Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 27th August 2024

Opponents to the national park movement

Still stealing kisses

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Junction residents Henk and Gwyneth Boer are set to mark a special milestone on Wednesday 28 August, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.

Having met at church in Wandin, the couple are heading back to where it all began and spending the day with friends and family.When asked what the secret to their long love was, it appears to be compromise and caring for each other.

“Up until the last few years where I’ve had some handicaps, prior to that I did everything at home and looked after the boys because Henk travelled a fair bit for business all over Victoria and New South Wales, so I felt I had a great influence on the boys and I was really happy to be a mum and bring up the boys myself,” Mrs Boer said.

Turn to page 13

and Gwyneth Boer by the

outside their Yarra Junction home. (Stewart Chambers: 426639)

Despite being eligible for support, older residents are in the lurch...

‘Please help us’

By Callum Ludwig

Older residents of the Yarra Ranges in need of support at home are still finding themselves without the help they need.

Many residents have been assessed and are eligible for a variety of different services offered under Home Care Support such as garden maintenance, shopping assistance or respite hours for carers, but there are no local providers available.

Yarra Junction resident Margaret Baker recently had an assessment and was eligible for help in her garden and home and said she is devastated but is even more worried about people who might be worse off than her.

“I’ve got two metal knees, two metal hips, I’ve got severe arthritis and my shoulders have now gone, so I applied for help, I desperately need help with domestic duties, but there’s just noth-

ing available because there’s no registered providers,” she said.

“I’ve worked all my life, my husband’s worked all his life, we’ve never taken benefits, we’ve never taken government handouts, and now when we need it, it’s not available.”

Casey MP Aaron Violi raised the issue in Parliament in June, naming another four residents in the local area who have also not been able to access their home care packages.

Ms Baker said she wanted to encourage local businesses to investigate the scheme and get themselves registered.

“I think a lot of these places haven’t applied to the Commonwealth or haven’t applied to My Aged Care to have their businesses registered and I think that’s a question we need to ask.

Continued page 3

Henk

iconic windmill

NEWS Hometown hurt warning

By Callum Ludwig

As the future of Victoria’s forests hangs in the balance, bush lovers from all sides have mobilised to share their views on what should be done with the land left over after the end of native forest logging.

Opposers to the national park movement have become increasingly vocal with a number of upcoming events, a well-supported petition and a significant social media presence established.

Founder of Victorians Against The Great Forest National Park Carly Murphy said her opposition to the proposal is directly related to being a long-term resident of a small town, and the vast number of negative impacts this proposal would have on her hometown of Eildon.

“I have seen the devastation of bushfires that are a constant threat to our towns and closing off the bush as a National Park would lead to even more catastrophic outcomes from bushfires that are sadly inevitable in the bush surrounding us,” she said.

“The other massive impact will be to the existing businesses in and around the proposed park, we have undergone interviews with small business owners in the assessment area and not only were they not consulted about this proposal, but they also mostly all found out through friends or social media, these businesses rely on the bush user groups to keep their doors open.

“The tourism impact this would have for this area would be devastating as these businesses rely on the 4x4 drivers, free campers, hunters, prospectors, motorbike riders and numerous other groups who would either be restricted in their use of the bush or denied access all together under this proposal, these groups are also the people who are out there maintaining tracks and looking after the State Forests as they have a vested interest in keeping them open.”

A ‘No To Great Forest Park!’ Youtube channel features interviews with a number of local business owners in nearby towns such as Neerim South, Noojee and Woods Point among others

and can be found at: youtube.com/@NoToGreatForestPark

Ms Murphy said simply put, this proposal would be the death of towns like Eildon who rely on bush users during the winter months to get through to the summer period.

“Yes, there are some bad eggs who do the wrong thing out there – but that happens everywhere, and we should not be condemning everyone for the actions of the minority. Seasonal tourism towns need to be managed much differently than larger, more robust towns and the people of these towns should be able to have a say in how their town is managed, and not just told to write their concerns on sticky notes,” she said.

“Personally, I do not use the forest often at all, I am not a bush user; I grew up camping and collecting firewood as a child, but I have not invested

myself in a bush activity hobby, my fight against this is for our small regional towns that this proposal would destroy, and the rights of others to be able to use the forests for their own needs whether it be for their mental health, to source affordable food or for their recreation needs.

“I personally hate injustice and this whole situation is a massive injustice to the people of regional Victoria.”

A petition sponsored by Member for the Eastern Victoria region Melina Bath has garnered nearly 20,000 signatures at the time of writing. Anyone interested can view it at: parliament. vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/stop-the-creation-of-any-new-national-parks/?.

Ms Murphy said there is obvious worry here as to how the government will manage this land now that the timber industry is gone, but the answer is not to lock it up.

“The one thing that every business owner has said to us during our interviews with them when we ask them ‘If [Minister for Environment] Steve Dimopoulous was watching this right now, what would you say to him?’ is for him to come out to the bush and experience the areas he is having assessed, they want the Minister for the Environment to come out of inner-city Melbourne and experience what life is like out there in their bush communities,” she said.

“Eco-tourism is not going to bring the amount of visitors we already have to the Central Highlands, and even if it did – would the people coming to go ‘Glamping’ or Meditate in the trees with a guided tour spend anywhere near the same amount of money that bush users spend fuelling up their 4x4s, stocking up on a week’s worth of food for a hunting trip or driving into town every morning to support the local bakery and grab a coffee to go.”

A convoy of four-wheel-drives will be setting off from Warburton on Saturday 8 September, heading up to Woods Point where supporters will be spelling out ‘No More Parks’ as a human

sign at the Woods Point Commercial Hotel. More events including a forum in Monbulk and a rally hosted by the Libertarian Party in Kinglake on 21 September are also coming up.

Ms Murphy said the last thing she would like to add is to educate the people of Victoria on what this whole National Park ‘land grab’ is all about.

“It is not for conservation or for saving the animals, it’s all about appeasing the United Nations as our government signed us up for a voluntary agreement with the UN referred to as the Paris Agreement and requires that 30 per cent of Australian land be closed off to the public by the year 2030,” she said.

“This was not voted on by the Australian people and was done behind our backs; promising the United Nations something that we cannot even accomplish and it was voluntary, the 30 by 30 propaganda is being spread around social media platforms as a way to conserve and protect nature, but that is not its true agenda.

“Our government have sold us out, lied to us and tried to push this National Park through under our noses with sham community engagement sessions; all to achieve their 30 by30 Paris Agreement and the people of this country need to know what is being done behind closed doors.”

Ms Murphy refers to the Paris Agreement, which was a legally binding treaty signed by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015, but the 30 by 30 agreement is actually the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed to at held at COP15 in 2022.

The Paris Agreement aims for countries involved to limit ‘the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels’ and aim ‘to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’. The 30 by 30 framework outlines a goal of the protection and conservation of 30 per cent of both the world’s land and oceans by 2030, such as through the creation of national parks and conservation sites.

Yarra Ranges improves in yearly animal cruelty rankings

By Mikayla Van Loon

The rate of animal cruelty reports in the Yarra Ranges has reached a four year low according to RSPCA Victoria’s annual data.

Dropping to 16th place, having ranked eighth last financial year, the Yarra Ranges recorded 220 animal cruelty reports for 2023/24.

This is 90 fewer reports of cruelty than the previous year, despite the RSPCA revealing in late 2023 that reports of horse-related cruelty in the Yarra Ranges topped the rankings across the state last financial year.

In total, nearly 10,000 animal cruelty reports were made to RSPCA Victoria by members of the public in the 2023/24 financial year.

The main three reasons included husbandry issues such as lack of grooming, poor hygiene or unsanitary living conditions, and lack of shearing; underweight animals; and sick or injured animals where there had been insufficient, or no veterinary treatment provided.

Acting chief inspector Michelle Green said while malicious cruelty was still occurring, their team was helping struggling pet owners more than ever before.

“It’s an increasingly challenging environment out there following the pressures of the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis is only compounding this,” she said.

“The majority of what our RSPCA Inspectors are seeing first-hand is just how much people in the community are struggling, and when people are struggling their pets are often affected.

“The majority of the animal cruelty we see is actually neglect as a result of people’s circumstances changing beyond their control, such as hospitalisation, financial pressures, or sudden joblessness, while other animals suffered due to owners simply not understanding how to care for their pets adequately.”

Neglect remains the highest form of abuse but even still acting chief inspector Green said cases of animals being beaten, small animals being used for live-baiting, and even cockfighting do exist on a smaller scale.

The Yarra Ranges has also improved in the number of animals being seized or surrendered,

decreasing from 57 in 2022/23 to 25 in 2023/24.

This is considered moderate in terms of rankings of local government areas.

Greater Geelong, Casey, Wyndham, Hume and Whittlesea have remained in the top five for the fourth year in a row for the number of cruelty reports.

Hume also topped the list for the number of seizures or surrenders totalling 227.

While Knox only had 151 reports of cruelty, the council area had 60 seizures or surrenders, ranking the municipality at 11th.

Cardinia had 242 reports of cruelty made to RSPCA but only 14 animals were seized or surrendered throughout the year.

The RSPCA received 129 reports about animals in Maroondah, with 31 being seized or surrendered.

In the last 12 months 2250 animals were seized by or surrendered to RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate placing pressure on the capacity of shelter services.

In an aim to try and prevent the overwhelm of shelters, inspectors look to help pet owners at home.

“When they can, our Inspectors are offering help through emergency pet food to struggling households and other support such as the provision of donated kennels or bedding for pets and providing preventative flea and worming treatments,” acting chief inspector Green said.

“We’re also seeing people struggling to provide for the number of animals they have, whether that be households caring for unplanned litters from un-desexed pets, or people whose circumstances have changed and they’re no longer able to support their pets.

“If you are struggling to care for your pets you are not alone, please don’t be afraid to reach out for help and please don’t wait until your pet is suffering.”

Acting chief inspector Green said there may be community-based programs or other groups, as well as the local council who may be able to support people in providing the best welfare outcomes for their pets.

This year RSPCA Victoria announced it is increasing its community outreach work as part of its 2030 Strategy, with the aim of supporting people in the community to keep and care for their pets so that they don’t end up in shelters. Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 9224 2222.

According to the RSPCA, Rocky the pony spent roughly 12 years alone on a property with overgrown hooves of 25cm in length. The RSPCA took him into care in July 2024.

An RSPCA inspector carries a puppy seized from a property. (Supplied)

The future of Victoria’s forests remains in the balance as bush users of all kinds make their voices heard. (File)

In need of support

From page 1

“They’ll pick up a lot of work if they’re registered through these organisations, when the lady came to me she said ‘I’ll bring up who’s available in your area for cleaning’ and there’s not one person registered to help me out.”

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

Yarra Ranges Council’s O’Shanassy Ward Councillor Jim Child has known Mrs Baker for many years and said they’ve got to make sure residents are being looked after.

“I just want to get it resolved as soon as possible and I’ve said to the team, if we know a shortcut around this so she can get engaged with someone, we’ve got to do that because one thing Yarra Ranges is that we’ve been there for the residents through the transition, whereas a lot of other municipalities have stepped away,” he said.

“Anyone that comes to us that’s having a problem with this, we’ll work with them because Margaret’s identified a real problem at the moment and I just couldn’t believe it.”

Yarra Ranges Council, under the direction of the Federal Government, has stepped away from providing services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), ceasing the delivery of their last offered services in July 2024.

Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said they understand this is challenging, however they also understand the Australian Government’s goal is to ensure that resources are allocated to essential activities for the most vulnerable people, which they are supportive of.

“Our Information Navigation Officers will be in touch with the community member to discuss options for support with domestic cleaning, gutter cleaning or garden maintenance, as the national aged care reform progresses to support those most vulnerable in the community, people wanting entry-level services such as domestic assistance

and gardening/gutter maintenance are increasingly finding themselves not eligible for Australian Government-subsidised aged care services or can be waiting up to 12 months for these services to become available,” she said.

“We know there are a large number of community-based small businesses in the Yarra Ranges that can support these needs and the local economy, and we encourage people to consider them as alternative solutions, or make private arrangements with friends and family where feasible.

“We encourage our community members to call our Information and Navigation Officers on 1300 368 333 to discuss how to navigate the aged care system and alternate solutions to subsided services if they are not eligible or waiting for assessment and/or service availability.”

The Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care advises older people who are unable to access specific services due to lack of a Registered Home Care Package providers in their area to contact My Aged Care at www.myagedcare. gov.au or free call 1800 200 422 for advice.

A department spokesperson said the department is about to roll out more than $400 million over three years to increase services available through CHSP, including in a number of rural and regional areas.

“Alternative options for care and support include: Short-term entry-level aged care services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), if available and older First Nations people may be able to access aged care services through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care (NATSIFAC) Program,” they said.

“If there is a provider in area that can deliver the services, but is not a registered aged care provider, a person could: pay privately for those services, or request that provider either become a registered HCP provider or subcontract to a registered HCP provider, consider state-based aged care services or visit primary care for any health-related issues, including hospitals, GPs and allied health practi-

tioners.”

The Australian Government has taken steps to address the issues, though there is still time before the effects of funding and the new Support at Home program to take effect. The 2024-25 Budget included $21.6m for a regional, rural and remote focused home care workforce support program with a goal of bring 4000 more workforce members to the sector while ‘viability supplements’ are also available for providers of home care packages in MM 4-7 locations, including $531.4 million in additional funding provided to support the delivery of 24,100 home care packages in 2024-25.

The department spokesperson said research undertaken, including as part of the Market Strategy and ongoing analysis of supply gaps, will help the Government to determine where to focus effort and resources and ensure future investment in all types of Government funded aged care is appropriately targeted.

“The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority is currently undertaking a costing study that will consider the need for rural and remote loadings on the subsidies paid under Support at Home,” they said.

“In addition to the subsidies received for services delivered, Support at Home providers operating in thin markets, such as rural and remote locations, are expected to have access to supplementary grants, recognising the higher costs faced in these areas, this mixed funding model should remove financial impediments to service delivery in these locations.

“Under Support at Home, the department expects to have access to real time data about the services being delivered on the ground, which is not available under the Home Care Packages program, this would allow the department to investigate and respond to service gaps in areas where services that people are being assessed for are not being delivered.”

The CHSP will be phased out in favour of the Support at Home program from no earlier than July 2027.

IN BRIEF

A man trapped in Healesville Emergency services including SES Healesville Unit, Ambulance Victoria (AV) and CFA attended an incident on Donald Street, Healesville at 4.45pm on Sunday 25 August.

“It is understood the vehicle lost control and crashed into a tree on Donald Street,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“The exact circumstances of the crash are being investigated.”

One patient was able to successfully self-extricate from the vehicle, while another was freed by responding emergency crews.

A teenage male with upper and lower body injuries was transported by road ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Another teenage male with upper and lower body injuries was transported by road ambulance to Maroondah Hospital in stable condition.

The incident was declared safe at 6.36pm.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage, are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Lucky escape in Yering

CFA and Ambulance Victoria were called to a vehicle accident with a possible person trapped on the Melba Highway at Yering at 5.26pm on Sunday 25 August.

Firefighters confirmed no one was trapped and everyone was out of the vehicle.

The incident was brought under control at 5.35pm and declared safe at 5.44pm.

CFA had three trucks on scene.

Woori Yallock man charged with armed robbery

Armed Crime Squad detectives have charged a 42-year-old man after two licensed venues were allegedly robbed at gunpoint this month.

It’s alleged the man threatened a female staff member with a firearm at a Hicks Street licensed venue in Lara about 5.40pm on 15 August.

During the second incident, it’s alleged the man threatened a female staff member with a firearm at a Mollison Street licensed venue in Kyneton about 9.20am yesterday.

The man escaped with cash during both incidents. Neither staff member was physically injured.

Detectives arrested the Woori Yallock man at a Clarendon Street hotel in Melbourne’s CBD this morning.

He was charged with two counts of armed robbery, three counts of possessing, carrying or using a handgun, possessing testosterone and possessing cocaine.

He fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday afternoon.

More Mazda BT-50s recalled Just nine days after a first recall, 10,957 Mazda BT50 (TF) 3.0 ltr Variants with a year range of 2020 - 2021 have been recalled.

The fuel hose may have been installed incorrectly and may come into contact with the engine oil level dipstick mounting bracket. As a result, fuel may leak from the damaged hose, and, in the presence of an external ignition source result in a vehicle fire.

A vehicle fire could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users or bystanders and/or damage to property.

Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Mazda Australia in writing to schedule an appointment to have the fuel hose inspected and replaced, free of charge.

Yarra Ranges residents eligible for home care packages are finding themselves unable to access local providers. (File)

Drownings spark concern

By Callum Ludwig

The National Drowning Report 2024 was released on Tuesday 20 August, with a devastating 323 people drowning in 2023/24, including three separate drownings in the Yarra River in the Outer East.

On Wednesday 29 May 2024 at about 3pm, a man was walking across an offshoot of the Yarra River behind the popular Redwood Forest in East Warburton when he fell into a relatively deep part of the river.

The man was not able to be located by friends and family, triggering a near-seven hour search involving the Upper Yarra SES Unit, Lilydale SES Swift Water Rescue team, Manningham and Maroondah SES Boat Rescue crews and Victoria Police. The man’s body was eventually recovered and his death was not being treated as suspicious.

On 28 January 2024, a 23-year-old Wantirna South man also died in the Yarra River in the Outer East after being swept into rapids near Warrandyte. His body was recovered at about 1.30pm the following day.

A man’s body was also recovered from the Yarra River in Warrandyte on Tuesday 24 October 2023, believed to be a 35-year-old Warrandyte man who went missing on Wednesday 18 October 2023. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Royal Life Saving – Australia CEO Justin Scarr said this year’s report highlights the need to invest in building community resilience to drowning, strengthen swimming and water safety skills of children and adults, especially for those living in regional communities and migrant communities.

“The Report is a reminder that many Australians now lack the skills to swim, float or stay safe in the water, it’s a reminder that drowning prevention starts at home, in schools and at local pools,” he said.

“We must ensure no child or adult misses out on learning to swim, and that all Australians have

access to a safe place to swim, starting with a great local swimming pool.”

Over the past ten years 34 per cent of the people who drowned were born overseas, often recently arrived refugees, migrants or international students while their main countries of origin were India, China and Nepal. In the last year, 25 per cent of deaths were people from overseas.

“In response to the tragic summer events, many migrant communities themselves are leading the way, raising awareness and promoting programs. Governments can do more. Policies changes can help to ensure migrants, refugees and international students have early access programs in their local communities”, Mr Scarr said.

Rivers alone accounted for 25 per cent of

drownings in the last year (80) with inland waterways overall accounting for 34 per cent (110).

Coastal locations accounted for the most deaths with 150 (46 per cent), including 84 (26 per cent) at beaches while swimming pools accounted for 35 deaths (11 per cent) of which over half of those were backyard pools. The largest number of drowning deaths in people aged 65 or over, 92 people (28 per cent), was recorded while 15 children aged under five also drowned.

Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport

Anika Wells said the Australian Government was committed to supporting organisations like Royal Life Saving – Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia to raise water safety awareness and with some simple precautions, we can all enjoy the

A visible property number can save your life

Paramedics are asking Victorians to make sure their property numbers are visible from the street to help crews find their property quickly in an emergency.

Visible property numbers are crucial when emergency services need to find a location quickly, and by taking simple steps to ensure it can be seen from the street, it could save you or a loved one’s life.

Ideally, property numbers should be reflective to ensure they can be seen during both day and night.

Ambulance Victoria Acting Executive Director Regional Operations Michael Georgiou said Victorian paramedics sometimes respond to properties with inaccurate, unclear, or missing property numbers.

“Our crews also often see trees and shrubs blocking the view of property numbers which

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can significantly delay their response and ability to get to the patient who may need life-saving treatment,” he said.

“Time is of the essence in an emergency, and we’re asking the community to do their part in ensuring they can be easily located if they find themselves needing our help.”

Properties including houses, apartment buildings, farms and commercial buildings should be clearly numbered so that they can be easily located by our crews or other emergency services.

“Take a walk or drive past your property to test the visibility of your property number – if you can’t see it, we can’t either,” Michael said.

“Those on farmland should make sure that not only your home has the number visible, but also ensure the direction from the main road is well marked and signposted.

“We want to get to you as quickly as possible and having your home clearly marked with a number makes a massive difference in our response and the patient’s outcome.”

Whenever possible, send someone outside to wave the ambulance down and take first responders directly to the patient.

If you’re unsure of your exact address point location and number, you can check using Mapshare.

For more information, visit the AV website at ambulance.vic.gov.au/community/education/ make-your-property-numbers-visible.

Mapshare is great a tool if you’re unsure of your exact address point location and number (Pexels)

water safely.

“Always supervise children around water, learn swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a lifejacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags,” she said

“Enjoying a swim has so many benefits, especially for older adults. If you are over 55 and love the water, having a pre-summer medical checkup to ensure you are swim fit, and refreshing your skills at the local swimming pool are two great water safety ideas ahead of summer.”

The total figure is 42 higher than last year’s total and 16 per cent greater than the 10-year average of 278. 2022 (339 deaths) is the only other year in the same time period to record over 300 drowning deaths.

The Yarra River recorded three drownings in the Outer East in 2023/24. (File)

By Callum Ludwig

With the quality of the water in the River Seine in Paris a big talking point of the recent Olympics, Melbourne Water has issued a handy explainer for swimmers back home thinking about a dip in the Yarra River.

While water quality is poor towards the centre of Melbourne, there are some parts in the Outer East that can be suitable, depending on the conditions.

A Melbourne Water spokesperson said some parts of the Yarra River are ‘swimmable’ during dry weather, but people should always check the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) water quality rating forecast on EPA’s Yarra Watch webpage.

“Stormwater runoff is the most common cause of pollution in waterways, so avoid swimming in the river for up to 48 hours after it rains,” they said.

“In the upper Yarra River, there can be agricultural runoff from local farms, which is why Melbourne Water is working with the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action to fence off stream frontage on crown land so local livestock can’t access the waterway.”

Four sites along the Yarra River are tested for water quality by the EPA; Launching Place, Healesville, Warrandyte and Kew. Historically, the water quality is best for swimming near Warrandyte, while the Launching Place, Healesville and Kew sites come back as poor. All four monitoring sites in the Yarra River are considered safe for boating, canoeing, wading, paddling, and fishing.

Melbourne Water has taken on a variety of projects to improve the water quality in the Upper Yarra, including revegetation works being carried out in the Liwik Birring Landscape Conservation Area, which will provide improved water quality and habitat for critically endangered species like the last remaining wild population of the Helmeted Honeyeater.

Melbourne Water is also working to address issues on adjoining properties that affect water quality, such as poorly operating or old-design septic tanks which is a priority for the health of the upper Yarra River and partnering with communities across the Upper Yarra to provide advice and funding for off-stream watering for stock through the Liveable Communities Liveable Waterways Program to help local farmers manage

agricultural runoff from their paddocks.

In 2022-23, 155 hectares of vegetation along the river and streams was rehabilitated by Melbourne Water in the Yarra catchment as part of the Healthy Waterways Strategy, up to a total of over 523 hectares planted over the prior five years.

The Yarra River is affected by similar issues as

the Seine with pollution from rubbish, grease, oil, and other contaminants entering the stormwater drainage system though importantly, wastewater and stormwater are separated in Melbourne with wastewater (e.g. water from toilets, showers and kitchen sinks) going to treatment plants, and ‘stormwater’ from gutters, rooftops and streets flowing into rivers and creeks, unlike in Paris

The level of the bacteria E.coli is the most commonly used indicator of pollution levels in our waterways, measuring faecal contamination in rivers and creeks which comes from animals, including domestic pets, native species and farm animals.

The most recent samples updated on 13 August this year found 20 E.coli organisms per 100ml at Warrandyte, 52 E.coli organisms per 100ml at Healesville, 74 E.coli organisms per 100ml at Launching Place and 130 E.coli organisms per 100ml at Kew. These readings can give an indication of quality further upstream as well eg: Readings in Kew are used to indicate the pollution levels in Melbourne CBD.

Melbourne Water advises the following steps you can take to help keep the Yarra River and other waterways clean and healthy:

• Join a Waterwatch group to monitor the health of waterways.

• Participate in a local creek or river planting day or litter clean-up day.

• Reduce use of fertilisers, insecticides and herbicides that wash down stormwater drains and into waterways.

• Avoid planting invasive plant species (e.g. bamboo, agapanthus) that produce seeds that choke our waterways and reduce water flow.

• Secure your wheelie bin so that rubbish doesn’t end up in the stormwater drain.

• Take your litter home with you (or bin it) when you’re out enjoying nature.

To check the quality of the Yarra River at any time, visit epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/summer-water-quality/yarra-watch.

The Yarra River isn’t always safe to swim in as water quality can be affected by pollution and heavy rainfall. (File)

NEWS Jim Child is running again

By Callum Ludwig

Current O’Shanassy Ward Councillor and former Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child has officially put up his hand to run for his seat again in the upcoming Council elections.

Cr Child has been the elected candidate for the ward for 12 years now and will be on the ticket again when voting time comes around in October.

Cr Child said it’s been a fair journey so far but he still has plenty of fuel left in the tank.

“With where we sit at the moment in O’Shanassy, there are a lot of things happening, we’ve got the rollout of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination which we have started on Stage One with a hundred ‘Ks’ of trail on the southern side and I’d like to see that through of course and I’d like to see the start of stage two as well, whether that’s possible in the next four years,” he said. “I look back at what we’ve achieved over the past 12 years, we’ve probably had one of the biggest spends we’ve ever seen in O’Shanassy ward over those 12 years on footpaths, bridges and especially the roads to community and if we could only have kept that funding that would have been such a wonderful outcome for the whole community,”

“It’s going to be a tough journey but I think that I’ve got the experience to really do that part on behalf of O’Shanassy.”

O’Shannassy Ward covers large parts of the Upper Yarra including larger townships such as Warburton and Yarra Junction as well as Beenak, Big Pats Creek, Don Valley, East Warburton, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, McMahons Creek, Millgrove, Powelltown, St Clair, Three Bridges, Reefton, Wesburn, Yellingbo and most of Matlock and Woori Yallock.

Cr Child said Yarra Ranges Council finds itself in a situation where it will have to do a lot more with a lot less.

“I think that there’s a number of things on the horizon that we have to be mindful of, is that we’ve still got to be able to provide those 120 odd services that we provide for and we still got the constraints of rate capping, my thoughts are that it will stay there but we’ve shown that we can work with the rate capping,” he said.

“The other thing is that those funding streams that we’ve had in the past are now showing their depletion,”

“That’s where I think I can give the skills that

I’ve got to work through that so we can still provide the services but also the capital expenditure program to look at those new pavilions and those other assets that we have to provide through the

asset renewal program.”

Cr Child had two different stints as Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, once from 2012 to 2013 after his initial election and again from 2021 to 2023.

Cr Child said that across the nine wards, Yarra Ranges Council is looking for people who can take on the job of community representative.

“That is probably just my style, I do it full-time and I’ve always said to anyone, if you want to aspire to this position, you’ve got to be available, you’ve got to pick up that phone, I’ve had five or six phone calls today and a couple of things I have to chase up but what I see repeatedly is people appreciate that at least he’s answered the phone,” he said.

“With the technology that we’ve got today and the team that we’ve got behind us, we can satisfy our residents with a response, sometimes it may not be what they want to hear, but at least they’ve been heard and most of the time, the organisation is very responsive,”

“If you’re going to aspire to the position, you make sure you’re available and you must be very clever at time management as the job can be demanding.”

Some of Cr Child’s other goals should he be reelected are to help push through the Yarra Junction Place Plan and Urban Design Framework, monitor and be involved in the Parking Management Framework including the paid parking pilot in Warburton and help sustainably manage the expected increase in tourism to the Upper Yarra. Cr Child said he advises residents to be informed and just take note of how different voting is by mail ahead of the elections.

“My biggest tip would be as soon as you get your voting pack, deal with it because you’ve got some constraints about getting it back to the returning officer on time,” he said.

“We’ve got the electoral office over at Silvan, where you can take it yourself, but don’t waste your vote, don’t lose the opportunity to vote because it’s so important that we have those councillors elected.”

Stay tuned for more profiles on candidates for Yarra Ranges Council candidates in the Star Mail.

Waste diversion the aim of new collaborative project

At least 95 per cent of household waste from nine councils in Melbourne’s south east, including the Yarra Ranges, is set to be diverted from landfill and used to create a valuable energy source.

The South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP) initiative aims to deliver a smarter solution for dealing with household waste.

Nine councils have banded together to enter a Waste Supply Agreement with Maryvale EfW Project Co (a consortium between Veolia Australia and New Zealand, Opal Australian Paper, and Masdar Tribe Australia) to send waste to an advanced waste processing facility in Maryvale in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.

The councils, made up of Bayside City Council, Cardinia Shire Council, City of Casey, City of Greater Dandenong, Frankston City Council, Kingston City Council, Knox City Council, Whitehorse City Council and Yarra Ranges Council, are shareholders in SEMAWP, a company created by the councils for the purpose of this procurement.

Announcing the agreement, SEMAWP’s board chair and Bayside City Council chief executive officer, Mick Cummins, said by diverting SEMAWP Councils’ residual waste from landfill it will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 270,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to removing 50,000 cars from the road per year.

“This is a great outcome for residents of the nine councils involved in this project that began in 2019,” Mr Cummins said.

“This solution provides an alternative to landfill that makes better use of household waste than burying it in the ground. Items that can’t be reused or recycled will be put to better use.

“It is expected to create more than 500 temporary jobs during construction and an estimated 455 permanent operating jobs, including direct and flow-on, over the coming years. So,

CEO Glenn

it reduces emissions, creates investment and employment, and preserves land for better uses than landfill.”

Yarra Ranges Council’s chief executive officer Tammi Rose said the future management of waste needs to be a priority for councils.

“We know we are running out of space for landfill. Our recently introduced waste changes have seen a reduction in the amount of food and organics going to landfill but there is still more we can do,” she said.

“Ideally, we should be preventing, minimising, recycling and recovering our waste wherever possible; and when it’s not possible then we need to look at disposal. Generating

energy from waste is a logical part of managing our waste and Yarra Ranges is pleased to be involved in this innovative approach to waste management.”

With household waste in Melbourne’s south east projected to increase by 40 per cent by 2046, alternatives to landfill need to be found. The last remaining landfill in the south east of Melbourne will close in the next few years. This project will ensure that residents’ waste is used to create a valuable energy source for an important industry in the Latrobe Valley.

The Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) facility will be adjacent to the existing Opal Australian Paper Maryvale Mill, and the paper mill will

utilise the combined heat and power from the EfW facility.

Councils will deliver waste to a transfer station planned for construction in Melbourne’s south east, where it will be prepared for bulk transfer to Maryvale EfW. Energy from waste facilities are being used safely and reliably in metropolitan areas around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and North America.

Modern, best-practice advanced waste processing facilities have strong safety track records and are designed to meet strict emissions standards, with real-time emission monitoring to make sure they meet stringent air quality standards.

In Victoria, they are regulated by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria and Recycling Victoria such that EfW facilities must be appropriately located, constructed and operated according to strict regulations that minimise risks to the environment and people.

The contract term for the Waste Supply Agreement will be for 25 years. Mr Cummins said this would provide cost certainty and waste processing security to participating councils. By forming a single entity, the councils strengthen their influence on the economic, environmental and social outcomes of the project.

SEMAWP is like many other companies, it is governed by a constitution and reports to a board of directors.

Each participating council is bound by a shareholders’ agreement and has an equal share in SEMAWP. Having an equal share means each council has an equal say on how the contract is managed regardless of the size of the council and the amount of household waste being supplied.

SEMAWP exists only to manage the contract agreement for the advanced waste processing facility and cannot make decisions on other waste or council matters.

Casey

Patterson, Yarra Ranges CEO Tammi Rose, Bayside CEO Mick Cummins, Knox

CEO Bruce Dobson, Whitehorse Infrastructure Director Steven White, Cardinia Infrastructure and Environment General Manager Peter Benazic, Greater Dandenong City Futures Executive Director Sanjay Manivasagasivam, Kingston Infrastructure General Manager Samantha Krull and Frankston CEO Phil Cantillon. (Supplied)

Jim Child will be running again for O’Shanassy Ward Councillor. (File)

Balgownie Estate a top stay

By Dongyun Kwon

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley in Yarra Glen was awarded Resort Style Accommodation of the Year at the 2024 Victorian Accommodation Awards for Excellence.

Accommodation Australia (Victoria) recognised excellence across Victoria’s regulated commercial accommodation sector and celebrated the breadth and diversity of accommodation offerings across the state. Hoteliers, suppliers to industry and broader Victorian hospitality and tourism sector industry stakeholders came together to acknowledge Victoria’s best accommodation providers and their teams, whose efforts continue to position Victoria as a pre-eminent

business and leisure ‘destination of choice’ for domestic and international travellers.

Accommodation Australia National chair David Mansfield lauded the establishments and individuals who have set new benchmarks in service and innovation and always strive to deliver a great experience for guests.

“In the last year alone, Victoria has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors and delivered over 143 million nights of accommodation.

It’s numbers like these that show how the efforts of our industry, and the extraordinary individuals who work within it, are so vital to this state,” he said.

“While these awards are about reflecting on

Milestone in early detection

Over a period of three decades, Eastern Health’s Maroondah Breast and Cancer Centre has screened 10,000 people for an early detection diagnosis per year.

Celebrating 30 years of the BreastScreen service also means celebrating the over 300,000 lives impacted by this technology.

Maroondah BreastScreen associate program director Michelle Giles said the changes since its inception three decades ago have been immense.

“Maroondah commenced operations at 24 Grey Street in a small weatherboard house in January 1994. The first consumer was screened by our then Designated Radiographer Liz Sundram. The client list was delivered by a courier on a floppy disc and left under the doormat,” she said.

“The service started with film screening before progressing to computer radiography and then full view digital mammography.

“Today, we operate out of a state-of-the-art Breast and Cancer Centre at Eastern Health Maroondah with additional fixed sites.

“Our mobile van, which started in October 1994, continues to serve regional areas.”

The program is focused on the early detection of breast cancer in clients without symp-

toms and the Centre screens 10,000 consumers per year.

Its 30-year journey has been marked by significant technological advancements. One area of focus has been the introduction of new 3D imaging technology.

“Maroondah BreastScreen was the first BreastScreen service in Australia to offer tomosynthesis (3D imaging) in the BreastScreen Assessment setting. This project led to the rollout of tomosynthesis in the BreastScreen assessment setting across Victoria,” Ms Giles said.

“Another area of focus has been providing consumers with information about modifiable breast cancer risk factors like alcohol consumption. This project is a collaboration between Eastern Health Turning Point, Maroondah BreastScreen, and BreastScreen Victoria.”

Over the past 30 years, the service has offered approximately 930,000 appointments and the team are eagerly anticipating their millionth appointment in 2025.

“Early detection provides clients with a better prognosis, and we strongly encourage women aged between 50 and 74 to screen every two years so any change in their breast tissue can be detected as early as possible.”

the incredible work that has been done over the past year, they are also about inspiring us to continue to evolve our industry for the better.”

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley has 70 rooms along with other amenities including an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium and endota spa.

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley hotel manager Lauren Hall said it was a great honour to win the award.

“It shows how hard all of our team worked, especially after everything that the tourism industry and our property have been through after the fire in 2020 and Covid as well as rebuilding and renovating our accommodation,” she said.

It’s about to finish the last block of renovation

of new rooms designed to provide a different experience in October.

Ms Hall said Balgownie’s service is the secret of getting good recognition.

“Balgownie service highlights within every single department that we provide a standard of service that exceeds our guests’ expectation every single time they come back,” she said.

“All departments carry the value that working here is a special opportunity, and we all hold that very closely.

“I’d like to highlight the recognition to every department that we work at Balgownie. We have all come together amazingly to get this award.”

Maroondah BreastScreen staff celebrated 30 years. (Supplied)

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley team at the awards ceremony. (Supplied)

L-R: Head of operation Grant Flack, hotel manager Lauren Hall and managing director Lawrence Tang. (Supplied)

NEWS Nappy sensor is a winner

By Dongyun Kwon

A Gruyere resident took first place for her brilliant business idea at national awards.

Monique Cotton has been announced as the gold winner in the One To Watch (New Idea) category at the 2024 AusMumpreneur Awards.

The AusMumpreneur Awards are presented by AusMumpreneur and The Women’s Business School.

AusMumpreneur co-founder Peace Mitchell said the AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate and recognise Aussie mums in business who have achieved outstanding success in areas like business excellence, product development, customer service, and digital innovation.

“The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family,” she said.

“Our panel of judges selected Monique be-

cause they were so impressed by her clever and innovative solution to solving a problem faced by so many parents.”

Monique Cotton runs five businesses including a residential builder ‘The Building and Construction Company’, a licensed local handyman services ‘The Handy Local’, a handcrafted giftware business ‘Sophia and Friends Australia’ and an omnichannel online retailer targeting South Koreans ‘Sophia and Friends South Korea’.

The business, recognised at the AusMumpreneur Awards, is a tech start-up of a patented smart nappy sensor named Weebell.

“It is a diaper sensor that is designed to let mums and carers know when it’s time to change your baby’s nappy through a visual cue of blinking night light as well as a smartphone notification through an app,” the business owner said.

Ms Cotton started the new business when she was pregnant with her now 11-month-old baby Sophia.

She has a background in tech and used to work within a corporate business.

“Planning my maternity leave taking time off work, I wanted to do something that would solve a simple problem,” Ms Cotton said.

“The simplest problem that I could find that I could personally relate to was changing diapers because that’s what I was about to get myself into.

“So, I wanted to turn it into a product that would really benefit busy parents like myself and give them peace of mind with parenting.”

After all of the hard work to develop the product and company, the patent finally got approved in April.

Ms Cotton said she didn’t expect to win the award.

“But, when I was nominated, I wanted to take the opportunity, that if I was to win, which I did, to encourage other mums that it’s not impossible for mums to do something their heart desires while looking after their little kids,” she said.

Floral Emporium shines bright as nominations secured

By Mikayla van Loon

For the second year in a row, Healesville’s Floral Emporium has been nominated in three categories at Victoria’s Australian Bridal Industry Awards (ABIA).

The consumer-voted awards saw owner and floral designer Rebecca Davis be crowned artificial floral designer of the year in 2023, a moment she regarded as “incredibly rewarding and humbling”.

“It was a moment of validation for all the hard work, creativity and passion that goes into every floral arrangement we create,” she said.

“It’s a memory we’ll always cherish.”

Again, this year, Ms Davis has been named a finalist in all three floral categories, including wedding floral designer, artificial floral designer and wedding stylist.

“Knowing it is consumer-voted is incredibly meaningful. It signifies that the hard work, creativity and dedication put into each floral design is being recognised and appreciated by those who matter most - the clients,” she said.

“It is a powerful affirmation that the effort to exceed expectations and create beautiful, memorable experiences is truly resonating with the couples and families I have the privilege to serve.”

First discovering the art of floral design through a school-based work experience program, Ms Davis went on to study interior design and business management, all leading her down the path of starting her own business.

In 2011 that dream came alive as she began

working from home, growing over the years until she was able to open her own shop four years ago at 5 St Leonards Street in Healesville.

Now employing a local apprentice Kelly and with the support and guidance of her mum Jillian, the business continues to develop and expand, spreading beauty and joy with every bouquet.

Ms Davis said capturing the “unique essence of each event and client” through “bespoke ar-

rangements and styling” was something she prided herself on.

“Whether working with real or artificial flowers, I focus on blending colours, textures and forms to translate a client’s vision into floral artistry, no matter if it’s a romantic whimsical wedding bouquet or a modern statement centrepiece.”

Starting to offer artificial floral arrangements roughly six years ago, Ms Davis said this

was somewhat before faux silk flowers became popular and accepted but it’s something she’s seen grow, more so over the last two years and the ABIAs reflect that.

When working with faux arrangements, Ms Davis said she often likes to incorporate fresh florals or greenery to bring cohesion to the designs, as well as that fresh smell of eucalyptus.

Despite a love of working with fresh florals, Ms Davis said it is an industry where a lot is wasted so artificial arrangements offer a more sustainable option.

“Artificial premium silks offer a wide range of durability and longevity, cost effectiveness, because we do hire, and can be reused and repurposed,” she said.

While weddings make up a large portion of what the Floral Emporium creates, Ms Davis said faux hire continues to be on the rise, particularly for businesses needing foyer arrangements.

Being nominated again for the state’s prestigious awards, Ms Davis said was enough for her and she felt excited to share this moment once more with the local community.

The industry’s night of nights will see hundreds flock to the Crown Palladium, including Ms Davis on Tuesday 27 August.

Floral Emporium will be teaming up with newly established business Little Elk in a few weeks to host a workshop in Healesville allowing the community to try their hand at floral design.

Keep an eye on their social media pages for more.

Floral Emporium owner Rebecca Davis accepting the artificial floral design award in 2023. (Royal Media Weddings)

Bright coloured blooms await customers at Floral Emporium. (Mikayla van Loon: 427682)

The specially curated space at Floral Emporium welcomes all who walk through the door. (Mikayla van Loon: 427682)

Monique Cotton. (Supplied)

From around the country

By Dongyun Kwon

After the huge success of hosting the 2024 State Cross Country Championships, Yarra Valley Racing once again hosted the cross country competition for students from all across Australia.

Individual racing was held on Wednesday 21 August while relay and time trial racing took place on Friday 23 August.

Over 500 students participated in the competition.

School Sport Australia (SSA) president Graeme Jennings said SSA is proud of the great work that occurs at all levels to ensure hundreds of thousands of Australian students, of all abilities and backgrounds are provided access to participation in school sport.

“Our SSA Championships are not just about where a team finishes on the ladder, it has many added benefits – health, cognitive, well-being and social integration,” he said.

“The educational outcomes the students gain is something they cannot learn in the classroom or on a device, it provides another pathway for the fulfilment of personal potential whether it be playing or officiating.”

Hasas Abeygunawardana from Eastwood Primary School ended up winning three gold medals.

Hasas has a hearing impairment and participated in the 10-12 Years Multiclass Boys and Girls race on Wednesday and Multiclass Time Trials on Friday.

Hasas said he started to cross country to run with his brother.

“I learnt ’I have to continue running until the end’ throughout cross country,” he said.

Hasas won the individual gold medal at the 10-12 Years Multiclass Boys and Girls race and won the team gold medal at the same race with his teammates, Declan Zamora with a hearing impairment from Yarra Valley Grammar School and Sam Bradley with a vision impairment from Cheltenham East Primary School.

Declan took third place and Sam took fourth place in the same race which summed up as the highest team point.

Declan and Sam participated in the Multiclass Relays where they ended up with a silver medal on Friday.

“I always liked sports and I decided to start practising cross country to get here,” Declan said.

“I learnt how to try my best throughout the cross country experience,” Sam said.

The trio went to the 2023 National Cross Country Championships together in Canberra last year where they got not only a gold medal as a team but also good friendship.

Team Victoria general manager Erik Albers, who is a teacher at Oakleigh South Primary School, was proud of Team Victoria students.

“Our team did an absolutely fabulous job representing Victoria,” he said.

“Everyone’s proud of their achievements and they are very excited.

“I’d like to thank the support of the parents and families for coming out and watching the athletes’ performance.”

SSA rotates the hosting state of the event every year and this year Victoria was chosen as the host.

School Sport Australia (SSA) national cross country advisor Andrew Downes said he loved the Yarra Valley Racing as an event venue.

“School Sport Victoria used this for their state championships, so it was a familiar setup for them to transfer over to the national cross country,” he said.

“We just adjusted it to how we run our program.

“The location was ideal as accommodations and places to eat are all close.”

Team Vic Multiclass Relays runners, L-R: Margret Karam, Georgia Peacock, Tihana Palahinjak, Giselle Castaneda, Mohamed Limani, Declan Zamora, Ethan Splatt and Sam Bradley. (Dongyun Kwon: 427492)

The first relay runner Declan. (427492)

Sam never gave up. (427492) Margret touched the next runner Georgia. (427492)

Tihana to the last runner Giselle. (427492)

Multiclass Time Trials winners of each age group, L-R: 10-year-old Phoenix Zhang from Mountain View Primary School, 11-year-old Hasas and 12-yearold Samuel Demuth from Mountain View Primary School. (427492)

Come on Team Vic. (427492)

The first relay runners at the start line with the coaches, L-R: coach Lyne Barge, Margaret Karam from Jells Park Primary School, general manager Erik Albers and Declan Zamora from Yarra Valley Grammar School. (427492)

The team gold medal winners at the 10-12 Years Multiclass Boys and Girls race. L-R: Declan Zamora, Hasas Abeygunawardana and Sam Bradley. (427492)

Come down, check it out

By Dongyun Kwon

Badger Creek and District Men’s Shed (BCDMS) is inviting locals to its open day on Wednesday 4 September.

As part of Men’s Shed Week from 1 to 7 September, the BCDMS will host an open day under the theme of ‘Send him down to the shed’.

BCDMS president Alan Jones said the open day is to showcase what they do for the community.

“People will be able to have a look at our shed, some of the works we are doing, talk to the members and enjoy a cup of tea,” he said.

“We’re turning on a sausage sizzle around lunchtime.”

The shed will open from 10am to 2pm on the day.

The BCDMS has two workshops, a metal workshop and a wood workshop, on Monday and Wednesday and a photography workshop on Friday.

Whoever is interested in joining the BCDMS can sign up on the open day or any workshops.

Mr Jones said new members would be able to

COMMUNITY DIARY

COMMUNITY

DIARY

WHAT’S ON AROUND THE VALLEY

Defibrillator grant applications open

In the last 12 months, Community Banks of Warburton and Yarra Junction have proudly supplied and installed five 24/7 accessible community defibs across the Upper Yarra.

If your community group, organisation or club needs defib then here’s your chance.

Apply for one today under the annual program.

Businesses can also apply as the ‘host’ location.

Head to the website to apply: communitybankwarburtonyarrajunction.smartygrants.com. au/

Applications close at midnight on Tuesday 3 September 2024.

Queries to admin@upperyarra.net.au.

“We know defibrillators are key to surviving a cardiac arrest and these defibs help keep people safe and save lives. It’s just another way we are having a big impact every day.”

The Community Banks of Warburton and Yarra Junction are committed to purchasing up to 5 units annually and allocating them to worthy organisations and groups.

Applicants and locations need to be in the Upper Yarra region ie towns with a postcode of 3797 or 3799.

There is no need to source quotes, if successful a defib will be allocated to your group and provided by Bendigo Bank Community Banks of Warburton and Yarra Junction.

Maintenance works across the Valley

Yarra Ranges Council has released an update on the works their crews have been carrying out across the region to keep amenities clean and maintained.

Here are the highlights of works in the Valley over June and July:

• Grieve Street, Launching Place: drainage pipe reinstated between pits and sink hole and ero-

BCDMS has about 50 members with good fellowship. (File: 412291)

feel the fellowship.

“Here, we provide a safe environment for men to talk about whatever they want without being ostracised,” he said.

“Having this opportunity and having friendly people to discuss things help very much with mental health.”

The open day is open to everyone, and prebooking is not required to attend the event.

The BCDMS is located at 360 Badger Creek Road, Badger Creek behind the Badger Creek CFA station and the Badger Creek Hall.

sion restoration.

• Scotchman’s Creek: public toilet new epoxy flooring in male toilet, painting of the accessible toilet and new decals.

• Yarra Junction Bowls Club: amenities construction.

• Wesburn Park: temporary change facility service connections.

• Yarra Junction Playspace: seasaw maintenance, replacement of worn strap swing seat and replacement of broken infant swing seat.

• Banksia Circuit, Wesburn: localised road widening.

• 60 Wonga Road, Millgrove: drainage improvements.

• Beenak Road, Beenak: gravel road signage.

• Sheepstation Creek Road, Yellingbo: advisory signage for road bends.

• Wesburn Park: temporary change facility service connections completed.

• Warburton Arts Centre: new paved entrance.

• Thomas Avenue public toilets: new partitions and epoxy flooring.

• Bramich Bridge public toilets: vinyl replacement on existing doors and new epoxy flooring.

• Wesburn Park public toilets: additional lighting.

• Woori Yallock Shops public toilet: new partition installed.

• Walker Street, Healesville: embankment slip reinstatement.

• Oonah cultural gardens planting.

• Yarra Glen Pavilion: flood damage rectification works.

• 321 Glenview Road, Yarra Glen: drainage outfall.

• McMeikans Road, Yering: advanced guidance signs.

• Woodnook Drive, Dixons Creek: bridge flood level signs.

• Coldstream Community Centre: entry, kitchen, amenities and ceiling upgrade works in design phase.

2024 Victorian Community History Awards open for entries

In Healesville, Yarra Valley Women’s Health is redefining women’s healthcare. Founded by Dr. Stephania Tsotras and Dr. Jaimi Schroen, this clinic serves as a community hub dedicated to women’s wellbeing across alllifestages.

Recognizing a gap in female-focused healthcare, the founders spent a year developing their vision. The clinic offers comprehensiveservicesincludingpelvicfloor care, post-breast cancer support, mastitis treatment, paediatrics, lactation support, and naturopathy.

“Wewantourpatientstounderstandwhat their bodies are capable of,” explains Steph. “Education is key to empowering informed healthcaredecisions.”

While focused on women’s health, the clinic welcomes all. They’ve also created an extensive referral database of local practitionerstoensurecomprehensivecare.

Upcoming events include an Open Day on August 31st at 2 pm, showcasing all the services on offer. During Women’s Health Week (September 2-6), daily workshops will

featureresidentandlocalpractitioners.

A standout offering is their Drop-in Lactation Support program every Thursday from9:30to11:30am,wherenewparentscan receivesupportandconnectwithothers.

Inadditiontotheirexistingprograms,Yarra Valley Women’s Health is also partnering with Worawa Aboriginal College to deliver a menstrual educational program called “Understanding Our Bodies.” This program aims to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with information and resources to support their health and wellbeingduringmenstruation.

When asked about their greatest achievement, Steph and Jaimi proudly state: “Providing a safe space for people to come andfeelsupported.”

Yarra Valley Women’s Health represents morethanjusthealthcare—it’sasteptowards prioritizing and celebrating women’s health in the region. As they continue to grow, they remaincommittedtoservingtheircommunity withpassionandexpertise.

There are 10 categories including best History Publication, Article, Collaborative Project, Oral History, Community Diversity and Digital Storytelling - all entrants will go into the running to receive the prestigious Victorian Premier’s History Award prized at $5000.

Local history and community groups, historians, museums, writers and creators are encouraged to enter.

For more information visit, prov.vic.gov.au/ community/grants-and-awards/communityhistory-awards

Empowering Women’s Health in the Yarra Valley

Satisfying young curiosity

By Dongyun Kwon

Chum Creek Primary School juniors had fun with hands-on experiments on Friday 16 August and Wednesday 21 August to celebrate National Science Week, which ran between 10 and 18 August.

The students immersed themselves in science through a number of activities they completed with their teacher.

The main event was on Friday 16 August while the Wednesday one was set up for two students who missed the Friday event.

Junior teacher Ann Hosking said having hands-on experiments is important for students because it gets them to think rather than for teachers to provide all the information.

“It provides opportunities for the students to become curious, to ask questions, to make predictions and then to try and work out why what happened,” she said.

“The students were keen to share their observations with each other.

“It was great to see their excitement as they watched to see what did occur.”

At the Friday event, juniors participated in activities using air rockets, toy parachutes, magnets and engineering kits.

Ms Hosking said the students discussed a wide range of science such as zoology and biology throughout the day while having hands-on experiments.

“We put the Skittles in warm water and all the dye of the Skittles came out and made a beautiful pattern,” she said.

“We had a paper towel activity to see how it can soak from one cup of water with one colour to the other colour and how it chases up the paper and joins and makes a rainbow.

“Another one we did was the shaving cream activity. We had water and shaving cream on the top, and we dropped coloured dye on the shaving cream which gradually soaked through and made it look like rain coming from the cloud.”

Grade 2 student Bea brought her own experiment which she had done at home.

Bea initiated the activity with vinegar and the bicarbonate soda and wanted to run that with her friends.

She brought in a tray and put bicarbonate soda on the base.

Then in little squirter bottles, she had vinegar and added different food colourings.

The young scientist got her group to squirt the coloured vinegar onto the base and it would make little volcanoes as they erupted turning the white soda into a bubbling coloured pile.

“It would all fizz off its colour because bicarb soda and vinegar have a chemical reaction,” Bea said.

Three Grade 2 students, Luna, Bea and Quinn, and one preppie August participated in the Wednesday event.

They did two experiments.

One was to see how detergent reacts when it meets fat, and the other one was to see how oil and water react to each other and how to mix them together.

They put milk on a tray and put some colour dyes in the milk.

As soon as the students put their pipe cleaners with detergent on them near the colour dyes in the milk, the colour dyes moved away.

“Detergent does not like fat. It repels from it,” Ms Hosking said.

“If there was no colour dye in it, you wouldn’t see it.”

For the next activity, the four juniors put water, a colour dye and oil in a plastic bottle.

They could see there were two layers in it and realised oil and water couldn’t mix with each other.

When they put Alka Seltzer in their bottle, they could see the liquid start to bubble and mix up.

“It looks like a volcano,” Luna said.

When August put his hand on top of the bottle, he said he couldn’t feel any gas or air coming out from the liquid.

When Star Mail asked the kids how they found

the activities, Quinn said they were “incredible and amazing”.

Chum Creek Primary School principal Michael Corr was glad to see his students enjoy the special activities.

Mr Corr said science education plays an important role in helping the children develop teamwork, curiosity, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and logical thinking skills.

“These skills aren’t just important for science class, they are skills that students will use throughout their school and working lives. A science education in primary school will continue

to benefit students for decades to come,“ he said.

“At Chum Creek Primary School, we maximise our students’ learning by utilising our natural environment to encourage unstructured, cooperative outdoor play. Our students love building cubbies.

“We are also lucky enough to have a variety of wildlife living in and around our schoolgrounds. Apart from various birds including rosellas, cockatoos and kookaburras we have also recently had a bowerbird nesting in our schoolyard.

“We have also hosted possums, microbats, kangaroos, echidnas, wombats and lizards at different times.”

Bea shared the vinegar and the bicarbonate soda experiment with her friends, which she had done at home. (427240)

August (left) and Quinn with their pipe cleaners. (427240)

Luna enjoying the activity. (427240)

L-R: Luna, August, Bea and Quinn. (Dongyun Kwon: 427240)

As soon as the students put their pipe cleaners with detergent on them near the colour dyes in the milk, the colour dyes moved away. (427240)

Ms Hosking explaining about the detergent and fat experiment. (427240)

A platinum anniversary

By Callum Ludwig Yarra Junction residents Henk

and Gwyneth Boer are set to mark a special milestone on Wednesday 28 August, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.

Having met at church in Wandin, the couple are heading back to where it all began and spending the day with friends and family.

Mr Boer said his family arrived here from the Netherlands late on the night of Saturday 20 May, 1950, spending the first night catching a train to Lilydale, a bus to Mount Evelyn and then walking to Silvan to stay with a friend of his dad’s.

“I already had a job lined up, we were all bakers, and so I started work the next morning, and received my first lesson in English ‘I’m very pleased to meet you sir’ and then we lived in a shed, my dad wasn’t completely honest, as he had said ‘I found a house’ but it was actually a shed,” he said.

“After two weeks, my mother said to us, find us a church, because we’re Christian people and I didn’t find out until this week, how we found out about that church which was because my sister went to a school opposite the church and the following week, I noticed all these girls sitting, she [Gwyneth] was the oldest so I thought I’ll walk up and sit next to that woman and then I ended up holding her hand.”

Mr Boer had been the only member of his family to enjoy the boat trip over to Australia, as the rest of them had gotten seasick. Upon arrival, they got straight back into their jobs as bakers; Mr Boer’s brother started at the Mt Evelyn bakery and he started at Lilydale the day after they arrived.

Mr Boer said Mrs Boer had ticked all the boxes for him.

“During the war, everybody was deprived of everything and we had no divorces or separations, no sooner had the war finished quite a few people separated, divorced and started smoking and drinking,” he said.

“One of the first things I asked her was ‘Do you smoke? No. Do you drink? No. What do you do for a living?’ and her mother was ill so she was running the house for all the girls, so she was ticking all the boxes and she could cook, but she didn’t really want to get married, she wanted to be a dressmaker.

“She made her own wedding dress, but then she chose the noblest profession of all time, a wife and mother.”

Mr and Mrs Boer have three sons, nine grandchildren and soon-to-be 11 great-grandchildren.

In their near 70 years of marriage, one of the greatest achievements was keeping Mr Boer grounded, literally.

“I bought an aircraft and flew everywhere and everything else and hired it out to two doctors, one of whom flew it into Mt Dandenong and killed himself, it took me a long time to get over that but the insurance phoned me that night and they said if everything’s in order, they’ll pay it under fortnight so I started scanning the magazines to replace the aircraft,” he said.

“She [Mrs Boer] kept an eye on me, I said ‘Next

week I’m going to Brisbane to have a look at an aeroplane and she said ‘Before you do, I’ll give you something to think about; if you bring that home, I’ll leave’.

“I was sick of driving to airports everywhere where he’d landed because of poor visibility and it raining all the time, he was landing in people’s paddocks, he landed on the Hume Freeway and another time the aircraft people rang me and they said ‘We can’t find him anywhere, we’ve lost him on radar’ so I was so sick of it and the boys didn’t like it much although he persuaded [son] Jeff to take flying lessons, though when it came to going solo he changed his mind and I was grateful for that,” Mrs Boer said.

The Boers are holding their anniversary celebration in the very same church where they met all those years ago across from the Wandin Yallock Primary School; the Wandin/Seville Uniting Church.

When asked what the secret to their long love was, it appears to be compromise and caring for each other.

“Up until the last few years where I’ve had some handicaps, prior to that I did everything at home and looked after the boys because Henk travelled a fair bit for business all over Victoria and New South Wales, so I felt I had a great influence on the boys and I was really happy to be a mum and bring up the boys myself,” Mrs Boer said.

“We moved to Yarra Junction to Yarra Street didn’t we after we sold the fish shop and we lived down there for 20 years but it was right in the town and the corner of Yarra Street and Hoddle Street and it became so busy there, so I said to Hank let’s get out of here so we came up here and that was 41 years ago.

“This morning he [Henk] helped me with the shortbread, normally I always did it on my own, but it was very difficult mixing so he mixed it all this morning and pressed it into the tray so I didn’t have to do very much.”

Gwyneth and Henk Boer met at church in Wandin years ago. (Stewart Chambers: 426639)

Reimagining the Birrarung

By Callum Ludwig

The ‘Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070’ exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is now on display in the Ian Potter Centre: NGV in Fed Square from 23 August 2024 to 2 February 2025 and free for all to enter.

It has brought together eight leading Australian landscape architects, asking them to reimagine the lands and waters of the Birrarung (Yarra River) from the city centre, the eastern suburbs and through to the Yarra Ranges.

It includes the submission of Bush Projects, a landscape architectural studio, who explored the Upper Yarra catchment between Healesville and Woori Yallock.

Their vision suggested the Upper Yarra catchment area be established as a biodiversity protection zone only to be accessed by Traditional Custodians and the River Rangers whose role it will be to protect the environment.

This exhibition asked Bush Projects and other studios to look into the future and how the river may have changed by the year 2070, what the area around it will look like and what will need to be done to maintain and increase the health of the Birrarung, including considering changes such as the changing climate and how agriculture and farming practices may evolve.

Portrait of Sarah Hicks, Director of Bush Projects inside Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070 on display from 23 August – 2 February 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. (Eugene Hyland)

Installation view of OPENWORK’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of REALMstudio’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of Aspect Studio’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of McGregor Coxall’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of SBLA’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of OFFICE’s film in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

Installation view of TCL’s design in Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070. (Sean Fennessy)

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Healesville Toyota is committed to providing quality service. (Supplied)

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT Responding through art

By Dongyun Kwon

YAVA Gallery and Arts Hub Healesville has launched a new exhibition Respond, showcasing the work of 32 artists in 15 groups responding to, and inspired by each other’s ideas.

This exhibition is special to the gallery as the exhibition was curated by the former director of YAVA, Andrew Chew.

Chew said he’s “very proud” to curate Respond.

“It was during its inception where we first started the gallery, and I took it all the way through Covid when many regional galleries got through the tough period,” he said.

“We got all our exhibitions online, we were selling artwork all over Melbourne and our memberships grew.

“I am very proud of my time at YAVA and it’s very rewarding for me to come back after four years and be invited to be a part of the exhibition.”

The artists collaborated to explore ways of presenting their ideas in different media, producing a body of work that breaks new ground and presents artwork in multiple forms, each artist working to their own individual skill and artistic passion.

The multi-themed works use textiles, sound, film, paint and more to provoke and challenge the viewer in a refreshing break from tradition.

Chew said his main focus for curating the exhibition was getting a nice visual flow because there are many different styles and mediums.

“It was relatively easy to work with many artists for this exhibition,” he said.

“We left a lot of the liaising to the artists themselves, so they organised it between them, and that worked out fine.

“They all collaborated really well together. Everyone learnt new techniques and styles.”

Karen Meuleman, the current director of YAVA, also participated in the exhibition as an artist.

She worked with Phoebe Lines under the theme of motherhood.

“Although we have a generation separating us and she’s about the same age as my children, the experience of motherhood is the same,”

Meuleman said.

“Phoebe wrote this poem [on their artworks] and I wanted to interpret it into something that involved textiles because that’s my medium.

“We thought it would be nice to have what we called a motherhood coat, and then I thought of the idea of interpreting using an old Japanese kimono and vintage Japanese textiles.”

Margaret McLoughlin and Savaad Felich paired up for the exhibition.

They exhibited two artworks which repurposed their former artworks consisting of mixed media and linocut prints with collage giclee

prints on archival paper.

Felich said the work was initially organic and became more planned as they proceeded.

“We basically cut out the shapes and started gluing onto the paper,” he said.

“As we progress, we thought, especially with the linocuts, we needed to make the works balance and marry.

“I tried to add some of Margaret’s prints, and also line marking with pens and textures to capture the flow.”

McLoughlin said they had to create dynamism and energy to regenerate the life force.

“Our shapes seem to collide and converge,” she said.

“It was interesting for us to marry our work because Savaad works differently with his photographic images and other colleges.

“It was wonderful to get together with him and see his ideas.”

Koala film set to screen in Healesville and Warburton

By Gabriella Vukman

Winding its way throughout the nation, a new film raising awareness and invoking a new perspective on koala conservation is coming to screens in Healesville and Warburton.

‘The Koalas’ film delves into the plight of the fluffy marsupial totem that is now listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Having previously screened at Cameo in Belgrave and coming to Healesville’s The Memo and the Warburton Arts Centre, filmmakers, creators and producers of ‘the Koalas’ Gregory Miller and Georgia Wallace-Crabbe are encouraging locals to hold their own screenings.

“We have made the film for a general audience, it’s G rated so you can bring the kids to watch it too,“ Gregory said.

“The film doesn’t have horrible graphic details in it, we’ve kept it ’kids friendly’ to tell the story without having to show graphic images even though those images are out there.”

“We want to reach to as many audience as possible, our strategy was to make it accessible to everyone - the feedback we are getting is that

people finding it very emotional I believe that is because they genuinely care about the animals.”

Gregory and Georgia set out to encourage and inspire their audience to take action.

“We want people to come away with a sense that it is not a lost cause, that we can turn this around - it is a film that is purposeful and not negative,” George said.

With the Hills and the Yarra Valley’s status as a peri-urban area, the loss of habitat and support for animal aid are two major contentions that underpin the entire film.

“The issue in areas like the Yarra Valley and Ranges is that there is expansion going on, houses are being built, roads are being constructedevery time that happens we lose trees and when that happens in an area that is rich with animal life - they suffer and that’s what we are seeing in Victoria and everywhere around the big cities of Australia,” Gregory said.

“One of the key problems Koalas are facing is they are interfaced with humans around the edges of the cities, we need to really change the way we allow development to take place and there needs to be a new approach to design.”

‘The Koalas’ Co Filmmaker Georgia said the history of the translocation of koalas in Victoria has made it a very unclear story.

“Koalas have been lost right across the landscape in Victoria in all the areas that have been cleared for farming and in some places like Gippsland where the iconic Straseci koala has hung on because of paddock trees and a mixture of pockets of bushland amongst farmland - the conversion of those areas to forestry has significantly impacted the remaining habitat for koalas,” Georgia said.

“Both in the Upper Yarra and in Gippsland, koalas have hung on in habitats that are now being encroached on either for farming or forestry so the net loss is always less trees and therefore, less habitat - it’s not just for koalas, it’s also for greater gliders and other species.

“Sometimes Victorians don’t have a sense of where they were in the landscape because it was cleared a hundred years ago.”

Each screening will be accompanied by a discussion with a panel of local experts who will speak on the issues pertaining to Koalas in the local area of the screening.

With extensive native timber logging and development, resulting in the increasing loss of koala habitat, ‘The Koalas’ film promotes the rallying of locals together in order to prevent the 2025 extinction of the koala species.

“It’s very important on local government level that the moratorium really be placed on the clearing of any remnant bush, you’ve got a lot of fantastic, amazing forest, but it’s chipping away at the edges and in forests that are on private land - all of this is just eliminating the last remaining bits of habitat that these animals can live in,” Georgia said.

“Maybe the trees are protected in the state forests but they are still being chipped away, local councils really need to put the animals first in their thinking rather than taking out the last remnant stands of trees like has been happening all over the place.

“We need to put pressure on local councils.”

For more information about the film visit thekoalasfilm.com. For tickets to the screenings at The Memo (Tuesday 27 August at 7pm) and the Warburton Arts Centre (Tuesday 3 September at 7pm), visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/The-Koalas.

Margaret McLoughlin (left) and Savaad Felich. (427619)

Karen Meuleman. (Dongyun Kwon: 427619)

The Koalas film will be showcasing around at The Memo and the Warburton Arts Cente. (Gregory Miller)Advocating for habitat protection, ‘The Koalas’ film exposes the hurdles that are faced by the fluffy Aussie icons in their battle for survival.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Celtic muso is returning

By Dongyun Kwon

One of the members of Half Light, a Celtic music duo, will return to Badger Creek in September.

Rennie Pearson will host a solo concert focused on the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and the Maritimes of Canada at the Badger Creek Hall.

The Half Light had a concert at the same place in June.

Pearson said he loved the atmosphere of the Badger Creek community.

“I liked the hall. It was cute and a great space to play a concert,” he said.

“Everybody was into the show and was enthusiastic about the music.”

Bob, the other member of Half Light, who was on performance last time with Pearson as a group, will not come along with Pearson this time.

“Bob lives in New Zealand,” Pearson said.

“Occasionally, I organise shows with other people and Bob’s one of those people, but I also do solo performances.

“If I’m coming back to the same place, I always like to come back with a show that’s fresh, new and interesting so that the same people could come back, see it again and get a completely different experience.”

Grounded in the Celtic musical traditions, Pearson takes the listener on a journey through history, weaving tunes and songs together and the tales that accompany them to create an intri-

cate and varied show.

His engaging stage presence and storytelling open the door for audiences to connect with the music.

Pearson said he would showcase all of the different instruments he plays.

“I play the wooden flute, a variety of tin whis-

tles, the guitar, fiddle and Bodhran, the Irish frame drum, I also sing,” Pearson said.

“There’s quite a selection of different sounds that will be heard throughout the evening.”

Pearson grew up in Wellington, New Zealand with Celtic music in his blood.

Having heard the traditional music of Ireland

and Scotland on his parents’ CDs as a baby, he grew up knowing he just had to learn to play like this.

“I had the music of a few different Celtic artists that would be playing for me as lullabies while I was going to sleep,” the musician said.

“Even though a lot of the music was quite fast dance music, I have connected with it since I was a baby.”

When he was seven years old, he was amazed by Chris Norman’s wooden flute concert, which made him learn to play the flute.

Pearson said once he got hold of the music, it never let him go and he has been in love with it ever since.

“As soon as we got home from that concert, I said to my mum ‘I want to start learning to play the flute’, and she dug out her old silver flute which she played in high school, and she started teaching me how to make a sound out of it,” Pearson said.

“And then fairly quickly, my parents took me to a local Irish flute teacher who lived just up the road from me in Wellington [in New Zealand].

“I started going along to the Irish sessions in Wellington from when I was about 13.”

The concert will start at 7.30pm on Thursday 19 September at the Badger Creek Hall. The tickets are purchasable at the following website, renniepearsonmusic.com/event-details/rennie-pearson-live-in-badger-creek

Local bands turn it on for community cafe fundraiser

The Koha Community Cafe’s Music Festival Fundraiser held on 17 August saw a packed-out hall with the community coming together to enjoy an amazing night of music from seven local bands.

Szara Fox and the Midnight Secrets, Tim Ireland and The Captain, The Idle Idolisers, Beez Neez, Starvation Creek, TOIL and Bluffy, all generously donated their time to put on a great music event to help raise funds for Koha Community Cafe in Warburton.

The night was MC’ed by Karen Duke from Mad Hatters Theatrics who made it incredibly fun with her commentary and the sound set up was expertly done by Ollie de Varga to ensure all the bands sounded their best.

“Great night, hope this is just the beginning, channeling so much of Wyld Thyme days with so much talent and great to see the younger generation are killing it,“ Tom from Starvation Creek said.

Through ticket sales, raffles, food and drinks and donations, the Cafe raised $6,755.50 which will go a long way to supporting Koha to continue providing meals in the community. It is estimated this will cover the cost of about 1000 meals.

“We had such a fun night at the Koha Cafe Fundraiser, Warburton on Saturday, perform-

ing as the Idle Idolisers along with six other wonderful local bands, Koha and its volunteers are the glue that helps keep the community together. Thanks for having us as part of the event Koha,“ the Idle Idolisers said.

The event was initiated by Michelle Fisher, and along with Mel Bouck and Suyin Chan it was pulled together after a long hiatus. It also couldn’t have been done without the generosity and commitment of Koha volunteers who cooked, cleaned, ran the two kitchens and bar, made desserts and meals. Committeee members said it was heartening also to have a number of attendees step up and help out through the night and to see the enormous support of the community to keep Koha going.

The Koha Community Cafe would like to give thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals, including those who contributed to a mega raffle with about 65 prizes up for grabs, which meant that many people went home very happy.

The bands and many community members are keen to see it happen again next year as it was a great event for the local community to come together and enjoy a night of live music.

Rennie Pearson with his flute. (Liam Bede)

The Beez Kneez in action. (Suyin Chan)

All artists including the Idle Idolisers generously donated their talents and time to support the event. (Suyin Chan)

Spring comes to our senses

By Maria Millers

September, and the wattle blooms in brilliant yellow.

It is the first sign that winter is losing its grip.

The air softens, and the sun comes in earlier.

Kate Llewellyn September

Only days away from Spring we are still caught in that end part of winter with its lingering cold but in anticipation of warmer weather being not too far away.

But even though the days are getting longer and sunnier the heaters are still on and so too are our winter clothes.

At least in our part of the country.

Spring in Australia can be quite variable, with some regions experiencing late cold snaps or early heatwaves.

Coastal areas might still have cool ocean breezes, while inland regions warm up more quickly as we saw this week in central and north Australia.

And then there is always the possibility of the sudden storm.

As Judith Beveridge reminds us.

It was so light, the rain was, just misting over, when suddenly the day was ripped apart by ice coming down like nails.

The air was filled with flying grit, and there was no sound, except the sound of hail smashing down, hard as regret.

WOORILLA WORDS

Still all around us nature is stirring: The songs of many birds back from their summer sojourns are heard once more in our backyards.

Wattles are putting on their annual patriotic show of national colours.

The gold blazing against the dark green of our bush, followed by a support act of exotic daffodils appearing across lawns, under trees and for sale in buckets on the side of the road.

Blossoms are breaking out all over our suburbs either in bridal white or soft bridesmaid pinks.

And the air is beginning to smell different, the wind carrying the scent of new growth including the familiar whiff of onion weed, the bane of dedicated gardeners.

Spring is also a time of vibrant blooming for many native plants. Iconic Australian flowers like wattle, bottlebrush, and kangaroo paw come into full bloom, adding bursts of colour to the landscape.

Wildflowers, particularly in Western Australia, create stunning displays across fields and national parks.

Wattle Day is celebrated on 1 September, the

first day of spring.

Australia has relatively few deciduous trees that are indigenous, as most of the native Australian flora is evergreen, having adapted to our country’s unique climate and conditions.

However, there are some notable exceptions: The semi deciduous Australian Red Cedar and the Illawarra Flame Tree, but many exotics have been planted and have become part of our landscape.

There is something wonderful about the coming into leaf of deciduous trees with the delicate colour of the unfurling leaves as captured by Robert Frost in a poem that reminds us of the transience of existence : Nothing Gold Can Stay.

Nature’s first green is gold,/Her hardest hue to hold./Her early leaf’s a flower;/But only so an hour./Then leaf subsides to leaf./So Eden sank to grief,/So dawn goes down to day./Nothing gold can stay.

Traditionally the coming of spring meant it was time for the ritual of Spring Cleaning.

To open up the house to fresh air, to tackle all those accumulated chores on hold during winter

And the jettisoning of all the unused and unwanted stuff that has accumulated over the cold months.

If we are prepared to do this kind of spring cleaning there’s no reason why not to look at decluttering some of the emotional and psychological negatives we have been holding on to.

For some it has been a tough winter and the gloom of daily news is still hanging around like a fog.

A good time to remove all the self-doubt, worry, jealousy, regret, anger, guilt, or any other nega-

tive emotions that are holding you back from your happy, fulfilled life.”

It’s common to be affected by changing seasons and weather, or to have times of the year when you feel more or less comfortable.

For some people this can lead to what is called seasonal affective disorder SAD a type of depression that comes and goes according to the season.

The incidence of SAD in Australia is very low.

For Dorothy Porter the season of Spring is all positive.

Springtime

Springtime, with its brilliant anarchy, is sweet to everyone.

Even the bones of the poor rattle like xylophones in the wind.

The rich man forgets for a moment his investments, the madman forgets for a moment his pain.

The loveless, like me, watch and listen, to all that whistling and caroling, the blazonry of petals, and don’t even try not to feel good.

Spring in Australia is a season of growth, renewal, and vibrant natural beauty, with the country’s diverse ecosystems responding to the changing conditions in different ways.

It is a season to be embraced and enjoyed.

Woorilla Virtual Poetry Event Tuesday, 27 August at 6.30 pm.

Visit woorilla.org.au

Fledgling Yarra Junction Community Group taking shape

The township group developing for Yarra Junction has taken another step towards becoming a key advocate for their local community.

The Yarra Junction community group met on Thursday 15 August, with 16 community members attending and a handful more sending apologies.

As alluded to at their previous meeting, the group was excited to decide on a name at the latest meeting, settling on officially being the Yarra Junction Community Group as well as defining their purpose: ‘to support and promote the wellbeing of Yarra Junction and its community, for them to prosper and thrive.’

A committee was formed with long-time resident Frank Colverson as President, Rosemary Crowley as Vice-President, Monica Blanchfield as secretary and everyone else who has attended the meetings (or expressed their apologies at not being able to) has been designated as members.

The group has agreed to meet again in a couple of weeks time to start work on its first projects and activities.

Yarra Junction residents can get in touch with the Yarra Junction Community group via email yarrajunction3797@gmail.com and the group welcomes anyone who is interested in getting involved or in sharing their ideas on how to help Yarra Junction and its community thrive.

There’s a total of 17 township groups in the Yarra Ranges, including the Millgrove Resident’s Action Group (MRAg), Warburton Advancement League, WHYLD Community Group, the Reefton McMahon’s Action Group and the Little Yarra Valley Community all in the Upper Yarra.

Members of the Yarra Junction Community Group have also previously met representatives of Monbulk And District Community Opportunities Working Group (MADCOW) who shared some of what they have been able to achieve.

One upcoming focus of the newly-formed group will be the upcoming draft Yarra Junction Place Plan from Yarra Ranges Council, who recently released an Engagement and Direction Paper that recaps the Place Plan and shares what they’ve heard from residents before the anticipated release of the draft plan in early 2025.

An afternoon with Australian acting legend John Wood

By Mikayla van Loon

Having graced screen and stage for decades, John Wood is a household name when it comes to iconic Australian dramas.

Since the 1970s Wood has been an esteemed actor but it was his roles in hit TV shows Rafferty’s Rules and Blue Heelers that saw him become an integral part of the Australian acting community.

Residing in Wandin, not straying too far from his home suburb of Croydon, Wood will share his tale of talent with the Lilydale and District Historical Society on Saturday 7 September as the monthly guest speaker.

Despite taking a break from on screen acting for 10 years, Wood was still starring in stage shows, most recently David Williamson’s comedy The Great Divide at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney.

He’s also been working on his own touring show with vocalist entertainer Dave Allen called Rock and Roll Journey, learning to play the congas in just six months, and piecing together the history of some of the world’s most well known songs.

But remembering the good old days of regular work and long running TV dramas, particularly

Australian

with Blue Heelers, Wood said “that sort of thing just doesn’t happen anymore, it’s a real shame”.

“It was a great gig, really. It was 12 years of work, and 12 years of working from home. I didn’t have to travel interstate. It was great,” he said.

“It was a pretty high quality show. The storytelling was pretty good and the rest of the cast were fantastic people, so we all did very well.”

The driving force in Wood’s selection of acting

roles, he said, was the script quality, the cast and what was going to fulfil his cup.

“I tend to take the best job that’s being offered. When I was offered Rafferty’s Rules, for example, I think I had six or eight offers for jobs at the same time but I took the one I thought would be the most rewarding.

“And I don’t mean financially, I mean the most fun to do. Rafferty’s had very high quality scripts and it was very rewarding work, it was tremendously rewarding. So that’s always been my motto.”

The now 78-year-old said his interest in acting was sparked when he was a student at Ringwood Tech school and it was just something he couldn’t shake even as he went to work on the railways.

“I had a job for the railways and I had an office down near Festival Hall, it was the dining car depot on Dudley Street, that end of the railway yard, the Spencer street railway yard,” he said.

“We used to service the interstate trains. I was a clerk. We used to service the Southern Aurora and the Spirit of Progress. It was also the location where they made Railway Pies, which were delicious, and they used to send them all over because they used

to send them wherever the trains went.”

Wood said one of his fondest memories of the railways and the pies was listening to the bickering of Bertie the baker and Max the butcher.

The culmination of decades on screen resulted in Wood’s many Logie awards and ultimately his Gold Logie, which he said has been well loved having travelled from place to place with him, just like it will for the upcoming Historical Society talk.

While grateful for the accolades, Wood said there had been two standout moments in his career.

“One is David Williamson’s The Club where I played John, who’s the old, ex captain, ex coach, ex player, and it’s probably the funniest play ever written. The other character that I really loved playing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream alongside Geoffrey Rush.”

It was the role of Falstaff, however, that Wood always wished he could have played.

All are welcome to join the Lilydale and District Historical Society from 2.30pm at Old Lilydale Court House, 61 Castella Street, Lilydale. A gold coin donation is appreciated.

actor John Wood poses for photographs on the set of his new ABC television show The Cut in 2008. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

The newly-named Yarra Junction Community Group. (Supplied)

Searching for his identity

A review of Tell No One by Brendan Watkins Tell No One, by Brendan Watkins, is described to have achieved something that few memoirs can, “laying bare a disturbing history with compassion and humanity”.

The book details the author’s search for his birth parents, which uncovered “an astonishing global scandal at the heart of the Catholic Church”.

This reviewer first “read” the title as an audiobook narrated by David Tredinnick.

His delivery of the author’s story perfectly conveys the deep emotions of a man desperately searching for answers to some of the most fundamental questions about his existence.

“Who were my parents? Where were they? Why did they give me away?”

The author’s voice is distinct and almost tangible in the print book, writing about the “nagging inkling” that many adopted people feel, “that they’re mismatched, don’t quite fit, or are outsiders, a recurring sense that they’ve lost something”.

Watkins quotes English author Jeanette Winterson in her 2011 book Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?:

“Adoption drops you into the story after it has started. It’s like reading a book with the first few pages missing... The feeling that something is missing never, ever leaves you – and it can’t, and it shouldn’t, because something is missing.”

Watkins learned about his adoption when he was eight years old. Upon his decision to start a family at the age of 29, he encountered the practical issue of “what was swimming around in my gene pool” that could affect the health and development of his future offspring.

However, having finally tracked down the name of his birth mother via the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau – the agency in charge of “finding homes for surrendered Catholic children among parishioners” – Watkins was told to “go home and forget about her forever”.

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

Worse, after decades of extensive research and a DNA test, Watkins discovered that he is the son of a priest and a nun. His father, a celebrated outback missionary, had sworn his mother to secrecy about their relationship.

This, according to Watkins, is a form of “spiritual abuse” that “says so much about the misogyny of the Catholic Church, the institution”.

“It’s a male-centric institution that doesn’t recognise the rights of women. I found that my mother had met my father when she was 14 or 15, and he was 30 years older... so he had enormous influence over her.”

There are approximately 450,000 Catholic priests around the world.

Although there are no accurate records, it is estimated that they have fathered over 20,000 children.

Research has shown that many mothers were pressured to have abortions. Others were coerced into hiding, tormented by shame and guilt as they gave birth to babies who were immediately and forcibly removed for adoption, their records falsified or conveniently lost.

How many women endured this fate? And how many children of priests have suffered from secrecy and lies like Watkins did?

Tell No One is a powerful reminder of the sort of cruelty that institutionalised religious power can impose on women and children.

Entertainment for locals

Eltham Little Theatre

The Peppercorn Tree

Is a moving Australian drama, set in Melbourne in 1993 and staged in 2010.

Jonah, an Australian ex-serviceman, is nearing the end of his life.

He has always been secretive about his wartime experiences, but he has reluctantly agreed to his wife’s suggestion that he recount these experiences to Zoe, a professional biographer.

As his story unfolds, he reveals a secret that has an unexpected and powerful effect on is family.

• Season closes 14 September

Burrinja Theatre

Helios – Wright and Grainger

Internationally award winning modern re-telling of an ancient myth.

A lad lives halfway an historic hill. A teenager on a road trip to the city in a stolen car.

A boy is driving a chariot pulling the sun across the sky.

A story about the son of the god of the sun. Helios transplants the Ancient Greek tale to a modern-day myth wound round the winding roads of rural England and into the everyday living of a towering city, about life and the invisible monuments we guild into it.

• Season: Friday 30 August.

• At 7.30pm.

• Venue: Lye Room.

Gemco Theatre

Open Stage Night

Welcome one and all to Gemco’s ongoing Open Stage Night.

Hosted by Carol and Dalys, the popular open stage has been running for many decades.

Kemp’s curtain call CARTOON

Held in the cosy hall, you are welcome to perform anything you like or just come for the lovely entertainment.

Enjoy music, poetry, singing, monologues or anything you wish to show.

Running the first Saturday of every month from 8pm.

If you would like to perform. Just turn up and register your interest when you arrive with Carol McCoy.

Limited Bar available.

No BYO.

Bring a plate to share.

• Time ad Location: 7 September at 8pm.

• The Gem Community Arts Centre, 15 Kilvington Dr. Emerald And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie’s breathtaking Masterpiece Ten people are lured to a solitary mansion on an island off the English coast, when a storm cuts them off from the mainland.

The true reason for their presence on the island soon becomes horribly clear.

First stage in 1943, this new production directed by Australian theatrical icon Robyn Nevin is a gorgeously grim thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Venue: Comedy theatre Melbourne, Season opens February 2025 bookings now open at andthentherewerenone.com.au

Community effort welcome

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing Australians who have once again embraced National Stroke Week, which ran from August 5 to 11 this year.

This year, we urged the community to keep looking at their loved one, their mate, their mum or dad, to ensure someone in every household and workplace in Australia can recognise the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke so they can save a life in the event of a loved one experiencing stroke.

We heard heartwarming stories from every corner of the country, including a daughter who saved her dad’s life from 200 kilometres away after a series of unusual text messages, a mother and son who each had a stroke, five years apart, and a man who was hitting a personal best time during Parkrun when he had a stroke, an off-duty paramedic saving his life.

These stories highlight the fact that stroke does not discriminate. What we don’t see is the ripple effect strokes have on the community, they are felt by their family, friends and loved ones, for years to come.

A stroke can happen to anyone at any age and research tells us the number of working age people (aged 18-64) having strokes is increasing. These people are not just numbers, they are mums, dads, sons and daughters. They have jobs and families and plans for the future.

While our national awareness week is over

for another year, our efforts to educate the community must continue. More than 445,000 Australians are living with the impact of stroke. After a stroke, around 1.9 million brain cells die each minute. In most cases, the faster a stroke can be diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of a good recovery. Time saved equals brain saved.

I encourage the community to keep spreading the F.A.S.T. acronym all year round. Knowing the F.A.S.T message and sharing it with your family and friends can be the first step in saving a life and avoiding ongoing disability. It may be your own life or that of someone you love.

The F.A.S.T message will help you recognise the most common signs of stroke:

• Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

• Arms – Can they lift both arms?

• Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

• Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) straight away. Stroke is always a medical emergency. Please know what to do when stroke strikes. Think F.A.S.T. and act fast at the first sign of stroke.

Dr Lisa Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Stroke Foundation

Caitlin Cronenberg debuts

Humane

Starring Peter Gallagher, Enrico Colantoni and Emily Hampshire MA15+

4.5/5

I’m already a big fan of her father David and brother Brandon, and now Caitlin Cronenberg makes an excellent directorial debut with the scifi psychological thriller Humane.

In a dystopian near future where the nations of the world must reduce their population by 20 per cent, Charles York (Peter Gallagher) informs his children that he and his wife Dawn (Uni Park) have chosen to “enlist” to be euthanised.

When Dawn changes her mind and flees, the euthanasia squad demands that another member of the York family take her place.

Humane’s taut, darkly funny narrative brings sibling rivalry to a macabre extreme, combining elements of family drama, home invasion and even slasher movies, and the film is full of witty dialogue and memorable performances.

Gallagher plays a noble father whose efforts to protect his family quickly go south, and Enrico Colantoni is captivating as Bob, the leader of the euthanasia squad.

All the more chilling for his giddy politeness, Bob is a professional who loves his job, which happens to be state-approved killings.

Emily Hampshire is a contemptuous problem-

solving dynamo as Rachel, and Jay Baruchel has the most overtly comedic role as Jared, a smarmy pundit who must now experience the horrific policies he promotes. As the York children gang up on their troubled adopted brother Noah (Sebastian Chacon), the cast does a great job of portraying the vast gulf between rationalizing a murder and actually committing it.

The world-building is insubstantial (like Civil War) and the environmentalism references are slightly heavy-handed, but the bleak background is still an effective springboard for the dark drama.

An outstanding debut from Caitlin Cronenberg and a solid showcase of small-scale suspense, clever dialogue and compelling performances, Humane is available to rent or buy on iTunes.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

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 Officiate (abbr) (3)

3 The study of knowledge (10)

10 Distribute (food) (5,2)

11 Web surfer (7)

12 The wedded state (9)

13 Luxurious (4)

15 Units of mass used for precious metals and gemstones (4,6)

17 Box (4)

19 Possesses (4)

20 Impersonation (10)

23 Just (4)

25 Colloquial (9)

27 Libyan capital (7)

28 Paraguayan monetary unit (7)

29 Ionised part of Earth’s atmosphere (10)

30 Headed (3)

DOWN

1 Picking up from where you left off (10)

2 Oldest child (9)

4 Process of producing a suggestive mental state (9)

5 Vestibule (5)

6 Gradually (6)

7 Mexican coins (5)

8 Story (4)

9 Evaluation (6)

14 Child of one’s child (10)

16 Forerunner, omen (9)

18 Colourful team shooting sport (9)

21 Relating to Samoa (6)

22 Soldiers (6)

24 Unearthly (5)

25 Hibernian (5)

26 Needlecase (4)

or

be included and each letter

No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

Gavan and Janet

HORSE HAVENRELAXED COUNTRY LIFESTYLE

HORSE HAVEN - RELAXED COUNTRY LIFESTYLE

COME and live the relaxed country lifestyle situated on a colourful and picturesque 5 acres (approx.). A beautiful tree lined driveway welcomes you home to this fantastic property offering the growing family loads of room to spread out and enjoy the open space and semi rural atmosphere. The home is full of charm and character with period features throughout and boasting 3 great size bedrooms with a convenient, flexible and functional floorplan with 2 bathrooms and a study/office area with extra space to accommodate weekend guests or the dependent family members. The kitchen is fresh, spacious and offers plenty of bench and cupboard space, the open living and lounge areas are a highlight and seamlessly open up to the outdoors showcasing the stunning mountain backdrop with open air entertaining and beautiful mountain views to admire all year round. The whole family will love the expansive open space with approx. 5 acres to explore and enjoy, a horse enthusiasts haven with separate paddocks, stables, round yard, hay shed/ machinery shed and a double lock up garage. A superb small acreage property, well loved and well looked after in a stunning location with fantastic ever changing mountain views and conveniently located just a short stroll to the walking trail and to the Yarra Junction township.

A GRAND HOME IN A SUPERB LOCATION

THIS remarkable home needs no introduction to the area after being a distinguished well known successful B&B in Warburton for many years.

An opportunity is now available for purchasers to enjoy this gorgeous accommodation opportunity or to have a delightful place to call home with space for all the extended family. Enter through the gates of Birchwood Manor, it’s truly a home to be admired, proudly set overlooking Mount Little Joe and only a short stroll to the golf course, Yarra River, Aqueduct trail, cafes and shops, this location is exceptional.

Step inside this warm inviting home, the lounge with picture windows with a mesmerising view. The kitchen is lovely with

quirky original features, a centrepiece of the home overlooking the large sunroom and formal dining, a perfect place to gather for a family meal.

The ground floor also hosts a bedroom, bathroom, and separate toilet, while upstairs reveals two additional bedrooms, a main bathroom, and a double room with an ensuite, offering abundant living space.

An additional studio has a further 3 beds if required separate to the main residence. 2 large garages, ample undercover entertaining area and well established gardens that really compliment this enchanting home.

A distinctive property in a wonderful location with a genuine feel of yesteryear that needs to be seen to be appreciated.

CHARACTER AND CREATIVITY IN A RESORT LIKE SETTING

SITUATED on a no through road and overlooking the old golf course, this location is as quiet as it is perfect. The view from the front verandah is delightful.

Welcome home to a rustic, character filled home with vaulted ceilings, a long living and dining space with fireplace flowing to the outside chill zone with Balinese influences, lush gardens, and the sound of a waterfall. With this covered area, you can entertain all year round!

The central timber kitchen has a walk-in pantry, excellent storage and bench space, wall oven, gas hotplates and a dishwasher.

If you are looking for a great master bedroom, this one is roomy with high ceilings and has a full ensuite with bespoke cabinetry and custom sink, rainhead shower, also a spacious walk-in robe. The two remaining bedrooms both have built-in robes and are serviced by an equally stylish bathroom with a stone basin. There is also a laundry and for comfort, ducted heating, wood fire and a split system.

Outdoors on just over ½ an acre, are established gardens (some very tropical), a single carport, two smaller sheds and a larger one for secure storage.

This fabulous property is just minutes to Emerald Secondary College, sporting facilities, the Avonsleigh General Store, Bam Bam Restaurant, bus connections and a little further is Emerald Township with everything you need.

POWERCONNECTED,WITHA PLANNINGPERMIT

10-acrebushlandproperty,wheretranquilitymeetsconvenience.Thislandoffers aunique blendofunspoiledbeautyandmodernamenities.Withpowerconnected &a planning permitsecuredensuringa smoothpathtorealizingyourvision,youcanimmediatelystart yourplanswithouttheusualdelays.Thepropertyfeatures aserenespring-feddam,a smallcreekmeanderingthroughthegullyenhancingthenaturalbeautyanddualaccess with aseparateshareddrivewaywithnextdoorprovidingeasyaccess.

ErinDavies 0493136937 MickDolphin 0429684522

CHARACTERANDCREATIVITY

Situatedon ano-throughroad &overlookingtheoldgolfcourse,thislocationisasquiet asitisperfect.Welcomehometoa rustic,character filledhomewithvaultedceilings,a longliving& diningspacewitha fireplace,GDH,S/System,zoneswithBalineseinfluences centraltimberkitchen,roomymasterwithhighceilings &fullensuitewithWIR,bespoke cabinetry,customsinkanda rainheadshower.Outdoorsfeaturesestablishedlush gardenswitha waterfall,singlecarport,twosmallsheds &a largesecureshed.

ErinDavies 0493136937 6.6ACRESOFNATURALBEAUTY

Discoverthetimelesscharmofthishome,nestledonanexpansive6.6-acresadornedwith largemountainashtrees,exotictrees &ferns.Thispropertyisveryprivateandsecluded, yetstillwithinwalkingdistancetokallistashops& publictransport.Theoriginalhomeoffers asunroom,separatediningroom,spaciousloungewithanopenfireplaceanddoes requiresomeupdatestomeetmodernstandards.largeunderhouseareaforparking, workshoporstorage,aswellas aseparatecarport &attachedroomanddualaccess.

JanBrewster 0409558805

Wearelookingforsomeonewithimaginationtotakeonthispropertythatalreadyhas abigfollowingonline.Withcommandingviewsoverthesurroundingvalleys &hills,the propertycoversapprox.13acres &isonlyminutesfromCockatoo &Emeraldtownships. In apoorstateofrepair& currentlynothabitable,themainresidenceoriginallyoffered14 rooms, 4ensuites, aportico,largeentry, 3hugebalconieswithamazingviews,a spacious courtyard,widehallways,highceilings &anabundanceofstoragespaceover3 levels. 8 A 4 B 5 C

MickDolphin 0429684522

ErinDavies 0493136937

CHARMING CHARACTER HOME

THIS charming character home offers an abundance of comfort and practicality.

Featuring three inviting bedrooms, an updated bathroom, a dedicated study, and two spacious living areas, there’s plenty of room to make this space your own. The kitchen is generously sized, boasting ample cupboard and bench space for all your culinary needs.

The cozy wood fire serves as the heart of the home, perfect for those cooler days, while the reverse cycle system ensures year round comfort.

Outside, you’ll find a double garage with a concrete floor and power, a large carport that accommodates three cars and both a woodshed and garden shed for additional storage. The immaculately maintained, fully fenced gardens add to the overall appeal of this super neat package. Step into the market, downsize or move away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the semi rural feel of this home.

Conveniently located just a short stroll from public transport, the Yarra River, Redwood Forest, and the Warburton township, this home is perfectly positioned to enjoy all that the area has to offer.

CharmingFamilyHomein aPrimeLocation

Thiswellpresentedbrickveneerhomefeaturesclassiccolonialstylewindowsandneutraltones throughout,ensuringa timelessappeal.Spaciouslivingforalltoenjoy,comfortableseparatelounge areaandthreewellappointedbedrooms.Themastersuiteboasts awalkinrobeand aprivate ensuite.Thekitchenisdesignedforbothfunctionalityandstyle,featuringa breakfastbarandslate flooring,anditoverlookstheinvitingfamily/mealsarea.Seton agenerous1002m²cornerblock, thispropertyincludes alargegardenshed,workshop,doublecarport,anda fullyfencedyard.The undercoverdeckisperfectforoutdoorentertaining.Acrosstheroadfromthelocalprimaryschool, withtheshoppingvillage,YarraTrail,andsportinggroundsallwithinwalkingdistance.Thepropertyis alsosituatedon asealedroadwithdualroadfrontages.

Timefora ChangeofScenery

Here’syourchancetofinallysecureyourweekendgetawayor agreatfamilyhome,situatedin picturesqueandprivatesurroundingsona largeblockit’stheidealplacetoslowdownandenjoy therelaxedlifestyle.Thehomeoffersaflexiblefloorplanwithbedroomsspreadover2 levels,the spaciousliving/loungearealooksouttothecolourfultreedoutlook.A greatsizekitchenwithplenty ofbenchandcupboardspaceplusa separatemealsareaandformaldiningarea.Headoutside andimmerseyourselfintheoutdoorsandexploreandenjoythesurroundswithestablishedgardens andpathwaystomeanderaround,entertainallyearroundwith acoveredareaideallypositioned toenjoyandadmirethefilteredvalleyviewsandtreedbackdrop.A greatpropertythatoffersthe wholefamilya greatlifestylewithplentyofspacetoenjoy.

1RupertRoad,EastWarburton$570,000-$610,000

ComfortableFamilyLivingwithPlentyofSpace

Setona picturesqueblockofapprox.1800sqmandofferingthewholefamilyloadsofspaceto enjoy,thispropertyisideallypositionedtoexploreandenjoythepicturesquesurroundsofEast Warburton.Thehomeoffers 3bedroomsplusa separatelounge/livingareawithanopenplan kitchenandmeals/diningarea.Thekidsandpetswilllovetheoutdoorswithplentyofroomto spreadout,exploreandenjoy.Thelandismainlyclearandflatwithestablishedgardensshrubs andtreessurroundingtheproperty,givingit asenseofprivacyandseclusionyetjust ashortdrive totheWarburtontownshipandwiththeYarraRiverjustovertheroadits’ agreatplacetoenjoythe warmsummermonthsahead.A greatfamilyhomein afantasticlocationandsetincolourfuland picturesquesurrounds.

DavidCarroll

4LittleJoeCourt,Wesburn$1,275,000-$1,400,000

ExecutiveStyleLuxuryLivingintheYarraValley

Thisstunning,modern,twostoreyhomeintheheartoftheYarraValley,idealforthoseseekingluxury andstyleisnestledonoveranacre.Beautifullydesignedthroughoutandfeaturinganopenplan kitchenwithhighqualityappliancesand aspaciouswalk-inpantry,thediningandlivingareaopens uptoalfrescoentertainingwith amagnificentmountainbackdrop.Witha totalof3 bedrooms, 3bathroomsandlotsoflivingoptionstocomplimentthisexecutivefamilyhome.Upstairs,the hugemastersuiteboastsa luxuriousensuiteandexpansivewalkinrobe, aversatiletheatreroom downstairsforthemoviesbuffsortheoptionofanadditionalbedroom.Outside,enjoythewell maintainedgardensandbreathtakingValleyvista.Thisspectacularhomeiswaitingforyou,don’t misstheopportunitytomakeityours!

HOME IDEAL FOR FAMILIES AND HOBBYISTS

WITH incredible versatility and an idyllic location on a quiet no-through road only 800m from Main Road amenities, this stellar property is the perfect lifestyle package. Settled on a 1,236sqm (approx.) landscape with a long list of bonus features including 2 garages, 2 carports, abundant off-street parking, storage sheds, and more, this property is perfect for homeowners and hobbyists alike.

The quality constructed brick residence that takes pride of place on this block is designed for family living. The primary living area on the upper level features a drying cupboard, warm gas fire, plush carpet, and leafy views. Those who love to cook will appreciate the stylish open plan galley kitchen with walk-in pantry,

glass splashback, and gas cooktop. In warmer months, take dining outdoors to the covered and open decking or the lovely paved patio in the garden. Furthermore, there is a lower level rumpus room that provides plenty of extra space to relax and enjoy. In addition, there are 4 generous bedrooms smartly situated throughout this home. On the lower level, the guest bedroom with built-in robe is accompanied by a powder room, laundry, and under-house storage. On the upper level, there are generous family bedrooms, a sizeable study/office, a family bathroom with a relaxing spa tub, and a comfortable main bedroom with a modern rain shower ensuite.

Latest from the fairways

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.V’s:

Although not enough for a daily comp, four adventurous girls went out to tackle the front nine. Deb, Georgie, Sallyanne and Vicki posted various scores on the day but clearly had a lot of fun (With a few other Ladies returning from ‘touring’, in the next couple of weeks, the daily comps will soon return).

Wednesday 21 August, Stableford:

With a smaller-than-usual mid-week field to contend with(the weather wasn’t great), club legend Alan ‘A.J’ Johnston easily posted the best score, with 42 magnificent points, being more than enough by 6 points, to earn him the top voucher. Well done A.J. The runner-up with an impressive score also was David Waterman, posting 36 points, which is his best result for some time. The rundown extended to 33. The NTPs went home

Trades & Services

with Neil ‘Mr. Scotland’ Leckenby (3rd), A.J. (9th), Ross Machar (12th) and David Hatt (15th).

Saturday 24 August, 4-Person aggregate Team

Stableford:

This rarely-played event consists of four-Person teams, playing individual Stableford, but then the top three scores from each group are posted, and the highest total score wins the day. The group winning this day consisted of Ryan Smith (36 points), David ‘Pup’ Lever (36) and Troy Murphy (34) for a total of 106 points. Well done, boys. The runner-up team on the day consisted of Sam Dennis (36), Peter Fox (34) and Danny Fox (32) totalling 102 points. The other member of this group was young Brendan Creedy, a very new member of WGC, who snared an NTP on the 12th. Other NTP winners were Paul Osbourne (3rd), Lee Creedy (5th and not to be outdone by No.1 son), David Lever (9th) and Neil Leckenby (15th).

Announcements

New addition to the show

By Anita Prowse

With the beginning of the Showing Season upon us, Upper Yarra Pony Club has announced the new exciting addition to the Yarra Valley Horse Show this year, sponsored by Shirley Heights Equestrian Centre.

The ’Eminent Turnout’ class is a traditional turnout class, with three elements, turnout, led and ridden components will be judged and the winner grabs a great cash prize of $250, with Runner-up winning $100.

The UYPC are really looking forward to this year’s Show on Sunday 15 December at Wesburn Park. Full program will be released shortly and pre-entries will be available at Event Secretary at a reduced rate to the onthe-day entries.

Shirley Heights EC have a Combined Training Day coming up as a lead-up to their Horse Trials weekend at the end of September, entries are now open at Event Secretary, Horse Trials entries are also open now, so get in quick for all the action in the Upper Yarra Valley.

Entries are on-the-day for UYPC Spring Freshmans Series on Saturday 5 October, Tuesday 5 November and Saturday 23 November. The Pony Club puts the funds for these training days into grounds improvements for everyone to enjoy and utilise, so if you are not able to come and ride, please come and watch, buy some food from the canteen and have a nice day out.

Happy Riding everyone.

Warburton Golf Club results. (File)

Showing Season is starting soon. (Supplied)

Mixed bag for Woori

By Brendan Donovan

Saturday started over at Pakenham with the netball girls having a tough day at the office with all teams coming away with losses.

Pakenham have some really good depth throughout their grades and it showed up on the weekend. This year has been a growing year for the netball club and it’s so good to have the girls playing such an important role in the club.

The B Grade have earned a spot in the finals and will put their best foot forward in the weeks to come.

A Grade: Pakenham 60 defeated Woori Yallock 41. Top Tigers were Chelsea Smith, Danika Corless and Demi Barber.

B Grade: Pakenham 55 defeated by Woori Yallock 51. Top Tigers were Holly Dunlop, Danielle Gazzola and Jaymee Tough.

C Grade: Pakenham 57 defeated by Woori Yallock 11. Top Tigers were Ash Wilson, Grace Sibley and Kasie Pitts.

D Grade: Pakenham 49 defeated Woori Yallock 12. Top Tigers were Charlotte Comport, Kylie Cor-

bett and Charlene Booker. 17 and Under: Pakenham 26 defeated Woori Yallock 15. Top Tigers were Oliver Stenhouse, Georgia Sands and Charlotte Comport.

Under 15: Pakenham 25 defeated Woori Yallock 20. Top Tigers were Miami Rowland, Hayley Gell and Ruby Gregson.

The Ressies’ season came to an end on Saturday as well after an awesome month of footy.

This year has been an outstanding success for the Ressies, turning around a decade of tough losses into a winning mentality and development group for the senior squad.

Final scores Pakenham 9.7, 61 defeated Woori Yallock 6.9, 45. Top Tigers were Hamish Gemmill, Kynan French, Christian Cameron, Pierce Jenkin, Noah Dare and Cam Bell.

For the seniors, for the most part, it was a frustrating game with both teams playing on the far side of the ground. A grinding win and no injuries with the added bonus of a week off after finishing top two.

Final scores Pakenham 5.6, 36 defeated by Woori Yallock 11.16, 82. Top Tigers were Liam

Sunday at Kilsyth saw a great crowd turn out to as the Woori Yallock Senior Women’s football side play in their maiden grand final against Monbulk

In near-perfect conditions, the girls started well with Woori dominating ground position but were just not able to goals the goals and Monbulk’s counter punch resulted in two accurate scores and although the girls busted their guts all day, they fell agonisingly short after six scoring shots. Sometimes fairytales don’t always come true in sport and the girls fell 1 point short.

An amazing effort as a team and they complimented the club so well this year, so the club know there is more to come for this group.

Final scores Monbulk 2.0, 12 defeated Woori Yallock 1.5, 11. Top Tigers were Emily Spicer, Sky Wilson, India James, Emelia Robin, Jessi Adams and Natalie McLaren.

Finals start this week for the u18 football and b grade netball while the seniors men’s get a week off

Top Dogs

For the first time in a long time, sunshine and polo shirts greeted the Wandin faithful as they arrived in Olinda on Saturday afternoon.

Third vs fifth on the ladder and a finalslike intensity on the field in what was a great game of football.

Two very different brands went head to head with Olinda wanting possession and control of the tempo against a Wandin side that is electric if allowed to get on the outside.

If this is a snapshot of what the finals are going to provide, supporters are in for a treat this year and although Wandin kicked away to record a pleasing victory for the Dogs, both sides will have taken confidence out of what they produced.

Final scores Olinda-Ferny Creek 10.10, 70 defeated by Wandin 18.14, 122. Top Dogs on the day were Chayce Black, Jordan Jaworski, Harrison Byrne, Jack Manson, John Ladner and Leiwyn Jones.

Other results:

• Reserves: Olinda-Ferny Creek 3.9, 27 defeated by Wandin 7.6, 48. Top Dogs were Cole Steiner, Joshua Atkins, Hunter Coghlan, Daniel Bailey, Jack Dixon and Harry Mitchell. Under 19s: Wandin forfeit.

• A Grade Netball: Olinda-Ferny Creek 45 defeated by Wandin 52. Top Dogs were Emmalia Blake, Jackie Cutting and Lauren Spinks

• B Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 34 defeated by Wandin 48. Top Dogs were Kate Campbell, Annie Brown and Kailah Meager.

• C Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 37 defeated by Wandin 44. Top Dogs were Cassidy Iedema, Aimee Mackenzie and Bianca Zoric.

• D Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 16 defeated by Wandin 27. Top Dogs were Erin Foot, Kealey Earney and Kristy Foot. 17 and Under: Bye

All the finals action and looking ahead to next lot of big games

By Alex Woods

The finals series began at the weekend for Warburton-Millgrove with three netball games and two football games.

The A Grade netball team had a bye as they finished in the top position.

The morning started at Woori Yallock with the D Grade team facing Yarra Glen in an elimination final. The game started close with a halftime score of 14 all. In the second half, the girls were down by 1 point going into the final quarter. Unfortunately, Yarra Glen took control and secured the win by 4 goals, ending the D Grade season. It was a solid season for a young team, and they should all be proud of their efforts.

In the next match, C Grade faced Seville in a qualifying final. The game started well, with C Grade trailing by 3 points at the end of the first quarter. However, Seville gained momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead with several goals. Some adjustments were made at halftime, but C Grade still found themselves 10 points behind heading into the final quarter. They managed to make a comeback, but Seville ultimately secured the win by 9 goals. Despite the loss, C Grade will have another opportunity and will face Belgrave next week for a chance to reach the Preliminary final.

The Reserves played against Yea at Emerald in an Elimination Final. Yea started strong with a score of 0.3-3 to 3.1-19 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Reserves gained momentum and scored 5 goals in the second quarter, putting them in the lead at halftime. In the second half, the Reserves scored 4 goals and 7 behinds, while Yea only managed 3 goals and 3 behinds. The Reserves won the game with a final score of 9.10-64

to 7.8-50, a 14-point lead. Damien Egan scored 3 goals, Brayden Ferguson scored 2, and Chad Currey, Tarkyn Nicolandos, Hudson Semple, and Ashley Taylor each scored 1. The standout players were David Lever, David Bedggood, Brett Winzer, Marcel Kocher, Brayden Ferguson, and Hudson Semple. Next week, the Reserves will play against Seville for a spot in the Preliminary Final.

The B Grade team finished the netball matches for the day by facing off against Yea in another Elimination Final. The conditions were warm and sunny, with a slight and intermittent wind. The team started strong and the game remained close throughout. As they headed into the last quarter, they had a lead of a few goals, which they managed to hold onto until the final siren. They secured the win with a score of 42-36 and will progress to the Semi-final against Belgrave.

The seniors had a big game ahead of them, facing Healesville in the Qualifying final. They had a solid start, resulting in the team having a 5-point lead at the first break. They continued with their momentum and went into the half-time break with a score of 5.5-35 to 6.8-44. The third quarter was a big one and saw the boys turn it on, securing another 3 goals and 6 behinds, while Healesville kicked 2 goals and 1 behind. They went into the last quarter with a 20-point lead. However, Healesville, an experienced team, managed to turn the game around in the last quarter by securing 4 goals and 3 behinds to Burras’s 2 behinds, putting Healesville in front. Ultimately, Healesville secured the win by 5 points. Despite the loss, the boys will take on Belgrave next Sunday for a Prelim spot.

Big games ahead next Sunday, but the club believes its teams can do it.

The D Grade Burras have bowed out of the finals. (Supplied)

Wandin coach Nick Adam and his side are preparing for the finals. (File)

Odea, Benjamin Monkhorst, Jordan Williams, Mitchell Arnold, Angus Smith and Bailey Syswerda.

India James kicking Woori Yallock’s only goal of the grand final. (Adam Sykes)

L-R: Co-captains Adele Ormsby and Michelle Brown leading the Tigers out.

Strong results and sunshine

By Sarah Bailey

Healesville Women’s Firsts 5-1 Maroondah United Emeralds

The Firsts have the championship in the bag, but they wanted to see out the season playing to the same high standards as they’ve done all year. This match was no different.

After a deflection from Tess’s pressure got the party started, Healesville ran out 5-1 winners.

Tess scored four, but the goal of the day was from Kiah C – super through ball, collects on the run and slots bottom corner.

Beautiful!

Healesville Men’s Reserves 4-2 Mooroolbark Cavaliers

In the Don Road sunshine, Healesville were continuing their push for a 3rd-place finish against a low-ranked Mooroolbark.

Missing a number of players, the home side were relying on youth to help that push, and four U15s joined the team.

Older statesman Lindsay M would win the game for the Reds with a hat trick, and Oshane D scored the fourth.

Asha S, Pip M, Gordon K and Will W were the outstanding younger players for Healesville.

Healesville Firsts 1-1 Lilydale Eagles Ralph Alps

The Reds were looking to end the season on a high with a 4th-place finish in their sights.

Missing six regulars against a determined rival neighbour, the team knew this would be a tough game.

Healesville looked flat from the start and conceded from a great strike from outside the box.

minute with a strike from Jake, who followed that minutes later with a header into the net off a beautiful corner kick from Cooper.

Yuuki showed his timing finesse with a tidy kick gleaned from a chaotic battle in the goal square, and Cooper was on fire with two goals including a Messi run that got around at least four defenders and left the goalie stranded.

Bodie played a crucial role in defence in the first half, foiling several counterattacks from the Eagles.

The entire team worked together to contain a much-improved Eagles side and maintain second place on the ladder.

Healesville U11 White Wolves 4-1 Berwick Blues

On a spring-like morning, Healesville hosted Berwick at Don Road. The tone of the match was set early and Ardi C delivered through some intense pressure and ball movement out of the centre.

The Blues dug in and an arm wrestle ensued for the next goal. Healesville strived to get beyond the Berwick keeper’s stoic efforts.

Healesville’s defence worked well to thwart the press from the Blues forwards.

Robbie K was next to register a goal, clearing most of the forward half to hit the back of the net with his trademark power.

Healesville finished the second half of the season undefeated, but it was a disappointing end to a great back half of the year.

Josh L and Josh B were Healesville’s best on the day.

The Reds lifted the intensity after the break and scored with a swerving effort from outside the box from Johnny C.

Healesville ‘underdogs’ give it their all in finale

By Anne-Marie Ebbels

Healesville women’s team went into the grand final as the underdogs with Pakenham having defeated Healesville three out of the four times they had played this season.

The blustery conditions favoured the team kicking to the southern end of the Kilsyth ground.

The first quarter was tight with the scores at quarter time even. Pakenham gained the ascendency in the second quarter kicking with the wind to go into the half time break with a 19-point lead.

Healesville kept Pakenham goalless in the third quarter to reduce Pakenham’s lead to 13 points at the final break.

Pakenham made good use of the wind in the final quarter to win the premiership by 33 points.

In the netball, Healesville had a team in the open finals for the first time in 11 years.

The A Grade team took on Alexandra in the Elimination final at Woori Yallock. Healesville took control of the game in the first quarter to go into the first break with an eight-goal lead.

Alexandra hit back in the second quarter, but Healesville held their nerve and extended their lead to 11 goals at the big break.

A very even third quarter, where Alexandra couldn’t make any in roads into the Healesville lead meant Healesville went into the final break with a 12-goal lead.

The final quarter saw Healesville continue to extend their lead to book themselves a semi final against Yarra Glen next week.

The Reserve played Seville in the Qualifying final. Healesville kicked with the wind in the first quarter to jump out to an early 14-point lead at quarter time.

Healesville managed to score into the wind and maintain an 11-point lead into half time.

Healesville dominant the play in the third quarter with the wind to extend their lead to 30 points at three quarter time despite some inaccurate kicking.

Healesville defended hard in the final quarter as Seville kicked with the wind to book a semifinal berth against Belgrave next week and maintain their double chance.

In the final game of the day, the Senior played Warburton-Millgrove in the Qualifying final at Woori Yallock.

Warburton-Millgrove started the game well kicking with the wind to go into the first break with a five-point lead.

In the second quarter Warburton-Millgrove played the conditions well kicking four goals into the wind to Healesville three to be nine points up at half time.

Warburton-Millgrove continued to control the game in the third quarter as Healesville managed to stay in touch to be 20 points down at three quarter time.

In the final quarter, Healesville dominated the possession despite the wind dropping and the rain starting to fall keeping Warburton-Millgrove goalless to run over Warburton-Millgrove by fivepoints to book a semi-final berth against Seville. Next week we have four teams, U18s, A Grade netball, Reserves and Seniors in finals action at either Yarra Glen or Woori Yallock.

Football

• Senior Women Healesville 22 defeated by Pakenham 55

• Senior Men Healesville 75 defeated WarburtonMillgrove 70 Best: J Bates, J Savage, A Edwards, L Greenwood, N Mende, D Senior

• Reserves Men Healesville 67 defeated Seville 49

Best: M Renouf, P Jones, K Jones, T Campbell, J Parish, J Newsome Netball

• A Grade Healesville 61 defeated Alexandra 45

Healesville U12 Heelers 5-2 Northern Eagles

The Heelers gathered at the beautifully situated Wattle Glen ground to face the Northern Eagles in full force – it was great to have Pepe back after a few weeks off with a leg injury, and to have two subs chafing at the bit to get back on.

The Heelers opened the scoring in under a

The centres and strikers had their turn at showcasing syncronistic ball movement, with some flair by Ardi C and Flynn Mc to keep the onlookers entertained.

Flynn Mc was on the end of the next crossedin ball to comfortably place it into the net.

Conceding a goal late, the Wolves went on the charge again and Ardi C scored another goal to cap off a brilliant game.

Good luck to Yarra Glen

netballers: Supporters

By David Ball

Yarra Glen A grade faced Seville in the qualifying final in warm and windy conditions.

It was a fast paced and physical battle.

Despite losing star defender Megan Galetti early in the first quarter, Yarra battled hard with Kim Williams stepping into defence and working hard all game.

Lara Wandin-Collins continued to create opportunities and Katelyn Vanderkolk kept Seville’s star goalers honest.

This competitive edge saw the scores level at quarter time and close at half time, but with less rotations and a tiring team in the heat, Seville were able to pull away winning 38-55.

In B grade Yarra Glen and Belgrave had split the wins during the season with one each and were tied on the ladder for points, so this had the potential to be a close game.

Early in the piece it was goal for goal, with Georgia Crugnale proving a handful for their defenders.

The combination of Prue Morse and Tiah Large feeding the goalers brilliantly, and the incredible accuracy of Ellen Keitley saw a second quarter blitz that Belgrave could just

never come back from.

Ellie Estcourt’s work on their goal shooter was outstanding, making the job in attack more effective and the whole team lifted, running away winners 60-51.

In D grade it was a must win elimination final for the Yarra girls against Warburton Millgrove.

It always looked like it was going down to the wire with most of the game going goal for goal.

The steady head and accuracy of Steph Gibbs kept Yarra in the game with young gun Ruby Bennett stepping up when we needed when things were tight.

An amazing hard fought effort by everyone on court but it was Yarra’s defence that proved too strong for Warby in the end, with crucial intercepts in the final minutes giving Yarra extra opportunities to score.

Yarra Glen finished well to win 26-22 to book their place in next week’s semi final. Next Sunday all four Yarra Glen teams will feature in finals, B and C in second Semis and A and D in first Semi’s. Venue and times TBC.

Yarra Glen’s Gemma Ryan attempting to intercept a Seville forward move. (Supplied)

Amy Stanley getting to ball to shoot one of her 49 goals. (Supplied)

The U11 White Wolves hosted Berwick in spring-like conditions at the Don Road ground. (Supplied)

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