Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 8th October 2024

Tender talks through art

By Callum Ludwig

Tender Funerals Greater Eastern Melbourne and a young local artist have paired up to host October’s exhibition in the Warburton Waterwheel gallery.

The exhibition involves a series of talks and workshops exploring end-of-life care and funeral planning held in the gallery, accompanied by a display of works from Little Yarra Steiner School student Amber Hamer who ‘explored death through art.’

Ms Hamer said in her pieces, she has focused on how death intertwines with time, fear, and transformation.

“I chose to explore the theme of death because I believe it’s a topic that deserves more thought and conversation, death is a universal experience, yet we often avoid discussing it openly,” she said.

“My artworks are intended to invite the viewer to explore their own perceptions of death with an open mind, this is something I am passionate about as I believe through death there is a lot we can learn about life.”

Turn to page 13 for more

Brews and blues

By Dongyun Kwon

The continual high inflation has hit the drinks industry, one of the main industries across the Yarra Ranges.

The Australian Taxation Office looks into the consumerpriceindex(CPI)calculatedbytheAus-

tralian Bureau of Statistics to decide the changes in excise duty on alcohol every six months.

In August, it was confirmed the taxes on beer and spirits have effectively gone up two per cent.

After 18 consecutive tax increases, beer prices have been rising steeply, with the cost of a pub

pint heading towards as much as $18. Hargreaves Hill, a brewery in Lilydale, has gone through a few challenges since its opening in 2004, including the Black Saturday bushfires, when its building was burnt down, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Hargreaves Hill director Simon Walkenhorst said the last two years have been the toughest period with a lack of hope for a better future. Continued page 4

Melinda Whyman (Tender Funerals) with artist Amber Hamer and her work titled Acceptance. (Stewart Chambers: 434901)

Watch out for the potholes

By Dongyun Kwon

A regular visitor of Maroondah Reservoir Park was shocked when he visited the park on Friday 27 September.

Warburton resident Brian Way found a number of serious potholes right after entering the entrance.

“We went out to Maroondah Dam last Friday afternoon [on 27 September] to enjoy it in the sun, and there were a lot of other people,” he said.

“When you turn into Maroondah Dam off the Maroondah Highway, which once was a sealed bitumen road [Maroondah Main Loop Road] that winds its way down into the dam.

“But the main issue that struck us was the fact that there were so many very large potholes. They were not just normal potholes.”

After he drove through Maroondah Main Loop Road passing all the deep potholes, Mr Way arrived at the main car park where he couldn’t find any empty spot as the car park was full.

Then he had to drive through Henderson Main Loop Road, the gravel road, to find the empty parking space.

“It [Henderson Main Loop Road] had more potholes that were even deeper,” the Warburton resident said.

“How I felt about it was that it’s just a disgrace for the local area and for whoever looks after the Maroondah Dam, it just obviously needs some funding to get everything fixed up if they expect people to use it.”

Maroondah Reservoir Park is a popular visitor site attracting more than 180,000 visitors per year, primarily for its natural beauty, open spaces, heritage tree plantings and gardens.

Mr Way is concerned that the bad road conditions would affect the popularity of the place as a tourist attraction.

“Another issue is it really reflects badly on the area and I think it probably detracts tourists from coming into the area,” he said.

“Once they’ve been once, they probably wouldn’t come back because of the poor condition of the place.

“When it’s maintained, it’s an absolutely fantastic facility, must bring lots of tourists to the area.”

Maroondah Reservoir Park is managed by

Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria staff undertake quarterly road safety inspections.

Parks Victoria area chief ranger Conrad Annal said they intended to repair the potholes at Maroondah Reservoir Park.

“We are waiting for our insurer to release funds for the work,” he said

“Once that’s done, the roads will be repaired and the park will be back to looking its best.”

Repair works will include potholes, edge of road crumbling, vegetation encroachment and faded line markings.

Maroondah Reservoir Park is full of potholes. (Dongyun Kwon: 435849)

Maroondah Main Loop Road is the road between Maroondah Highway and the main car park.

Henderson Main Loop Road is the gravel road where Mr Way found more potholes that are deeper than the ones on Maroondah Main Loop Road.

Multi-car crash

By Callum Ludwig

A multi-vehicle collision shut down the notorious stretch of the Warburton Highway in Seville East on Sunday 29 September.

Eight CFA units were called out to the scene at around 5.10pm.

A CFA spokesperson confirmed that CFA units responded from Wandin and Seville while Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria were also on scene. Lilydale SES were also later required to provide assistance.

Seville CFA Captain Andrew Butler said on arrival crews found three cars, two of which were severely damaged.

“There was an occupant trapped in one of the vehicles, and that was originally called through as two persons trapped, but it ended up being one person trapped so we had Wandin CFA’s and Lilydale SES’ rescue teams come up and give us a hand,” he said.

“The point was that Wandin’s rescue team had a second job in Yellingbo at the same time, so the idea was to get Lilydale SES rescue on the way as well so we had the appropriate crews, alongside VicPol and ambulances on scene as well, so it was quite a big incident.”

The incident occurred at the intersection of the Warburton Highway with Sunnyside Road, a hotspot for incidents in recent years.

Mr Butler said the safety systems in the cars involved definitely saved lives in this instance.

“The impact was very high speed and effectively head-on, what’s happened is that a car’s come up behind another car that was turning right, they haven’t seen that it was stopped and turning right and they’ve clipped the back of it and it shot them straight into a head-on collision with the car coming up the hill the other way,” he said.

“You would assume that they’d both be travelling at about 80km an hour, and a head-on 80km/h in both directions is a severe impact, so you’ve been very lucky to be alive after that one,”

“We had all four appliances out there, Wandin had two appliances there, VicPol probably had four crews, there were two ambulances and the highway was shut, there were diversions and things that police had to look after.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed a man in his 70s was taken to Maroondah Hospital in a stable condition with minor upper body injuries.

Mr Butler said it’s yet another incident at this site, which is becoming quite notorious.

I’m sure you used all this, but we can’t get in trouble obviously, we say too much, but the wording on our Facebook post was around the fact that it’s yet another incident at that site, the corner of Sunnyside Road and Ordon Highway is really becoming notorious for incidents.

“It is from Douthie Road to Sunnyside Road and down to Joyce Road that we always see problems because what we have is we have turning lanes that are also overtaking lanes, and then at certain times of the day lighting’s an issue with the sun going down,” he said.

“It’s very frustrating for us to keep attending scenes like this and see that absolutely nothing has changed on the road in all the time that we’ve been attending these incidents.”

Another serious incident involving a truck occurred near Douthie Road in 2022 and a VicRoads investigation in 2019 found there were 17 separate accidents between 2014 and 2019 on the stretch of the Warburton Highway between the Douthie Road and Old Warburton Highway intersections.

The incident was deemed under control at 5.33pm and safe at 6.23pm.

Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence has also been a passionate advocate for upgrades on the road, including announcing a pledge to implement safer turning lanes among other upgrades if the Victorian Liberals had’ve been successful in the 2022 State Election.

Ms Vallence said it’s awful to hear of more accidents on Yarra Valley roads including a fatality and her thoughts are with the people and families involved as well as our emergency first responders.

“Together with our community and in Parliament, I’ve repeatedly called on the state government to fund upgrades to the Warburton Highway at Seville East given they have data that proves how dangerous it is but have so far failed to act,” she said.

“It’s simply unacceptable that VicRoads were unable to attend the accident last week to assist with signage or cleaning oil and debris, leaving it to volunteers, and is just more evidence of the impacts of the government’s budget cuts,”

“No more excuses, the government must stop turning a blind eye and fix the dangerous Warburton Highway in Seville East as a priority.”

A question asked in Parliament by Ms Vallence in March this year about the stretch of highway in Seville East by Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne.

“While DTP [Department of Transport and Planning] has advised there are no plans to implement changes at this location, feedback received will be considered as part of DTP’s management of Victoria’s road network,” Ms Horne’s response said.

IN BRIEF

October is Motorcyclist Awareness Month

Motorcyclist Awareness Month has kicked off on 1 October.

As the warmer months approach, more and more riders are getting back on their bikes. Motorcycle riders need to be aware of a number of unique factors when on the road, such as driving and road surface conditions, staying visible to other drivers and predicting driver behaviour. Rider awareness

There are a number of steps that a motorcycle rider can take to stay safe on the road, such as: before departing, be aware of the road surface and any dangerous driving conditions that may affect your ride take notice of your surroundings keep a safe distance from other vehicles and roadside objects be seen – wear bright clothing, use lights and ride in the correct position on the road be predictable, indicate, and keep pace with the traffic.

Don’t accelerate suddenlylearn how other road users think and respond ride in a manner appropriate to the road conditions consider advanced training ensure that protective clothing is worn

Driver awareness

While riders can do many things to reduce the risk of a crash, there are also simple actions that drivers can take, including:

• indicating your intention to turn or change lanes well in advance

• when changing lanes, use mirrors and head checks to make sure blind spots are clear

• give motorcyclists enough room to manoeuvre

• make eye contact with riders, so they know they’ve been seen

Anker power banks available from Amazon recalled

A selection Anker brand portable power banks available from Amazon and their own website have been recalled.

The product has been recalled because battery in the power bank can overheat and catch fire. Two incidents have caused injuries and property damage, which occurred overseas.

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and check the serial number on the power bank to determine if they have a recalled product. Visit Anker’s recall page to verify if you have a recalled power bank and arrange a replacement. Anker will provide instructions for disposing or collecting the power bank.

Affected products were available between 7 March 2024 and 19 July 2024.

The power bank is available in 5 colours: white, black, pink, purple and green and come with a built-in USB-C cable.

Affected Model: A1647 with a power output 20,000mAh, 22.5W.

Affected serial numbers:

• AHJ67T1D50600675

• AHJ4KR1D51304904

• AHJ4KQ1E08203097

• AHJ4KR1D51304760

• AHJ4KR1D51304896

• AHJ4KR1D51304920

• AHJ4KQ1E08203968

• AHJ4KQ1E08203643

• AHJ4KQ1E08202143

• AHJ4KQ1E08200800

• AHJ4KQ1E08203354

• AHJ4KQ1E08203746

Emergence services in full flight at the scene.

Emergence services in full flight at the scene. (Lilydale State Emergency Service)

Pint pain amid excise rise NEWS

From page 1

“In some of those times, there’s been a lot of goodwill in the community because we were all doing it so tough. When we had the bushfires, everybody helped us out a lot, when we had Covid, it was a communal effort from pubs, bars, breweries, suppliers and everything,” he said.

“But now as you can see by the number of breweries that have closed or have gone into liquidation or voluntary administration and so forth, the whole industry has found it just impossible to continue.

“We’re okay but it has been an extremely challenging time to make sure that we can retain the jobs, continue the employment of our employees and get our beer to customers at the price that they can afford.”

Mr Walkenhorst runs the brewery with a philosophy, ‘everything works for everybody’.

The reality, that he had to accept that there was no way he could keep the price affordable for his customers, made him more frustrated because it was outside of his philosophy.

The brewer said the high inflation over the last three years has increased not only the excise but also every cost for the production of beer including ingredients and packaging.

“Brewers have tried to remain competitive by shouldering some of those costs, but it also gets to a point where it’s unsustainable to have brewers wearing all those costs, so inevitably our prices need to go up,” Mr Walkenhorst said.

“Now what’s become more difficult in the last couple of years is that the costs of the bars, the pubs and the restaurants, whether that’s wages, rent, electricity, all the overheads of running that business have increased so much as have ours.

“And at the end of the row, you’ve got the customer buying either a pint of beer or a six-pack of beer or a four-pack of beer or whatever, and now finding it too expensive because their expenses have gone up as well. “

Mr Walkenhorst hopes the policy for reducing the alcohol excise will be approved shortly.

“[The excise] is another cost in beer, we are the one of the most heavily taxed,” he said.

“The issue with the excise is that it goes up by CPI twice a year.

“If the excise is reduced, it is going to help the industry.”

There are different excise costs for beer, products with less than 10 per cent alcohol, and then spirits and other excisable beverages with more than 10 per cent alcohol.

Wine is subject to a different tax regimen.

It’s been five years since Yarra Valley Spirits based in Lilydale hopped into the distillery industry.

Yarra Valley Spirits owner Matthew Barnard said this is definitely the toughest time he has seen for Australian spirits, occurring not just by high excise but a number of other factors.

“It is extremely challenging to run any business when people are so cautious with their spending, but alcohol businesses sometimes have extra layers of complexity with tax and licensing laws,” he said.

“There are a lot of factors making alcohol production challenging at the moment.

“From excise to constant changes in licensing laws, a saturated market of products and more international celebrity products hitting our shelves, it is hard to see Australian producers getting a big enough representation in the market as shelf space gets tighter and bar contracts get more competitive.”

Mr Barnard said reducing the alcohol excise is a complicated issue but if it is well managed, it is going to help the Australian spirits industry.

“[The reduced excise] would certainly help the Australian producer get more products to the market at a more affordable price point,” he said.

“But if the excise is reduced, it would also reduce the price of the big international products as well.

“If the excise was more manageable though, the producers would be able to compete with other products on the market such as beer and wine categories, even some RTDs [Ready-to-drink alcohol products].”

What’s River Brewing in Healesville has been operating since 2015.

As a small brewer, the change of alcohol excise won’t influence What’s River Brewing because in 2021 alcohol excise was reformed for eligible alcohol manufacturers to receive a full automatic remission of excise duty on alcoholic beverages they manufacture, up to a maximum of $350,000 per financial year.

What’s River Brewing owner Ben Hamilton said regardless of its impact on his business, the alcohol excise needs to be reformed.

“Excise rules changed a couple of years ago so that every beer and spirits producer doesn’t have to pay the first $350,000 of excise,” he said.

“We are about halfway to the cap. Before the changes, we would sometimes pay over $10,000 in a month.

“For example, in 2019 we were paying a bit over $1000 per month for gas, mostly used to run the boiler for the brewery, but also for heating the venue, now we pay over $2000 per month.

“We are unable to put our prices up as fast as our costs are going up, if we did, we would be priced out of the market.”

The owner said he might have to make some tough decisions if the pressure doesn’t come off soon.

“There has been a change in customer behaviour. We don’t have as many very busy days as in the past, and it is harder to pick when it is going to be busy which makes it harder to roster staff,” he said.

“When people come into the venue, many are careful about how they spend their money so consumption per head is down.

“Leading into Covid, we were growing as a business. Covid was very difficult for us and then after that cost of living pressures pretty much hit straight away so we haven’t had any relief. At the moment our business is losing money, which is obviously not sustainable.”

The Independent Brewer Association has lobbied the Federal Government to make the situation better for independent breweries across Australia by proposing possible solutions to the government, which include freezing the indexation of alcohol excise for a period of two years and indexing the excise remission in line with excise rates as well as flexibility on payback terms for excise debt.

Independent Brewer Association chief executive officer Kylie Lethbridge said they have been calling for excise tax reform for quite some time.

“We are the third highest taxed nation in the world for beer production so change is absolutely necessary,” she said.

“More than 600 small independent breweries have been hard hit by the cost of living pressures. Now having pushed over 20 to closing, into voluntary administration or liquidation.

“Energy costs, freight and raw ingredients are killing brewers but the greater challenge lies in consumers not having the money to spend on what would be classified as essential or premium products.”

The Coalition has reportedly opened up discussions over reducing the level of taxes placed on alcohol as part of a potential election promise after Nationals leader David Littleproud had a meeting with members of the Australian Hotels Association on Monday 23 September.

Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi, who is a Liberal Party member, said the Coalition has implemented measures to support local beer and spirit industries.

AusNet is currently seeking feedback on funding to maintain and upgrade it s electricity distribution network over the next five years.

This funding will support:

“The excise does need reform as different rates are applied to wine, beer and spirits. They need to scrap the whole system and start from scratch with a more logical one.”

Although the business hasn’t been affected by the excise increase after its reform in 2021, What’s River Brewing has gone through a hard period as cost of living pressure has affected not only its sales but also its operating expenses.

Mr Hamilton said costs have gone through the roof.

“Packaging costs have risen dramatically. Energy has gone through the roof,” he said.

“Distillers and brewers in the Yarra Valley and surrounds are seeing their cost pressures rise quickly because of inflation. We’ve seen inflation get out of control after two years of Labor,” he said.

“I have spoken to local distillers and brewers who have seen their cost bases increase, which puts pressure on them, limits their ability to invest in new facilities, capital and people, which hampers their growth as a local business.

“The excise is indexed each year and tied to inflation, so the best way to reduce the pressure of rising excise taxes is to get inflation down. [The Coalition] are committed to delivering lower, simpler and fairer taxes for all Australians, and we will announce those policies before the election.”

Hargreaves Hill director Simon Walkenhorst. (Stewart Chambers: 435480)

Dingo debate continues

By Callum Ludwig

The immediate future of dingo management in Victoria has been decided, with the Victorian Government outlining what protections the native canines will have in different parts of the state.

The Victorian Government, and other state governments, began a review of their dingo and wild dog management policies after a pair of 2019 and 2021 studies from the University of New South Wales found that most wild canine species across the country are either pure dingoes or dingo-dominant hybrids (more than 50 per cent dingo genes).

On 24 September, the Victorian Government announced that the dingo unprotection order, which allows landowners to use lethal control on dingoes, has been continued in eastern and north-eastern Victoria while they will continue to be protected in the northwest.

“We are striking the right balance between protecting our vulnerable dingo populations while giving farmers the ability to protect their livestock, and we will regularly engage to ensure settings continue to achieve this balance,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.

“We’re supporting Traditional Owners to care for Country - and providing more resources to analyse statewide dingo population trends and effective conservation management measures.”

The dingo unprotection order, which allows for the lethal control of dingoes on private land and along the boundaries of public land, was ended in the north-west in March this year after research from the Arthur Rylah Institute data showed there could be as few as 40 dingoes left in the region.

“Renewing the unprotection order gives stability and certainty to livestock producers in the northeast and eastern Victoria, enabling them to continue to protect their livestock from dingo predation,” Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence said.

“We’re supporting our northwest farmers with a $2 million package into non-lethal dingo management strategies to protect their livestock and future.”

The Gembrook, Noojee and Erica wild dog management zone outlines the townships in the outer east where dingos remain unprotected. In the Yarra Ranges, these are Avonsleigh, Badger Creek, Beenak, Big Pats Creek, Cambarville, Cockatoo, Coldstream, Don Valley, East Warburton, Fernshaw, Gembrook, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Gruyere, Healesville, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, McMahons Creek, Millgrove, Mount Toolebewong, Narbethong, Powelltown, Reefton, Seville, Seville East, Three Bridges, Toolangi, Warburton, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction and Yellingbo.

Chair of the National Wild Dog Action Plan Coordination Committee Geoff Power said they’re extremely happy with the announcement.

“It shores up the livestock and particularly the sheep industry in the north-east of the state, which is an important source of income for the state and employs a lot of people,” he said.

“We’re really disappointed that they’re going to continue to fully protect dogs in the northwest, we believe that the system that they had prior to the announcement in March was a good one, it had the balance between production and the environment and biodiversity.”

Animal protection organisation Animals Australia previously launched a challenge to the Order in Council [the dingo unprotection order] in the Supreme Court last year.

Animals Australia’s Legal Counsel Shatha Hamade said Animals Australia holds grave concerns about the impact of this decision.

“The dingo plays a crucial role in keeping nat-

ural ecosystems in balance, dingoes are a listed threatened species under law, and this decision stands to threaten the presence of this significant species in Victoria’s ecosystem,” she said.

“There has been a lack of adequate consultation, and a lack of transparency, in the making of this decision. Animals Australia has written to the Victorian Government seeking reasons for the decision to extend the dingo unprotection Order for another three years.”

An extra $2 million has been allocated to support farmers to adopt non-lethal control methods and undertake dingo monitoring in the northwest, on top of $550,000 back in March, which will help fund research, trials and expert advice.

The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) expressed dismay at the decision to extend the unprotection order, which allows for le-

thal control such as baiting, trapping and shooting within 3km of National Parks and Protected Areas.

VNPA Parks and Nature Campaigner Jordan Crook said they know Dingo are an important part of Australian ecosystems.

“Continuing to kill them will see the continued decline of our ecosystems, the government must not sit on their hands until 2028 to make a better decision, at minimum, a heap more work needs to be done to trial and embed alternative solutions,” he said.

The VNPA held a webinar about protecting Dingoes on Wednesday 25 September, which included conservation geneticist Dr. Kylie Cairns, Biodiversity Project Officer at Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Kelly Ann Blake and Director of the Australian Dingo Foundation Mel Browning.

Ms Browning said the government’s decision is gut-wrenching.

“This decision has been made with little transparency, and that is going to lead to the mass killing of a native species on public land,” she said.

The VNPA did welcome the investment in non-lethal deterrents and the end of the wild dog component of the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty program.

Mr Power said he believes any pest control measure is a good thing.

“I believe you’ve got to use every tool you’ve got in your department to control pest animals but personally, I believe we’re better off putting money into baits rather than putting bounties on things,” he said.

Hunters will be further incentivised to target foxes however, with the bounty for foxes to increase from $10 to $14 per scalp until 30 June 2025.

Mr Power said he’d like to see more detail on the Victorian Government’s efforts in the northwest as well as the decision to expand the Wild Dog Management Program to a wider range of vertebrates including deer, foxes, pigs and wild cats, renamed the Vertebrate Species Management Program.

“As a committee, we have suggested to the Victorian Government that they send trackers in and trap dogs and put radio collars on them so that they can track the dogs’ movements and also ascertain what their groupings are,” he said.

“We would want to see that $2 million go on the ground, it’s no good just having talkfests about these things, these non-lethal methods of protecting livestock can work in small areas, but my mail is that you need a Maremma dog for roughly every hundred sheep and that’s a pretty costly process,”

“It just depends on the coordination and the cross-pollination of ideas [in the Vertebrate Species Management Program], all these best animals are different so it just depends how they attack it.”

Fire starts inside garbage truck in Yarra Junction

By Callum Ludwig

Upper Yarra residents may have witnessed smoke in the area following a fire incident that unfurled in the town centre.

A CFA spokesperson confirmed crews responded to a garbage truck fire on Warburton Highway in Yarra Junction at around 9.51am on Thursday 3 October.

“Two units from Hillcrest and Wesburn responded. An advice message was issued for smoke in the area,” they said.

“The incident was deemed under control at around 10.12am and deemed safe at around 10.39am.”

The incident came only a day after the Narre Warren CFA responded to two garbage truck fires in one morning on Wednesday 2 October.

These fires are being investigated, but the brigade took the opportunity on their Facebook page to note the rise in fires in garbage trucks caused by discarded batteries. The movement of garbage within the truck can damage batteries, causing sparks which can cause fires.

Other garbage truck fires locally have occurred in Upwey in July this year and in Seville in May 2023.

Drop off points for batteries in the Upper

Yarra, instead of household waste, include the Woolworths stores in Yarra Junction and Seville, Aldi in Seville and Vinnies in Warburton. Generally, battery drop off points can be found at Aldi, Battery world, Big W, Bunnings, Coles, The Good Guys and Woolworths. Visit the B-cycle website to find the nearest convenient drop off point for all types of batteries at bcycle.com.au/ drop-off.

Small household batteries (household, camera, laptop, power tools) can also be disposed of through E-waste collection services at waste transfer stations including those in Wesburn, Montrose, Coldstream and Lysterfield which service the Yarra Ranges.

Some tips for the storage and disposal of batteries:

• Cover the ends of used batteries with duct tape or clear sticky tape to prevent sparking and reduce fire risk.

• Store them in a glass container that is not airtight.

• Avoid storing them in metal containers or with other metal items.

• Keep them in a cool, dry place away from heat sources.

• Ensure they are out of reach of children and pets.

CFA crews responded to a garbage truck fire in Yarra Junction. (File)

Lethal control of dingoes in approved areas can continue in the Outer East until at least 2028. (File)

NEWS Experience guides Ashley

By Callum Ludwig

Ashley Hansen is putting himself forward to be the new Chandler Ward Councillor.

An independent candidate, Mr Hansen is married and with two grown children, lives in the Yarra Ranges and has extensive experience in local government.

Mr Hansen said he has worked in Local Government since 1983.

“Prior to commencing my career in Local Government, I worked in construction as a carpenter and foreman, I am a qualified Building Surveyor and Town Planner,” he said.

“I am well placed to represent you as I am very familiar with Local Government and how it works and I will get results for you,”

“I will listen to the Community and act on your behalf and hold Council accountable for its decisions.”

Mr Hansen is a former President and Life Member of the Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group, the peak body for Municipal Building Surveyors in Victoria and is also a past

Member of the Building Appeals Board and a past member of the Building Practitioners Board.

Mr Hansen’s experience working in councils spans far and wide, he has worked for all of Melton City Council, Brimbank City Council, Mornington City Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, City of Whittlesea Council, Moira Shire Council, Wodonga City Council in varying capacity as a building surveyor. He also once worked for the Victorian Building Authority.

Mr Hansen said he also knows that if elected as a Councillor, he will do his best to ensure residents have a voice in Council.

“I will represent all the residents and families within the ward, I understand the frustration and costs when permits take too long, I understand that time is money and when there are unnecessary delays, I will try and cut the time, within legislation when trying to get permits through and advocate for a sustainable and consistent approach for all Council services,” he said.

“A vote for me will be a vote for accountability and transparency.”

We’ll be at the WandinSilvan Field Days!

Visit Aggie and the Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity team at the Field Days this weekend. Learn how you join the Great Biosecurity Quest. Fun activities for kids, and prizes to be won!

For more information on how you can get involved, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/ biosecurityquest

Gareth Ward running for Chandler Ward

By Callum Ludwig

Local small business owner Gareth Ward is running to become the new Chandler Ward Councillor.

Mr Ward has lived in Chandler Ward for the last 15 years, running landscaping and car detailing businesses, general contracting work for outdoor construction and consulting work helping small business startups.

Mr Ward said his inspiration to run for council stems from his love of his community, which previously motivated him to stand as a candidate in the 2022 state election.

“My values are rooted in common sense, financial responsibility, and easing the cost of living burden for our residents and as a family man, I am dedicated to ensuring that Chandler Ward remains a great place to live for all families,” he said.

“I believe I’m well suited to the role of Councillor based on my experience in finance, small business and politics at state and federal levels as well as raising a young family in the Yarra Ranges,”

“Above all else, as with any role I under-

take, I bring a common sense, hassle-free and hard-working approach.”

Mr Ward ran as the Liberal candidate for Monbulk in the 2022 state election but was unsuccessful, receiving 12,327 first preference votes (29.49 per cent) and 17741 votes (42.45 per cent) after the distribution of preferences. Mr Ward said a key issue for him is what appears to be overspending on certain budget allocations, in particular infrastructure and maintenance.

“I believe with responsible financial planning and budgeting the Yarra Ranges can have more funds available for the community and work on improvements, I only have one wish if elected, that’s for my community to look back at the prior four years come the next election and be happy with what work has been done to support, maintain and grow Chandler Ward,” he said.

“I’m a simple family man with simple values; work hard, look after your family, friends and community, respect and maintain the environment around you and spend wisely,”

“Sticking to those values is a surefire way to live happily and comfortably.”

Expanded support

The outer-eastern councils of Yarra Ranges, Knox and Cardinia are set for extended to support to recover from the storms in August this year.

The Federal and State Governments are continuing to support Victorian communities impacted by the August severe storm events, including extending funding to an additional nine Local Governments through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said this assistance will help council’s clean up and restore assets as soon as possible.

“This expanded support underscores the Australian and Victorian governments’ commitment to helping local councils recover swiftly from the recent storms,” she said.

“We are working closely with the Victorian government to ensure communities get the support they need to recover.”

The assistance is for a total of 28 councils impacted by the storms commencing from 25 August 2024, to coordinate debris removal from storm-affected homes to make them safe and habitable.

Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said they will continue to support communities every step of the way so they can recover as quickly as possible.

“Providing support to make properties safe and restore essential public assets will enable the community and businesses to get back on track,” she said.

More support has been offered to three outereastern councils for storm recovery.

The joint assistance will help support emergency and asset reconstruction efforts, in particular removing debris impacting essential public infrastructure like roads, footpaths, bridges, and other critical assets.

Information for councils about the DRFA process is available at Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.

For information about recovery support available to local communities, contact your local council at Know your council.

(File)

Gareth Ward. (Supplied)

Ashley Hansen. (Supplied)

NEWS Chloe stands for O’Shannassy ward

By Callum Ludwig

Chloe Bond from the Animal Justice Party has put her hand up for the role of O’Shannassy Ward councillor at Yarra Ranges Council.

Ms Bond is ‘a mother, lawyer and animal lover’ who has called Wesburn home for three years.

Ms Bond said her passion lies in community well-being, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.

“I believe that I can bring my experience as an advocate to represent the people, animals and environment of my Ward,” she said.

“My career as a lawyer has primarily been in the areas of Victims of Crime and Family Violence, where I have dedicated my adult life to providing a voice for victim-survivors who have been silenced by their circumstances, I believe that through dedication, education, and courage, we are all capable of effecting great change within the community,”

“The Animal Justice Party is often seen as a ‘one-issue party’, however, we seek to represent not only animals but people and our planet, I seek to make the Yarra Valley a place where the community, animals, and our natural land are all able to thrive together.”

Ms Bond also ran for the Animal Justice Party in the 2022 Victorian State elections in Eildon, receiving 1340 (3.16 per cent) of first preference votes.

Ms Bond also identified three other areas of concern she has her sights set on if she is elected.

“There is a current housing crisis where, as interest rates rise, landlords are needing to occupy their rental properties, this is leading to a rental crisis where tenants are being evicted with nowhere to go and there are just not enough rental properties in the area for those who need them. Although this crisis is somewhat unavoidable, there are ways in which local government may assist, for example, a tax incentive for landlords to rent their properties long-term, as opposed to short-term Airbnb rentals,” she said.

“We are fortunate enough to live in an area

which is also home to a lot of wildlife, however, we do not currently have the capacity to care for injured wildlife and extreme pressure is placed on volunteer carers who are given little support, I believe that our local government should prioritise supporting these carers,”

“The roads throughout our council are in serious need of repair, their current state is proving hazardous to both people and wildlife. Alongside repairing these roads, I also believe that our local government should further promote active and public transport options.”

Karen Duke in the running again

By Callum Ludwig

Warburton resident Karen Duke is running to become O’Shannassy Ward Councillor of the Yarra Ranges.

Ms Duke is no stranger to the Council election process, having also run in the 2020 elections.

Ms Duke said the ward of O’Shannassy is so unique to the Shire of Yarra Ranges and she believes it is the most beautiful ward to live in.

“I have lived in the Upper Yarra Ranges for many years and raised my sons here, I volunteer at community events and programs that involve connection and communicating with people of all ages and diversity,” she said.

“I currently work in education, but I have experience in community development, engagement, and listening to the needs of locals,”

“If elected I aim to act on these essential needs instead of them being ‘considerations’ when talked about at council meetings.”

In 2020, Ms Duke was one of only two candidates competing for the O’Shannassy position, garnering 3513 first preference votes (34.67 per cent) and losing out to Jim Child.

Ms Duke said she would like to improve what the residents and community needs are, instead of what the tourists want.

“These concerns and issues include spending money on safety around public toilets and essential upgrades to amenities, I will fight for waste management and the return of weekly waste collection,” she said.

“Drainage across the Shire should be addressed along with the concerns of rate rises and there is a need to provide good quality life to our ward including housing, because how can we do this if we can’t house our own community at the moment,”

“We are a Ward that needs more services for

the aged and youth, mental health and wellbeing, and a long overdue public transport review.”

Ms Duke has advised she can be contacted by O’Shannassy constituents via Facebook at ‘Karen Duke for O’Shannassy’, email at karendukeoshannassy@outlook.com and through PO Box 109, Warburton, Victoria 3799.

Fourth term for Richard

By Dongyun Kwon

As no one else was nominated to be a candidate for Chirnside Ward councillor, the current councillor will continue his position till the end of the next term.

Cr Richard Higgins will start his fourth term as Chirnside Ward councillor after the current tenure is over.

Cr Higgins started his journey in local politics in 2008 with his first term at Yarra Ranges Council, and he has consecutively secured his spot except for the term between 2012 and 2016.

The Chirnside Ward councillor said it’s a “great honour” to be a councillor again.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” he said.

“I thought there would be somebody interested [in nominating for Chirnside Ward councillor] as has happened in the past, but that wasn’t to be.”

Cr Higgins recently retired from the Police Force and thinks he can put more time towards being a councillor.

The veteran councillor said it’s not good to change all councillors at once.

“It would be a good mix if some of the old stayed around and put a hand up again to hopefully be re-elected,” Cr Higgins said.

“It’s important to have a little bit of stability in the council.”

The main focus for Cr Higgins for his next tenure is to find good harmony with the new councillors.

Cr Higgins said he’s been very lucky over the years to have councillors who were very focused and working well together.

“The main focus to start with is to get the councillors working well together,” he said.

“Once that happens, we’ll start working out the issues and problems.”

In 2008, he put his hands up to be a councillor as he was not happy that some issues were not sorted out.

The experienced councillor said it’s been a huge learning curve over the last three terms, and he wishes to continue to learn more.

“I think now I’ve got a good understanding of how everything works and what can and can’t be achieved,” he said.

“The gains, I’ve got for the community, especially Chirnside Ward, have been quite good, and it’s good to keep focused on maintaining that all the wards get some gains for everybody equally.

“Noneofthegroupsshouldn’tbemissed out, which is not always easy to achieve, but it’s important that it is achieved, so we get something going in the direction form.”

“My values will ensure proper community and local consultation, making council accountable and transparent with decisions that affect residents,” Ms Duke said.

“Our vibrant community is ready to move forward with a positive change and I can be your voice at council.”

Cr Higgins is encouraging community members to reach out to him whenever they face some problems or issues that they’re not happy with.

Chirnside Ward residents can contact their councillor via phone on 0429 151 489 or email at CrRichardHiggins@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Cr Richard Higgins has been re-elected as his position was uncontested. (File: 200905)

Karen Duke. (File)

Chloe Bond. (Supplied)

NEWS Claire back in the running

By Callum Ludwig

The Voices For Casey have officially announced their candidate for the 2025 Federal election.

Claire Ferres Miles is back to run again, having contested in 2022 after stepping down from her role as chief executive of Sustainability Victoria to do so.

Ms Ferres Miles said she is super excited and very humbled to be nominated again.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and talking to as many people as possible and having thousands of conversations,” she said.

“I think people are really engaged and they are looking for a better representative from Casey that is answerable to their community and that will actually advocate strongly and take action on the issues that we feel care about.”

The launch event held at the Upwey Recreation Reserve on Sunday 6 October had about 150 supporters of the movement in attendance.

Ms Ferres Miles said in the last two years we’ve seen that the independent MPs on the crossbench are the future of Australian politics.

“They’re very positive, they turn up to vote, they get engaged in wanting to make the government better and they’ve made amazing changes in terms of the National Integrity Commission, more ambitious action on climate change and reducing HECS debt,” she said.

“I think the independents are a great role model about what’s possible and over the last two years with Voices of Casey, they’ve done a phenomenal listening survey with a thousand people which is the policy platform for my campaign about the priority issues that the people of Casey want action on,” “When you’re trying to change the two-party system, the essence of an independent campaign is volunteers and people, so the big challenge for us but also the big opportunity is to have hundreds of volunteers having thousands of conversations.”

PhilRuckformerlyof3MDR’sMountainDistrict Radio MC’d the event, while other guest speakers

Ms Ferres Miles said she learnt a lot from her first campaign in 2022.

“I think the data shows that most, irrespective of if they are independents, but most federal MPs, it takes three times to get elected, so yes, I ran in 2022 but also, I think the time is now,” she said.

“The more and more I talk to people in the

community, the more I hear the two-party system is just not serving us and people are looking for a strong alternative, and I am that alternative,” “I look forward to being out and about in the community and raising the visibility that I’m running, and I’m really keen to talk to community leaders and community groups to better understand their issues and what’s important to them and what success is for them from their federal employees.”

Prior to embarking on her political campaigns, Ms Ferres Miles has been an advocate for commu-

nity issues such as saving the Sherbrooke Family & Children’s Centre and the ‘No Maccas in Tecoma’ protest, as well as helping set up the Upwey Toy Library and getting involved in the school council of her children’s schools.

Ms Ferres Miles lives in Upwey with her husband Colin, has five children, and was a landscape architect and traffic engineer prior to her previous role with Sustainability Victoria. Since the 2022 election, she has co-founded an urban strategy consultancy firm, Curiosity Co.

Free Kinder: Enrol for 2025.

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included Voices for Casey President Dr Ani Wierenga, Vice President Nicole Gale, Vice President of the Upwey Community Group Trevor Stanley and Ms Ferres Miles’ eldest daughter Emily.

Voices for Casey supporters endorsed Claire Ferres Miles as their candidate for the 2025 Federal election on Sunday 6 October. (Callum Ludwig: 436091)

NEWS Astonishing stroke facts

By Gabriella Vukman

According to a new report conducted by the Stroke Foundation, the number of Australians experiencing strokes over the past year is the highest it has been in over two decades.

Australia’s growing and ageing population along with changing diets and minimal exercise, the report projects that the number of Australians having strokes will continue to climb increasingly if immediate action is not taken.

Released on 25 September, the Stroke Foundation’s Economic Impact of Stroke Report also found that in 2023, 45,785 Australians experienced a stroke. This is the equivalent to one stroke every 11 minutes.

Stroke survivor and Launching Place local Peter Spence suffered a stroke seven years ago after having a serious infection.

Peter said, “I had a knee replacement done and then three or four months later I got an infection in that knee so they rushed me off to hospital and they operated on the knee and cleaned it out and that night in hospital I had a stroke.”

“I woke up through the night and couldn’t see anything. I could only see a little bit of my phone,” he said.

“When the nurses came in at around four o’clock, I just told them I couldn’t really and then it all got a bit hectic.”

Peter’s stroke impacted his eyesight, memory and muscle strength.

“The stroke mainly affected my eyesight but I also lost a lot of memories and my memory is still not good today. Bodywise, it affected the strength in my arms. I still don’t have as much strength as I once had. Apart from these things, I came out pretty good really,” Peter said,

Unable to remember what the stroke itself felt like due to being asleep when it occurred, Peter was told that he had suffered a stroke four hours after he awoke.

Despite his vision being heavily impacted straight after his stroke, Peter’s vision, memory

and muscle strength began to improve with rehab.

Peter said, “When the stroke first happened, I could hardly see anything and then probably six weeks down the track it really improved to where I am now but my peripheral vision isn’t so good. I still can’t scan so I run into things.”

“I probably spent about six months in hospital and rehab so that was a fair haul but I recovered alright,” Peter said.

At first, straight after the stroke, I didn’t have a great attitude, I was pretty disappointed but you realise when you go to rehab and you see other

people who have lost legs and stuff that you’re not that bad off after all.”

Due to his six month stint in rehab, Peter had to retire after his stroke episode.

Peter said, “It affected my life greatly. That’s when I finished work and went from doing 2000km per week to doing nothing.”

“We also have five acres of garden so when I got home, I couldn’t do a full day’s work. I could do half a day and that used to frustrate me because I am a person that, if I start something, I want to finish it that day and not the next day,” Peter said.

“That got me down a bit. Luckily I had a little staffordshire who was great company and she kept me going. She was my companion and she was there with me wherever I went.”

The Stroke Foundation’s Economic Impact of Stroke Report also found that the costs associated with stroke in 2023 were over $15.7 billion over a lifetime, over $350,000 per person.

This $15.7 billion was broken down into $5.5 billion in healthcare costs, $6.3 billion in costs related to lost productivity in the workplace and at home, and $3.3 billion in costs related to the provision of informal care.

The report’s modelling identifies when considering the first-year cost ($7.7 billion) and the identified stroke costs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) ($1.3 billion), the annual cost of stroke to the Australian economy is $9 billion.

With close to half a million survivors of stroke living in the Australian community, the costs to the nation’s economy are hefty.

The report also forecasts that by 2050, the number of strokes per year will soar to 72,000.

Stroke Foundation chief operations officer Dr Lisa Murphy said, “80 percent of strokes are preventable. The leading cause of stroke is high blood pressure which can be hereditary or caused by outside factors such as hormones or diet.”

“The thing about strokes is that, although they can happen at any age, they are more common in the elderly so with an ageing population, the number is going to go up,” she said.

“Over 65s is the most common age bracket but a quarter of all strokes happen under the age of 65 and it does happen to babies and children as well.”

According to Dr Lisa, the foreseen elevated numbers of people having strokes has a “massive effect on the medical system.”

Suggesting that stroke numbers will cost the Australian Government approximately $9 billion annually, the report states that $1.8 billion of these costs are direct healthcare costs.

Other costs consist of the loss of productivity wherein people who have had strokes can’t go back to work along with unpaid carer costs where partners have to stop work to care for the person who has had the stroke.

“The other factor in addition to growing and ageing populations is that our lifestyles are not conducive to preventing chronic diseases.”

“For example, less physical activity, our diets are worsening, access to fresh fruits and vegetables are getting harder and levels of obesity are increasing. It’s not only the ageing population but the way we are as a society at the moment is going to increase people’s risk of having a stroke,” she said.

When it comes to strokes, Dr Lisa believes in a “multifactorial approach.”

“I think looking at health outside of the typical health portfolio such as looking at things like infrastructure and policies around food and ensuring people have access to a well balanced diet and freshwater and simple things like that is really important,” Dr Lisa said.

“We need to make sure that it is easy for people to walk around and easy for people to cycle so addressing the increase in stroke numbers needs to embody a broad brush approach.

“It is definitely not on the individual. Society needs to support people so they can make these changes.”

The Economic Impact of Stroke Report has modelled three initiatives that the Stroke Foundation thinks can make a difference - prevention, faster access to acute treatment and accessibility to community rehabilitation.

Government says spike? Industry says it’s a dip

By Gabriella Vukman

In a recent report released by the Victorian Government, the Yarra Valley and Ranges is said to have received a substantial rise in tourism.

Between the periods June 2023 to June 2024, the report suggested that the Yarra Ranges has seen a 17 per cent rise in total domestic expenditure due to tourism.

The report was based on results from Tourism Research Australia’s latest National and International Visitor survey results.

Despite the report’s outline of an increase in tourism in the Yarra Valley and Ranges, Yarra Ranges Tourism raised concerns surrounding harder times for the area’s accommodation vendors.

providers and they are saying that they think they are seeing quieter times and I know that the wineries and cellar doors and attractions are saying that there is a mid-week quiet which is what we are trying to address,” he said.

“We are really trying to push that mid-week message and encourage people to make longer trips out here during the week.”

“A lot of people are unemployed in the community tourism industry and so we want businesses to be open as many days a week as they can to support our industry.”

Mr McDonald-Madden said.

With a growing population, plans to manage sudden influxes of tourists are a prominent part of the Yarra Ranges tourism sector.

Over the last few years, Yarra Ranges Council has collaborated with Yarra Ranges Tourism to create a Destination Management Plan addressing elements such as infrastructure and workforce in efforts to manage tourism growth.

Where the number of weekend day trips rose between the period of June 2023 to 2024, Yarra Ranges Tourism suggests that weekdays in the area saw significantly less traffic.

Head of marketing and communications at Yarra Ranges Tourism Euan McDonald-Madden said, ”We are talking to accommodation

Chief Executive Officer at Yarra Ranges Tourism Simon O’Callaghan said, “The 17 percent rise is just day trips which is reflective of less people staying overnight which speaks to harder times for accommodation versus attractions.”

Mr McDonald-Madden indicated that the cost of living crisis could be a contributor to lower numbers of people booking accommodation in the Yarra Ranges.

“Due to cost pressures, going away on a holiday may not be unattainable at the moment but a day trip to come and see nature, to go to Badger’s Weir or go up into the Dandenongs and have a singular day out is far more affordable,”

Mr McDonald-Madden said, “We are working really closely with the Councils to make sure that we have the infrastructure and the planning happening so that we are planning and managing tourism growth in the right way.”

“In the coming years we’ll see Melbourne’s population of six million grow to eight or nine million people and that’s only going to create more tourism for our region and so we need to be really mindful of that, so the destination management plan is a big part of managing tourism growth,” Mr McDonald-Madden said.

Yarra Ranges Tourism raises concerns for accommodation vendors in response to a 17 percent rise in day trips (File: 431301)

Chief Executive Officer of the Stroke Foundation

Dr Lisa Murphy expressed concerns after the latest stroke data release. (Supplied)

Leaving a lasting ‘Heritage’

By Dongyun Kwon

The Yarra Valley community is in mourning following the passing of Robert Frank Heritage.

Robert Frank Heritage, known as Robbie, died with his family close by on Friday 27 September, as a result of complications that came from radium treatment.

His funeral was held at the Heritage Pioneers Chapel in Woori Yallock on Saturday 5 October.

Robbie’s son Gavan said he admired his dad for his passion for funeral service and the Yarra Valley community.

“His whole life was around funeral service, he didn’t like any sport, his whole life was about our business and what we did,” he said.

“Aside from family, he was very passionate about our business, and all the wonderful people that we have working with us in the business.

“He loved the fact that we were an independent family-owned and operated funeral business.”

Robbie was born on 1 December 1940 and raised in Healesville.

Because he left school early when he was 14, he got to experience a number of different jobs as a plumber, a truckie and a school bus driver while helping his dad with funeral service.

At the age of 24, when Robbie’s father Frank Sperry Heritage, the founder of the Heritage and Heritage Funerals, died, Robbie and his brother Keith took on the business and expanded it.

In 1986, the business was purchased by the Le Pine Funerals.

Robbie took a break from the industry for about 10 years, and he came back to the funeral service as he bought the land in Wantirna in 1996 to open up a new funeral home, which ended up being opened the following year.

In 2009, Robbie opened up one more funeral home in Woori Yallock as he always wanted to bring his business back to the Yarra Valley.

“Because dad’s always had such a passion for the area, he wanted to be able to give something back,” Gavan said.

The man, who was passionate about helping local families through their grief, offering compassion and support during their most challenging moments, loved the Yarra Valley a lot throughout his whole life.

The son said Robbie was full of a sense of community as he had grown up in Healesville, a small town, like a village type of environment.

“That’s something that stayed with dad for all his life. He’s always been wanting to help people that have been at their time of need, whether it be a funeral or something else,” Gavan said.

“He loved the Yarra Valley very very much, he always had a strong affiliation with doing the

right thing by people, and he loved the mountains because he worked in the bush with the logging.”

Gavan has worked with his dad for most of his life in different businesses.

The business has extended to the fourth gen-

“Even

eration of the Heritage Family as Robbie’s daughter Janet Mansley and Gavan run the business along with help from Janet’s daughter Charlotte, Gavan’s daughter Jaime and son Lachlan.

prior to going into hospital for the radium treatment, dad came into work every day,”

Gavan said.

“His pride in what we do was very important to him, and he enjoyed working with all of our staff and was very proud of what we did.”

Robbie is survived by his wife Elaine, daughter Sandra, son Gavan and daughter Janet.

L-R: Robbie’s grandchildren Lockie and Jaime Heritage, Robbie, his daughter Janet Mansley and son Gavan Heritage. (Supplied)

Robbie’s wedding photo with his wife Elaine. (Supplied)

Robert Frank Heritage died with his family close by on Friday 27 September, as a result of complications that came from radium treatment. (Supplied)

Robbie’s funeral was held at the Heritage Pioneers Chapel in Woori Yallock on Saturday 5 October. (Supplied)

Bridge still closed

By Callum Ludwig

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish has renewed her calls for the Dee Slip Bridge on the popular O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail to be replaced or repaired.

The bridge was first closed to vehicles in 2017 after an engineering assessment and closed altogether in 2021 after a large pine tree fell upon it.

Ms McLeish said surely bridge design options that have been in the works since 2021 are done.

“The Allan Labor Government needs to provide the appropriate funding to Parks Victoria so they can action design plans and replace or repair the bridge, it is getting beyond a joke,” she said.

“Locals and trail users are sick of having to climb down and under the bridge, risking their safety, they want to see the bridge opened for access again.”

The bridge, originally constructed in 1947 after the aqueduct collapsed and a large hole was left in the side of the embankment, had become a feature of the aqueduct trail even after closing to vehicles in 2017, remaining a pedestrian and cycle bridge. When assessed in 2020 before the collapse of the tree in 2021, minor maintenance and a view to long-term closure once the bridge completed its ‘life cycle’ was recommended.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said they ask the community to use the temporary bypass track while the bridge is closed.

“We’ve invested $24.76 million for Parks Victoria to remove unsafe infrastructure and repair or replace assets across their parks – this includes rebuilding the crossing at Dee Slip Bridge,” they said.

“Parks Victoria are currently looking at design options for the project - this includes geotechnical and structural analysis. Works will begin once a final option is decided.”

Millgrove resident Thomas Osburg spoke to the Star Mail about the closure of the bridge in 2022, having been a regular walker along the

Hello Yarra Valley gardeners!

Welcome to my October 2024 fruit fly update. I can help you make your own QFF garden plan! Visit me at the Wandin Silvan Field Days October 11 & 12.

The local Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) trapping system is now refreshed. Automated traps and our trap inspectors are checking regularly. No QFF have been detected here yet, but they are present in Northern Victoria. Early detection and rapid response is key! We are now focused on preventing establishment and preventing the spread.

If you detect suspect QFF in your trap, please report it with a photo to qff@agribusiness-yarravalley.com or text 0490 381 999 for a preliminary ID to confirm.

If QFF is near you, we can provide some traps for extra surveillance. We can also ask everyone in your area to elevate their fruit fly action plan—traps, netting, bait, pick fruit before it falls, and destroy suspect fruit (freeze or boil).

Knowing that QFF is active nearby promotes action! Help is available, and you are not required to remove the QFF host plants. We do request that you manage them well, and prevent the spread. Don’t share infested fruit. We have resources to share to help you combat QFF.

October “In your garden….”

trail since the 1970s. Mr Osburg was concerned about the ‘stupid, dangerous steps’ he had to use down to the bypass and said they could become slippery.

Then Acting District Manager at Parks Victoria Craig Albiston also told the Star Mail in 2022 that Parks Victoria anticipated ‘starting on the groundwork in 2023.’

Parks Victoria has entered phase two of their investigations, having already had to engage a team of engineers, a team of site surveyors, a quantity surveyor, specialist approvals consultants and cultural heritage specialists due to the environmental, cultural and historic heritage assessments and approvals required before any associated works can be completed.

Visitors to the Yarra Ranges National Park can also detour to the western section of the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail from Dee Rd Picnic Ground (Millgrove) and access the eastern section from Yuonga Rd Picnic Ground (Warburton).

Plan your capsicums, chillies and tomato gardens in a way that they can be protected with fruit fly netting at harvest. Your traps should also have new lures and new sticky cards. Items can be purchased at your local garden centre. Please ask them to stock QFF traps & lures for you and other locals. Area wide action will help manage QFF.

The Dee Slip bridge was closed after a large pine tree fell on it in 2021. (File)

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish is frustrated by the extended closure of the Dee Slip bridge in Millgrove. (Supplied)

The Dee Slip Bridge sometime in the 1990s. (Thomas Osburg)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Punk - a passion project

By Callum Ludwig

An 18-year-old Wesburn resident’s works will be taking over Warburton Netball Club rooms for a weekend this month in a celebration of punk culture.

Little Yarra Steiner School student Zali King’s ‘Maggot – A Punk Art Exhibition’ will be on display between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October.

Ms King said she has always been drawn to art as a way of self expression and was fascinated by punk culture, the rage, the advocacy and fashion of it all.

“I have tried to capture this in my artworks many include the typical punk imagery spikes and all, but I also chose to explore the more subtle aspects of punk like the ideology and what punk looks like for my generation,” she said.

“My interest in punk started about when I was around 14 through music, from that my interest grew into the history of punk and eventually based my whole year 12 independent project around this topic,”

“Art has been a constant in my life since I could pick up a pencil so the progression to punk art came naturally, combined with my passion for advocacy meant that I was able to create political messages through my art and allowed me to delve further into what I value and what interests me.”

Ms King has put together the exhibition for her Year 12 Independent project which some students at Little Yarra Steiner School complete over the course of the year.

Ms King said doing this for her Year 12 independent project gave her a way to complete Year 12 in a way that suited her.

“I was able to embrace my self-expression and creativity and have a product to show for it at the end of the year which I have found to be very fulfilling for me as opposed to doing the exams,” she said.

“Having the opportunity to display my work at the netball community centre has been great, I have been able to fill and curate the space how I would like and share it with my community.”

Another source of inspiration for Ms King has been her diagnosis with autism late last year.

Ms King said one of the main focuses of the exhibition is her experience with autism as a woman because being able to advocate for issues that directly affect her was a really important thing for her.

“Some of the messages I wanted to convey I felt an artwork could do justice, so I made a zine [a small handmade self published magazine also known as a fanzine] for the exhibition as well, expressing a depth that I couldn’t capture through symbolism or imagery and I spoke about feminist issues, aspects of the autistic experience and

punk fashion,” she said.

“I hope that people would come back from my exhibition learning something new, or seeing a different perspective on an issue than their own, I would love it if people came away from my exhibition with a new perspective about punk culture and see that the punk scene is still around.”

Should Warburton be relocated to Mars? Here’s the pitch

By Callum Ludwig

The voices of Warburton residents will be the star of a show coming to the Arts Centre next month.

Hello Red Planet, performed by the Brunswick-based Bunk Puppets, will feature recordings of Warburton residents gathered over the coming weeks and will be on show on Saturday 9 November.

Bunk Puppets Company Director Jeff Achtem said the show is a pitch to the town of Warburton to relocate to Mars.

“We’ve cooked up an idea where we are coming to the town to make a pitch to move the town to Mars, to resettle everything, everybody, and all the key features and locations and all the things that make, in this case, Warburton, the town that it is to Mars,” he said.

“What we’re doing ahead of time is that we’re going to go out into the community and make a bunch of visits in schools and parks and playgrounds, and we’re going to interview people that live in the area and get their thoughts on the local community and things they like, who we should bring, who we should leave behind, and then we’re going to get all these documentary interviews,”

“We’ll edit them and use puppetry to create little videos, and those videos, which are town residents talking about what they think is special about their community, will be played back during the live theatre show as research by these two kooky clowns.”

Bunk Puppets will be conducting their interviews over the next couple of weeks in preparation, including visiting local schools, and will also announce in the near future where anyone interested in having their voice used can come meet them and get involved on their Facebook page ‘Bunk Puppets’. Community groups are also encouraged to reach out if members would like to get involved.

Mr Achtem said they have already brought Hello Red Planet to the towns of Mildura, Horsham, Warragul and Kyneton.

“In each town, we create these bespoke videos that involve all these interviews so it’s quite a process and the show itself doesn’t change, but the videos are special for each town,” he

said.

“Everybody’s anonymous in the videos and they all look like Dr. Seuss characters because they’re animated using puppets but it’s fun to get a real range of voices, young and old, new arrivals and old timers,”

“Some themes pop up that are quite similar

in towns but I don’t know where Warburton will sit in terms of identity comparing it to Mildura which is a regional centre or Warragul and Kyneton which are closer to the city and have a bit more Melbourne influence.”

Bunk Puppets have performed all over the world from Off-Broadway New York City, Soho Theatre in London and The Chameleon in Berlin as well as repeat visits to Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival and venues all over regional Victoria and Australia. Hello Red Planet is a one-hour show with no interval from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and tickets and more information can be found at yarraranges. vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Hello-Red-Planet.

‘Hello Red Planet’ by the Bunk Puppets is coming to Warburton next month. (C Bagin)

of Warburton

Wesburn student Zali King has taken to the punk scene, making it the theme of her Year 12 independent project. (Suzanne Phoenix)

Zali King. (Suzanne Phoenix)

Zali King’s punk-themed works will be on display in Warburton on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October. (Zali King)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Museum ‘highly commended’

By Dongyun Kwon

A local art museum has once again been recognised among the Victorian art community.

Tarrawarra Museum of Art (TWMA) was awarded Highly Commended in the medium project of the year for the gallery sector in the 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards for its exhibition The Soil Project.

The Soils Project was exhibited from 5 August to 12 November last year at TWMA and is now showing again at the Van Abbe Museum in the Netherlands until 24 November.

TWMA director Victoria Lynn said the TWMA team was honoured to win the highly commended award for the second year in a row.

“It’s really gratifying to know that our peers in the museum and gallery industry recognise the original work that we’re doing at TWMA,” she said.

“The award recognised the ambition of the project and the participation of artists and communities across many different countries including many Indigenous artists.”

The Soils Project has brought together 13 practitioners and collectives from Australia, the Netherlands and Indonesia to explore the complex and diverse relationships between environmental change and colonisation.

The project has arisen from specific and situated practices that each of the participants and artists brought to their understanding of soil, as both metaphor and matter.

Ms Lynn said the works of the participants

were very positive and had looked a lot at the idea of regeneration of Indigenous planting and healing of the soil.

“We came together just before the Covid pandemic around questions of the link between colonisation and climate change, and in particular, looking at ways that artists can express their concerns about the changes to our natural world through the perspective of countries being colonised by foreign powers,” she said.

“So the reason why we work with the Netherlands and Indonesia is because the Dutch had a very big colonial presence in Indonesia over a few centuries, and also as we know here in Australia, the British colonised this country.

“The reason we used the word soil in the project is because everybody understands what soil is.”

Lastyear,TWMAreceivedthesameawardwith TarraWarra Biennial 2023: ua usiusi fa’ava’asavili.

Ms Lynn shared TWMA’s secret to keep on getting good recognition.

Originality, working with topics that are relevant to people’s lives today, creating new commissions from the artists, exhibiting brand new work by the artists and presenting the excellent scholarly context for the work that we do in the form of didactic panels and information and online content [are our secret],” the museum director said.

“This particular award isn’t just for Tarrawarra but it’s for everybody involved in the project, which were three countries and many participants from different nationalities.”

Opening up the conversation of death through art

By Callum Ludwig

Tender Funerals Greater Eastern Melbourne and a young local artist have paired up to host October’s exhibition in the Warburton Waterwheel gallery.

The exhibition involves a series of talks and workshops exploring end-of-life care and funeral planning held in the gallery, accompanied by a display of works from Little Yarra Steiner School student Amber Hamer who ‘explored death through art.’

Ms Hamer said in her pieces, she has focused on how death intertwines with time, fear, and transformation.

“I chose to explore the theme of death because I believe it’s a topic that deserves more thought and conversation, death is a universal experience, yet we often avoid discussing it openly,” she said.

“My artworks are intended to invite the viewer to explore their own perceptions of death with an open mind, this is something I am passionate about as I believe through death there is a lot we can learn about life.”

Ms Hamer’s part of the exhibition is counting towards her schoolwork too, with it making up her Year 12 Independent project.

Ms Hamer said the opportunity to display her work in the Warburton Waterwheel gallery is wonderful.

“I began the year unsure of whether I wanted to display my work as I did not consider myself talented enough to be called an artist, however through the support of some pretty amazing people I am now sharing my work with the public in hopes that it will resonate with others,” she said.

“The main mediums I have been drawn to are acrylic painting and digital art as they are very forgiving and allow me to experiment without fear of making mistakes, however, I have also used other mediums such as watercolour, gouache and photography.”

In the gallery space, Tender Funerals Greater Eastern Melbourne will be hosting two Community-led Death Care and Funerals talks, two Planning your Funerals workshops and a Green Burials Talk and Shrouding Demonstration courtesy of Heaven and Earth Eco Burials throughout the month.

Tender Funerals Greater Eastern Melbourne Community Activator Melinda Whyman said they were very excited having an exhibition that would bring the topic of death into the public

space to open up conversations and it’s fabulous to have Ms Hamer’s work included.

“It’s an excellent synergy with what we call our death literacy ethos and we were very happy to auspice her [Amber] to be able to make this happen, we have a lot of admiration for Amber,” she said.

“It’s a very brave project that she’s embarked on and particularly at such a tender age to be interested and willing to have that conversation about end of life and wanting to encourage oth-

er people to have that conversation,”

“The work’s really evocative and it’s quite beautiful and inviting, I’m standing in the space looking around and she’s created a really interesting collection of works that encourages people to reflect and contemplate in deeply beautiful ways.”

The Community-led Death Care and Funerals talks will be held on Sunday 13 and Saturday 26 October from 11am, with the two Planning your Funerals workshops held from 1pm on the

same day. The Green Burials Talk and Shrouding Demonstration will be hosted by sisters and owners of Heaven and Earth Eco Burials Tamsin Ramone and Alyssa Wormald on Sunday 20 October from 1pm.

Ms Whyman said they hope the exhibition helps people to become more ‘death literate’ and to feel more comfortable with the topics of death and dying.

“In my experience as a funeral director, I’ve spoken to lots of people in preparation for their death and their funeral and they always say afterwards that they feel a huge sense of relief and empowerment,” she said.

“What we’re hoping in offering this engagement with the community is that people feel more informed and more empowered to prepare for their death, whether it’s their own or people that they love, and hopefully that it allows deaths to be brought back into the conversation of life,”

“I think the more people know, the more informed they are, the more they feel capable of making those decisions in a difficult or sad time.”

The exhibition was made possible through a $1100 grant from the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Community Grants program.

Melinda Whyman (Tender Funerals) with artist Amber Hamer and her work ‘Acceptance’. (Stewart Chambers: 434901)

Death’s Embrace by Amber Hamer. (Stewart Chambers: 434901)

A Glimpse of the Soul (left) by Amber Hamer. (Stewart Chambers: 434901)

Melinda Whyman and Tender Funerals will be holding talks and workshops in the gallery throughout the month. (Stewart Chambers: 434901)

Tarrawarra Museum of Art director Victoria Lynn (right) with Awards host Sammy J at the the 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards on Tuesday 1 October. (Supplied)

Tackling the varroa mite

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Emerald Regional Bee Keepers are calling all the local beekeepers to attend a crucial training workshop on the 26 October to focus on managing the Varroa mite, a significant threat to honeybee populations and agricultural productivity in the Yarra Valley.

The event is scheduled from 9am to 3pm at Gembrook Community Centre, this workshop is part of a national initiative aimed at educating beekeepers on best management practices for controlling Varroa mite infestations.

Emerald Regional Bee Keepers member Bronwyn Koll emphasised the importance of this training.

“Managing Varroa requires a complex and integrated approach,” she said.

“All beekeepers need to be equipped with this knowledge, especially since this will be the first workshop of its kind in the Yarra Valley.”

The workshop will provide in-depth information and practical applications for managing Varroa, a parasite that poses a serious risk to honeybee colonies.

Ms Koll said the impact of Varroa can be severe, leading to a decline in bee populations and, consequently, a decrease in pollination for vital crops such as cherries, apples, and stone fruits.

“Beekeepers in the Yarra Valley need to be proactive, if Varroa enters the area, it can significantly affect our agricultural industries, which rely on healthy bee populations for pollination,” Ms Koll said.

“While Varroa has not yet been detected in the Yarra Valley, it has spread throughout New South Wales since its initial detection about 10 to 18 months ago.”

According to the Australian Government’s Outbreak, in August this year, varroa mite was detected in a hive at a property near Mildura, during surveillance activities carried out by Agriculture Victoria - it is the first time the pest has been de-

tected outside NSW.

In June 2022, varroa mite was first detected in NSW in sentinel hives during routine surveillance by NSW Bee Biosecurity Officers at the Port of Newcastle, which caused a national response to manage the biosecurity risk and spread, and protect the agricultural industry followed.

The risk of spread is being managed, however there will be no eradication program for varroa mite in Victoria.

Local beekeepers are encouraged to register for the workshop, as seats are limited.

Ms Koll also urges everyone involved in beekeeping to attend the event, highlighting the importance of responsible hive management.

“Every beekeeper in the region must work together to effectively manage and protect our bee populations,” she said.

In addition to the workshop, she recommended local beekeepers join local clubs, such as the

Yarra Valley Bee Group, to build connections and share best practices.

“Being connected with other beekeepers is crucial for effective management, especially as we face the challenges posed by Varroa,” she said.

As the Yarra Valley prepares for this critical event, local beekeepers are reminded that proactive measures and community collaboration will be essential in safeguarding the region’s vital honeybee populations and the agricultural industries that depend on them.

Welcome to Wanderslore for the 30-year anniversary

By Callum Ludwig

The Friends of Wanderslore are inviting the community to join them in celebrating a significant milestone later this month.

On Sunday 27 October, the Friends of Wanderslore alongside Trust for Nature will be holding a Wanderslore Sanctuary Open Day to mark 30 years of the Friends group.

Gwyn Davies of the Friends of Wanderslore said they have had the honour and privilege of working to look after Wanderslore Sanctuary for over 30 years.

“Weareespeciallyproudoffounding‘Friend’, Geoff Durham OAM, it is thanks to Geoff that Constance Coleman found a way of permanently securing this magnificent property for posterity, by gifting it to the Victorian Conservation Trust, now Trust for Nature, in 1987,” she said.

“Since then, Geoff has guided the Friends in their care of the property, contributing his wealth of bushcare knowledge, and documenting the changes that have occurred over time.”

The event will feature an exhibition of the artwork of Wanderslore’s original owner Constance ‘Connie’ Coleman which has just had a significance assessment completed as well as a discussion of Trust for Nature’s work at Wanderslore and the ecological significance the sanctuary and its surrounds in the Yering Gorge to Yarra Junction catchment hold. There will also be opportunities to enjoy guided and selfguided walks, a BBQ, tea and coffee, live music and a raffle.

Ms Davies said the just-completed significance assessment project involved the examination of the heritage values of the collection of artworks and historical items left at Wanderslore or gifted back by Constance’s family after her death

“This project has been of great benefit to all parties: the Friends group, Trust for Nature, and the community, significance assessor Melinda Mockridge has found that these items support Victorian significance at a local and a regional level, and some material relating to her father William Coleman, scenic painter for JC Williamson, has national significance,” she said.

“We are delighted to be able to showcase some of Constance’s beautiful, expressive oil and watercolour paintings in an exhibition in her original studio at Wanderslore on Open Day.”

The event is entry by gold donation, with attendees encouraged to wear suitable clothing and closed footwear for walking in the bush in the Sanctuary as most tracks are sloping or stepped and can be slippery.

Ms Davies said the arrival of the significance assessment report has provided the Trust with

a great opportunity to showcase their work in the Yarra Valley, and to encourage more landholders to place covenants on their bushland properties, to ensure they are never cleared, or developed.

“The Friends are very happy to share the offerings of the day with the Trust for Nature whose staff have taken much of the weight of organising from the shoulders of the small group of Friends,” she said.

“The Trust, recognising that cultural heritage and natural heritage go hand in hand, has

been very supportive in our endeavours to help bring Constance and her conservation work and art work into the public eye, and to ensure that this Constance Coleman Collection of artworks, artefacts and archives will be preserved, accessible, and enjoyed by many into the future,”

“Constance is well-remembered with affection and respect by a few senior folk in the local Community, we’d like to think that she will now never be forgotten, and will continue to inspire people to appreciate and care for bushland, helping to maintain its diversity of plant and animal communities through care, conservation and covenanting.”

Wanderslore Snactuary is located at 2180 Warburton Highway, Launching Place. To park, yurn off Warburton Highway between the Home Hotel car park and the old General Store and park behind the old General Store, then walk up by following the signs to the reserve entrance (five minute walk uphill).

Trust for Nature’s South Central Area Manager Ben Cullen said the event is a great chance to open up this reserve to the public.

“The Friends have done so much in getting the reserve to such a state that it’s in fantastic ecological condition and it’s one of those rare opportunities for people to just come out, enjoy the bush, hear from some experts out on-site and learn more about the nature that occurs probably in your backyard,” he said.

“It’s been a great space for us to be able to try and demonstrate best practice of conservation, nature conservation, this site’s involved in a lot of weeding, a lot of monitoring and a lot of efforts to sort of encourage threatened and rare species to utilise the site,”

“This site’s really valuable in the context of creating a greater buffer to the Yarra, it’s not too far from some sites like Haining Farm and other areas that are being seen as really important conduits for allowing wildlife to move through the landscape, develop genetic diversity and make safe spaces where plants and animals can occur and we know that they’ll be protected forever.”

A Typical large group attending the annual Victorian Field Naturalists’ Fungi Foray at Wanderslore. (Supplied)

Constance Coleman at Wanderslore in the 80s. An undated and untitled watercolour painting of the Yarra Valley by Constance Coleman.

Members of Emerald Regional Bee keeping. (Supplied)

The event is one of its kind - to spread awareness about the threats of varroa mite.

FERNY CREEK SPRING SHOW 2024

All are welcome to the Flower Festival being held at the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society on the 26 and 27 October.

Why not bring your whole family along for a day out in the wonderful 10 acre garden.

The Flower Display Hall will be full of the most beautiful plants, flowers, and floral displays. There will be a myriad of blooms including stunning Rhododendrons, Vireyas, Indoor plants, succulents, bonsai, alpine and rock garden plants, natives, and the list goes on!

Don’t miss the guided garden walks, through our delightful garden with local plant guru Don Teese; you will hear about the history of the gardens, and about the rare and exceptional plants that we hold in our garden.

A huge offering of food will be available, including a sausage sizzle being run by the local Ferny Creek Scout Group, Devonshire teas, homemade soups, and fresh sandwiches, and more.

If you would like to try your hand at competing in the Show, then why not give it a try. There are sections for novices, as well as children. You might even win a blue ribbon or cash prizes. Just download the schedule from the website fchs.org.au

There will also be hundreds of plants for sale, with Marie Jordan from Fresbrook Peony Farm and Lorraine Forester from I am Someone selling plants for charity. The range of peonies available will be incredible. Our own propagation group will be selling plants that we have propagated from the gardens and are a great opportunity to pick up rare and unusual plants at very reasonable prices.

The most amazing cut flower stall has the most incredible range of bouquets for sale, a must visit stall for so many of our visitors.

The Society’s gardens and facilities are maintained by an energetic group of volunteers, so

why not go along and see if you would like to join up? The group has two meetings each week, on Monday and Thursday morning from 9am to 12pm, and welcomes gardeners of all abilities.

The group is more than happy to see your skills bloom!

As a member you will have access to their extensive botanical library, as well as specialist groups which include ikebana, propagation, rock garden and alpines, Australian native plants, rhododendron and camellias, and craft. The Society holds three flower shows a year, and the incred-

ible Plant Collectors Expo on the 8 and 9 March 2025 is not to be missed. Save the date for a feast of over 40 vendors of rare and unusual plants and garden products.

Entry fee to the Flower Festival is $7 per adult, children under 14yo are free.

Fantastic

Officially judged exhibits

Informative guided garden

Try a hand at competing in one of the many prized categories.

Try a hand at competing in one of the many prized categories.

The Flower Display Hall will be full of the most beautiful plants, flowers, and floral displays.

Locals preparing for big open day

The Millgrove Residents’ Action Group (MRAG), Wesburn/Millgrove CFA and Upper Yarra SES are preparing for a bumper crowd at this year’s Community Open Day to be held on Sunday 20 October.

“Last year saw over 500 visitors enjoy free entertainment, free games and gain important information about preparing for the fire season and we expect a similar crowd this year,” MRAG Project Coordinator Jan Burney said.

The 2024 event sees the SES and many important community groups joining in on the day to showcase their services in an expo format which will add enormously to the valuable and potential lifesaving information to be gained. As well as securing the talents of the Dreaming Space team again, there will be performances by local schools and music groups.

A wide range of free games, craft activities, face painting and roving artists will provide a great opportunity for the family to enjoy a great day, sure to be a highlight for children and adults alike.

The Upper Yarra Rotary Club will be again be barbequing and providing delicious sausages in bread to raise much-needed funds for charitable causes.

MRAG President Maureen Halit expressed her sincere thanks to the day’s major supporter, Warburton and Yarra Junction Bendigo Bank for allowing such a community-friendly event to be put on at no cost to the public.

“They are such great supporters of the community and returning earnings back to benefit not-for-profit groups in their endeavours to improve locals lives,” she said.

The event will be held in the Millgrove Memorial Park and the CFA station from 10am until

COMMUNITY DIARY

3pm. Free parking can be accessed at the Millwarra Primary School and at the Millgrove Recreation Reserve located on Cavanagh Road. MRAG hopes that the community can enjoy

the wide range of activities being provided whilst at the same time learning important information about resilience and being prepared for any emergency situation.

Book swap popular

By Callum Ludwig

The bookshelves of the Seville Book Swap are still strongly stocked years on from their start during the Covid lockdowns.

The book swap provides the perfect place for community members to find a new read in exchange for one they’ve read themselves.

Patricia Ray started the swapping system shortly before one of the last lockdowns in Victoria and said they couldn’t get to the library at that stage.

“There were a couple of little bookshelves around, including one up in Wandin and I thought we needed one in Seville and I thought the best place would be outside the post office so I asked them and they agreed and thought it was a good idea,” she said.

“It started off with a very small, very old and decrepit bookcase that I had, then someone else brought down a bigger one and then a third one appeared,”

“Without a library, I suddenly ran out of books and I think a lot of people were in that position too.”

The book swap can be found between the Aldi and the post office in Seville, with signs taped above outlining the few conditions for leaving books there.

Ms Ray said it’s good for people to have somewhere to go and just find some interesting fiction without technical research papers or biographies and anything like that.

“I just picked up and it was one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and there was another one, a Booker Prize winner that I can’t remember the name of, but there’s been so many interesting books down there,” she said.

The only rules for the Seville book swap aretomakesuretoonlyleavebooksthatare in good condition and not to leave items or types of books such as DVDs, magazines, recipe books, school textbooks, technical books, handicraft or children’s toys.

UYCE Community Grants applications open

Last financial year UYCE / Community Banks Warburton & Yarra Junction funded 37 worthy projects through their Community Grants program, returning $144,185 back to the Upper Yarra Community.

UYCE are already seeing the benefits with some already completed and in place, and most on track for delivery by 31 December 2024.

Applications are now open for projects the community are looking to deliver from 01 January 2025 onwards.

Project proposals need to be within or service our Upper Yarra region as defined by towns with postcodes 3799 and 3797.

Eligibility Criteria applies so refer to the Grant Program Guidelines and Quick Reference Checklist available on the website upperyarra. net.au.

To apply, visit: upperyarra.net.au/community-investment

For any queries, email admin@upperyarra. net.au.

Applications are open until midnight Friday 25 October 2024

If your community group, club, or organisation has a wish list project then a community grant could be just the helping hand you need to make it a reality.

Council elections ballot packs mailed

Voters enrolled in Yarra Ranges Shire Council should check the mail for their ballot packs.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel is encouraging people to vote as early as possible.

“This election is postal, so it’s important to complete and return your ballot material as soon as possible to make sure your vote counts,” Mr Bluemmel said.

Ballot material must be in the mail or delivered to the election office at Silvan Public Hall, 271 Monbulk Road, Silvan by 6pm Friday 25 October.

Voters who haven’t received their ballot pack by Tuesday 15 October should go to vec.vic.gov. au to complete an online replacement ballot pack form.

Candidates who have nominated for the election are listed in the ballot packs and on the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) website at vec.vic.gov.au If candidates have provided them, there will also be candidate photos and statements in the packs, and answers to the candidate questionnaire online.

Voting is compulsory for all voters who were enrolled for this election at 4pm Wednesday 7 August. Voters who don’t vote may be fined.

Melbourne Water’s Liveable

Communities Liveable Waterways (LCLW) grant program open for applications

The Liveable Communities Liveable Waterways (LCLW) grant program is open for applications to new participants throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region, which includes the Werribee, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Dandenong, and Westernport catchments.

By replanting vegetation, controlling weeds, and putting in fencing to exclude livestock, our streamside landholders make an invaluable contribution to preserving the ecological balance of our waterways.

Works to protect headwater streams and small rural creeks support the ecology of the waterway’s by protecting the waterbugs that feed the smaller fish and support bigger fish further downstream. Works to restore native vegetation also supports habitat and food for native animals and improves the stability of waterway embankments.

Learn more about LCLW and apply at: melbournewater.com.au/services/grants/liveablecommunities-liveable-waterways-program

The Seville Book Swap. (Stewart Chambers: 434205)

Community members are once again invited to the Millgrove Open Day. (Supplied)

CFA and SES will be attending to help residents prepare for emergencies. The Dreaming Space will be returning to entertain attendees on the day.

WOORI PRIMARY CELEBRATES 150

150 years and counting

In 1874 only 20 years after the Eureka Stockade, a school was born in the beautiful hamlet of Woori Yallock. Described as one of the most beautiful districts with beautiful views, rich soil, hunting, fishing and lots of running creeks. Woori Yallock was perfectly named by the Wurundjeri people with its meaning being, running creek.

The first school, number 1259 was born in a tent and things didn’t start that well with the school unable to attract a teacher in 1873. But in 1874 the first teacher/principal was Mr O’Halloran. The school had 21 pupils when it began. Mr O’Halloran struggled as anyone would with the weather extremes and teaching in a tent. He resigned due to the poor conditions in 1875. The school did however, continue on and in 1877 a portable building with teachers’ quarters was erected. The early school had between 20 and 30 students for a long period of time.

The railway came through the Valley in 1901, which opened Woori Yallock up to more trade, particularly timber. That brought more people to the region and the school grew in size. At this time the school had between 30 and 40 pupils. The biggest issue of the day was the creek as there was no bridge. There were days that students who lived on the Seville side of the creek could not attend school because it was too treacherous to cross the creek.

In 1914 the school was given 500 pounds for the erection of a new school building. There was discussion at this time to move the school closer to the railway station however, it was finally decided to leave the school at its original site as it was more central. The official opening of the new school was a very special occasion in the district and a concert and dance was held at the school.

In 1974 the school had its centenary which was celebrated over three days. Farms were being subdivided to provide more housing which meant the school continued to grow in terms of enrolments.

In the early 1980s, the school lobbied for a new school to be built as the school on Farmhouse Road was simply not big enough to handle the enrolments. In 1983 the school had 230 students attending. The government approved the building of the new school and also purchased land on Healesville Road to build the new school. The school continued to grow in the 80s and the 90s with younger families moving out to the Valley. There was a decline in the late 2000’s. In 2011, the school had 160 students. A new dynamic Principal, Danny Hyndman took over, and the school

went from strength to strength with increased outcomes which brought more numbers. In 2016 the school was nominated in the state education awards for ‘Outstanding School Advancement’.

In 2017 the school started lobbying for a new building. The Honourable James Merlino announced in the 2019 state budget that the school would receive 10.6 million to upgrade the building that was built in 1984.

150 years have gone by since Michael O’Halloran packed his bags and became the first official teacher at Woori Yallock Primary School.

From 1874 to 2024, 150 years of educating thousands of students, the school has of course had its trials and tribulations but many triumphs along the way. The school continues to serve the community, which is proud of their local school – to guide and teach children and to establish strong friendships and relationships. The school has become very popular in the Valley with its excellent reputation and is now easily the largest primary school in the district with 415 students currently enrolled.

Join Woori Yallock Primary School for its 150 year celebration. (Supplied)

The school in 2024 is officially opening a new building to service its growing student population. (Supplied)

A school photo from about 1911. (Supplied)

Citizen science to the fore

By Tanya Steele

The people of Yarra Ranges jumped on board for the Biodiversity Blitz in September making a huge contribution to citizen science.

With over 13,000 contributions to iNaturalist the community has displayed its love of all things nature and topped the list of councils who participated.

Yarra Ranges Acting CEO, Hjalmar Philipp said the Yarra Ranges community embraced citizen science by contributing a total of 13,145 flora, fauna and fungi sightings.

“The observations made by 397 people may go on to become data for researchers and scientists working to better understand and protect nature,” he said.

Yarra Ranges joined other councils across Victoria including Baw Baw, Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Knox, Latrobe, Maroondah, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik and the City of Yarra to log flora and species in their areas over a 30 day period.

The collaborative cross-council project aims to document species across urban and peri-urban areas.

Yarra Ranges lead this year with a total of 1,626 species followed by Frankston with 1,161 species and Nillumbik with 1,117 species.

A beautiful orchid topped the list of flora contributions in Yarra Ranges.

The Mountain Greenhood had a total of 106 observations and the orchid is a species endemic across south-eastern Australia.

For fauna, the Crimson Rosella bird was not far behind with 101 observations made.

Mr Philipp said the range of observations submitted included plants, insects, fungi, mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, arachnids and more.

“Special sightings included a pair of koalas in the Yarra Valley, a powerful owl, evidence of

yellow-bellied gliders, birds of prey and several lyrebirds,” he said.

The Yarra Ranges council runs an ongoing iNaturalist project called the Yarra Ranges Nature Project.

Mr Phillip said it collates all observations contributed within the municipality at any time by nature enthusiasts.

“To date, 282,741 observations of 6,694 species have been logged in the Yarra Ranges area,”

he said.

People can check out the iNaturalist website and see what has been logged in their area at: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/biodiversity-blitz-2024-melbourne

Prostate cancer support groups prove invaluable

Prostate cancer is a major threat to the health of Australian men. Nationally it’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with more than 70 men diagnosed a day, and over the next five years the number of men living beyond a diagnosis will surpass 300,000.

With so many long-term survivors and a low rate of death, Australia ranks at the top of the international leaderboard. When it comes to support, however, Australia performs poorly.

In contrast to Australia’s vibrant breast cancer movement, uptake of support for men with prostate cancer has lagged, and men often face their diagnosis alone. Further compounding this isolation, few clinicians refer men to prostate cancer support groups, wrongly assuming men prefer to handle their problems on their own.

All that is set to change dramatically, thanks to the efforts of a growing movement of Prostate Cancer support groups Australia-wide.

There are around 130 support groups nationwide who are affiliated with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), including the Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group. All are run by volunteers, the majority being men and their partners who have been directly impacted by the disease.

In Victoria there are around 30 support groups who have recently formed the Victorian Council of Prostate Cancer Support Groups.

The new Victorian Council are currently working with PCFA on bold plans to raise awareness of the network’s existence, developing an iconic Blue Man campaign to help spread the word.

One of their aims is to raise awareness that the Groups exist as a valuable resource for men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Recently elected Chairman of this new Council, Support Group Convenor and prostate cancer survivor, Peter Gebert, said times are changing.

“Support groups provide men and their families with valuable information and understanding about living with prostate cancer. It’s the kind of advice you can only get from someone who has been through the disease and is qualitatively different to what a doctor or specialist

Prostate cancer support groups have been proven to be an important

might tell you.”

While more than 25,000 Australian men are newly diagnosed each year, and 250,000 Australian men are alive today after a diagnosis, only a fraction of this number ever connect with a support group for help in adjusting to life after a diagnosis.

The statistics are staggering – at least one in three men with prostate cancer will experience clinically significant distress, around one in five

will experience anxiety and depression, and high numbers of men will have lower life satisfaction up to 10 years after their diagnosis and initial treatment.

Currently, a startling 95 per cent of newly diagnosed men in Australia are currently missing out on a valuable, free service that might make a real difference in their life.

Many men and their loved ones are looking for information, encouragement, inspiration,

hope for survival, or ideas about how to get the best outcome and maintain their quality of life.

These support groups are vital to overcoming isolation and neglect, creating a framework for collective action that is essential to our wellbeing and the health of our families and the community.

For more information or to find a support group, visit pcfa.org.au/support/list-of-supportgroups or phone the PCFA on 1800 22 00 99.

A wedge-shaped beetle submitted by user Reiner Richter. (Creative Commons)

A fan-tailed cuckoo in the Healesville area. (Suzanne Burville)

Even a couple of koalas were spotted - user angeb24 submitted this sighting. (Creative Commons)

WARBURTON VALLEY HIRE TURNS 1

A solution for every project

Having just celebrated its first anniversary, Warburton and Valley Hire continue to expand its products and services. The shop is based in Warburton (Thomas Avenue behind the bakery) but services the whole Yarra Valley. It has a range that spans from hand-tools up to earthmoving equipment and hundreds of items in between. In addition to hiring, the shop also sells a great range of generators, pumps and other pieces of equipment that people use more frequently, justifying buying versus hiring.

Tom Stanwix has owned and operated a landscaping, excavation, earthmoving and cartage business since 2016. For much of that time he lived and worked on the Mornington Peninsula with clients spanning the peninsula, Melbourne’s bayside suburbs and beyond.

Tom and his wife Holly bought a house and moved to the Yarra Valley in 2020, still serving his customers across Melbourne. As client numbers grew in the Yarra Valley it became apparent to Tom that being able to access high quality plant hire required a trip to Lilydale or beyond. That sowed the seed for a Yarra Valley based plant hire business.

A year of planning began in 2022, the shop opened in August 2023 and now WV Hire is entering its second year. Some of Tom’s bigger trucks and excavators made way for a range of smaller equipment more suited to occasional operators, and a fleet of new gear was, and continues to be acquired.

“The great thing about hire is that a homeowner, tradie, farmer, or small business doesn’t have to hold a high-cost asset that only gets used occasionally. Instead, hire allows people to utilise high quality items only when they need them,” Tom said.

“This week alone for example we took delivery of a commercial grade $40,000 stump grinder. Not something a landscaper wants sitting around

in the shed but fantastic to have available when you need it! The same logic applies to a hundred or more items for hire.”

Tom’s wife Holly is an event florist and has been running her own floristry business for years as well. At the time WV Hire was being imagined it was clear to Holly that events could be catered for as well with a range of hire products. So, the fully integrated offering was agreed – Construction, Maintenance and Event Hire.

The website was built using that same structure and every product can now be viewed online showing images, availability and pricing with an easy online booking system – or Tom welcomes calls if people don’t feel too tech savvy.

On pricing Toms said, “From day one we wanted to be equal or better value than any option ‘down the line’. We wanted people to be able to shop locally without any premium applied. For that reason, we welcome any price comparison with any hire businesses across Melbourne. Being local we can also deliver for much lower prices than shipping something in from the eastern suburbs”.

As the business developed over the first year Tom was often asked if he or his team could do the work for customers (known in the trade as ‘wet hire’) as opposed to them hiring equipment (‘dry hire’) and doing it themselves.

Over that first year Tom has distilled the list of

tasks that WV Hire now offer as a full service, leveraging his team’s eight years of experience. The logic, Tom says, is that “an experienced operator will do a better job in less time and therefore the cost difference between a multi-day hire for an amateur versus one day of an experienced person often balances out”.

Those services now include gravel driveway revivals, excavation, augering and trenching, rock work, retaining walls, stump grinding, tractor slashing and more. Tom offers obligation free quotes on all those services and is happy to visit customers across the Valley. For hire items you can visit the shop or the website to look at the whole available range.

They might be located in Warburton but WV Hire services the entire Valley, finding the right solution for any project. (Supplied)

WV Hire has a wide offering of equipment to get large and small projects or events underway.

Comet a sight to behold

By Tanya Steele

A travelling astrophotographer from Mount Burnett Observatory (MBO) has captured an image of the bright comet which has been travelling the skies since late September.

The recent appearance of C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS in the early morning skies has had local astrophotographers happily getting up early to snap a picture.

Volunteer Outreach Coordinator at MBO Deborah Barber was recently staying out of state in West Wyalong in New South Wales when she snapped a few images of the comet.

“The location I shot from had some open spaces and a good view - even then I almost missed getting the shot,” she said.

The comet was discovered in January of 2023 and has caused much excitement amongst the astrophotography community.

Using a decent set of binoculars on a tripod, Ms Baber used an adapter that allows her to connect her mobile phone to the eyepiece.

“Honestly, anyone can do astrophotography with some simple equipment,” she said.

“This is something I show the general public as an alternative to the whizz-bang mega-expensive setups some of our other photographers have.”

“So while my images are not up there with some of the best, I like the results I get and enjoy just getting out there and giving it a try - I hope it encourages other to just get out there and have a go.”

Ms Barber came to MBO while studying astronomy at university,

“I have always loved looking to the skies and decided to learn what I was actually looking at,” she said.

“When it comes to astrophotography, I am a mega amateur and pick things up from other more experienced astrophotographers around me.”

“I also do things a little differently as I travel around in my campervan, I don’t have a lot of space.”

Ms Barber and a number of others from MBO Outreach team recently attended Starfest at the Sliding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran, NSW over the weekend of October 4 and 5.

“We had a very busy day,” said Ms Barber.

OPINION

“I

10.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to divide

By Maria Millers

To sin by silence, when we should protest, Makes cowards out of men. The human race Has climbed on protest. Had no voice been raised

Against injustice, ignorance, and lust, The inquisition yet would serve the law, And guillotines decide our least disputes.

The few who dare, must speak and speak again

To right the wrongs of many

Excerpt from Protest by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

As I write it is two days before the anniversary of the brutal Hamas attack and hostage taking of Israelis on 7 October a day etched in the minds not just Israelis but Jewish people across the world.

But for Palestinians this too was the beginning of a year of death and destruction for those civilians living in Gaza.

As a multicultural society we are home to many of those from both sides who have been affected by what has happened.

Australia prides itself on being a successful multicultural society and indeed on many levels it has been one.

But the events of the past year and the most recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East are testing the strength of our multiculturalism. And also our leaders.

The right to protest has always been the hallmark of a functioning democracy and peaceful protest should never become opportunities for political posturing and point scoring.

As Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel wrote: There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must

WOORILLA WORDS

never be a time when we fail to protest.

There have been ongoing protests from Australian Palestinians and as the anniversary of 7 October drew nearer critics raised the question of whether it is insensitive to hold vigils on a day which brings pain to a community where historical memories of past atrocities still reverberate.

At the same time we cannot ignore the pain of Palestinian Australians who have witnessed all year incredible loss of life and destruction of homes, hospitals, schools etc. in the land from which they have come and where many still have familial connections.

Much of the debate has revolved around flags. Flags can be quite divisive, often representing national identity, cultural heritage and political ideologies.

The meaning of a flag can vary significantly depending on your personal experiences and therefore can be a contentious symbol.

There has been concern that the flag of Hezbollah has appeared at Palestinian rallies, particularly since it’s a proscribed terrorist organization.

However, the decision to display the Israeli flag on the Sydney Opera House was met with mixed reactions and opinions on whether it was a mistake.

For some, it was a show of solidarity with Israel, particularly during a time of conflict.

Others viewed it as controversial, arguing that it politicized a cultural landmark and could be seen as dismissive of Palestinian perspectives or the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ultimately whether it was a mistake depends on where you stand on using public symbols which may alienate and upset other affected citizens in our multicultural society and on one’s viewpoint regarding the appropriateness of using public symbols for political statements and the broader context of the ongoing conflict.

The incident highlighted the sensitivities around national symbols and their implications in a multicultural society.

Some flags are universally reviled.

The Swastika flag is a potent symbol of hate, representing the atrocities of the Holocaust and the broader impact of Nazi ideology, making it universally condemned.

However, even flags like the Union Jack can also evoke feelings of colonialism and oppression in formerly colonized countries.

As we live on a globalized but increasingly fragile planet perhaps we should move towards an Earth Flag.

One designed by John McConnell in 1969 features a view of Earth from space, with a dark blue background representing the cosmos.

It symbolizes peace and unity among all people on the planet.

These proposals aim to foster a sense of global citizenship and awareness, encouraging people to think beyond national borders.

Of course we already have the United Nations Flag featuring a world map surrounded by olive branches, representing the nations of the world coming together to solve problems.

Regrettably they have not been able to do so. Perhaps it is poetry we should turn to in fostering a culture of respect and understanding to serve as bridges rather than barriers in a multicultural society.

In the words of poet Denise Levertov: A voice from the dark called out,

The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only the absence of war

And if despair for the world becomes too much, turn towards nature to find relief When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.  I come into the presence  of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

absolutely love volunteering at MBO. It’s an amazing association very dedicated to teaching the general public about the night sky,” she said.

The comet has been predicted to pass almost directly between Earth and the Sun on October 9 and

Afterwards, it will appear in the evening sky to the west and should be visible for a few days from October 12.

Ms Barber took the shot at around 4.50am. (Deborah Barber)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

From the president...

2024 will mark the 55th year we have hosted the Wandin Silvan Farm Field Days, marking a significant milestone achievement and a tribute to all of those involved over the course of so many years.

We continue this popular and important local community event as a not-for-profit organisation, operated by a Committee of local volunteers.

Favourably located in the heart of the renowned and beautiful Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria, the WandinSilvan Field Days are held at the picturesque Wandin East Recreation Reserve, with participants and exhibitors from several areas of Australia, both regional and interstate.

We endeavour to maintain our very niche ‘Horticultural and Farm Machinery’ theme, actively encouraging the involvement of all exhibitors, and particularly those who can endorse our theme.

Our popular Field Days provide the opportunity for visitors to see the latest in farm machinery, technology and related services, along with the chance to catch up and network with others in the industry and local area.

The price and quality of machinery and equipment can be compared at the one location, with patrons able to have face to face contact with dealers and suppliers.

Special attractions this year include Beloka Kelpie Working Dogs display, Chainsaw Sculptor, Paul Stafford, Heritage Draught Horse dem-

onstration, “On the Move’ Mobile Animal Farm, a working Blacksmith demo and display of machinery from yesteryear by the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation society.

Victoria Police Farm Crime Division will be present, along with representatives from several of our local CFA groups.

The ‘Information & Lifestyle’ Pavilion, complimented by the General Interest Alley, enables us to host a wide number of special interest exhibitors selling such as regional food & wine, beer, Gin distillery, Safety Wear, homecrafts, nursery produce, clothing and jewellery just to name a few.

With such a large variety of exhibitors, something for everyone.

I look forward to welcoming you all to Wandin and hope that you will enjoy your time at the 55th Annual 2024 Wandin Silvan Field Days.

Brad Finger, President

Wandin Silvan Field Days president Brad Finger. (File)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024 Prevention of farm crime

By Mikayla van Loon

The prevention of farm crime and related incidents will be a key feature at the Wandin Silvan Field Days, with members from various police branches attending to help guide the farming community in this space.

The Farm Crime Coordination Unit, Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit, Proactive Police Unit and the District Firearms Officer will be represented at the event on 11 and 12 October to raise awareness and answer questions the farming and agricultural community might have.

“Each year, police participate in field days and farming expos across the state to strengthen ties with the farming community and raise awareness about farm crime prevention,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Acknowledging that farm crime can be devas-

tating for farmers and their livelihoods, Victoria Police is committed to reducing and addressing this kind of crime throughout regional Victoria.

“In the past year, we’ve seen a number of crimes committed on farming properties where livestock and incorrectly stored firearms have been stolen,” the spokesperson said.

“Given that many of these crimes are opportunistic, we encourage farmers to remain vigilant about farm security, regularly counting stock and promptly sharing any relevant CCTV footage with police.”

The spokesperson said information shared at Wandin Silvan Field Days would include the preventing of farm machinery and equipment theft, livestock and stockyard security and shed and garage security but also what to do in the occurrence of theft or crime.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of

timely reporting when it comes to investigating farm crime,” they said.

“Stolen livestock, for example, could be transported across the country within days, making it challenging for police to respond effectively if there’s a delay in reporting.

“Farm Crime Liaison Officers provide a coordinated response by tracking incidents, analysing crime trends, developing intelligence, and working closely with local police to combat farm crime.”

Victoria Police have over 70 Farm Crime Liaison Officers stationed in various regional areas to ensure local police are investigating local crimes, especially with a knowledge of farming and the issues that might occur in this setting.

Engage with your local police and farm crime representatives at this year’s Wandin Silvan Field Days.

Scenes of Wandin Silvan Field Days through the years

With the 2024 Wandin Silvan Field Days event on the horizon, take a look at the offerings of year’s past in the lead-up to this year’s event.

Taking place over Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October, Wandin Silvan Field Days will bring together agricultural exhibitors from near and far to show off their wares and services.

Connect and engage with local police at this year’s Wandin Silvan Field Days on 11 and 12 October. (File: 366944)

The weather hasn’t always been on the side of the Wandin Silvan Field Days event. Irribiz will again be in attendance. (File)

Wandin Silvan Field Days will fill Wandin East Recreation Reserve with exhibitors again.

Machinery both old and new will be on display.Don Walker of Lilydale with his Ronaldson Bros and Tippett machine.

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

See the Superaxe difference

North East Victorian manufacturing company

Whitlands Engineering is celebrating its 31st year of business throughout 2024 – marking over three decades of continuous growth despite the challenges facing regional business.

The company designs and manufactures Australasia’s leading brands of log splitters and firewood processors – Superaxe and Rex. Beginning with the famed Superaxe in 1993, David Burder (now head designer and CEO) had the design ready to go but no experience running a business but persevered with remarkable success.

Through exposure at local field days, word of mouth and a truly innovative product, Whitlands Engineering expanded despite challenges from the globalization of manufacturing. The Wandin

Silvan Field Days have been an important event for the business over the years, David and the team have been attending for years - it always draws great crowds and good sales.

David is committed to employing local people and manufacturing in a regional area. Despite the temptation for cheaper production overseas, this decision has now become the cornerstone of the company philosophy and is fundamental to its success, longevity and reputation. David says ‘local manufacturing keeps money in the local economy, supports our employees and their families and most importantly keeps integrity in the manufacturing process. The imported machines may be cheaper, but they certainly don’t last very long’.

The other ingredient in their success is innovative design and benchmark manufacturing standards. They’re truly made to last. Beyond that, ergonomic design is key, making the backbreaking task of splitting wood simple and comfortable – the operator always has a straight back and lifting is eliminated with hydraulic log lifters fitted as standard. The Superaxe has certainly proven itself over 30 years as Australia’s leading log splitter, setting new standards in performance, design and safety innovation.

The Superaxe range now includes three models. All models feature the patented sliding blade, ergonomic bench height, the highest quality power packs (Honda is fitted standard), log lifter and heavy-duty construction – all covered by two-

year warranty. The WS150 is the smaller model, with options for a 6 or 9hp engine, a cable and pulley operated log lifter, double handed controls and a large bench. This model is ideal for farms but is also the machine of choice for Australian and New Zealand hire companies. The WS3150 is a step up – with a 9 or 13hp engine option (nine and seven second cycle time respectively), larger bench and hydraulic log lifter. It can be fitted with a three-meter fold out elevator for stockpiling. The WS4150 is the largest and fastest machine, fitted standard with an 18hp Vanguard. Options on this machine include various elevators or alternate blade configurations.

For more information, free call 1800 702 701 or visit the website superaxe.com.au

WHITLANDS ENGINEERING: INDUSTRY LEADERS IN FIREWOOD MACHINERY

Whitlands Engineering staff celebrating 30 years of the manufacturing company. (Supplied)

The WS3150 Superaxe.

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

Keeping the Valley rolling

For over three decades, Fast Freddie’s Tyre Service has been the cornerstone of automotive care in Healesville and the broader Yarra Valley region. Operating from their purpose-built facility on Hunter Road, this family-owned and operated business has earned a reputation for excellence in all things tyres - from everyday passenger vehicles to heavy-duty earthmoving equipment.

A Legacy of Service Excellence

What started in 1989 has grown into a comprehensive tyre service centre that caters to every conceivable need. Whether you’re driving a family sedan, navigating tough terrain in a 4x4, or operating industrial machinery, Fast Freddie’s has the expertise and inventory to keep your wheels turning smoothly.

Unmatched Product Range

Fast Freddie’s privileged position in the industry is evident in their impressive line-up of premium brands. Through preferential buying arrangements, they offer customers access to top-tier manufacturers including:

• Michelin

• Bridgestone

• BF Goodrich

• Goodyear/Dunlop

• Kumho

• Toyo

• Maxxis

• Cooper Their extensive inventory doesn’t stop at tyres. Fast Freddie’s also stocks high-quality wheels from renowned brands like Alcoa and ROH, as well as Century Batteries, truly making them a one-stop shop for all your vehicle needs.

The Fast Freddie’s Difference

What sets Fast Freddie’s apart isn’t just their comprehensive product range - it’s their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Their promise to customers includes:

• Expert advice from experienced professionals

• High-level workmanship on every job

• Competitive pricing without compromising quality

• A safe, purpose-built working environment

• The team at Fast Freddie’s takes pride in offering more than just products - they provide peace of mind. Their decades of experience ensure that customers receive accurate advice and reliable service, all delivered with the personal touch that only a family-owned business can provide.

As Fast Freddie’s Tyre Service looks toward the future, their commitment to serving the Yarra Valley community remains stronger than ever. With a legacy built on trust, expertise, and quality service, they’re not just selling tyres - they’re keeping the region moving forward, one wheel at a time.

Fast Freddie’s has been supporting Healesville in all automotive care needs since 1989. (Supplied)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

heating solutions with Solahart Eastern Ranges. Solahart Eastern Ranges is proud to be an approved provider for the Solar Victoria Residential Electrification Grants Program - an initiative designed to drive Victoria’s transition to fully electric homes.

Through Solar Victoria’s Residential Electrification Grants Program, eligible* Victorian homeowners can now save $1000 when installing a Solahart PowerStore and other energy-efficient Solahart hot water systems. You can also enjoy $1400 off a new solar PV system. That’s up to $2400 in savings!

How it works:

1.Choose Your system: Solahart Eastern Ranges offers a wide range of solar panel and hot water system options to suit your specific energy needs.

2.Apply: Our team will guide you through the simple application process for the Solar Victoria Residential Electrification Grants.

3.Enjoy savings: Once approved, you’ll receive substantial funding to offset the upfront costs of your new solar and hot water system. Which products are eligible?

Now that the Solahart Smart Home Energy Project Plan is included in Solar Victoria’s Residential Electrification Grants Program, you will not only save money upfront on the following Solahart products, but see ongoing savings on your energy bills – helping to reduce the payback time on your solar investment.

The Solahart PowerStore and Solahart Atmos Frost Heat Pumps ensure a rebate of $1000, while the Solahart Solar Panel (PV) Systems have a rebate of $1400.

Supporting Victoria’s Electrification Journey

This project is funded by the Victorian Government through Solar Victoria’s Residential Electrification Grants Program. This initiative is key to supporting the state’s electrification goals. By choosing Solahart Eastern Ranges as your provider, you’re not only benefiting from immediate cost savings but also contributing to a greener,

more energy-efficient future for all Victorians. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to save thousands on your energy bills! Contact Solahart Eastern Ranges today to schedule your free consultation and take advantage of the Solar Victoria Residential Electrification Grants.

To learn more, contact Solahart Eastern Ranges on 03 9131 8677 or via email solahart@victoriansolar.com.

*Solahart Eastern Ranges is a proud participant in the Solar Victoria Residential Electrification Grants Program. Eligibility criteria applies and grant amounts may vary. Please contact us for more details.

Solahart panels can be discrete while adding an effective energy saving system to your home. (Supplied)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

For all your water solutions

Irribiz is a leading Australian-owned water solutions business, with branches across five states of Australia.

The company is excited to announce that it has moved the Mount Evelyn branch to Silvan and now has better facilities to showcase their products and services.

Headquartered in Griffith NSW, Irribiz also has branches and offices in Robinvale, Virginia, Adelaide, Beerwah, Launceston and Sydney. Irribiz also has an online store allowing people

anywhere in Australia to purchase products.

The Silvan branch manager, Justyn Flynn, has many years of industry experience. He is backed by Lachlan Baxter who joined the team in February 2024.

You can now find the Irribiz branch in Silvan at 249 – 251 Monbulk Road.

With a focus on providing solutions in efficient water delivery and management across residential, open field irrigation and commercial

greenhouses, the team of dedicated staff work across a range of disciplines including sales, design, installation, project management, retail and online sales, service and maintenance.

Irribiz solutions help their customers conserve, reuse, and recycle water in the most efficient and sustainable way.

“Irribiz are committed to innovation, excellence, and customer satisfaction, and we work closely with our customers to understand their

water challenges and opportunities and provide them with the best solutions possible to meet their goals and needs,” Justyn Flynn commented.

“Irribiz is more than just a water solutions provider, we are our customers’ trusted water partner.”

Come say hi to Justyn and Irribiz staff from across Australia at the Wandin Silvan Field Days, 11 to 12 October 2024.

They look forward to seeing you there!

Irribiz has relocated to Silvan in bigger and better facilities to best service their customers. (Supplied)

A recent Irribiz project.

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2024

Bobcat forklifts launch in Australia

Bobcat created the first compact loader in 1958, launching an entire industry. Today, Bobcat equipment, including forklifts, continues to break down barriers to productivity and profit by inventing new ways to tackle challenging work.

For the first time in company history Bobcat Forklifts are now available in Australia and exclusively distributed by Lift Equipt Pty Ltd in partnership with our trusted dealer network such as Heavylift Forklifts in Bayswater Victoria. Lift Equipt

As a proudly Australian-owned and family-operated business, Lift Equipt stands at the forefront of the materials-handling equipment industry. With over 20 years of dedicated service, we have built enduring relationships with some of Australia’s

largest companies, earning their trust for all their forklift, telehandler, and access equipment needs.

With offices in Perth, Karratha and Victoria, Lift Equipt has firmly established itself as Australia’s go-to materials handling and equipment sales service provide What sets us apart

Family Values. Lift Equipt is more than just a business, it’s a family. Our close-knit team is driven by values of trust, respect, and integrity, which are deeply ingrained in every aspect of our operations.

Industry Expertise. With two decades of handson experience, we’ve mastered the art of materials handling.

Service Excellence. Our dedication to service excellence is unwavering. From initial consultation to project completion, Lift Equipt is your part-

Bobcat created the first compact loader in 1958, launching an entire industry. Today Bobcat equipment, including forklifts continues to break down barriers to productivity and profit by inventing new ways to tackle challenging work.

For the first time in company history Bobcat Forklifts are now available in Australia and exclusively distributed by Lift Equipt Pty Ltd in partnership with our trusted dealer network such as Heavylift Forklifts in Bayswater. Industry leading 4000 Hour or 4 year warranty

ner in success.

Bobcat Difference

Lift Equipt is the national distributor for Bobcat Materials Handling. Bobcat’s products are available in numerous countries, supported by a robust network of dealers ensuring unmatched service and support.

In Australia, we have depots across the country and offices located in Karratha, Perth, and Victoria. Versatile Solutions. Bobcat offers a comprehensive suite of material handling solutions designed to meet diverse industry needs, from electric and diesel forklifts to LPG counterbalance forklifts and specialised warehouse equipment.

Legendary Performance

With our commitment to continuous improvement and cutting-edge technology, Bobcat em-

powers businesses to achieve more with versatile, reliable, and high-performance equipment.

Legendary safety and reliability

Standard features such as:

• Seatbelt interlock

• Operator Sensing System

• Automatic Speed Control on cornering

• Deluxe Suspension Seat,

• Sideshift and Fork Positioner

• Mast and Tilt Interlock to prevent overloading.

Legendary Warranty

Our unmatched warranties include 4,000 hours or four years as standard for material handling equipment and up to 10 years for Lithium Battery solutions.

Located in Bayswater, Lift Equipt is a proudly Australian-owned and family-operated business. (Supplied)

Specialising in materials-handling equipment like forklifts, Lift Equipt finds the right product to suit every business.

Roads still neglected

Last week, our community confronted another dreadful day of serious road trauma on local roads.

Condolences to the family of the man who lost his life in Yellingbo.

My thoughts are also with families involved in another serious crash on Warburton Highway Seville East.

I thank, and am thinking of, all emergency first responders who attended both accidents.

Police, local CFA Brigades, Lilydale SES and ambulance paramedics experience traumatic scenes at accidents firsthand but do everything they can to help save lives, console residents, and clean-up in the aftermath.

I thank our emergency services for their tireless efforts, and I valued attending both Yarra Ranges Police Road Safety Forum and Yarra Valley Teenage Road Information Program (TRIP), with stark reminders of the ripple effect of road trauma.

Sadly, severe and traumatic accidents on Yarra Valley roads are not a new phenomenon. It’s not good enough for the government to merely blame driver behaviour.

Certainly, this is a factor, and drivers must be careful, vigilant, and drive to road rules.

But a major factor, too, is inadequate road infrastructure, and our community is fed-up with Yarra Valley roads being neglected.

For example, the known dangerous stretch of Warburton Highway Seville East between Sunnyside and Peters Roads with a double crest, side roads, turning traffic, merging lanes, and school bus stops, is continually ignored by the Victorian Government despite consistent community campaigning, my raising the matter in Parliament repeatedly, and accident data demonstrating an upgrade could reduce road trauma risk.

Dangerous intersections, potholes, roadside camber issues and degradation, and a lack of safe

CARTOON

From

my From my desk

Bridget Vallence Evelyn MP

turning lanes, expose infrastructure no longer fitfor-purpose.

The Labor Government will never admit its harsh budget cuts have severely stifled its ability to upgrade and fix roads, or that Yarra Valley roads are continually overlooked.

Last week saw the extraordinary revelation, resulting from a Victorian Liberals Nationals Freedom of Information request, of the Victorian Labor Government disgracefully siphoning off $1.6 million of federal Black Spot Program funding to pay bureaucrats and project overruns instead of spending it on roads.

Further, the Allan Government blames the condition of Victoria’s roads on “repeated flooding”, but roads are crumbling due to funding cuts and neglect.

Today’s roads maintenance budget is 16 percent lower than in 2020.

Now, the Labor Government plans to sell-off its government-owned road repairer and disband Rural Roads Victoria, as state debt soars to $188 billion.

After $41 billion cost blowouts on inner-city ‘Big Build’ projects, Yarra Valley roads and our community are paying the price for Labor’s financial incompetence.

No more neglect.

It’s time the government properly funds road safety upgrades in the Yarra Valley.

1812 Theatre

The Laramie Project

The Bakery @1812 Theatre was the venue for The Laramie Project.

Musical Joker a success

Joker: Folie A Deux

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga and Brendan Gleeson

Rated M 4/5

In Joker: Folie A Deux, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), aka Joker, awaits trial for his crimes, and meets a young fan named Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) in Arkham Asylum.

Folie A Deux makes Arthur happier, more vulnerable and more sympathetic, and director Todd Philips delivers some clever, cynical commentary on Joker and the viewer response.

As in the first film, Arthur becomes bolder and more energised as the trial looms and he embraces his Joker persona, but his lawyer Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), who argues a multiple personality defence, symbolises viewers who adamantly argued that Arthur isn’t the Joker.

Lady Gaga is quietly intense as Lee, slays during the musical numbers and represents obsessed fans who miss the point and idolise terrible people.

The examination of trauma and mental illness becomes obfuscating noise, almost poking fun at people psychoanalysing Arthur in the first film.

While I agree with the critical consensus that Joker 2’s plot is somewhat thin, I differ in that I enjoyed the musical numbers.

Most of them are rough and unrefined, which fits the grim setting.

The more polished, elaborately-staged musical sequences reflect Arthur and Lee’s dreams and idealised selves, with one amusingly framing them like Sonny and Cher.

Brendan Gleeson is volatile and imposing as Arkham chief guard Jackie, the film is gloomy but beautifully-shot, and Hildur Guðnadóttir once again stuns with the score, often adding an eerie edge to classic feel-good songs.

Joker: Folie A Deux isn’t as cohesive as the first film, and some viewers will chafe at the intense self-reflection and musical numbers, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Philips dissect his own work and offer a dark but surprisingly fun character study on how the idea of the Joker takes hold.

-

Seth Lukas Hynes

A portrait of WW2

Echoes of War, by Australian author Tania Blanchard, is set in Calabria in Southern Italy, at the “toe” of the country’s boot-shaped peninsula.

The region is agriculturally rich and devoutly religious. It is also fiercely independent, due to neglect by those in Rome who have long considered the region to be backward and poor.

As the first-person narrator Giulia has learned: “There were many ways to treat illness, but if a patient didn’t believe in what you were doing, it was much harder – if not impossible – to heal them.”

Giulia’s dream is to become a healer like her beloved Nonna, but her father’s wishes – that she gets married and settles down – cannot be disobeyed.

Thus married at the age of 17 to a man of her father’s choosing, Giulia’s life is shadowed by other upheavals, from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis to Mussolini’s fascism and Italy’s brutal conquest of Abyssinia in 1935.Not to mention the imminent war that will turn the whole world upside down.

Further complicating the survival of Giulia’s farming community are the increasingly intolerable demands of corrupt government officials. Then there are the ‘Ndrangheta, the powerful organised crime group “more secretive and less well-known than the Sicilian Mafia, but remained a part of the everyday fabric in Calabria”.

In Giulia’s words: “The ‘Ndrangheta’s strict code of honour, loyalty and secrecy made them both a powerful ally and a vengeful enemy. They often gave assistance to communities in trouble... But with every favour afforded, there was an obligation. My parents always told us to stay away from the ‘Ndrangheta, no

Italy PASSION FOR PROSE

matter what they did for the community. Silence was golden.”

Meanwhile, as the Allied powers and Hitler’s Germany fight for dominance over Italy, Giulia becomes involved in the provision of medical assistance in wardamaged towns and the battle zones of both partisan and military forces. It is through her eyes that we observe a country embroiled in war – the brutal destruction and killing, the senseless suffering and death, the reduction of men, women and children to animals whose instinct is to survive at whatever cost.

This is a powerful story sustained by strong female characters, women who emerge from the shackles of traditions to challenge their assigned status within family and community and to strive, with courage and determination, towards more independent futures.

The women in Qiulia’s life, from her grandmother, mother and aunt to her sisters, friends and mentors, are her role models. Together, they uphold a world full of love, compassion and mutual support.

A book full of universal themes, Echoes of War is inspired by the author’s family history. Highly recommended.

Local talent shines in challenging production Kemp’s

A story of real life.

In 1998 a gay man, Matthew Sheppard was tied to a fence and savagely beaten.

Eventually he died of this attack.

The play is where a theatre company went to Laramie and interviewed the residents, media releases and trial judgements.

1812 Theatre’s production had eight actors who handled many roles of the townspeople, judge, police, reporters and TV crews.

Basic sets, three background paintings showing the country around Wyoming, four chairs each side of the stage plus a table brought in when required.

The actors, Daniel Parton, Pia Magonov, Jennifer Rose, Tony Clayton, Josh Hayes, Nathan Williams, Donna Cleverley, and Emily Beggs.

A challenging choice of roles for each actor, playing many parts and giving the feelings of the characters they were portraying.

There was some difficulty in the various

voices, some were loud and clear, others were rather hard to hear.

Accents ranged from genuine to Australian.

But it is difficult to keep an accent up for a long play.

There were two intervals, making a long evening.

But the overall standard is what one would expect form the 1812.

And the players certainly did not let the standard drop.

All in all a good production and I reiterate not an easy task to play so many characters.

The Round Theatre

Gypsy

Baby Jane and Louise, the two daughters of rose Hovick play the vaudeville circuit around the

USA in the early 1920s. Rose, the archetype of a stage mother is aggressive and domineering, pushing her children to perform.

While Jane is an extraverted, talented child stare, the oldest girl, Louise, is shy. Their act has one song May We Entertain You, with June always as centrepiece and Louise in the background. Rose as big plans for the girls but encounters setbacks when her father refuses to lend her money for those dreams. But the girls mature, June elopes with Tulsa who has been working with the act.

Rose works with Louise who becomes Gypsy Rose Lee.

• Season opens October 11.

• Bookings 9262 555.

Book review of Echoes of War by Tania Blanchard

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

All-female dental clinic

Valley Dental Family Clinic is an all female clinic based in Lilydale.

The clinic is owned by Dr Rupali Prabhu and Dr Sonali Prabhu.

Rupali graduated from dental school in 1999. She has worked in private and public community clinics both in, and around Melbourne. She has also lived out of the city, spending a period of time in Benalla in rural Victoria.

Rupali is passionate about providing high quality dental care and takes pleasure in sharing a story and a laugh with her patients. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry and always strives to provide dental treatment in a relaxing and comfortable environment.

Rupali believes her practice and approach to dentistry creates an experience that will change your notion of what a trip to the dentist is. Outside of work she loves to spend time with family and her young children, sharing her passion for reading and traveling with them at every opportunity.

Sonali graduated from dental school in 2003. She has worked as a dentist in both community and private practices. She has also worked various roles within the dental industry. Sonali believes that your mouth is the gateway to better wellbeing, and that a great healthy smile will

leave a great lasting impression on people.

Sonali loves interacting with patients and ensuring they are comfortable and at-ease. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry. She particularly loves working with older clients. In her spare time, she loves cooking delicious Indian dishes and enjoying time with her family and friends.

The third dentist, , joined the Valley Dental team 2 years ago and has been an integral part of the team ever since. With over 10 years of experience, Merhaz believes that world class dentistry should be delivered to each and every patient. Mehraz has a keen interest in aesthetic dentistry and is studying a certificate of Cosmetic Dentistry to introduce lip and cheek fillers to the clinic for our Valley Dental patients.

Rupali said being an all female team patients were treated with care and compassion.

“Staff are very approachable and compassionate making everyone feel at ease coming to the dentist,“ she said.

The clinic offers a wide range of dental services including general dentistry, fillings, crowns, bridges and veneers.

Take advantage of current specials including a check-up, clean and 2 x-rays for $197, and inchair whitening $450.

Dr Rupali Prabhu, Starry, Rachael, Abbey, Mehraz and Dr Sonali Prabhu look forward to seeing you in the clinic. (Supplied)

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

ACROSS

1 Ordering off the menu (1,2,5)

5 Southern European country (6)

10 Happen (5)

11 Not inspected (9)

12 Computer network linking newsgroups (6)

13 Benchwarmer (7)

14 Accumulated (8)

15 Sharp cutting utensils (6)

18 Sick (6)

20 Mixture (8)

21 Trap, catch (7)

24 Creations (6)

27 Assailant (9)

28 US city (5)

29 Tips (6)

30 Hailing from Tyrol (8)

DOWN

1 On (4)

2 Inherited from one’s family (9)

3 Biblical character (5)

4 Members of a trust (8)

6 1970s band, – Lake and Palmer (7)

7 Bread-maker (5)

8 Spoke to (9)

9 Cicatrice (4)

14 Neighbour of Mexico (9)

16 Grant (9)

17 North Italian region (8)

19 Tidiest (7)

22 Change smoothly from one section to another (5)

23 Cardinal direction (4)

25 Ladies’ man (5)

26 Conceal (4)

EXECUTIVE STYLE LUXURY LIVING IN THE YARRA VALLEY

LUXURY LIVING IN THE YARRA VALLEY

WELCOME to this stunning, modern, two storey home that epitomizes executive living, an absolute gem for the buyer looking for a home exuding style and luxury in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

Nestled in a very private location, standing majestically on well over 1 acre, this home is just a few years young and has been beautifully designed throughout.

Step inside to discover an open plan kitchen featuring sleek, seamless cabinetry, high quality appliances, and a spacious walk in pantry. This kitchen is not just for cooking; it’s the heart of the home, where entertaining takes centre stage. The adjoining dining and living areas are warmed by a built in wood fire, creating a cozy ambiance perfect for gatherings. Floor to ceiling windows draped in flowing curtains frame breathtaking mountain views, adding an element of romance to every occasion.

As you ascend the striking catwalk to the master suite, you’ll feel as though you’ve entered a gallery exuding style and flair.

The master bedroom is truly outstanding, offering generous space and an inviting feeling

like no other.

The luxurious ensuite will make you feel like you are on a weekend away and the expansive walk in robe has a wealth of cupboard and hanging space.

Downstairs, the versatile theatre room can easily transform into another bedroom, complete with its own walk in robe, ensuring comfort and convenience for family and guests alike. An inviting entry leads from the internal garage, emphasizing practicality and easy living. Year round comforts are well and truly covered with electric zoned heating, split system, evaporative cooling and a crackling wood fire too.

Outside, you’ll be enchanted by beautifully maintained gardens and an alfresco living area, perfect for enjoying warm summer evenings or entertaining friends.

If modern, luxury living in a private slice of the Yarra Valley is your dream, this breathtaking home is waiting for you. Don’t miss the opportunity to make it yours.

Please contact Agent to arrange a Private Inspection.

FAMILY OASIS, ROOM TO GROW WITH A BEAUTIFUL CREEK IN THE BACKGROUND

NESTLED in a serene location this solid brick home with a Bal 40 fireproof building design offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature with Four Mile Creek running through your backyard. The property is fully fenced for privacy, making it a peaceful retreat.

Designed with a conventional modern layout, this home is great for buyers seeking the ease of a home where there’s nothing to do! The spacious master bedroom features a walk in robe and a full ensuite, providing a personal sanctuary for parents. Two additional bedrooms with built-in robes, along with a family bathroom, make it ideal for growing families or those looking to downsize while still accommodating guests.

The open plan kitchen is equipped with modern appliances and ample cupboard and bench space, ensuring a delightful cooking experience. The inviting living and dining areas create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxation and entertaining. Ducted heating and ducted refrigerated cooling along with double glazed windows cater for all the creature comforts.

Step outside to discover a delightful backyard filled with an assortment of fruit trees, a play area for children, and lush lawn space that transitions into a wooded area with meandering paths leading to the creek perfect for outdoor adventures.

Additional features include a lock up garage with internal access and the convenience of being within walking distance to the beautiful Lala Falls, all complemented by filtered mountain views. This home truly offers a unique blend of comfort and a gorgeous setting, making it a wonderful retreat for everyone.

MULTI-GENERATIONAL living comes to the fore here. Upstairs features 3 bedrooms including a master with renovated ensuite and walk-in-robe, 2 bathrooms, a renovated kitchen including dishwasher, open plan family room, separate cosy lounge, plus a sunroom that flows out to the undercover deck - perfect for gatherings or enjoying quiet evenings.

Completely separate, downstairs offers a large central living room, a bedroom with an attached office and a walk-in-robe. A fully equipped kitchen, a central bathroom and a second bathroom with a bath. With its own verandah and decked entertaining area, it offers the option of either self-contained accommodation or perhaps to run as a B&B (subject to council approval), the flexibility of the property is outstanding.

Practical features include a generator switch for dependable power, and three sturdy sheds that provide ample storage for all your needs. The sealed driveway is both functional and easy to maintain, adding to the home’s overall convenience.

Inside, you’ll stay comfortable throughout the year with multiple split systems, a gas fire heater, and gas ducted heating. Whether it’s a chilly winter day or a hot summer night, this home is designed to keep you cosy. Add the rural outlook in a quiet part of Emerald, what more could you want? Homes like this don’t come along often!

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&alargesecureshed

MickDolphin 0429684522

ErinDavies 0493136937

WHEELCHAIRACCESSIBLEWITHESTABLISHEDGARDENS

Discovertheperfectblendofpotentialandconvenienceinthisoriginalhome,located just ashortwalkfromMonbulk’sbustlingtowncentre.Thispropertyofferstheopportunity torenovatewhileenjoyingthecomfortofanexistingwheelchair-friendlybathroom spaciousliving& diningareas, acozywoodstovewithwaterheatingandbeautiful establishedgardens.Situatedclosetoparks,publictransportandcommunityamenities, makingthisidealfor first-homebuyers,renovatorsorinvestorsandoffersendlesspotential

MickDolphin 0429684522

AlisonBarkley 0494175410

CLOSINGDATEFOROFFERS6/11/24@4PM

Arareandamazingopportunitypresentsitself withthislightlytreed flat41acres,withclear well-maintainedareasclosetothemainroadandalsoclosetothemaintownship.With onlymetersaway froma sealedroad!Thiswouldbetheperfectplacetoestablishyour dreamhome(STCA)andenjoya privatelifestyleamongstnatureanditsbeautifulnative wildlife.Orhaveyourownprivategetawaytotakeyourfamilyandfriendswhereyoucan enjoyallkindsof adventureswithplenty of roomandbushtracksfor4WDandbikes.

MickDolphin 0429684522

STUDIOLIVINGINTHEHILLS

ErinDavies 0493136937

Designedforcomfort &modernliving,thischaracter‘A’Framerenovatedhomehas everythingyou’dwant.Setina quietsettingonapprox.823sqm& offers abedroom upstairswith aresort-styleensuite,downstairsfeaturesanopen-planliving& dining,wood heater,hydronicheating,kitchenwith aconcretebenchtop,powderroom &undercover decking.Outsidethereis aseparatestudio,pavedareas,doublecarport,sealed driveway,fullyfenced,electricfrontgateplusaccesstothepropertyisviaasealedroad.

MickDolphin 0429684522

AlisonBarkley 0494175410

CHARM AND CHARACTER IN ABUNDANCE

THIS captivating property is set to tug on your heart-strings. The character charmer is nestled amongst private cottage gardens and lovely old oaks, giving you a feeling of the old days while you sit on your shady verandah’s, sipping a cuppa and enjoying the bursts of colours surrounding you.

Inside polished timber floors, high ceilings and decorative features just start the picture of what living in this home will truly be like. A beautiful country kitchen showcases ample bench and storage, 900ml country cooker to bake those delicious cakes, dishwasher and a beautiful outlook through your casement windows, this space is divine!

The home has formal and informal living spaces, dedicated dining nook, beautiful dado panelling throughout – even into the stunning bathroom, where you will love the pedestal basin, and the bath to soak in after a day

pottering in the garden.

There are three generous and pretty bedrooms, the master has direct access to the gorgeous main bathroom and provides triple robes.

Old and new are on show with double hung and casement windows, French doors, dado panelling, corbels, high ceilings, pot belly stove gas, ducted heating, reverse cycle airconditioner, and much more.

Outside there’s a lock up workshop & double carport tucked behind a remote roller door and privacy fencing, the corner block creating a wonderful space to use and enjoy every square meter of the 693m2 block.

Ideally located just a short walk to the yummy delights of the Gladysdale Bakery or a quick drive to the local shops, schools, and the iconic Warburton Trail.

Stunning39.3AcreswithFantasticViews

PerchedaboveandoverlookingtheWooriYallocktownshipandthesurroundingYarraValleywith fantasticviewstoadmireandenjoythissensationalparceloflandof39.3acres(15.91ha)isa rare find.Quality,clearundulatingpasturewith amultitudeofpossibilities,theold 3bedroomfarmhouse andbungalow/studioareinneedofsomeloveandattentionbutoffera greatplacetostartthebig acreagelifestylethewholefamilywilllove.Substantialsheddingwith alargelockupshedandopen farmmachineryshedwithplentyofoptionsforimprovement.A greatpropertyoffering asuperb rurallifestyleandconvenientlysituatedjusta shortdistancetolocalschools,shopsandtransportand withtheWarburtontrailjustdowntheroadit’s agreatplacetobe.Acreageofthissizeandlocation closetotownisveryrareandveryhardtofindsomakethemovenow.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320 Inspection: Sat1:30-2:00pm MichaelRobinson

Nestledina quiet,quaint,countrytownandsurroundedbygloriousmountainrangesthisunique propertyofferssomethinga littledifferent.Thehomeoffers 3bedroomsandboastsallthewarmth andcharmoftheearlydaysgonebywithhighceilings,decorativecorniceandbeautiful floorboardscreating acosyhomelyambiencethroughout.Spaciousfamily/loungeareawitha woodheaterandsplitsystemplus aseparatemealsareaanda goodsizekitchenwithplentyof benchandcupboardspace.Ventureoutsidetoexplorethesurroundingswithestablished,terraced gardensand agreatsizerearyardwiththeLittleYarraattherear.Anaddedbonusof aseparate studio/bungalowidealfortheolderteenagersordependentrelativesoreven aworkfromhome office.A greatpropertyofferingplentyofoptionsandpotential.

10RiversideDrive,Warburton

4BedroomCharacterHome,LargeBlock,OppositetheYarraRiver Storybookliving,acrossfromtheYarraRiverandonly afewminutesstrollintotheheartofWarburton. Doublestoreyandcompletewith 4bedroomsand 2bathrooms.Charactersandfeaturesgalore throughoutgivethisuniquehometheadvantageabovetherest,polishedfloorboardsand sashwindows, acosywoodfireforthosechillywinternights.Gorgeousformalloungewithlarge windowslookingoutontotheestablishedcottagegarden.Super-sizedkitchen,fabulousspacefor theaccomplishedcookwithroomtomove,thefestivefeastwillbe adreamtocookup.Master bedroomwithensuiteandupstairsanother2 bedrooms,studynookandmainfamilybathroom, plentyofstorageandbonusductedvacuum.Largegaragewithinternalaccess.Plentyofspace outside,delightfulpropertyinbrilliantlocationtoenjoythedelightsofWarburton.

Here’syourchancetofinallysecureyourweekendgetawayor agreatfamilyhome,situatedin picturesqueandprivatesurroundingsona largeblockit’stheidealplacetoslowdownandenjoy therelaxedlifestyle.Thehomeoffersaflexiblefloorplanwithbedroomsspreadover 2levels,the spaciousliving/loungearealooksouttothecolourfultreedoutlook.A greatsizekitchenwithplenty ofbenchandcupboardspaceplusa separatemealsareaandformaldiningarea.Headoutside andimmerseyourselfintheoutdoorsandexploreandenjoythesurroundswithestablishedgardens andpathwaystomeanderaround,entertainallyearroundwith acoveredareaideallypositioned toenjoyandadmirethefilteredvalleyviewsandtreedbackdrop.A greatpropertythatoffersthe wholefamily agreatlifestylewithplentyofspacetoenjoy.

MAGNIFICENT LATE MID-CENTURY HOME ON LANDSCAPED GARDENS

THIS magnificent late mid-century dwelling on the cusp on Kallista township is a testament to enduring quality. Nestled onto an ultraprivate 3,287sqm (approx.) landscape with picturesque outdoor entertaining areas with bluestone walling and firepit, private creeklined pathways, and a second drive with double garage, this property epitomises the art of balanced Hills living.

Entry onto this property with a gated and sealed drive makes a lasting first impression. With a sense of grandeur and ease, this beautiful brick dwelling with double carport invites you to step inside. The progressive interior boasts heated floors and a flowing floorplan ideal for families. The entry level features 3 generous bedrooms plus 2 stylish bathrooms all with high ceilings and abundant sunlight. Family will naturally gather in the spacious lounge with gas log fire and balcony access and in the dine-in kitchen with granite benchtops and Bosch appliances including dual wall ovens for those who love to cook. On the lower level accessible via the custom curved staircase, new owners will enjoy a large second living area with bar, a cosy retreat/study space, 4th bedroom with wall-to-wall wardrobes, guest bathroom, storeroom, and cellar.

Designed for buyers who appreciate architectural integrity and crave complete comfort, this unique residence and landscape are the perfect place to call home. Prompt inspection is recommended.

• Magnificent 3,287sqm (approx.) block with dual drives culminating at a double carport and a double garage

• Late mid-century brick dwelling surrounded by lush landscaped gardens Lounge, meals area, and contemporary kitchen with heated floors

• Lower level living area and sun-filled retreat/ study space

• Beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms on both levels.

LACEY

Lloyd Frederick

12.08.1929 – 23.09.24

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his Family.

Dearly loved Husband to Josie for 72 years.

Scott, John and Vicki. Father-in-Law to Mirella, Helen, Glenn, Sara, Deena and Steve. Adored Pop and Lloydy to his Grandkids and Great-Grandkids. You will live in our hearts always. Our Hero

If you cannot attend or wish to view the livestream, please head to www.heritagefunerals.com.au/ upcoming-services Private cremation.

HERITAGE & HERITAGE FUNERALS ROB, GAVAN & JANET LILYDALE 03 9739 7799

Extra effort at club

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.V’s:

Hooooray, we had a comp this week. Six multitalented, eager girls took to the front nine with great gusto. And the most gusto belonged to Deborah Hamment, who grabbed the top prize with 17 well-compiled points. Great work, Deb. Georgie Houliet took out second place, on a countback, with 15 ‘smooth-as-saffron’ points. Well done, Ms. Houniet. There were no NTPs won. Wednesday 2 October, Stroke and the M. McGrann ‘Bag Day’ qualifier: Stroke is such a demanding comp, where one bad hole can leave you ending up in the middle of the field when you could have won. 18 con-

sistent holes is required, and with no bad hole to spoil his card, Andy Lockey took home the spoils, by posting a brilliant Nett 65. No bad holes there Andy, well done. This day’s runner-up was the recently-consistent Josh Hin, with a pleasing Nett 67. Young tyro Angus Hall came in third with a par-equalling Nett 69 ( Watch out Dad, I think you need to get out and practice if you don’t want to be overrun). Balls reached Nett 74. NTPs were taken out by Ian Garside (3rd and 9th, a warm welcome back Junior), Seth Spenceley (6th and 15th) and Dale Horrobin (12th).

Saturday 5 October, Stroke and Monthly Medal: With a medal on the line, most of the field puts

in that extra bit of effort to grab one. The extra, extra effort displayed by Peter Fox was more than enough to grab the spoils. Peter posted a very impressive Nett 66, to take home the top voucher and the Medal. Good work Foxy. Warburton Golf Club’s most-improved lady golfer Georgie Houniet grabbed the runner-up prize with a Nett 68, showing just how hard she is working on her game. Well done Georgie. Sam Dennis grabbed the third voucher with a solid Nett 69. Balls only reached down to 71 ( on a countback). The available NTPs went home with Luke Patrick (3rd), Dale Sund (2nd shot on the 6th), Noel Cross (9th), Jason Kennedy (12th) and Michael Pinkster (15th).

By Anita Prowse

Pony Club kiddos, and lets not forget the Mums as well who joined in on the games races. Then Saturday at Wesburn Park, the Upper Yarra Pony Club were lucky enough to get through the first Freshman’s day in the Spring Series without any rain, with a great turnout and a well-received ‘G’ grade starting point. The second event in this series will be on Cup Day Tuesday 5 November.

Sunday UYPC’s Riders Without Horses members got a special treat visiting Shirley Heights Equestrian Centre, riding in the indoor arena then walking the Cross Country course from the Horse Trials last weekend. Don’t forget to get your entries in for UYARC’s Dressage In The Valley event coming up the end of October.

An EA Dressage competition has been announced by Shirley Heights on 9 November, entries are available at Event Secretary.

The rain held out for the first Freshman’s of the Spring Series. (Supplied)

Warburton Golf Club results. (File)

Rivalry pushes both sides

By Dongyun Kwon

Having competed against each other, two U15 teams of Healesville Soccer Club finished up the season taking first and second place respectively.

Along with the great success of Healesville Senior Women and two U15 teams, Healesville Soccer Club is happy with not only the outstanding results of the teams but also the fact that they finally have set up a safe environment where women and girls can enjoy the sport.

Healesville Soccer Club vice president Leesa Riley said she was excited to see how successful the girls’ and women’s teams have gone.

“I’m also excited to see the friendships they’ve got out of the season and how much they’ve grown from a skills and confidence perspective,” she said.

“We’ve been really focused on thinking about it [how to build strong women and girls sports culture within the club], and we’ve been focused on pushing girls and women to participate and creating an environment that women and girls feel like want to come to and where the girls can feel camaraderie and friendships and they get to spend time together with girls from across the community.

“It’s an outside school environment where they get to find new friends and make lasting connections.”

Healesville Soccer Club is planning to host more events for both players’ physical and mental health as well as their skill development with the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants from Sport and Recreation Victoria.

The club has also focused on offering diverse opportunities for women and girls by supporting them to be referees and coaches.

U15 Flames took the throne

U15 Flames was two points ahead of U15 Rebels, the other Healesville team, and the two points difference was big enough to decide the winner of the gold medal.

The winning team was coached by Glen Stevenson who took over the position from the last year’s coach.

Stevenson said when the season started, he was concerned about if the players could gel together as the team consisted of different age groups from 11 to 16, with an average age of 12.8 years.

“Throughout the season, they got to know each other and did really well,” he said.

Flames went through hard times at the beginning of the season as they needed more time to understand each other’s playing style and harmonise in one team.

They lost four games in the first nine games.

The coach said they had to work on a few things and positions for certain players at the beginning.

“The start of the year probably had a little bit of a lack of belief in what they could do,” Stevenson said.

“Like I said, we had a large gap between our youngest and oldest players, and it was just a matter of trying to build the confidence in the girls.

“Once everyone knew what their role was, we started to put it all together.”

Once they got onto the winning momentum, everything went smoothly for the team and they ended the season with winning the last nine games in a row, which secured their throne.

The girls got more comfortable with the 4-2-

3-1 formation as they started to understand each other’s movements more.

Before the beginning of the season, Stevenson was worried about the lack of players for the team.

In the end, the team had about 15 girls playing throughout the season.

“The focus for this season was mainly participation to begin with because we have a lot of girls in the side that were reluctant to play,” the coach said.

“The focus for the team, as far as the games went on, was two-touch passing and communication.”

In the pre-season, the team had one training session, providing girls with the opportunity to get familiar with the soccer ball while playing rondo.

During the season, the Flames sometimes trained with the senior women of the same club and some of the girls grabbed the chance to experience senior football.

Seven girls of the Flames played for Healesville Senior Women Reds with about five of them being regular.

“Because I coached the reserves women as well, I was starting to get a lot of the senior players to come and train with us on a Thursday night to help out,” Stevenson said.

“The women in the Reds were great and they took the girls and mentored them.”

There were a couple of games that helped the Flames be equipped with the winning mentality.

One was the away game against Knox when they could firsthand check out the outcomes of their training.

“One game in particular we played at the time, we were burnt on the ladder, and we played Knox at Knox, who was second on the ladder, and we didn’t have any players on the bench because we only had the 11 for the day,” the coach said.

“It rained all day and was about probably five degrees. It was really cold and wet. And we beat them.

“It was a great game where the girls started to see what we’ve been trying at each of the training sessions.”

The other one was when they won the Healesville derby against the Rebels.

“We beat them 1:0,” Stevenson said.

“They were still on top on the ladder by one point, but it meant we were in striking range.

“Once again, the girls started to believe in themselves that they could do it and it probably put a bit of pressure on the other Healesville side.”

Stevenson had two daughters and both have been involved in soccer.

One of his daughters played for the Flames this season.

As a father of two daughters who play soccer and a coach who’s been in girls’ soccer for about 10 years, Stevenson said soccer is an approachable sport for girls.

“For girls, soccer ideally is probably the most natural of the team sports. Out of the cricket, football and soccer, it’s a game that girls find more natural,” he said.

“There’s a good environment, and it’s not a high contact sport.

“The main thing I love about it is compared to boys, girls play with a smile most of the time.” U15 Rebels still smiled after getting runners-up Despite the result of runners-up, giving the crown to their derby rival Flames, the Healesville U15 Rebels had a fantastic season.

The team focused on a passing game along with building confidence.

Tony Mann has coached the Rebels for two years and he is proud of the team’s achievement this season.

“I was really impressed with how each of the individual players grew over the season in both ability and confidence,” he said.

“We are so proud of how well both Flames and Rebels did this year.

“They challenged each other to be better, it

was a really positive element for us to be in the same league.”

The Flames wrapped up the season with 12 wins, four losses and 36 points while the Rebels with 10 wins, four draws, two losses and 34 points.

The two teams were the only teams who gained more than 30 points in the U15 Girls Division 1.

The Rebels had 12 players and played a 3-5-2 formation.

“We trained regularly once a week and worked on what we want to develop and grow and to continue to push the girls to play their best,” Mann said.

“I really worked with the team to make sure they were extremely dedicated and worked extremely hard to play well and support each other.

“We were often short on players, so we didn’t always have a full team because of sickness and people being away, which was always a bit of a challenge.”

Six girls out of 12 players from the Rebels were selected to represent two teams that Victoria got involved in at the Christian Football Federation Association National which took place between 4 and 7 October.

“It’s fantastic and an amazing achievement that half of my players are going to play in the national competition,” the coach said.

“The three of them are playing in the Victorian nationals team and the other three are playing in a united national team between Western Australia and Victoria.”

Mann has been coaching different teams of the Healesville Soccer Club for a few years.

He said seeing such growth in women’s soccer in Healesville has been amazing.

“It’s been fantastic to see women’s and girls’ soccer grow so much in Healesville,” the coach said.

“The positive and supportive culture that Healesville Soccer Club has been developing over the last few years.”

Flames (black tops) and Rebels pushed each other to take first and second place. (Supplied)

Flames and Rebels are still good friends to each other. (Supplied)

Healesville derby match. (Supplied)

Cricket season is back

By Chris Handasyde

Cricket was back until the rain come in and spoiled a positive start to the season.

U14-3 - Healesville 4-121 defeated Norwood 9/119

With Rain threatening throughout the week, the kids rocked up to their first game of the season at Don Road to excellent weather and a game against a good Norwood side.

With new captain Aeden Senti winning the toss and electing to field in the dewey outfield.

Harry Duff took a wicket in his first over and continued to threaten in his spell, before Norwoods premier batsmen was run out tragically after knocking a quick 15 runs.

Norwood then regained momentum through some strong off side batting taking their score to 2/66 off 10.

With the game slipping Healesville managed to regain momentum through 3 wickets to returning player Max Ferris and a further two wickets to Raff Morcombe rattling the stumps to restrict Norwood to 117 runs off their 25 overs.

Ryder Hudson and Henry Harding opened up for Healesville looking to set a good platform for the strong batting line up.

They were able to negate the opening bowlers both retiring on around 10 runs each off 25 balls.

Aeden Senti and Mika Kerst got to work to try and chop down the runs required which climbed to 90 off 16 overs when they joined at the crease.

Senti took to the bowling and used to quick outfield to his advantage knocking 40 runs off his 25 balls.

With Mika a strong running partner and chipping in with 11 himself.

With both retiring, Harry Thomas and Raff Morcombe joined at the crease requiring 40 off the last eight overs.

Morcombe hit a strong boundary before being run out returning for a third run.

Harold later joined him in the sheds being bowled going big. This brought Louis Keath and

Endo Gotch to the crease who continued to whittle down the total.

With eight required off two overs, Keath knocked an important boundary leaving Healesville requiring two runs off the final over.

With the drama at fever pitch, Endo Gotch got caught off the first ball trying to end the game, ending his important innings of 14 runs.

Next Ball incoming batsmen James Howden got skittled leaving Healesville needing two off four balls with Max Ferris entering the crease.

Ferris guides one off the hip first ball to gain an important single and secure the draw with one run off three balls required for the win.

Keath has a crack at the next two balls and fails to make connection leaving one off one required.

A similar position to the team last season who unfortunately drew the game.

Keath with ice in his veins, like he did against Heatherdale last season. sweeps the ball off his leg stump down to fine leg for the winning runs resulting in a boundary and a win for Healesville.

Well Done Boys.

1st XI - Healesville 4-165 v Lusatia Park (Match Abandoned due to rain)

With the rain on everyone’s mind.

Lusatia Park came out to Don Road with Queens Park under construction and the Bloods won the toss electing to Bat.

Josh Handasyde and New recruit Nick “Zinger” Zinghini opening the batting.

The Bloods were able to get through the first eight overs building a sold partnership before Handasyde was found leaving the gate wide open for a nice in swinger from the Lusatia Park opening bowler leaving him back in the sheds.

Returning player Max Minney then got to work with Zinger building a strong partnership before Zinghini picked out backward square leg off a pull shot.

Minney then spooned one to point. leaving the bloods 3/94 at drinks with Tom Handasyde and Ryan Webster new to the crease.

They then continued to build a partnership before Webster walked past one down the legside similar to Jonny Bairstow showing zero aware-

Summer athletics season opens

By Jamie Strudley

Morrison Reserve in Mount Evelyn was buzzing with over 250 excited little athletics athletes keen to start the 2024-25 season. What a wonderful morning it was! The first round of the Track and Field season was a huge success. If you think it seemed bigger than last year, you would be correct. 240 athletes joined for a run, jump and throw.

It was great to see the athletes smiling, excited to see friends from last season and making new ones.

The weather held off for a beautiful sunny morning! Thank you to the volunteers who helped make it so successful!

The senior team opened their summer with the first round of AVSL competition split between Casey Fields and Aberfeldie. A big team competed across all events to start our quest for promotion to Division 2. YRA had several new members competing for the club for the first time at an AVSL competition, welcoming Emily Pincott, Brienna Coffey, Ilikimi Tove, Daniel Gibbs. Results from round one are: Women

• 100m: Ashleigh Rooke 13.59 (1.0); Shani Bullard 14.38 (1.3); Kathi Hewitson 17.55 (1.4);

• 400m: Zoe Clarke 66.30; Ashleigh Rooke 69.46; Kristina Nackovski 70.28;

• 1500m: Zoe Clarke 5:12.69; Rori Jones 5:26.32; Brienna Coffey 5:34.26; Erica Purcell 7:41.94;

• 2000m Walk: Emilie Garside 12:02.6h;

• 5000m Walk: Carolyn Rosenbrock 29:34.0h;

• Long Jump: Ashleigh Rooke 4.31m; Shani Bullard 4.22m; Kathi Hewitson 2.76m; Erica Purcell 2.57m;

• High Jump: Emily Pincott 1.46m;

• Discus: Meg Sparkes 25.35m;

• Javelin: Hayley Wilkins 32.90m; Ashleigh Rooke 26.39m; Shani Bullard 14.12m; Kathi Hewitson 8.20m;

• Shot Put: Meg Sparkes 6.66m;

• Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 33.82m; Kathi Hewitson 23.58m;

Men

• 100m: Liam Russell 11.97 (1.1); Oliver Duncan 12.39 (1.1); Joseph Johnston 14.37 (1.0); Ilikimi Tove 14.99 (1.0);

• 400m: Mitchell Pointon 59.47; Daniel Gibbs 60.47; Craig Hewitson 64.92; Joseph Johnston 69.02; Ilikimi Tove 74.25;

ness of the keepers intention to stump him.

Luke Chandler and Tom Handasyde continued knocking the ball around before the rain inevitably ruined the game with Healesville 4/165 off 35 overs, with the match eventually being abandoned.

Next Week the boys travel to East Ringwood to face the team that knocked them out of the preliminary final last season.

2nd XI - Healesville 6-206 v Lusatia Park (Match Abandoned due to rain)

In the 2XI we won the toss against Lusatia Park 2XI and decided to bat. Kris Anderson came out firing with a quick fire 97 off 50 balls before being caught on the boundary.

Young Darcy English had patient innings with a well batted 33* working at the crease with new player to the club Beau Hawkins also putting on a show dispatching the bad ball making 41 before being dismissed. Leading us to a good set up of 6/207 before the match had to be abandoned due to rain in the 29th over.

3rd XI - Healesville 6-174 v Wantirna (Match Abandoned due to rain)

Healesville won the toss with some expert captaincy and elected to Bat.

The openers (Powell and Thomas) got us off to a solid start, before the Bradens (Grant 81 and Tyler 23) batted exceptionally well in tough conditions.

Prem Singh came in late with some fireworks before the game was washed out.

4th XI - Healesville 180 v Norwood 6/115 (Match Abandoned due to rain)

Healesville 4th XI faced Norwood in the season opener.

Healesville won the toss and elected to bat.

Opening pair O.Morcombe and R.Morcombe impressed with the bat getting healesville of to a fast start with A.Keith also a major contributor to Healesville’s total score.

A.Senti was pick of the bowlers taking three wickets in the wet conditions.

The Match was ultimately abandoned due to poor light and heavy rainfall.

3.63m

• Javelin: Ash Almond 49.34m; Dale Bullen 35.67m; Ilikimi Tove 22.66m;

• Hammer: Ash Almond 24.17m; Dale Bullen 23.72m;

Training for the little athletes five-12yo takes place on Tuesdays from 4-5pm. All registered and trial members are welcome. Training for older athletes is available. Please check the website for more details.

• 1500m: Angus Norman 4:21.83; Mitchell Pointon 4:40.75; Craig Hewitson 5:45.03;

• High Jump: Ash Almond 1.41m; Dale Bullen 1.31m; Oliver Duncan 1.66m;

• Long Jump: Oliver Duncan 5.19m; Liam Russell 5.32m; Ash Almond 4.68m; Dale Bullen 4.15m; Ilikimi Tove 3.87m; Craig Hewitson

Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability. New members and anyone interested in trialling are always welcome Go to www.lavic.com.au or www.athsvic. org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org. au for information about membership, events and registration.

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!

Club stalwart Craig Hewitson competing in 400m events at Casey Fields, chased by Joseph Johnston. (Supplied)

Debutant Kimi L competing in the 400m in his first AVSL competition.

Healesville Cricket Club’s round 1 match report. (File: 376415)