Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 20th August 2024

Juniors fly the flags

By Dongyun Kwon

Healesville Junior Football Club (HJFC) lifted two trophies at the end of the 2024 season. HJFC U14 Girls is the only team who has won the premiership consecutively out of the three teams from HJFC who won the premiership last year.

“The girls were enthusiastic all year, the love and the care they show for each other was a major contributor to our successful season,” HJFC U14 Girls coach Newsome said.

HJFC U13 Boys finally won the premiership for the first time after the frustrations of the last two years.

“This season was very enjoyable, and the boys put a lot of effort in,” HJFC U13 Boys coach D’Alterio said.

“It was good for their hard work to pay off.”

Turn to page 35 for more

Funding lacking

By Mikayla van Loon

Findings from an extensive inquiry into the flood event of 2022 has confirmed the need for sustainable funding of the state’s emergency response service.

This along with the uncovering of messy procedures, failures in emergency warnings and poor handling of claims post event helped establish the 73 findings and 90 recommendations made by the parliamentary committee.

The October 2022 flood event impacted 63 municipalities, representing 81 per cent of all lo-

cal government areas in Victoria.

While much of the intense flooding occurred in Shepparton, Echuca and Rochester, the outer east was heavily burdened by the flash flooding, seeing excessive water in Lilydale, Yarra Junction, Yarra Glen and across the Hills, with close to 75mm of rain falling in around an hour and a half.

The inquiry, made up of a cross-section of parliamentarians, handed down its final report at the end of July.

And despite October 2022 being the wettest month ever in Victoria since records began in 1900, inquiry chair and Labor MP Ryan Batchelor

said man made solutions actually went a long way in causing more problems.

“Not all the damage done in the October 2022 flood event was caused by nature alone,” he said.

“The impact of the volume of rain that fell was exacerbated by decisions made, often years prior, on the shape of the built environment, new physical infrastructure, and by our planning system.”

But for local SES units, the final report came as a sigh of relief, backing up their calls as part of the Fund VICSES campaign.

“It was good to see those recommendations reflect what we’ve been saying for a long time,

which is that SES in Victoria has been grossly underfunded for decades, and we’ve been essentially over performing, if you like, compared to the level of financial input we’ve had from government,” Lilydale SES unit controller Shaun Caulfield said.

“So it’s fairly reassuring to see that recognised, that there’s both a gap in the funding for equipment, also the funding for training volunteers, but also in terms of being able to attract and retain new volunteers, as we need to over the course of time.”

Continued page 5

The invincible, HJFC U14 Girls. (BH Photography)

NEWS Squeeze is on for ECOSS

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Valley ECOSS is facing some trying times, with financial concerns creating uncertainty for the organisation’s paid staff.

While programs and events are being prioritised and there’s no danger of ECOSS folding, staff hours have already been reduced.

Executive Officer Chelsea McNab said ECOSS operates mostly on grants and it’s tough, and seems to be getting tougher, to get grants at the moment.

“That’s the feedback that everyone seems to be getting, and another thing about grants is that they generally want you to invent a new project and it’s very difficult to just retain staff and the current projects that you have if you’re trying to invent new projects all the time,” she said.

“We’ve been through a planning process which is nearly finished and soon we’ll be able to take new tenants so that will increase our viability but we’re not at that point yet so we’re in a bit of a hump for the next six months.

“We are still going to continue rolling out our programs that we’ve planned and our events that we have funding for but just the day-to-day activities are very difficult to fund and so unfortunately we’ve had to reduce our staff hours and our capacity is very stretched so we’d like to get our staff back so we can operate in our normal capacity.”

Yarra Valley ECOSS’ entire Committee of Management is made up of volunteers, while the limited paid staff members also spend extra volunteered time on-site to help run things smoothly.

Ms McNab said keeping their staff on is important to them because they try to offer as much as they possibly can to the community for nothing.

“We really value doing that and we do have a lot of volunteers but when you’re looking at writing policies, keeping programs running safely, consistently and reliably and keeping the space beautiful and maintained, you do need a staff base and it’s used so much every day,” she said.

“We want to keep the market going that runs every Friday here and supports our local producers and people accessing locally grown food and our Crops for Community program is one of the most valued programs that we offer where people living with disabilities garden in the community garden and grow food for food relief but it takes coordination and takes us to supply everything needed for that program.

“We do have a little bit of funding but it’s not enough to keep the staff on the two days a week that we need to run that program so we’re always looking at different ways.”

In a letter to friends of ECOSS and current tenants, Ms McNab outlined that Yarra Valley ECOSS has faced significant delays in the planning permission process to allow for new tenants while

having to absorb planning consultant fees and associated works costs to meet planning requirements.

All the while, Yarra Valley ECOSS has received under half of the grants they have applied for in the last year, significantly less than ever before while facing rising running expenses such as utility, maintenance and staffing costs, as well as work cover which has risen to about $8000 per year alone.

Ms McNab said supporters of ECOSS can donate directly or attend and support their upcoming events to help the organisation in this time.

“We’ve got tree planting days, biochar workshops, fruit fly workshops and some grantfunded festivals coming up but it’s hard to have enough staff hours to do all the planning and ev-

erything for those things,” she said.

“We’ve got the Valley Youth Fest on 13 September here which is such a great event to engage lots of the youth of the region and we’ve got Rhythms of the World which is a big multicultural music festival here on 19 October and then we’ve got the Christmas Twilight Market on 20 December, as well as Costa [Georgiadis] coming back to do his kid’s book launch here.

“We’ve got lots of things coming up and lots of great things in the pipeline but we just need to be supported through people coming to the events, people buying plants at the nursery, people, buying biochar and donating and coming to the market and supporting the farmers.”

On top of tenancies, Yarra Ranges Council also provides Yarra Valley ECOSS with $18,000

per year that can be put towards operating costs. Yarra Valley ECOSS aims to improve its financial stability in the future (once planning permissions are granted) by:

• Renting the blue site shed near the office, the bottle room, the Studios next to UpCycles once built and other spaces at ECOSS

• Tendering for Native Tubestock Supply on a large scale

• Growing its Corporate Volunteer Program

• Introducing User Pays systems for some programs

• Growing the Market and Shop

• A fundraising goal of $15,000 has been set to help Yarra Valley ECOSS and direct donations can be made at: ecoss.org.au/donations-page-frrr

Let’s get together and make Yarra Ranges roads safer

By Dongyun Kwon

Victoria Police is planning to host a forum about road policing and road safety for the Yarra Ranges community.

The forum will be officially opened by a member of Command from the Eastern Region and then followed by a 20 to 30-minute presentation led by Victoria Police speaking about Yarra Ranges localised road trauma statistics for fatal collisions and serious injury collisions over the previous five years including specific age groups, gender type of road users, location and main causes.

Victoria Police Sergeant Roger Willems from Yarra Glen Police Station said the Eastern Region has a number of high-risk Police Service Areas associated with road trauma, and unfortunately, Yarra Ranges is one of these areas.

“Police accept that we play an important part in mitigating trauma on the roads,” he said.

“However, road safety is everyone’s responsibility and as such everyone has an important role in working with Victoria Police and key partners to provide a holistic approach.

“Eastern Region, as a proactive measure, has taken the approach to run standalone road policing and road safety community forums within a number of high-risk areas.”

After the presentation, the audience will grab an opportunity to ask questions.

“We’ll have a registration process with a QR code, so people can pre-ask their question before attending so that it flows nicely, and we get

through as many questions as we can,” Sgt Willems said.

“I’m hopeful that there are some people from

outside coming to the forum, like VicRoads or the Department of Transport, with respect to the conditions of the roads so that if there are any questions along those lines, we’ve got other people there who can answer those questions.”

The panel for the forum will be confirmed shortly, including Eastern Region Command, Eastern Region Road Policing Inspector and Eastern Region Division 2 management.

Sgt Willems said the idea of the forum is for everyone to work together to reduce road trauma, and Victoria Police is looking forward to hearing from the local community.

“Victoria Police, despite our proactive measures, is extremely concerned regarding the level of trauma we continue to see daily on our roads,” he said.

“This is a unique opportunity for the community to participate in discussions with senior members from Victoria Police and key road partners to raise questions and their concerns respectfully.

“If there’s something that the local people say is a real issue, then it’s the place to bring it up and discuss what can be done about it.”

The forum will be held at the Yarra Valley Racing located at Armstrong Grove, Yarra Glen from 7pm to 9pm on Monday 16 September. The booking is essential to attend the forum at eventbrite.com/e/yarra-ranges-road-safetyforum-tickets-966911467227

The forum will be held at Yarra Valley Racing in Yarra Glen. (File: 218426)

Yarra Valley ECOSS has reduced staff hours as they await future financial avenues to open up through tenancies. (File)

Alleged Upper Yarra arsonist is charged

By Callum Ludwig

Police have charged a man after an alleged series of deliberately lit fires in the Yarra Valley during the early hours of Wednesday 14 August.

Local CFA brigades were called out to deal with the incidents, with all three fires being lit in or around the base of trees.

Warburton CFA Captain Ron McIntosh said the first fire they were called out to, alongside the Wesburn-Millgrove CFA, was near the ‘Welcome to Warburton’ sign.

“It was down the embankment and burning up one tree and slowly attaching itself to another tree when we got there, so we extinguished that one,” he said.

“The other one in McMahons Creek was up an embankment off the side of Woods Point Road just near Starvation Creek itself up near the Little Pen-

insulaTunnelandthatwasanothertreestumpthat was actually smouldering away with a few embers so that could have been burning for quite a while before somebody passing by actually noticed it,”

“Where they were made us very suspicious about it because we were starting to think if it was on the side of the road it could be like a cigarette butt somebody’s thrown out of their car window, but especially the one in McMahons Creek because it was actually in a tree stump itself, you could tell that that was deliberate.”

Investigators received reports of grass fires at Warburton, Don Valley and McMahons Creek between 2am and 3.45am.

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that a 29-year-old McMahons Creek man handed himself into Wangaratta Police Station on 15 August in relation to the fires.

Hillcrest CFA Captain Colin Dickson said the

Don Valley incident was in green grass near the base of a tree so looked like it was fairly deliberate.

“Clearly it didn’t just start on its own but we couldn’t find any signs of what had been used to start it,” he said.

“When we were heading back to the, or we just got back to the station, Wesburn and Warby got a call for a similar fire, up the valley, an hour and a bit later, Warby and Reefton fot a call for another one up so there was a nice little run of three of them.”

He has subsequently been charged with reckless conduct placing persons in danger of serious injury, four counts of attempt to damage/destroy property by fire and possessing a drug of dependence.

He was bailed to appear at the Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on 21 October.

Motorcyclist, 26, in critical condition

By Dongyun Kwon

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a collision in Fernshaw on Saturday 10 August.

It is believed that a white Nissan Patrol collided with a motorcycle on Maroondah Highway at about 1.30pm. Themotorcyclist,a26-year-oldTemplestowe man, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening-injuries.

When Star Mail contacted the hospital on Monday 12 August, a Royal Melbourne Hospital spokesperson said the patient was in a “critical condition”.

The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan, a 27-year-old Bonnie Doon woman, was not in-

jured and remained at the scene.

The Bonnie Doon woman was interviewed by investigators and released pending further enquiries.

The SES Marysville Unit volunteers were paged to assist police following reports of the collision.

“The volunteers provided lighting at the scene. Nil persons trapped,” a VICSES spokesperson said.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au

Mazda BT-50 recall

55,738 Mazda BT-50 (TF) 3.0 ltr Variants with a year range of 2020-2024 have been recalled.

Due to a manufacturing defect in the Engine Control Module (ECM), the fuel pump control valve may remain ‘open’ and fuel supply may be interrupted. If this occurs, the engine could stall resulting in a loss of power.

A loss of power whilst driving increases the risk of an accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.

Mazda Australia will contact all affected customers to advise them to present their vehicle to their preferred Mazda Dealer to update the Engine Control Module with a revised calibration, free of charge.

Consumers who require further information should contact the Mazda Call Centre on 1800 034 411.

BMW recall

26,212 BMW X3, X3M and Alpina XD3 (G01, F97) models with a year range of 2017 to 2024 have been recalled.

The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in the event of an extreme rear impact. This could result in the interior cargo rail detaching from the vehicle.

If the interior cargo rail detaches from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of serious injury to vehicle passengers.

Owners of registered affected vehicles will be contacted in writing by BMW to schedule an appointment to have the recall completed. Vehicle owners can also check for outstanding recalls and select their preferred authorised BMW dealer at www.recall.bmw.com.au. The rear cargo rail attachment bolts will be replaced with an upgraded version, free of charge.

Wesburn

planned burn

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) advise that the Wesburn - Britannia Creek Burn Heap planned burn, located at 3.3km south east of Yarra Junction is still in progress.

Planned burning crews are continuing to patrolthe burn as it spreads inside the control lines. The burn may produce embers that cause short distance spotting and crews are checking for these.

Child Protection Week online event

In National Child Protection Week, Yarra Ranges Council will be hosting an information session for community, sporting, business groups, to learn more about Child Safety Requirements. Join them for a free online session and learn how to better understand how your everyday practices contribute to creating a child-safe environment, the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and how they impact the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Facilitator Child Safe Strategies is an Australian organisation devoted to the prevention of child abuse through education and training. It was established in 2016 to support organisations, clubs, childcare, schools, government, and others working with children to create child safe environments to keep children and young people safe. This practical session aligns with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and is part of Yarra Ranges Council’s Skills Building Program.

The session will be held online on Wednesday,4 September from 6pm to 8pm.

For more details and to secure your spot, visit:https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ Experience/Events/Child-Safe-Standards%E2%80%93-Community-Information-Session?.

The SES Marysville Unit volunteers responded to the callout for a collision on Black Drive Spur and provided lighting. (File: 214689)

The aftermath of the fire in Don Valley. (Supplied)

The damage was contained to the base of the tree and surrounding grass.

Have a say on parking plan

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council has approved a draft Parking Management Framework at the Tuesday 13 August council meeting and is calling on residents, particularly in tourism hotspots, to share their thoughts.

Feedback is open for all residents of the Yarra Ranges to provide until Sunday 8 September.

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar said the framework sets out the main principles to manage parking on the Council’s roads and in car parks.

“The aim of the policy is to be consistent, to be equitable, logical for visitors, businesses and residents, to give people a fair go, to maximise utilisation of those spaces and provide efficient access to utilities and businesses,” he said.

“Due to the increased parking pressures now, which will increase as visitation and population increase, it’s important that we include this document as soon as possible on that basis, this is a draft and it encapsulates parking restriction strategies and hierarchies from our unrestricted areas right through to our paid areas, which we are now running a pilot out in Warburton,”

“The draft to me seems comprehensive and clear, though not perfect, it covers the wide diversity of situations that behoves Yarra Ranges and all the needs of residents and visitors right across the Shire from urban out to our rural areas.”

Survey data gathered on weekends and weekdays will help guide when the Council takes action to change restrictions, occupancy of 80 per cent and above during peak periods will instigate a review or increase in restrictions while occupancy below 20 per cent is when a reduction will be considered.

Cr Fullagar said the most important thing is a common sense approach.

“That there are timely responses to changes as and when they’re needed because, without those timely changes, they can be quite destructive to businesses in various areas,” he said.

“To those listening tonight and those affected

by parking issues, and I know that’s quite a pertinent question out there at the moment, there’s now a potential for further feedback and we welcome it, there is room for more polishing as always, but I support and am comfortable releasing this draft for release tonight.”

There are five parking management controls in the framework; Unlimited parking, Time restricted parking, Allocation to specific users, digital parking solutions and paid parking.

Unlimited parking applies to areas with limited demand such as residential streets or smaller shopping strips.

Time-restricted parking (e.g. 30 minute, 1, 2 or 4 hour) are to enable a greater turnover of vehicles and traffic flow in areas such as a shopping pre-

cinct, near train stations or near schools.

Allocation to specific areas includes marked parking zones such as Accessible Parking, Loading Zone, Taxi Zone, Electric Vehicle Charging Zone or a Resident Permit Zone.

Real time digital parking solutions and signage will be considered for townships or key destinations where there are multiple on or off-street parking areas.

Paid parking will be for town centres and recreation precincts where there is a high demand for parking from tourists during peak periods.

Chirnside Ward Councillor Richard Higgins said it’s really important that they get this right.

“This strategy has actually done that extremely

well because it adapts as it changes and looks at different areas, it looks at the areas where the tourists are there all the time, clogging up the streets, making it so the locals can’t do things, it does that and it addresses ways to get a solution,” he said.

“We then move on to the urban areas and it gives again locals the ability to actually look at it and say what’s going wrong in their area, it’s very important that it’s not just about a penalty or a fine or all that stuff, that’s just a little part of it, hopefully, there won’t be any,”

“The good thing about it is I love the idea that local residents are all permitted and we don’t have to pay for parking which is great as long as you don’t stay too long and muck up everybody else’s day.”

A parking pilot trial is set to be tested out in Warburton in late 2024 with altered parking restrictions (already introduced), paid parking for tourists and a permit system that will ensure Yarra Ranges residents aren’t charged to park in the town.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Sophie Todorov said recently they’ve had a lot of feedback from our local businesses around parking management, particularly in Lilydale.

“Importantly for us is also to address safety first and foremost, which also means you know practical traffic egress, parking and fairness,” she said.

“I actually look forward to the next stage of this plan if adopted and after consultation to actually review the Lilydale parking precinct plan as well in conjunction with this as noted we’ve got urban areas and we’ve got our rural areas,”

“I’m really interested to see how we go with Warburton with the pilot paid parking over there too but certainly it’s a step in forming that overall parking management framework and then breaking it down into the separate needs of all our different wards.”

To provide feedback on the draft Parking Management Framework, visit shaping.yarraranges. vic.gov.au/draft-parking-management-framework.

A draft Parking Management Framework for the Yarra Ranges is open for feedback. (File)

No extra cost to residents

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council has confirmed the final cost of works for the road improvements on Adrienne Court and Maxwell Court, Millgrove at the Tuesday 13 August Council meeting.

The approval of the Final Cost of Works is to confirm that no further cost has to be endured by landownersbeyondtheirinitialSpecialChargesScheme payment.

“This got to the stage where the actual costings have come before us, and when you actually look at the tables for the two projects, I’m very pleased with the way that these have been presented to us, and also the savings that have been achieved as well, and also the community contribution of the $7,000,” O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said.

Yarra Ranges Council estimated the cost of works would come out at $177,397 while they actually came out at $142,405 for a saving of $34,992.

As a result, Yarra Ranges Council’s 20 per cent contribution was reduced to $28,481 at a saving of $6999. As the landowner costs exceeded the Federal Government’s set ceiling of $7000, those costs did not vary.

The project was carried out on about 150 metres

of road surface on the two courts and included:

• A sealed pavement 5 metres wide for two-way traffic A concrete rollover kerb and channel including replacement of existing barrier kerb Connections to existing underground drainage to manage stormwater runoff.

• Reinstatement of existing property crossovers to the new road level using a similar material and as close to their current standard as possible.

Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton said the works are done and she’s sure the community members are enjoying having the roads sealed and all the benefits that come from that.

“Great to see it come under budget, great to see it completed, and I know everyone has worked hard to bring back the funding that comes out to seal roads, but I won’t let the opportunity go past to just say it again,” she said.

“It would be great to see this extended to all of the roads who had been surveyed and probably beyond because we have such a need for this in our area and it’s going to be just such a crucial point for councils to be deliberating in future of how we’re going to get these outcomes.”

Flood inquiry confirms lack of funds, resources for SES

From page 1

In total, 25 findings related to the resourcing and response of Victoria’s SES, the lead flood response agency, with nine recommendations suggested by the committee.

A key finding stated the SES “lacks the appropriate resources to prepare and respond effectively to major emergencies such as flood events”.

The report highlighted, however, that during October 62.5 per cent of SES volunteers from 98 per cent of the state’s units responded in some capacity.

“It really reinforces that it’s vital to have us in the community to be able to take on that role… it’s really important that SES remains viable financially and that units are able to survive at that level,” Mr Caulfield said.

“We spend a lot of time, and in some ways CFA are similar, raising money to buy equipment to do our operational tasks and in an ideal world, we would spend less time doing that and more time training and responding to those tasks, spending less time focused on having enough money to put fuel into trucks or to make sure that our facilities are up to scratch.”

Leading recommendations from the committee addressed this, calling for the Victorian Government to “increase funding for training of volunteers to boost the capacity of State Emergency Service units” and to “increase funding and support for the Victoria State Emergency Service to enable a comprehensive upgrade of emergency communication technologies, ensure a steady supply of critical response resources, and expand volunteer recruitment and retention programs”.

Mr Caulfield said for him, those things carry

equal weight in having a strong volunteer base.

“There’s an element of that that goes hand in hand. It’s easier to recruit and retain volunteers if they’ve got the right equipment to do the job, if they’ve got facilities that we’re asking them to use that are suitable and up to modern standards,” he said.

With the intensity of flooding events expected to increase as the climate changes, improved training and skills, Mr Caulfield said, will be essential to the response of these in the future.

“I would like to think if there is an increase in budget, then there will be a proportional increase in trying to upskill all members in that land based rescue skill set.

“It would be great to see all SES volunteers upskill to the Rescue Technician skill set, which is another level above what most of our units hold now.

“We’ve got 16 of our members, so about 20

per cent roughly of all of our members trained in that skill set, which is great, and it’s a multi unit response generally, but when you get a lot of those jobs going off, the more people you can have on the ground, the better.”

The report stated that in some instances, a lack of rescue crews resulted in community-led rescues, with an “insufficient volunteer capacity and inadequate resource availability” adding to the strain on volunteers.

And yet, through fatigue, under resourcing and limitations, the SES conducted a successful 1500 flood rescues in October 2022 and was praised in the final report for its efforts.

“The Victoria State Emergency Service was a pivotal part of the emergency response to the 2022 flood event. The exceptional dedication and resilience of the staff and volunteers in supporting communities and mitigating risks to life and property is commendable,” it reads.

Mr Caulfield said that positive element of the report, woven among the learnings and negatives, was a recognition of the willingness and ability of SES volunteers to continue to do and give in the face of adversity.

“98 per cent of our units provided some level of response. That would, off the top of my head, work out to pretty much all but one unit was engaged in some way, shape or form, in the response to that event.

“It’s nice to get the recognition of having done such a great job, but on the flip side of that, it was also quite sobering to see the level of impact that obviously still occurred.

“Behind those recommendations, we perhaps could have done better with additional funding and training, or that additional training and equipment could have improved some of the response outcomes for certain people who were impacted.”

No adoption of the recommendations has occurred yet but Mr Caulfield said the ideal would be the acceptance and implementation of all of them.

“I’d love to see them come out and say they’re going to adopt all 90 recommendations.

“Realistically, some of them are around outcomes that will help hundreds, if not thousands, of people actually not even need our services should we have another weather event because they talk about catchment management and levy banks.

“For the ones that specifically speak to SES, we’d love to see the government give an undertaking to do a full review of the funding model and to take on board the goals in the recommendations from the flood inquiry.”

The now-sealed Maxwell Court, Millgrove. (Yarra Ranges Council)

Funding concerns for the Victoria State Emergency Service has been confirmed in the October 2022 flood inquiry final report. (File)

Step towards reconciliation

By Dongyun Kwon

The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) will deliver innovative reconciliation actions over the next two years as it has endorsed the YRC Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) August 2024 – July 2026.

As the council’s Reconciliation Framework for Action 2013 – 2023 neared its expiry date, planning for a third iteration of a RAP and strategic approaches began.

The Innovative RAP has been proposed based on the advice and guidance of the YRC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC).

The IAC strongly encouraged this plan to fall under the umbrella of Reconciliation Australia’s RAP requirements, integrate the concept of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, include a strong truth-telling theme, and capture YRC’s reconciliation journey.

IAC chair Lea Jones said the journey in developing the RAP is filled with excitement and significance.

“Its main goal is to support the healing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” she said.

“Additionally, it offers a platform to share the history, heritage, cultures and ongoing journey of reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people communities in the Yarra Ranges.

“The opportunity to share our story and reflect on the strong relationships, the dedication and the contribution from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, alongside our nonAboriginal brothers and sisters represents reconciliation at its absolute best.”

The Innovative RAP is the second stage out of four provided by Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Framework; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.

Ms Jones said the IAC will do everything to support the success of this RAP to move onto the next level.

“The Aboriginal people are the most overconsulted cohort in the nation, yet there’s not an outcome for every one of those consultations,” she said.

“But we have been consulted with, for and about this [Innovative RAP].

“It means a lot and it’s important to Aboriginal people in this community because there is accountability for everything in this

[Innovative RAP].”

The YRC made a formal apology to the Stolen Generations in 1997, 11 years earlier than the national apology made by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.

Yarra Ranges mayor Sophie Todorov said she was proud to see that YRC was the first council in Victoria to give an apology to the Stolen Generations and the progress the YRC has made since then and continues to make.

“I believe that voice, self-determination and truth-telling is the essence of this plan,” she said.

“As Lea pointed out, it’s really important that we hear the voices of the community that it impacts the most, not just to listen but to act upon that.

“We appreciate the immense history that we have with our First Nations people.”

Bour-deet meaning Cumbungi/bullrush, typha latifolia.

The Yarra Ranges Council Civic Centre is designed to embrace the culture of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people with the collection of contemporary artworks throughout eight meeting rooms in the building named Bagurrk Biik which means ‘Women Country’ in Woi-wurrung language. (Yarra Ranges Council)

Karawun meaning spiny headed mat rush, lomandra longifolia.

Seville East road safety concerns in the spotlight again

By Callum Ludwig

Roads and roadsides remain a concern in Seville East, with the state of the footpaths recently called into question.

Seville East resident Joel Supple has been a long-time advocate for improvements and submitted a question for the Tuesday 13 August Yarra Ranges Council meeting regarding previous funding promised for upgrades in the township.

Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure at Yarra Ranges Council Hjalmar Phillip responded to the question and said the funding was cut as a result of the loss of Roads for Community funding.

“Council understands the concerns you’re raising, but unfortunately, in January 2023, Council received notification that this funding would be cut to 47.7 million, which removed over 100 million in funding for local roads, drainage and footpaths, including several roads in Seville East,” he said.

“Following the federal funding cuts, Council has recently completed an assessment into the missing footpath links across the municipality, the assessment considered criteria such as safety, proximity to public transport, schools, shops, delivery efficiencies, as well as adjacent projects and external funding opportunities.

“The missing links along Warburton Highway, Stuart Road, Peters Road, Joyce Road and Bridgewater Road have been identified through these assessments and will be considered against all priorities across the municipality in future budgets.”

Mr Phillip also noted the Council’s 10-year capital program has an allocation of almost 14 million towards new footpaths across the municipality that is unallocated from 2026-27 financial year and could potentially go towards projects in the area and Mr Supple would be contacted by an officer from the infrastructure team to discuss the roads he is concerned about in more detail.

Mr Supple said to the Star Mail that it was disappointing but not surprising the funding was lost.

“We’ve been lobbying since 2019-2020, when we first raised our concerns with the council in a big way and since 2019, we’ve been lobbying pretty hard for the council and VicRoads to do something,” he said.

“Both sides of the highway has no clear paths or access to and from the bus stop, so kids are either walking a little track through mud or they’re having to walk the highway shoulder to get to the bus stop now and there are a number of elderly people and disabled people getting to that bus stop with great difficulty.

“It’s a huge safety concern not only for the kids but just for the locals here to get on and off the bus safely and be able to get back to the house without being covered in mud or risking being clipped by a car.”

Vision for disability access

By Callum Ludwig

Warburton resident Ivor Wolstencroft once again lent his voice to a Yarr Ranges Council meeting on Tuesday 13 August, offering his thoughts on the proposed Birrarung Valley Walk project and opportunities it could open up for disability access.

Mr Wolstencroft has been an outspoken advocate for improved disability access in the Yarra Ranges, speaking often at council meetings and particularly about wheelchair access along the edge of the Yarra River.

Mr Wolstencroft said he was greatly impressed when he heard about the Birrarung Valley Walk.

“I think the Disability Access Committee [sic; Disability Advisory Committee] within Council could have a lot to share with the Birrurung Valley Walk because one step makes a massive difference to a person in a wheelchair,” he said.

“My concept is that you could have hubs along this journey that are representative of different areas of the river and each of these hubs would have a disabled access track running for about an hour or two, perhaps upstream and downstream so if you’re independent in a wheelchair you could have an afternoon spent on the Birrurung Valley Walk.

“An even bigger dream is that you could actually link these hubs with a disabled-friendly bus so that for instance if somebody came to Lilydale they’d get on a disabled-friendly bus that would run perhaps two or three times a day, maybe just on special occasions to start and that you could allow a person to enter one of these hubs and they could be picked up two, three, four hours later.”

Birrarung Valley Walk Inc is seeking to link existing walking tracks and paths from the mouth of the Birrarung (Yarra River) to the Upper Yarra Reservoir to protect, enhance and promote the natural environment and First Nations culture of the Birrarung Valley.

Yarra Ranges Council entered a memoran-

dum of understanding (MoU) with Birrarung Valley Walk Inc to support the project at the council meeting on Tuesday 9 July.

Mr Wolstencroft said he wants to look after anyone with a wheelchair in Warburton, including his wife, and identified the East Warburton bridge as another problem area.

“If you go north upstream you encounter the East Warburton bridge and that’s a nightmare, I can see just that two and a half years ago (Eildon MP) Cindy McLeish raised this in parliament that this is a bridge that the East Warburton community and I would say the Warburton community

needs for access,” he said.

“Even today I’m speaking to the headmaster at the Millwarra Primary School [Principal Rod Barnard] and he said he’s been writing to ministers, he’s been keen because none of his students can get from East Warburton to the Millwarra [Millgrove] campus on their bikes, they need a police escort across that bridge.”

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish raised the need for a pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River in East Warburton in the Victorian Parliament in February 2022, having also lobbied for over five years up to 2022 for the McMahons Creek pedestrian

bridge to be restored.

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said that Mr Wolstencroft raised some very significant points and Council would be forwarding his enquiries on to the Birrarung Valley Walk committee if he hadn’t already.

“We’re well aware of that situation out there at East Warburton and Rod Barnard, the Principal of Millwarra and of course, the Warburton East Primary School is a campus of Millwarra, you’re right, over a number of years, the traffic has had to be stopped there by police while the school children ride their bikes over that bridge,” he said.

“It is so dangerous and over the 12 years here on Council, I’ve made submissions in regards to that bridge and of recent times over the last few years, there have been some significant accidents that have happened on that bridge with the demolition of the railing by vehicles and you just dare to contemplate if a pedestrian or a cyclist was on the bridge at the time of those particular accidents.”

Councillors Andrew Fullagar, Fiona McAllister and Johanna Skelton all shared appreciation for Mr Wolstencroft’s presentation and excitement at his proposals.

“I do think we have such great opportunities and a long way to go to actually make some of these incredible trails that we’re working on and these beautiful places that we live in more accessible,” Cr McAllister said.

“I liked the use of the word step because I think, in my mind, this is perhaps a small step for you and you’re planting the seed for other people to think beyond this room and I think they’re all very valid points,” Cr Fullagar said.

“I got very excited reading your proposal, I love envisioning what it could be and like you say, it’s not going to be there straight away, but someone needs to plant that vision and we sometimes need someone to do it for us and to present what could be,” Cr Skelton said.

Conditions at bus stops in Seville East are poor and particularly difficult for elderly or people with disabilities. (Supplied)

Improving disability access along the Yarra River remains the vision of Warburton resident Ivor Wolstencroft. (File)

Maroondah will remain

By Callum Ludwig

A new Health Services Plan is set to guide Victoria’s under-strain healthcare system with the State Government accepting 26 of 27 recommendations from an expert advisory committee either whole or in part.

The one recommendation that was outright rejected was the amalgamation of health services, while recommendations accepted in principle also outlined that hospitals would not be forced to consolidate to form new Local Health Service Networks (LHSNs) and health services who do wish to consolidate would be supported.

The Age reported in June that unnamed government officials were considering relocating the soon-to-be-upgraded Maroondah Hospital due to the costs and difficulties of facilitating the planned $850 million to $1.05 billion project at its current Ringwood East site, with the old Knox drive-in cinema in Wantirna and an area near Eastland shopping centre being considered.

“Eastern Health welcomes the additional funding in the Victorian health system, and we will know more about our specific situation once budgets are finalised in the coming weeks,” a spokesperson for Eastern Health, which manages Maroondah Hospital, said.

Key reforms set to be delivered through the Health Services Plan include establishing a new agency within the Department of Health called Hospitals Victoria to manage the operations and finances of the state’s hospitals, establishing a connected Electronic Medical Record System, replacing Health Service Partnerships with LHSNs and providing an additional $1.5 billion worth of funding.

Premier Jacinta Allan said Labor will always support Victoria’s hospitals.

“As the sister of a nurse, and the mum of a daughter who has relied on the life-saving care of our hospitals – my priority will always be patients and their families,” she said.

Hospitals Victoria will be responsible for

streamlining payroll and IT systems across the state, including consolidating ‘back-office functions’ and improving the use of digital systems and technology, including how virtual care is utilised.

Hospitals Victoria will work with the Department of Health to roll out the Electronic Medical Record System, which will replace the different patient record systems used by various hospitals, some of which are still paper-based, reducing delays, duplication of patient records and allowing

patient records to be easily viewed regardless of where they are being treated.

Hospitals Victoria will be led by Siva Sivarajah, stepping into the role from her position as Chief Executive at Northern Health, which during her time in the role was the first healthcare service to offer a Virtual Emergency Department, with great success.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said Victoria’s health system is one of the best in the world.

“These reforms will keep us on track to deliver even better patient care through a reformed health system that is better integrated and connected, at the same time protecting the local services we know Victorians trust and rely on,” she said.

LHSNs will group together hospitals in a geographic region with the goal of streamlining the provision of care and operations such as payroll and IT, encouraging collaboration and staff allocation between hospitals, and forming connections with major tertiary, women’s and children’s hospitals in the region to improve referral pathways and access to specialist care.

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish took aim at the increased one-off funding (for 2024-25), a lack of detail regarding the funding’s distribution and the ‘new bureaucracy’ of Hospitals Victoria.

Ms McLeish said it was a most spectacular backflip and whilst the Victorian Government says they are not going to force amalgamations there are still too many questions to be answered.

“I’m so proud of how quickly and effectively locals worked together to hold rallies and collect signatures to put pressure on the government to prevent hospital amalgamations, it is incredible that the Government had no understanding of how budget cuts and forced amalgamations would impact local health services and local communities,” she said.

“We have had months of uncertainty and whilst amalgamations are on hold at the moment, local communities and health services across Victoria deserve to know exactly what funding they will be receiving and when.”

Ms McLeish said Hospitals Victoria and its role within the health system ‘sounds like back of the envelope planning’.

Ms McLeish also garnered 15,050 signatures opposing any potential amalgamation of the Mansfield District Hospital, Yea & District Memorial Hospital and Alexandra District Health facilities.

Empowered, informed guide to help reduce elder abuse

By Mikayla van Loon

Planning for future medical needs with an empowered and positive outlook is the premise of a newly launched guide from Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC).

The resource, produced with funding from the State Government, is a comprehensive firststep information booklet on how to appoint a medical treatment decision maker, creating an advance care directive and how to approach conversations with loved ones.

ECLC legal services director and principal lawyer Belinda Lo said this document was about helping people “make informed decisions” and allowing them to “still have control over decisions” when they are unwell.

“What we know from our work in the space of elder abuse prevention and elder abuse response is that the less you’re able to make your views known whilst you are healthy and well, the less control you have over what happens to you, of course, when you are ailing,” she said.

“It’s also really difficult for family members to know how to make decisions for you because you haven’t had those discussions with them or family and loved ones will argue about the best healthcare for you without having your views taken into account as well.”

Compiling the step-by-step process of how to put these processes in place, Ms Lo said came from ECLC’s understanding that there wasn’t much information for people to access on this topic.

This too was evident in many of the consultations former Commissioner for Senior Victorians Gerard Mansour had with older people and was a driving force behind the guide.

“He identified from all his consultations that it was really important to help people, particularly older people, understand what their rights were when appointing medical treatment decision makers and making advanced care directives, because it’s important to have your views heard and respected and followed, no matter what stage of life,” Ms Lo said.

“You’re also more likely to mitigate any sort of exploitation when and if you do lose capacity

as you age…It’s all just about trying to be as prepared and empowered as possible.”

Unfortunately, Ms Lo said in many cases of elder abuse, medical mistreatment is a contributing factor, which might be compounded by financial abuse or another form of abuse.

Often, Ms Lo said, this appears as not ensuring the elderly person is receiving the right medication or inappropriate dispensing of medication, as well as “a form of neglect” by not taking that person to GP or specialist appointments.

“It’s one of the behaviors we see as a perpetration of elder abuse. We still see financial elder abuse as the biggest form of elder abuse that’s impacting our clients and community.

“It wouldn’t be surprising to me and I don’t mean this in a trite way, but if the older person also has medical needs and there’s already financial abuse occurring, there is a likelihood that taking away medical care or neglecting medical care is going to feature as well.”

Although targeted to older people, Ms Lo

said this kind of planning could be applied to any adult who’s ready to have these discussions.

“It’s important for any adult who feels that they’re able to turn their mind to this, to really think about it, particularly for adults who might have medical conditions and who are very educated about conditions.

“Who knows what treatment they may want in certain circumstances and what treatment they definitely do not want in certain circumstances, to be able to appoint a medical treatment decision maker, and then make an advanced care directive for those circumstances as well.”

Advanced care directives can be updated, superseding the previous directive, should the status of someone’s health change.

Ms Lo said while the legal documents themselves are integral, equally as important are the conversations with loved ones, despite the uncomfortableness.

“It’s a hard and sensitive thing to discuss. We don’t want to talk about our mortality because

that means we’re discussing with our loved ones when we won’t be well or when we’re close to dying.

“But also, having the conversation with family members who you love very much and who you get along with, they might say to you, ‘actually, I don’t think I can do this’ or ‘I think this will put too much stress on me and upset me too much’.

“It’s important you hear that so then you can choose the right person for you.”

Ms Lo said there is also no obligation to choose a family member if the relationship is not steady, with a close friend also an option.

Seeking advice from a lawyer is recommended when producing these documents.

The guide can be downloaded from ECLC’s website here, eclc.org.au/what-we-do/partnerships-and-projects/elder-abuse/futuremedicalcare/ Or a hard copy booklet can be accessed from one of ECLC’s offices in Box Hill, Boronia or Healesville.

The Planning your Future Medical Care guide launch was held on Thursday 8 August. (Supplied)

ECLC legal services director and principal lawyer Belinda Lo (centre) explained the purpose and need for this information booklet.

Maroondah Hospital won’t be forced to move after Health Services Plan recommendations were considered by the Victorian Government. (File)

Focus is on mental health

By Callum Ludwig

The Yarra Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church is continuing its efforts to boost community health.

The annual community health events are open to all interested, with this year’s ‘De-Stress and Thrive’ session focused on mental health.

Church member and psychiatrist Horatio Selagea said historically, the Seventh-day Adventist worldwide has been a big advocate of healthy living, promoting a plant-based diet and a physically active lifestyle for its members but also for the community.

“Our church in Wandin North, like many other Adventist churches, has been running health programs every year, on a variety of topics, both in terms of raising awareness of these health issues and also in terms of promoting the advantages of a healthy lifestyle in their prevention and treatment,” he said.

“In the busyness of our day and age, many people struggle with the stress and pressures of their day-to-day workload,”

“The ‘De-stress & Thrive’ program will teach them valuable stress management techniques and strategies to help them manage their stress for a happier life.”

Previous events held at the Yarra Valley Sev-

enth-Day Adventist Church has focused on other health issues such as dental health, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer.

Mr Selegea said he believes these programs have been very good sources of information and motivation for all participants, church members and community participants alike.

“They encouraged participants to adopt healthier lifestyle habits and thus reduce their risk of developing some of the common chronic health issues plaguing our society today,” he said.

“They also raised awareness of when it’s important to access professional health services.”

The first of the De-Stress and Thrive sessions will be held on Saturday 24 August at 4.30pm.

Mr Selegea said they are excited to offer this program for the first time ever to their community, so have decided to offer it at a free introductory rate, while the usual cost of the program is $35.

“The program consists in 6 weekly intensive 90min sessions, teaching participants things such as: relaxation strategies (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.); mental, emotional and sensory strategies to manage stress; the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle in managing stress; and so forth,” he said.

To register for the event, visit eliawellness. com/event/de-stress.

St Joseph’s Primary School in Yarra Junction is holding a Wellbeing Expo at the beginning of next month for local families and organisations to come together.

Wellbeing leader Rebecca Beveridge said the Expo involves local groups and organisations related to children’s and young people’s physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing, showcasing their programs and services to the community.

“The night is open to everyone, including families from the school and the wider community, to come along and see the services available that support the development of children’s wellbeing,” she said.

“The reason behind the night is to enable families to make connections with organisations in the community that can help foster the development of their child’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

“After the effects of Covid lockdowns and long waiting lists for health care services, the Wellbeing Expo night will allow families to connect with services on offer in the local community.”

The resources at the event will range from sporting clubs to craft groups or animal therapy to interactive activities with stress balls or gymnastics.

Ms Beveridge said at St Joseph’s they believe wellbeing

underpins everything they do.

“St Joseph’s children are given opportunities to develop skills that promote resilience, problem-solving and the ability to make good choices,”she said.

“We encourage empathy towards the feelings of others and respect for the rights of all and everyone in our school has the right to feel safe and be safe.”

Wellbeing initiatives already embraced by the school include weekly wellbeing lessons, fortnightly Friendship Groups, a buddy system where older students help younger students through the first two years of school and a daily fitness program held in the mornings to help get students active and ready for learning.

Ms Beveridge said it’s crucial for kids, parents, and teachers to all be actively involved in promoting wellbeing.

“Each group plays a distinct but complementary role in fostering a supportive environment, when children are engaged in their wellbeing, they learn self-care skills, resilience, and emotional intelligence, teaching them to recognise their feelings, manage stress, and develop healthy habits equips them with tools to navigate challenges effectively.”

A previous community health event hosted by the Yarra Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church on dental health. (Supplied)

This year event will be a six weeks of sessions on mental health.

Oakridge leads the charge

By Dongyun Kwon

The Yarra Valley has solidified its reputation as one of the best winery areas in Australia at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

Each year, the Halliday Wine Companion guide selects the best Australian wines, winemakers, and wineries from a vast pool of entries.

The final judging event, which recalled 100 standout wines from an initial review pool of 7500, highlights the competitive nature and high standards of this prestigious event.

The Halliday Wine Companion Awards winners were determined collaboratively by the Halliday Tasting Team including chief editor Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson.

Halliday Wine Companion head of tasting Katrina Butler said Yarra Valley winemakers make

exceptional wines of world-class standard.

“Along with the benefit of successful backto-back vintages despite the many climate challenges, Yarra Valley winemakers are working to the region’s strengths and paying closer attention to site and growing conditions than ever before,” she said.

“Doing less in the winery and more in the vineyard certainly contributes to the upward trajectory of quality that we are seeing.”

Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder and Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 has been awarded one of the major awards, Wine of the Year.

Oakridge Wines (OW) senior winemaker Tim Dexter said everyone in the OW team is ecstatic and proud of the achievement.

“It’s a good reward for a lot of hard work over many years,” he said.

“This award is a result of hard work and time

understanding the vineyard and working with the fruit.”

The Funder and Diamond vineyard, known for its mature vines planted in the red volcanic soils of Wandin East, consistently produces exceptional fruit.

OW chief winemaker David Bicknell, who has been crafting wines at OW since 2002, considers the 2022 vintage to be of particularly high calibre, calling it one of the best of the past decade.

Mr Dexter said 2022 was a really good year for Chardonnay.

“We had low yields and moderate temperatures that just produced a wine that was pretty special,” he said.

“The vineyard team did an exceptional job delivering us clean fruit into the winery, perfect brightness.

“In the winery, we just had to nurture it into the bottle, and the results were really good.”

While the 864 Funder and Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay took centre stage at this year’s awards with the Wine of the Year award, it also won Chardonnay of the Year (White Wine of the Year).

Mr Dexter said Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder and Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is a complete wine with perfectly balanced lots of intensity, great length and complexity.

“It’s an incredibly intense wine, first smell the wine as fruit jumps out of the glass,” he said.

“It’s a classic Upper Yarra Chardonnay in a citrus spectrum, with some florals, white flowers and lifted sense of spices as well from the oak.

“Then on the palate, it’s just a burst, a lightning rod of flavour that has a lot of depth and complexity, and lingers for a long time on the palate.”

Mount Mary’s Quintet 2022 won Cabernet and Blends of the Year award.

Star Mail contacted Mount Mary.

Jack Howie honoured as Casey’s best apprentice

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Valley Racing apprentice Jack Howie’s four-year hard work got recognition through the 2024 Casey Apprentice and Trainee Awards.

The awards ceremony was held at Chirnside Park Country Club on 7 August, focusing on highlighting the talents, skills and value of apprentices and trainees.

The award winner said he didn’t expect to win the award.

“It was a great honour and I’m very happy,” Howie said.

“I’d like to thank everyone at the race course, they’ve been really good to me, very patient and taught me well.

“I’d like to thank Aaron Violi and everyone involved in the awards as well. It’s good to recognise young apprentices, it’s a great concept. ”

Howie is completing Cert 3 in Sports Turf Management with Yarra Valley Racing and was recognised for demonstrating a remarkable attitude and strong determination for best practices in his industry.

Howie said he had started as a casual worker at the Yarra Valley Racing during the racing season.

“The following year, I got offered an apprenticeship here, and I took it because it’s a great place to work with a great team,” he said.

“I left high school early and started here when I was about 17.

“As an apprentice, I look after the race track, all the grounds and all the gardening.”

Howie, who is nearly 21 years old, has been taking an apprenticeship for about four years

and is still enjoying it.

The Yarra Valley Racing team nominated Howie for the awards for his strong work ethic, eagerness to learn and positive attitude.

Yarra Valley Racing chief executive officer

Brett Shambrook said the experience with Howie has been terrific for the club.

“When Jack worked for us casually, we liked what we saw, so we offered him an apprenticeship,” he said.

“He’s in his final stage of finishing his apprenticeship, so he’d be a fully qualified tradesperson for us.

“It’s the first time we’ve had an apprentice, and the experience has been very rewarding for the club, and we’ve put a second apprentice in the same field.”

Mr Shambrook and his team had an intuition that Howie was fit for the award as soon as they saw the criteria of it.

Mr Shambrook said Howie covered off everything the award criteria wanted.

“His attitude is outstanding. He’s a very easy person to get along with,” he said.

“He listens, applies himself 100 per cent. No task is beyond him.

“He’s always willing to roll up his sleeves and have a go, which is what we want.”

Eight finalists including Howie were chosen for their contribution to their trade from electrical to print machining, signwriting to sports turf management.

The runner-up award went to Hayden Paterson from RYCOR Landscapes for demonstrating exceptional dedication and growth.

Paterson was nominated for his leadership, hard work, reliability and genuine character. His contribution to RYCOR Landscapes recent project on the upcoming series of The Block will be aired in October.

Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi said the number of nominations this year shows just how rewarding a career in trades can be.

“Trades are the backbone of our small businesses and local economy here in Casey. I’m proud of the fact we have the highest number of tradies in building and construction in the nation,” he said.

“There is so much that can be achieved in a trade-based career and that was demonstrated by the stories shared on the night.

“It was an honour to recognise the contribution of local apprentices and trainees and send a positive message to students that university is not the only pathway to success.”

L-R: Yarra Valley Racing chief executive officer Brett Shambrook, award winner Jack Howie and Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi. (Supplied)

Oakridge Wines team is ecstatic and proud of the achievement. (Supplied)

The Funder and Diamond vineyard is located in Wandin East.

Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder and Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022.

Warburton resilience forum

By Callum Ludwig

A Resilience Roundtable was held in Warburton on Thursday 15 August, with community members coming together at the Mechanics Hall to discuss some hopes for the township.

Inspired by the work of the Millgrove Residents’ Action Group’s efforts just down the highway, the group are looking engage with local residents to hear their concerns regarding emergency preparation.

Member of the Warburton Emergency Planning Group Kevin Bargar said a small group of 14 people got together at the meeting.

“The idea was just to introduce the community to the fact that the Warburton Emergency Planning Group has been given a grant from The Resilience Canopy to start a community-led resilience project in Warburton,” he said.

“It’s something the Warburton Emergency Planning Group has been wanting to do for a long time, but this methodology has come along and been something that looks really good to be able to do the kinds of things we wanted to do within the community.”

The group has been promoting a short sixquestion survey, which also asks if respondents would like to become actively involved with the efforts to improv Warburton’s resilience.

Mr Bargar said they’re hoping to get as many as a couple of hundred surveys completed by members of the community.

“What the surveys ask is what residents’ concerns are in regards to resilience in the community, how well do they think Warburton is currently situated as part of being able to respond to the issues, the disasters,” he said.

“What we want to do is make sure this isn’t just an emergency management plan, this is a community resilience plan and that goes in a lot of different directions, it talks about social awareness, social affordable housing, insurance access, cost of living pressures,”

“The survey will then bring in this information and that will give us a starting point where we’ll say these are the concerns the community has, then we’ll start to look at what kinds of projects or plans that we could put in place that would help address these concerns but it’s really about connecting this within the community.”

The Resilience Canopy provides $25,000 activation grants for community groups looking to apply the ‘Six-Step Future Ready Communities Engagement Model.’

To be eligible, community groups need to be in a ‘sponsored’ Local Government Area, have a Re-

silience Canopy-trained Practitioner (completed the organisation’s training’, have a method of accepting and managing the funds, be registered as a ‘Canopy Community’ and have a demonstrable commitment to the model.

The Resilience Canopy has a goal of 2000 resilient practitioners and 500 resilient communities by 2030.

Mr Bargar said while it’s not a pleasant topic to talk about, it’s vitally important that somebody in the community plans for emergencies.

“Emergency Management Victoria is strongly recommending that communities do their own

planning as we really know what the things that are most important in our own community and you’re not going to get an emergency plan from a state agency that’s going to be a good fit for every community,” he said.

“The people in Warburton know where our challenges are and if we get those all pulled together and work on plans and processes that can address those ahead of time, everybody will be a lot better off in case something comes up.”

To complete the survey, visit surveymonkey. com/r/2MFKJNZ?.

The Resilience Roundtable discussed the push for community-lad planning and projects in Warburton. (Supplied)

Homestead hosts quiz

By Callum Ludwig

The Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead is welcoming another new event to the array which has already recently joined their calendar.

A Historical/Hysterical Quiz Night will be held on Saturday 24 August in the museum and all are welcome to buy a ticket and secure a place.

Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead Administrator Deb Duncan said the event is another first for Mont De Lancey.

“We’re really looking forward to it, it’s being run by a group called Quizzame, who do quite a few different quizzes around, and it is a fundraiser for Mont de Lancey, as the only funding we get is through the tickets that we sell for tours and things like that, so it is a fundraiser to keep our gorgeous Mont de Laney, the keeper of the local history, here and open for people to visit,” she

said.

“We’re looking for people to purchase tickets and tables and just have a big night of fun, there’ll be lots of fun games, we’ve got a couple of raffles that’ll be going, we’ll have a silent auction that’ll be on and of course lots of quizzing fun too.”

All questions are multiple-choice and will be displayed on screen with a mixture of picture, video and audio questions.

Ms Duncan said hosting new events gets a different cohort of people up there that may not have visited or had the opportunity or even thought to come and have a look at Mont De Lancey.

“It’s opening up local’s eyes, so it’s a great opportunity, we’ve had a few work teams that have booked tables, which is great, a few family teams that have booked, and a few other social groups that have booked tables as well,” she said.

“After we had Cinema in the Paddock, which was the first for us, it’s just been really good and we are really enjoying being supported by the local community in these new events that we’re having.”

Attendees will be participating in tables of eight, with individuals and groups who don’t have eight participants being put together to make up numbers.

Wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available for purchase and attendees can BYO their own snacks for their table, arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

Tickets are $20 per person and 100 per cent of funds raised will go to Mont De Lancey and the upkeep of the property.

To purchase, visit montdelancey.org.au/ event/quiz-night-2024-08-24/.

Catherine Nolan strongly believes in the power of singing together as she has witnessed it along with her experience of leading singing groups and workshops for over 30 years. (Supplied)

Let’s sing together

By Dongyun Kwon

A singing workshop for all age groups will be held at Healesville Senior Citizens’ Hall between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday 29 September.

Inter-generational Family Singing Workshop is organised by Catherine Nolan, who strongly believes in the power of singing together, as she has witnessed it along with her experience of leading singing groups and workshops for over 30 years.

She said the workshop is to revitalise the connections between different generations by developing an understanding, compassion and empathy for different age groups while singing together.

“We have lost the art of spending time together as families and with different age groups, so we’ve become quite disconnected,” Ms Nolan said.

“I have seen the camaraderie, support and connections that singing together can create, that’s why I’m bringing people together through song.” Ms Nolan will lead the workshop, focusing on uplifting songs about sunshine to welcome in the spring, in a relaxed and nurturing atmosphere.

“My aim is to make it easy for people to sing along and to make it uplifting,” she said.

“Singing helps produce the feel-good hormones called endorphins and oxytocin.

“Singing together increases tolerance because of that lovely feeling.”

The workshop is free of charge but bookings are essential because of the limited space in the hall.

Bookings can be made via email at catherinenolan@bigpond.com or text on 0417 002 793.

The Healesville Senior Citizens’ Hall is located at 18 Green St, Healesville.

Wombats, echidnas, koalas and bubbles... oh

For a bit of fun, Healesville Sanctuary keepers have introduced the wombats, echidnas and koalas to kaleidoscope colour in the form of hundreds of thousands of bubbles.

Mammal keeper Craig McQueen said they offered the bubbles as something novel into their environment to see how it might stimulate their senses.

“We try to offer different types of enrichment and we often offer new experiences for the animals, so they use all of their incredible natural behaviors,” Mr McQueen said.

It was a mixed bag of responses from the marsupials and monotremes with some creatures nonplussed and other intrigued individuals keen to investigate.

“As expected, the echidnas were super inquisitive. They always explore new things approaching the bubbles, sniffing them out and letting some of them pop in their faces.

“I expected the bubbles to pop on their spikey quills but the bubbles did hang around and linger on there for a little while as the echidnas made their way around their habitat.”

Wombats don’t have the strongest eyesight as they are mostly nocturnal mammals, so they merely sniffed the bubbles once they landed on the ground.

Whereas the koalas watched on with curiosity from their eucalyptus branch perches.

“Bubbles create joy for everyone. It certainly created joy for the keepers and some of the visitors who watched what we were doing,” Mr McQueen said.

Zoos Victoria encourages everyone to Blow Bubbles and Not Balloons because when balloons fly, seabirds die.

When balloons are used outdoors, they can escape into the environment and end up in our oceans or waterways, harming and even killing precious wildlife.

To learn more, visit zoo.org.au/balloons

Koalas and wombats are closely related.

They both like to sleep a lot, koalas in particular sleep for 18-20 hours a day.

Echidnas are interesting because they are one of the few monotreme species in the world, meaning that they are mammals, but they also lay eggs rather than give birth to live young.

Visitors can pop into Healesville Sanctuary 365 days a year.

The beautiful bushland haven in the Yarra Valley is open from 9am until 5pm each day.

my!

Zoos Victoria’s community conservation campaign ‘Blow bubbles, not balloons’. (Zoos Victoria)

Head to the Mont De Lancey museum for a night of quizzing fun. (File)

Forever a friend to felines

By Dongyun Kwon

An Animal Aid volunteer is wishing to share the joy of volunteering with the local community.

Linda Lloyd, a Gladysdale resident, has been volunteering for about 11 years for Animal Aid.

Ms Lloyd’s heart is filled with love of animals as she has always been living with them since she was a child. She has had animals from cats and dogs to rabbits, guinea pigs to farm animals.

Ms Lloyd said she decided to volunteer at the Animal Aid’s shelter one day a week as she had some spare time, reducing work.

“I help in the welfare cattery including cleaning cages, feeding, washing blankets and organising the kitchen areas,” she said.

“When it’s kitten season, I am usually in the kitten room, but when we don’t have many kittens, I would help in other areas as well.

“I also help the staff members with any assistance they might need like holding a cat for medicating.”

During kitten season, Ms Lloyd often takes home one to two-week-old kittens as well and bottle-feeds them until they are well enough to be cared for at the shelter.

This includes waking every two to three hours during the night to feed them.

Since Ms Lloyd retired, she has volunteered two full days a week, spending one day helping out the Animal Aid Op Shops in Croydon South or Blackburn if they are short-staffed.

“The op shops are one of our revenue raises for our welfare programs for dogs and cats,” the volunteer said.

In 2022, Ms Lloyd was awarded the Alexander and Stella Grierson Award, given to volunteers who have made a significant contribution to Animal Aid, named after the founders of Animal Aid.

Ms Lloyd wants other locals to feel the same joy from volunteering.

“I love volunteering there because there are so many people with the same mindset of trying to help domestic animals,” she said.

“We give them medical assistance if they’ve been hurt, and if they’re in a situation where nobody claims them, we try to find them a loving

home.

“Our volunteering is covering a lot of different types of activity.”

To apply to volunteer at Animal Aid, please visit Animal Aid’s website at animalaid.org.au/ lend-a-hand

Ms Lloyd’s heart is filled with love of animals as she has always been living with them since she was a child. (Supplied)

Dust off your collectibles

By Callum Ludwig

Avid collectors and gatherers can potentially look forward to a new attraction coming to Warburton, with a Small Antiques and Collectibles Fair event gaining traction.

Benno Poeder is seeking expressions of interest from potential stallholders who may like to join the event, with a tentative date of March 2025 at the Warburton Waterwheel set.

Mr Poeder said he had a bookstore in Warburton dealing in antiquarian books and photographs, which he has been doing since he was at university in the ‘90s.

“I had an email from someone who asked if we’re interested in old vinyl and I said ‘Yeah of course’, some vinyls are highly collectible especially if it’s popular music from say the 50s, 60s and 70s,” he said.

“I’ve got a guy that’s coming in, he’s a volunteer here and he used to have antique or vintage collectible figurines for soldiers, little things from Star Wars and so on which are again, highly collected,”

“I also have a lady here who’s been a photographer as well and she collects old photographs, we were in Brussels and in Paris and people buy photographs, especially old photographs, as well antique postcards and stuff like that.”

The fair would be held both in the Warburton Waterwheel Gallery and on the patio outside, catering to small antiques and collectibles, rather than larger items like furniture. Clothing items may be accepted, depending on the condition and significance.

Mr Poeder said he has six or seven stall holders locked in, has the capacity for 23 stalls and probably needs at least 15 for the event to be viable.

tiques fair, a lot of people jumped up and said

“It’s a multicultural town now, especially on weekends, so I’m hoping that that will continue and actually grow,”

“The minute I said I wanted to have an an-

“I want people to not simply come here for a coffee or a pizza, there’s plenty of places to buy coffee and pizza, but I’d really like people to come here and think ‘Oh well, we can go to Warburton while they have the antique fair there’ and it’s worthwhile coming,” he said.

‘I’ve got all this old stuff at home, I’ve got these old books, I’ve got these old pictures and I’ve got all this old stuff that my great -grandma left me but put in an expression of interest, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to be in.”

There will be 13 spots available inside and 10 spots available outside for the fair, while Mr Poeder is also interested to hear from any local art-

ists who might like to exhibit (hopefully for free, pending grant funding support for the fair) on any available wall space in the gallery as well as any food providers who would like to set up at the event.

Anyone wishing to put in an expression of interest can contact Mr Poeder at bennopoeder@ gmail.com or on Messenger by contacting ‘Benno Poeder’.

Big birthday celebrations for Tarrawarra CWA

By Dongyun Kwon

The Tarrawarra Country Women’s Association (CWA) had its 17th birthday party at the Healesville Community Link after their regular meeting on Wednesday 7 August.

The ladies shared lunch and a special birthday cake made by one of the members to celebrate.

Tarrawarra CWA vice president Helen Calvert said the Tarrawarra CWA first began as the Healesville Night Chicks in 2007.

“I don’t know about the history of the branch for sure but what I know is that it was originally a night branch because the original members were still working then,” she said.

“When it became a day branch, there were perhaps more people coming from Yarra Glen, so that’s why they changed the name to Tarrawarra.

COMMUNITY DIARY

Upper

Yarra calendar competition pictures open

Public viewing and voting for the Annual Online Photographic Exhibition “My Upper Yarra” and the Competition to find 12 winning images for the 2025 Warburton & Yarra Junction Community Bank Calendar.

The Exhibition comprises 85 stunning images of the Upper Yarra as captured by locals who live, work or study here.

To view and vote, visit visit upperyarra.net.au/ community.

Online Exhibition and Voting closes Sunday 01 September 2024.

Winners announced Friday 06 September 2024.

Calendar available in local Bendigo bank branches in late November 2024.

Badger Creek and District

Men’s

Shed open day

As part of Men’s Shed Week from 1 to 7 September, the Badger Creek and District Men’s Shed is having an open day on Wednesday 4 September

“We now have a healthy membership with over 20 women.”

The Country Women’s Association of Victoria aims to connect women in the community,

COMMUNITY

DIARY

WHAT’S ON AROUND THE VALLEY

from 10am to 2pm.

The theme this year is ‘Send him down to the shed!’, so ladies, bring your men folk along to have a look at the shed.

Everyone is welcome to come to 360 Badger Creek Road, behind the Badger Creek CFA Fire Station, to learn what happens in the wood and metal workshops and photography club.

Enjoy a cuppa and sausage sizzle over lunch and have a chat with members.

and the Tarrawarra branch works to influence change and support vulnerable women, children and families.

The branch has a strong social focus on sharing fun and friendship as it creates connections and makes a difference.

Ms Calvert said the branch engages not only in community activities but also in social activities.

“On the community service side, we are one of the teams that cooks for Dinner at Darron’s, the HICCI’s community meal, once every six weeks,” she said.

“We also work with Le Pine to put on the Healesville Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for breast cancer.

“We do some social things. We have a book club once a month, morning tea and lunch.”

The Tarrawarra CWA also does Bunnings Barbecues and catering to raise funds which go

Second hand book sale

Healesville Yarra Glen Uniting Church is holding a two-day massive second-hand book sale between 9am and 2pm on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 August in the Darron Honey Centre located at 286 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.

Books on everything, novels, biographies, Australian history, world events, politics, garden and cooking.

Sausage sizzles will be also provided on-site.

Black Spur closure

On Tuesday 20 August between 9am and 6pm, Maroondah Highway (Black Spur) will be closed between Healesville and Narbethong for emergency tree removal works.

During the road closure, drivers are recommended to detour via the Melba Highway to Yea, the Goulburn Valley Highway to Alexandra and on the Maroondah Highway to Narbethong, or vice versa.

There will be electronic signs in place to safely guide motorists through the detour.

Motorists traveling through the area are asked to plan their journey and allow extra travel.

This detour will add an extra hour of

to either the CWA association for its charitable directions or the local community.

The branch supports scholarships for high school girls, Tamminya House women’s refuge, Benwerren and HICCI including Christmas hampers.

The ladies do knitting and crafts to send to either HICCI or CWA association to distribute to people in need.

The branch meets alternately in Healesville and Yarra Glen at 11am on the first Wednesday of every month.

At the meetings, the members not only organise their community activities and fund-raising but also listen to interesting speakers, sometimes exercise and always enjoy each other’s company for lunch.

Anyone wishing to join the Tarrawarra CWA is welcome to contact the president Anne Faulks on 0408 903 925.

travel time.

On Wednesday 21 August and Thursday 22 August between 9am and 6pm, one lane will be closed on Maroondah Highway between Fernshaw Picnic Ground and the Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Ground.

There will be reduced speed limits and traffic controllers on-site to help vehicles continue to move in both directions using the one lane.

3G shutdown pushback

Australians are being urged to upgrade their mobile phones and check their medical devices as public safety concerns delay the 3G network shutdown.

Telstra and Optus jointly announced the 3G closure would be pushed back to 28 October. Both telcos had been preparing to switch off from the end of August but a recent Senate inquiry confirmed thousands of phones would not be able to make triple-zero calls after the shutdown. The inquiry was also told critical medical equipment, personal cardiac alarms, EFTPOS machines and waste and water infrastructure could be cut off.

Benno Poeder at the Warburton Waterwheel with an antique coffee pot called a ‘Dallah’ which dates back to Persia in the mid-19th century. (Stewart Chambers: 425290)

Tarrawarra CWA’s 17th birthday party. (Supplied)

Sacrifices not forgotten

By Tanya Steele

Outer East Melbourne assembled for their esteemed veterans at the weekend, honouring the Vietnam veterans in a moving ceremony at the Arboretum War Memorial in Ferntree Gully.

The sound of pipes heralded the arrival of veterans on the march as a community gathered to mark and honour their veterans on the anniversary of Long Tan on Sunday 18 August.

“Welcome all to this very distinguished day,” said Allan Small, Chair of the Committee for the Veteran’s event this year and President of the Outer Eastern Melbourne Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA OEM).

“The 18th day of August has been for many years and is accepted as our day to remember and meet with mates, reflect on memories and absent mates, and as a collective, perhaps, to try and enjoy our life’s foibles – whatever our circumstances tend to be,” he said.

“Some 58 years previously, on this very day, the actions of Long Tan unfolded – likely the most trying, deadly and long-term consequences for untold numbers, not only on that fateful day, but equally in the aftermath, and most unfortunately, the even longer term, even up to the present.”

Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century, the Vietnam War saw almost 60,000 Australians serve during a decade of conflict between 1962 and 1972.

Tragically, 523 of them died and 3000 were wounded by the time the war ended.

Mr Small said the consequences are regularly transmitted and felt by the many who served their time. Those traumas, illnesses and tragedies are most likely untold and mostly untold, even unimaginable to the many, he said.

The yearly 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 and the National Servicemen’s Association.

The march and ceremony featured performances by the Rats of Tobruk Memorial on pipes and drums, the students of Knox School Senior choir and strings, the 408 Squadron Air Force Cadets, Tom Steele played the bugle and Father John Dupuche led the service in prayer.

Veterans, their families and friends and many government officials arrived for the service and MP for Menzies Keith Wolohan spoke at the ceremony. Boronia police and Knox Highway Patrol took care of local traffic whilst the march occurred, with St John Ambulance representatives on scene.

The service finished with a rendition of “I was only 19“ by the Knox School Choir and band and Mr Small’s grandchildren helped with wreaths and handing out poppies. To the sounds of the pipes the public came and put forward a token of respect for the veterans, then Father Dupuche closed the formal part of the ceremony. The gathered community was then invited to the Bayswater RSL for refreshments.

“Thanks for coming along with colleagues, friends. I wish you well and a good you well and good health for the future.“ said Mr Small.

The parade advances towards the arboretum.

The veterans march. (Tanya Steele: 426020)

Laying wreaths.

The 408 squadron air force cadets catafalque party at attention.

The Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums on the march.

Tom Steele playing the bugle. The event is a joint initiative of the outer east.

From Right: Ian Warton, Daryl Bristowe, Allan Small and Simon Bloomer.

The Victorian Military vehicle club led the march.

Eastern Region Girl Guide Hannah (a sprite from Croydon) and Pheobe Finegan at the service.

Allan Small, President of VVAA Outer East Melbourne and Chair for Vietnam Veterans Day 2024 Members of the VVAA, from left Diana Smith and Lynda Young, both widows of Vietnam Veterans.

BOOK WEEK

Students get into character

This week, Yarra Junction Primary School is celebrating Book Week.

This year’s theme is ‘Reading is Magic’ and staff and students are sharing their love of reading throughout the school.

To start the week, they held their annual dress-up day, where students (and staff) dress as their favourite book characters. There were many ‘Where’s Wally’, ‘Harry Potter’ and Disney Princesses as well as some very creative home-made costumes. The children, and their families, look forward to this event each year and put in some amazing effort in creating costumes.

During class throughout the week, students will be doing many literacy-based activities. Discussing their favourite books, author studies and studying Fairy Tales. The school has also planned a trip trip to the Yarra Junction Library with the Prep children.

Yarra Junction Primary School will also be participating in ‘The Great Book Swap’ and has asked families to donate books which students will be able to purchase for a gold coin donation. All funds raised will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Exquisite gothic mystery that captures your attention

By Christine Yunn-Yu Sun

A review of The Silence Factory by

Bridget Collins

The Silence Factory, by British author Bridget Collins, has a setting very much like Victorian Britain.

The story begins with the writings of Sophia in 1820, who accompanies her husband James Ashmore-Percy to a remote Greek island to search for rare biological specimens.

History tells us that the Victorians were obsessed with science and progress, confident that their exploration and growing knowledge of the natural world could help improve society in the same way as they were advancing technology.

It is this confidence – or the arrogance that men are entitled to all of nature’s offerings – that casts a terrifying shadow over Sophia’s life.

Decades later, audiologist Henry Latimer is sent to the home of industrialist Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy to help cure the man’s daughter of her deafness.

Here, Henry’s encounter with Philomel and her governess Miss Fielding plays a crucial role in his journey of self-discovery.

As explained by Miss Fielding: “[Philomel’s] father is determined that she should learn to speak aloud, so that she can participate in society. She cannot be limited to conversations with other people who can sign. Better that she should say a few broken words to the people who matter, than express herself perfectly to those who do not. True speech is what distinguishes us from animals, is it not?”

These words reflect the commonsense of the time, and may cause some distress to readers today who are more informed about the aspirations and strengths of people with disabilities.

But the author’s illustration of Philomel is empathetic and delightful, capturing the beauty and fearlessness of a young girl full of curiosity and energy.

The portrayal of Miss Fielding as a courageous woman full of love and compassion is also endearing.

Meanwhile, as Henry is drawn deeper into Sir Edward’s world, he finds himself obsessed with the fascinating nature of the man’s business – spinning silk with a rare and magical breed of spiders.

The extraordinary silk shields sound, offering respite from the everyday noise in one’s surroundings – “the screech of traffic and the cries of street vendors, or the endless rumble of machinery... Not to mention the relentless background groan of the city, monstrous and unending.”

The result is absolute tranquility and sooth-

ing calmness.

In Henry’s words: “Silence is not only silence, sir, it is attention – it is sanity. It is sleep for infants, medicine for invalids, rest for the working man – it is money for the man who must think or starve. We build walls to shelter our bodies from the world, but we leave our minds open to assault on every side.”

Silence is indeed golden, but, as Henry soon finds out, it comes with a price, both personal and collective.

The Silence Factory is an intriguing book, its writing stunningly exquisite, its depiction of the mysterious spiders creepy yet memorising, and its detailed examination of the dark and insatiable greed behind the industrialised capital world then – and now – is both captivating and alarming.

Highly recommended.

L-R: Isla, Evie and Frankie. Yarra Junction Primary School held their annual Book Week parade.

Plenty of smiles for Book Week.

The Best Dressed winners for the day.

Grade 3 and 4 students in their costumes.

Nash with mop in hand.

L-R: Mia and Aaliyah as Thing 1 and Thing 2. L-R: Hazel, Willow and Ahlia. (Supplied)

BOOK WEEK

Librarian favourites

What is one of your favourite book collections or series and why?

One of my favourite series is the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness, a young adult sci-fi series - which is surprising because sci-fi isn’t my preferred genre! The book focuses on a community of humans who have resettled on a new planet, where every thought a man has is projected into the world for all to see, known as Noise.

The way Ness writes makes you feel like you’re inside the head of the main character, experiencing every moment alongside them, and the Noise adds a fascinating layer to the storytelling.

The name of this series may sound familiar as the first book was adapted into a movie in 2021, but I feel that the movie does not do justice to a trilogy that has won numerous awards for its analysis of information overload, war, redemption, and the blurring of lines between good and evil.

Emma Jahn, Team Leader

What have been your best reads for the year?

My favourite read so far this year is ‘The Quiet and the Loud’ by Helena Fox. It was shortlisted in the Book of the Year category for Older Readers 2024 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Sometimes you read a book you keep coming back to, and thinking of, months after the reading experience, this is one of those books.

The language is lyrical and the story has pace and is easy to read. I fell into Georgie’s life after the first few sentences. It touches on relevant subjects and it feels very now. It’s set in Sydney during the devastating bushfires 2019-2020 and it touches on topics such as climate change, domestic violence, friendship and first love. It is a coming-of-age story with a LGBTQI+ focus. It’s beautifully crafted with a rich language that brings the characters to life.

Hanna Condon, Children’s Services Officer

Do you read much at home after working in the library all week?

Yes, I do read a lot outside of work. I discover so

A book shop owner’s guide

What’s happening at Verso’s during Book Week?

We love book week! We love being visited by kids in costumes and celebrating the award winners. This year we are giving away $5 to spend instore when kids bring in reviews of their favourite books.

Tell us about some of your favourites on the Children’s Book Council shortlist this year?

If I Was a Horse is delightful and When You’re a Boy is a truly beautiful book. That Bird Has Arms has had us giggling. For older readers all the titles are winners. My daughter adored Grace Notes and The Quiet and the Loud is a staff favourite.

What books have been popular with customers so far in 2024?

There’s a new Andy Griffiths just out - The Land of Lost Things and it’s the first in the Adventures Unlimited series and we are expecting that to be pretty big. Runt, and Wild Robot are both selling really well - because they have both been made into films. Graphic novels and Bluey are still super popular. What have been a couple of your best reads this year?

Hmmm, that’s tough - I loved Tom Lake and

Edenglassie. There are so many great books out this year - so much reading ahead!

Describe the experience of meeting author Bonnie Garmus (Lessons in Chemistry) recently. What was it like?

She was delightful! Very, very down to earth and normal. I tried very hard to convince her to visit Healesville! She was very keen on visiting the Sanctuary and some wineries. She did go rowing on the Yarra at 5am which I found extremely impressive for someone on a whirlwind book tour.

many great books at work that I have piles to get through.

Surprisingly we don’t get much opportunity to read at work as we are too busy putting books away, helping patrons, running events and everything in between.

Orielle Wright, Customer Service Officer

If you could go back in time, which author would you like to talk to about their books? I would like to talk to Jane Austen - her books are romantic with interesting and often complex characters.

The storylines are not overly complicated and she wrote her books in the time-period in which she was living, therefore she would have had a familiar understanding of her characters’ daily lives. Her heroines are smart and clever, her heroes are handsome and wealthy. What’s not to like?

Jeanette Tucker, Customer Service Officer

Mayor gets away with her books

What’s We Come With This Place about?

We Come With This Place by Debra Dank is what she describes as “a strange kind of letter, written to my place.” It is set on Gudanji Country in the NT/ Mt Isa and is a collection of memoirs. Debra is an amazing truth teller, penning many stories of connection to her Country with family, and reflects on the importance of belonging.

There are also threads of lived experience facing racism and adversity, and overcoming this through strength of ancestry. Do you like to read when you are on holiday?

I aspire to read books, but don’t always end up doing it! I have so many council reports and emails to read, I tire out. (Although, I did read my last book during a flight to QLD!)

Do you have a favourite book of all time? Not specifically. I think that as you grow through key life stages, the faves can change. I still, however, remember the Enid Blyton books so vividly since childhood. What is the next book you are going to read?

I’m about to acquire some young goats - I think I’ll have to find a book on how to keep them on the property and out of the veggie gardens!

Entertaining reads are best

What’s one of your favourite books?

Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon. I am actually re-reading it. It’s entertaining and powerful! - Roza

Too many to mention. I like books that I can read out loud and bring the characters to life! -

Tracy

The Famous Five. Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton. The words were very descriptive that helps paint a picture in your head and it was very entertaining! - Vukota

What book character did you go to as in last year’s book week parade?

I went dressed up as someone from The Babysitters Club. - Roza

Little Red Riding Hood, and this year will be just as good, but you will have to wait and see! -

Tracy

I kept The Famous Five theme going and I dressed up as Julian from the book series. - Vukota

Nina Sturgess from Verso Books with That Bird Has Arms and If I Was a Horse. (Stewart Chambers: 422713)

Wattle View Primary School captains Roza and Vukota with principal Tracy Wright. (Stewart Chambers: 425704)

Yarra Ranges Mayor Sophie Todorov’s current read is ‘We Come With This Place’. (Stewart Chambers: 422412)

Mooroolbark Library’s team Orielle Wright, Jeanette Tucker, Emma Jahn and Hanna Condon with a few favourites. (Stewart Chambers: 421598)

BOOK WEEK

Stories of the past chosen

Craig:

What is one of the books you have enjoyed reading this year?

I recently finished The Wild Date Palm by Australian author Diane Armstrong. It’s about espionage set in the Middle East during World War I. It’s a fictional story based upon actual events. It was a riveting read, so much so that I couldn’t put it down and completed it in two days!

Since then I have gone back to re-reading The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence, which is set in the same time and place as The Wild Date Palm.

What’s your favourite biography?

I do prefer biographies, especially about politics. One of my favourites is about Australia’s first Labor Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. It was very interesting and written by Australian author David Day who specialises in historical writings.

Another book that I highly recommend is, One Crowded Hour by Tim Bowden. This is a brilliant read about Australian combat cameraman Neil Davis, who hailed from Tasmania and reported on the Vietnam War.

Pat:

What is one of the books you have enjoyed reading this year?

Under the Foot of the Cherry Tree by Alli Parker, it is her debut novel about forbidden love based on a true story of Australia’s first Japanese war bride. It was easy to read and I connected to a lot of the history. The Parker family spent their Christmas’ at Lillydale lake.

Do you frequent the local libraries?

I do visit a lot, I am an avid reader. I can read one or two books a week! I enjoy going to events such as listening to authors giving talks and looking out for new books too. Craig from the Croquet Club highly recommends The Wild Date Palm so that could be my next read!

A great selection of children’s books, activities

What activities are planned for the library during Book Week?

We will be celebrating book week with Dress Up Storytimes, attendees are welcome and encouraged to dress up as their favourite book on Tuesday 11am (Tinytots zero - 12 months), Wednesday 10.30am (Families zero - six years) and Fri 9.30am (Toddlers one - three years)

Tell us about some of your favourites on the Children’s Book Council shortlist this year?

A favourite for Sharni and Rose would be Paper Flower Girl by Lamond Margrete and Illustrated by Mateja Jager (in the Picture Book of the Year category) this picture book is so beautifully illustrated and written with words that are gentle and yet powerful, I was very encapsulated by it.

Bower Bird Blues by Aura Parker (in the Picture Book of the Year category) is also a big winner for us, it was the National Simultaneous Storytime selection in 2024 and is a lovely story, close to home too as we do get Bower Birds in the area.

It was also great to see Real Pigeon’s Flap Out by Andrew McDonald, we love a graphic novel here at Healesville Library, so much so that we are having a Comics and Cosplay Extravaganza, so it was great to see the inclusion of a graphic novel shortlisted

in the Young Readers category.

What was one of your favourite books when you were a kid?

Rose: Ice Creams for Rosie by Rhonda and David Armitage, I still have my childhood copy at home, though there is a page missing.

If the library could get a few authors to visit, who would you like that to be?

We had to share this question with the team.... Aaron Blabey (author of the Bad Guys Series), Ahn Do (Weirdo and Wolf Girl), Jackie French (Diary of a Wombat) and Bronwyn Bancroft (Coming Home to Country, Colours of Australia)

Are Grug books by Ted Prior still popular?

Rose: Grug is hugely popular! Grug is undeniably an iconic Australian Children’s Book Character, I remember reading Grug when I was a kid, and then to my kids who are all grown up now, and I am still seeing Grug books being borrowed regularly now, so Grug is definitely a multigenerational and enduring character and book series.

Who is your favourite book character and why?

Rose: Oh, this is a hard one! Can I really only pick one? Maybe Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh books. Just because he’s so bouncy and energetic like me.

Many learnings in books

What is your favourite series of books, and why?

My favourite series currently, would be Avatar the Last Airbender graphic novel series.

This is a continuation of the series and development of the characters stories.

The Promise touches on the effects of war, colonisation and how you rebuild once the declaration sounds that the war is over.

The Search is a storyline hinted at in the TV series and through this novel you get to see how it unfolds.

The Rift looks into how actions in the past effect now, the adaptions that can be made so we can honour the past respectfully.

Smoke and shadow, the effect unrest and the threats that can arise inside a nation linking back to the promise about the aftereffects of war.

North and South, you discover that change doesn’t come easy and to get others to open up you may need to open up first.

Imbalance reveals that even when balance is in reach people will find other reasons to discriminate, making someone other to themselves.

What made the TV show great gets expanded on and we get to see the adventures of the beloved characters after the end of the show. With great storytelling they are able to touch on the complicate nature of humans and develop their stories.

What is your favourite book from your childhood, and why?

My favourite childhood books would have to be Emily Rodda’s Deltora Quest series.

This was the series that got me into reading, the characters, adventure, puzzles and more.

I love this series for when I got to the final page of the final book in the series, I experienced that happy sad feeling at the end. For I was with them for the journey, grow with the characters and loved how far they had come but new the adventure was over now, and it was time to put the book down. For I would never get to experience the series again for the first time.

I went to read a great many books after this series some ended with that feeling again some made me want to discover more. There is a

great many feelings and lesson you can gain from the experience when reading a book, a great many things to explore and discover. Is there a book you like to re-read, and why that book?

I could say Deltora quest as I could go on and on about it, as it is one of those books I love to re-read.

Many books I have read, or re-read are fantasy books that have a good map as I love the world building you can discover in them. However, if there is one that I have come back to many times it has to be volume one of One Piece.

As it starts off the epic adventure that Luffy and his crew go on, there are many stories to discover within the page of the manga. I first read it back in the early 2010s, it has only grown from there and is a world phenomenon.

The whole series is exceptional, but the first chapters are where it all began.

What are a few books that are popular with Emerald library readers this year?

Anh do with Wolf Girl, Hotdog and many more of his works Aaron Blabey’s Bad Guys which now has a movie JK Rowling’s Harry Potter is still going strong Tui Sutherland and the Wings of Fire series Then Lessons in Chemistry is the book that I have seen the most circulation with the most holds and how many times I see it come in and go again.

Healesville Library’s Rose Herring and Sharni Steel are so pleased to see Bower Bird Blues in the picture book of the year category. (Stewart Chambers: 423132)

Emerald Library branch manager Siobhan Steele’s favourite series is Avatar the Last Airbender. (Stewart Chambers: 417183)

Craig McCracken and Pat West from Lilydale Croquet Club with their most recent reads. (Stewart Chambers: 423131)

Gambling still rife today

By Maria Millers

Human fascination with gambling shows no signs of abating, transcending generations, borders, and backgrounds.

It influences all forms of culture and media, from literature to movies, television, radio, and the news.

Perhaps because life itself is risk taking, it’s not surprising that gambling of one kind or another is not something that has emerged recently but can be traced back to ancient cultures and even Indigenous Australians enjoyed gambling games.

Gambling was rife across all classes in early colonial society: cockfighting, dice, card games and Two Up, still a part of Anzac Day commemorations.

The phrase, Come in Spinner is still used in Australia today, often in a nostalgic or colloquial context, sometimes to describe situations involving chance or uncertainty.

But it was during the Gold Rushes with new found wealth that saw many gambling practices take hold. It also saw the beginnings of Turf Clubs and our passion for betting on horse racing.

In Something for the Pain: A Memoir of the Turf Gerald Murnane explores his love for horse racing, reflecting on our continuing preoccupation with racing from Country Races to the Melbourne Cup extravaganza, where outcomes are always uncertain, much like the course of our lives.

Australians lose over $3 billion annually on horseracing bets.

WOORILLA WORDS

This loss is part of a broader gambling industry in Australia, where total gambling losses exceed $25 billion annually across all forms of gambling, including poker machines, lotteries, and sports betting.

In Dead Souls’, Nikolai Gogol wrote, “The only man who makes money following the races is one who does it with a broom and shovel.”

The ritual of buying a weekly Tatts Lotto ,Powerball etc, or the instant gratification of a scratchie is of course still a form of gambling but many don’t see this as such and Australians spend approximately $7-8 billion annually just on lottery products, The appeal of large jackpots and the relatively low cost of entry make lotteries a widespread form of gambling in our country.

Both Commonwealth and State governments derive significant revenue from gambling through taxes and levies. Collectively, they earn around $6-7 billion annually from gaming machines, lotteries, racing casinos and increasingly since 1996

from sports betting.

The money is diverted to many areas including health, education, public infrastructure, sporting and arts and culture. Ironically also to problem gambling programs.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that Australians hold the dubious honour of being the highest gamblers in the world.

A loss of this revenue would without doubt reflect on services we receive.

Somehow the taxes inherent in gambling revenue are accepted but any suggestion of increasing other taxes is met with an outcry.

And this is the dilemma our governments face when confronted with irrefutable evidence of the damage done to our youth with online betting during sporting events.

Smartphones and tablets let young people gamble at any time, day or night, away from any parental supervision.

The recently released report by the late Peta Murphy leaves no doubt of the seriousness of youth online sports betting.

Most of us can have the odd flutter on a horse or on the pokies at the local pub or club and walk away But not all of us are wired in the same way and for some an addiction takes hold and ends in broken relationships, criminal activity and a life destroyed.

We should remove the shame and stigma from people who become addicted, because they are often vulnerable in the first place. And it’s an industry that preys particularly on vulnerable people.

As Kenny Rogers sings in The Gambler You got to know when to hold’em, Know when to fold’em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run.

In her poem Horses Gayelene Carbis paints a sympathetic picture of her Aunt born with a disability, always broke, never fitting in and turning for solace to gambling on horses.

Carbis is critical of her Aunt’s gambling but ultimately understanding.

My Aunt often had no money for rent, everything went on the races, and Paterson’s and Williamson’s cakes and pies and pasties, which she’d eat but mostly give away, to us.

She’d always loved horses, wanted to be a horse-breaker, like her father, but being a girl, horses galloped away from her.

Carbis is critical of her aunt’s obsession yet ultimately understanding.

We all hated the incessant sound of that transistor, hated how she kept blowing her money on those horses, even hated those horses who took her away from us, we judged her for her neglect and her carelessness, the lacks in her love.

Yet who knows what love went into those bets, those trifectors, who knows what hope of solace and salvage of self in choosing that winning horse to come home. Gayelene Carbis is the judge for the Louise Rockne Youth Category of the Woorilla Poetry Prize, 2024. Woorilla Poetry Prize will be running a virtual poetry event on Tuesday 27 August at 6.30. Visit woorilla.org.au

Meta’s claims about news on Facebook is ‘fake news’

In the first half of 2024, one-third of Australians accessed Facebook for news, a new study reveals.

The finding contradicts Meta’s long-standing assertion that news content is a minor part of the Facebook experience for most Australian users.

Meta has previously used this claim to justify its decision to abandon commercial agreements with local publishers.

The implications of this are significant for the local journalism landscape, especially for the more than 230 newspapers who are part of Country Press Australia, the association representing the interests of regional and rural newspapers across the country.

The research emphasises the essential role that news media plays in Australia, particularly how regional newspapers contribute to offering balanced and precise news coverage.

More than 40 per cent of Australians cited news access as a key motivator for their daily social media activity, with this tendency more noticeable among Gen Z and millennials at 60 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively.

Country Press Australia President Andrew Schreyer said there were significant industry challenges ahead, and forecast potential closures of up to 50 member outlets as current agreements under the News Media Bargaining Code with Meta near their expiration.

The study also found that while overall Facebook usage is waning, half of the Australians still turn to social media for news, with 25 per cent using it as their primary news source.

These findings starkly contradict Meta’s position that news is a minimal component of the content seen by Australians on its platforms, which Meta claimed represents less than three per cent of the total.

This study, initiated by News Corp and conducted by Dynata, refutes those statements.

This research release aligns with the media industry’s wait on the Albanese government’s decision regarding Meta’s obligations under the News Media Bargaining Code, which might compel Meta to negotiate compensation for content with news providers.

Meta has threatened to block Australian news content should these costs be enforced.

In an article published in The Australian on Monday, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller expressed concerns over Meta’s threats to remove news content, potentially replacing it with less reliable sources. He also criticised Meta for its lack

of accountability.

The study shows strong public support for social media responsibility, with 85 per cent of Australians agreeing that platforms should prevent the spread of false or harmful information.

Without trustworthy journalism, 66 per cent believe the societal impact would be negative, anticipating increases in misinformation and decreased media diversity. Mr Miller highlighted the significant impact these findings have on public understanding and the obligations of

large tech companies, criticising Meta for avoiding transparency.

This analysis of 2,500 Australians confirms the integral role of social media in their news consumption habits, countering Meta’s underestimations of news relevance on its platform, and exposing the misleading nature of its claims. Mr Schreyer further highlighted the implications for democracy.

“Democracy in areas without local news is lost. Who is going to stand up to a council deci-

sion that doesn’t meet the pub test? Who is going to shine a light on issues when people don’t have a big enough voice to get their message out?

“The research underscores the vital role that regional newspapers play in providing accurate and diverse perspectives.

“As Australians show a growing dissatisfaction with Meta, the study reaffirms the importance of maintaining a strong and independent local press to ensure accountability and transparency within communities.”

Country Press Association president Andrew Schreyer.

Pre-war life

By Janice Newton

Online copies of the Lilydale Express allow us to imagine life in Mt Evelyn pre-First World War, just over 120 years ago.

1913 was a year when significant subdivisions took place in Mt Evelyn, the hamlet was almost destroyed by fire and the Evelyn Progress Association took seriously the promotion of their home as a ‘pretty pleasure resort’.

The Progress Association successfully lobbied for a change of the township name to Mt Evelyn ‘as the name “Evelyn” does not convey any of the beauties and natural advantages of this place as a tourist resort’ (July 11).

They also asked that the obsolete name ‘Olinda Vale’, referring to the former village settlement between Swansea Road and Olinda Creek, should be eliminated from official maps.

Three properties were divided into weekend blocks and purchasers were busy erecting dwellings.

A dentist from Windsor, Mr Alfred Stevens, sold his Mt Evelyn Estate near the station, divided into half-acre £20 blocks.

A fire in early February 1913 almost destroyed this budding destination.

The Evelyn correspondent reported in the Lilydale Express on 7 February:

‘Starting from Fossey’s scrub, 300 yards from Mr Scott’s Evelyn Park … (the fire) burnt a quantity of Mr Clancy’s fencing, and aided by the strong northerly wind, it jumped the (Silvan-Monbulk) road and attacked the scrub on the other side.

Two of the old camps were destroyed and the flames made their way to Starr’s stables... The

fire then crossed the railway line and over the (O’Shannassy) aqueduct, carrying all before it and destroying hundreds of pounds of timber in its course.

It then skirted Stevens’ Mt Evelyn Estate, ran across the Olinda Creek and through Angeline’s ‘Valinda Park’. A clean sweep was made of the orchard and the homestead was threatened, but Mr Fairleigh, with the owner’s assistance, made a fire break and thus saved the place.

In the evening the wind freshened, and the fire attacked the scrub around the water scheme.

All the contractor’s staff turned out… put in fire breaks and with water from the aqueduct saved the fences.

Then the flames madly rushed in the direction of Pendlebury’s but a change in the wind turned them over the road to McAlister’s.

The building was soon surrounded by burning grass and trees and the verandah caught.

Fortunately … the building was saved. Howarth’s sawmill, next to McAllister’s, was next attacked and over £30 worth of newly sawn firewood destroyed.

Then the flames spread towards the school, but a band of volunteers prevented their encroachment upon the grounds.

During all this the South Wandin (Silvan Monbulk) road between the state school and Pendlebury’s, was impassable. It was an avenue of fire and smoke, the huge trees on either side being crowned with flames and emitting millions of sparks.

At eleven o’clock… rain began to fall and all danger was passed.’

Not enough new ideas

Alien: Romulus Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson and Archie Renaux Rated MA15+

3.75/5

Directed by Fede Alvarez, Alien: Romulus is an enthralling, superbly-made sci-fi horror film that sadly retreads the Alien franchise too closely.

Rain (Cailee Spaeny), a young woman on a mining colony planet, joins a group of scavengers onthederelictRomulusspacestation,onlytoface the most deadly lifeform in the universe.

Returning to the visceral horror of Alien but with sprinklings of Aliens action, Romulus is undeniably an extremely well-crafted film, and Alvarez maintains gripping suspense both from the xenomorph alien menace and the ticking clock of Romulus station’s slow crash-course to the planet below.

Spaeny is a compelling lead as Rain, striking justtherightbalanceofbraveandpetrified.Rain’s android brother Andy (David Jonsson) is a sweet, almostpatheticfigurewhogrowsunsettlingashis cold corporate programming takes over.

Romulusisfullofamazinganimatronics,miniatures and claustrophobic sets, with much of the effects team having worked on Aliens.

The art direction shows that your setting can be dark and grungy but also richly-colourful (something many modern filmmakers have forgotten), and takes clear creative cues from the acclaimed2014videogameAlien:Isolation(technically,thisisamuchbettervideogamemoviethan Borderlands).

A new entry in a franchise should thread the needle of satisfying fans and presenting new ideas, and Romulus sadly doesn’t have enough of the latter.

The first act feels like an effective soft reboot, but the rest of the film features overt callback to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant and Alien: Resurrection, along with the distracting return of a character from Alien.

CARTOON

Balkan brass to perform

Burrinja theatre

Opa Bato! – Like at the Lyre Opa Bato! Is the only Trubacki Orkestar in Australia performing authentic contemporary Balkan brass music from the rich traditions of Serbia, Macedonia and beyond.

The distinctive music of the Balkans is the result of European and Eastern musical traditions meeting and cross-pollinating over many centuries.

Southern Serbia is home to the Trubacki Orkestar, also heard in the wider Balkan region and now the rest of Europe and beyond.

While there are slow and evocative ballads, the music id often fast, frenetic and compelling danceable, with energetic rhythms , soaring melodies and wild Turkish-influenced improvisations.

• Season: Friday 6 September at 8pm. 1812 theatre in association with Redfox Theatre Company

Coherence

Australian Premiere – Strictly Limited Season.

A group of friends gather together for a dinner party where relationship tensions and secrets sizzle below the surface.

But when a comet passes close to Earth, it shuts down power supplies and phone connections, plunging the evening into metaphysical chaos.

• Season: 5 – 14 September.

Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Clue on Stage

The classic board game is brought to life in Clue on Stage. Six guests are invited to a dinner party thrown by an anonymous host.

They are given aliases - Colonel Mustard, Mrs White, Mr Green, Mrs Peacock, Professor Plum and Miss Scarlett.

Though discouraged from revealing personal information, it is soon discovered that all of them

have fallen victim to the same blackmailer, their very host of the evening.

Each is presented with a weapon and an option, pay their extortionist double or kill the innocent butler. What follows is a madcap, slapstick evening full of murder, mystery and laughs as they seek to puzzle out the culprit among criminals.

• Season: 5 – 13 September.

Victorian Opera Presents Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street Once there was a barber who had it all – a happy life, a beautiful wife.

But it all ended in a savage act of betrayal.

Enter Sweeney Todd, from haunting melodies of Stephen Sondheim to the chilling narrative by Hugh Wheeler, this production explores the transformation of an once-content barber into the infamous ‘demon barber’, a suave and perilous figure with a desire for vengeance. Sweeney Todd tells the gruesome story of a man living life by the razor’s edge.

This spine-chilling musical thriller will transport audiences to the dark heart of London’s Fleet Street.

Where betrayal, vengeance and dark comedy intertwine.

• Season: 14 – 21 September.

• Venue: Playhouse Theatre. Arts Centre Melbourne.

PROPERTY

MAGNIFICENT SETTING ON 2 PLUS ACRES

MAGNIFICENT SETTING ON 2 PLUS ACRES

IN the beautiful Yarra Valley is an area named Steels Creek. This property on 2 plus acres with a 3-bedroom character weatherboard, is located there. It’s perfectly positioned and set up for a horse or two with 3 paddocks, one dam and a massive 3 car shed. The house has a lovely front verandah and captures the beautiful views out over the property and nearby hills.

With enchanting views from the verandas, the house is light and bright throughout with floor to ceiling windows in most rooms, maximising the views. The open plan lounge/ dining/ family area will be temperate yearround with the ambiance of wood heating as well as reverse cycle split-systems throughout. The family area leads to a well-equipped kitchen with high quality appliances and excellent storage features including large a pantry cupboard, double sink, 900mm oven and dishwasher.

There are two good size bedrooms both with built in robes and a good size main bedroom with views out over the property. The stylish ensuite and large walk-in robe is a must. Opposite the two bedrooms is a well-appointed family bathroom with separate shower and bath and separate toilet.

As you step outside onto the decking, you’ll be able to sit back with a glass of Chardonnay, take in the views and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that this property offers. Outside features include a horse arena 28.0 x 10.5 metres, 3 car shed 9.0 x 9.0 metres with cosy wood heater (ideal man cave), water tanks and much more.

This property is beautifully quiet and secluded and has all the conveniences of the Yarra Glen township just a short drive away. Arrange your viewing today, because opportunities like this are rare.

RIGHT OUT OF A MAGAZINE

SITTING pretty on a private 30 acres, this impressive home offers a stylish and sophisticated design, blending earthy timber tones, recycled red brick and striking dark Colorbond features to create that “wow” factor you have been searching for.

As you enter the home you are welcomed into your central living space; soaring high ceilings draw your eyes up and an abundance of windows flood the home with natural light to create a sense of space and volume. The kitchen is truly magazine worthy, boasting sleek black and contrasting timber soft close cabinetry, striking engineered stone benchtops and splash-backs, induction cooktop and electric Westinghouse oven, LG dishwasher, an abundance of storage and a huge island bench and breakfast bar with waterfall benchtops and feature pendant light. The separate butlers pantry features a Bosche steam oven and even more storage. The adjoining second living area is currently configured as a second lounge and home office, boasting an abundance of built-in storage so you can store away all the kids toys, games and bits and bobs with ease.

There are four bedrooms in total, the master suite is separately zoned from the kids bedrooms for peace and privacy, complete with views across the pool, a fully fitted walk-in wardrobe, stunning ensuite bathroom with solid concrete and Vic Ash double vanity, this is a true parents retreat. The three secondary bedrooms all have built in robes and are serviced by the spacious family bathroom with free standing bath. For year-round comfort there is two woodfires, 6 split-systems and ceiling fans.

Outside the embellishments continue, the huge decked and covered outdoor area is an entertainers dream. Huge stacker doors open from the living area to create a true indooroutdoor living and allow you to host even the largest of family gatherings comfortably year-round. Sit back and relax on the deck whilst you watch the kids run and play on the expansive lawn areas or burn some energy on the playground. In the warmer months (or cooler ones if you are brave) enjoy the above ground

solar heated salt-chlorinate pool.

If you have a green thumb, there are raised vegetable gardens ready for next seasons seeds. The vegetable gardens, lawn and landscaped gardens surrounding the home all have an irrigation system with a timer. For the toys, tools, caravan, cars, trailers and/or more, there is a huge 16m x 18m high

rise Colorbond shed. Complete with concrete floor, power, kitchenette with hot water, toilet, workshop and/or storage space, built in cabinetry and separate generator room. This is the shed of all sheds! If this wasn’t enough, there is also a double oversized garage under roofline, a separate machinery shed and an abundance of secure off-street parking.

This property has been carefully considered and designed to be completely off the grid, there is a 40Kw solar array with a total of 27Kwh battery storage and also an 11kva generator. There is also a total of 205,000L of water storage. This property is one you need to see to believe, inspect with absolute confidence.

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED

WHEN an opportunity arises like this, you simply cannot let it pass – This property, sitting on a flat, sunny and fully useable 2398m2 block is an absolute must see for those looking to purchase in the extremely sought after Belgrave South community.

With dual road access (Mt Morton and Lockwood), the home is perfectly positioned on the block giving you a large sweeping front yard with circular driveway and extra parking bay along with a large rear garden where children can play safely and there is still room for extra shedding for those who are needing extra storage (STCA).

With a 1960’s vintage, the home was built for family living. Modest yet spacious and extremely versatile, the floorplan has endless possibilities that will suit those who are looking to renovate and make it their own.

Three bedrooms can be found at one end of the home, along with a bathroom, separate toilet and also a home office whilst the kitchen/meals area has good cupboard space and has been well maintained in its original

fit out.

The main family room has a certain wow factor as you enter the home: Oversized and with mid-century touches, this is the perfect living room for a growing family. You can find another living room, or potentially a fourth bedroom overlooking a side patio area and private garden.

A double garage under roofline has been well converted into an excellent workshop / home office plus single garage space and comes complete with heightened ceiling and direct internal access to the home, allowing this excellent floorplan to just keep growing.

Ducted heating, split system heating / cooling and a gas log fireplace are certainly enough to keep you cool or cosy – whatever the weather may be!

Enjoy all that this outstanding property has to offer plus plenty of potential to grow and expand as you need.

WITHIN walking distance to Belgrave South Primary School, and with a bus stop almost at your front door, this opportunity will not last long!

SuzieBrannelly

TIME FOR A CHANGE OF SCENERY

HERE’S your chance to finally secure your weekend getaway or a great family home, situated in picturesque and private surroundings on a large block it’s the ideal place to slow down and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle.

The home offers a flexible floorplan with bedrooms spread over 2 levels, the spacious living/lounge area looks out to the colourful treed outlook. A great size kitchen with plenty of bench and cupboard space plus a separate meals area and formal dining area.

Head outside and immerse yourself in the outdoors and explore and enjoy the surrounds with established gardens and pathways to meander around, entertain all year round with a covered area ideally positioned to enjoy and admire the filtered valley views and treed backdrop.

A great property that offers the whole family a great lifestyle with plenty of space to enjoy.

FantasticYarraValleyViews

Greatviewstoadmireallyearroundthisneatandmuchlovedpropertyis agreatplacetocall home.Offering 3bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobes,thespaciouslounge/livingareaistheidealspot tositbackandadmiretheeverchangingYarraValleyviews,a freshkitchenprovidesamplebench andcupboardspaceplus amealsarea.Relaxandtakeintheoutdoorswiththecoveredfront deckprovidingoutsideentertainingallyearround.A greatpositionina soughtafterareaand convenientlysituatedjust ashortwalktolocalschools,shopsandtransportandclosebythewalking trail,it’s agreatfamilyhome.

GreatValuein aGreatLocation

Ideallylocatedjust astonesthrowfromtheYarraRiverthispositionissuperb.Thehomeoffers2 bedroomsplusa smallstudyarea,thespaciouslounge/livingarealooksouttothefrontverandah andestablishedgardens.Thekidsandpetswilllovethefrontandrearyardssittingonapprox. 800sqmoflevelusableland,a greatpropertyofferinggreatvaluein aconvenientandpicturesque locationsituatedjust ashortstrolltolocalschools,shopstransportandthewalkingtrailandwiththe YarraRiverclosebyit’stheidealspotsitback,relaxandenjoythepicturesqueandcolorfullocation. 1RonaldGrove,Millgrove $560,000-$590,000

Charming 3BedroomHomewithBreathtakingMountainViews Discovertheperfectblendofcomfortandnaturalbeautyinthisdelightful3 bedroom,2 bathroom home.Enjoypanoramicvistasofthemajesticmountainsrightfromyourdoorstep.Beautifully landscapedgardensoffera tranquilretreatand aspaceforoutdoorenjoyment.Threewellsized bedroomsandtwobathroomscatertoyourfamily’sneeds.Largeopenplankitchen/diningwhich islightandbrightjusttocompletetheidealsettingwithinthehome,immaculatelykept,thishomeis readyandwaitingforyou.Easyaccesstopublictransportforyourcommutingconvenience,nearby trailsandpathsforoutdoorenthusiastsandnaturelovers.Convenientlylocatednearlocalshops forallyoureverydayneeds.Thiswellmaintainedgemisa toppickforthoseseekinga cosy,scenic retreatwithallthemodernconveniences.

CharmingCharacterHomewithSpaciousLivingandPrimeLocation Thischarmingcharacterhomeoffersanabundanceofcomfortandpracticality.Featuringthree invitingbedrooms,anupdatedbathroom,a dedicatedstudy,andtwospaciouslivingareas, there’splentyofroomtomakethisspaceyourown.Thekitchenisgenerouslysized,boastingample cupboardandbenchspaceforallyourculinaryneeds.Outside,you’llfind adoublegaragewitha concretefloorandpower,a largecarportthataccommodatesthreecarsandbotha woodshed andgardenshedforadditionalstorage.Theimmaculatelymaintained,fullyfencedgardensaddto theoverallappealofthissuperneatpackage.Stepintothemarket,downsizeormoveawayfrom thehustleandbustleandenjoythesemiruralfeelofthishome.

PRIVATE AND STYLISH FAMILY HILLS HIDEAWAY

NESTLED on approximately half an acre of native garden, this lovely home offers complete tranquility and privacy. Thoughtfully designed for family living, it features a functional floor plan perfect for larger or growing families.

Upon entering, you are welcomed into a spacious living area, complete with a split system and ceiling fan for year-round comfort. This space is ideal for relaxing in the afternoons while enjoying the views from the large windows.

The heart of the home is the kitchen and meals area, which is a chef’s delight. It boasts a stainless steel 900mm oven, dishwasher, pressed metal splash-back, breakfast bar, and an adjoining formal dining room. For added convenience, there is a separate lounge room, giving kids their own space to enjoy.

The master suite offers a generous walk-in robe and an ensuite bathroom with a double vanity. Bedroom two is located off a second door to the ensuite, making it an ideal nursery if needed. The other three bedrooms, each with built-in robes, are located in a separate zone and are serviced by the family bathroom and toilet. Additionally, the home features a spacious laundry with external access to a covered rear decking.

Recent updates include new carpets, fresh paint inside and out, and new blinds, making this home move-in ready.

Outside, a spacious entertaining area overlooks the gardens and distant valley views, providing an ideal space to host friends and family during the warmer months.

A separate studio offers versatility, perfect for a private home office, studio, or whatever suits your needs.

For gardening enthusiasts, there are vegetable gardens ready for the next season’s seeds and a variety of fruit trees scattered across the property. The remaining portion of the 2,024 sqm block offers a blank canvas for future projects.

The property features a partially sealed driveway, dual road access, and a flat landing area, offering ample off-street parking and potential for a garage and carport, subject to council approval.

Conveniently located near the Cockatoo and Emerald townships, schools, public transport, parkland, restaurants, and cafes are all within easy reach. This property truly offers the best of both worlds. Make sure to put this one at the top of your list. Access via Lowen Road.

HOME FOCUS

RENOVATED HOME IN HISTORIC POWELLTOWN

NESTLED on the edge of the enchanting timber town of Powelltown, 1515 Little Yarra Road awaits, offering you the perfect blend of historic charm and modern appeal. Immerse yourself in the beauty of towering gums, the majestic tree ferns, state forests, and scenic trails right at your doorstep.

This stunning property has been meticulously rebuilt from the ground up, ensuring a seamless blend of modern style and contemporary comfort. No detail has been spared, with new plaster, walls, floors, electrical wiring, guttering, bathroom, kitchen, flooring, and even a cozy wood heater to warm your evenings. It is just like brand new.

Step into the heart of the home, where a gourmet kitchen awaits featuring a 900mm Smeg cooker, ample cupboard space, and generous countertops – a chef’s dream come true. The spacious layout flows effortlessly into the dining area, creating an inviting space for gatherings and relaxation.

As you explore further, discover the added convenience of an extra powder room, a European laundry and a delightful deck at the rear, perfect for enjoying the peace and tranquillity that surrounds you.

Outside, on 2.5 acres (approx.) of wellmaintained parklike gardens and trees, you’ll find yourself surrounded by nature’s beauty. Towering tree ferns and established trees create a picturesque backdrop, while the Little Yarra River gently meanders along the back boundary, providing a serene soundtrack to your everyday life. There is still plenty of cleared space to make good use of such as veggie gardens or plant more fruit trees to compliment the established ones that are already there..

No all properties have a pavilion but there is one here. The uses are all in the eyes of the beholder from an outdoor entertainment area, a games room for billiards or table tennis or maybe even an extra space for hobbies. The garage has had a long life but again with some work could be created into a very useful workshop or storage space.

Don’t miss this opportunity to own your own piece of paradise in Powelltown. Whether you’re seeking a weekend retreat or a forever home, 1515 Little Yarra Road offers the perfect sanctuary to unwind and embrace the beauty of nature while not having to spend time renovating. Schedule your viewing today and let this be the start of your next chapter in blissful living in this idyllic retreat.

PUZZLES

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 Flower (5)

4 Mitigation (9)

9 Thespian (5)

10 Banishment (9)

11 Chore (6)

12 Flirt (8)

14 Railway vehicle (10)

15 Freckle (3)

17 Vegetable (3)

19 Credit card brand (10)

23 Of late (8)

24 Carefree (6)

26 Partner (9)

27 Intending (coll) (5)

28 Ancient Greece’s so-called father of history (9)

29 Cleverly escape (5)

DOWN 1 Stopping devices (6)

2 Canadian province (7)

3 Napoleonic battle (7) 4 Riding (4)

5 Permitted (10)

6 Obliteration (7)

7 Had being (7)

8 Fierce storms (8)

13 Adviser (10)

16 Come nearer to (8)

18 Plaintiff (7)

19 Imperiled (7)

20 Toiletry (7)

21 Domed building (7)

22 Caesar (6)

25 Scottish loch (4)

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

Entries open

By Anita Prowse

The Midweek Dressage Winter Series concluded on Wednesday at Shirley Heights EC in the most gorgeous sunshine, the next Spring Series Round 1 entries are now available on Event Secretary, starting on September 11 2024 with Round 2 and 3 on October 16 and November 20.

UYPC have their second Poles and Jumping Clinic on September 22, with entries filling up very quickly please get on it quickly if you wish to attend as a lead-up to the Freshmans Series on Saturday October 5, Cup Day Tuesday November 5 and Saturday November 23 2024.

UYARC are holding their Annual Dressage In The Valley event at Wesburn Park on Saturday 26 October, entries are open now via

On a more upsetting note, the Upper Yarra Pony Club have yet again been getting complaints about dogs in the Equestrian Area that are not on leads, or in their owners control, being hostile and rude when asked to control their dogs or move out of the area. This is incredibly disappointing to continually be happening, and I again urge anyone being threatened or abused to call 000 if you feel you are in danger and immediately report the incident to Yarra Ranges Council.

Please keep an eye on your ponies/horses prone to foundering from now on as the warmer weather has certainly sparked lots of new growth around.

Happy Riding everyone.

Course conditions return to pleasant at Warburton

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.V’s:

No comp again this week but most of the Ladies who are away will return in the next couple of weeks. Of the handful who did play, it must be noted that the ever-improving Georgia Houniet returned a superb 20 points for her 9-hole round. Smooth as saffron, Georgie, keep up the good form.

Wednesday 14 August, Stableford:

A great week of weather has literally transformed the course from a tough, unyielding enemy of most golfers to a pleasant friend. At the top of the heap is long-standing member Noel Cross who played off 9 on this day. Noel’s 42 superb points meant that he shot 72 off the stick. Great shooting, Crossy. To demonstrate how impressive this effort was runner-up Joshua Hin claimed that voucher with a creditable 37 points but 5 behind Noel. With these scores posted, not surprisingly, the ball rundown only reached 34. NTPs went home this week with Andy Lockey (3rd), Steuart Hawke (9th) and Your Loyal Scribe who snared two on the 12th &andthe 15th.( A feat he has never achieved in 40+ years of Warburton G.C. Membership, had to be a fluke).

Saturday 17 August, Par:

With a dump of precipitation the day before, those conditions did not appear to alter the friendly state from the mid-week course. This was quite evident once again, in the winning scores posted on this day. An impressive +4 meant that Peter Fox had the equivalent of 40 Stableford points, to take home the top voucher. But, Peter’s win was not without a close countback, because our runner-up, Andrew McMath, also posted a fine +4, to consider himself unlucky not to be taking home

the top prize. In an interesting aside, the ball countdown only reached square on this day. Another interesting fact to note was the NTP results. You would have noted that Your Loyal Scribe did some rare bragging about his two NTP wins on the same day last Wednesday, snf just to put that achievement in the shade, Troy Murphy achieved one better. Troy picked up three of them this day and they were for super tee-shots on the 3rd, the 5th and the 15th. That is truly a memorable achievement, Troy. There were two other NTPs on offer, and they were taken home by Clinton Toohey 9th) and Lee Creedy (12th).

Pleasant conditions returned to the Warburton Golf Club. (File)

This week’s Horse Talk. (Supplied)

Event Secretary.

Grand final glory for juniors

By Dongyun Kwon

Healesville Junior Football Club (HJFC) lifted two trophies at the end of the 2024 season.

Two teams, U14 Girls and U13 Boys, wrapped up the season with the premiership on Sunday 11 August.

Healesville U14 Girls: Never let your guard down as past success doesn’t guarantee future success

HJFC U14 Girls is the only team who has won the premiership consecutively out of the three teams from HJFC who won the premiership last year.

Although the coach Shane Newsome is happy with the result of winning the premiership, he said winning is not everything in sports.

“I would definitely consider our season to be a successful one, but as a coach, I don’t base success purely on the wins and losses,” he said.

“It’s great to win, but to watch the girls develop their fundamentals throughout the year and more importantly create some great friendships and memories together is what it is all about.”

Despite the great success last year, Newsome didn’t let his guard down because he knew past success doesn’t guarantee future success.

The coach said he discussed the goals for the season with the team, and the team set small milestones each week to keep themselves moving forward.

“I asked the team what they wanted to focus on and what they wanted to stand for, and the girls said they wanted to be competitive, hardworking, good sports and respectful,” Newsome said.

“Then we would break them down and the girls would offer their suggestions. The girls worked on themselves as much as they did on their game.

“We would set small milestones each week. Round 1, starting the season with a win, round 2, winning an away game, round 3, not losing at home.”

Following the milestones of each week, the girls could keep themselves motivated during the whole season and ended up finishing up the season invincible.

“To go undefeated for the year was never a goal of ours, but to ‘stay where our feet are’ was,” Newsome said.

The team faced some adversities over the season but they learnt from them rather than just got frustrated.

Newsome said one of the challenges was dealing with injuries.

“We had a few injuries throughout the year, which gave the girls a sense of perspective and the knowledge that you never actually know when it would be your last time you are either playing, training or just hanging with your friends,” he said.

“With that, the girls were able to enjoy and cherish every moment together as if it was their last.

“We had a close win against Mount Evelyn which was somewhat controversial. It was great for the team to come so close to a loss, as you can learn so much more from a loss than you can from a victory.”

HJFC U14 Girls defeated Upwey Tecoma in the semi-final with a score of 44:8 and Wesburn in the grand final with a score of 40:6.

“The girls were enthusiastic all year, the love and the care they show for each other was a major contributor to our successful season,” Newsome said.

“I know that our coaching staff felt very blessed to be involved with the team and to be able to create some memories with them all.”

HJFC U13 Boys: Eight years of bond finally came to fruition

HJFC U13 Boys finally won the premiership for the first time after the frustrations of the last two years.

The team have been together for about eight years through which they could build up a strong camaraderie.

Lee D’Alterio has coached the boys from the Auskick level.

The coach said the team have played competitive football for three years as the competitive football with the ladders and finals starts from under 11.

“We made it to the finals in the last two seasons but we lost at the preliminary final both times,” D’Alterio said.

“Two years ago, we lost by one point, and last year, we lost by over a couple of goals.”

The experience of two failures at the finals gave the team a lesson ‘You need to bring everything when it comes to finals’, which led them to glory this year.

“You need to be really focused on the game. You need to be competitive, determined and physical,” the coach said.

“You can get easily beaten when you don’t expect it.”

HJFC U13 Boys had only one loss during the season, and dramatically Mount Evelyn, the only team who defeated the Healesville boys, became the opponent for the grand final.

D’Alterio said the biggest crisis of his team this year was the loss against Mount Evelyn.

“That reset our season. That showed us that it wasn’t going to be easy and we needed to work very hard towards the grand final,” he said.

“We’ve got a good rivalry with Mount Evelyn. Every time we play against them, it’s a good challenge.

“We beat them twice during the year and they beat us once.”

The focus of the team was improvement and enjoyment.

The team trained for an hour and a half on Thursday afternoon focusing on fitness, skills and game planning.

“This season was very enjoyable, and the boys put a lot of effort in,” D’Alterio said.

“It was good for their hard work to pay off.”

HJFC U13 Boys beat Emerald in the semi-final scoring 103 points while not losing any point, and Mount Evelyn in the grand final with a score of 44:8.

HJFC U13 Boys with the trophy and gold medal. (BH Photography)

The invincible, HJFC U14 Girls. (BH Photography)

SPORT

Ready for final showdown

By Brendan Donovan

What a morning for the Woori Yallock Football Netball Club.

The Under 18 boys got the win over Seville and have completed a great season under coach Scott Muir, finishing in top spot, the boys have really found their mojo in the last month.

Final scores Seville 2.4, 16 defeated by Woori Yallock 18.13, 121. No best players were selected.

The morning got better when the senior women’s football got home in a great contest with Warburton-Millgrove to reach the grand final its first year. The girls dug deep in slippery conditions to hold off an equally determined Warby.

Final scores Woori Yallock 3.3, 21 defeated Warburton-Millgrove 2.4,16. Top Tigers were India James, Sky Wilson, Casey Wright, Emily Spicer, Keren Wakefield and Piper Crymble.

The Ressies notched up 4 wins in a row as they keep their finals hopes alive against a strong Emerald team, the boys have done a great job to put themselves in the slot, it all comes down to this week.

Final scores Emerald 4.7, 31 defeated by Woori Yallock 9.9, 63. Top Tigers were Pierce Jenkin, Hamish Gemmill, Sam Carlton, Matthew Cliff, Tom Kear and Marcus Baxter.

In the netball, the A and C grade sides had tough losses with the B team getting the deal

done again and the C side clinching a close one.

Scores:

• A Grade: Emerald 70 defeated Woori Yallock 48. Top Tigers were Gaby Clarke, Chelsea Smith and Amelia Findlay

• B Grade: Emerald 58 defeated by Woori Yallock 88. Top Tigers were Jaymee Tough, Emily Sem-

ple and Rebecca Course.

• C Grade: Emerald 26 defeated by Woori Yallock 28. Top Tigers were Jessica Ford, Emmerson Alford, and Remmi Corbett.

• D Grade: Emerald 43 defeated Woori Yallock 10. Top Tigers were Connie Mercuri, Cassidy McInnes and Megan Britton.

The senior football was a tough contest with Emerald really bringing some fight, the first half ebbed and flowed but it was the third quarter that blew the game open with Woori holding a comfortable lead at the last break. To Emerald’s credit, they came out and made the most of Woori’s mis-

takes though the Tigers would end up holding on to a comfortable win.

No injuries were a bonus as the club heads to Pakenham next week for the last home and away game, there sure is plenty to play for.

Final scores Emerald 12.12, 84 defeated by Woori Yallock 17.9, 112. Top Tigers were Liam Odea, Zach Monkhorst, Jason Lindgren, Taylor Gibson, Robert Allen and Kane Thompson.

The Senior Women play their grand final on Sunday at Kilsyth vs Monbulk which is sure to be a great spectacle.

Wandin turn on the style ahead of September

Some good weather, Sponsors Day festivities and the smell of September greeted the Wandin faithful on Saturday afternoon. But although it was a fast start it was also an inaccurate one from the Bulldogs meaning that a quarter dominated wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.

And it was the second quarter where an energised Gembrook side looked to challenge the most, clearance specialist Damian Volta instrumental at stoppage meaning that field position all of a sudden was owned by Gembrook and the scoreboard stopped ticking over for the home side.

But after halftime, it was almost all Wandin. Todd Garner shifting on ball seemed to compose the midfield, Jaworski to a wing brought him into the game and a shift of the side’s best runner in Van Duuren to half-back meant more drive from defensive 50.

A 10-goal to 5 last quarter was only dampened by crowd favourite John Ladner not capitalising on getting a shift forward with isolation

inthegoalsquare.Whilsthepresentedlikeafull forward of a bygone era he was unable to put the finishing touches on his work much to the Wandin crowd’s disappointment.

Final scores Wandin 20.19, 139 defeated Gembrook-Cockatoo 10.12, 72. Top Dogs on

the day were Todd Garner, Charlie Wood, Clinton Johnson, Chayce Black, Max Le Fevre and Harrison van Duuren.

Other results:

• U19s: Wandin 6.6, 42 defeated by Gem-

brook-Cockatoo 12.14, 82. Top Dogs on the day were Luca Van Dreumel, Joel Clifton, Bailey Yelland, Benson Dunn, Jack Van Dreumel and Thimas Watts.

• Reserves: Wandin 7.10, 52 defeated Gembrook-Cockatoo 7.6, 48. No best players selected.

• A Grade netball: Wandin 99 defeated Gembrook-Cockatoo 40. Top Dogs on the day were Jackie Cutting, Kyah Kimpton and Lauren Spinks.

• B Grade: Wandin 55 defeated GembrookCockatoo 33. Top Dogs on the day were Kate Campbell, Annie Brown and Ella Tweedale.

• C Grade: Wandin 45 defeated GembrookCockatoo 26. Top Dogs on the day were Aimee Mackenzie, Corinne Bogle and Cassidy Iedema.

• D Grade: Wandin 32 defeated GembrookCockatoo 14. Top Dogs on the day were Kealey Earney, Rebecca Van den Boom and Grace Leggett.

All four of Yarra Glen’s netball teams set to advance

By David Ball

Yarra Glen travelled to Powelltown where conditions were fine but after some light rain earlier in the day saw the ground a little slippery.

The River Pigs started with the first goal but spent the rest of the quarter watching Ben Wratten tapping or handballing to James Ashby at each centre bounce.

The resultant multiple forward entries saw Powelltown jump out to a four goal lead at quarter time.

Yarra Glen started the second quarter with a greater effort made to switch play and create some run from defence but despite this, and having most of the play, they only outscored the Demons by a point.

The third quarter saw the River Pigs lift, with Noah and Nathan Battle creating on the wings and Josh Hawkins kicking some goals up forward, they reduced the margin to 16 points at three quarter time.

When Yarra Glen kicked the first goal of the last quarter the momentum shift that started in the third looked like continuing.

With a quick centre clearance setting up a straight forward set shot, the River Pigs had the chance to get within four points of Powelltown early in the last.

Sadly, this and a few other easy shots goal were missed.

Yarra Glen football teams’ journey for the 2024 season has ended. (File: 283158)

Powelltown steadied with their dominant forward Jacob Neale converting late in the quarter to take his tally to eight, Powelltown proved too good.

Final scores Yarra Glen 10.12 to Powelltown 13.13.

Best for Yarra Glen were, Noah Battle, Nathan Battle, Caleb Surplice, Josh Hawkins, Nate Capuano and Ky Hawkins. Goalkickers, Josh Hawkins three, Caleb Surplice two, Nathan Battle two, Heath Chamberlain, Kayne Henman and Jim Marks.

The Yarra Glen reserves had the chance to move off the bottom of the ladder if they could get a win against Powelltown.

They started the game strongly with Seth McConnell, Anthony Delaney and Taylor Bryans dominating through the middle.

With most of the play in Yarra’s forward line,

only errant kicking kept the margin to 10 points at quarter time.

The second quarter saw a great, even team effort as the River Pigs started moving the ball cleanly and with Ethan Murdock capitalising up forward they stretched the lead to 22 points at half time.

After an even third quarter that saw both sides add a goal each, Yarra Glen were well placed with a 23 point advantage at the last break.

The last quarter proved to be Yarra Glen’s best as they added three more goals to run out convincing winners, 11.11 to 6.5.

Best for Yarra Glen were Seth McConnell, Anthony Delaney, Taylor Bryans, Ethan Murdock, Brad McKenzie and Lachlan Crawford. Goalkickers, Ethan Murdock four, Taylor Bryans two, Luke Harris two, Keithy Gerovasilis, Dylan Harding and Drew Brodie.

Yarra Glen B grade netball took on Powelltown as they looked to tune up for finals.

They started well and led 18 to 7 at quarter time. Powelltown improved their connection in the second but great defending from Ellie Estcourt helped Yarra to extend their lead to 15 goals at half time.

The Yarra girls continued to control the game through the second half and after a 19 to four last quarter, they ran out convincing winners, 65 to 29.

Best players were Ellen Brown, Kayla Collins and Ellie Estcourt.

Yarra Glen’s C Grade team came out firing early in their game against Powelltown.

Great defensive pressure caused many turnovers and at quarter time the game was all over as the Yarra girls went into the first break leading 17 to 0.

At half time, they led 31 to two and then put in a great third to add 19 goals to nil.

Sarah Orlandi continued to convert everything as Yarra Glen went on to score an easy 67 to five victory.

Best players were Natasha Bennett, Courtney Cochrane and Sara Orlandi (56 goals)

With Yarra Glen’s D Grade locked in for finals, they took on last placed Powelltown under grey skies and on a wet court.

Unfazed by the conditions Yarra Glen took an early 14 to one lead into the first break.

The Demons struggled for the remainder of the game and failed to add to their score.

It was great to see Yarra’s young goaler, Ruby Bennett converting in the ring as Yarra’s experienced players kept the pressure on their opponents to see them run out with an easy 45 to one victory.

Best players for Yarra Glen were Jacinda Marlow, Ruby Bennett (13 goals) and Kim Christian.

With A Grade having a bye, all four Yarra Glen’s netball teams making it into finals. Venues not yet confirmed.

Best on ground Emily Spicer kicking a goal.

(Adam Sykes)

India James kicking a goal. (Adam Sykes)India James celebrating a goal. (Adam Sykes)

Wandin has picked up another win as finals draw closer. (File)

Women’s soccer a thriller

By Sarah Bailey

Healesville Womens

Reds 2 – 1 Croydon Ranges

The Reds travelled to the ever-difficult Croydon Ranges.

With their mojo on from kick-off the Reds dominated possession in the first half through Hanna K and Olive B, only being denied by some great keeping and the Croydon woodwork.

The second half saw complete domination of play by the Healesville team to set up the opening goal by Aemelia S.

A questionable free kick on a rare Croydon attack gave the home side a look at goal and a deflected shot forced second half keeper Olive B to make a desperate save, only for the ball to be knocked home to tie the game up.

From there the Reds once again took control of the game with Eloise S and Mia K creating chances without success.

With the referee looking at his watch, it took a great through ball to allow Aemelia S to steal the ball from the Croydon keeper’s fingertips and slot home the winner to see the Red ladies take three point and within touching distance of a top two finish.

Healesville U15 Flames 1 – 0 Healesville Rebels

It was first vs second for the two Healesville U15 girls teams and it was a derby that delivered!

In a tough contest where both sides were hesitant to make any mistakes early, it was all square at the break.

The second half saw the game spread out and a good patch of forward pressure from Evie T and Mia K saw the Flames go ahead thanks to the quick feet of striker Kendi L-T.

That goal spurred the undefeated Rebels into action with some quick ball movement from Ava H, Olive B and Kiah C creating a great opportunity, only to be denied by the diving Summer C who’s desperate save onto the crossbar and then a follow up save kept the Flames lead intact.

Sabra B and Ella D regained control of the midfield from there with the Flames holding onto their 1-0 lead, ending the Rebels unbeaten run. The title is still in the Rebels hands with 1 point separating the league leaders from their hometown rivals with two games to play.

The future of Healesville women’s football was on display today and there can be no doubt that the future is bright!

Healesville Reserves 2 - 3 Lilydale Threegles Lilydale looking to secure a win that would leave them within touching distance of the title saw

them face a weakened Healesville team missing a number of strong players to injury.

Lilydale took the lead at 10 minutes but a great strike from Andy C, in his last game before retiring, saw Healesville level for a 1-1 half-time score.

After the break Chris P would give Lilydale a helping hand with an own goal but another great Healesville goal, this time through Lindsay M, would again tie the scores at 2-2.

With the game nearing its end it looked like Healesville would make Lilydale’s run for the title a little harder than they would have liked but with five minutes left on the clock the home side secured all three points against a gallant Healesville team.

With two games to go Healesville are guaranteed a top-four finish with a chance of making the top three.

Healesville Mens Firsts 2 - 2 Blackburn Giraffes Healesville faced second-on-the-ladder Blackburn who needed a win to push for the title.

An even first 25 minutes changed within three minutes when Blackburn would score from a Healesville gift and a very fortuitous second.

Healesville’s heads didn’t drop and were helped when the referee awarded them a very soft penalty.

Captain Anthony M sublimely scoring from the resulting spot kick.

Soon after Cam D had a shot cleared off the line and the teams went into the break at 2-1.

Healesville continued to take the fight to Blackburn in the second half and were rewarded when John-James scored with his head to level the game.

Both teams huffed and puffed but there were no further chances for either team.

A 2-2 score line saw Healesville continue their nine-game unbeaten streak and put a dent in Blackburn’s title chances.

Four teams of Healesville are in action for finals

By Anne-Marie Ebbels

The women played their qualifying final this week against Pakenham.

Pakenham jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter keeping Healesville goalless to go into the first break with a two-goal lead.

Healesville worked hard in the second quarter but couldn’t make any inroads into the Pakenham lead.

After the main break, Pakenham had another good quarter to extend their lead to 21 points at three quarter time.

Healesville worked hard in the final quarter, but couldn’t get the result on the scoreboard, with Pakenham running out winners by 19 points.

The U18s played at Olinda on Friday night and got the jump on Olinda-Ferny Creek in the first quarter to go into the first break with an 18-point lead.

Olinda-Ferny Creek hit back in the second quarter with three goals to close the margin to 6 points at half time.

Olinda-Ferny Creek continued their momentum into the third quarter keeping Healesville goalless and reduce the margin to a single point at three quarter time. Healesville steadied in the final quarter to win by five points to take top spot on the ladder.

The Reserves got off to a good start having the majority of the possession in the first quarter, but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, leaving the door open for Yea.

Healesville continued to win the ball in the second quarter to go into the main break with a 13-point lead.

Yea came out after half time with renewed intent, but Healesville managed to weather the surge to go into the final break 16 points up.

A hard-fought final quarter as Yea put in a last ditch effort to bridge the gap, but Healesville managed to hold them off to win by 24 points.

In the seniors, straight kicking put Healesville in front by 10 points at quarter time.

A five-goal quarter by Yea reduced the margin to 6 points at half-time.

Healesville put in a dominant third quarter and kept Yea goalless to go into the final break with 38-point lead.

Inaccurate kicking in the final quarter by Healesville keep the winning margin to 41 points.

C Grade struggled for players this week with a number of injuries creeping in at the end of the season keeping players out this week.

Two fill-ins meant Healesville could field a team this week. The first quartet went goal-forgoal and went into the first break with scores even.

Healesville struggled to convert their opportunities allowing Yea to get out to a fivegoal lead at half time. Yea maintained the advantage and ran out winners by 13 goals.

In the B Grade game, Yea got off to a good start to go into the first break with a 11-goal

lead.

A much better second quarter saw Healesville reduce the margin of 10 goals at half-time.

Healesville couldn’t maintain the momentum in the third quarter and Yea pushed the lead out to 14 goals at three quarter time.

Healesville couldn’t make any inroads into the lead in the final quarter with Yea running out winners by 14 goals.

Taking confidence from last weeks performance, A Grade dominated the game from start to finish, not giving Yea a look in.

Healesville went into the first break with a 10 goal lead and continued to increase the lead throughout the game to be big winner by 34 goals.

This weekend Healesville Men’s football and netball play their final home and away game at Yarra Junction and the U18s head to Mt Evelyn.

The women play the Preliminary Final at

Don Road Complex at 12.20pm. Football

• Senior Women Healesville 41 defeated by Pakenham 22 Best: M Schelfhout, D Jones, S Potter, P Pavic, S Morris, S Crossman

• Senior Men Healesville 93 defeated Yea 52 Best: L Daly, M Donegan, A Edwards, S Donkin, J Savage, L Greenwood

• Reserves Men Healesville 54 defeated Yea 30 Best: R Ashby, K Jones, J Parish, Z Fawdry, R Hay, T Campbell

• U18 Healesville 42 defeated Olinda-Ferny Creek Best: O Moreton, R Cameron, D Sikorski, J Ferris, K Barclay, G Hammond Netball

• A Grade Healesville 66 defeated Yea 32 Best: M Erickson, J Milne, A Stanley

• B Grade Healesville 28 defeated by Yea 42 Best: N Braden, A Stanley, E Hyatt

• C Grade Healesville 14 defeated by Yea 27 Best: K Bromilow, E Birch, E Hyatt

Sienna Crossman attempting a spoil. (Supplied)

Will W in action for the Healesville Firsts at Don Road on Saturday. (Supplied)

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