigod and Sumerian king, Gilgamesh, that circulated from Mesopotamia, Europe all the way to Asia.

For many centuries stories and culture were mostly passed on through oral poetry. Today poetry comes to us in various guises: written, spoken, sung and rapped. Collections of poetry are still published, poetry features in literary journals but increasingly online platforms like websites and blogs play a bigger role. Social media, podcasts and YouTube too are bringing poetry to a broader audience.

Still the question of what is poetry persists?

Coleridge’s famous line: Poetry: the best words in the best order is a good starting point.

And poetry is all about breaking protocol. I suppose that’s what is meant by poetic licence.

The word ‘poetry’ comes to us from the Greek work ‘poiesis’ which means ‘making, capturing the essence of poetry as a creative process.

Writing a poem is shaping language into the best way of saying something. There is no subject

WOORILLA WORDS

that is unavailable to poetry: nature, love (in all its forms), war, hope and despair. All the best and worst aspects of human nature. And strict form has taken a back seat.

Rhythm, rhyme and metre aided memory in a less literate world and though still tools used by poets are not necessarily what shapes a great poem.

In Australia, there is no official national Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate position typically involves writing poetry for significant national events and promoting the value of poetry in society. A poem to kick off a Grand Final?

In 1999, then-Prime Minister John Howard asked renowned poet and perhaps de facto Poet Laureate, Les Murray to write a draft preamble for the Australian Constitution. This initiative was part of a broader effort to update the Constitution and recognise Australia’s history and values, including acknowledgment of Indigenous Australians.

It never got off the ground with some critics saying it was insufficient in addressing the historical and ongoing issues faced by Indigenous communities.

The current Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom is Simon Armitage. Armitage is, known for his accessible and engaging poetry that often explores contemporary themes and issues.

In the following excerpt he writes about a man who in Australia we would probably call‘ a good bloke’ but who has a dark controlling and violent

Artist’s Impression

$795,000 to $1,475,000*

side.

And if it snowed and snow covered the drive/ he took a spade and tossed it to one side./ And always tucked his daughter up at night /And slippered her the one time that she lied./ And every week he tipped up half his wage./ And what he didn’t spend each week he saved.

And praised his wife for every meal she made./ And once, for laughing, punched her in the face.

Poetry has always been a vehicle for political comment in poems and song lyrics.

The late Bruce Dawe wrote bluntly and powerfully about the tragedy and futility of war particularly focusing on Australian soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

All day, day after day, they’re bringing them home,/they’re picking them up, those they can find, and bringing them home,/they’re bringing them in, piled on the hulls of Grants, in trucks, in convoys,/they’re zipping them up in green plastic bags,/they’re tagging them now in Saigon,

Sarah Holland Batt writes from her very personal experiences in navigating Aged Care during her father’s fight with Parkinsons.in her award winning book, The Jaguar.

In the following excerpt from The Boat she delves into her family history and tackles displacement, exile and the refugee experience of loss, hope and resilience.

There’s a way a boat divides the sea,/thin prow parting waves clean as paper./I think of my grandmother, adrift/in a refugee boat on the Baltic,/ And then she goes on, they lived in that boat, four families/burned from the East Prussian coast,/and through winter they drank snowmelt,/clotted and dirt-laced, from the tarped hold.

There have lately been a growing number of voices of indigenous poets exploring their reality. EllenVan Neerven, is one of many who uses their work to address issues related to Indigenous iden-

tity and experiences in contemporary Australia. Give me back my language,/let me speak in my own tongue/.I have words locked in my throat. And it seems that poetry is as valid a method of interrogating the universe as any other form. Alicia Sometimes in her latest collection Stellar Atmospheres interweaves the scientific, literary and the personal, reminding us of our smallness. She poses the many questions we wonder about: What happened before the Big Bang? What are we made of?

From First Three Minutes for Steven Weinberg in the first three minutes of the universe everything that would be anything started to ferment. clump together. ready to sing at a recital. began to develop lips to form the word poem. it all moved towards a Christmas card that got people we don’t know back together after this – one star dreamed of turning away another just because it needed time to shape clay. the universe became a rogue gallery of jigsaws fighting for space and in softer moments, mango juice squeezed from the heavens sparkled like iridescent jellyfish suits One merit of poetry few persons would deny is it says more and in fewer words than prose. But more so, these contemporary poets bring a sense of hope, beauty, and lyrical elegance to their work, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the natural world. So put aside your metrophobia and pick up a book of poetry.

A reminder: We are now at the halfway point for entries to The Woorilla Poetry prize. Visit woorilla.org.au

New limited release premium residences within a well-established community now selling

Nestled in the heart of Burwood, Fountain Court Retirement Living is renowned for its vibrant community atmosphere. Under construction and ready this year, our new residences offer bespoke designs, private terraces or balconies and open-plan layouts just steps away from brand-new lifestyle facilities coming soon for your enjoyment. With one bedrooms already sold out, don’t miss your chance to call these beautiful residences home.

Sophisticated apartments selling fast

Spacious 2 and 2 bed plus study apartments

Bespoke designs for each unique apartment

Private terraces or balconies

New vibrant lifestyle hub coming soon

Seamless indoor/outdoor flow and ample natural light À la carte café and residents’ bar BBQ and alfresco area

Private dining room

Billiards, media and craft rooms

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Book a tour today. Call us on (03) 9133 8788 or visit aveo.com.au/fountaincourt

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Protect your eyes today

In today’s fast-paced world, our lives are intricately woven with technology. Whether it’s work, school, or our social lives, we find ourselves glued to digital screens for hours on end. While these devices have undoubtedly made our lives more convenient, they also expose our eyes to a significant amount of high-energy visible (HEV) blue light. The consequences of this exposure are now a growing concern in the realm of eye health. At Mountain Gate Eyecare, we understand the importance of safeguarding your vision in an increasingly digital world. That’s why we’re offering you a chance to experience the benefits of blue light coating for free.

Blue light coating, often referred to as blue light blocking or blue light filtering, is a specialised treatment applied to eyeglass lenses. Its primary purpose is to shield your eyes from the potentially harmful effects of prolonged screen time. Here’s why you should consider this remarkable coating:

1. Reduce Eye Strain: Prolonged exposure to screens can lead to eye strain, causing discomfort and fatigue. Blue light coating helps alleviate these symptoms, making your screen time more comfortable.

2. Enhance Sleep: Blue light can disrupt your sleep patterns by interfering with your circadian rhythm. Our coating minimises blue light exposure, allowing you to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.

3. Preserve Eye Health: Protect your eyes from potential long-term damage caused by HEV blue light. This coating acts as a barrier, shielding your eyes from harm.

4. Improve Contrast: Experience sharper and clearer vision, especially in low-light conditions. Blue light coating enhances contrast, providing you with a better visual experience.

5. UV Protection: In addition to blocking blue light, our coating offers UV protection, ensuring your eyes are shielded from harmful UV rays.

6. Cosmetic Benefits: Look stylish while protecting your eyes. Our blue light coating is subtle and enhances the appearance of your glasses. It’s important to note that these benefits extend to everyone, even if you don’t require prescription lenses. However, while blue light coat-

ing provides essential protection, it’s equally important to maintain healthy screen time habits. Remember to take regular breaks and schedule routine eye health check-ups with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. At Mountain Gate Eyecare, your vision is our priority. We invite you to try our

free blue light coating upgrade, simply by mentioning this advertisement. Take a step towards healthier eyes and embrace the digital age with confidence. Trust us to keep your vision crystal clear, and your eyes safe from the harmful effects of blue light.

James with his free blue light glasses coating. (File: 357181)

Blue light coatings have many benefits including reducing eyestrain and better sleep. (File)

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 Quandary (7)

5 Dead body (7)

9 Demolition (11)

10 Bolt or pin (3)

11 Beachgoer’s two-piece (6)

12 Apotheosis (7)

14 Island of Hawaii (4)

15 Personal items (10)

17 Dwarf (10)

19 Occurring before (abbr) (4)

20 Sink (coll) (7)

22 New Delhi native (6)

25 The Peacock Network (1,1,1)

26 Reciprocal (11)

28 Died (7)

29 Potentially guilty party (7)

DOWN

1 Prank (US coll) (4)

2 Languor (9)

3 Festival, – Gras (5)

4 Group of islands (11)

5 Digitally generated imagery (1,1,1)

6 Jogging (7)

7 White person (5)

8 Disruptive (10)

12 Efficiency increasers (11)

13 Significance (10)

16 Account of events (9)

18 Princess Diana’s maiden name (7)

21 Summary (5)

23 Ties (5)

24 Flesh (4)

27 Dowel (3)

No. 197 No. 197

13 MAGICAL ACRES WITH VIEWS

13 MAGIC ACRES WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS

INDULGE in the epitome of quality, comfort, and style with this meticulously designed property, offering a lifestyle of sophistication and serenity. Standing proudly on 13 acres, this custom designed and craftsman built stone home captures panoramic views and stunning sunrises over Kurth Kiln, Bunyip State Park and beyond, creating a picturesque backdrop for your everyday life. Ideally situated between Emerald and Monbulk townships, this home provides easy access to the awardwinning wineries of the Yarra Valley.

Indulge with luxurious living throughout with 9 ft ceilings, Sydney Bluegum flooring, zoned refrigerated cooling/heating and four generous living/dining zones. Quality Axminster carpet, leadlight windows and doors, imported French stone tiling, double hung windows, French doors, open fireplace with antique mantle plus another log fire surrounded by Coldstream stone adding a touch of elegance. The master room is a sanctuary with stunning views, his and hers walk-in robes, and a relaxing large spa bath – a perfect retreat at the end of the day. The stylish Smith and Smith kitchen features granite benchtops, integrated Asko dishwasher and ilive oven and provides seamless integration to spacious family living zones and alfresco outdoor dining. The large wrap around verandas set the scene for total relaxation plus absolute serenity is assured down by the fish stocked dam complete with wood fire BBQ, jetty and picnic area. The rose-lined driveway sets the stage for the picturesque journey to your dream home which is surrounded by 7 thoughtfully separated paddocks. There is also a huge 11 x 10m custom built American Style barn, expansive 4 car garage including workshop, separate hay and tractor storage, chook pen, dog run, wood storage and 2 top of the range horse stables, hot/cold wash bay, cattle yards and ramp. Catering to the equestrian enthusiast within you there is easy access to the Pony Club grounds and many riding trails begin at your doorstep.

For those seeking a relaxed lifestyle with sealed road access surrounded by an abundance of wildlife, a thriving veggie patch and fruit orchard – we welcome you to embark on a journey of timeless elegance and country charm. For your own private viewing please contact us today.

DRESS CIRCLE LOCALE AND A NEW POOL

THIS stellar property with impressive new swimming pool and entertaining area is ideally positioned on sought-after Glenfern Road. Known for its character-filled homes and convenient proximity to shopping, schools, Upwey train station, Burinja Cultural Centre and Wellington Road, this tightly held pocket offers an outstanding lifestyle.

This impressive brick residence blends modern comfort and period style to perfection. The generous lounge at the front of the home boasts a corbel archway entry, ornate mantle wood fire, ceiling roses, plush carpet, and a bright bay window. The open plan family room, dining area, and kitchen with wainscotting, timber floors, Westinghouse oven, Bellini dishwasher, and gas cooktop occupies the rear of the residence to adjoin with the deck and to offer easy access to the pool and private under-house double garage.

The bedrooms are also refined and relaxing. The privately situated main bedroom features an elegant ensuite and walk-in robe. The family bedrooms with built-in robes reside at the rear of the home, including one with vaulted ceilings and charming window seat. The luxurious bathroom is a highlight with a double sink floating vanity, rain shower, and soaking tub.

Additional highlights include gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, a laundry with stone flooring, salt chlorination system for the pool, abundant off-street parking, level lawn area, and lovely outlooks.

Address: 344 Glenfern Road, UPWEY Description: 4

Contact: Daniel Steen 0434 979

Suzie

HOME FOCUS

A MASTERPIECE OF STYLE AND SPACE

DISCOVER the epitome of luxury living in this custom-built home, tucked away in a serene location right in the heart of town. With meticulous attention to detail and high-quality finishes throughout, every aspect of this residence exudes elegance and comfort.

Step inside to be greeted by the warmth of hardwood timber floors, soaring 10’ ceilings, casement and double hung windows, feature leadlight and beautifully sculpted cornices. The formal living area beckons with a feature fireplace, perfect for cosy gatherings with loved ones.

Entertaining is a delight in the expansive family/meals area where a solid fuel fire invites relaxed enjoyment. This area connects seamlessly to a state-of-the-art Smith and Smith granite kitchen, where culinary adventures await. Boasting a Beling stove, glass splashbacks dishwasher and a vast array of storage, you will delight in the views on offer as you whip up a storm. French doors lead out to a spacious deck adorned with a covered gazebo, creating the ideal setting for memorable family gatherings. Unwind in the covered outdoor swim/spa area, surrounded by the tranquillity of the lush 7889m2 of established gardens.

There are four bedrooms, the master suite, complete with a luxurious ensuite boasting double vanity, double shower and the latest fittings, offering a sanctuary of relaxation whilst the main bathroom also displays top of the range fittings. An open study will cater for the student or a work from home situation.

Year-round comfort is assured with hydronic heating, a solid fuel fire, and a split system, while a remote double garage and separate colorbond garage provide ample space for vehicles and storage, with the shed doubling as a workshop or man cave. A paddocked area will cater to a four legged friend. Security and privacy are paramount, with remote gates ensuring peace of mind for you and your family.

Don’t miss the opportunity to make this private sanctuary your own. Contact us today to schedule a viewing and experience luxury living at its finest.

HOME ESSENTIALS

ENVIABLE ENTERTAINER WITH VERSATILITY

WITH precision, this peaceful and privately situated property feels surrounded by Myanook Bushland Reserve it blends indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly to create the ultimate retreat. Geared for entertaining and growing families, this generous home and half-acre landscape will evolve to mirror your requirements through the years.

Internally, this residence will impress with its series of sunlit spaces. New owners will enjoy gatherings in the generous lounge and open plan meals area, family room, and kitchen with Miele appliances. The rumpus room with quality carpet and cosy wood fire is an exceptional bonus that spills out to the enviable entertaining area with covered and open decking featuring both outdoor heating and remote cafe blinds, firepit area, and terraced upper lawn. With 4 beautifully appointed bedrooms with plush carpet, including the main bedroom with ensuite and walk-in robe, plus a stylish bathroom with soaking tub, this dwelling has all the elements of a forever family home.

Furthermore, there is immense versatility here that will suit any lifestyle. In addition to a double carport and abundant off-street parking, there is double garage currently set up as a workshop/gym that can be designed to cater to your way of life.

Ideally positioned within the charming hamlet of Selby that offers easy access to Belgrave township and train station, this property captures the essence of the peaceful and picturesque Hills lifestyle. Inspection will impress. Plan your viewing today.

SuzieBrannelly

SOLID FAMILY HOME WITH STUNNING POOL

AS you drive down the sealed drive you will find this hidden gem featuring four generous bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas, a double carport, handy shed and glorious solar heated in-ground pool set among nature.

On entering the home into the foyer, you are welcomed by the formal lounge room with ambient wood fire, the perfect place to relax and entertain. Adjacent is the spacious master bedroom with walk-in-robe, updated ensuite and French doors that open onto the private, landscaped rear yard where you can enjoy your morning cuppa in peace. Down the hall you will find two big bedrooms, one being a king size room with double robes and large colonial windows that let in an abundance of natural light.

The kitchen/meals/family room is open plan and features a toasty wood heater while the home has mains gas ducted heating throughout for the ultimate in comfort and convenience. The kitchen is well-appointed with a new dishwasher, electric wall oven and 900mm induction cooktop and plenty of storage and bench space perfect for cooking up a storm.

At this end of the home is the fourth bedroom, family bathroom and laundry with rear yard access.

Outside there is a double carport, a lockable shed with roller door, a stunning hedge offering privacy from the neighbours and meandering steps leading to the solar heated inground pool.

What more could you want – inspect this weekend so you don’t miss out!

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.

PrivateFamilyHomewithGreatViews

Perfectlylocatedon aquietstreetinEmerald,with astunningoutlook,this4BRhomehaslotstooffer. Aspaciousentrywayleadsyoutotheopenplanloungewithtimberfloors,largewindows &S/Sfor comfortallyearround, &toastywoodfire.

Asecondcarpetedlounge/rumpus/studyrunsthewidthofthehome.Theopenplankitchen/ diningarea,withlotsofbenchspace,abundanceofstorage,integratedoven,gasstovetop,D/W &s/ssinkwithviews& accesstothesecludedbackgarden.Downthehallyouwillfind 3goodsize bedroomsallwithtimberflooring &BIR.A centralbathroom,laundry &separatetoilet.Attheend ofthehallwayisthemasterBedroomfeaturingtimberflooring,WIW& en-suite.Sealeddualaccess driveway,shed/workshop,carport.

11-13FirstAvenueCockatoo$1,150,000

BeautifullyRenovated5 BedroomFamilyHome +BungalowonanAcre!

Situatedonjustover 1acreofflatland,thisstunninghomewithwraparoundverandahhasallthe creaturecomforts.Featuring along,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.

Stylish4 BedroomHome,PremiumLocation!

Thiscontemporaryresidenceoffers afamilylifestylesituatedina quietcul-de-sacacrossfroma centralparkland. Youarewelcomedintotheformalentryleadingtothespaciousloungeroomwithanabundance ofnaturallight &gaslogfire.Meanderingthroughtotheopenplankitchen,meals &familyroom completewithstonebenchtops,integratedfridge/freezer,S/SDW &appliances.Largeslidingdoors openontoanalfrescozonesurroundedbythelowmaintenancegardens.Fromtheentry,a stairway leadsyouuptotheupperlevel,arrivingat a3rdlivingroom,with4 generoussizedbedroomsallwith fittedmirroredrobes,includingthemasterbedroomwithWIR& ensuite& balcony.Otherfeatures include:3kWsolar,GDH &refrigeratedductedA/C &doublegaragewithinternalaccess.

quietroad,thislovelybrickhomecanbefoundonapproximately1/3ofanacre offlatland.Enteringthroughthefrontdoorintothekitchenwithgasstove,electricoven,D/W& plentyofstorage.Lookingouttotheopenplanlounge/diningarea,withslidingdoortotheprivate courtyard.Thehomealsohasductedheatingthroughout.Downthehallwayare2 bedrooms, leadingintothelaundry.Tothefrontofthehouseisthemasterbedroomwithdoublerobes &adjoins thebathroomwithseparatetoilet.Outsideleadsto alargegarage/workshopwithconcretefloor& power.Besidethegarageis a10,000ltrwatertank& garden.Thegardenhaslotsofroomforthekids toplay &islinedwithtreestoallowprivacy.

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

A massive month ahead

By Marcus Uhe

With three rounds to go in Outer East Football Netball A Grade netball, top six appears as close to locked-away as can be, but final seedings within the six remain up for grabs.

It began with a pair of huge clashes in round 15, with two games featuring all four top four sides, a handful of games will go a long way to determining where the teams fall, and who will face who in the opening week of the finals.

Narre Warren headed to Wandin where a win in the grand final rematch would have been as good as securing the minor premiership. (The matches were played after this paper went to press). Should they secure the four points, only a miracle would prevent them losing top spot to the chasing Bulldogs, who would require goal difference and results going their way to dethrone the Magpies from securing the best possible chance of going back to back.

With a tough stretch to finish the year, including major contests against Monbulk (round 16) and Mt Evelyn (round 18), the Magpies will be eager to secure the advantage at the earliest possible chance.

The Rovers are the only team to beat the Magpies in 2024 and knocked them off twice in 2023, before Narre Warren turned the tables in a memorable preliminary final.

Narre Warren’s approach will also be telling; if they’ve sewn-up the minor premiership before the contest, do they rest players and attempt to orchestrate a preferable match-up in the second week of finals?

Meanwhile in round 15, Mt Evelyn and Monbulk pitted third against fourth, and given the two drew in the corresponding fixture earlier this season, it was expected to go down to the wire.

Monbulk has been one of the surprise packets of A Grade this season, forcing its way into top four contention, but faces a tough run home with games against the Rovers, Narre Warren and Pakenham.

Trades & Services

For arguments’ sake, let’s assume that in each of the 24 games, the team higher on the ladder after round 14 will prevail.

Of course, upsets are not out of the question, but for the purpose of consistency, let’s say they are.

Narre Warren and Emerald will win all four of their respective remaining matches, Wandin, Pakenham and Mt Evelyn will win three and Monbulk will split its, for two wins and two losses.

The top three will remain as is, with Narre Warren and Wandin securing a double-chance and a week off in the first week of finals.

Mt Evelyn will consider itself unlucky to miss out, but three teams doesn’t go into two, and they will be forced to go the long way if they are to claim premiership glory.

Pakenham and Monbulk, however, will swap places, with the Lions snatching fourth, due to a less-treacherous run home compared to the Hawks, where they will expect to collect points in three of the four contests.

Neutral finals venues nullify home court advantages, but the psychological edge will be critical in the all-important mental battle.

The two will square-off in round 17, giving each side the chance to get a vital scouting opportunity. Emerald, meanwhile, will secure sixth place, in an incredible effort after coming up from Division One.

Mt Evelyn await in the first week of the finals, but the Bombers will like their chances, having narrowly squeezed home when the two met in round 11.

MATCHES THAT MATTER (Ladder positions as of round 14)

· Round 15: Wandin (2) v Narre Warren (1), Mt Evelyn (3) v Monbulk (4)

· Round 16: Narre Warren (1) v Monbulk (4)

· Round 17: Monbulk (4) v Pakenham (5)

· Round 18: Narre Warren (1) v Mt Evelyn (3)

The contest between Wandin shooter Emmalia Blake and Narre Warren goalkeeper Gabrielle Dwyer was set to be pivotal in Saturday’s contest at Wandin. (Stewart Chambers: 362381)

Bizarre break for Bombers

By Marcus Uhe

Emerald’s A Grade netball side is staring down the barrel of being consigned to life in Outer East Football Netball (OEFN) Division One in 2025 while fighting for - and maybe even winning - a premiership in Premier Division in September.

It’s one of the quirky consequences of the OEFN’s announcement last week detailing how the football and netball programs will be shaped in 2025.

Premier Division football and netball will revert to a 10-team competition, as announced in April, despite the departure of two clubs.

With both Narre Warren and Berwick Springs granted approval by the OEFN Board to move their football and netball programs to the Southern Football Netball League (SNFL), OEFN announced last week that the club whose senior football team finishes in last place on the Premier Division football ladder will be relegated to Division One in 2025, with the club that wins the senior football premiership in Division One, promoted.

Narre Warren and Berwick Springs have been excluded from the permutations, given their transfers, leaving Emerald, Gembrook Cockatoo and Pakenham as the most vulnerable in the run home.

Berwick Springs is currently last on eight points, followed by Emerald on 12, and Gembrook Cockatoo and Pakenham tied on 16.

The consequences will add further fuel to the staunch rivalry between Gembrook Cockatoo and Emerald, with the two set to square-off with their futures in Premier Division effectively at stake on Saturday afternoon, in what some have colloquially dubbed “the relegation cup”.

Emerald’s A Grade netballers, however, are currently sixth on the ladder, two games clear of seventh and will face four sides in the bottom half of the ladder in its run home, likely sealing a position in the top six.

The Bombers’ netball coordinator, Sarah Bertram, described the club’s predicament as a “tricky situation”.

Where the Bombers’ netballers are shaping to

be innocent victims of the football club’s struggles in 2024, they more than earned their place in netball’s Premier Division on the back of an A Grade Division One premiership in 2023, despite a promotion by default on the back of the senior football premiership.

Bertram fears for the club’s ability to recruit and retain players if they suffer the dreaded demotion, given the extra travel demands that will be imposed.

The looming threat of trips to Powelltown, Alexandra and Yea will add significant burdens in 2025 for whichever team is relegated.

“We, being a ‘Hills’ club, do struggle getting players,” Bertram said.

“I think most of the ‘Hills’ clubs are in a very similar situation compared to the clubs down the hill.

“You’re less likely to recruit those players that are already down the hill.

“We’ve got a few players already from down the hill that come up, but I’m not sure how they would feel about travelling even further out for games every Saturday.

“It’s always been that the netballers follow the footballers, but having our A graders doing so well last year and then this year being a chance of definitely making finals again, it is hard to then, as netballers, move forward.”

Not only will the logistical requirements prove a sticking point, but on paper the Bombers will shape up as a class above what Division One’s best can offer.

Bertram conceded that it may be time for a new model of administration to be considered, to better accommodate netball clubs.

“You see it even with the Premier Division as well, that it goes in the opposite way - there’s definitely stronger netball teams out there where their football isn’t as strong,” she said.

“Last year we were pretty even; our boys won the competition and the girls won the competition.

“This year it’s been a lot tougher being up in Premier, and I’m sure Outer East have looked at

different ways of trying to make it fairer.

“Last year we had three netball teams in the finals and this year we will (fingers crossed) have our A Grade girls and possibly D Grade girls, but for our C Grade and D Grade teams it’s been a bit tougher.”

She is hoping that the footballers can live up to their end of the bargain, and ensure that the hypothetical does not amount to anything more than that.

“It would be really nice (to stay in Premier Division) but it is what it is,” she said.

“The rules have been set by the league like this for such a long time that we are used to it.

“We did think that with a couple of Premier Division teams leaving the league that it might change it and (OEFN) wouldn’t have to relegate a team, but they’re still running with that.”

Emerald has a slightly more favourable football fixture in the final three weeks beyond Saturday’s clash than the Brookers, facing two sides they have beaten already in 2024 in Upwey Tecoma (away) and Berwick Springs (home), sandwiched between a tough task against Woori Yallock.

In 2023, the Bombers played one of the more significant games in the club’s history against Berwick Springs in the Division One grand final, but the stakes will be just as high when the two meet in the final round this year.

Further to the promotion and relegation announcement, OEFN moved to clarify elements of the competition’s future.

The poorly kept secret that Pakenham was exploring its options as to where to play its football and netball was confirmed, but with no transfer submitted, both the football and netball clubs will remain under the OEFN banner in 2025, barring notification of otherwise from AFL Victoria before October 31.

Broadford Football Netball Club, however, has been granted approval to pursue a transfer to another competition, despite the football club being in recess.

As previously stated, Narre Warren and Ber-

wick Springs received approval to join the SFNL, with the OEFN Board offering the two clubs its best wishes.

“The Board will not appeal the transfers of Narre Warren FNC or Berwick Springs FNC via AFL Victoria, instead focusing on the remainder of the 2024 Home and Away Season and the exciting Junior, Women’s Football and Senior Football and Open Netball finals, as well as Medal Nights capping off a positive year,” the statement read.

“The Board wish both Narre Warren FNC and Berwick Springs FNC every success in the future.”

Alterations are ahead for junior football too, in an effort to grow a “sustainable pathway” for girls into the OEFN’s senior women’s football program.

Girls football will move from even numbered age groups (under 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s) in 2024 to odd numbered (under 11s, 13s, 15s, 17s) in 2025, with the inclusion of a “non-competitive” age group, before reverting back to even numbers in 2026, when an under-18 division will be added for senior football.

Mixed age groups (Under 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 14s) will remain the same as 2024 for the next two years, while a separate under-14 competition for junior boys will be added in 2025.

The under-18 competition will be the third grade of senior football in 2025, replacing under 19.

Both under-18 and under-19 were available in 2024, but OEFN Chief Executive Brett Connell said the decision was based on numbers.

“We had an under 18s and under 19s and tried to patch something together (this year),” Connell said on the OEFN Football Netball Show.

“We’ve made the decision, based on numbers, that it will be an under-18 competition next year.

“We’ll have steady flow through our in our boys competition, and in 2026 we’ll have an under 18 girls and under 18 boys playing in a senior program for our clubs.

“That’s our potential, that’s our pathway and that’s where we want to land.”

Both competitions had six teams in 2024.

Emerald’s netballers are caught in an awkward predicament on the back of the Outer East’s announcement regarding promotion and relegation. (Rob Carew: 413412)

Hawks’ finals hopes dashed

By Armin Richter FOOTBALL SENIORS

Monbulk’s recent good form had catapulted the club into finals contention. The most critical fixture in the run home would be the Round 15 clash with Mt. Evelyn as the winner would be in the box seat to claim the last remaining finals spot. The Hawks and Rovers met in ideal overcast conditions at Mt. Evelyn.

In what turned out to be an extremely interesting and high quality match, the momentum seesawed back and forth as both sides showed flashes of brilliance. Monbulk had a slight lead at quarter time and consecutive goals by Johnathon Hevern to start the second quarter had the Hawks well placed. The Rovers fought back to kick the next four and led by 12 points at the main break. Monbulk again pegged them back to edge ahead by a solitary point at the final change.

The last quarter was full of drama as things got willing in the tight tussle. Monbulk looked to hold on to their slender lead late in the game when a last forward foray by the Rovers extracted a free kick 20 meters out. Mt Evelyn kicked the goal after the siren to snatch a five point win and have their foot in the door for finals. Lochlan Beecroft was again outstanding on the ball and finished with 5 goals. He has been named in the club’s best players every week this year, the only player in the League to have managed that.

. Monbulk 9.12.66 def by Mt. Evelyn 10.11.71

Best: Lochlan Beecroft, Johnathon Hevern, Pat Barge, Declan Browne, Mitchell Dekker, Adam Banks

. Goals: Lochlan Beecroft 5, Johnathon Hevern 3, Joshua Spencer 1 RESERVES

After winning all but one game last week against Olinda, Monbulk only won one game against Mt. Evelyn all day, but it was a drought breaker. The Monbulk Reserves had not beaten the Rovers at Mt. Evelyn since their 2010 premiership season. With a hard attack on the ball Monbulk had a lead of around a couple of goals for the first three quarters before kicking four goals to none in the final term and came away with a well deserved 35 point victory.

Monbulk 10.11.71 def Mt. Evelyn 5.6.36

Best: Michael Langworthy, Harry Fleming, Lewis Oliver, Ben Smith, Ben Grimes, Michael Davies

. Goals: Michael Langworthy 5, Matthew James 2, Nicholas Heron 1, Harry Fleming 1, Ben Grimes 1 WOMEN’S

Monbulk’s Senior Women’s team had already ensured that they had claimed the minor premiership, along with the double chance, with top place at the end of the home and away season having

been secured last week. The final home and away encounter was a trip down to Officer against the rapidly improving Kangaroos. In a good hitout before the finals it was Officer who eventually triumphed by 20 points, and also qualified for the finals in the process. The Hawks will play Woori Yallock in the Qualifying Final at Seville next week with the winner advancing to the Grand Final.

Monbulk 4.4.28 def by Officer 7.6.48

Best: Shania Turner, Yanessa Hancock-wolfe, Madeline Caarels, ruby ross, Stephanie Pauw, Stacey Jolly

Goals: Scarlett Henderson 2, Brielle Tipping 1, Madeline Vouvopoulos 1

NETBALL

A GRADE

The winner of the Monbulk-Mt. Evelyn clash would claim second spot on the ladder for the time being, and potentially help avoid an elimination final which teams 3 to 6 will face. The Hawks were under a cloud with the flu hitting the squad hard and only four players being able to train on Thursday. Mt. Evelyn eventually won by 5 goals off the back of a 17-7 second quarter. The defences of both sides worked hard to pick off loose passes and it was a well contested match. Monbulk has dropped back to fifth.

. Monbulk 47 def by Mt. Evelyn 52

Best: Jamie Clark, Peri Reid, Nicole Macdowell

Goals: Peri Reid 40, Elly Stewart 7

B GRADE

Mt. Evelyn’s B Grade team is entrenched near the top of the ladder and they proved to be too accomplished for Monbulk. Goal shooter Jorja Wragg has made the squad for the Victorian Under 19s team that was selected during the week while Rihanna Kelly made her 50th appearance for the Hawks. Monbulk remain in seventh place, just two points behind Wandin, and will look to grab a finals spot in the coming weeks.

. Monbulk 28 def by Mt. Evelyn 60

. Best: Elizabeth Cutting, Siobhan Munday, Alice McCormick

. Goals: Dayna Walsham 15, Jorja Wragg 9, Chloe Schmidtke 4

C GRADE

Mt. Evelyn just held a slight edge throughout this meeting and eventually won by 8 goals. The match was decided in the third term and the rest of the contest was very even with nothing between the teams. Monbulk slipped to seventh and will face three finals bound teams in the upcoming weeks.

Monbulk 34 def by Wandin 42

.

D GRADE

The development squad tried hard and restricted the Mt. Evelyn team’s ball movement. Players were rotated through various positions over the course of the match with Isla Stubbs and Bridie McCormick returning from their morning match in the Under 15s at Beaconsfield to help out the side.

. Monbulk 15 def by Mt. Evelyn 34 Best: Hayley Donald, Eireann Lawson, Maddy Buckland

Goals: Maddy Buckland 13, Hayley Donald 2 UNDER 15s

Monbulk met Beaconsfield for the third time this season, with all these clashes having taken place at Holm Park. It was to be goal for goal as the Eagles led by a single goal at the first three changes before registering a three goal win. Monbulk 23 def Monbulk 26

. Best: Kaitlyn Summers, Bridie McCormick, Ella Longo

. Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 13, Lara Stenhouse 5, Isla Stubbs 5

Strong victory: Emerald defeats Gembrook-Cockatoo

By Armin Richter FOOTBALL

PREMIER DIVISION (round 15)

. Seniors: Olinda-Ferny Creek 13.9.87 def Upwey-Tecoma 7.10.52; Emerald 13.13.91 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 10.10.70; Officer 10.8.68 def Pakenham 4.9.33; Woori Yallock 18.14.122 def Berwick Springs 6.7.43; Narre Warren 14.12.96 def Wandin 12.11.83; Mt. Evelyn 10.11.71 def Monbulk 9.12.66

Reserves: Upwey-Tecoma 17.15.117 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 1.5.11; Emerald 13.14.92 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 5.5.35; Officer 9.3.57 def Pakenham 6.6.42; Woori Yallock 12.5.77 def Berwick Springs 6.4.40; Narre Warren 11.5.71 def Wandin 9.11.65; Monbulk 10.11.71 def Mt. Evelyn 5.6.36

DIVISION ONE (round 16)

. Seniors: Warburton-Millgrove 32.21.213 def Powelltown 1.8.14; Seville 11.6.72 def Healesville 6.8.44; Alexandra 24.10.154 def Yarra Glen 5.3.33; Yea 27.8.170 def Yarra Junction 12.4.76; Belgrave bye

. Reserves: Warburton-Millgrove 26.22.178 def Powelltown 0.2.2; Healesville 8.2.50 def Seville 6.12.48; Alexandra 6.8.44 def Yarra Glen 5.9.39; Yea 11.12.78 def Yarra Junction 8.8.56; Belgrave bye UNDER 19s: Upwey-Tecoma 15.12.102 def

Gembrook-Cockatoo 1.2.8; Pakenham 7.7.49 def Officer 5.15.45; Narre Warren 15.25.115 def Wandin 1.2.8

UNDER 18s: Upwey-Tecoma 5.13.43 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 4.10.34; Healesville 21.17.143 def Seville 1.0.6; Mt. Evelyn + Woori Yallock bye

SENIOR WOMEN

. Division 1: Pakenham 11.11.77 def Belgrave 0.0.0; Healesville 4.9.33 def Upwey-Tecoma 2.2.14; Olinda-Ferny Creek 12.10.82 def Berwick Springs 0.5.5

. Division 2: Wandin 9.9.63 def Seville 3.7.25; Woori Yallock 4.6.30 def Emerald 3.5.23; Warburton-Wesburn 10.16.76 def Thornton Eildon

3.0.18; Officer 7.6.48 def Monbulk 4.4.28

NETBALL

PREMIER DIVISION

A Grade: Emerald 94 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 34; Upwey-Tecoma 61 def Olinda-Ferny Creek

38; Pakenham 58 def ROC 42; Woori Yallock 77 def Berwick Springs 29; Narre Warren 59 def Wandin 47; Mt. Evelyn 52 def Monbulk 47

B Grade: Gembrook-Cockatoo 62 def Emerald 18; Upwey-Tecoma 44 def Olinda-Ferny Creek

42; ROC 51 drew Pakenham 51; Woori Yallock 92 def Berwick Springs 44; Narre Warren 54 def Wandin 47; Mt. Evelyn 60 def Monbulk 28

. C Grade: Emerald 30 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 23; Upwey-Tecoma 39 def Olinda-Ferny Creek

32; ROC 44 def Pakenham 24; Woori Yallock 40 def Berwick Springs 22; Narre Warren 40 def Wandin 35; Mt. Evelyn 42 def Monbulk 34

D Grade: Emerald 29 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 16; Upwey-Tecoma 42 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 21; ROC 29 def Pakenham 27; Woori Yallock 49 def Berwick Springs 29; Narre Warren 31 def Wandin 16; Mt. Evelyn 34 def Monbulk 15

DIVISION ONE

A Grade: Seville 61 def Healesville 50; Yarra Glen 65 def Alexandra 25; Yarra Junction 46 def Yea 41; Belgrave + Warburton-Millgrove bye

. B Grade: Warburton-Millgrove 47 def Powelltown 33; Seville 71 def Healesville 25; Yarra Glen 75 def Alexandra 13; Yarra Junction 29 def Yea 28; Belgrave bye

C Grade: Warburton-Millgrove 56 def Powelltown 12; Seville 42 def Healesville 10; Yarra Glen 78 def Alexandra 15; Yarra Junction 26 def Yea 16; Belgrave bye

. D Grade: Warburton-Millgrove 42 def Powelltown 8; Alexandra 35 def Yarra Glen 24; Yarra Junction 25 def Yea 22; Belgrave + Seville bye 17 & Under Premier: ROC 36 def Pakenham 12; Berwick 25 def Woori Yallock 24; Wandin 32 def Narre Warren 31; Mt. Evelyn bye

. 15 & Under East:ROC 30 def Pakenham 11; Berwick 23 def Woori Yallock 22; Beaconsfield 26 def Monbulk 23; Narre Warren bye

Rob Savory (23) Monbulk and Matt Gordon (7) Mt. Evelyn contest a mark. (Anthea Heagney)

. Best: Sammi Kelly, Laura Del Biondo, Olivia Crook

Goals: Jamie Sands 21, Olivia Crook 10, Chloe Carmichael 3

Monbulk’s reigning Best & Fairest Jamie Clark helped out the depleted Hawk’s defence against Mt. Evelyn. (Anthea Heagney)

Best on ground, Monbulk’s Lochie Beecroft dishes off a handball.

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